Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Chapter 14 - Assassin Gorge #2
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“Integra!”
Without thinking, Luther shouted reflexively and bolted toward Integra standing by the water’s edge.
This time, it was Integra who panicked.
[Ma, Master?]
And for good reason—the figure by the water was just a hologram.
In reality, the moment the water surface erupted in a geyser, Integra had deactivated the hologram and launched her drone.
Thanks to that, Luther, who’d been drenched by the splash, wore a look of realization. Integra reappeared via augmented reality and smirked like a fox.
[Master, were you trying to save me?]
[You were so startled you forgot it was a hologram because I was in danger?]
[How cute.]
And then she giggled.
It wasn’t just a pretense—she looked genuinely happy.
“The hologram was too realistic—”
“Luther!”
Karen’s shout snapped Luther and Integra back to reality. This wasn’t the time to fool around.
[Nanosuit deploying!]
The entity that had shattered the water’s surface.
Encased from head to toe in the nanosuit, Luther faced forward.
A slimy-skinned monster—salamander or catfish, impossible to tell—poked its head above the water and glared at them.
[Master, what is that monster?]
[Please tell me its weaknesses, traits, and name.]
But despite Integra’s question, Luther hesitated to answer.
It felt vaguely familiar, yet it was a monster he’d never seen before.
[Master?]
That was when it happened.
The black-skinned creature charged toward Luther at high speed, and the water churned again.
And—
[Master! Watch your le—]
—Splash!
Before Integra could finish, a red tentacle shot from the depths, coiled around Luther’s leg, and yanked him under.
There had been two of them.
“Guh?!”
Dragged into the water in an instant, Luther clamped his mouth shut to hold his breath and peered ahead.
In the dark, murky depths, the monster’s silhouette loomed faintly.
[Master, stay calm.]
[The visor now allows breathing underwater.]
‘Oh!’
[Countdown commencing.]
[40]
[39]
‘Too short!’
But it was better than nothing.
Moreover, the visor’s capabilities went beyond mere breathing.
[Light of science!]
A beam from the visor’s forehead pierced the water, illuminating everything.
Now the monster’s form sharpened into view, and Luther spotted the second one swimming toward him.
A quadrupedal beast like a giant salamander.
About six meters from head to tail tip.
The thing gripping his leg was a long tongue!
—Slurp—!
The lizard-like monster paused, blinded momentarily by the light, then retracted its tongue and pulled harder.
The pull was faster and stronger than expected, leaving Luther unable to resist properly.
[Collision imminent!]
—Crunch!
The beast’s shark-like teeth clamped down, but Luther’s leg was unscathed.
A translucent barrier had blocked the fangs.
‘Lilia!’
The bracelet embedded with a shield spell.
Single-use, so it shattered—but it had done its job.
Luther swung the sword he’d already drawn, severing the startled monster’s tongue. Even underwater, the thruster-assisted slash retained its power.
“Graaah!”
The monster thrashed, screaming as its tongue was lopped off clean.
Seizing the moment, Luther shoved his arm into its maw and unleashed the energy gun.
—Pew-pew-pew-pew—!
Underwater should’ve weakened it, but point-blank in its mouth was another story.
Its throat and guts shredded in seconds, the beast spewed blood and sank.
[Master! The other one’s coming!]
[29!]
Having seen the tongue severed, the survivor swam furiously, aiming to bite Luther’s waist directly.
“Integra! Boost!”
[Engaging!]
Just before collision, Luther’s backpack unleashed a massive thrust.
He shot vertically upward, dodging perfectly.
But this was the enemy’s home turf from the start.
Underwater, most of Luther’s arsenal lost effectiveness.
—Slurp—!
The beast spun and charged again.
At that exact moment, Integra shouted.
[Master! Deploying new armament!]
[Extend your left arm toward it!]
It was already too close.
Luther thrust out his left arm without hesitation, and Integra called again.
[Firing Magic Missile!]
“What?!”
A real Magic Missile?
Magic?!
But no.
As Integra spoke, the left gauntlet opened, launching a pen-sized missile at the monster.
—Boom!
The torpedo-like projectile exploded against its head, and Luther understood the name.
“Scrolls!”
It had to be packed with scrolls.
The blast unleashed a powerful freeze spell, encasing the monster’s head in ice.
Unable to breathe, it flailed past Luther.
[A missile loaded with five cold magic scrolls.]
[Effective, as expected.]
If single scrolls were weak, pack multiples.
Plus, the missile delivered fast, sure hits—truly a Magic Missile.
“Nice one, Integra!”
[I’d love more praise, but let’s finish this.]
[For reference: 15.]
[14]
[13]
Heeding Integra’s urging, Luther plunged his blade into the flailing beast’s belly.
Its back was armored with scales, but the soft underbelly split easily.
[Acquired minimal combat data.]
[8]
[7]
[Let’s get out.]
Agreeing, Luther fired his backpack booster and burst to the surface.
“Luther!”
“Whoa!”
Karen and Max, anxiously watching from the shore, shouted in unison.
As if on cue, the dead monsters floated up, and even the distant fairies cheered.
“Amazing!”
“Such a strong human!”
Their tiny voices from afar were barely audible.
“Why are they staying so far back?”
[Probably to flee if you lost, Master.]
Makes sense.
Come to think of it, Max had fled while Luther fought the kobold.
Shaking off the old memory, Luther emerged and examined the corpses.
Still unfamiliar.
‘What’s going on? Monsters not in the game?’
Possible.
He wasn’t in the game itself but a parallel world, so unlisted monsters weren’t surprising.
Yet the eerie familiarity nagged at him.
“Luther, you okay?”
“Fine. Thanks to Lilia, no injuries.”
Showing the shattered bracelet, Luther eased Karen and Max’s worries. They glanced at their own bracelets.
Overnight craft, but Lilia the genius enchanter delivered.
“Karen, Max. Know what these are?”
They studied the floating bodies but shook their heads.
“Never seen ’em.”
“Reminds me of Tanus... but way bigger and meaner.”
Tanus.
An aquatic salamander-like monster.
But as Max said, real Tanus were smaller and milder.
[Master, the fairies are approaching.]
As Integra noted, the fleeing fairies flew over.
The black-haired one in front hovered near Luther’s face.
“Human, I’m Videl.”
A plain intro, but “human” sounded insulting.
[Fascinating creatures.]
[Tiny, yet seemingly as intelligent as humans.]
Fairies averaged 15 cm.
All girls, no boys—vibrant butterfly wings, swimsuits or mini-dresses, straight out of a fairy tale.
Leading them: Videl, black hair and mini-dress.
Luther nodded.
“I’m Luther.”
[I’m Integra.]
Integra’s drone hologram activated—a mini-Integra with butterfly wings, greeting them.
Mistaking her for a fairy, the group lit up.
“You’re already friends with fairies!”
“That makes this easy.”
“Let’s ask for help.”
“We need to save the Queen!”
As they chimed in, Integra shot Luther a smug glance, hand over mouth.
Luther gave her an approving nod and turned to Videl.
Their talk reeked of quest.
“Luther, big trouble. Listen up.”
Videl started, others chimed in. Summarized:
One day, a meteor fell.
Curious Fairy Queen investigated—and weirdness ensued.
Queen trapped in meteor; nearby animals and monsters grew huge or ferocious.
The water beasts were examples.
“Save our Queen.”
“She’s in danger.”
“What if she changes too?”
Luther eyed mini-Integra mid their worried faces.
‘Fragments, right?’
[Likely.]
‘But growing from fragments?’
[If this fragment’s a special mutative substance, yes.]
‘Like radiation?’
[Radiation would kill them, not enlarge. Too many comics and movies, Master.]
He grumbled inwardly but moved on.
‘Anyway, fragments confirmed.’
[Yes. And... the fragment might attract local life—earth dragons, monsters.]
[Like Jogres obsessing over you at the first fragment.]
Logical.
Luther nodded to Videl.
“Got it. I’ll help.”
“Really? Thanks! True fairy friend!”
Videl and the fairies squealed in delight—adorably enough to make Luther, Karen, and Max smile.
But one stayed cool-headed.
[So, what do we get out of it?]
“Huh?”
[It’s dangerous. Risking that for your queen means a big reward, right?]
“Uh... probably?”
Videl glanced uncertainly; met eyes tilted heads.
“Would we?”
[Of course! Big rewards are standard.]
“Y-yeah, we should.”
“I’ll tell the Queen.”
“Save her, get big reward!”
Hologram fairy mingled, stirring them. Soon they nodded, debating rewards.
Perfect agitation.
[Every deed demands compensation.]
[Life’s give and take.]
Integra beamed up at Luther—cute and sly. He smiled back.