Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Venturing into Logos
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Familiar names appeared among the requests Jake had brought.
Carnivorous vines, walking mushrooms, venomous flies, toothed rabbits, slimes, two-legged lizards, and so on. All low-level monsters that appeared in the game’s Logos.
“We’ll pass through the carnivorous vine cluster first. Walking mushrooms and venomous flies coexist with them here, but you especially need to watch out for the venomous flies.”
The fact that the buzzing flies were the size of fists was creepy enough, but they latched onto your body and injected poison.
It wasn’t a lethal toxin, but it caused dizziness at first, eventually leading to paralysis and collapse. Then the carnivorous vines would grab you, the venomous flies would gnaw at your flesh, and the walking mushrooms would cling to your body.
Orphan Yuri had never fought monsters, let alone encountered them, but the current Yuri had seen them. During the month-long journey from Oldor to Lutran, they had camped outdoors almost every night, and monsters often appeared during travel or at night.
Ha-ryeong had taken care of them by throwing daggers without Elena even needing to step in, so they had never been in real danger.
“Easy.”
Unlike Yuri, who was tense from it being his first time and listening intently, Elena’s expression was utterly bored. There were plenty of countermeasures against poison. You could take an antidote beforehand to withstand it, and even if poisoned, another dose would neutralize it. Plus, Elena, a 4th Tier mage, knew detoxification spells.
In fact, even a 3rd Tier could handle venomous fly poison on their own.
“You’re the only one who needs to take the antidote, Yuri.”
The antidote he swallowed as given was bitterly sticky, leaving a foul aftertaste. As Yuri grimaced, Ha-ryeong clicked her tongue.
“Must be tough at 2nd Tier.”
After passing the carnivorous vine cluster, they would hunt monsters along the way and descend from Logos before nightfall to return to the village—that was today’s goal.
‘Wondering how they verify the subjugations.’
He had thought they might cut off monster ears or something to bring back, but that wasn’t the case. Yuri looked down at the bracelet on his wrist. This was standard gear lent to Logos adventurers.
Killing a monster while wearing the bracelet recorded it. Accumulate records and turn them in at the guild later for payment.
“Doesn’t the thought of crossing swords with a goblin make you nervous?”
As he examined the adventurer guild bracelet with curious eyes, Ha-ryeong spoke up.
“No need to worry too much. Even an ordinary person with a club can beat a goblin.”
“I don’t have a club.”
“Oh dear. But you’re no ordinary person, are you, Yuri?”
After Jake’s simple briefing ended, they left the adventurer guild building.
They returned to the village entrance and retrieved the carriage from the stables. Naturally, Jake took the driver’s seat.
“Nice.”
Her expression remained the same, but Ha-ryeong looked pleased at not having to drive. Jake gave the cheering woman a strange look with his blank face as he took the reins.
‘What’s their relationship...?’
At first, he thought it was a young mage from the magic tower testing a new spell. Plenty of mages came to Logos to try out new magic.
But the combination was odd the more he looked. The 3rd Tier warrior woman politely used honorifics, calling the mage ‘miss.’ By tiers alone, she didn’t seem like a bodyguard. Who has a bodyguard lower tier than their charge?
‘She seems like a maid...’
The most puzzling was the 2nd Tier martial artist. He assumed porter and errand boy, but yesterday’s reaction suggested otherwise. They didn’t resemble each other, so not family, and seeing the core mage protecting him...
‘Lover...?’
Didn’t seem right. Levels too different, and there was a slight distance. Just friends, then?
“Childhood friends.”
“Y-Yes?”
He got caught glancing. Jake flinched and looked aside. The expressionless Ha-ryeong was staring at him.
“Yuri over there. He’s Miss Elena’s childhood friend.”
“Ah... Yes...”
“The real reason we came to Logos is to let Yuri gain ‘experience’ conveniently, safely, and kindly.”
“Experience... you say?”
“Yes. Yuri’s an aspiring adventurer, after all. Perfect timing. You’re a seasoned adventurer, Jake, so give him some advice during the requests.”
“Advice... advice, huh.”
Jake muttered with a troubled face, glancing back. Yuri was climbing onto the carriage bare-handed.
“Advice that comes to mind right now: go to the weapon shop and buy a backup weapon at least...”
He had a few daggers on his belt, but a low-tier warrior facing monsters with those would struggle. Sword, spear, axe—the three weapons adventurers favored.
“Did you hear that, Yuri?”
“Thanks for the advice, but I have no plans to use other weapons.”
“Understood.”
Why ask for advice then? Jake grumbled inwardly as he snapped the reins.
*
Logos.
The mountain was surrounded by a 5-meter wall to prevent abnormally proliferated monsters from descending and spreading.
Looking up, he felt ‘magic.’ A transparent ceiling. Impressive as the encircling wall was, it paled against the magical barrier covering the entire mountain.
So that’s why— it blocked flying monsters rising from the mountain.
“What about flying monsters?”
He couldn’t mention the invisible magical barrier, so he asked a sensible question. Elena, dusting off her robe as she dismounted, glanced at the sky.
“The ceiling over the rift is blocked by magic.”
“They blocked this entire vast area with magic?”
“Work of the tower lords.”
Perhaps pleased by his slight interest in magic, Elena smiled warmly.
“This wall alone is a collaboration between Iron Fortress Guzel Haber and the Earth Church’s Vice Bishop, and the sky ceiling is a spell fleshed out by multiple tower lords from Apex Arsen Lucianel’s concept.”
Iron Fortress Guzel Haber was a name even Yuri knew. A mage with absurd stamina and defense, but unlike Orca who took no damage, physical hits landed well, making him easy to kill.
“Impressive, right? Magic can do the impossible.”
“Not anyone can do it.”
“Of course not! But tower lords beyond 7th Tier make the impossible possible. Think even a peerless master like the Infinite Venerable could do this?”
He pictured Ox God Head. No matter how great his qi aura, could he cover this vast area with a ‘ceiling’ for decades? Impossible.
‘But he could probably obliterate the whole thing in one strike.’
Ignoring the boasting Elena, Yuri touched the wall.
‘Indeed.’
He felt the mana flow. And something else—likely divine power. Different forces, yet harmonized like true ‘collaboration.’ He couldn’t touch the ceiling, but it seemed maintained using the area’s mana, like the wall.
“Confirmed.”
You couldn’t pass the gate without presenting an adventurer registration. Sneaking past the guards was possible, though. Yuri glanced at the other adventurers nearby. Almost all carried weapons.
They bypassed the mountain after the wall to reach the carnivorous vine cluster quickly.
“From here, I’ll take the lead, so keep your distance and follow.”
Ha-ryeong shadowed Jake like a ghost as he began climbing.
“No real danger, but don’t stray too far from me.”
Come to think of it, this was the first time seeing Elena fight with magic. A glimpse showed her face more eager than expected. To show her skills? Appeal magic’s power? Flaunt strength? Probably.
Entering Logos proper, the air felt different. Not fresh mountain air—stuffy, with a faint fishy stench. Trees grew grotesquely twisted, dense leaves blocking the sky.
Things moved here and there, sounds echoed. Listening closely: insects, beasts—no, monsters. Faint battle sounds from afar—other adventurer parties fighting.
“Here they come.”
Jake, guiding from a distance, warned. Dull green vines writhed between roots and bushes. Leg-sized mushrooms shuffled on tentacle-like feet, swarms of ear-piercing venomous flies approached from all sides.
“Remember I hate bugs?”
He did. Child Elena shrieked at insects. Orphanage brats shoved worms or cicadas at her; she’d scream, cry, and flee.
‘Yuri, Yuri!’
She always sought peer orphan Yuri over the caretakers. Yuri was far from a good kid even then.
Bad kid Yuri would beat the bug-wielding orphan black and blue, then stuff the bug in their mouth when Elena came crying.
“Still do.”
Ten-year-old Elena bawled at bugs, but twenty-year-old Elena didn’t cry. Her face twisted in disgust. —Crackle! Sparks flew around her.
Zzzap!
Golden lightning shot everywhere. The hated fly swarm fried first. Currents chained out, engulfing monsters in turn. Centered on Elena, they writhed like living things, sweeping the foes.
Derusia Magic Tower spells in the game specialized in combat among towers, perfect for farming. Their power held here too. 2nd-grade monsters without magic resistance naturally died to a 4th Tier mage’s direct hits.
The one-sided slaughter ended in seconds.
“Hmm.”
Elena scanned around. Vines and mushrooms charred black, flies burst without corpses. She checked them, then pulled a comb from her robe, neatly brushing her static-messed hair.
“Called Lightning Chain. What do you think?”
What to say? Yuri couldn’t close his half-open mouth, looking around.
If he’d fought, he’d rely on antidote, flailing fists at flies. Kick the shuffling mushrooms next... How to handle carnivorous vines? Set them ablaze? Stab with daggers?
“As expected of Lady Elena.”
When Elena visited Oldor, he’d briefly considered attacking and fleeing. Good thing he didn’t— he’d have been fried on the spot.
“How about learning magic from this Elena right now?”
She hated the usual nickname, but now puffed her chest proudly. Pleased by the spell’s might and his reaction.
‘Time to show him magic’s greatness for sure.’
Peerless martial talent acknowledged by Infinite Venerable, but she wanted him to learn magic. Craving it might keep him from leaving the estate. Coming to Logos was for his experience—and showcasing her magic feats.
‘Perfect.’
Elena smugly pocketed the comb.
Jake guided, Elena magicked monsters. Ha-ryeong occasionally threw daggers, but most fights ended with one spell.
“Whew...”
Midway, even Jake carried his spear relaxedly. He’d guided many mages, but Elena was off-spec. Far younger than the 4th Tier from years ago, yet her magic felt leagues superior.
‘A magic tower mage indeed...’
Tower mages outclassed peers. Jake marveled nonstop, collecting monster corpses. Couldn’t take all, so only valuable parts, yet his backpack threatened to overflow.
“Hold up.”
Ha-ryeong, arms dangling as she walked, suddenly spoke.
“What? Monsters?”
“Wait here.”
Without details, she kicked off the ground. —Whoosh! She vanished over bushes.
“What the...?”
Her sudden reaction from the quiet Ha-ryeong tensed Elena. Face stiff, she channeled mana into her wand. Zzz... Currents flowed around. Ready to cast anytime.
Unsure what, Yuri prepared too. Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art circulated, dantian qi spreading hot through his body. Crack. Gripped fist popped knuckles.
“Back.”
It was quick. Ha-ryeong leaped back over the bushes.
“...”
Elena and Yuri, still tense, stared blankly. Ha-ryeong wasn’t alone.
“Kik, kieek...”
Her hand gripped a goblin’s neck.
“What... is that?”
“Goblin. More precisely, green goblin scout.”
Ha-ryeong blankly replied, hoisting the elementary-school-sized goblin high. It flailed legs futilely; her arm didn’t budge.
“Spotted it alone and grabbed it quick. Scout means a lair nearby.”
“Why... bring it?”
“So Yuri, who’s followed quietly without acting, can shine.”
She tapped the thrashing goblin’s head with a finger.
“Subrace monsters like goblins have intelligence. Common for some types and ages to converse.”
“Kieeeek.”
“But rift-born subraces mostly can’t talk. Abnormally proliferated, lacking age and experience. Shame.”
“Kreeeek.”
“Still, might as well try.”
Fingering the head, she grabbed its long ear.
“Listen up, green goblin scout. That curly-haired one’s name is Yuri.”
“Kiiiik.”
“You fight that Yuri kid now. Win, and I promise to return you safely to your family, unharmed.”
“Ha-ryeong, you mad?”
Yuri finally spat. But Ha-ryeong shook her head blankly.
“I’m fine.”
“Doesn’t look it.”
“No rude words. Now, Yuri. Green goblin scout’s ready. Prepare yourself.”
“Kyaak.”
“Ready for sure?”
“Sadly, I don’t speak goblin.”
The flung goblin landed before Yuri. Ha-ryeong crossed arms, ordering it.
“Go, green goblin scout. Show that Yuri kid your power.”
As she said, it knew no human tongue. But instinct told it what to do.
Couldn’t fight the human woman who’d pinned and thrown it instantly. To escape, kill the human man ahead.
“Kiaak!”
Goblin charged. No weapon, but thrust long sharp nails to claw Yuri.
“Sigh...”
Yuri sighed deeply, stepping forward. He got Ha-ryeong’s intent, but facing a real goblin, one feeling dominated.
‘All that tension for nothing.’
First monster fight had him edgy, but the goblin’s rush looked yawn-slow to Yuri. Bluntly, the Oh brothers from his first possession fight were surely stronger.
Thwack!
Kicked foot smashed goblin’s temple. Head half-caved, it tumbled without scream.
“...”
Ha-ryeong blinked at the corpse. Flawless clean kick.
‘What?’
For a split second, Yuri kicking overlapped Full Moon Dance. Absurd. Incomparable. Not a tornado kick or qi orb—just a goblin head.
‘Hallucination?’
She’d been impressed by Full Moon Dance’s arts. Great qi mastery, but relentless ‘kicks.’ Footwork and leg techniques alone were masterful.
Yuri learned Cloud Heaven Soaring Fist and Surface Wind Cloud Step—movement arts. No leg techniques taught. So just a plain kick?
“Why the face?”
Yuri lowered his leg, asking.
“Where’d you learn that kick?”
“Don’t need lessons to kick.”
“Not what I meant. That kick had no deep art, but perfect form.”
“Full Moon Dance uses feet so well.”
“Yes...?”
“Martial artists don’t have to stick to fists. Thought kicks would be nice. Easier to kick small foes downward than punch, like now.”
Thud. He toed the goblin corpse.
“Focusing on fist arts now; hard to get separate leg arts. So practicing form only for now.”
What?
Ha-ryeong’s eyes flickered. Half a year ago, versus Fist Wolf. Learned that kick’s form just by watching?
“Crazy.”
It slipped out. She clapped hand over mouth, startled. But warranted.
She’d known his eyes sharp. Dodged Namgung Jin pre-entry; watched Full Moon vs. Fist Wolf soon after.
Mimic by sight? She could too. But even she struggled to follow Full Moon’s kicks then.
‘Saw that clearly?’
Shocked by a mere kick. Ha-ryeong composed, lowered hand.
“Expected a nail-biter, but ended anticlimactically.”
“You really thought I’d struggle with a goblin?”
“First goblin fight, figured some hesitation. Didn’t expect merciless kick.”
“Don’t you see me as a total idiot?”
“You just took a life. No guilt?”
“Not at all.”
“Good. Then let’s hunt a goblin pack together.”
She pointed at bushes.
“Scout here means more nearby; we’ll find the pack.”
“...”
“Miss Elena, stay out. Let’s watch how well Yuri—no, Yuri fights.”
“Not helping?”
“Cheer from back. Throw dagger if dicey.”
Elena reluctant but nodded, seeing it as for Yuri.
“Alright, Yuri. Let’s make goblin hell.”