Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Prelude to the Counterattack: Fog Escape
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"Sophia."
"Yeah!"
No, it's great that she looks happy. Her good mood makes me happy too. It's nice, really.
"How long are you gonna keep carrying me?"
"Hmm... until we get out? You don't like it??"
I don't hate it. It's comfortable. I even want to stay like this all the way out. But there's this thing called dignity inside me telling me otherwise.
Don't do this, it says.
"Put me down."
"Nuh-uh."
She stuck out her tongue with a bleh~ sound. Her face was beaming so cutely. Nearly made my heart skip a beat.
Save that expression for someone you like.
"Why are you acting so childish?"
"Just for today. I don't do this every day. And I don't get many chances to carry you. Allow me to escort you safely to the exit, Your Highness."
"Who's a princess!!"
"Moving around is dangerous~ Stay still~"
I flailed, but she didn't budge. What's so dangerous?! I put my whole body into it, but Sophia didn't move an inch.
No way I could overpower a True Ancestor with strength anyway. I gave up and let her carry me.
Still in her arms, I guided her along Lachesis's path, pointing directions with my finger.
"What the...?"
Blocked. Not just one path. Lachesis noticed and pointed to another, but...
"It's blocked!!"
The next one too. And the one after. Every path.
All of them blocked. Wondering what the hell was going on, I looked at the cat lounging drowsily on my stomach.
Really? You're not lying? You're not doing this on purpose? The cat shook her head wildly in the darkness, where only her eyes were visible.
Just those eyes spinning around—it was a little creepy.
Lachesis couldn't finish. Sophia, who had been running while carrying me, had stopped too.
We'd reached the path we were supposed to take. Sophia slowly approached the wall.
"Sophia, what's wrong?"
"Look at this."
I tilted my head at her words and looked. What I saw was shocking.
What we'd thought was a wall all this time and turned back from—it wasn't a wall. Something was writhing wildly. Veins? Flesh? Indistinguishable masses pulsing.
"Eek!!"
Chills ran down my spine, and a weird squeak escaped me. My freely flailing hands naturally wrapped around Sophia's neck.
It was so gross I instinctively clung to her. I hung there like a koala on a tree for a while.
A bit calmer, I glanced at the wall, then up at Sophia, wondering what to do.
But she looked off. Her whole body rigid like stone. Face flushed red like a volcano about to erupt, steam practically rising.
Her teeth chattered with a clack-clack sound. Eyes spinning—she could collapse any second.
"What's wrong? Sophia? You okay?"
"U-uh, uh-uh-uh-uh."
What's going on?! Did she skip her blood pack today? I waved my hand in front of her eyes—no reaction.
"She's completely frozen."
Why? Did Medusa hit her with a petrifying gaze? I poked her cheek.
Soft. Springy. But something else I shouldn't feel...
"It's hot!!"
Almost burned me. As I observed, the pendant around my neck throbbed. Rags were shuffling from the opposite side.
"Ah."
What now.
Only the damned cat's carefree meow echoed.
We barely escaped the rags. I wriggled out of Sophia's arms, panting, and grabbed her hand to run.
Good thing she snapped out of it midway and blasted the rags away.
"...Sorry."
"Why'd that happen? Did you drink your blood pack today or not?"
"I did."
Then why? She bowed her head apologetically at my look. Lips pouting—she really felt bad.
After seeing a certain blonde who never reflects, this feels unfamiliar.
I left reflecting Sophia behind and assessed the situation. Something was luring us.
Blocking Lachesis's paths with walls. Trying to trap us. Using rags to herd us somewhere.
One key thing right now: I can't fight.
"Sophia. We absolutely can't separate."
"...What?"
"No matter what. Don't separate."
Stick with Sophia. She's reassuring in a crisis.
Nothing that comes out could be stronger than a True Ancestor, right? I looked at her with that vibe. She fidgeted, avoiding my eyes, scratching her cheek.
Then mumbled something weird.
"F-forever? I'm good with forever."
Why's she so fixated on "forever" lately?
"If we separate, we might not get out. Got it? Never separate. No matter what!!"
"No matter what?!"
"Even if the sky splits!!"
"Even if it splits?!"
As I nodded, something surged from the floor. Spear-like, but not a spear.
Forged from human flesh. Bones layered, flesh added on.
Disgusting thing bursting up, splitting me and Sophia.
Sophia reached for me in panic. I tried too. But impossible.
"Ah, this damn mouth."
Vision blacks out. Falling sensation. Body wrapped in something.
This feeling. I know it well. Experienced it many times.
Forced on me many times.
When I came to, familiar scenery. Mist rippling like it had intent.
"Lachesis."
Thanks for answering before I asked. I got confirmation and stood. No impact from the fall. Didn't even feel it.
More than that, what's with my mouth? How does it split us perfectly the second I speak? Do I have word magic? Picking up dragon speech from Benia?
"Sophia?"
We're screwed. I quickly scanned around. Nothing. Just rippling mist. No time to stand still.
Situation grasped: we're in the mist. Vampire's doing.
No distractions—head straight to Sophia. Good thing nothing around—
「Grooooaaarrr!!」
Roar echoes, pendant throbs wildly. I stared blankly at both.
"Seriously."
Something approaching from afar. Grosser than rags, not amorphous.
Gorilla-sized bulk. But meat lump shape. Barely holding form.
"This damn mouth."
Performance is insane.
「Rooooaaarrrrrr!!!!!」
Blue windows flood vision with the roar. What kind of bellow is that? I winced involuntarily.
"A guy pulling this must be a True Ancestor, right?"
Progenitor's tough enough. I opened [Inventory], pulled out [Death Reaper] and [Reaper's Robe].
"This is nuts."
I eyed the approaching thing. Mana looked weird. Concentrated around chest, slightly spread. Elsewhere?
Mana trickled only in swollen parts. Rest was pure meat lump.
First time seeing mana like that. No time to think. Finish quick, rescue Sophia. I'd love to say that coolly, but...
"I'm weak."
Way too weak right now. But who knows. Maybe magically born monster.
"Like with the armor, I'll try hitting first. You know what if it fails?"
No, can't do that. No one stops her if she goes berserk. Benia's sleeping too.
Alright. Here goes.
「Guwaaarr!!」
I walked toward the waddling, weird-noise-making thing. No buffs, so slow.
Still faster than that meat-chunked mess. Closed in, swung scythe at mana in leg.
Arm too high, so leg—but...
"Huh?"
No good. Hit mana dead-on, but sound was—
Clang. Clang.
Not flesh on blade. Eyes met monster's rags.
"Haha. What'd you eat to get skin tougher than iron?"
Iron instead of meat? No reply, so I retreated into robe disappointed.
Close call. Heard smashing sound.
Out again, crater in ground. Cold sweat everywhere.
Fist made crater. That damn meat lump way tougher than looks.
No buffs possible. Not magical, so Mana Eye useless.
Each fact drips cold sweat down my spine.
Gripped scythe tighter, no plan. If humanoid, could've used [Spell Eater] for stat boost—but no.
This guy's my natural predator. Decided then.
"Okay. Run. Use robe to Sophia's spot."
She'll handle it. I'll handle vamps. Each on our stage.
As I moved to don robe quick—voice from shoulder.
Motion halted. Brief pause, but it moved.
Waddling before, now right in front.
No time adapt to speed change.
Fist rushes. Can't dodge. No chance.
But panicked leg trips, fall back. Grazed fist thanks to tumble.
Grazed, yet vision spins. Floating sensation. Flying, managed to wrap robe over body.
Sucked into darkness, sprawled.
"Almost died!!"
"I almost died because of you!!"
That's how it is? What a good kitty.
I petted her wildly.
"So. Without Raphael or Leviathan, beat that guy to reach Sophia."
Nod. Positive response, I gripped scythe. No choice. Outside rags and Sophia berserk— no contest. Prepared to exit robe fast.
"Lachesis. You know my motto."
You know it. Added one more. Just now.
"To win, no holds barred."
Sliced right fingertip with scythe. Blood gushed familiarly—no pain anymore. Splashed it on left hand madly.
"Prelude to the counterattack in the fog escape."
Stepped out of robe. Eyes met immediately. It stared.
I stared back. One hit = instant death fight, but gotta do it.
"Sorry, but I don't lose staring contests."
We stared long. It moved first. Roared, charged.
Simultaneous. Time slowed. Lightning-fast charge looked slow. Voice that sweet.
Whispered in my ear. Ears melting. Voice climbed to brain, melting it too.
Arm around neck. Flapping behind. Tail coils left leg.
「Did you call? 」
—The price is sufficiently prepared, right?