Chapter 42

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 42

Chapter Title: Monster Parade (3)

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The powers I had gained, thinking I needed to build up my stats, were steadily proving helpful in combat.

The observational acuity and swordsmanship I had honed while sparring with Gillek and the knights, along with secret techniques, made it easy to cut down monsters.

Compared to the movements of seasoned imperial knights, the monsters' simple and predictable actions were far easier to handle.

Of course, even if I could read their moves, it would still be tough if they all rushed me at once.

That's when I used the magic I had learned from Amelin to turn the tide.

The ones that typically came in groups were agile but lacked strong durability.

Just casting mid-level spells without incantation was enough.

Pfufufufut!

-Graaaak!

-Kyruruk!

-Kweeeek!

I could dispatch the smaller fry all at once to secure some space.

"Incredible, my lord!"

Tenka, who had just sent a monster's jaw flying with a kick, marveled at my magic.

"Thanks. Just stay alert so we don't get surrounded."

"Understood!"

Besides Tenka and me, the knights and spirits were fighting as well.

In the rear, Amelin and Riki were each clearing out monsters over wide areas.

Yet, true to the name Monster Parade, the beasts kept pouring in relentlessly.

Even with the spirits' blessings boosting me, situations arose where I could take hits.

But for those, I had the Cloud Mist Step I'd learned from Kirigumo.

Kuwoong!

While Tenka was handling another monster, and I was sweeping away others with magic, one beast timed its attack perfectly—but my heightened senses caught it, and I dodged with Cloud Mist Step.

Puk!

I drove my sword into the heart of the monster that had lunged for the opening.

As I attacked, I scanned the surroundings to gauge the situation.

Spotting a monster about to pounce on Tenka, I pulled a dagger from my inventory and hurled it with Thread Binding Technique.

Puk!

I nailed the monster across from us first, then used the thread connected to the dagger to trip the one lunging at Tenka.

"Hup!"

Pakak!

Tenka instantly noticed the fallen monster and smashed its skull with a downward strike.

"My apologies, my lord! To think I'd drag you down like this!"

"We help each other. If you're sorry, just train harder."

"Ahh! Such mercy! Understood! I shall redouble my efforts...!"

Paak!

Fifteen minutes into the battle.

Thanks to the spirits' blessings enhancing our physical abilities, the knights—and even Tenka—showed no signs of major fatigue.

Still, sweat poured off them profusely, proof that stamina was being consumed.

In contrast, despite all my movement and spellcasting, I hadn't broken a proper sweat.

The body techniques, swordsmanship, and magic I'd built up helped me take down monsters.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But what let me sustain it was this immense stamina, paired with a body that rapidly regenerated mana.

Supreme Physique.

Thanks to this supreme body, I could test my limits to the fullest.

Even after unleashing mid-level spells, I could fell monsters with swordplay while my mana recovered.

Once mana was back, I'd use it—mana I hadn't touched since lessons—to drop more beasts.

Being able to repeat this endlessly without rest was pure joy.

No joke, I could go all day without issue.

Then, amid it all.

'Hm?'

Something odd entered my vision.

At the edge of the forest where monsters were spawning.

A robed figure stood there.

Suspicious as hell, no matter who looked.

I kept felling monsters while surveying the area.

My siblings' summoned spirits and the knights were holding strong.

-Kurrururuk!

Amelin had ordered Mikel to handle the larger monsters, so the battle line wasn't on the verge of collapse.

No worry about the front crumbling if I stepped away briefly.

I blasted nearby monsters with a spell and called to Tenka.

"Tenka, spotted a shady figure nearby."

"Really, my lord? Shall I scout?"

"No, I'll check it out. You help the others."

"But my lord, I can't let you go alone!"

"If it gets dicey, I'll signal right away. Follow my orders—this is a command."

"Understood! I obey your command, my lord! Signal at the first sign of danger!"

"Got it."

The moment I answered Tenka, I dashed toward the suspicious figure.

"...!"

Realizing I was coming, it turned and bolted.

Quite a distance between us.

But I had a way to close it in a flash.

Using Eagle Pursuit's variant, I channeled mana through my back like jets, arms extended behind, blasting wind to accelerate.

The gap closed instantly, and as I swung my fist—

"Urk!"

Fwoosh!

The figure whipped around, hand outstretched, hurling fire magic at me.

But.

The flames it shot were devoured by the honey pig on my shoulder.

"What!?"

I smashed my fist into the shocked face.

Bweeeeng!

The figure bounced three times before rolling to a stop.

"Kuhuk!"

As it staggered up, its face revealed, I knew it was definitely tied to the Monster Parade.

Because the hood had fallen, exposing a purple insignia on its face.

To think cultists were behind the Monster Parade too.

'Come to think of it, those purple-marked cultist mobs could control other monsters, right?'

No reason to let it live, regardless.

'What the hell is this?! Why?! Why is imperial royalty here of all places?!'

A cultist devoted to the Evil God of Greed.

Torchkal felt searing pain in his cheek alongside overwhelming injustice.

This plan had taken over ten years to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠execute.

Using his evil god's power, he had steadily increased the monsters under his control.

All to deliberately trigger a Monster Parade and offer up sacrifices in batches for his god.

Start with a small village.

Make it seem like mere disaster at first.

Overwhelm and slaughter those too weak to resist, turning them into offerings.

Grow stronger from it.

By the time they realized it wasn't natural disaster, enough sacrifices would have been made—no one could stop him.

Not even if the emperor himself came.

That was the plan, and today marked its glorious beginning.

He'd intended to start slow, wiping out one unassuming village.

Then royalty showed up.

Three children wielding high spirits.

Triplet spirit mages with matching faces—only one set existed in the empire.

The 10th, 11th, and 12th Princes.

Why were the triplets, who should be in the capital, here?

And moreover.

'What the hell is that monster?!'

Amid the fray against their amassed monsters, one figure stood out, pulling off absurd feats.

A man who started casting spells alongside the red-haired mage, then leaped into melee, swinging a sword to fell beasts.

Not just swordplay—he wove in what looked like mid-level magic, soloing more monsters than anyone.

Using mid-tier spells like they were basic ones, all while handling a blade with expert ease. He'd never heard of such a person.

No royalty he knew had talent in both swordsmanship and magic.

Which made it all the more baffling.

Where had this freak come from?

And the unidentified piglet on his shoulder had eaten his magic.

This incomprehensible existence filled Torchkal with anxiety—and fury that surpassed it.

"How much! How much effort did I pour into this?! And some monster like you jumps in?!"

Torchkal invoked a taboo curse he never used lightly.

Emergency demanded it.

Burning his life force, he massively amplified his mana.

Dying here ended everything anyway.

Sacrificing a third of his lifespan, he channeled the mana into a lightning spell.

Pajijijijik!

Gritting through the agony of his palm scorching from the power, Torchkal hurled a bolt at the monster-man.

"Dieee!"

A azure lightning spear shot toward Aren.

Aren planned to evade with Cloud Mist Step.

But first—

The honey pig leaped from Aren's shoulder, mouth agape toward the incoming bolt.

A lightning spear several times the honey pig's size.

Blindingly bright.

The spear, forged from a third of Torchkal's lifespan, was disassembled and sucked into the honey pig's maw.

"Wha...?"

Torchkal's mind rejected the impossible sight.

In that instant.

Puk!

"Gahak!"

Aren's thrown sword pierced Torchkal's heart.

And the next ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment.