Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Night Guests Come Without Warning. (6)
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"Earlier..."
Someone stammered, opening their mouth,
"Kirrrk!"
"Grraaah!"
But the monsters' assault, which had paused for a moment, surged back in, forcing them to stop short.
"We'll talk later! Let me help for now!"
"Everyone, form up!"
The people hurriedly took their positions and rushed forward.
Their faces were filled with gratitude and regret toward those who had held the front line before, along with shame over their earlier actions.
"Hmph."
I turned away from them with an audible snort.
"..."
Then my eyes met those of the squad members, who had finally caught their breath, backs to each other as they steadied themselves.
"Hehe."
"Young Master."
They grinned foolishly, eyes crinkling.
"What's so funny?"
I scolded them in a flat tone, but I couldn't stop the corners of my own mouth from twitching upward.
"If you're rested, get up already."
The squad members chuckled as they rose, their blood-soaked armor doing nothing to wipe the smiles from their faces.
"Haven't we already taken first place in monster kills?"
"We could afford to rest from here on out, right?"
A few grumbled playfully.
Yet their loosening up showed they had no intention of actually resting.
"First place isn't enough."
I wiped the blood from my sword on a monster corpse as I spoke.
"It has to be an overwhelming, absolute first place."
The squad members gripped their swords tighter in response. Even Klaus, who had stumbled earlier, joined them.
Tadak!
I merged once more with the Ovest Knight Order and charged ahead. Straight into the battlefield that had become a slaughterhouse.
❖ ❖ ❖
"Haa, haa."
"Hngh, hngh."
People collapsed onto the ground. Some, too exhausted even for that, leaned on their swords and closed their eyes.
Whoosh!
Everywhere they looked were monster corpses of all shapes and sizes.
It had truly been a grueling battle.
One where nothing mattered but killing the enemy. Kill or be killed.
"Ugh."
"Grgh."
Some clutched at gashes or sprained limbs, groaning in pain.
The battle had dragged on, and with so many monsters, the injuries were worse than usual.
The medics bustled about, treating the wounded.
"Fuu..."
I let out a long breath, my face weary.
The pitch-black sky had lightened considerably. The sun would rise over the horizon soon.
'I pulled an all-nighter.'
We'd moved by day and fought through the night—same schedule as always.
But the fatigue felt far worse. No physical wounds, but the mental toll of endless combat.
'I killed too many.'
I'd deliberately used Requiem at night to hunt monsters, sparing myself daytime bloodshed.
But not this time.
"..."
My whole body was sticky with monster blood. Each breath filled my nose with the thick, cloying stench, making my head spin.
No more monster roars, just human groans and breaths around me.
Kikikikik!
Keruk!
Yet the laughter of lingering monsters echoed in my ears. I itched to draw my sword and silence them.
"..."
My arm, which had slain without cease, still tingled with the sensation of slicing, hacking, stabbing flesh.
To the point where it wouldn't matter if the target was human now.
'...No.'
The savage madness and Requiem's stirrings stimulated me in unison.
Gurgle.
My stomach twisted oddly, nausea rising as if something would burst out.
Something felt wrong. Worse than usual.
'I need to get away...'
I had to escape this place assaulting all my senses. As I tried to force my legs to stand, "-!"
I realized even that was no easy task.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Every movement sent a sensation of something leaking out from inside me. Murderous intent, perhaps, or my unchecked madness.
"Young Master."
Conrad brushed back his sweat-matted hair and approached.
"Fortunately, we finished the battle without any injuries."
"..."
"No need for you to personally instruct us..."
Relief washed over Conrad's face, but it twisted suddenly.
"Are you alright?"
"..."
"Don't talk to me."
I barely parted my lips, but his expression grew more grave.
"Did you get hurt somewhere? I'll fetch a medic right away."
"..."
"I'm fine, so shut up."
My voice came out rough and grating, like a monster rasping just before death.
As if one stood right in front of me.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
The leaking accelerated. Even pressing both hands against it wasn't enough.
Raw, unrefined killing intent seeped through my fingers, pooling on the ground.
"-!"
Conrad sensed it and flinched back.
"No, Young Master. But showing killing intent like that..."
Glint.
My eyes snapped toward him.
"..."
"I'll stay quiet."
Conrad turned away with an uncharacteristically dejected look and trudged toward the other squad members.
"Ugh."
I tried to look away, but all my senses hunted him like prey, tracking his back.
How fragrant the blood would be if I split that broad back. How sweet the heart buried deep within.
"..."
The mere thought made my mouth water.
'Damn it.'
I squeezed my eyes shut to suppress the surging impulse.
Thump, thump.
My heart raced irregularly, senses sharpening to madness.
It made blocking out the surroundings difficult. I could feel every living being nearby as vividly as if touching them.
"...Ah."
At the edge of that sensation, something alien stirred. Not human life.
'No way?'
I snapped my eyes open and focused. My absolute domain spread like spiderwebs, blanketing the area.
"-!"
My face hardened.
'What the hell.'
No time to gather my thoughts—I urgently scanned for Mikel nearby.
"How's your body holding up? Get up."
He was moving through the battlefield, tending to people.
"Lord Mikel!"
I dashed toward him, desperately shoving down the surging something.
"Oh, Young Lord Abel."
Mikel turned at my voice.
"You're safe. I figured as much."
"That's not important right..."
As I spoke, an ecstatic, heavenly scent enveloped me.
"-!"
I clamped my nose and mouth, staggering back.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
Mikel turned fully, puzzled. His torn sleeve revealed a bloodied arm.
"Your arm..."
"Ah, this?"
He waved it off casually.
"No big deal. Getting old, body isn't what it used to be."
Mikel rarely got injured in battle.
I could guess what happened. Yorgen stood behind him, fidgeting anxiously.
"My lord, because of me..."
"Nonsense. How would I return to Nord Territory without you?"
Watching their heartwarming exchange, I couldn't relax at all.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
The scent wafting from Mikel's arm end was intoxicating. I wanted to hack it off and bury my face in the gushing blood.
'These idiots, all of them...'
I bit my lip hard, barely reining in the desire.
Why were there so many people who cared for others before themselves?
To me, Derek and Mikel were the same.
Foolish and pathetic. And the worst part? I didn't entirely hate it.
Though I'd never become like them.
"...It's coming."
That thought steadied me. I finally spoke without drawing my sword.
Mikel looked away from Yorgen.
"Hm? What was that?"
"...The enemy. It's coming again."
"What?"
Too drained for more words, I just raised my arm.
Mikel's face drained of color as he followed my gesture.
"No way that's..."
Rustle, rustle.
Snow crunched underfoot atop the distant hill.
Grrr—
Woof woof.
Savage howls accompanied it, drawing heads up from the ground. As all eyes turned upward, thump.
A monster resembling a wolf but with elongated fangs reaching its jaw stood there—a Lupus.
Three times larger than any we'd faced, capable of tearing humans apart with bites alone.
And infamous for never giving up until the prey tired.
"No way..."
"Impossible..."
Despair spread across faces.
Having pulled an all-nighter, they looked wretched. Limbs limp, post-battle thrill fading, eyelids drooping.
And now these powerhouses appeared. At this exact moment.
"Waiting for us to tire, then strike..."
Mikel clenched his bleeding fist.
"To hit us when we're exhausted..."
A frustrated sigh escaped him.
"I can't understand it. Never heard of anything like this."
An unprecedented disaster loomed over Nord Territory. No guarantee it wouldn't happen there too.
"Damn..."
"We have to fight..."
People rose here and there, swallowing sighs. But their sword grips weakened against their will.
"Up we go. Round two?"
"Just like back in Ovest Territory."
The Ovest Knight Order chuckled, straightening up.
Relief, not weariness, lit their eyes—as if they'd been waiting for this.
'...I didn't want to see that look.'
That composure even facing death—I hated it.
Squeeze.
I tensed my churning gut and gripped my sword tight.
'I can do more.'
I felt my limits, but limits were made to break. And now was that time.
"Everyone—"
As I began quietly,
Fwaa!
Red light burst from behind, stretching shadows long. Warmth enveloped me.
"What?"
"The sun's rising?!"
People whirled in shock.
A crimson horizon rippled as the blazing sun began to rise.
Thud, thud.
No, not the sun.
Against the reddening sky, a man astride a white horse appeared.
Fwoosh—
Flames hotter than the sun danced at the tip of his sword.
"Flames...?"
"The sun...?"
People froze, mouths agape.
Thud.
The horse halted, the rippling red sword revealing the rider's face.
"Sorry I'm late."
Grinning with bared teeth, the man was,
"...Cain."
A low sigh escaped my lips.
Cain Ardante.
He stood before us, dazzling brighter than the sun.
Fwoosh!
Holding Cadenza, the blazing sword of summer.
'Ah, fuck.'
Fucking original protagonist's plot armor.
Rage made me forget even the churning sensation.