Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Ronie (1)
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-Zing!
A moving magic circle. A man and woman popped out from the forest, looking around left and right.
"Lucky break."
Taeyang and Aori.
Very rarely, they would teleport to the same place via magic circle at the same time.
For those who planned teams, there was nothing better than starting together from the get-go.
People who planned teams usually met up around day three.
But Aori looked uncomfortable as she glanced at Taeyang, scrunching up her pretty face.
"It would've been better with a handsome guy..."
"What did you say, you bitch?"
"I don't wanna be stuck with someone whose dick doesn't even work right."
"Bullshit. Your pussy's probably too loose."
A cold war of glares, like they wanted to kill each other.
"Premature ejaculator."
"Slut."
After taking jabs at each other's sexual prowess, they scanned their surroundings with veins bulging on their foreheads.
They had lived like family, so there were no boundaries.
The relationship between the Wood Spirit King's descendants and those who inherited half his power was usually like this.
"If it bothers you that much, go your separate ways."
"...Should we?"
Aori was tempted by Taeyang's words, but his pride took a hit, and he let out a lukewarm breath.
They talked big, but they couldn't split up. They had too much to do.
"So, how are we gonna find that guy?"
The reason they came here.
It was partly to steal power from the Wood People, but above all, to find the one who inherited the Wood Spirit King's lineage.
The Wood Spirit King was probably nearby. Their surging lust proved it.
Aori poked her cheek with her finger, pretending to think hard for a while.
"Hmm..."
And her eventual answer.
"If we fuck everyone we see... we'll run into him eventually, right?"
"Oh."
Taeyang was impressed. A clear solution.
Aori spun around once, sniffing the air.
"And. I smell something naughty."
"W-What smell?"
"That guy with the mask... the one who looked delicious."
Aori licked her lips seductively, like an itch needed scratching. Her red hair caught on her tongue, sticking to the corner of her mouth.
Taeyang chuckled inwardly.
'Crazy bitch...'
A bitch with a radar for dick.
She seemed expressionless and airheaded usually, but when she targeted a guy, she was foxier than a fox.
Aori rubbed her lower belly and pointed in one direction of the forest.
"North."
"So, what're you gonna do when we meet him?"
Aori shot Taeyang a haughty look, as if it was obvious.
"...Obviously."
A slick tongue slipped out of her parted lips.
She licked the side of her index finger with the prominent ridges on her tongue. Clear saliva stretched out long.
Her tongue, like a ripe red apple, slid back into her mouth.
"Gonna eat him up. Nom nom~"
Her protruding canine gleamed.
*****
This forest seemed like the worst possible place for a mage.
-Slash!
A long wind blade extended but fizzled out midway.
It was enough to shred several wolves, but it still didn't feel satisfying.
'Natural mana recovery is practically zero.'
Spells didn't activate properly, and mana didn't recharge.
It was more accurate to think of it as rationing the mana you entered with over a week.
"Hoo."
I'd been pushing through branches for a while to make a path. I stopped midway to wipe sweat.
At least two hours of walking, and still nothing in sight.
No map, no water, no food.
All I had was a teleport scroll for emergencies.
An artifact that auto-activated on forfeit or combat incapacity.
Even I couldn't go a week without water or I'd pass out.
I needed basics for survival.
'At least I hear water. That's something.'
-Splash...
The sound of a river in the distance was my only comfort.
'Hope Cornus is doing fine on her own.'
As long as she didn't struggle against a National Tree.
She didn't forget I was supposed to meet her, right?
Cornus might seem slow, but she never forgot her tasks.
She wasn't dumb either.
Her grades were always top of the school.
Even for the Forest Keeper selection, she'd brought study materials.
'Three days.'
Until scattered participants found teams.
Until then, it was every man for himself.
I walked, then paused.
-Rustle.
Mana sense picked up a silhouette.
Heading to the water source, people started appearing.
The small figure walked steadily ahead, then whipped its head toward me upon noticing.
Face and body hidden, but mana signatures clear.
A mage.
Quick to notice.
I steadied my breath, gathering mana into my staff.
-Crackle!
Then goosebumps on my skin.
From behind the tree I hid, blue light shimmered, and forked lightning shot at me.
-Whoosh!
I swung my staff to smack the spell away.
-Boom!
Left.
-Kablooey!
Right.
I blocked consecutive spells with my staff.
Standing still, swatting left and right like batting practice.
Deflected lightning sparked around, igniting fires.
Burnt grass turned to ash, swirling nearby.
'Not an ordinary mage.'
As spells paused, I leaped onto a tree branch.
Enveloping my body in mana lightened it.
-Crackle!
Dodging aerial lightning, I spotted the opponent.
A petite woman in a large brown witch hat.
She thrust her staff at me, unleashing lightning.
-Zzzing!
I twisted my head to dodge, losing balance.
Wobble. Body tilting downward.
I reached down, grabbing the branch I stood on.
-Spin.
Full rotation around the tree.
Regaining posture, I flew toward a tree ahead.
Combat-Type Physique kept me calm and flexible in any situation.
Its flashy, precise moves sometimes looked like a dancer's routine.
-Swish!
Spinning midair, kicking off a trunk.
I shot like a bullet through the gap between two trees between us.
-Crackle!
She read my trajectory, firing a spell.
I hooked my staff on a branch, halting midair to land on an intermediate tree.
"...What?"
Missed lightning veered harmlessly away.
The woman's shocked voice came through the translator.
[Zing-]
Three cameras filming from above. No joke.
Her blue hair shone even in the heavy dungeon air.
The small national emblem on her shoulder: France.
I gripped my staff like a club.
'Abnormal number of cameras, blue hair.'
France's National Tree, then.
Trying to conserve mana. But right now, that'd be a headache.
-Craaaackle!
Four-pronged lightning aiming for vitals. I nimbly stepped on trees, branches, midair platforms, twisting my path.
Mixing in Wind Cutters mid-fight annoyed her.
-Whoosh!
Now just meters apart.
"...Tch!"
No choice, she gathered mana into her staff. This time, red lightning sparked.
Shotgun spread filling my vision.
Blinding mana surge. I raised my staff high.
Gripping the end with both hands, swinging full force.
-Kablooey!
Heavy impact. Home run this time.
Lightning slid along the staff, converging at one point.
Crackle. Crackle. Ears rang like a swarm of flies buzzing by my eardrums.
Muscles strained. Without status screen boosts, my body capped at A-rank.
Still, I poured strength into my grip, batting the spell away.
-Craaaack!
Deflected magic bored a huge hole through a nearby tree.
Her panicked face. I smashed my staff down on her head.
Full power.
-Boom!
Barrier formed.
"Eek."
Startled hiccup escaped her.
A crack formed at the impact point on the barrier.
"Wait-"
I paused mid-swing as she spoke.
"Let's negotiate. Negotiate. If we keep this up, I'll have to go all out. You don't wanna waste mana either, right?"
Her desperate proposal.
"...You're the one who attacked first."
She smirked bitterly at my translated words.
"I didn't think you'd be this strong. Fine. Sorry."
"What kind of negotiation?"
"You know. This place sucks for mages."
She shrugged, sweat dripping.
'France's National Tree...'
Marronie of the Heart Image.
Negotiation, huh.
She was a National Tree. If she aimed to knock me out without planning for a week, it'd be annoying.
I glanced at the cameras. Conversations wouldn't air anyway.
"Knocking you down now would boost my rep big time."
"You really think you can beat me?"
"Why not."
I tightened my grip on the staff.
Veins bulged on my forearm, twisting her mouth sourly.
"We both took hits fighting like this, and I won. Wonder what full power would do."
"Tough guy... you."
Her voice sounded sultry through translation. In French, it was like a young cousin's.
French might be more fun.
"You got more to lose, don't you?"
She gulped at my question.
"What do you want?"
"Teaming up."
"Wait, that's tough. You know? You're welcome with your skills, but numbers don't match."
"Not that. Non-aggression pact."
With three-per-team limit, avoiding three National Trees was gain enough.
Marronie nodded, figuring it was fine.
"Got it. Who's your team?"
"Yellow hair. Cornerus Family—you'll know."
"...Ah, her."
Marronie nodded.
While talking, she slyly reached behind her back.
Professional and smooth—I nearly missed it. High-density mana gathering in her hand.
Hard to counter.
I lowered my staff and said,
"Deal, then."
Her face softened, dropping the barrier.
Her relieved expression on that antique, pricey, squat, timid breed of cat body was cute—like a Chartreux.
France's native cat. Exactly.
"You won't break the promise, right?"
"Y-Yeah."
But her eyes were sly as hell.
I turned to leave, then accelerated sharply, smashing down with my staff.
"Kyaaah!"
Right by her face. Above shoulder. Grazing her cheek.
-Kablooey!
The tree ahead shredded violently.
My full-force staff swung like a morningstar; Marronie froze, ass-planting instead of dodging.
"Hic-"
Witch hat fell, revealing her pale face.
"W-Why...?"
Utter confusion. Her speech pattern shifted.
"You were gathering mana."
She yelled innocently at my cold question.
"Just in case... that's all."
False alarm?
But that tiny move felt threatening. If she wanted trust, she shouldn't have.
"Chanting attack spells all sneaky like. Should I just let that slide?"
"O-Okay..."
Outside, status mattered. Here, no.
National Trees holding grudges? Whatever.
'If she cries foul, oh well.'
Even if she held a grudge. Forest Keeper event—we hadn't exchanged names.
No status binds. Global audience might think whatever. They accepted most things.
As long as not utterly inhuman.
Raw fights were fun.
I properly gripped my staff-club.
Marronie hiccuped, trembling. My strike must've been invisible.
I stared at the seated Marronie.
Skilled National Tree... great ranged support.
Time to clear forest dungeons anyway.
"Get up."
"...W-Why?"
Might as well milk some benefit.
I grinned.
"Let's travel together for a while."