Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Chapter 11 Contact (1)
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About two hours after rescuing the orange-haired guy?
The number on the mission window had changed to ‘5/?’.
Distinguishing allies from enemies wasn’t hard.
The ones who looked similar to me were allies.
The ones with feline beast heads and four protruding eyes that rolled around in different directions like a chameleon’s were the enemies.
Most of them were either in the middle of clashing or had already collided.
This place was basically a high-level hunting ground I had no business stepping into.
If I recklessly jumped into their fights, I’d die.
So I only picked up the ones who had ended their battles and survived using their own abilities.
‘This guy got lucky.’
I waved my hand in front of the eyes of a man who had just woken up.
“Hey, you okay?”
“Ah…….”
The man, who had downed a whopping eight potions before coming to, just stared blankly at the people lying next to him.
‘He hasn’t grasped the situation yet.’
I decided to give him some time.
‘He came back from the dead, so he must be confused.’
Normally, this indigo-haired guy would have died too.
When I found him, his stomach was pierced, and he was fighting a monster.
But since the monster’s neck was half severed, a brief opening appeared where I could intervene.
Without hesitating, I threw my dagger and took out the monster’s left field of vision.
The man didn’t miss the chance and killed the monster.
Thanks to that, I could save him.
Of course, not everyone I found survived.
‘Maybe because the monsters are high-level? Potions aren’t working well on the injuries.’
Even after pouring in six potions, some died.
It seemed like there was some special effect interfering with recovery.
They were on a different level from the monsters I’d seen so far.
One punch from a monster shattered a barrier, so of course.
‘Still throbs.’
The indigo hair had been in danger, so I’d made a barrier over his head.
It wasn’t even intact—just small pieces like a shattered puzzle.
But it blocked the monster’s fist, even after its neck was severed and it kept moving.
The barrier shattered into pieces from that one hit, and the shock made me vomit blood repeatedly.
But I saved him, so that’s what matters.
‘Never thought I’d live to see a decapitated corpse moving.’
The monster’s body, spewing black blood like a fountain while raising its hand to kill the indigo hair, flickered in my mind’s eye.
I shook my head to clear the memory and muttered.
“Throw out common sense.”
This is a world where headless corpses can still move.
Regaining my composure, I scanned the ground.
Five people I’d rescued, only one conscious.
Potions used to get here: a whopping 57. A sigh escaped me naturally.
Mana spent on this mission: over 3,000.
Mana I’d saved up from a level 3 mission, gone in just a few hours.
It felt utterly hollow.
‘What kind of game is made like this?’
This rule demanding growth at the cost of mana eats away at your motivation.
But there was no other way. Invisibility couldn’t evade the monsters’ senses.
‘Got caught once and really thought I was done for.’
While escaping, a hole got punched in the shield on my waist. Monster’s claw.
Even running away wasn’t easy with my abilities.
If I hadn’t run into an injured ‘ally’ moving at the time, I’d be dead.
After getting badly burned once, I needed something better than invisibility.
According to the system’s naming, it was a skill eight times more expensive than stealth or invisibility.
A 8,000-mana skill, but 700 for one-time use.
Lasted only one hour, so I bought four.
Plus a mountain barrier skill stone to make a safe zone.
‘Lucky there’s the skill stone exchange stone.’
Otherwise, buying a 2,200-mana one-time skill stone would’ve been impossible.
Saved five allies, but my pockets got lighter.
‘At least it didn’t drop below 3,000.’
Don’t know what happens if it falls below entry limit.
‘Can’t spend any more.’
Really on the edge. Time to watch every mana expenditure.
Letting out a sigh that was almost habit now, I glanced beyond the barrier.
Maybe more survivors out there.
Mission-wise, I should go back out.
Extra rewards per person saved.
But I couldn’t leave this barrier anymore.
Frustrated, scratching my head, a monster approached.
I just watched it intently.
Soon, the monster’s body passed right through me.
‘Not even surprised by much anymore.’
Barrier effect.
[Skill Stone (Barrier - Advanced)]
• Type: Consumable Skill
• Description: Uses embedded mana to form a barrier. The interior is excluded from this dimension, becoming a non-existent safe zone. Outsiders need physical contact with the caster to enter or exit.
(Duration: 2 hours)
The 2,200-mana one-time barrier created a truly non-existent safe zone.
While inside, it’s like being cut out of this world?
Meaning I don’t exist in this place, this space.
So monsters walking toward me just pass through like ghosts.
But the moment I step out, I ‘exist’ again.
On the way back after saving indigo hair, did a tail attach?
Or tracked traces left behind.
Already three monsters gathered near the barrier.
I grimaced at the prowling monsters.
Because of the timer in the upper left of my vision.
‘About 30 minutes left.’
When it hits zero, barrier gone.
Then those outside will kill me.
‘Need to find a way.’
Can’t just sit and get slaughtered.
Luckily, the last one I saved woke up quick.
While pondering, foot tapping, I turned back and called the man.
“Hey.”
The man, clutching his stomach and awkwardly rising, froze.
I nodded at his unrealistic purple eyes.
“Can you kill that in your current state?”
Doubt rose in the man’s eyes.
‘As expected.’
He doesn’t understand my words.
I half-expected it. Couldn’t understand a word they mumbled before passing out.
‘What to do?’
No real need to worry.
Language and culture differ, but people are people.
I pointed at the monster and mimed slitting my throat.
“Ah.”
The man let out a short exclamation and scanned the air.
Then checked his body, face stiffening slightly, and nodded.
He headed to the pile of weapons stacked neatly by the injured.
Too good to leave, so I grabbed every weapon in sight.
‘Discarded the breastplates and such during first aid since they were shattered.’
The axe he used against the monster was there somewhere.
One double-bladed axe as big as my torso, two normal hand axes.
Grabbing his weapon, the man straightened with a faint groan.
Seeing him stand, the size difference hit me.
‘Almost twice as big.’
Height a head taller.
Mana? Laughable to compare.
From head to toe, he was stronger.
Raising the bluish axe, he looked plenty threatening.
But injuries not fully healed, movements oddly sluggish.
Before sending him out, I pulled a potion and shook it.
Asking if he needed it.
‘No potion-like items in his stuff.’
Weird for their world’s game to lack game items.
Plus, the woken man didn’t react to the scattered vials.
He probably knows what potions are. Just doesn’t have any.
Thought they might have inventories, but no.
Indigo hair nodded like he wanted one.
I tossed it without a word.
With barrier time running out, he needs to handle the monster for my safety.
He caught it easily, hesitated opening the lid.
Then suddenly laughed alone and looked up.
‘What? Stops prepping for battle and...’
Before finishing the thought, a chilling whoosh from behind.
Only then did I register the massive mana clump in detection range.
Not from the edge—dropped right in front of me.
Turning my creaking body, a bisected monster corpse collapsed.
At the center stood a woman covered head to toe in red and black blood.
Her hair, floating then sinking, was blue.
Eyes quickly scanning footprints and monsters around the barrier: yellow.
‘No, deeper... golden.’
Before I could take her in, the system announced.
「Counting the number of rescued allies.」
「Success reward: 50 Attribute Mana provided.」
「Success reward: Random Box (×1) provided.」
「Additional reward: 40 Attribute Mana provided.」
「Additional reward: Random Box (×2) provided.」
Before the mission clear messages finished, monsters outside were all diced.
Seems sturdy reinforcements arrived at this spot with only injured and weaklings.
Lost in the sight, indigo hair approached.
Pointing at the woman with a bright smile.
‘Wanna go out?’
Just saw her slice a high-level monster like tofu.
Looks human however you slice it, but instinctual fear unavoidable.
Her mana visible to me, naturally.
Staring straight felt burdensome; her intense mana crushed me.
Plus, I’m suspicious in many ways.
‘Not common to pop out of woods and save lives?’
Worried about weird suspicions.
But no choice with indigo hair urging.
To let him out, move together.
‘Not gonna kill me, right?’
I did save their lives, fact.
Hope they hold off drawing swords on suspicion.
Leading with indigo hair, I exited the barrier.
As he appeared, the woman’s icy expression softened slightly.
They spread arms wide, embraced.
I watched from a step away.
Ready to dive back in alone if needed.
Luckily, she didn’t attack.
Whether he explained well or not, by conversation’s end, she offered a handshake first.
I gripped and shook lightly.
After bringing them inside, time to check rewards.
‘Three random boxes.’
Mission window’s numbers were probably fixed for at least one rescue.
Then +10 Attribute Mana and +0.5 box per extra.
‘Cheap bastard. What’s 0.5?’
Wouldn’t kill them to give one extra per person.
“Tch.”
Cursing the system, I pulled out a random box.
Each opened with a flash.
Unintentionally drawing blatant stares from indigo and blue hair.
Already uncomfortable, and the contents...
[Phinalpenia’s Authority 1-Time Use Ticket]
[Karos’s Authority 1-Time Use Ticket]
[Translation/Interpretation Earring]
“Whew.”
Did this damn system get obsessed with tickets?
Why do random boxes always spit these out?
What even is ‘authority’?
Explanation tab: barely anything.
Just ‘Use authority once.’
Nearly enlightened, I shoved the tickets in my pocket.
Examined the remaining earring.
Simple design with a purple gem my thumbnail size.
Only one, not a pair.
[Translation/Interpretation Earring]
Earring imbued with cognition field tech.
Enables communication with other language speakers when worn.
Will it really translate?
Doubt it’d be fake, and no big loss wearing it.
‘No need to pierce twice.’
About to wear the unfamiliar thing, felt persistent gaze.
Sure enough, turned to see golden eyes on me.
For some reason, her eyes shimmered.
Staring piercingly, then she looked away.
Only then could I exhale.
Her gaze had me holding breath unconsciously.
‘Gonna lose it.’
Just a look makes me shiver, stuck with her.
Closed eyes tight, opened, pierced earring into earlobe as planned.