Chapter 397: I Made Friends with a Unicorn.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 397: I Made Friends with a Unicorn.
When the Elf King woke up that morning, he received a rather baffling report that left him sounding utterly perplexed.
“…Is that truly the case?”
“The demonic energy felt from the direction of the Fairy Forest has suddenly diminished significantly. Furthermore, according to the scouting party, the animals and fairies that had gone into hiding have begun to reappear.”
It was good news, of course.
It was good news, but for some reason, a lingering sense of unease gnawed at him.
“That shouldn’t be possible. That monster should still be holding its ground, so how on earth…”
It went without saying that there is no effect without a cause.
On the surface, it was undoubtedly a positive development. But what if an even more monstrous entity had appeared, disposed of the previous one, and was simply staying quiet for the moment as a reaction?
Wouldn’t that just mean an even greater threat had emerged?
Of course, there could be other reasons, but he couldn’t rest easy until the cause was certain.
Even when he had just climbed out of bed, he had been happily wondering what kind of conversation he might have with the Professor today. Then this bolt from the blue struck…
Wait. The Professor?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he remembered what she had said.
— A monster in the forest? I don’t know how great that monster is, but I guarantee it’s nothing compared to the cadet currently heading this way.
At the time, he had dismissed it as mere bravado, but was it really a coincidence that the monster vanished at this exact timing?
— Keep this in mind. You must not antagonize him. Never. No matter what happens. You’d be better off prostrating yourself and begging for forgiveness! He’s softer-hearted than he looks, so he might forgive you for my sake!
For some reason, she seemed to cherish and trust that ‘cadet’ more than herself. He had intentionally ignored her words, but if that boy had truly disposed of the forest monster, he couldn’t just sit idly by.
He needed to prepare an excuse, or declare his lack of hostile intent and initiate negotiations.
However, it was also true that he didn’t want to acknowledge the boy so readily. Still, he couldn’t afford to ruin everything over personal feelings.
“…Perhaps I should test him.”
“A test, sire…?”
“Contact the unicorn tribe. If it’s them, they will be able to pass a proper judgment on his strength, intellect, and character.”
The Elf King believed he had made a reasonably rational choice.
Since unicorns were symbols of wisdom and purity, they would be able to discern not only the intruders’ skills but also their true natures.
The probability of it escalating into a major problem was also very low.
However, he did not know.
He did not know just how absurd and chaotic the being currently approaching him was.
Nor did he know what kind of result his current choice would bring about.
* * *
My memories were a jumbled, chaotic mess.
It felt like parts were missing here and there, while unfamiliar memories were mixed in.
The friend who should have naturally been by my side was gone, and instead, there were many people I was seeing for the first time, which was a bit scary at first.
But when I actually looked at them, they all approached me with such a friendly attitude. I, too, felt strangely happy to see them.
I felt a strange urge to act spoiled and stay by their side.
I didn’t think I was the type of person to have this kind of personality.
I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but I didn’t exactly hate these unfamiliar emotions.
No, I actually liked them.
I wanted those unfamiliar people to smile more.
If possible, I wanted them to like me and need me more.
So.
“NEEEEEIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Whoa!?”
That horse with the horn over there is sentenced to death.
Wait, they said they wanted to pet it, so I shouldn’t kill it.
I’ll just have to beat it up a bit and catch it.
Fortunately, the current me is like a protagonist in a cartoon who can do whatever he wants.
I should be able to catch a horse like that easily.
* * *
The incident traces back to a short while ago, just as the group finished their morning exploration and began their lunch.
Kim Ga-eul was staring blankly at a large lake.
So-hyun was still in a child state and couldn’t be relied upon, and while the professors were analyzing the dungeon bit by bit, there hadn’t been any significant progress.
If there was a silver lining, it was that no powerful monsters had appeared since they took down that giant serpent, so everyone wasn’t too exhausted.
“…Hm?”
Then, while Kim Ga-eul was taking a short break after finishing the meal preparations, a beautiful white horse suddenly entered her field of vision.
The beautiful white horse with a horn on its head let out a snort and trotted toward her.
“Wow, guys! Professors! Look at this! It’s a unicorn! A unicorn!”
A unicorn.
A species known as the symbol of purity and the wise sage of the forest.
They were powerful, but thanks to their beautiful appearance and the legends surrounding them, they were a special species that many people hoped to meet at least once.
Of course, in reality, unicorns were mostly not very favorable toward humans.
Seeing the unicorn approaching her, Kim Ga-eul harbored a hope that perhaps she was an exception.
Yes.
“Snort…!”
Right up until the unicorn, looking somehow enraged, charged at her with full force.
“…Huh?”
She managed to dodge, but it had lunged with the intent to gore her to death, without a hint of exaggeration.
“Whoa, what the. Are unicorns usually this aggressive?!”
“No, I don’t think so. Did you do something, Ga-eul?”
“N-No. I did think I’d like to ride it or pet it if I got the chance…! But I haven’t done anything yet!?”
“Then why is it suddenly trying to kill you…?”
But then, the unicorn that had been charging at her let out a sound close to a scream and turned its charge toward Kang Ha-ni.
“Whoa…! What the. It’s really just attacking everyone!? Is it crazy!?”
“NEEEEEIGH!!!!!”
“Oh my, what is this all of a sudden!?”
And even Professor Cathy.
…Suddenly, a certain ominous legend came to mind.
Wasn’t it said that the unicorn is a holy beast that symbolizes purity, loving chaste virgins and shunning the debauched?
It couldn’t be…?
“NEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEIGH…!!!!!!”
However, seeing how it was charging frantically at specifically the three of them, it somehow felt like the legend was true.
Having it revealed this way was so embarrassing…
It seemed the others had noticed as well, as Aisha subtly stepped forward to try and stop the unicorn.
“Ah, um. It’s not something to brag about, but I don’t have any experiences like that. I think the unicorn might calm down a bit for me.”
Indeed, the unicorn, which had been rampaging, stopped in front of Aisha for a moment as if to inspect her.
“Hoho, yes. Fortunately, it seems willing to talk to me…”
For about three seconds, that is.
“Pfft…!”
At the same time the unicorn swatted away Aisha’s outstretched hand with its tail, it spun around and sent her flying with a kick from its hind legs before resuming its rampage.
…Was it just a hallucination that the ‘pfft’ sounded like ‘fail’?
After that, everyone else tried, but to varying degrees of failure. No one could calm the unicorn down.
Just as the unicorn was about to completely lose its mind and go berserk.
“Stay still.”
Finally, unable to watch any longer, Kang So-hyun stepped forward, and countless Shadow Chains succeeded in completely binding the unicorn.
* * *
The others didn’t seem to understand, but the words this horned horse was saying were a mess.
“NEEEEEIGH…!” [Let me go…! Don’t try to touch me with those filthy hands…! I’ll kill you all…!]
To be precise, it wasn’t so much that I heard it, but rather that I could see its thoughts? I couldn’t explain it well, but it was a fascinating sensation.
“Behave yourself.”
[O young deity…! How have you already corrupted so many women…! I can feel your energy from all of them…! At first, I thought I was mistaken!]
Young deity? Is it talking about me?
“I didn’t do anything like that.”
[Liars…! Then are you saying you’re just a human!]
“Yeah, that’s right.”
[Stop playing word games and release me at once…! If I don’t kill them all, I’ll go mad…!]
“…What exactly is the problem?”
[What!? You ask what the problem is!? I’ll give the three whose bodies have been defiled a pass for now! But what about the rest of them!]
[The woman whose heart is defiled, falling for her friend’s boyfriend—and a cadet much younger than herself at that—and subtly trying to wedge herself between them!]
[The woman whose aura is defiled, who not only reeks of demonic energy as if she’s harbored the Seed of the Devil, but also reeks of the scent of a woman on her hands from how much hand-play she’s done…!]
[None of the others are sane either. A half-succubus? She radiates a poisonous aura on the outside, but in the end, she’s just a woman trying to get involved with a man who’s already taken! A woman I can’t tell if she’s human or a plant, carrying around honey water made of suspicious ingredients! Even a woman who lusts after her own younger brother! Have you all gone mad…!?]
“There are all kinds of people in the world. You shouldn’t discriminate.”
[Don’t talk like a child…! Aaaaagh! Get away from me…! Let me go…!]
“So-So-hyun. It looks like it’s about to die, why don’t you just let it go…?”
[Yes…! Well said! Blonde! As a reward, I’ll kill you first…!]
“You’ve been saying such mean things for a while now.”
Those who were listening were reminded of Kang So-hyun’s usual rough way of speaking and almost burst out laughing at the “mean things” part, but no one actually let out a laugh.
“Aww, I really wanted to pet a unicorn…”
“Let’s give up, Ga-eul. That thing tries to kill us just by being near it. If we actually touched it, it would probably try to murder us all.”
…I didn’t like that she was making that kind of face just because of a mere horse.
“Is it okay if they pet you a little?”
[No…! I’d rather die…!]
“It says it’s okay for everyone to pet it.”
[Don’t be ridiculous…! When did I ever—!!!!!]
“…It really doesn’t look like it’s saying that?”
“Hehe, no. It said we can pet it if I let it go.”
[Don’t make me laugh…! Fine! Try releasing me! The moment you do, I’ll take you all down with me…!!!!]
‘Shut up.’
Regardless of its protests, I reached out and grabbed the bound horse’s horn.
[W-What are you doing…! Stop it…!]
— The Touch of the Devil notices what you are trying to do.
— The Will of the Saint insists on turning a blind eye this once.
As I channeled something from within my body into the dagger I held, a murky energy flowed toward the unicorn’s horn.
[D-Don’t…! Don’t do ittttt!!!!]
“So-So-hyun…? You’re not killing it, right? It’s really okay, right?! I said you can let it go!?”
Everyone said it was okay to let it go, but since it said mean things first, I’m going to do something mean too.
Once it had absorbed enough demonic energy, the single horn fell off. In its place, two horns shaped like a mountain goat’s began to sprout from both sides of the horse’s head.
Subsequently, its body, which had been nearly pure white, was dyed black, and its transparent eyes, which had radiated intelligence, also turned blood-red.
“Now, you’re going to listen to me, right?”
[…Ah? Ahhh? N-No way. It can’t be…? Me? I’ve fallen?]
“Oh? Its color changed, but it’s gotten quiet?”
[D-Don’t come near me…!]
The horse said that, but when everyone actually approached and started petting it, the thing that used to be a unicorn honestly leaned into their touch and began to whinny softly.
[W-Why does this feel so goooood…!]
“I told it everyone was just a bit surprised at first and said sorry, so please forgive them.”
“Aha, so it was just surprised. Well, that can happen!”
“Wow, this is my first time touching a horse!”
[Pet me more…! No, don’t touch me, humans…! This body will not submit to the likes of you…!]
It’s not very convincing when it says that while acting all cute. Is it an idiot?