Chapter 107
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The Giant Serpent. (1)
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The Outer God's roar echoed across the entire mountain range. Startled by it, the bull beasts under its enchantment shook their heads vigorously.
It was as if they had awakened from a deep slumber. The bulls hurriedly turned to flee.
"Catch them!"
The Butterfly Mask shouted. In response, the cultists seized the fleeing bulls. Their movements were practiced, honed from countless repetitions.
Woojin assessed the situation upon seeing this.
'So the Dark Cultists here have been coexisting with that serpent.'
The Dark Cultists' city.
Its defenses were rather shabby. A single wooden palisade was all they had. The city was so flimsy it could collapse at any moment, like a sandcastle built on a wavy beach.
Yet despite these harsh conditions, the city was safe. All the beasts in the surrounding area had fled to avoid the giant serpent.
'The Dark Cultists somehow managed to form a friendly relationship with that ferocious beast.'
He didn't know how they'd done it, but it seemed they'd gone through plenty of trial and error in the process.
The Butterfly Mask's demeanor was remarkably calm.
"O Outer God!! Please calm yourself! We have more offerings here for you!"
Shouting this, the Butterfly Mask grabbed the bull beast's face firmly with her right hand. Immediately after, pink light particles surged from her sleeve like rippling waves.
Enchantment pheromones were unleashed. The bull beast's eyes glazed over, entranced by them.
Drool poured from the bull's mouth. Its lips curled up as if dreaming sweet dreams. Like a sleepwalker, the bull staggered to its feet and shuffled straight toward the serpent beast.
The serpent sat motionless, gleefully swallowing the food that came to it on its own.
......Burp.
The serpent let out a satisfied belch. It had no choice but to; it had devoured five bulls right there on the spot.
The Outer God's hunger was sated.
Having offered tribute to the Outer God that ruled the mountains, the Butterfly Mask judged they could now safely pass through the region. She began preparations to depart.
"O Outer God, we shall take our leave now. May you remain in peace."
The Dark Cultists bowed their heads in unison. Then they slowly backed away.
It seemed the situation was resolving peacefully, but...
"......Grrrrr."
Suddenly, the serpent bared its fangs. Seeing this, the Butterfly Mask faltered slightly.
They had offered more tribute than usual, yet for some reason, the Outer God's mood seemed foul. It radiated a savage aura, as if poised to lunge at any moment.
The Butterfly Mask cried out urgently.
"O Outer God, forgive us! We shall offer more tribute—please quell your wrath!"
The nearby cultists moved swiftly. They grabbed one of the bulls they'd set aside for transport and hurriedly dragged it before the Butterfly Mask.
Sensing what was coming, the bull thrashed wildly. But its resistance didn't last long. The Butterfly Mask doused it with pheromones just as she had before.
The bull walked toward the serpent. A few more like this, and the Outer God would be satisfied, or so she hoped...
"SKREEEEEE——!!"
The Outer God bellowed like a thunderclap. What it craved wasn't some bull beast. The serpent beast turned its head toward them.
Woojin's eyes met the serpent's.
'......That bastard... wants to eat me.'
The serpent was being picky with its side dishes.
Even humans crave variety after eating the same food too long. Devouring a powerfully strong being elevates a beast's very essence.
Woojin had suppressed his presence to hide his power, but the serpent beast seemed to sense it instinctively. Unable to contain its gluttony, it flicked its tongue repeatedly.
The Dark Cultists who saw this realized the situation as well. The Butterfly Mask blinked in panic.
"Wh-what do we do...?"
She muttered softly to herself. The High Priest beside her offered advice.
"To be chosen by the Outer God is the greatest honor. We should hand over that man."
"......"
The Butterfly Mask stood silent at his words. She seemed inwardly conflicted. But soon enough, she shook her head and shouted.
"......O Outer God! We cannot offer our own follower as tribute. Please reconsider!"
It was an unexpected response.
'She'd give up the easy way out.'
Sacrificing one follower would resolve this simply, yet the Butterfly Mask stepped forward to persuade the Outer God.
Naturally, the serpent wasn't pleased.
"Grrrrr..."
Irritated, it rumbled from deep in its throat. She had to calm it. The Butterfly Mask extended both hands toward the serpent.
The cape draped over her billowed wildly. It was a pale pink, like hibiscus dye.
Strangely, the cape's shape began to change. It widened and tore into four flaps, reborn in the form of moth wings.
Flap, flap flap—!
The moth wings beat furiously.
Pink light particles flooded out like a deluge. Carried on the wind from the wings, the pheromones surged relentlessly toward the serpent beast's head.
They enveloped its head like storm clouds. Woojin inwardly admired the sight.
'Her high rank must be why—she has greater talent than the others.'
It seemed she hadn't won her bishop position through gambling.
But it was futile. Mental attacks hold little sway against superior beings.
Just as Woojin had easily resisted enchantment in the past, the serpent shook its head a couple times to dispel the pheromones around it.
Its eyes grew even colder. Seeing this, the High Priest issued an urgent command.
"Seize No. 42!! We must offer a sacrifice to appease the Outer God's wrath!"
The Butterfly Mask shouted after him.
"We can't set that precedent! I'll buy time—everyone, grab the supplies and—"
But she couldn't finish. The High Priest beside her suddenly drew a dagger and stabbed her repeatedly.
Stab, stab!
"Wha—ack! Aaaah!!"
The blade ravaged the priestess's side. Screams erupted with each strike. Soon, the Butterfly Mask collapsed onto the dirt.
For good measure, the High Priest plunged the dagger into her heart. The hilt stood upright like a tombstone. Her body went limp.
The bishop had been assassinated. The Dark Cultists panicked at the sudden coup.
"High Priest! What are you doing?!"
One cultist shouted. The High Priest replied with unwavering conviction.
"It's an example to soothe the god's anger! My choice is surely the right one!"
With that, he stepped forward. He walked toward the serpent's maw. All the cultists thought he'd lost his mind, but...
The serpent's gaze was indulgent.
The annoying moth was dead. Satisfied with the turn of events, the serpent that had seemed ready to pounce stood calmly still.
The High Priest laughed heartily.
"Ha, haha!! See? My choice was right, wasn't it?"
He bellowed. Then he pointed at the stunned Woojin.
"Bring the sacrifice now!"
At the High Priest's order, the Dark Cultists surrounded No. 42.
Woojin's eyes scanned the surroundings.
'......Things got weird all of a sudden.'
From the atmosphere, it seemed the High Priest had been plotting this rebellion for quite some time.
Despite the abrupt change in leadership, the higher-ranking cultists obeyed without question, as if they'd been forewarned.
With justification secured, there was no reason to hesitate. By assassinating the bishop, the High Priest had become the city's new ruler.
"What a regrettable turn of events."
A burly cultist remarked. He held a round shield and a flail. Woojin noted the brooch on his chest.
'No. 1.'
The strongest among the cultists. He had never once yielded his rank.
No. 1 spoke magnanimously.
"No. 42. Accept the Outer God's call. Do so, and I won't lay a hand on you."
Offering oneself to the Outer God was the greatest honor and duty for a Dark Cultist.
Woojin nodded at his words.
"Understood. I can't refuse my duty."
"......Impressive resolve."
No. 1 murmured, seemingly impressed.
He'd expected the man to try fleeing, but No. 42 accepted his duty with remarkable poise. Respecting his will, the Dark Cultists parted to clear a path.
Woojin walked toward the lakeshore. The High Priest greeted him with a smile.
"No. 42! Thank you for cooperating so willingly."
"No need to thank me."
The ways of the world always come full circle.
Stab—
Woojin's fingers pierced the High Priest's chest. The High Priest's eyes widened in shock as he instinctively grabbed Woojin's wrist.
"W-wait a—!"
The High Priest cried desperately. But Woojin's fingers had already grasped something. More precious than a Dark Cultist's heart.
Squelch!!
He yanked his hand back out.
A walnut-sized orb was clutched in his fingers. The High Priest's inner core. He examined it closely, like appraising a fresh product.
'Must've eaten well.'
The core's size pleased him greatly.
Popping it into his mouth, the High Priest—who had frozen in place—toppled backward. His body tumbled down the slope into the lake.
No. 1 approached belatedly, opening his mouth.
"......You, what the hel—"
Woojin didn't let him finish. He rummaged inside his robe, drew the machete he'd kept hidden, and swung.
Sensing danger, No. 1 raised his shield.
Crack!
The machete split the shield, then raked across No. 1's upper body. His stance grew awkward, tilting sideways.
"Wha-wha-what..."
Like a broken radio, No. 1 repeated himself. Woojin nudged his head with the flat of the blade. A beat later, the diagonally severed upper half parted from the torso.
He rifled through the corpse and extracted the inner core. This one was quite fine too.
Chewing the core, Woojin smirked.
'Guess the Dark Cultist charade ends here.'
He'd expected to keep it up for months at least, but things had twisted bizarrely, ending it early.
He kicked aside No. 1's corpse at his feet. It rolled down the slope into the lake. The serpent's maw welcomed the fresh meat.
Crunch, crunch!
The serpent chewed and swallowed No. 1's body. Picking his teeth with a finger, Woojin addressed it.
"We shared some good eats... How about we part amicably now?"
Naturally, the serpent wasn't satisfied.
Its head blurred for an instant. The serpent's maw hurtled toward him at tremendous speed—like an oncoming train.
Rumble rumble—!
The head swept through where Woojin had stood. Then it reared back rigidly. The serpent scanned its surroundings for prey.
......The human from before was gone.
Where had he gone?
Puzzled, the serpent kept looking around. But it was pointless; it would never find Woojin. He was already perched atop its head.
This was no mere metaphor. Woojin had mounted the serpent's nape.
'Kinda slow on the uptake.'
When the serpent had lunged earlier, he'd leaped over its head and landed on its body. Gripping the machete with both hands, Woojin...
It seemed an easy catch. Thinking so, he swung with all his might.
Slash!
The serpent's head was cleanly severed. It dropped straight off. He'd killed it.
......But for some reason.
'Why does it feel... unsatisfying?'
Like slicing through an empty bluff pastry. As Woojin puzzled over it...
Squelch, squelch—
A strange sound came from the severed neck. Flesh bubbled up at incredible speed. The wound frothed like boiling water.
Splat!!
Something burst from the cross-section.
Two heads.
Cut off one head, and two grew back. A monster oft-mentioned in myths.
'Hydra.'
The total number of heads: nine.