Chapter 234: The Tutorial Floor (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: The Tutorial Floor (6)
After entering the forest with Lee Serin, I returned to the clearing two hours later.
It was out of consideration for her, since it was her first day. Pushing too hard would only be counterproductive.
That didn't mean I hadn't met my quota, though.
1,621 WP. That was how much I'd gathered today, not including sponsorships from the Constellations.
As the night deepened, the monsters became more active, so I was able to gather points quickly.
Of course, it must have been a disaster for the other player candidates, but for me, it was nothing but good news.
I didn't even need to use mana detection. I only had to cross through a few bushes to find them swarming in droves.
“Hah, hah, hah...”
As soon as we returned to the clearing, Lee Serin collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
I handed her some water and sat down beside her.
“You did well, Sister Serin.”
“Th-Thank you...”
In truth, Lee Serin had done unbelievably well for her first hunt.
No, more than that, she had a talent for it.
Unlike a typical beginner, she didn't panic at the sight of monsters and handled the situation flexibly, following my instructions well.
Moreover, even though it was surely her first time handling mana, her control was remarkable.
It was good enough that she wouldn't fall behind the first-year students at the Magic Tower.
If she continues to grow like this, she'll be more than capable of pulling the weight of several people on her own.
‘Still, why isn't she back yet?’
Even as the night deepened, there was no sign of Lucifer.
Of course, with her, there was no real need to worry, but I found myself unusually concerned.
Tiri-ring—
「The first night has arrived.」
「Be careful of the night.」
With the screen popping up right then, I had no choice but to get to my feet.
I was too worried to just sit around.
“Hyun-woo?”
I took some jewels out of my inventory. A ruby, a blue sapphire, an opal, and a sunstone.
Using each jewel as a catalyst, I cast a barrier around the clearing.
Since I used high-purity jewels, a fairly strong protective barrier was formed. At this level, there shouldn't be any major problems unless a horde of C-rank monsters shows up.
“I'm going to go get the lost one for a bit.”
“...Can't I go with you?”
Her eyes trembled faintly, as if she was anxious about being left alone.
Then again, it was only natural for her to be nervous. She had just seen with her own two eyes how many monsters were in this forest.
She looked at me pitifully and tugged on the hem of my pants.
Maybe because she was so pretty, she looked like a tragic heroine from a TV drama.
‘...Anyone watching would think I was actually abandoning her.’
Swallowing a dry laugh, I crouched down on the ground.
When our eyes met at the same level, she swallowed nervously.
“I'll be back soon.”
I took out a handkerchief and wiped her sweaty forehead and cheeks. Her face instantly flushed bright red.
She'd gotten quite a bit of dirt on her after struggling in the forest.
‘This brings back memories.’
The memory of taking care of the younger kids at the orphanage suddenly came to mind, and a smile spread across my lips without me realizing.
“Even if monsters come while I'm gone, you'll be fine, so don't worry too much.”
“...Really?”
“You don't trust me?”
“N-No! I trust you!”
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like she was forcing herself to say she trusted me.
With no other choice, I put the handkerchief away and pointed a finger at the empty air.
“That's...”
Lee Serin's eyes glazed over as she stared at the large fireball floating in the air. Just as I expected, she had talent.
To think she'd instinctively try to reverse-engineer the formula for my Fireball.
It seemed like it would be a good idea to teach her magic when I had the time.
Anyway, to reassure her, I launched the spell at the barrier.
BOOM!
The barrier, struck by the Fireball, didn't break. It didn't even have a scorch mark.
“Whoa...”
“Can you trust me a little more now?”
“...”
Suddenly embarrassed, Lee Serin ducked her head. I gave her hair a quick pat before swiftly leaving the clearing.
A streak of golden light cut through the dark forest.
「'Dancing Destroyer' is intrigued by your movements.」
「'Dweller of the Swamp' tells you to begin the slaughter.」
I used mana detection at full power to locate Lucifer. But just like on the 6th underground floor, the detection was blocked, unable to extend beyond a certain range.
I'd heard the Tower had many areas with restrictions, and it seemed this forest was one of them.
‘Hoo...’
I perched on a tree branch and focused my mind.
Although it was a temporary contract, she and I were still bound by a transcendent contract.
Figuring out her general direction wasn't that difficult.
‘...Southwest.’
For some reason, I felt like Lucifer was in that direction.
I immediately took off. The dense forest was no obstacle. Any monster that blocked my path was split in half.
「You have defeated a Hobgoblin.」
「+3 WP」
「You have defeated a Green Orc.」
「+10 WP」
「You have defeated a Green Orc.」
「+10 WP」
「You have defeated a Roar Bear.」
「+20 WP」
˙
˙
˙
「'Dancing Destroyer' smiles, satisfied with your sword dance.」
「'Dancing Destroyer' sponsors you 1,000 WP.」
「'Dweller of the Swamp' is delighted by the slaughter.」
「'Dweller of the Swamp' sponsors you 1,000 WP.」
「'Saintess of Uruk' smiles alluringly, saying you are indeed the man she chose.」
「'Saintess of Uruk' sponsors you 1,000 WP.」
The indirect messages from the Constellations, delighted by the thrilling slaughter, filled my vision.
3,000 WP in one go. It was definitely far more efficient to receive sponsorships from the Constellations than to hunt monsters.
However, constantly trying to draw the Constellations' attention would be a bad move.
Anything that's fun at first is bound to get boring over time.
The best attitude when dealing with Constellations was to feign indifference. An obvious attempt to fish for sponsorships would only earn their dislike.
I casually dismissed the screen and ran through the forest.
Before long, I felt Lucifer's presence. I picked up my pace even more and leaped onto a tree.
‘Found her.’
I used a barrier I created in mid-air as a foothold and kicked off it. It was a technique that still needed a lot of research, but I could manage it at least once.
I flew across the night sky toward Lucifer.
As the distance between us closed, a strange sight came into view.
‘...A monster?’
It was Lucifer, facing off against a monster that looked like a clump of fog.
I found it strange that she was just standing there against a monster that was D-rank at best, but I soon noticed a peculiar mana clinging to her body.
‘A mental attack?’
I set my thoughts aside and gripped the hilt of my sword.
I swung my sword at a speed a mere D-rank monster couldn't even react to.
Shhhk.
“Sheeeek!!”
The monster, split in two, soon vanished into smoke.
「You have defeated a Shade.」
「+20 WP」
As expected, the creature was a ghost-type monster.
They were notorious for being tricky opponents for melee-type hunters since physical attacks were completely ineffective against them.
“What are you doing here?”
I sheathed my sword and approached Lucifer.
I grabbed her arm as she tried to force herself to move.
“You'll damage your mana circuits like that. Stay still, I'll undo it for you.”
“...I don't need it.”
“Don't be stubborn.”
I gathered mana at my fingertips and began to slowly erase the mana clinging to her body. Carefully, slowly, so as not to damage her mana circuits.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to be injured.
“...Don't laugh.”
“I'm not laughing.”
Lucifer glared at me, her brow furrowed.
“Do you think I don't know you're laughing at me on the inside?”
As expected of a former Constellation, her mind-reading ability was quite advanced.
Seriously, how could she get hit by a mental attack from a mere D-rank monster?
She must have been embarrassed herself, because her face was faintly red.
“Should I tell you the truth?”
“...”
Instead of an answer, a wave of killing intent washed over me.
I chuckled and took her hand. It was small, soft, and warm.
“Wh-What?!”
Startled by the sudden contact, Lucifer's eyes went wide. Normally, she would have shaken me off with a cold glare.
It put me in a good mood for some reason, and a smile spread across my face.
“Just stay still. I'm dispelling the mana.”
“As if I don't know you don't need to touch me to do that!”
“It's because my skills are lacking.”
I replied with a convenient lie and intertwined our fingers.
For the record, I was indeed satisfying my own selfish desires.
I mean, I came all the way out here in the middle of the night to rescue her. Don't I deserve this much of a reward?
Perhaps because I was caressing her hand, Lucifer's face gradually turned the color of a ripe persimmon. I enjoyed her reaction as I pushed my mana a little deeper.
“...Ngh.”
A faint moan escaped her lips.
And so, it was proven that even a former Constellation can't move a muscle once you shove some mana into them(?).
“H-Hurry up and finish!”
“It's hard to concentrate when you rush me. And how about you stick to one way of speaking?”
When she's in a bad mood like before, she talks like a Constellation, but when she's flustered like now, her tone becomes casual.
If I had to say which was her real way of speaking, I'd say the latter suited her personality a bit better.
Lucifer said nothing and lowered her head.
Seeing how even her earlobes were bright red, it seemed she was aware of it to some extent.
Did she want to act all dignified in front of me?
I forcibly suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst out and focused on removing the mana.
It was the final stage now.
“...I do not understand.”
Lucifer, who had been staring at the ground, muttered quietly.
Her completely changed voice seemed to represent her feelings. She lifted her head and stared at me with cold eyes.
“Why do you remain by my side instead of leaving?”
Incomprehensible words flowed from her lips.
“What?”
“Even without a contract with me, you drove a Constellation's avatar to the brink of death and even successfully negotiated with the System. Even without the information I provide, you would have one day become a player who receives the attention of countless Constellations.”
Her uncharacteristic praise made me feel uneasy.
What on earth is she trying to say?
Besides, isn't that something she shouldn't say so carelessly? The Constellations are listening, aren't they?
“Do not worry. I have used WP to temporarily block the Constellations' ears. Though, about a minute is the limit.”
Just then, the mana removal was complete, and Lucifer moved her body normally.
Honestly, I expected her to slap my hand away immediately. But she didn't.
Instead, she held onto my hand and stared intently at me.
“As you know, I intend to take revenge on the Constellations. Once they find out I'm alive, they will try to kill me, even if it means consuming a massive amount of causality. A catastrophe that a mere human body cannot handle will occur.”
I listened to her words in silence.
While holding her faintly trembling hand.
“I will ask again. Why do you remain by my side?”
“Because I said I'd help you.”
“...You only promised to free me from that hell. As you can see, I am now free. Therefore, you have already kept your promise.”
“I don't remember specifying the details like that—”
“Sophistry!”
Lucifer shot up to her feet and glared at me as if she wanted to kill me. I looked at her distorted face.
She wore an expression of someone who didn't know how to deal with her own overwhelming emotions.
“You will die. You will die a miserable death. That human woman you brought with you will die too. Every bond you form in this Tower from now on will meet its end at the hands of the angels.”
I slowly got up and looked at her with the same expression as always.
“And yet, you're not telling me to leave.”
I took a step toward Lucifer.
She retreated just as much, her lips parting several times as if to speak. But in the end, she lowered her gaze, and silence followed.
“Saying things you don't even mean.”
I already knew she intended to use me for her revenge.
The reason I was still here, despite that, was simple.
“There's no reason. I'm just doing what I want to do.”
Was there ever a reason why I helped a betrayed queen or stayed by the side of the Heavenly Demonic Cult's young lady?
“...You're truly insane.”
In that moment, her lips touched mine.
How many seconds passed? Ten? Thirty?
In reality, only a brief moment passed before she hastily pulled away from me.
I stared at Lucifer with a dazed look.
“That just now was...?”
My head wasn't working properly.
Lucifer... kissed me?
The warmth left on my lips felt like a dream. No, 'surreal' was a more fitting word.
“...It is not uncommon for a goddess to bestow her grace upon a hero.”
Lucifer, looking like a persimmon about to burst, muttered in a voice as small as a crawling ant, then tried to run away.
Grab.
But I was a step faster and caught her by the wrist.
I cupped her flustered face. Her trembling purple eyes shone beautifully under the moonlight.
“You're not some neighborhood kid. What kind of goddess in this world ends things with just a peck?”
“What does that—”
I pulled Lucifer's waist toward me and stole her lips once more.
She flinched at the touch of my tongue parting her lips. But regardless, I drank in her sweet scent and laid her down on the grass.
The night was just beginning.