Chapter 603
Chapter 603
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 603
Chapter Title: Fragrance of Spring
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Even with my full gear set and backpack weighing me down, my body felt light as a feather.
Enhanced stamina and endurance from mana training and muscle conditioning had turned me into some inhuman marching machine. This was exactly why taking a carriage would just slow me down. Going on foot was faster.
Taking short breaks only to chow down on some rations for calories, I raced nonstop toward Shlede.
At this rate, if I kept running through the night, I'd get there in no time.
"Ah, fuck. Still pretty damn hot, though."
"Feeling the heat?"
"Yeah. Fucking sweltering."
The temperature had warmed up, so pushing hard like this had me sweating buckets. I leaned against a tree for a quick bite of jerky when Hildegart conjured a magic circle in her palm.
"What's that?"
"Just watch."
—Zing.
A blue magic circle materialized, and suddenly a blast of cold wind poured out from it. I was dying in this heat, so feeling that icy chill hit me like a godsend—my eyes nearly rolled back in ecstasy.
"Oh, fuck yeah!!!"
I shoved the jerky in my mouth and threw myself right into the breeze.
—Whoooosh.
"Fucking refreshing!!!"
"Ufufu! This is basic stuff! Just say the word anytime you're hot!"
"Thanks a ton!"
Holy shit, Hildegart, you're a goddamn goddess!
The cool wind chilled my overheated body, and my mood lifted instantly.
Other than the heat, everything was great—no real hardships. Once I made some cash, maybe I should learn to ride and get a horse? That didn't sound half bad.
"Hey, Hilde."
I called out to her while enjoying the breeze.
"Yes?"
"You hear anything lately about what those demon bastards are up to?"
"Not really. I already left Hell behind."
"Left Hell? Why?"
"Why go back to that gloomy dump when you're here, Katt? Last I checked, the gates aren't even opening properly anymore. Doesn't matter to me either way."
Come to think of it, Lady Kardia the Saintess had mentioned the gate incidents seemed wrapped up.
But if that's the case, where the hell was she coming from?
"What? So where do you come from then?"
"I have my own personal space. It's a succubus thing—I'm always hanging out there."
Different from Hell, huh.
"You could call it the Chamber of Pleasure. Want to check it out together?"
"Pass. Anyway, time to move."
"Katt, can we take the mountain path? Running's exhausting. I wanna fly, but I can't in front of people."
"Then I'd have to climb the damn mountain."
"I'll keep the breeze going!"
"Can't. Time's too tight."
I had to hop on a mountain midway, but starting now would make us late. I skipped the carriage purely to save time.
"Aww. Fine."
"Head back home?"
"Nah. Guess we run."
"Then let's go."
Anyway, Hildegart and I tore down the road without stopping.
Even in human form, her demonic roots gave her solid stamina. We blazed on like marathoners, no sweat.
A few hours later, I spotted a group of people up ahead.
"Humans?"
"Keep your mouth shut."
About five of them, by the looks.
They were all adventurers, judging by their gear.
If I was unlucky, they could be bandits.
Kim Katt's stats: one in three random adventurer encounters in the boonies turns out to be a bandit. They spot easy prey and flip to thug mode—classic adventurer trait.
Bandits or not, five wasn't an issue. I'd just pass them by.
I approached casually, like it was nothing.
They were heading this way too—probably returning to Isvant. Their outfits looked clean, like they hadn't been rolling in the dirt... What kind of crew were they?
"..."
"..."
Both sides stared each other down.
They didn't look that shady, but I could feel their wariness toward me.
Obviously. And that was that.
We passed without incident.
Guess they weren't bandits after all.
To be fair, my getup screamed high-end armor. Cape off in the heat—no one was dumb enough to pick a fight.
Hildegart behind me was in human form, dressed like a mage. Anyone with a brain wouldn't mess with someone who looked legit.
"Ugh, that creepy stare. So annoying."
"What?"
As they vanished into the distance, Hildegart rubbed her shoulders like she had chills.
"Didn't you feel it, Katt? Their gazes were so slimy, licking all over me... All five staring like that? Gross!"
She seemed seriously pissed.
Did they really eye her like that?
I hadn't noticed, too chill to care.
"Really?"
"Would've been great if you'd said something."
"Sorry. Missed it."
I was just thinking they weren't bandits, didn't consider Hildegart. But if they'd leered at my wives like that? Sword out in a heartbeat.
Wait a sec—now that I think about it, those fuckers... Pissing me off!
Makes my blood boil...!
"Hey, aren't you a succubus? Don't you like those kinds of looks? Feed off that energy or whatever?"
"True, but now it's only you for me, Katt. Other guys don't even register as men anymore... Just grosses me out."
Her face flushed as she hugged my arm.
"I've been around, y'know? No male out there overflows with lust like you, hehe."
"My libido's that strong?"
"Yes! Nothing even close! So, share a little with me?"
Wait, my dick's that legendary...?
I knew constant muscle training and mana cultivation had jacked up my stamina and sex drive sky-high.
But Hildegart hyping it this much?
"You slut! That's why you've been clingy!"
"Partly, but now I just love you, Katt. My man's got max lust and virility—I'm probably the luckiest succubus alive."
"Damn."
What to do with her.
Arirang-level headache.
"Fufu, don't sweat it! Just me talking. Let's go."
Anyway, Hildegart and I headed for Shlede.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After sunset, I used the Ratras necklace for light and marched through the night a bit, then pitched a simple tent from supplies, slept four hours, and hit the road again.
Sent Hildegart back while I slept.
Call her if needed later.
Other than swatting minor monsters that popped up, smooth sailing.
Map check: two hours to Shlede.
Meant drake packs nearby.
Stragglers might be lurking—grab any chances to kill 'em. 5 silver per head; aiming for twenty at least.
With that in mind, after an hour...
—Rustle!
—Shrashrashrash!!
Sudden violent thrashing from the forest ahead.
Footsteps and bushes parting.
Not small fry.
Medium monster or bigger.
Drake for sure. Perfect timing—right on cue. Nothing else mid-sized would stick around now with the horde migrating. Everything else got eaten or fled.
—Shing.
Ditched the backpack, drew my sword. Two green-skinned bipedal lizard heads charged from the brush.
—Thudthudthud!!
Bigger than a horse, tough green scales gleaming, jagged teeth bared in gaping maws.
—Kwek!
—Kweeeek!!!
Dinosaur-looking bastards—drakes.
"You crazy fuckers!!!"
5 silver to hunt these per head? Total scam. Ripped muscles, razor teeth, horse-sized bulk.
D-grade party fodder.
Makes sense—self-directed quest. Horde shows up, kill 'em and snag heads as bonus.
—Kweeeeeek!!!!!
Spotted me, they screeched and charged. Powerful legs dodged vines and roots, pounding the earth.
Fast, brutal rush.
But not against me.
"Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon."
—Boom!
I kicked off the ground, lunging at the drake. One step bridged meters. The piercing thrust at that speed was devastating.
"Execution Thrust, die you fuckeeeeer!!!!!!!!!"
—Plunch!
Sword plunged into its open maw, the deadly curved blade's tip smashing brain and bursting out the skull.
—Splurt!
Yanked the blade free—blood and brains sprayed, body crumpled.
Three seconds flat for one.
Monsters charging mouth-open can't breach a swordsman's range. They impale themselves if I just hold steady.
My strength made it a one-shot.
—Kweeeeeek!!!
The other saw its buddy drop, veered in rage, desperate to crush my skull.
—Snap!
"Cheeky bastard!"
Decent speed for a beast—it anticipated prey. Lunged for my head, so I sidestepped with footwork, slipping to its flank.
—Kwek?!
Monster reflexes can't match mana-honed humans.
"Asura Blood Fist."
Launched mana-clad Asura Blood Fist at its exposed side. —Boom! Cannon-like flesh-ripping impact traveled up my fist as bones and muscles shattered.
—Kwang!
The horse-sized drake flew into a thick tree ahead, crashing thunderously and sprawling.
"Heh heh heh, you worthless shits."
Drakes were tough mid-tier, but two down in under thirty seconds. They couldn't touch me.
—Kwe... kweeek...
At the tree, it twitched—broken nerves, paralyzed, flailing uselessly.
"Go to blissful rebirth."
—Crunch!
Slammed the sword down, severing its neck.
Two down—10 silver. Easy money if monsters keep coming. Skin 'em, grab bones and teeth—decent haul.
Village close; sell cheap there if needed.
Pulled my knife, flipped the corpse, sliced the belly. Peel the hide, carve thigh for roasting?
"Wha—what?!"
"Hey!"
"Who're you?!"
"No way!"
Suddenly people burst from the brush.
Lowlife adventurer-looking fucks, pointing in shock.
What the hell?
Six of 'em.
"The drake... it's dead."
One approached, inspected my kill, face grim. His pet? No sane person keeps these monsters.
"We were herding it, and you killed it."
Dark expression.
Ah.
"That so?"
They were driving it for the hunt? Explained the sudden appearance—adventurers corralling stragglers.
Too bad.
Already dead by my hand.
"Tracked it for hours..."
"Heh heh, world's not fair. I killed it—go find another."
I told them nicely.
Ignorance or not, finder-keepers. They wouldn't cover me if it turned on me.
But play nice, talk 'em down. Prevent bad blood.
"..."
They whispered, glanced, then clammed up.
...Feels like shit's about to hit the fan.
"Listen. This was our party's mark—hours of tracking."
"And?"
The leader pressed me.
"What 'and'? Things happened—we won't take all. Just yield that one."
"What?"
"It's the right thing."
These brain-dead fucks.