Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Party Met in the Forest (7)
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💬 Comments — Username Whoa, that's insane. Isn't Cyan's character a mage? — Username Yeah, she's a mage, but raised as a strength mage, so her physical damage is just as good. — Username How'd you do it? You maxed out all magic skills and still mastered every fighting skill? That was part of a conversation with another player from the past.
Now, it's just a fond fragment of memory.
— Username Item power. Back then, I had turned Cyan into the ultimate dream character—a strength mage who dealt massive physical damage despite being a mage.
Other players made strength mages that lacked practicality, but Cyan was practical too, boasting such high versatility and burst damage that she was called overpowered.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ Demon's Blessing ※ Increases natural HP and MP regeneration by 40% each when equipped. All other stats are doubled.
The reason it worked was thanks to the stat boosts from the Demon's Blessing, the demon race's naturally high base stats, and custom gear tailored around that.
And so, Cyan became Novel Online's one and only strength mage.
...To be honest, if I'd raised her any other way, it would've been a waste.
I honestly think I could've hit rank one no problem.
But how could a guy give up on his dream build?
Even if I'm no longer a guy now, a dream like that is something you never abandon.
Hired Advanced Assassin – Lv.60 Hired Advanced Assassin – Lv.59 Hired Advanced Assassin – Lv.62 'Their levels are all hovering just around 60.'
I accelerated my thoughts to scan the enemies.
Just as expected, thief-class jobs, all geared for PvP assassination with daggers.
Still, I didn't think I'd lose.
If this were a game, their attacks would all just miss, and even without evasion, my natural HP regen outpaced their DPS by miles.
But what worried me wasn't that.
It was their blood splattering on me.
No need to get messy if their bodies burst.
Plus, washing up meant blow-drying this long hair all over again, and hair this long was a pain to manage despite looking pretty.
Hell, really.
Cyan's combat power drops without magic, but honestly, it just meant switching from mage to pure fighter.
The issue was whether I could use fighting skills.
Magic had chants as triggers I could figure out, but martial arts required specific motions.
No matter how much you play a game, does anyone memorize every animation? Not me, anyway.
'Guardians are too huge to practice on easily, but these guys are just right size—perfect for testing.'
So, let's start with the basics.
If it gets dicey, I can just finish them off. Opportunities to test on humans don't come often.
'What to try first? That one, maybe.'
Among simple fighting skills with easy-to-remember motions, there was one often used to teach newbies PvP basics.
'Alright, let's give it a shot...'
I recalled Cyan's in-game motions.
Using hand blade, elbow, knee.
⚡ SKILL ⚡ Back of the Blade Strike – Fighting Skill ※Attribute: Physical / Range: 3m / Max Targets: 1
-Special: Always leaves the target with at least 1 HP.
▶Basic close-range fighting skill that strikes the opponent. Can use weapons.
The skill I chose was 'Back of the Blade Strike', a physical non-lethal skill that always left at least 1 HP, no matter how weak the target.
Perfect for dealing with these without getting dirty.
-Thwack!
"Guh?"
I struck the neck of the closest one first.
He crumpled limply.
There was a slight crack, but he'd be fine.
'Good, normally the head would've come off, but this'll just be a cervical fracture.'
Riding the momentum, I tried it on the next.
This one was a thief stabbing from behind.
-Pow!
"Hngh?!"
I gave him a special elbow to the solar plexus.
His body didn't burst this time either; he just flew into the bushes.
'Close, a bit more left and he'd have hit that leader guy.'
Couldn't be helped—the Quaking Foot I'd used when they charged kicked up dust.
Hitting by presence alone in zero visibility was tough.
Of course, next time I wouldn't miss.
But I wanted to punish this one special.
Didn't want him passing out too easily, so I left him for now.
'That one's for personal attention later. Finish these first.'
Next was one charging straight at me.
"Keurk!"
I lightly grabbed the thief's shoulder and kneed his jaw skyward.
-Boom!
He floated up, flipped in midair, and crashed down.
Probably won't chew solids for a while.
'Not bad. Should look into more fighting skills later. There are magic-immune monsters, after all.'
This was surprisingly solid performance-wise?
Subduing in one hit is harder than killing—requires control—but this auto-handled it with specific motions. Super convenient.
Dealing with the rest didn't take long. No injuries, no mess.
But when I came to, my hair was tousled.
Took an hour to fix it this morning, staring in the mirror...
Should I just kill them all here?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
...How much time had passed?
After handling the charging thieves, Cyan lavished punishment on the sole remaining caravan leader.
What that punishment was? Obvious from the man's state.
"I-I'm sorry for being born! I won't capture and sell people as slaves ever again! Please, just stop!"
The man prostrated himself, begging. His face was a bloody pulp, his body covered in ugly bruises.
'Energetic one. Still has breath to scream after all that.'
Cyan had kept kicking him while fixing her hair.
She'd even improvised a Back of the Blade Strike beyond game motions.
Normally fatal damage, but the skill's "leave 1 HP" effect held here too—he wouldn't die no matter what.
Though dying might've been mercy.
Passing out would've been better, but Cyan targeted only limbs on purpose. No fainting for him.
Unable to die or faint, he'd ended up sobbing and begging like this.
-Thud!
"Kuhk!"
"Quiet down. My head's already a mess."
But Cyan showed no mercy, kicking him again.
He clutched his leg, writhing on the ground.
Powerful enough to break bones, yet it just hurt like hell—no breaks.
Makes you wonder if this high elf's magic is at play.
"Tch, finally sorted."
After an hour of hair-fixing, Cyan was back to pristine.
Every time, she thought about cutting it—but no scissors from the market worked. Even knives dulled completely.
Time to give up.
"Once in the city, first thing: find a solution. There must be a spell for this..."
She sighed, dusted her clothes, and stood.
Where she'd sat was a makeshift chair of piled unconscious thieves.
Surprisingly cushy—not bad.
'...But this is a headache. Ruined the hidden quest I was gunning for.'
That was the real problem.
The quest had derailed completely.
Originally, the leader shouldn't reveal his true colors yet, and the player shouldn't win.
Even elf players most like high elves would fight the thieves, get overwhelmed, and captured.
Then dragged to the black market as a slave, meeting the 'one' Cyan wanted.
Repeat talks with it, exploit guard gaps, steal key, collapse the market—that was the script.
But now, no black market trip even possible.
Didn't want capture, faking loss was hard—ended up wiping them.
"Haa."
Deep sigh again.
If only she knew the market's location—but these guys had magic preventing disclosure.
Tongues swell and they die if they try.
Happened in-game; same here.
'Was playing high elf the issue? Normally, players are under Lv.100 for this quest...'
Cyan pondered why.
Prime suspect: she's a demon playing high elf.
Quest triggers under Lv.100 in Novel Online.
But she's max level now, and high elf not plain elf—hence deviation.
Basically a bug.
How to handle? No bug report option.
"What to do... that?"
Her eyes fell on necklace fragments on the ground.
The restraint the leader tried on her.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ ▶Item – Consumable Dragon Restraint ※Engraved with binding magic. Strongly binds target and seals mana.
※Broken and unusable. He planned to subdue her with this and sell as slave, but Cyan neutralized it before activation.
Fine for a high elf standing still—but she wasn't letting it happen.
'Wait, let it happen on purpose?'
Sudden idea.
'Worth a shot.'
Might salvage the twisted hidden quest.
"Hey, trash."
-Toss!
"Y-Yes?!"
Cyan called with a chilling smile.
He trembled, fearing another kick—but saw the recovery potion that dropped before him. What now?
"Drink if you want to live, and do as I say. Might even let you go."
Pretty face, eerie smile—he nodded frantically.
Didn't know what she'd ask, but anything to escape this high elf.
* -Creak!
The carriage door opened.
His underlings waited outside.
Cyan emerged.
"Ooh...! You really caught that high elf?"
But the men who should've been wary cheered instead.
Reason: Cyan slumped in chains, helpless. Leader holding them.
"Y-Yeah! Finally caught the high elf—er, high elf. Cage her quick! Head to the black market now!"
He laughed boldly.
His chain-grip hand shook, but to them, he looked triumphant.
"Nah, let's have some fun first. Killer face, huge tits too. After she wrecked us yesterday, can't let her off easy."
One leered, hand toward Cyan's chest.
Others half-lost to her looks and curves already.
-Thump!
"Wh-What're you doing?! This high elf—high elf—is valuable merchandise!"
But the leader warned him off.
"You know what happens if you touch goods? Move her nice if you value your life!"
"Y-Yes, sir..."
They grumbled but obeyed.
Just eyed her retreating form wistfully.