Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Quartermaster Galloban
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*Thump, thump, thump, thump!*
"Adjutant Kraksas has fallen!"
"The sealing magic circle on the outskirts must have been broken! Where are the intruders?"
From the second sector onward, the security was extremely tight.
Word of Adjutant Kraksas's fall seemed to have spread throughout the camp, as numerous elite demon soldiers began to move, searching for the intruder.
"Hmm..."
Hiding behind a crate of military supplies, I was lost in thought.
In this state, getting to the second named boss's room wouldn't be easy.
Cut my way through all the monsters and demons? Impossible. Even if I could, it would take all day by myself.
Although their guard was watertight, fortunately, most of the elite demon soldiers were moving toward the first sector.
The regular demon soldiers, who were now the main patrol, were roaming around with a dog-shaped chimera.
If it's just them, I can take them out quickly before they call for backup.
*Swoosh, swoosh.*
Just like in the first sector, I moved between crates to avoid detection, steadily advancing.
*Peek.*
As I peeked my head out from behind a crate, I saw a regular demon soldier with a chimera. There was no one else around.
I didn't have much time. In less than ten seconds, my path would cross with another patrol. I had to finish this quickly and move on.
*Thump, thump, thump, thump!*
"Huh, who's there!?"
I closed the distance in a flash, getting behind him with Counterattack before he could even register my presence.
A flash of moonlight, followed by a starlight that sliced through the demon's body.
"Gah!"
"Grrrr!"
Its master lost, the chimera monster charged at me.
*Swish!*
"Yelp!"
Oh, it looked like a dog, and it actually sounds like one too?
I had dealt with the regular demon soldier and the monster in an instant, but there was no time to linger.
In a few seconds, another patrol's route would pass through here.
I immediately moved on.
The warehouse district I'd seen since entering the second sector was now just ahead.
"Hmm..."
I'd arrived in front of a rather impressive-looking stone building, but what now?
This demon encampment, named the "Demon Army's Forward Base," wasn't just made up of barracks. There were also warehouses built here and there for storing supplies.
But the building I was facing now didn't seem like a mere warehouse. Made of stone, it stood out distinctly from the surrounding wooden storage buildings.
And wafting from inside was... the smell of food?
*Sniff, sniff.*
"Ugh."
The smell made me grimace.
It smelled something like food, but it was incredibly strange.
I'd already checked the other warehouses. This was the only place left that could house a named boss.
I hate the weird smell, but I have no choice but to go in.
*Knock, knock.*
Steeling myself, I timidly knocked on the door.
Back when I was the Hero, my companions used to do this kind of thing for me.
"Hm? What's this?"
"May I come iiin...?"
"...Kukukuk, I don't know who you are, but come in."
A male demon's voice came from inside.
Thank goodness. The demon inside seems friendly.
Opening the door and stepping inside, I finally understood the source of the smell.
Large cauldrons were scattered about, with a mysterious green liquid bubbling inside.
The scene here was like...
"...a kitchen?"
"Oho, a human girl. It's been noisy outside with talk of an intruder. So it was you, was it?"
Before me stood a male demon holding a dagger.
The weapon's shape was less like a dagger and more like a kitchen knife.
His long ears were reminiscent of an elf, but his dark brown skin made it clear he wasn't just any elf.
A demon who looked like a dark elf, holding a kitchen knife in a kitchen.
Does that mean this demon is a chef?
He smiled and spoke to me.
"I heard Kraksas fell. You may look small, but you must possess great strength."
That guy was pretty strong.
"The reason I hold the title of Quartermaster is because I enjoy cooking for our dogs. What do you think the ingredients for this dish are?"
"Gasp."
I jumped in place.
My trembling gaze shifted to the cauldron behind him.
The object boiling inside the cauldron was... the bone of some large mammal?
The demon before me bared his teeth in a wide grin.
"A fine ingredient has walked right in on its own two feet. I'll be able to feed the chimeras a special meal."
[2nd Named]
[Level 33 Quartermaster Galloban]
[HP 2,610,000/2,610,000]
*
*Clang, clang, clang, clang!*
"Khahahahat!"
Galloban's body moved swiftly from side to side, the dagger in his hand swinging relentlessly.
I retreated, calmly parrying his attacks.
His movements were like those of an elven ranger, a four-hit combo pattern reminiscent of the "Orc Assassin" from the past.
In terms of monster class, this guy was also an "Assassin."
*Clang!*
After blocking the final strike, I switched to the offensive. I lowered my stance and unleashed a Starlight Cut at his body.
*Sshhh.*
"Hah!?"
His body blurred, and my Starlight Cut sliced through empty air.
*Clang!*
I quickly spun around and blocked the dagger coming at me from behind.
Seeing me block his attack, a strange light glinted in Galloban's eyes.
But it was only for a moment; he once again began moving left and right, launching a series of strikes.
It was just like the Orc Assassin. This guy, who seemed to be an Assassin class, also had a rear-ambush pattern.
His HP was lower than Kraksas's, but his swift movements left me with few openings to attack.
Why is a chef this strong?
After grumbling inwardly for a moment, I calmly blocked his combo again, looking for an opening.
*Clang!*
The final strike of the combo.
Parrying the powerful blow by twisting my sword, I decided to change my approach for the next pattern.
After finishing the combo, Galloban's body began to blur.
The rear-ambush pattern.
Before Galloban's form could completely vanish, I activated the skill I had prepared.
[Counterattack (D)]
[Usable from 'Sword Drawing Stance']
[Move to the opponent's rear (8-second cooldown)]
[(D-Rank) Invincible during casting]
*Sshhh.*
Galloban, who used his rear ambush first, moved behind me, and my body, which activated Counterattack a moment later, moved behind Galloban.
*Swish! Thwack! Thwack!*
"Kh!?"
Struck by my Starlight Cut, a flustered Galloban spun around to face me again.
Oh. I had a feeling this might work.
This is just like that old manga where the main character goes to the soul reaper world to fight. They keep teleporting behind each other.
He ambushed me from behind first, but my slightly delayed Counterattack allowed me to get behind him in turn.
With this, Galloban's rear-ambush pattern was neutralized. By using Counterattack, I didn't even need to turn around to block his attack.
*Thwack-thwack-thwack!*
Excited that the battle was going just as I'd planned, I used Counterattack on every rear-ambush pattern, overwhelming Galloban.
*Thump.*
Just then, Galloban pulled back.
*Vmmm.*
At the same time, a small, violet orb materialized above his hand.
"What!?"
A special pattern?
I checked Galloban's HP again.
[2nd Named]
[Level 33 Quartermaster Galloban]
[HP 2,471,120/2,610,000]
Not much time had passed since the battle began.
It shouldn't be time for a special pattern yet, right?
My question was fleeting; I began to focus on the violet orb floating above Galloban's hand.
*Fwoosh!*
Soon, it shot toward me.
I probably can't block that either.
It might explode into a combo like with Kraksas, but for now, I had no choice but to use Backstep and see what happened next.
*Thump!*
I used Backstep to move away, and the violet orb, after circling the spot where I'd been, once again sped toward me.
"Eek!"
*Thump, thump, thump!*
I ran, fleeing the violet orb that pursued me.
Fortunately, as long as the speed buff from Backstep was active, the orb couldn't get close to me.
*Vwooom!*
The demonic energy orb that had been chasing me suddenly pulsed with a bright light and stopped in place.
"......?"
I stared at it with a dumbfounded expression.
It didn't chase me and explode; it just stopped and hovered in mid-air.
What does that mean?
But Galloban gave me no time to think.
*Clang, clang!*
The moment the violet orb stopped moving, Galloban's combo attacks began anew.
The flow of the battle continued without much change. Galloban's attacks—his combos, rear ambushes, and swift movements—pressed me just as before.
Even as I calmly kept up with Galloban's movements and chipped away at his HP, I couldn't shake my questions about the demonic energy orb hovering in the air.
Before long, I discovered the orb's true nature.
*BOOM!*
"Kuhuk!"
My body rolled across the kitchen floor.
The HP loss was immense.
*Clang!*
But this was no time to tremble in pain. I rolled back to my feet and, with no time to collect myself, met Galloban's attack.
Galloban offered a wide grin.
"How do you like it? The taste of my demonic energy mines."
He was right.
The demonic energy orbs would explode when I got too close, dealing massive damage.
I couldn't use the "invincibility during casting" frames from Counterattack or Backstep.
The orb would detonate only after confirming I was within its blast radius. I tried using Backstep just before it exploded, but the mine would cancel its detonation the moment it lost its target.
A quick glance around the kitchen revealed dozens of these demonic energy orbs floating in the air.
There was truly no room to set foot.
My movements were severely restricted. Counterattack was sealed. I couldn't find an opening to land a proper attack.
"I-I need to retreat for now."
I began to carefully weave my way between the orbs.
"Khahahahat! Where do you think you're going!?"
*Clang, clang, clang!*
Maneuvering between the orbs' detection ranges while struggling to parry Galloban's attacks, I barely managed to reach the kitchen entrance.
"G-Goodbye!"
*SLAM!*
And then, I slammed the door shut.