Chapter 115
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Farm's Fox (2)
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With his business finished, there was no reason to linger in this mansion any longer.
After tucking away the inner core he'd just obtained, Woojin slipped straight out of the building. Arwen, who had been keeping watch, turned her head toward him.
"Did you have any success?"
"Yeah. There was this weird-looking sheep. I killed it right away and took its inner core."
It was probably a Probato.
At those words, Arwen's eyes widened in considerable surprise.
"A Probato was there? Why would a beast with such a lofty nose be in a place like this..."
"Let's save the chit-chat for later."
There was no time to leisurely swap tales of valor. Woojin reminded her of that before asking his question.
"How much time is left on the Charm?"
"Feels like about eight minutes."
"Still plenty."
It wasn't a long time, but more than enough to wrap up what needed doing.
He scanned the surroundings.
A few buildings caught his eye. Smaller than the mansion where the sheep had been staying, but proper structures complete with fireplaces and chimneys.
'Wonder who's inside those.'
Time to check.
He flung open the door to the nearest building. What he found right away was a pig sprawled on the sofa, snoring loudly.
It wasn't an ordinary pig. It looked like someone had mixed human and pig halfway.
'Similar to that guy from Building 308's memories.'
The slave trader who sold humans to the Dark Cultists. It looked just like him.
Pigman.
Probably called a Hoiros. A shrewd, cunning race good at scheming. Pigmen came and went inside and outside the farm, handling all sorts of ventures.
'Pigs are smarter than dogs, right?'
He vaguely recalled hearing something like that somewhere, but it wasn't important.
Crack!
Woojin grabbed the pig's head and twisted. Its cervical vertebrae snapped with a crunch, neck warping grotesquely. The loud snoring cut off forever.
He slit the pig's chest with his dagger and pulled out the inner core it carried.
'This one's nothing special.'
It was a lower-grade inner core than the sheep or ox monsters. Still better than nothing, so he pocketed it reluctantly.
Woojin stepped back outside. He immediately twisted the doorknob of the next building.
There, he came face-to-face with a pig sitting in front of the fireplace, roasting chunks of meat skewered on spits over the flames.
A sudden chill wind blew into the room. It ran down the pig's spine.
"Squeal! Y-you... who the hell are you?!"
The startled pig shrieked. It jumped to its feet in a panic and aimed the weapon in its hand.
Woojin stared impassively at the weapon.
A spit with meat chunks still on it. The pig belatedly looked down at the thing in its own hand.
"Hmph, shit..."
The pig spat curses as it reached hastily for the crossbow hanging on the wall. But Woojin's hand moved faster.
Thwack!!
He smashed his fist into the pig's face. The single blow sent it crashing into the wall.
No need for a mercy kill. The pig's limp body slumped powerlessly. Dead. Woojin immediately extracted its inner core.
Just like the previous pig he'd hunted, it didn't seem particularly valuable.
'Let's sweep the rest of the buildings too.'
Woojin headed back out. He proceeded to rummage through the surrounding buildings one by one, circling like a predator.
The haul was a bit disappointing.
He'd wanted to hunt more sheep, but he only got four pigs. Seemed the noble class wasn't that numerous.
'I'll aim for another chance later.'
Pushing aside his regret, he returned to the mansion and rejoined Arwen.
"Nothing happen?"
"No. You're done already?"
"Wasn't anything tough."
Killing sleeping prey was child's play. One pig had been awake munching a midnight snack, but even that was handled easily.
Thanks to that, they still had time to spare.
"How much Charm time left?"
"About five minutes."
How best to use it?
He glanced at the three ox monsters. The ones Arwen had charmed with her ability. They stood frozen like scarecrows.
Woojin beckoned to the oxen.
"Can you control these guys?"
Arwen nodded.
"Yes. I can."
"Then have them smash all the barracks tents over there."
"Uh... won't the Charm wear off right away?"
The more complex and demanding the command, the faster the Charm broke. That's why she'd kept the oxen standing still on purpose.
Woojin pondered briefly at her words but didn't back down from his order.
"Just do it."
"Got it."
Arwen issued commands to the oxen.
"Go over there and smash everything you see."
"Y-yes, sir..."
The charmed oxen obeyed. Dragging their two-handed axes along the dirt, the three advanced.
Soon, they swung the axes down with full force.
Boom!!
The powerfully swung axe blades tore through the barracks tents in a frenzy. The startled rooster warriors inside shrieked at the bolt from the blue.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo—! Enemy attack!! Enemy attack!!"
The quiet night turned into pandemonium.
Oxen on night patrol snapped to attention. Troops rushed toward the barracks. Seeing this, Woojin grinned in satisfaction.
"Alright, let's head to the warehouse."
With the local guards all rushing the opposite way, safe paths opened up everywhere.
Woojin and his group ran along the road unhindered. Before long, a well and two large supply warehouses came into view.
'Not unguarded, huh.'
One ox stood at each warehouse entrance. Two in total. Spotting the approaching Woojin, they gripped their axes with both hands.
Arwen asked upon seeing them.
"What now?"
"You two take the left one. I'll handle the right."
"Understood."
Shing—
Arwen drew two daggers from her sleeves. Gripping one in each hand, she stood ready, her squirrel companion tensing its tail beside her.
Coco let out a fierce cry.
"Squeak!!"
A valiant yet oddly heartstring-tugging screech. The ox scoffed at it mockingly, but soon regretted it.
A silver streak shot like an arrow, stabbing into one of the ox's eyes. As the startled beast lowered its head with a bellow, Arwen and Coco sprang forward as if they'd been waiting.
Woojin caught the scene out of the corner of his eye.
'They're fighting well.'
Truth be told, it was a fight they couldn't lose.
Coco might look small and harmless, but it was a powerful beast, and Arwen had once ruled a mining city as a Dark Cultist.
Whoosh—
In the midst of glancing away, he heard a wind noise. An axe blade dropping from above.
He instinctively stepped back.
Boom!!
The swung axe pulverized the innocent dirt. The ox tried to lift it again to follow up.
But Woojin was faster—his foot slammed down on the embedded axe, pinning it.
Using his Weight Manipulation skill, he ramped up the pressure. The axe sank deeper into the ground under his foot.
Couldn't pull it free.
Judging that, the ox abandoned the weapon and retreated. Then it lowered its head and charged.
A brutal headbutt packed with deadly power.
Crunch—
Woojin clenched his right fist tight. He unleashed it full force at the oncoming ox head.
Thud!!
Like a drum exploding, the ox reeled back. The staggering beast vomited white foam and collapsed.
Apparently concussed. Woojin looked down at it, flexing his hand.
'Skull's tough as hell.'
Thicker and harder than the last one he'd fought. Looked like it'd consumed an inner core that strengthened bones.
Woojin pocketed the freshly hunted ox's inner core. Then he checked on Arwen and Coco.
'...They're wrapping up over there too.'
The ox was thrashing on its knees. Blood poured from its calf. Achilles tendon severed—it couldn't even stand properly.
Stab!
A dagger plunged deep into the ox's throat. It let out a silent scream and went limp.
The situation cleared in an instant.
Arwen, hunt finished, brushed back her blood-matted hair and asked.
"What's next?"
"Some dirty work."
Woojin replied as he rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a small glass vial. Poison squeezed from hydra fangs.
Drip drip.
He poured it into the well. No more water now—time to handle the supplies.
"You know any fire magic?"
"Just a little."
Time for some pyromania.
"You take the left warehouse."
"Got it."
Woojin gestured. Hand signs reminiscent of sign language. Soon, a large fireball formed between his palms.
Arwen conjured a smaller flame in her hand. The two launched their spells together.
Boom!!
Big and small explosions rocked the two warehouses. Flames spread rapidly. Being wooden, they burned nicely.
As he admired the sight briefly...
Frantic noises echoed from afar. The enemies had noticed the fire.
"Time to bail."
The key to arson was not getting caught.
They bolted from the scene. Commotion rose behind them. Curious, Arwen glanced back at the warehouse.
Beasts were gathering in front.
Time lost dealing with the charmed ox monsters had let the fire rage out of control.
"The fire's spreading too fast!! We need to drag the supplies out first!"
A quick-thinking pig shouted. In response, an ox rushed to the well, scooped water with a bucket, and doused itself like a shower.
Soaked through, it planned to enter the burning warehouse and retrieve goods.
Arwen flinched at the sight.
'Oh, if they do that...'
"Mooooh!!"
The drenched ox screamed wildly. It convulsed on the ground. The pig panicked at the sight.
"What the—?! Squeal, what's wrong with it all of a sudden?!"
One inexplicable accident after another. The farm beasts plunged into uncontrollable chaos.
Arwen knew why.
'Hydra poison.'
Woojin had poisoned the well earlier. It slowed their firefighting even more.
Arwen marveled repeatedly.
'Wow... he's really devious.'
As sly as a fox sneaking into a farm.
There were many ways to torment foes, but this was one she hadn't imagined. Not even in the Dark Cultists' doctrines.
'...Thank goodness he's on my side.'
The thought hit her anew.