Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Unconscious Flag-Planting
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All of them held their breath.
Dragoongun was clashing fiercely with Prostia, bellowing loudly, but his voice was drowned out by the thunderous roars of the battle.
But one thing was clear.
He—Yedre—was protecting them.
Even though he could fight better, he was deliberately taking hits to keep the attacks focused on himself.
She didn't know where that freakish defense came from, but she could guess that letting the attacks concentrate on him must hurt, and it wouldn't last forever.
Yet he showed no intention of abandoning that fighting style.
It was a sight that stung the pride of the knights who had fallen into despair.
Those who had collapsed, those who had been neutralized, forced themselves back to their feet.
El, who had been propping up the fainted Flat, gaped at Dragoongun, while Clarit couldn't hide her shock.
What they felt was awe.
A thrilling sensation, like seeing a hero from a fairy tale.
Is he fighting like that, getting hurt because of what I said?
Ashita was overwhelmed by guilt, yet she felt some strange emotion alongside it.
And Gold... he shuddered with emotion.
Prostia, the Dragon of Ruin.
The leader of the Eight Monster Kings, a dragon rivaling the gods.
A man fighting toe-to-toe with an ancient fiend that surpassed even the dragons from fairy tales—what the hell was he?
He could have run, but this man who faced monsters head-on, from that female slime to now—what the hell was he?
Gold realized hot tears were streaming down his face without him noticing.
And deep in his chest, he felt a certain emotion blooming.
It was respect.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Skill: Beastification has been released.] Huh? Why'd the skill deactivate?
...Ah. The fire on my body went out, so the pain's gone now.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of regret, I looked around.
The traces left by my flaming sword, which I'd swung carefully even in my berserk state to avoid hitting Gold and the others.
A pile of ashes.
Like the scars left after a massive explosion, the ground where the flaming blade had touched glowed red-hot, crackling faintly.
Prostia lay sprawled atop it.
Whoa. That's badass.
I was extremely satisfied with the scene I'd orchestrated.
Worth all the effort.
I checked my body's condition.
It was fine.
Even after getting pummeled and burned to a crisp, my clothes were intact.
Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy—truly a cheat skill.
But damn, it hurts.
I'd felt pain during Beastification too, but now even just standing here sent prickles through my whole body.
Breathing came with irritation.
But it was a fair price.
If this is the cost for using an absurd cheat technique like Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy, it's a bargain.
Anyway, even a Monster King must have taken some damage, right?
It'd be a problem if not.
Because I'm out of mana, hooked like an anchovy.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 150 💨 Agility: 90 ✨ Magic Power: 0/2000 💪 Stamina: 118/130 🍀 Luck: 70 🛡️ Endurance: 184 Name: Yedre | Level: 28 | Race: Human Skill Points: 150 | Stat Points: 0 Willpower: 85 | Resistance: 70 I hadn't checked earlier, but my magic power, which was definitely 200 before, had risen to 2000. Whatever the reason, it's clearly a high number.
I poured it all out, so she must be a bit hurt, right?
Let's see how Prostia is doing.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Prostia
H.P: 480000043000 / 500000000000 M.P: ? / ? Other status info unavailable. ......?
The damage is barely anything...?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [A special communication window has opened via direct order.] ??? says: You crazy bastard! Prostia is a red dragon—think fire would hurt her?! Ah.
Right?
...I knew you'd say that?
I haven't used it yet. My trump card.
The worst technique ever, blending fire and Severing Sword...!
Just now was cool, but it was just brute-forcing with fire.
It required extreme focus in my berserk state, so I couldn't use it then, but now it's different.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Prostia rose.
Looks like lying there until now was just playing possum.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Hmph, hah! Not bad at all! A powerful Outsider like you can unleash techniques of that scale anytime. Same for those light, lightning, and ice bastards over there!] Prostia snorted disdainfully.
But I thought that was pretty big-scale, and it's still not enough?
Then Gold muttered in an indignant tone.
"Still, that last one was beyond common sense...!"
Getting called beyond common sense by Gold. Feels like the pinnacle for a human.
Maybe a compliment.
But that's not important now.
Gold is quite a distance from me.
Yet my senses are sharp enough to hear his voice clearly.
On the other hand, Prostia was clearly intimidated.
Now's the chance to press the attack.
Whoosh.
I shot forward like propelled by a gale, toward the cowering Prostia. And...
Slash!
I cleaved her torso.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Gah, guaaaaaah!!!] Prostia writhed in far more agony than before. And the wound wasn't regenerating.
Flames crackled from the injury.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Th-that sword?!] Finally noticed, huh.
My fantastical red blade, infused with flame, mana, and Prynar.
This is Flame Severing Sword.
A skill I created while playing assassin games.
Its effects: immense cutting power, and an unknown force that denies regeneration.
Regenerate? Give it a try!
The issue is how much damage it deals.
Let's check her HP...
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Prostia
H.P: 370078904500 / 500000000000 M.P: ? / ? Other status info unavailable. Huh? That's a huge drop this time.
I thought it'd take all day to chop her down, but maybe it's doable.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Prostia's descent rate has been frozen!] [This state will persist until the wounds can heal.] Good news keeps coming.
She'd only descended 30% so far.
If she got stronger, it'd be game over. But that seems off the table for a while.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Urk... you worm!!] Kyaaaaaah!
The dragon's body shone brilliantly. And then.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Prostia
H.P: 500000000000 / 500000000000 M.P: ? / ? Other status info unavailable. ??
She healed?
No fucking way, what kind of bullshit is that?
I'm as pissed as when that boss I beat over two days full-healed. Took three more days to kill it, though.
Fine. Grit-it-out fight like back then.
Keep slashing.
Grinding my teeth, I approached, and the massive dragon visibly panicked.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [W-wait! Hold on! Gaaaaah!] Slash! Slash! Blaze! Boom!
Every swing unleashed rippling crimson, spectacular with fantastic sound effects.
Fire! Fire is the best!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Whoa. 180 ???s send admiration!] [Equality's ? ???? asks Loveheart: What's that perk? Loveheart clams up.] Why's that Loveheart bitch involved?
Eh, think later.
For now, slash away.
Fun work, right?
Fighting dragons is a dream in any game.
How long did I slash?
Probably dozens of minutes.
Rawr!
Prostia glowed red again and regenerated.
Damn. Infinite loop?
Well, it doesn't cost mana, so keep going.
She'll tire out and give up eventually.
Plus, better now—she's hurting, so she's focusing on evasion and defense over attacks.
I've disrupted her attempts to fly up and dodge my sword countless times.
Let's check... descent progress...
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Prostia 30%
H.P: 500000000000 / 500000000000 M.P: 48000000000000 / 58000000000000 Other status info unavailable. Good. Locked as the status said...
...?
Wait.
Her mana, which was question marks, is visible now?
But fuck, mana has an extra zero compared to HP.
Utterly shameless.
But now mana is visible.
That means the end of this fight is in sight.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ding!] [Prostia's mana is visible!] [Everyone is shocked—impossible! Heston is baffled why she's pouring so much mana into full recovery.] Who's Heston?
Anyway, Prostia isn't used to getting hurt.
That's why she's overexerting on recovery.
Flame Severing Sword was definitely damaging her, and recovery took way more mana than imagined.
I wondered if my judgment was off since she regenerated instantly, but I was exploiting her properly.
This guy's combat experience is lacking.
Her battle sense seems good from controlling the golem, but most fights were overwhelming specs crushing foes without pain, so she doesn't know endurance.
Using full recovery every time must be from fear.
I grinned as I approached the dragon, far more cowed than at first.
"Well, Prostia."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [U-urk?!] "Seems the tables have turned. No plans to stop now?"
Of course, empty words.
Dragons have ironclad pride. After all the pain, I just wanted to taunt.
Sure enough, Prostia went berserk.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [How dare you underestimate me!! I'll kill you and your patron god, whoever it is!] "My patron is Loveheart. Please do kill her."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ding] [Loveheart panics: Hey?!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Loveheart! That wench! I'll remember that!]
Roaring, Frostia suddenly groaned.
[That girl is not even a true war god… Are you deceiving me?!]
“I have no reason to.”
What does war god have to do with anything?
Thinking I mocked her, Frostia’s mouth filled with crimson flames, ready to burn the sky.
Oh? Fire-human mode again?
It hurts, but fighting while burning wasn’t that bad.
I’m already in pain anyway.
But then Frostia groaned and stopped her breath attack.
…Did she chicken out?
Looks like my earlier burning left an impression.
Disappointing.
I walked forward.
In my view, Frostia’s descent rate was still fixed at 30%.
Ding!
[Heston says descent will only progress if she heals or completes her contract.]
Thanks, Heston.
At that moment, Frostia gasped like she realized something.
[Ah…! Your sword… It pierces Ryuunar itself, the very essence!]
Huh?
[That’s impossible…! You tricked me!]
Why is she talking to herself?
“Well, if that’s so, don’t lie!”
She raged alone. While she did, I dashed to cut her wings.
As I charged, she blinked, then charged back.
Oh. Nice. Good.
No dodging. Just collision.
A giant dragon and a tiny human crashing.
KWAANG!!
As expected, I was blown back.
But I’m fine.
I have Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy.
I’ll repeat this endlessly.
Endurance is my specialty.
Then—
[...Krrgh!]
Suddenly, Frostia’s eyes glowed red.
I detected an attack and activated Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy, but I took no damage.
…Because she wasn’t attacking me.
Ryuunar shot out, piercing everyone else.
Clarit, Ashita, El.
Especially El, whose power was sealed — her body trembled violently.
“Aah!”
“E-El!”
Flat stretched out a hand while crying, but he couldn’t stand. His whole body had no strength left. He ended up crawling away on his butt.
“F-Flat…”
“E-El…”
El looked sad seeing his state.
Well. That’s normal.
Gold and El are just exceptional.
KuoOOOO.
Frostia stood proudly on two legs and laughed.
[I have activated part of my authority. Those exposed to this power will feel death’s pain, and eventually real death. Now… aren’t these humans precious to you?]
“Not really.”
No.
If they die, it’s none of my business. Burn them, mash them — I don’t care.
I protect them only out of morality and promise.
“Just live nicely.”
Honestly, I still doubt that saying.
Why should people live nicely?
What benefit is there?
Even now, when my life is in danger, must I live nicely?
I seriously thought: Haven’t I done enough?
Then—
“D-Dre… We’re fine, just cut her down!”
[Shut up!]
Frostia yelled at El.
Actually, it’s simple.
If I fall, everyone dies.
Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy has a low success rate; if I fail once, I die.
Originally, I should save my own life and abandon them to stop a dragon that could destroy the world.
But—
Gold shielding me from Yulis’s lie.
El apologizing and standing firm despite everything.
Ashita crying and trying to save me.
Clarit responsibly trying to stop the dragon.
I try to ignore them, but their goodwill keeps surfacing.
Why live kindly? I don’t know.
But I learned one rule in life:
Goodwill deserves goodwill. Malice deserves malice.
Fuck.
I’m really a fool.
I twisted my lips and looked up at Frostia.
“…Dragons don’t lie or act cowardly, right?”
[Ugh… That… That is…]
Her eyes rolled restlessly.
Ding!
[??? laughs uproariously.]
Shut up.
I blocked the communication.
Ding!
[Huh? How is that possible… zzt.]
Still noise. Annoying.
Then Frostia shouted.
[Don’t move, human! If you move, the others die!]
“I’ll believe dragons lie, but I’ll trust they keep their word.”
[What?]
“Fine. I won’t move. So don’t touch the others. And the moment you touch me, I’ll consider you to have accepted my terms.”
[…Ho?]
“Go ahead until you’re satisfied, Frosti—”
KWAANG!
You fucking asshole, let me finish talking!
She kicked me, spat blood midair, and slammed me to the ground with her tail.
Even with Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy active, I coughed blood.
Is this the limit?
[Hahaha! How noble! Good, human! I swear on my name! If I kill you, I’ll spare all humans except that hateful lightning-ice one!]
Her tail hammered me like a nail.
Kugugung! Kururung! Ureureung!
The ground cracked and terrain changed.
Everyone else had already been blown far away.
I remain unharmed.
But it hurts.
Feels like parts of my body are being shaved away.
Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy demands extreme concentration.
Pain disturbs it, yet sharpens it.
I laughed.
If I fail once, I die.
So I swear:
Even if it takes years, hundreds of years, thousands — bring me pain.
I’ll go to the end.
“Wait! That’s enough…!”
“D-Dre…”
“Outsider Dre…”
Their worried voices tell me my choice was right.
Though really, it’s just my selfish satisfaction.
Yet strangely—
No fear.
No sense of crisis.
Maybe because of their voices.
My life was mostly lonely and ignored.
So hearing recognition feels good.
I know it.
Most here are good people.
El and Clarit trusted and supported me.
Ashita never blamed me.
Gold defended me even while risking losing family.
They stand high above others — I know how difficult such goodness is.
Why live kindly?
I don’t know.
But goodwill deserves goodwill.
I will repay them.
I will show—
Violence greater than violence.
Reward greater than kindness.
KWAANG! KWAANG!
She kept stomping.
Sometimes she tried to use breath, but my earlier fire-human mode scared her off.
Bones feel broken. Organs twisted.
But no fatal damage.
Pain became familiar.
What are the others doing? Are they safe?
[I said don’t move! I can kill you anytime!]
Looks like they want to act but can’t.
Their will pleases me.
Motivation rises.
More.
KWAANG! KWAANG!
Fuck, it still hurts!
Thoughts fade.
Pain fades.
Sordo, the cause. The people I must protect. All fade.
Only this moment remains.
Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy. Matching rhythm with enemy attacks.
Timing game.
Ding!
[250 ??? fall silent. They watch you.]
Peeping bastards.
Don’t disturb my focus.
Notifications stop.
Oh. They can read the mood.
Are they even human?
…Gods, probably.
Hours passed.
Maybe days.
Frostia groaned more often.
She panted at me lying on the ground.
[What are you?! Even weakened, even incomplete, even I… this much should have killed phoenixes and Askatlops! Yet you!]
I wanted to mock, but coughed first.
Pathetic.
But my fighting spirit only grew stronger.
I suffer this because of a curse once, because of people’s expectations now — and I think, fine.
Feeling my burning body, I grinned.
“Shut up. Will you continue?”
[…Fine.]
Sure. Continue then.
But something changed.
Ding!
[Frostia draws her hidden weapon. ??? screams!]
The atmosphere changed.
Reality itself seemed altered.
[I’ll bear the causality, so stop annoying me!]
Red energy wrapped around Frostia’s claws.
A tiny red spike, yet overwhelming.
Ding!
[We mourn you.
500 ? will remember and spread your name. 578 ?? show interest.]
What the hell. Who decided I die?
Frostia explained.
[This is God-Slaying power.]
“…?”
[Outsider. You will be the first human body to receive the God-Slaying Ashen Sword. If you survive, I shall acknowledge you!]
Some power to kill gods.
Pressure immense; Gold, El, Clarit turned pale.
…But this aura feels familiar.
Loveheart. And that beauty from my dream.
So divine power.
I moved Ryuunar instinctively.
Not intent, but instinct.
KWAH!
An incomprehensible sensation.
[Incomprehensible Sense]
[Passive]
[SP 80]
[Allows imagining and manifesting sensations that normally cannot be understood.]
SP rises.
[Incomprehensible Sense]
[Passive]
[SP 88]
[Allows imagining and manifesting sensations that normally cannot be understood.]
That skill opened my path.
Ryuunar’s Blessing activated.
[Ryuunar’s Blessing]
[Passive]
[SP 8 → 88]
[Outsider-only skill. After sexual acts, experience rises proportionally. Immune to sex-related curses.
Yedre has opened a new path and can feel the god Ryuunar.]
If I can feel it, if I can understand it—
God or whatever, all the same to me.
Just another Ryuunar stick.
Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy. Activate.
Red energy pierced me.
Kuak.
I feel lighter.
Death?
No.
Exaltation.
Like tasting a destined path.
I closed my eyes.
[Hahaha! In the end, human! Regret challenging me in the underworld!]
“Impossible…”
El murmured.
Gold roared.
“FROSTIA!”
[Hmph. Lightning next. I promised to spare the rest—]
“I’m not dead yet.”
[Shut up, corpse— Huh?]
Frostia tilted her head, peering close.
[Eh????]
Ding.
[????????????????????]
[All ??? from 580 to 999 are shocked. All eyes are on you.]
Noisy.
I blocked communications.
More signals stabbed in.
Annoying.
Then Frostia spoke.
[…What are you?]
“What nonsense.”
[This can’t be… Then I’ll drop a meteor and wipe this land! Change the environment itself! Let’s see if you survive!]
“You’ll break your promise?”
[Promise? Ah.]
She recalled not touching others and acknowledging me if I survived.
[…Uh.]
“If I survive, I will cut you into pieces. No matter where you go, I’ll chase you and repay all this pain.”
[You dare threaten me?!]
Loud but just noise.
“I don’t care. I won’t give up. Continue if you want.”
She trembled.
[If I were complete… Even you— I wouldn’t lose…!]
“Even complete, it doesn’t matter. No attack works on me.”
A bluff.
My concentration is near gone. If descent rose 1% more, I’d be dead.
But still.
I will kill her.
[Why do you go this far for those insects?!]
“They acknowledged me.”
[Just that…?]
“Enough reason to stake my life.”
[…]
Frostia fell silent.
“So? Continue?”
[K-krgh…]
She roared.
But—
The dragon lowered to four legs.
[Shall we… swear.]
“…What?”
[A draw. We… agree not to kill each other…]
……
What the fuck.
A draw?
So it’s over?
I stared at Frostia.
Then at the people.
All safe.
El’s face was oddly red, eyes hazy. Probably exhausted.
Yeah.
Continuing further is unwinnable anyway.
She yielded first.
Fine.
A draw.
Still, I felt I had won.
I looked at Frostia proudly.
“I accept the oath.”