Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Chapter 9: Capitalism (3)
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The boss monster approached exactly where I was.
I hurriedly retraced my steps along the path I'd come.
Then the mana that had been heading my way came to a complete stop.
Instead of retreating further, I held my ground.
The boss monster began heading back to its original spot.
After repeating this a couple of times, I was certain.
It reacted if I got within a certain distance, but if I backed off beyond that, it wouldn't pursue and would return.
‘About 50 meters...’
And the smaller monsters didn't approach the boss monster's vicinity.
That meant my current position was a safe zone.
Should I regroup here, or go kill that thing absorbing mana right now?
I watched the two connected mana flows and organized my thoughts.
‘Its mana isn't visibly increasing.’
That made the choice easy.
‘I’ll recover all my attribute mana and then go in.’
The boss monster's mana was in the hundreds.
I couldn't even imagine how strong the creature was.
Even in peak condition, I wouldn't have the upper hand.
Once I'd decided, I plopped down on the ground, ass first.
It had already been half a day since entering the mission area.
I filled my stomach with the rations I'd brought while waiting for my mana to recover.
"Tsk."
Today alone, my attribute mana had depleted four times.
It was a relief I'd had time to recover like this midway; otherwise, the fights would've been even tougher.
‘My attribute mana pool is too small.’
The power was great, but it ran dry after every hunt, which was frustrating.
At some point, I'd started craving attribute mana more than regular mana.
Regular mana just felt like currency now.
‘My body isn't changing from mana anymore, and I have more than enough even blowing it on materialization left and right.’
Once I reached level 3, regular mana would only indirectly boost combat power.
‘Like buying skills or gear.’
Attribute mana, on the other hand, directly increased combat power by boosting attack potency and duration.
That was why I was desperate to gather it faster and in greater quantities.
But no clever solutions came to mind.
Searching my memories, I'd only gained attribute mana from completing missions.
With another problem added to my list, I kept an eye on the boss monster's direction while regulating my breathing.
* * *
Once my attribute mana was full, I dashed straight toward the boss monster's location without delay.
Just in case, I tried approaching with invisibility, but it reacted as if it had been waiting.
‘It’s coming.’
I dropped the pointless invisibility and picked up speed in my sprint.
I needed to claim position first.
Fortunately, whether that reaction was just a deterrent or not, the boss monster wasn't surfacing quickly.
Thanks to that, I reached the massive swamp before it fully emerged from the water.
It was about the size of a school field.
‘What the hell, it’s huge.’
I quickly scanned the surroundings, then focused on the monster's presence.
The weapon in my hand was the spear from the tutorial.
I hadn't used it much since getting the crossblade spear, but I needed it today.
It was better for throwing than the crossblade.
‘I’ll jab it once when it comes out and get started.’
I assumed a throwing stance, eyeing the black shadow drawing closer through the muddy water.
Every time the boss monster moved, the mud churned violently, splashing against the ground with wet slaps.
But it never fully surfaced.
I waited patiently for the monster to come out of the water.
Its patience was just as formidable, though.
It had stayed submerged ever since I'd spotted it.
‘Does it not need to breathe outside water...?’
If so, getting dragged in would be dangerous.
Unlike it, I could drown.
The area where I'd fought the smaller ones had only been knee- or thigh-deep, but this was dozens of meters deep.
Now I knew exactly why I couldn't enter the water.
Still, we couldn't stay in this standoff forever.
I needed a way to provoke it.
‘Come to think of it, it didn’t seem to want to leave that swirling mana.’
As I mulled over the boss monster's patterns, I subtly lowered the spear shaft.
Then, like when I'd first entered this mission area, I dipped the spearhead into the water.
Of course, I didn't use attribute mana this time.
‘No need to waste mana.’
If electrocution had little effect, it'd just be throwing mana away.
Fortunately, even just dipping the spearhead got a reaction.
The movements underwater grew more violent.
The water churned more intensely as a result.
It was like it was pissed off.
‘Not only does it not want to come out, it hates anyone invading this place.’
Realizing that, I immediately waded in ankle-deep.
Splash!
At the same time, water erupted from the monster's direction, and something as thick as my forearm shot out.
‘Here it comes!’
I grabbed the tongue lashing out like a whip.
"Hup!"
It felt heavier than expected.
But not enough to faze me.
I wrapped the tongue around my left arm and yanked hard.
I felt strong resistance, my feet digging into the soft ground.
Gritting my teeth and pulling with all my might dragged the hidden creature out.
The monster's body, once exposed above water, resembled the smaller ones.
But its head was nearly as big as my torso.
‘The whole body’s about 2 or 3 meters.’
Before I could frown at its size—several times larger than the small ones—the spear I threw embedded near its left foreleg.
"Shaaaak!"
I'd aimed for the head, but it twisted, throwing off my shot.
And it hadn't sunk in as deep as I'd hoped.
If its hide was like the small monsters', it would've gone clean through.
To make matters worse, as it thrashed, the spear popped out.
"Tsk."
My face twisted in annoyance. Tough bastard for no good reason.
‘Guess I’ll have to reel it in close.’
That marked the start of our tug-of-war with the boss monster.
Its tensile strength was impressive; it wasn't easy.
"Tsk."
I used attribute mana to paralyze it.
"Hup!"
Yanking hard on the now-rigid monster sent its 3-meter-ish body flying into the air.
Moments later, it twitched, shook off the stun, and bit through its own tongue with its teeth.
"You little shit?"
A hollow laugh escaped me. Not a second's hesitation to slice off its own flesh.
Infuriating, but it was already out of reach.
If it wanted to cut off its own body, no skin off my back.
I charged at the plummeting monster.
Longsword in my right hand, dagger in my left.
By the time I'd closed most of the distance, it crashed down with a thud, its massive bulk hitting the ground.
Muddy puddles scattered everywhere.
From the obscured direction, a tail as thick as my waist whipped toward me.
‘Right side!’
The longsword, shrouded in red mist, pierced straight through the monster's tail.
‘I’ll pin the legs next!’
Like stapling paper, I drove the longsword into the ground.
The tail was coated in slippery mucus.
But with the sword through it, no chance of it slipping free.
It writhed like it was throwing a tantrum, but I suppressed its struggles with raw strength while channeling attribute mana into the longsword.
Pin the tail, paralyze it, then cut off its air while it’s stuck.
But as blue sparks flew, another hollow laugh escaped.
It had severed its own tail and fled.
The severed tail sizzled, smoking faintly.
‘The tail this time?’
Now I saw it wasn’t a crocodile but a lizard.
Clicking my tongue, I pursued the fleeing monster.
Having sacrificed its tongue and tail, close combat was its only option now.
As I closed in, it whipped its head around.
Getting bitten now would split me in two.
I kicked its maw while slashing horizontally with the dagger in my left hand.
Its flank tore open longways, black blood spraying out.
One slice to the neck within longsword range, and it was done!
"Shaaaaaaa!"
But it suddenly rolled over, thrashing its head wildly and gaping its jaws.
The distance between me and its maw wasn't far.
A downward slash would let the longsword cleave through its jaws.
Before I could swing, though, thick green liquid erupted from its mouth.
"What...!"
I backpedaled while hastily erecting a barrier.
The fluid coated the barrier in an instant.
"Hah!"
White smoke rose from the barrier next, and it began melting.
Sizzle.
Just like meat hitting a hot griddle.
‘...Acid.’
Hydrochloric, sulfuric—didn't matter; touching it was bad news.
Fortunately, I retreated safely before the barrier dissolved.
The monster stood unfazed in its own spew.
‘No wonder it was so slimy.’
The mucus on its hide must neutralize the acid.
As I grimaced, it started spraying the acid everywhere.
Like it wanted to keep me at bay entirely.
I had no choice but to dodge and fall back a few more steps.
Then, the monster began slinking away.
My expression hardened.
Water lay in its path.
‘It’s making a break for it.’
It was trying to escape into the water.
‘Not on my watch.’
Once it hit the water, it wouldn’t come out on its own.
I might have to follow it in.
That would be way too disadvantageous.
No more thinking—I drew my spear, gathered attribute mana at my toes.
I kicked off the air and activated invisibility.
Pop, pop.
Leaping over the acid-slicked ground, the monster scurried faster.
It sprayed acid wildly, trying to deter me.
Most missed since it couldn’t pinpoint me exactly.
I twisted midair to evade the ones that came close.
By then, I was spear-range from the monster.
‘Can’t avoid getting hit.’
With a barrier up, I couldn’t attack.
To stab it, I’d have to drop the barrier at that instant.
Bracing for injury, I dropped onto its neck.
Sensing me, it lifted its head my way.
Red mist bloomed from the spearhead as it fired acid.
Then I kicked off with my left foot, twisting midair.
Landed on its side, barrier up.
Acid from its turned head hit the barrier nonstop.
The melting barrier gave way as I thrust the spear into its nape.
Green fluid drenched me.
"Hyaak!"
"Kyaaak!"
My left shoulder, back, flank, arms, hands, and thighs burned like fire.
Skin melted, the acrid stench of burning flesh filling the air.
Amid the agony, I didn’t loosen my grip on the spear.
I clenched the shaft tighter, dumping every last bit of attribute mana into it.
Around 100 lightning attribute mana materialized at once, blue light flashing everywhere.
The spear in its nape triggered convulsions through the monster’s body.
I dangled from it, jolted every which way as its bulk heaved.
The blue sparks began fading, but no system message appeared.
I drew my longsword and materialized it.
Red mist swirling, the longsword surged toward the monster’s neck, already a third severed.
Damn System