Chapter 618
Chapter 618
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 618
Chapter Title: Basilisk Hunt
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Indeed, once I visited the Magic Tower, there was some pretty solid intel laid out for me. Looked like a few folks had been digging into it too.
That let me pin down the basilisk's exact size and looks.
It was a brutal reptile monster that walked on all fours—that was the beast in a nutshell. Big, fast, tough as nails, with claws that could rip you apart. And its jaws were massive, big enough to swallow prey whole and chomp it to bits.
The venomous ones hunted with their poison, but they weren't all that common.
Either way, no matter the type, its liver made for top-shelf antidote ingredients. No wonder the Alchemist's Guild was drooling over it.
And it fetched a high price.
Best of all, the sketches gave me a clear picture of how to take it down. These things moved on muscle attached to bone, just like anything else. Hack off its jaws or slip in from the side and sever a front leg—something like that oughta do it. I'd know for sure once I tried.
So, early the next morning...
I headed out the city gates with Cloudy and Winia in tow. We'd kept our gear light since we wouldn't be venturing too far.
The gate area looked pretty deserted.
There were a few folks passing through, but way less traffic than usual. All thanks to that basilisk showing up. The merchant caravans were steering clear of this road, and no traveler in their right mind would hike out here unless they had to.
We slipped past the guards giving us those weird looks and stepped outside the walls.
"It is kinda strange. Big monsters like that usually don't come near cities. Probably got chased out of its turf by that deathworm or something."
Winia chimed in as we walked.
"Or maybe it showed up right when there were tasty humans around, so it decided to stick around. Makes sense—no other boss monsters claiming this area."
"Yeah, true. So odds are it didn't just bolt?"
"Less 'bolted' and more 'headed to another village or city,' I'd say. If the food stops coming to you, you gotta go find it yourself."
Fair point.
If word spread and people avoided the road, it'd have to hunt on its own. Worse, any villages farther out from the city would be sitting ducks.
A beast that took down a mage-backed caravan? Villages wouldn't stand a chance.
Farmboy militias forming ranks might try, but most would end up dead. Sure, they were toughened by fieldwork and scrapping with small fry near the village, but they weren't pro warriors or soldiers.
No way was I—Kim Katt, Heavenly Demon of Fusion Confucianism and paladin to the Brass Celestial Society's saint—letting that slide.
"Anyway, time to hunt it down, lop off its head, and gut the damn thing. Once you're on the radar of the Deathworm Slayer, you're toast."
Money on my mind fired me up.
Heading to the capital soon—more cash, the better. Even as a dispatched operative, setting up a base would cost a fortune. House prices in Seoul were insane; the capital was probably no different.
Saint Cardia offered a place to crash, but I couldn't mooch forever.
"Heh heh heh, love the enthusiasm. Bursting with confidence—looks good on you."
"I'm always brimming with it."
No man oozed more confidence than me.
"This feels way more than your usual. That's the Katt I like best. Good call taking down that deathworm."
"Heh heh heh, just wait—it'll only ramp up from here."
Scouting was as simple as walking.
The caravan got jumped while sticking to the road, so traces should turn up if we followed it. Then we'd ramp up the hunt from there.
If the thing was hungry, it might even jump us first.
Here's hoping.
Easier that way.
We pushed on like that, grabbing lunch on the move to keep pace, when some lumpy shapes came into view up ahead.
"Wagon wreckage."
Up close, it was obvious.
Shattered wagon bits strewn everywhere. Smashed crates, ruined goods scattered like trash.
Clear sign of a basilisk ambush here.
"Hm, some merchandise left intact?"
"Yeah?"
Cloudy nudged a porcelain shard with her boot.
Fabrics, pottery—all jumbled around. Meant no one's scavenged it yet. No looting charges here. If anyone had come by, it'd be picked clean.
Or maybe they got eaten before they could.
"Darkie, check these tracks."
"Holy shit, massive."
Of course, footprints everywhere nearby.
Unmistakable basilisk prints—huge as hell.
"Whoa, what the hell is this big?"
Judging by size, it really was elephant-scale.
"Smaller than your dick, though, darkie?"
Winia cracked up, poking my thigh with her staff tip.
"My dick's what—this huge?!"
Cloudy stared at the print, drew her sword, laid it alongside, and gestured measuring with both hands.
Then she cupped her cheek, gazing at me all motherly.
"Katt... couldn't hold back and rubbed one out on the ground?"
"Ugh."
So these weren't basilisk tracks—they were my jerk-off stains?
Guess I got interrupted mid-session yesterday calling it work. Cloudy and Winia snickered at their own jokes.
Payback later.
"Heh heh heh."
"Heh heh heh."
"These women, seriously."
Anyway, back to scouting.
"No bones left anywhere, huh."
Quick rummage turned up zilch—not even fragments.
Swallows whole and crushes, alright. Usually ambush sites leave some scraps, but not this one.
Trees nearby were banged up too.
Probably from the basilisk brushing past.
Damage was heaviest to the right of the road. I pointed it out, and Winia suggested checking that way.
"Something passed through recently... hard to say how fresh. If it's got any smarts, it'd lurk off-road."
Makes sense.
This road was like a supply line for it—prey delivering itself.
"Or it gave up on no-shows and dipped inside for other monsters."
"No choice but to track it. Oh, Cloudy, Winia."
A book from the Tower yesterday popped into my head, so I called them over.
"Said basilisks have killer noses."
"So it's smelling us now and coming?"
"Nah, not enough."
I drew my dagger.
Wonder if blood scent would lure it like piranhas.
"Scratch some skin?"
"Darkie, no blades on yourself. We'll find it without that."
Winia snatched my arm, swiping the dagger.
"Yeah, Katt. Scars are hot, but not pointless ones. Let's just hunt."
Cloudy grabbed my wrist, worried. Wasn't trying to worry them... my bad.
"Fine, use a monster then."
If it'd claimed this turf, it'd freak at rival blood scents.
Blood meant poachers hunting in its domain—no king tolerates that.
Like illegal hunting under feudal lords.
—Slash!
We butchered every scrub monster we found, using their blood as bait. Slaughtering fleeing pests in the brush was child's play. Wiping out a gremlin family under a tree? Piece of cake.
We looped wide in a half-circle around the road, pressing forward.
After an hour, we hit road again and took a breather.
That's when it happened.
"Katt."
Cloudy spoke.
—Rumble...
Heavy footsteps echoed from the forest depths. Monster blood lure worked. I stood, sword out, sending Winia to the rear.
"Winia, watch—if you get a clear shot, Fire Bolt down its throat. No? Chain Lightning the bastard."
"Got it."
"Cloudy? I'll take front—you gap-close and finish it?"
"Hm... play it by ear? You tank front."
"Heh heh heh, you got it."
—Rumble rumble rumble...
Steps closed in, and its form emerged. Monster was huge as expected. It burst through the woods with insane agility, charging straight at us.
Midday shadows made its yellow eyes glow fierce. That predatory glare locked on, hyped up.
Blood scent got it riled, no doubt.
Worth the bait.
"That's the basilisk?"
My reaction? Cool as ice. No usual pre-fight tension.
Fear just... didn't rise.
Calm settled in, battle lust surging instead.
"Not scared at all."
Me, afraid? Doesn't compute. Heavenly Demons know no fear. We smash whatever's in front—equals the natural order. Why fear?
—Rustle!
—Thud!
The basilisk leaped from the woods like a shot, tail whipping as it landed dead center in the road.
—Raaarrrrrrghhh!!!!
It gaped its jaws at us and roared.
—Whoosh!
Gale-force wind from the bellow whipped our hair. Teeth jagged horrors, maw cavernous, jaw muscles bulging.
Not quite deathworm level, though.
"Winia, Cloudy—as planned."
—Step step.
Grip tight on my sword, advancing.
No bullshit—elephant-sized lizard right there. Sketches didn't capture the sheer presence. Scales looked armored, body packed with muscle, those thick arms tipped with killer claws.
Still, my confidence burned bright.
Not cocky.
Just certain of victory.
"Heh heh heh, loudmouth, huh? Kiiiiieeeeeeeee!!!!!"
I roared back—flinch!
—Scrabble scrabble.
Its four legs shifted; it backed off a hair.
The nerve?
"You dare backpedal from me? You're dead, you lizard fuck. I'll chop you to bits—no running this time."
A mere war cry and it retreats? Rage boiled over. Hate anything fleeing before me.
Fleeing means weaker.
Contempt for the weak surged.
—Flash!
Awareness hit; I struck first.
"Dieeeeeeee!!!!"
—Kyaaaaaaaahhh!!!!
The basilisk bellowed, jaws wide, charging me. At least it had fight in it.
Fast, sure—but not faster than my heavy hitters, Karin, or Lizty.
—Swoosh.
I sidestepped smooth—whoosh! Its head tracked like a heat-seeker. Head swing was blistering.
Mass alone would launch me. Skull like a siege ram.
Big mouth hard to target whole; speed and turns top-tier.
"But slower than me."
Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
—Boom!
Heavenly Demon step evades jaws, aims for tail. Slice that bulging hind leg first.
—Kyaaaaaoooo!!!!
Right as my blade sank toward its thigh, it twisted supple, maw lunging again.
"Oh, fuck."
Like a crocodile limbo-dancing—insane flexibility. Waist folding near double, precarious strike.
But attacks from shaky footing? Useless.
—Crackle!
Sword aura flares; I aim for the snapping snout.
"Severing Slash."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Severing Slash A long-unused technique.