Chapter 79
Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Lost Demon Girl (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
I didn't feel any particular disconnect with my new appearance.
Looking in the mirror, I just thought, Oh, I've turned into a little kid, and that was it. It didn't feel strange or unfamiliar at all.
But was that just my imagination?
"...Are you perhaps Lady Cyan's daughter?"
"No."
People say not to judge by appearances, but in reality, most folks do just that.
"Then maybe her little sister?"
"I said no."
So, this was unavoidable.
Objectively speaking, I currently had the same childlike look as Louis, and to ordinary eyes, it would be hard to see me as myself.
"If not that, then maybe a relative—"
"Cut it out! Or I'll sew that mouth shut."
"S-Sorry!"
So, it made sense for them to react like that.
"...That attitude does scream Lady Cyan."
"Want to test it?"
"No, ma'am."
Rain had been eyeing me suspiciously from every angle, which was annoying, but honestly, from an outsider's perspective, it was a shocking sight. No helping it.
Anyway, putting that aside...
"So, what's going on here?"
"W-Well..."
I asked Rain, who was standing next to me, about the situation.
In front of me were the two adventurers he'd been traveling with—the priest and the dwarf mage, excluding the Forest Elf who'd vanished at some point. They'd kept adventuring.
By the time I'd wrapped up my business trip and returned to Asral City, these two had already taken on another commission and headed far away.
'But what the hell happened...'
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Priest 'Aria' - (Poisoned) ※ Note: Poisoned by Hydra venom.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Dwarf Mage 'Thomas' - (Poisoned) ※ Note: Poisoned by Hydra venom.
And now, running into them here, why were they on the verge of death all of a sudden? Good thing I found them—if they'd stayed like this another hour, they'd probably be dead.
"...Truth is, we heard the rogue in the Grendel Mountains had awakened, so we joined other adventurer parties to subjugate her."
"Subjugate? Isn't she one of the civilized races?"
"Yes, but the damages kept piling up. The guild designated her a calamity and formed a subjugation force."
I listened to their explanation of how this happened while giving them basic first aid.
It was a long story.
"...But in the end, we lost."
The conclusion was that they'd been defeated by the rogue. Over fifty veteran adventurers had gone to take her down, but none even reached her—they all submitted.
"Impressive."
Strangely, she hadn't killed any of them, just forced submission.
"Then why are you the only 'survivors'?"
So why were these three the only ones who'd escaped?
Sure, high-level monsters lurked around the Grendel Mountains, but with that many veterans, it shouldn't have been an issue.
"I don't know. We ran out of water and went to a spring in the mountains to refill."
"Came back to camp, everyone else was gone, these two collapsed, so you grabbed them and bolted?"
"Yes, exactly. But..."
From the explanation, I could piece it together.
This was part of a 'story quest.'
I remembered the quest name: [Stop the Rogue]. The problem was, no matter what, players couldn't beat her at that level.
In story quests, the rogue's level was always fifty higher than the player's.
It wasn't just the spec gap—the real issue was her pattern of spamming instant-kill AoEs. Even chaining invincibility skills only let you survive, not win.
It was designed for players to lose, no way around it.
'The key part comes next.'
Players then set up camp at the mountain base with NPC adventurers to plan round two, analyzing her patterns.
That's when the 'ambush' hits.
'Normally, only the player survives, and the rest die. Lucky for these guys.'
Yeah.
The poison they suffered was from that ambush—the one I'd worried might happen on the train.
"Beastkin attacked you, right?"
"...Yes. Wait, how did you know?"
"Hold still. I need to focus to save your friends."
Sure enough.
-Click.
I decided to treat the dwarf mage first—his condition looked worst.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Black Hydra of the Swamp – Lv.120 ※HP: 3.5 million / MP: 3500
▶A massive serpent inhabiting the swamps. Its blood and saliva are all potent venom.
This Hydra venom came from monsters in the swamps near the Grendel Mountains—and Beastkin lived in droves nearby.
"Here it is—a poison needle in your neck."
"P-Poison needle?"
"Yeah, coated in Hydra venom."
Peeling back Thomas the dwarf's shirt revealed a bloodstained spot on his slender brown nape.
Easy to spot: sweat dripping from his face to his neck mixed with faint blood as he gasped.
At first I thought it was a wound, but it was a needle prick.
That explained the blood smell despite no major injuries.
"Beastkin see fine at night, unlike other civilized races. Tiny, effective weapons like poison needles are hard to counter. The other adventurers probably got hit the same way."
"No way... What do we do? We have no antidotes left..."
"Useless. Even if you did, same result."
The scary part? No antidote existed for Hydra venom.
In-game, late-game panaceas worked, but those needed demon realm materials unavailable now.
So, primitive methods it was.
'Problem is, my saliva's venomous too...'
Sucking out venom from snakebites was best, but needles? Best bet: drain contaminated blood while regenerating with potions.
Not ideal, but no choice now.
"Rain, any cuts in your mouth?"
"No. But why...?"
-Swish.
"...Urk."
I stripped off the dwarf's top, exposing the neck wound clearly for Rain.
"L-Lady Cyan?! What are you doing?!"
"What it looks like—drain the poisoned blood, feed regen potions to replace it. Only option."
I'd stored syringes in subspace, but used them all making meds last time, no refills.
Magic to manipulate blood flow? My mana would poison them worse—their weakened bodies couldn't handle it. Primitive it was.
"C-Couldn't you do it, Lady Cyan? I'm... hesitant."
"What're you on about?"
What nonsense was this guy spouting?
Hydra venom spread faster untreated.
Needed to act quick, yet he hesitated, even turning away like he was ignoring his comrades.
Never pegged Rain for that.
"Hey, just do it quick. The longer the venom spreads, the more blood we—"
"U-Uwaaah?! S-Stay back! J-Just keep distance for now!"
"...What's your deal?"
He flinched and backed away as I approached. Hurt somewhere? I checked...
'?'
No wounds. Only odd thing: the bulge between his legs... Oh.
"Uwaaah!"
"..."
I stared, and he spun away in panic.
'...I get it now.'
Obvious reason.
I'd stripped the dwarf to check for hives or rashes from the ambush—event included poisoned bugs or plants slipped into food.
But I only made something else 'pop out' on the wrong guy.
The dwarf was small but cute-faced—not childish, more like a shrunken adult. Modest chest, sweat-glistened brown skin reflecting firelight. Natural reaction.
"S-Sorry! It's just... uh..."
"...Fine. I get it."
A bit pathetic, but understandable.
"Guys get aroused seeing a female comrade naked. Physiology."
"Uh, y-yeah... S-Sorry..."
Honestly, he looked more at risk now.
What if he snuck off into the woods with rope while I blinked? Situation was dire, but still.
"Haa... Ah..."
Leave these two, and they'd die soon.
Priest held on thanks to holy power, but time-limited. Dwarf was at his limit.
No choice.
-Swish.
I pulled potions and an antidote from subspace.
Child form now, demon venom weaker.
Transform made my body High Elf—unlike with Allena, no direct demon saliva, and sucking wounds wouldn't transmit venom.
'Gargle with antidote first.'
No helping it—I swigged the antidote.
"Lady Cyan?!"
Ah, he thought I was swallowing it. Just rinsing.
"Mm..."
-Gurgle.
"...No big deal. Better than nothing for detox."
Hmm, still test it to be safe.
Call Louis to check.
"Hey, Louis. Come here a sec—"
"Yes? Did you call me?"
"...Never mind."
Right, no Louis now.
No passing animals or monsters? Nope, all fled.
'Too much noise killing those goblins earlier—scared off local beasts.'
Now what?
They're dying anyway—might as well try. No test subject, though—
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Swordsman 'Rain' – Lv.75 ※Status: Very healthy.
...No choice.
"L-Lady Cyan?"
"Stand still right there."
I laid the dwarf flat, stood, and headed to my perfect 'test subject.'
"Wh-Why all of a sudden?"
"Might tingle a bit, or you could pass out. Won't kill you, but headache or muscle pain possible."
"Wh-What are you... Hrk?!"
-Thud!
"I said stay still."
"Wh-What's going o—"
"No biggie. Just necessary to save your friends."
He tried fleeing, so I tripped him.
Weird to onlookers, but essential to save the dwarf and priest.
I needed the dwarf to escape this forest anyway—troublesome, but I'd treat them personally.
"Hrk, huff?!"
"Don't move. Stay put..."