Chapter 612
Chapter 612
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 612
Chapter Title: Scent of Spring
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Anyway, the matter wrapped up nicely.
My body and mind were exhausted, but the smile plastered on my face just wouldn't fade. Holy shit, I finally landed a massive score. As expected, nothing beats a giant boss raid for making money.
More than that, this battle gave me something crucial and invaluable.
The certainty that no matter how enormous the monster, I could shatter it with my sword aura.
If something like this happens again, I won't feel a shred of fear next time. After all, today's experiences make tomorrow's me stronger.
Chatting idly with the Lady like that, we crossed the battlefield.
I even picked up the utterly wrecked Hwalin Sword and sheathed it. No worries since the damn thing can regenerate. It'll fix itself soon enough.
"It's truly devastating! Not only the drakes, but our adventurers and my soldiers are all smashed to bits!! My condolences for this horrific sacrifice!!!!"
The Lady said that after surveying the battlefield.
Well, no need to say more—the plain was a total shitshow.
"I offer my condolences as well! They were truly valiant! So valiant that the moment the Death Worm poked its head out, they charged right in!! It was the kind of fighting spirit that genuinely moved me!"
"Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho!!! Smashed to bits, that is! Still, what splendid soldiers they were! Their sacrifice was truly noble!!!!"
No, Lady?
We're talking about your soldiers dying, so why the hell are you laughing?
She didn't seem particularly bothered by it. Losing soldiers was regrettable, but their sacrifice was noble and magnificent—that seemed to be the extent of her sentiments.
"..."
This must be what it means to be nobility.
It hit me that she'd react the same way even if I kicked the bucket. But hey, we're comrades-in-arms now, so whatever. She's the boss who pays big.
"In my opinion, this drake pack must have been migrating en masse to escape the Death Worm!"
"Th-that!!!"
Thinking about it, that made sense.
Why else would they move? And when the Death Worm appeared, the drakes went berserk. They must have known it was out there.
"What amazing deductive skills!!! That rings true now that you mention it!!"
I clutched my hair in admiration.
"Speaking it aloud has convinced even me!"
Whatever. Who cares why it showed up?
The drake pack was already obliterated and scattered. The threat was gone, just as planned. And those drake corpses littering the field? They'd fetch a price one way or another.
All I had to do was sit back and wait.
With the Lady's blood oath, no chance of getting stiffed on the payout.
"A Death Worm, though... I only knew it existed! First time seeing or hearing one up close today! I had no idea it could be that massive! Wasn't it incredible, Barbaric Warrior!!"
"It was as hateful and cursed a beast as its size suggested!!!!"
"Exactly!!!! If we'd known in advance, the casualties would've been lighter!!! It pisses me off so much I'm going insane! But seeing your prowess calmed my rage! My heart's even pounding now!!"
The Lady cheered and hollered again in delight.
Yeah, even I thought it was a badass finishing blow. Should've shown it to my wives. Ah, but they'd probably chew me out for pulling such a reckless stunt without fear.
I did it because I knew I could.
That's the kind of man I am.
Seeing that colossal monster exist for real hammered home that this is another world. There must be monsters even stronger and bigger than that Death Worm crawling around everywhere.
Dragons, right?
Suddenly, they sound scary as hell.
Word is, dragons soar through the skies spewing flames. They're masters of magic too, and their bodies are so huge and tough that killing them is a nightmare.
Humans can never coexist with those monsters.
—Anyway, the uncharted frontier.
A mysterious, deadly expanse bordering Krasheim. The drakes came from there, so the Death Worm probably did too. A real goldmine, you could say. What the hell's lurking in there?
As I bantered with the Lady, soldiers started appearing from the distance.
—Lady!!!
—Lady...!
—Laaaady!!!!
The soldiers came running, shouting. The Lady raised her hand, silencing them all.
"Report the casualty status!!!!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Looked like all the survivors had gathered.
The infantry formations seemed mostly intact. Only the strike team that plunged into the drake horde's heart took heavy losses.
Obviously, since that's where the Death Worm popped up.
Nothing left for me to do, so I just stood there.
After the brief report, the Lady turned to me.
"I'll be quite busy from now on!!! So, formal commendation will wait until after we sell off the entire Death Worm carcass and the payment comes in!!!"
"Understood!!!"
"See you at the lord's castle, then!!! I'll notify the Adventurer's Guild when the time comes, so wait for it!!"
"Yes, sir!!!!!!"
Pretty much as she said: head to the lord's castle next time I hear word, flash the document at the gate guards, done.
No worries about getting stiffed.
We're comrades.
"Soldiers! This Barbaric Warrior is the Death Worm Slayer who felled the Death Worm with a single strike!!!! Treat him well so he can rest easy!!!"
All eyes turned to me as she bellowed. I just grinned and raised my arm.
—Silence.
No reaction, damn it.
Embarrassed, I was about to force a cheer when the Lady roared.
"No cheers?! What are you waiting for!!!!!!!"
—Hurray!!!!!!
—Hurray!!!!!
—Huraaaaay!!!
Cheers erupted instantly.
"I'm Kim Katt, junior priest of the Brass Celestial Society!!!"
I smiled and waved to each soldier.
—Hurray!!
—Hurray!!!
—Huraaaaay!!!!
Nice ring to the praise.
I savored it before lowering my hand.
"Lady, it was an honor to share this great feat with you."
"The honor is mine! Now go rest!"
I knelt on one knee, offering maximum respect, gratitude, and courtesy to the waving Lady, then took my leave.
The sweet cheers from behind were music to my ears.
"Death Worm Slayer! Need anything?!"
A soldier followed as I turned to go. The Lady had ordered them to treat me well.
"Heh heh, I'd like to head back to town for now."
"To town, sir?"
"Better than holing up in the barracks."
"Ah... right."
He nodded at the mention of barracks.
Soldiers hate those things.
"How can I assist?!"
"Nothing, really. Just heading back to rest."
He hesitated.
Makes sense—the Lady ordered hospitality, and here I am bailing.
"Situation's a mess. Better I head out than impose. Tell her that."
"Understood! Safe travels!"
And so I slipped out of the camp.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I busted my ass, but nothing immediate to show for it. Not that I need anything—I've got plenty of cash already. Honor and experience gained, too.
Now, just rest up and collect the reward later.
No clue how much it'll be.
Its carapace, teeth, claws. Plus miscellaneous organs. Ah, but I smashed all the teeth.
Those were probably the prize.
Still, with its sheer size, it'll sell. Mages from the Magic Tower can't resist this stuff. Even splitting with the Lady, base payout's over 10 gold for sure. Maybe dozens.
Add the drake corpses going to her, and it'll pile up.
Jackpot incoming.
That kind of windfall? Easy to set up in the capital. Buy my girls whatever they want.
"Ughhh..."
Anyway, I grabbed a room, crashed, and recovered. Stocked up on food first, bathed clean, then gorged to recharge.
Need strength to get home. Rest fully for at least 24 hours. Heading back tomorrow's fine.
Ate till I was stuffed, slept it off, woke to mana circulating again. Recovery's slow from the ordeal.
But with mana restored...
—Time for a test.
"My Crushing Palm Technique."
Or "My Crushing Foot Technique," maybe.
When I finished off the Death Worm, I combined Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon with sword aura and My Crushing Palm Technique for massive destruction.
Easier than with hands, even.
Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon's second nature to me.
Succeeded against Hilde last time, too.
Liztina's deadly secret flowed naturally into my foot. That sensation... it's still in my leg.
—Rattle.
Pulled the room's dresser right in front of me.
"..."
Foot up on it.
Mana's not full, but enough for a weakened version.
—Whooo.
Recall smashing the Death Worm's head. Focus on that feel: mana gathering in the leg, surging. Like sprouting countless mana spikes from the sole, as Liztina described.
—Now.
"Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon."
—Crack!
My bare foot smashed into the wooden dresser easily. No—that's just regular Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
A bit more, chase that exact sensation...!
"My Crushing Foooooooot Technique!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
With a shout, mana erupted,
—Boom!!!!!!!!!!
A massive explosion scattered shards everywhere.
"Holy shit!!!!"
The dresser blew apart.
I'd mastered Liztina's secret technique perfectly...!
Full power test later when mana's topped off, but I felt it clear: the sense of infiltrating mana shaking the inside to jelly.
"Fucking jackpot!!!!!!!!!!"
I even applied it to the Hwalin Sword's sword aura jammed in the Death Worm's skull. Means I can use it post-thrust now.
"Heh heh heh!"
Cloudie and Karin will love it.
Liztina'll be shocked.
I'd already nailed true Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon before. This is a breeze for me. Only I could pull it off. That's why I'm Heavenly Demon Kim Katt.
"A perfectly natural outcome."
Dresser? Comp 'em for it. Pocket change. Worth it for my victory lap.
—Shing.
Drew the Hwalin Sword leaning against the wall.
The half-broken blade had self-repaired to about 70%. Amazing magic sword—back to normal despite the abuse.
"Thanks, Vygal."
—I murmured my gratitude.
Couldn't contain the burning emotion.
"Because you helped me. Because you were with me in that decisive moment. Because you didn't leave my hand. Because you trusted me."
Vygal was with me from start to finish. Never faltered before the giant foe like the Death Worm.
"I could win."
And so I did.
"Thanks, Vygal. You're already an outstanding Hwalin Sword..."
The old Vygal—who lured innocents and demanded sacrifices—was long gone. Dead, butchered, soul ripped out. What's here now is just my comrade: a life-saving sword, the Hwalin Sword.
"Vygal...!"
For some reason, on the self-repairing blade, I saw Vygal's demonic face grinning bashfully under his nose.
"You rascal...!"
The vision faded like an optical illusion.
—A warm feeling.
"Ahh...!"
The reflection wasn't illusion.
Vygal will stay with me forever.
Like this, I have comrades by my side. They lend me strength, urge me forward in the toughest times. To live without shame before them, Heavenly Demon Kim Katt presses on today.
Isn't that what spring is all about?