Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Chapter 9: Capitalism (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Beyond the disappearance of the Barrier, the level 3 mission differed from previous ones in several ways.
The most immediately noticeable difference was that there were no restrictions on the number of entrants.
On top of that, the mission content itself had changed.
MISSION
[03-143]
Destroy all mediums connected to the Hole.
• Medium (0/1)
[Rewards]
Choose one of the following rewards.
• Mana 60, Fame 3
• Attribute Mana 30, Fame 6
(* Fame ranking 1st place perk: Rewards doubled upon mission success.)
The addition of Fame to the rewards was expected.
The list of merits included the phrase "all acts that directly contribute to Hole closure."
In fact, during the Fame-related update, my Fame had increased by the number of missions I had cleared.
Now that the update was over, it was only natural for Fame to appear in the reward list.
This part didn't need special attention.
I skipped the expected content and focused on what I hadn't anticipated.
"Medium."
What was this? I repeatedly checked the mission details while using Mana Detection for reconnaissance.
"There's no count for eliminating enemies either...."
But before I could thoroughly analyze the changes, I sensed mana nearby.
It was smaller than the mana of the monsters from level 2, but there were more of them.
"Six right from the start."
Their precise locations were below me.
At first, I thought there were monsters underground.
But when I turned my gaze toward them to confirm, I realized it was a misconception.
"A pond...."
No, swamp was more accurate.
Visibility was poorer here than in the previous mission area full of trees.
Grass as tall as me protruded from the water.
The plants had leaves shaped like round fans.
"They look like lotus leaves."
I stared quietly at the water's edge where unknown plant roots were submerged.
More precisely, at the surface dyed black with darkness.
In the direction where Mana Detection had pinged the monsters, something triangular floated on the water.
Red eyes with no distinction between sclera and pupil.
Glossy, reptilian skin.
An elongated tongue occasionally flicking out from the water.
"A snake?"
I gripped the spear shaft tighter, facing off against the one with just its head slightly above the surface.
In the meantime, the other detected monsters approached me.
The surroundings were so quiet that the splashing water from their movements sounded especially loud.
The monsters' positions were inside the swamp to the left of the muddy path exposed above water.
One by one, two, three, up to the last six.
All the monsters within my 300-meter radius had poked their heads out of the water.
They were close enough to see with the naked eye.
Six pairs of red glowing eyes stared fixedly at me through the tall grass, flicking their tongues.
Without knowing their appearance, entering the water where movement was restricted would be a bad move.
If they were snake-like, they might coil around me.
Throwing the spear wasn't a great option either. Too much risk of losing my weapon.
"If I can't go to them, I need to make them come to me."
I lowered the spear shaft, which I'd gripped ready to thrust at any moment, dipping it slightly into the water. The surface rippled more dynamically.
The monsters began darting around underwater, as if preparing to charge at me.
The dense plant stems and rippling water made it hard to track their positions visually.
"Without Mana Detection, this would have been a hassle."
The terrain and environment weren't in my favor.
I clicked my tongue inwardly while dipping the cross-shaped spear blade lightly into the water.
"Learn firsthand why electrical shorts are dangerous, you bastards."
Sparks from my fingertips instantly enveloped the spear.
"Shaaak!"
As a result, the monsters lurking in the water began thrashing like fish pulled ashore.
* * *
Triangular heads, forked tongues at the tips, mouths that could open 180 degrees.
Four legs with webbed feet, sharp claws, and tails as thick as my thigh.
The new monsters resembled crocodiles in appearance.
But calling them full crocodiles was a stretch.
These could walk upright on two legs.
When standing, they reached up to my chest.
"Annoying how they leap out of the water."
I tsked while shoving a dagger into the mouth of the monster that had just rocketed out of the water at terrifying speed.
Seizing the opening, I kicked away another charging from the side, trying to bite my hand.
Whenever a monster died, contaminated mana was reliably absorbed.
「You have successfully eliminated an enemy.」
「27 contaminated mana is absorbed.」
「You have successfully eliminated an enemy.」
「29 contaminated mana is absorbed.」
My expression soured involuntarily. No message about collecting mana.
I glanced at the message window with mixed feelings.
But staring at it wouldn't reveal the reason.
For now, I had to push through.
Their mana reserves ranged from late 20s to early 30s.
"More mana than polar bears."
In terms of mana capacity alone, these were stronger lifeforms than polar bears.
An ordinary human would die before even grappling.
I methodically dispatched the ones shooting out like arrows from the water, never letting my guard down.
One that had crawled onto land tried to bite my calf, so I lifted my foot and stomped down hard.
Crunch.
A dull sound rang out as the monster's skull completely caved in under my foot.
"Hoo."
Just a few minutes into the fight, all six monsters targeting me were dead.
"Chaos Value up about 0.4%."
Thanks to my increased mana capacity, the Chaos Value rise was much smaller.
No drastic emotional shifts like in the promotion exam.
From experience, my limit for direct mental corruption was around the early 30s percent.
That's when auditory hallucinations and aggression started becoming prominent.
At 50%, I'd resort to violence like kicking without realizing it.
"Still some margin, but no need to leave contaminated mana lingering."
I activated Purification while shaking the black blood off my longsword and dagger.
Instead of leaving immediately, I examined the monster corpses.
The one that had died from a dagger to the throat was the most intact.
Unlike the monsters from the promotion exam and level 2, which had spines like teeth on their upper palates, these had teeth only along the edges like crocodiles.
After confirming the overall form, it was time to find weak points.
"Need to keep updating the guidebook."
While I prepared for level 3, Ethan and Lily had already run a level 2 mission once.
The frontrunners climbing fast were graduating from level 1.
Time to write a guidebook sequel for higher-level missions.
To steadily build Fame, I couldn't slack on intel gathering.
"Let's poke around first."
I started stabbing the corpse here and there with the dagger.
But no particularly weak spots in the hide.
The force needed to penetrate the back or belly skin was similar.
The tail was heavy; a solid hit to the head would mean a concussion for sure.
These were definitely stronger than ordinary humans.
"But not compared to the level 2 monsters."
I could bisect these with a single slash without materialization.
That's why this fight was easier than level 2.
"Reaction speed's slow, and weaker too."
I reviewed the recent battle after inspecting the corpse.
"Even with six gathered, they didn't strike first."
They only charged after I provoked them.
Of course, even then, their movements weren't random.
"Habituated to pack hunting, huh."
I'd pay closer attention in the next fight.
Having summarized the info simply, I stood up.
Looking over the corpses I'd killed made my face sour naturally.
"If their numbers grow, it'll be chaos."
Weak individually, but dozens charging at once would be tough.
With limited hands, I'd have to tank a few bites.
Having checked precautions for the next fight, I started moving.
Meanwhile, I mulled over the odd feeling from examining the monsters.
"Something's off...."
Normally, games separate hunting grounds by level.
Monsters from higher-level grounds get stronger.
Difficulty ramps up stepwise, like climbing stairs.
"But level 3 monsters weaker than level 2?"
The gap was too wide to blame on numbers alone.
Their mana was nearly 50 less than the fox monsters.
Plus, unlike my solo play, others partied up as standard.
Fifteen full parties? Not difficult at all.
"The fox cubs were trickier."
Harder to kill without materialization.
Objectively, level 3 was easier for typical players.
"What's the deal? The structure's weird."
From what I'd seen, level 1 built basic physicals.
Level 2 started proper character building.
Shop's cheap support skills were diverse; most players would differentiate into DPS, tank, etc., by level 2.
The system's framework seemed solid.
But difficulty scaling was off. What was the reason? One thing caught my eye amid the pondering.
"Medium...."
An element absent in levels 1 and 2.
Was this bizarre structure tied to the medium?
"Maybe levels aren't divided by monster strength."
Related to the system labeling levels 1 and 2 as beginner zones?
Another unsolved question piled up in a corner of my mind today.
"Frustrating."
I swallowed a habitual sigh and began moving.
Dry land was narrow, barely enough for one person.
Sometimes my foot slipped into water with a loud splash.
Navigating the narrow path was more annoying and slow than expected.
Worse, wild plants crammed the way, blocking the view.
I could barely see my feet.
Felt like trudging through a reed field.
If that were all, no cursing.
But the plants blocking me weren't ordinary.
Sharp thorns covered the stems, snagging my clothes constantly.
"Not enough to draw blood."
But they stung painfully.
In the end, I hacked through with my sword to clear a path.
Meanwhile, monsters began gathering again, one or two at a time.
No visual on them scanning around.
Only visible once up close.
"If it's the same field ongoing, Mana Detection is essential."
This field had way more hiding spots than prior missions.
Focusing on the mana signatures encircling me, I pressed forward.
When about ten monsters had gathered, their preemptive strike began.
"The moment I confirmed they only hunt in groups."