Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Ch. 117 .｡.:✧ Rescue Mission (Not Really) (2) ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[People of the world! Look here! Help me defeat these villains who kidnapped a poor yokai!]
“…Shut up.”
[Yelp!]
Undecided swung her club, and a fox’s yelp echoed through the gloomy forest.
“Guiho, I have a favor to ask.”
[Is that how you ask for a favor?! First, stop this blood ghoul from hitting my head with her club!]
Guiho, tucked under my arm, growled and protested.
She’d been thrashing and biting my arm, trying to escape, but Undecided had been whacking her head every time she acted up, so she had quieted down considerably. It seemed she had given up on escaping.
“If you stay still, she won’t hit you. Anyway, you recognize this place, right?”
[Isn’t this the Sancheong Forest? The negative energy is flowing so strongly… it feels even more ominous than it was a hundred years ago.]
“From now on, you’re going to teach us curse formations. Intensively.”
[What? Me? What do I get in return?]
“I won’t reveal your true identity to the world.”
[How is that a reward?! That’s just a threat!]
Guiho raged and fumed, but then Undecided raised her wooden club (Reinforced +1), and Guiho went limp.
As expected, the best way to deal with a beast was through force.
“And…”
[And?]
“You’re free to roam around outside now, aren’t you?”
[What are you…!]
Guiho started to protest but then closed her mouth.
Her gaze shifted to the side and landed on the rays of sunlight filtering through the trees.
They called this a forest filled with negative energy but during sunrise, it was as beautiful as any other forest, if not more so.
Guiho seemed captivated, frozen in place until the sun finally rose above the trees. Then she opened her mouth.
[It’s been… a long time… since I’ve seen the sunrise…]
“Sorry about breaking your formation. I was just trying to absorb the demonic energy. I didn’t realize you wouldn’t be able to replenish it.”
[No. It’s fine. To be honest, I had a feeling… that I wouldn’t be able to regain my former strength, no matter how much I trained or focused on recovery within the formation… It’s a wound from the River of the Underworld, so it’s only natural. I’ve been deceiving the entire North for centuries, clinging to a false hope, blinded by my own stubbornness…]
Guiho began to confess, her voice weak and defeated.
I could have put her down now, she wouldn’t even try to escape. She just sat there, on the ground beneath a vast, open sky, instead of the artificial space she had created with her formation.
Guiho’s instincts were right. No matter how long she stayed holed up in her formation, she would likely never regain her former strength.
According to the story, she was one-shotted by the final boss, who appeared about a year from now.
If she wouldn’t be a valuable asset until then, it was better to bring her out now and utilize her.
[I’ve been acting foolishly, blinded by my own pride. It’s actually… liberating to be brought out like this. Thank you. If teaching you about curse formations is enough to express my gratitude, I’ll teach you everything I know!]
Guiho turned to me, her voice filled with newfound determination, her eyes no longer holding any resentment.
“Good. Then let’s begin.”
This was good.
Now, let’s begin…
…the preparations to welcome Yerina.
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[Y-You… You’re saying this is your first time manipulating demonic energy?!]
“That’s right.”
[I’ve never seen such a genius! Formations are a complex concept! They’re a technique that uses demonic energy to activate curses by inscribing them into the very fabric of space! It’s on a completely different level from using totems, talismans, or cursed dolls as mediums! It usually takes at least five years of training just to learn how to inscribe demonic energy into space… How can a novice like you…!]
Guiho was amazed, watching me effortlessly draw formations.
Was it really that difficult?
I could just manipulate the demonic energy swirling at my fingertips like a brush, drawing whatever I wanted.
[Tell me the truth! Who taught you?! Where did you learn this?! I know all the curse user lineages, so you can’t lie to me!]
“I’m telling you, this is my first time.”
[This is unbelievable! Unbelievable! I’ve never been so excited in my 2,000 years of life! You have the greatest talent I’ve ever seen! It’s like you were born to be a curse user!]
“Um… Great Guardian… I’m a little stuck… Could you maybe teach me-”
[Silence! I don’t have time to waste on a lowly bug monster like you when I have such a precious talent before me! Anyway… Here! Sit here and continue practicing! I’ve observed that this spot is a focal point for negative energy, making it ideal for replenishing demonic energy and drawing formations! Quickly!]
Guiho snapped at the centipede… creature…, who had raised her hand, and then turned back to me, wagging her tail.
I was led to a rock and made to continue my training.
And then… a surge of demonic energy from all directions rushed towards me, making it a little difficult to breathe… and I could feel power building up in my fingertips.
‘Is this the talent that only appears once every 2,000 years?’
It did seem strange.
My talent for swordsmanship was mediocre.
My talent for magic, according to Alicia, was trash.
So where did my talent lie?
It seemed it was in curses.
There’s no way someone could have absolutely no talent.
That was impossible.
‘I got lucky.’
Most people, even those with a talent for curses, would never discover it in their lifetime.
But thanks to my knowledge of the game’s lore, and my repeated regressions… I had been recognized by a former Great Guardian and was now learning curse formations.
This was it.
There was hope.
I had been worried after mastering the Dakia Style ultimate technique, as I couldn’t see a clear path to further growth…
But now, I could improve my strength through curses.
Formations were the most niche, but also the most powerful, type of curse.
If I mastered it, I could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with superhumans and even face the Four Heavenly Kings at their peak.
‘Yerina will arrive here in four days, after news of the bunny girl who resembles the eldest daughter of Yevgenia reaches the South. I’ll master formations within that time!’
I was confident I could do it.
With my talent, it was possible.
…And then three days passed.
[This is frustrating! How can you make no progress in three days?! Let’s move on! Move on!]
“You said it was easy.”
[It is easy! Once you know how to draw formations, progressing to the next stage is a piece of cake! Why are you struggling? With that genius talent of yours? Ugh, forget it. I’m going to go see the bug. She’s already on the verge of advancing from 2nd stage to 3rd stage formations after just three days.]
“…”
Surprisingly…
…for three whole days…
…I hadn’t been able to move past the starting point!
‘The basic 0th stage formation. The tetrahedron. Distort the shape by adding more demonic energy!’
I followed the instructions exactly.
I visualized the shape of the 1st stage formation, the cube.
Distorting the formation to advance to the next stage.
“Distort! Distort! Distort! Distort! Distort…!”
“Ahaha! I did it, Great Guardian! 3rd stage!”
[Good job!]
“…1st… stage… complete.”
[Oh? The blood ghoul managed to reach the 1st stage. Quite impressive.]
“…”
I had pushed myself hard enough.
I gave up and withdrew the demonic energy from my trembling fingertips.
It was time to face reality.
‘That ‘genius talent that only appears once every 2,000 years’ my ass.’
I had been fooled by Guiho’s hype.
Of course, I could draw the basic 0th stage formation from the start.
I had forcefully unlocked the foundation of curse formations through the trait.
But that was it.
I had absolutely no talent and couldn’t progress beyond the foundation provided by the trait.
That was all.
[You only learned to sense demonic energy two days ago. And you’ve already reached the 1st stage in just a day. You’re no ordinary being.]
“…Heh.”
At least Undecided seemed to have some talent for curses.
It was a relief, considering we would be inseparable.
It would be a huge advantage if she became a skilled curse user.
“Tsk. This isn’t working.”
“Well, I expected as much. You’re terrible at magic. Did you think curses would be any different? Us untalented, ordinary folks… we can just watch those gloomy future curse users train.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Alicia, who had sat down beside me, leaned her head on my shoulder.
Her bunny ears, flapping against my own, tickled, so I pushed them awayband they fell back, wrapping around my neck like a scarf.
“What are you doing?”
“Marking my scent.”
“Why are you marking your scent on me? Are you trying to advertise that I’m your breeding partner? If you’re going to do that, it would be more effective to just pee on-”
“Hey?! That’s not what I’m doing! I’m not marking my scent on you… I’m marking your scent on me! So when my sister finds me, she’ll know for sure that I was kidnapped by you.”
“Aha.”
Alicia glared at me, her face flushed red, her ears twitching.
I couldn’t tell if she was angry or turned on.
Ah, right.
She was always turned on.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I think the bug or Undecided will be the ones to complete the formation that sends you back to your sister. And if all else fails, I’ll lend them my demonic energy, and Guiho can draw it.”
“I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You keep accumulating karma. It’s like you’re trying to shoulder all the evil in the world.”
“You’re exaggerating. I’m just shattering Yerina’s illusions. You know she’s blinded by her love for me.”
“It’s not just that. You try to solve everything on your own. You don’t explain anything to anyone. You just head off on your own, making everyone around you frustrated.”
“Well…”
“You’re about to say it’s… unexplainable? That it’s pointless to explain? I know. I can sense it, vaguely. I have a feeling about what you’re fighting against. Even if you explained it to me, I wouldn’t understand. And if I wouldn’t understand, then how could anyone else?”
“…”
Squeeze.
Alicia took my hand and interlocked our fingers, rubbing them together to transfer her scent.
She had helped me defeat Kali in Elvenguard, so it wouldn’t be too difficult for her to deduce my goals.
She must have figured out that I was fighting to defeat a powerful enemy from another dimension, a threat this world couldn’t handle on its own.
That was why she understood.
That this was something I couldn’t explain to others, and even if I did, it would be pointless.
I had tried countless times to warn people in advance during my previous 12 loops.
Telling them to avoid certain dungeons that would soon become Black Star dungeons.
To evacuate from areas where a Heavenly King with certain abilities was scheduled to appear.
I had issued warnings, threats, and pleas countless times.
Some were successful…
But most failed.
Even if you had knowledge of the future, it was difficult to sway people without concrete evidence.
That’s why…
…Until the final boss’s true nature was revealed…
…I had no choice but to fight alone, clearing dungeons and hunting down the Four Heavenly Kings.
“But please know this. You’re not alone.”
“That’s… actually kind of touching.”
“And… I think my sister… would be able to understand you.”
“You’re kidding, right? There’s no way.”
“You’re hiding something else, aren’t you? Right?”
Alicia spun around, straddled my lap and poked my chest with her finger, whispering.
I knew what she was talking about.
My Transmigration and Regression.
She didn’t know it, of course, but… it was the only secret I was keeping from Yerina.
“I think my sister would accept you, even after hearing all your secrets.”
“That’s impossible. She’s paranoid.”
“I’ll just cure her paranoia.”
Alicia smirked, holding the Art of Sensory Control.
“My sister could be your true confidante. I never could be…”
“Why do you think that?”
“Our bond is too weak. It’s obvious. Women have a keen sense for these things.”
“…”
“You have to avoid her for now, of course… but… please, I beg you… when she’s mastered this technique and understands everything about you… could you please face her again?”
Alicia whispered in my ear, her voice trembling.
She was truly a loyal subject.
Even at a time like this, her only concern was Yerina’s well-being.
I smiled, envious of Yerina for having such a devoted subordinate.
“Alright. I’ll grant your request. When that time comes, I’ll face Yerina and… settle things.”
“Thank you. Just hearing that… makes me happy…”
Alicia hugged me tightly, rubbing her body against mine.
Her body temperature seemed to be rising.
“You can let go now.”
“Ehehe. But… Don’t you think it’s strange? A man who kidnaps a woman, curses her, and makes her his slave… treating her so preciously? Shouldn’t you be… rougher with me? Shouldn’t there be some… marks on my body…?”
“…”
Alicia turned her head away from my ear and breathed heavily, our lips almost touching.
Marks on her body, huh?
It was true that a truly evil curse user would have left some traces, either through beatings or branding.
But…
“No.”
“Huh?!”
“I’m not that evil. Yerina would notice. She knows I’m not that kind of person.”
I grabbed Alicia’s wrist and lifted it.
I gently rubbed it with my thumb, and the thick layer of makeup came off, revealing the scars underneath.
I might be a little morally ambiguous, but… I wasn’t the kind of scum who would lay a hand on someone who had been hurt.
No matter how corrupted I became, I wouldn’t stoop that low.
I believed that. And Yerina would believe it too.
So, taking advantage of Alicia, or physically abusing her… It was too risky.
“Or was that… a seduction attempt? A classic move from a rabbit beastman in perpetual heat?”
“H-Hey?! No, it wasn’t! What are you imagining…!”
[Hey! Don’t you two think it’s a little inappropriate to be doing that in front of a child? Have humans lost all sense of shame? Well, I suppose it’s to be expected from a rabbit beastman…]
Guiho clicked her tongue and shook her head from afar. It seemed she found our interaction quite embarrassing, even though Alicia was just marking her scent on me.
Well, it should be enough now.
“Anyway, thanks. Now move.”
“Gah?! But… not my ears…!”
“Ah, right.”
Sizzle…
I grabbed a convenient handle and pushed Alicia aside…
…and she let out a moan, a warm mist rising from below.
Oh…
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