Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Great Escape (1)
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#13
Heart of Harmeno!
The ultimate reward of the Black Stone Fortress and the most versatile hidden piece in trait form.
It was great for anyone who ate it, but it synergized especially well with warrior or tank-type characters.
The life force of Harmeno, the dragon that coils around the great earth, flows through your veins!
You have acquired the following abilities.
That was me, exactly.
Pababat!
Golden windows popped up one after another in front of my eyes.
Harmful effects from plants are halved.
Beneficial effects from plants are doubled.
While your feet touch the ground, your body's recovery ability greatly increases.
It was worth shitting my guts out on the brink of death.
No sooner had the notification windows vanished than the changes began.
Sseueueueup, haa.
Bran took a deep breath and grinned.
"Feels refreshing."
The foul stench of the Underground Farm's air no longer clung to him.
On the contrary, his mind was clearing up.
The damage from the toxins was reduced, and the beneficial effects were amplified.
Poison and medicine weren't all that different to begin with. They were distinguished only by dosage.
It was a passive that could be incredibly useful in all sorts of situations.
'Feels like I've turned into a smartphone with wireless charging.'
The conditional super-regeneration was excellent too.
The pain throughout his body was subsiding.
Both the minor scratches and the severe gash on his thigh where bone was visible were healing rapidly.
He could even see the muscle fibers and blood vessels growing and knitting together.
His one-shot plan of just catching the Dementia Serpent owed most of its feasibility to this ability.
"I said I could pay back what I took, right?"
Bran cackled.
A super-regeneration ability useful to every character.
The condition of feet touching the ground wasn't even a penalty.
That said, shouldn't there be one more ability?
As he wondered, the next message appeared.
Power of the Great Tree
Once per day, doubles your Strength stat.
▶ Duration: 2 minutes.
▶ Duration increases with proficiency.
As far as he remembered, this was the last ability.
The active skill that came with acquiring the Heart of Harmeno.
Bran clenched his fist upon confirming its details.
"This is it."
It matched the game perfectly.
Just like Tenacity of the Weed, it had no upper limit, which spoke to its cheat-like nature.
Straight-up double power, no questions asked!
The higher your strength, the more efficient it became—a fantastic skill.
The short duration was a drawback, but that could be extended over time.
"Now, what's left is..."
Having fully recovered his energy, Bran turned his head.
The bandits, pale-faced one and all, were staring at him.
"Hiiik."
Or rather, at Delgato's corpse sprawled beneath them.
Its entrails spilled from the severed torso, glistening crimson.
Bran shrugged his eyebrows.
"Hmm."
He was getting tired of fighting now.
It wasn't shock from the killing.
He'd killed before, and seen far more gruesome corpses.
He just didn't want to tussle with these guys who'd lost the will to fight.
What to do?
As he pondered, Bran turned back to the bandits.
"Kiyaaaaak!!"
"Heok."
And let out a monstrous roar.
The bandits gasped.
The eerie noise shook the underground and spread.
Was this a bit too retarded?
As the echoes faded and regret began to creep in...
"M-Monster!"
"Mommy!"
"Aaaah! Scary!"
The bandits screamed and fled.
Honestly, they might've been looking for an excuse to run anyway.
From the otherworldly tentacles, and the monster that bisected their boss.
"Guts smaller than sunflower seeds."
Bran snickered.
Either way, he was glad it ended peacefully.
He had a lot on his plate already.
"Eubube."
Then, a familiar voice came from the supervisor's room.
"Kael?"
Bran whipped around urgently.
He'd forgotten about him for a moment.
Kael was slumped in front of the supervisor's door.
Trembling as he looked up, he resembled a disaster movie survivor.
"Kael. What're you doing there?"
"I-I got scared and my legs gave out. Why'd you make that sound all of a sudden..."
Kael sniffled.
He wasn't the only one spooked by Bran's roar.
He must've collapsed mid-sneak down the stairs when his legs buckled.
"S-Sorry. I'll get up in a sec."
Kael apologized.
His pretty face stood out more today.
Makes sense. Spending half a month surrounded by lipstick-wearing gays and muscle monkeys.
Of course, looks weren't the only reason.
Bran grinned and extended a hand.
"Sorry my ass. If not for you, I'd be dead already."
He meant it.
Without Morning's Blessing, Bran would've been a cold corpse by now.
No idea why this guy's here, but he could hear the story later.
Kael hesitated, then grabbed Bran's hand and stood.
"Ugh... Thanks. I'll shake it off quick."
"I'm the thankful one. Hell, I feel like planting one on you."
"K-Kiss?!"
His tiny face flushed red.
Covering his mouth with both hands, Kael fidgeted and glanced around nervously.
Why's he reacting so seriously? It's kinda creepy.
Bran flicked Kael's forehead with his finger.
"Ow!"
"Just talk, dude. You think I'm Delgato or something?"
"R-Right? Ahaha..."
Kael laughed awkwardly, fiddling with his lips.
His mannerisms seemed oddly feminine.
Glancing up at Bran, Kael continued.
"Um... You okay, Bran? Those wounds looked pretty bad."
"Fit as a fiddle. Got some nice abilities as thanks for pest control on the tree. You look a bit banged up yourself—let's grab some meds before we head out."
"Yeah, thanks. You don't have to go that far..."
"Right. Think Delgato was gonna leave you alone? Bet he tried some bullshit on you."
"Well... yeah."
Kael nodded.
To be precise, he'd tried but backed off.
Good thing Bran showed up before it got worse.
If his secret got out, it would've ended badly.
"Congrats anyway, Kael. You've awakened your divine power."
"Ehehe, thanks to you, Bran. I'd never have known without you."
"How long'd it take?"
"Hmm... a day?"
Kael tilted his head.
Actually, less than a day.
The night he got Bran's advice, he'd awakened it with a prayer before bed.
"Bloodline perks are no joke. Noble families live up to the hype."
Bran let out a hollow laugh.
Kael was the golden boy among golden boys.
Even something as puny as a peanut stayed fine in the Underground Farm.
Morning's Blessing constantly enveloped him, nullifying most poisons.
Thinking of the show Bran put on for his hidden piece made it feel unfair.
"But... there's one issue."
"What?"
"...Lady Raweina doesn't seem interested in me. She lends the bare minimum power, but it feels like she's ignoring me?"
Kael said hesitantly.
"Huh? No way."
"I-It might just be my imagination, but that's how it feels. Other gods seem to like me more... I hear more voices every time I pray."
"Hmm. That's definitely weird."
Bran narrowed his eyes.
Come to think of it, Morning's Blessing had seemed weaker than expected.
Had he unknowingly offended Raweina?
"We'll need to look into that. Let's talk after we get out."
"Wait, get out? You mean escape?"
"After all this chaos, you planning to stick around?"
"N-No, but...! You said it'd take three more months!"
"Life doesn't go as planned. Hang on a sec."
Bran hoisted Kael onto his back and approached the Dementia Serpent.
The otherworldly beast that had thrashed moments ago was now a cold corpse.
Chwaaak!
Gripping his knife in reverse, Bran sliced open its belly.
Rummaging through the guts, a single red orb came out.
"Found it."
Bran smiled.
The Dementia Serpent's essence.
A condensed mass of life force accumulated over decades devouring Harmeno.
Useful in many ways, but today it had a specific purpose.
"Here, take it back."
With that, Bran tossed the essence into the hole the Dementia Serpent had burst from.
No sound of it hitting bottom even after a while.
Kael blinked his big eyes, watching the incomprehensible act.
Returning, Bran asked him.
"Kael. Good at running?"
"Huh? Running?"
"Yeah, no. Up you go."
"Hyak?!"
How fast could those stubby legs go anyway?
Bran scooped Kael up and slung him over one shoulder.
"Wh-What're you doing?! Put me down!"
"Behave. We've got a long run ahead."
Kael squirmed, but Bran ignored him.
No turning back now.
Kugugugugugu!
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
"Hiiik! Wh-What?!"
Kael yelped in shock.
The entire Underground Farm was quaking.
Something massive writhed deep below.
Chunks of rock rained from the high ceiling.
Red light poured from the hole where Bran had thrown the essence.
"It's starting."
"Kwaaaak!"
Bran took off, Kael over his shoulder.
Lots to handle quickly.
Spera's face flashed in his mind, making him chuckle.
'Her expression's gonna be priceless.'
He wanted music.
Fast, intense beats that'd make him hurl.
"Baron. Satisfied with this batch?"
Spera of the Crow Bandits said.
A contrived smile played on her lips.
She was entertaining a VIP guest in the fortress's top-floor reception room.
Across the gold-decorated table, a greasy laugh echoed.
"Mhuhu, yes. Excellent."
Baron Philowin, one of Spera's main customers.
His double chin jiggled with the laughter.
Fuuu.
The baron removed the pipe from his mouth and exhaled, blue smoke billowing.
Top-grade bliss from the Underground Farm's signature drug.
"Ahh... Perfection. Not a penny wasted."
"As expected, drugs from the Black Stone Fortress are top quality. Heh heh heh!"
A sleazy-looking middle-aged man buttered him up.
The Philowin Treasurer, another major client.
Beauties in gaudy clothes poured wine into their glasses.
"Muhuhung, I agree. Maintain this quality, and our partnership will be eternal, Lady Speera."
"...Glad you're satisfied. But as I mentioned last time, it's Spera, not Speera."
"Uhm? Same difference, no?"
Baron Philowin scratched his head.
The treasurer downed his glass and beckoned Spera.
"Heh heh, cut him some slack. The baron hasn't the leisure to memorize wenches' names."
"Ahaha... You're right. I overstepped."
Spera smiled sweetly, fiddling with the dagger in her pocket.
Her way of keeping calm.
'Pig bastards. Drop dead.'
Killing these two would be easier than slaughtering a piglet.
But business was dirty.
Letting emotions run wild like old times meant no success.
Still, stress needed proper venting.
'This time, I'll play long and hard. Three days... Yeah, got a cute slave for that.'
Suddenly, Bran's face crossed her mind.
She usually avoided unripe fruit, but she craved something different now.
He'd been sent to the Underground Farm. Hope he wasn't dead yet.
As she giggled at the thought of fun times with Bran...
"......What?"
Sensing something, Spera shot up.
A faint but definite vibration.
The baron grumbled in his nasally voice.
"Uhm? What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing. Must've misheard."
Spera shook her head.
Just a passing quake.
No way something happened in the Underground Farm, right?
It was too vital a place; needless anxiety crept in.
She ordered a subordinate after sitting back down.
"You there. Check the Underground Farm."
"The Underground Farm?"
"Yeah. Just ask my brother if everything's fine. Probably nothing, but why do I feel so..."
Uneasy?
Before she could finish...
Pukwaaaaak!
A massive tree trunk burst through the floor, impaling Baron Philowin's gut.
"Ungooooook?!"
"B-Baron!"
It happened in an instant.
Spera froze. The treasurer bolted up. Blood sprayed everywhere.
The serving women screamed and cowered.
The trunk piercing the baron pulsed blood-red.
Kwagwang!
It kept growing, smashing through the ceiling.
Finally snapping to, Spera cried out in horror.
"H-Harmeno?!"
No doubt. Harmeno from the Underground Farm.
She rushed to the window and clutched her head.
"What the!"
The red tree's body emerged throughout the fortress.
Every writhing branch toppling buildings as it rose.
Desperate screams erupted from all sides.
"E-Everyone, run!"
"Where's Boss Spera?!"
"You slaves! Who told you to—Guek!"
A bandit trying to maintain order tripped.
A crack in the ground swallowed him whole.
Chaos like the first day of the apocalypse!
Suddenly, an enraged shout from behind.
"Y-You damned bitch! What the hell did you do?!"
"...Ah."
Spera turned.
The treasurer. High on drugs with glazed eyes, still fuming.
"Don't dream of surviving! A lowly wench dares, dares to kill the baron..."
"Shut up."
Spera drew from her pocket.
Pushok!
Something flew, embedding a dagger in the treasurer's forehead.
"Gek."
He toppled forward like a unicorn.
A dream fulfilled, but no relief.
As Spera moved to assess the situation...
[Ahh. Mic test.]
"What?"
[Good, seems to be working.]
A gentle voice echoed throughout the fortress.
Via resonance stone megaphone.
Usable only in the main fortress and Underground Farm.
But Spera wasn't shocked by that.
"That voice...!"
To all thieves and slaves! This damned building will collapse soon!
A familiar voice.
Chills raced down her spine.
Bran's shout rocked the fortress again.
If you value your lives, escape the fortress before sunrise!