Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Demon Crow Pursuit
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Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A faint tremor rumbled through the ground, accompanied by the distant thumping sounds.
Watching that direction intently, I began to make out the figure of a man desperately sprinting from far away.
"He's coming."
The man we'd been waiting for.
The man carrying out his assigned role to perfection—Thompson.
"Uwaaaah—!"
"That human sure knows how to run. Even if his wings have degenerated, putting up a chase like that against those things..."
Barundel, who was watching Thompson alongside me, spoke in admiration.
It seemed even to Barundel, with his flawless physique and speed that never bowed to anyone, Thompson's running form was genuinely impressive.
Sure, dodging [Demon Crows] purely on foot was a rare sight...
But honestly, a little thought made it less surprising.
"It's a body built for running, structurally speaking."
Long legs proportional to his massive frame.
Muscles and stamina honed by consistent training.
Plus earth magic to propel explosive speed.
If someone with all that couldn't run well, that would be the real oddity.
That was the intent behind my words...
But.
"Structurally speaking... you say?"
Had I hurt his feelings?
Barundel glanced down at his own legs, then muttered with a dejected expression.
"Then it's impossible for me..."
"...Haha, that's not what I meant."
It looked like his compact build was a complex for him...
I hurried to shower him with flattery before the mood soured further.
"Still, Barundel has no need to envy that. You already have a perfect physique. For someone like you to have that kind of bulk too... that'd just be greed."
My brand of flattery.
It hit the mark perfectly.
"You really think so...?"
Barundel brightened up instantly and asked again.
Worried the mood might drop if I hesitated, I nodded quickly.
"Of course. Probably no being in the world has it all."
"Hearing it like that, you're right. Heh heh, I was being too greedy."
'Phew...'
I sighed inwardly in relief.
At the same time, to keep Barundel from dwelling on other thoughts, I swiftly changed the subject.
A perfect physique, massive bulk, tireless stamina.
He absolutely could not think of 'barbarians' possessing all that.
Never.
"So, how far has my physique progressed now...?"
"From today's work, you're still at stage three..."
We were chatting about that when.
Thud thud thud!
The ground-shaking grew louder than before, and turning my head, I saw Thompson charging toward us clearly.
He was almost here.
"Barundel, time to get ready."
"Got it."
Swoosh.
At my words, Barundel bent down and picked up what lay beside him.
It was an axe.
But not the one he usually wielded.
A handmade stone axe, sharpened by Barundel himself using Thompson's earth magic as material.
'It suits him pretty well.'
Was it because of the thick beard covering over half his face?
Barundel wielding the stone axe looked perfectly natural, without any awkwardness.
Like an image from the Stone Age, evoking a primitive man.
Of course, that was just my thought.
"...This axe still doesn't feel right, no matter how many times I pick it up."
Barundel frowned, clearly displeased with his axe.
No wonder—going from an expensive bought axe to this primitive stone one would sour anyone's mood.
But that lasted only a moment.
"I'll head out first."
Soon, dissatisfaction vanished from his face, leaving only seriousness.
When it came to demon hunting, he was more focused than anyone.
Whoosh!
Kicking off the ground, Barundel shot forward in an instant.
Just moments ago he'd been marveling at Thompson's running, but his speed was no slouch either.
The difference? Unlike Thompson, it was pure muscle power driving him.
'...Wonder how fast he'd be with long legs too.'
Lost in such idle thoughts.
Grrk?
Thwack!
Kreeeeeh—!
Sounds of Barundel clashing with the creatures reached me from afar.
True masters don't fuss over gear, or so they say?
Proving it, Barundel brutally smashed their heads with just a stone axe.
Watching the scene, I quietly steadied my breath.
"Hoo."
Now it was my turn... no, our turn to prepare.
According to plan, they'd come closer this way.
"Kayla."
"Got it."
Kayla, who'd been waiting for my signal, immediately drew up her mana.
I did the same.
Wooooong!
Mana infused with my will began condensing in my palm.
But.
'...This kind of attack is new for me, huh?'
Was it my obsession with building according to plan?
This was the most standard way mages handled mana, yet it felt awkward somehow.
Like a total novice fumbling with magic for the first time.
It stemmed from always using instant-cast spells without much preparation.
Of course, the genius within me wasn't just sitting idle.
[Magic computation ability maximized.]
[Magic learning rate increased by 300%.]
[Mana sensitivity increased by 300%.]
Tension melted from my stiff body, my mind cleared, and a refreshing sensation washed over me.
By the time I noticed, I had transformed completely.
A perfect stance I didn't even realize I took, pinpoint focus capturing every mote of mana.
And skilled control digesting it all into the casting process.
Like a mage who'd devoted a lifetime to this method, gathering ambient mana.
Shoooo!
The mana orb swelled rapidly in size.
That was when Barundel signaled.
"Now!"
"Yes!"
At his cue, Kayla—who'd finished casting first—hurled her fireball.
Fwoooosh!
A fireball streaking straight, trailing flames through the air.
Her skill had grown; it was straight out of a game now, a true flame mage's fireball.
"Thompson!"
"Got it!"
Splash!
Sensing the fireball's heat, they exchanged a glance and dove to either side simultaneously.
The space between them filled with the fireball.
...Kiek?
The [Demon Crow]'s face twisted as if seeing something unbelievable.
It soon turned to screams.
Fwoooosh! Boom!
Kieeeek—!
Proving its pain receptors worked, it flapped wildly in agony.
But this wasn't ordinary fire—it was magical flame.
No way it'd go out like that.
Ki...ek.
Sizzle—
Soon enough, it charred black like forgotten sweet potato, belching foul smoke and gray ash.
Ki...ek?
Kieeeek!
The others realized their comrade's death and started hopping mad in place.
Their throat-scraping cries louder than before, eyes bloodshot—it showed their excitement level.
And.
That ferocious glare and rage turned toward our group.
"W-We bought enough time, right?"
"...I think this is good."
Barundel and Thompson exchanged looks once more.
They nodded and bolted simultaneously.
"Run, run!!"
Thud thud thud thud!
Hard to believe just two were running, the ground shook that much.
But the [Crow Demons] were no pushovers.
Keeeeek!
Keeeeek!
Two [Crow Demons] pursuing at terrifying speed.
I eyed them, double-checking my spell.
'Formula... fine. Mana ample. No internal conflicts.'
As long as I didn't miss, everything was perfect.
Final variable checked, I turned forward again.
"Huff, huff... Number One, hurry!"
Thompson yelled urgently.
Barundel running beside him looked just as desperate.
But I watched silently.
As always, timing was key before casting.
So...
'Right now.'
Kwaaaaang!
Releasing control, a bizarre beam of light shot through the magic circle.
Perfect timing paid off—direct hit.
It pierced both charging in a line at once.
Shoooo.
Watching them swallowed by light, crumbling to gray dust, a satisfied smile formed.
"Not bad at all."
No blade form, so no soul imprint boost, but I'd squeezed every drop of mana, infused [Essence of Light], and cast properly.
Power rivaled anything I'd done before.
Only issue: too cumbersome.
Without allies blatantly baiting like this, impractical in real combat.
'Need to streamline it.'
Feedbacking to myself when.
I noticed the sudden quiet and looked up.
"..."
"..."
What was this awkward vibe?
Everyone stared at me wordlessly.
"...Why's everyone like that?"
Unable to bear it, I spoke first; Barundel replied.
"...Were you trying to kill us all?"
Then I realized what I'd missed.
"Ah."
Thompson's robe, shredded by the light beam.
Barundel's hair singed and floating in the air.
Kayla sprawled on the ground, gasping.
"...Sorry."
The light beam's range was way bigger than I'd thought.
***
Thirty minutes after wiping out the [Demon Crow] pack and returning to base camp.
Thompson, still drained, lay spread-eagled and asked.
"But Number One, how do you plan to hunt more? Your legs don't seem fully recovered."
"Ah, about that."
I'd meant to show them after catching the [Demon Crows], but EXP was short, so plans shifted.
No clue what went wrong; they weren't respawning.
Guess explanations were needed now.
As I opened my mouth to speak.
Kieek!
A familiar cry echoed from somewhere.
Thompson jolted up in panic.
"What the—those things are still alive...?"
I patted his shoulder to calm him.
"No. Nothing like that."
"Then what?"
"Hmm."
This was simple—no need to overthink.
[Demon Crows] were infamous for tight-knit tribal bonds.
Not for nothing they'd gone berserk crying when their friend died.
"Simple—revenge?"
"What? Then what do we do? They're coming here!"
What to do?
Also simple.
Facing demon monsters, players had one choice.
"Hunt them."
Mid-tier bordering upper-tier demons, [Demon Crows].
'Perfect timing.'
To me, they were just walking EXP chunks.