Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Vengeful Spirit Chris
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*Whoooosh!*
Eastern Alpharion Empire, the arid wasteland.
Chris stood alone in the vast expanse, her expression filled with discontent.
"Honestly, what has she been up to lately?"
[Swordsman 'Drizzle Rain' (Busy)]
She'd gotten off work early for a change, but Rain wasn't there to greet her. She was logged into the game.
So Chris logged in too. When she tried to ask Rain where she was and what she was doing via messenger, she found Rain couldn't receive messages—she was busy.
After leaving Rain a note, which could be sent even to offline players, Chris let out a scream toward the vast wasteland's horizon.
"Kaaaaah! Just you wait! I'll... I'll really give it to you."
Give her what?
What could she possibly do to her own little baby bird?
"Maybe... just a little spank on the bottom."
All Chris could do was grumble.
*
*Fwoooosh!*
I almost screamed as I saw Nagi's small body engulfed in flames.
*Chris, I'm sorry.*
*Is this how you felt when you watched me fight?*
To be forced to just stand by and watch a small child endure pain as she fights.
I couldn't save her. But I didn't close my eyes.
Nagi had to overcome this.
Future dungeons would be full of wide-area attacks like this one.
My eyes wide, I watched Nagi's every move until the very end.
*Whoosh!*
Finally, the wyvern's breath, the flames, subsided. And within them...
...stood Nagi, a slightly surprised look on her face.
She wasn't burned. She wasn't hurt.
I couldn't help but shout.
"Aah! Nagi! Y-You did it! Now, finish off the remaining baby wyverns!"
"Hah!"
After standing there stunned for a moment, Nagi quickly came to her senses and lunged at the baby wyverns with their low HP.
*Thud.*
When the black wyvern finally fell, Nagi collapsed to the floor, clutching her chest and panting.
"Hee, hee."
*Pat, pat, pat, pat.*
I quickly ran to Nagi.
And gave her a big hug.
"Oh."
*She's so soft.*
*She tries so hard with that small body of hers.*
Nagi's body flinched for a moment before relaxing.
"...?"
I tilted my head.
Nagi's strange reaction.
It was the same last time.
She hadn't reacted much when I'd saved her from danger during our attempts, probably because she was disoriented, but this child seemed extremely awkward with physical contact.
Come to think of it, I'd never seen her with anyone else. Even in front of the dungeon, she preferred secluded spots, out of people's sight.
A child who avoids people.
It was just like me, before I met Chris.
Every time I hugged her, Nagi would get awkward, her expression saying she didn't know what to feel. But she was clearly accepting it with pleasure.
My case was a little strange, but Nagi should be a normal girl.
Why would a child at an age where she should be showered with love feel awkward about others' kindness?
*Could it be?*
"Does Nagi not have a family?"
"Huh? Family? I have an older sister."
"Ah... Aah!?"
I was so shocked I clapped a hand over my mouth.
The thought I'd been having had slipped out.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry!"
"For what?"
Her light brown hair tilted in confusion. I was in no state to smile at the cute sight. I hated myself for carelessly saying something that could have hurt Nagi's feelings.
*Thump, thump, thump.*
After lightly hitting my own head for a moment, I finally processed what Nagi had said.
*She has an older sister?*
*Older sisters are wonderful people.*
Chris was one, and so were the companions I'd met on this continent in the past. They were all good people.
Back when they had all disappeared and I was left alone and heartbroken, I had been similar to Nagi.
Since it had come up, and since I'd confirmed Nagi wasn't offended, I decided to ask a little more about her family.
"Does your sister not hug you like this?"
"Umm..."
Nagi's expression darkened slightly.
"Ah, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"I think my sister hates me."
"Eh..."
My mouth fell open.
All the older sisters I had met were good people.
But Nagi's sister seemed a little different.
"I get to see her once a week. But she just stares out the window without saying anything. And then, she disappears after I fall asleep."
"..."
"She must be tired from work. I'm okay. I can understand."
Nagi gave a small smile.
And she didn't bring up the topic again.
I had so many questions, but I couldn't say a word.
The second named boss, the 'Patriarch's Statue'.
A boss in a corridor-shaped battle area with mob monsters called 'Knight's Statues' that continuously spawned over time.
Nagi mastered kiting the Knight's Statues after just a few tries. She absorbed my experience like a sponge, at an incredible speed.
*Ooooooh-!!*
*Thud.*
Its HP depleted, the Patriarch's Statue crumbled into a pile of stone and fell.
"Yay~"
Nagi and I smiled brightly and clapped our hands together, like a high five.
And finally, we reached the third named boss's battle area.
Right now, in the middle of a circular dome surrounded by a massive lake of lava, the final battle between Nagi and the Demon was unfolding.
*Kaaaaah-!*
[Third Named Boss]
[Level 25 Sealed Demon]
[HP 117,050 / 500,000 (23%)]
*Flash, flash, flash!*
Moonlight constantly flashed around Nagi's body. With her sword strikes flowing like water, the Demon's HP rapidly decreased.
"Go, Nagi...!"
I clasped my hands together, taking in the sight of Nagi fighting with my own two eyes.
Her light brown bob swayed. Her determined green eyes were sharp. Her slightly parted lips, exhaling softly, were cute.
*Did Chris always watch me fight like this?*
*Clang! Screeeech.*
Nagi raised her sword at the perfect moment to block the Demon's forearm. However, her light body was pushed far back. I could see her frown. Even with a block, she was still taking a certain amount of damage.
The Demon's attack power was certainly high for its level, and Nagi's block skill didn't have a 'Just Guard' mechanic yet, but if she blocked perfectly, the damage was manageable.
In truth, as long as she watched out for the fast 'Grab' and the wide-area 'Magi Sphere' patterns, the Demon was nothing more than a punching bag.
"Haap!"
*Twirl.*
*Shwwiing!*
Nagi's sword, shedding one last ray of moonlight, sliced across the Demon's body.
*Kaaaaaaah-aak!*
*Thud-thud-thud!*
The massive Demon's body sprawled onto the ground.
*Pat, pat, pat, pat!*
I ran to Nagi with a wide smile.
"Alright! Tomb of the Lesser Demon, all clear!"
"Woah...! That was tough!"
"You did so well! I think you cleared it faster than I did my first time."
"R-Really?"
"Yep."
It was the truth.
Of course, it was possible because she had a teacher in me, someone who had walked this path before, and because invincibility skills were better now than they used to be. But the actual fighting was done by Nagi alone. It was truly a remarkable achievement.
A newbie growing by soloing elite dungeons? If word of this got out on certain community sites, it would cause a huge uproar.
Nagi cupped her cheeks with both hands and swayed from side to side.
Was she shy from the praise? Or was she just happy? Either way, her squirming was just too cute.
"Good job, so proud, so cute."
I smiled brightly, muttering softly as I stroked Nagi's head again and again.
After seeing Nagi off, I checked the time.
"Gasp."
It was already late at night. I hadn't even gained much experience today; I'd just spent the whole day playing with Nagi.
And there was a note in my messenger.
[Note from Yin-Yang Master 'Chris']
`I got off work early, but I see you're in the game, Rain.`
`And you're rejecting messages. Must be busy, huh?`
`I was lonely hunting by myself again today.`
`Where are you and what are you doing?`
`I ordered chicken thinking you'd be done soon, but it's going to get cold.`
`Let's eat together when you're finished with whatever you're doing.`
"Gasp."
I jumped.
Chris's anxious feelings were conveyed through the note.
*What's my excuse?*
*That I set my messenger status to 'Busy' so I could focus on hunting?*
*But I didn't even gain any experience today.*
If Chris had been hunting in the wasteland, she would have been able to see my location since we were in the same guild and area, but I was in a different region at the time. She wouldn't have been able to find me.
*What am I going to do if she gets mad at me?*
*
*Whirr.*
I cautiously wheeled myself into the kitchen, trying to be quiet.
The lights were off.
On the table sat a single, lonely-looking chicken that seemed to have gone completely cold.
And then.
"Gasp!"
*Jolt!*
If my legs were normal, I would have definitely leaped to my feet.
Chris was sitting blankly at the table in the unlit kitchen, her eyes hollow.
Chris, with her unfocused eyes.
Looked at me and smiled faintly.
"Rain, let's eat."
"Eek...!"
*That's not Chris!*
*She must be possessed by some kind of malevolent spirit!*
*I feel bad, but this is too scary!*
I frantically tried to maneuver my wheelchair to escape the terrifying dining room.
*Thwip.*
But 'Vengeful Spirit Chris' had already approached and her hand gripped my wheelchair.
*Tremble, tremble.*
Trapped, I trembled in fear and met her terrifying gaze.
*What do I do?*
*If my beloved sister is possessed by a vengeful spirit, how am I supposed to exorcise it in this body?*
The thing in Chris's form smiled faintly again.
"Rain, let's eat."
"Hee, hee."
I whimpered like a child.