Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Crisis is Opportunity is Crisis (8)
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***
Screeech—clack.
Screeech—clack.
Unlike his broken right leg, his left leg was still functioning properly, so by splinting it and using the remaining spear shaft as a crutch, he could move his body to some extent.
[Warning - ‘Mutation Blood’ infection rate 40%]
“Cough! Kuugh!”
Professor’s body curled up from the bizarre pain burrowing into him through wounds all over his body.
‘Grateful... that’s the word for it.’
The cells that form the basis of all Mutation Blood, the infectious agents, possess two powerful traits: transmissibility and regenerative ability.
These cells, which obey the queen’s will at a cellular level, begin eroding the host’s body from the point of contact the moment they infiltrate, seizing control.
At that point, the eroded areas are recognized as part of their own body, so they start repairing the damaged sections using their inherent regenerative power.
Conversely, if a wound from a mutant begins to heal, it means that part is no longer under your control.
‘Leg... no, up to the waist now.’
It was a profoundly strange sensation. From an itchy feeling, to the sensation of ants gnawing at the wound, then to tiny blades churning inside it.
The pain was so intense he wanted to carve out the wounded area with his own hands, but Professor welcomed this situation.
‘At least the wounds are healing, making movement easier.’
As he moved away from the battlefield where Charlotte and Edenorna were clashing, he kept thinking nonstop. What could he contribute to that invisible battle? He meticulously checked the warning messages from Mental Fragility ringing like alarm bells, striving to keep moving. If he stopped, he’d lose consciousness.
‘I can’t intervene in that fight. How to turn the battle in our favor. Leverage our strengths, exploit the enemy’s weaknesses. There has to be... there definitely was something. It flashed by vaguely, but it was there somewhere.’
He forcibly lifted his drooping head. In the distance, soldiers sporadically battling mutants. And during the time he’d been knocked out, had they charged at Edenorna?
At a spot slightly removed from where Charlotte and Edenorna were colliding, the corpses of the Winged Knights and central army command lay strewn.
Professor approached the graveyard of armored bodies as if entranced.
Clack, clack!
They were moving. A knight with a fist-sized hole in his side was twitching his fingers, still clutching his sword with burst blood vessels reddening his eyes. A movement close to rigor mortis, yet clearly infused with will.
Professor looked into the knight’s eyes. The two wide eyes, spilling what might be blood or tears, were fixed in Charlotte’s direction. With hands too weak even to grip the sword, clack clack, the knight glared endlessly at the enemy.
Clack, clack!
Twitch, twitch.
Such tiny movements were everywhere. Those with severed arms, those with guts spilling from torn bellies, those foaming blood from their mouths. All of them lay oriented toward Charlotte.
Every motion screamed one word. Pouring out their remaining life in desperate plea.
Professor decided to heed that word.
Slash—!
He dragged over a nearby mutant corpse and slashed its throat hard with a broken blade. Fresh blood gushed from the recently dead mutant, pouring over the fallen knight’s wounds.
Sizzle—
Red steam rose from the wounds, visible flesh filling in noticeably. Healing a wound that size must have spiked the infection rate by about 30% instantly.
There would also be infectious agents from previous wounds, so his actions had likely pushed the infection to an irreversible level.
Not dying by the enemy’s hand on the battlefield, but having the agents reach the brain, turning into a monster and dying by a comrade’s blade. The most dishonorable death for a knight.
The knight’s head slowly turned, meeting Professor’s eyes. He wanted to apologize. For tainting your honor with my selfishness. For denying your life.
“Cough! Cough! Grulk!”
But the direction Professor pointed, vomiting blood, was still the heart of the fierce battle.
“Grulk, go.... fight.... cough!”
The knight looked quietly at Professor. The mangled, broken leg, the trembling crutch, and the upright finger pointing the way to his last spark of life.
The knight closed his eyes wordlessly. And then,
Crunch!
He gripped his sword as if it might shatter.
***
Kagagagak!
“Kuugh!”
Charlotte exhaled sharply after barely blocking the lightning-fast barrage of attacks.
‘The situation isn’t good.’
She eyed the enemy’s form flickering away palely while fending off the white spear tip targeting her nape, waist, and knees in an instant.
‘Attacks are light. No problem defending. But.... my sword can’t reach him either.’
His strikes lacked weight but were impossibly fast.
Each thrust, like flicking his arm, was a lethal jab at armor gaps. Even when she swung hard to create distance, the spear meeting her sword would yield softly, leaving only the unpleasant sensation of slicing empty air.
‘I could block these light attacks for three days and nights....’
After their initial clash, her momentary flinch at his beyond-expected speed had been the trigger. Bounced off Charlotte’s sword, Edenorna had spun behind her, ambushing the knights who were mopping up other mutants and joining her. By the time she’d drawn his attention back in alarm, the knights were already critically wounded.
Crack—!
“Ugh!”
Sharp pain pierced her thoughts. A white spear—his spear—was embedded in her left shoulder.
“You’re off-balance. Facing a strong foe, you scatter your mind elsewhere? Pathetic.”
“Shut... up!”
Charlotte gritted her teeth, watching a new spear forming in his empty hand. Identical to the one in her shoulder.
‘The color was similar, but to think it was part of his body.’
Drip, drrrrk!
“....Damn!”
Splurt!
In an instant, sharp pain radiated from the spear tip in her shoulder. She yanked it out quickly, but a chunk of flesh clung to the root-like grown tip and tore free with it.
“Oops, be careful. Wouldn’t want to waste good meat. If you’re still worried about those behind you, don’t be. I didn’t kill them to keep them fresh. No intent to present Mother with rotten meat.”
“....Disgusting monster aping human speech—it’s revolting.”
“No need to look. I’ll gouge out those big eyes; you won’t see ahead anymore.”
Swish—
His form vanished from sight again. Charlotte gripped her sword tighter. Her left hand wouldn’t clench properly.
‘....This is it, then.’
The enemy was a thorough out-fighter. Even when her body was intact, he’d worn her down from beyond sword range. Now with bleeding added. He’d circle her relentlessly until she withered, never closing distance.
‘Then, buy time. Lure him away from the battlefield as much as possible; it’ll give the other knights time to survive.’
Resolved, Charlotte shifted her stance. She’d take some damage to drag him far from the field.
Swoosh—
“Seems you’re short a hand. Side’s exposed.”
The moment Charlotte charged at the pale shadow, Edenorna appeared on her left, thrusting at her open abdomen. Instead of defending, she put more force into her swinging blade.
‘I’ll give flesh, even bone. But I’ll take at least one of your arms!’
Forgoing defense, Charlotte exploded the power accumulated in her legs and dashed forward. Simultaneously, sunset-hued sword aura flowed along the blade in response to her will.
White spear and sunset blade crossed.
‘May His Highness forgive this knight who couldn’t guard your side to the end.’
Slice—
Clang!
One blocked, one struck true.
Drip.
“Such.... lowly meat using petty tricks!!!’
A severed white arm fell from near the shoulder joint.
Charlotte stared at the owner of the sword that had blocked the white spear from behind her, speechless.
“How... are you....”
“Sorry I’m late.”
Charlotte glanced at the knight saluting with his sword. Through the shattered armor, dark blue flesh twisted grotesquely, like a child’s mud-clay lump.
“Knight Narik. Returning to duty.”
Clank, clank.
Behind him, knights in similar states approached.
“Knight Dicarpo. Returning to duty.”
“Knight Tagnall. Returning to duty.”
“Knight Maccalson. Returning to duty.”
“Knight Rodim. Returning to duty.”
.
.
.
.
Clank, clank, clank.
Knights gathering one by one from around, unnoticed, stood beside her and saluted.
Defiled in ways unfit for knights, staggering, barely able to walk. Yet none dropped their swords, none averted eyes from the foe.
“....Foolish deaths, Narik. You can barely hold a sword in that state.”
“No sensation below the neck already. But I haven’t neglected training; I can hold him once with this body.”
“He’s stronger than me.”
“Did you see? When you severed his arm, he had time to behead Lady Agate and me but widened the distance instead. Combat power aside, he lacks battle experience.”
“....You could’ve lived by turning back, heading for the city once you came to.”
“The Sun still shines on the battlefield—where would we go? Sun of the Battlefield.”
A smile formed on Narik’s blood-smeared lips.
‘Unbelievable. Bodies already monstrous, death at the door, yet cracking jokes.’
“....Hopeless fools.”
“Blame Lady Agate who taught us that way.”
Charlotte examined each face of the knights beside her. A smile and tears welled on hers too.
Drip, drip.
“If you survive, I’ll... report your names to His Majesty the King... and recommend medals....”
“An honor to spend our final moments with you. Knight Charlotte.”
“Heh heh, the academy rumor of the kingdom’s top knight being a crybaby is true.”
Charlotte didn’t hide her flowing tears. Dawn’s light—meaning they’d burn their last lives as they turned to the enemy. No one would deny a single tear’s luxury sending off such honorable knights.
Sunset-like light spread from Charlotte at the formation’s front, enveloping the knights.
The enemy watched from afar, body half-turned as if ready to flee—fearful, as Narik said.
‘....Can’t waste their resolve.’
Charlotte raised her voice.
“White monster! Are you afraid of us!”
“Eeek! Shut up! You lowly meat!”
“Afraid? Then run. Your mother, waiting days and nights just for you, starves again today! Go back like that, beg her for one more arm!”
“How... dare you insult Mother!”
The retreating foe, provoked by a few taunts, widened torn eyes and charged forward.
‘Immature as expected. That initial composure gone; a little shock, a small prod, and he unravels.’
Strategies to counter him began forming in Charlotte’s mind.
“Tagsnall, Rodim. Once battle starts, seize his rear. Not to encircle—just occupy space so he can’t retreat.”
“Understood.”
“Dicapo, Maccalson. Sorry, my arm’s like this. Left flank defense and checks on you.”
“Leave it to us.”
“And Narik, with me—we take his head.”
“Yes.”
Swoosh—
The distant monster cut the air. Charlotte stepped forward.
Whoosh!
Sunset energy exploded from her toes, wrapping her body and flowing to the sword tip.
“Lordric Knights! Draw swords!”
Shing!
“From this moment, for the kingdom’s peace and safety, we slaughter the foe!”
“Yes!”
“Today! Today is the day! In the late king’s name! Go to the heavens without shame! Our sun rises from the homeland’s embrace!!!”
“We fall on the battlefield!!!”
“We fall on the battlefield!!!”
“We fall on the battlefield!!!!!!”
“Die! Atone to Mother with your lives, you worthless meat lumps!”
Clank clank clank clank!
Swoooooosh—
.
.
.
.
BOOOOM!!!!!
Thus, the knights charging as one collided with the white monster.
***
Thud!
‘Here it comes....’
Professor lay collapsed a short distance away, gazing toward where he guessed Charlotte and the knights were.
“Won’t be like before, you monster bastard.”
A true hero like Charlotte de Agate’s strength wasn’t individual combat prowess. It was her absurd tactical command and buff abilities—reading the battlefield, placing allies optimally to draw out 200% of their power.
Lordric’s First Knight was strongest fighting with allies.
‘The Black Mages’ era just began; Edenorna’s not even a year old. He won’t know how to cope if his pace breaks. He can inherit combat power from the queen, but not experience.
We’ve won this fight.’
Boom!
Seeing white and orange flashes entwine in the distance, Professor collapsed fully.
Beep—! Beep—!
[Warning: ‘Mutation Blood’ infection rate 92%]
Lucky the wound was on his back. No pain felt since the spine was hit.
“Haha, me too. Gotta moderate the immersion. It’s just a game—why go all out like this....”
Words were hollow, but he knew the answer.
Pouring mutant blood—like poison—over dying knights on the battlefield, not one showed the slightest repulsion.
They said nothing, but Professor wasn’t fool enough to miss their thoughts.
It was in their eyes. Indescribable, but after the world’s end, slowly worn away in people’s hearts until gone—something that reddened eyes just to see. Something that made passersby unable to just walk on by.
“....Whatever. Anyway, it was fun. Game was fun—that’s what matters.”
‘Limit reached.’
Professor’s eyelids, barely held open, slowly descended.
Beep—!
[Warning: Abnormal logout detected. Logging out outside safe zone will leave your character to act autonomously per game situation. Confirm logout?]
“Do what you want. Gonna die anyway.”
Infectious agents reaching the brain caused hallucinations. No control over his character now.
[Do not give up]
As consciousness faded, Professor heard his father’s voice like a phantom in his ear.
“....Dad’s busy even in death. Saw it, didn’t I? Not giving up. Don’t worry.... log in.... rest.....”
Losing consciousness, Professor thought he heard his father’s laughter.
***