Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Doomed but a Genius, So It's Fine
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The target was the boss monster of the final chapter. In other words, taking down the Carnispider Queen.
A 50% contribution meant I'd have to kill at least half of her with my own power.
It was something I'd anticipated, so I was confident.
As long as I moved together with Baek Sa-young, the protagonist who beat the queen in the original story.
"Kang Cheol-min... no, we're agreed on borrowing it, right? Then let's head out now. We need to hurry to catch up with the teams ahead. Young-ji?"
"Yes, got it. I'll lead the way."
Min Young-ji took point as the guide again, with Joo Ah-rin covering her from behind.
I sidled up to Kang Cheol-min, who was trudging ahead, and whispered quietly.
"This sword. What's its effect?"
"......Aura activation aid."
"Oh, nice. Can I have it after the conquest ends?"
"You little shi......"
"Jealous?"
"......t. Use it carefully, for real."
It was so I could save my mana for now and check it out after finishing the quest.
"If you'd been like this from the start, it would've been good for both of us."
I patted Kang Cheol-min's bouncing shoulder and headed to the very back.
* * *
The Carnispider Queen's lair was located at the edge of the jungle.
Crossing the entire final chapter meant we'd face combat at least once.
We encountered a pack of Carnispiders about 20 minutes after setting out.
All sounds vanished at once, as if muted, plunging everything into silence.
Even the occasional breeze stopped.
That's when black stones fell from the sky.
Whiiiiiish.
Bodies covered in fine hairs, eight legs.
Eight eyes embedded in front flashed red, unleashing eerie demonic energy like arrows.
Around seven in number.
The small ones were human-sized, but one was as big as a mid-sized SUV.
Probably a fully grown male.
"Stick to the plan. I'll take the male."
Joo Ah-rin moved swiftly upon grasping the situation. She summoned Hae-rin and charged at the male.
"Leave the regular ones to me."
Kang Cheol-min followed, fists dyed yellow, rushing toward the Carnispiders.
He started beating them down like rabid dogs.
"Die, you punk-ass bastards! Die, die!"
Why did it hurt me when they were the ones getting hit?
......
Anyway, with Min Young-ji hiding in the back and Lee Min-ha casting and firing magic missiles, the battle kicked off in earnest.
I downed the potion I'd prepared in advance, ready to move.
Gulp.
[The item's effect activates.]
[Resistance to poison is temporarily enhanced.]
It was the Poison Resistance Booster I'd bought from the Time Shop for 5 hours.
"Shall we get started?"
32-stroke 1-star Wind Control Technique, Buffalo Gale.
[Manifestation Completion: 85%]
Unleashing the new spell, a refreshing wind instantly enveloped my body.
My frame felt much lighter, and my clenched fist brimmed with a newfound solidity.
Now I finally felt like an Awakener.
Thanks to the physical enhancement spell, Buffalo Gale, boosting my agility and strength.
Duration: about 10 minutes.
I kicked off the ground and shot upward lightly.
Whoooosh.
I'd practiced all weekend, so I deftly grabbed a tree branch.
A few more leaps, and I was at a suitable height.
Around five stories up?
"Let's see."
[Trait, Sensitive Senses activates.]
My vision sharpened, revealing translucent threads invisible before.
Spiderwebs spun by the Carnispiders.
"Hurry up. They're climbing up and down."
Joo Ah-rin yelled, tired of waiting, but I carefully scanned for targets.
The moment I spotted one descending.
There.
I launched myself like a flying squirrel.
Whoooosh.
I landed and immediately drew my dagger.
Channeling mana made a faint light shimmer along its blade.
[Armament 'Loyal Guard Warrior's Dagger' effect activates.]
[Aura activates proportional to mana invested.]
Upper regular grade, maybe?
Armaments really are something.
Amazed, I swung down.
Slash.
Since it was a regular specimen's thread, it snapped easier than expected.
"One down as a demo......"
Now to find a proper mark for my real goal.
I locked onto a suitable target and launched myself instantly.
It was one struggling upward, covered in blood.
"Come alone, did you?"
Kikikikikiki—
"Then you die."
Stab—
Either way, time was what mattered.
* * *
[Rank 9 Demonic Beast, Carnispider defeated.]
[The nest's special trait is applied.]
[Acquisition time halved.]
[6 hours acquired.]
.
.
Their numbers were low, so we handled them relatively easily.
Total time gained: 24 hours.
[Remaining Time: 9 days 15 hours 23 minutes]
Shame I couldn't finish off the male myself, but it was still satisfying.
"Once we're done cleaning up, we move out right away. Gotta catch those teams ahead."
Joo Ah-rin grew more urgent, prodding the team as time passed.
The jungle's end was in sight, so she wanted to close the gap with the first entrants.
But there was no real need.
In conquest battles, progress varied by team leader's personality.
Seol Yun-gi, bold and reckless, would've charged in heedless of danger, but Baek Sa-young prioritized safety......
"Huh? Isn't that Baek Sa-young over there?"
Sure enough.
After walking another 10 minutes under Min Young-ji's guidance, Kang Cheol-min shouted.
Baek Sa-young sat by a massive pit—the queen's lair entrance—grinning brightly.
It matched the original flow.
Except the one waiting for wasn't Cheon Seo-yoon's team, but ours.
"Come on in. I was waiting to go together."
Four teammates sat around Baek Sa-young.
Typical extras passing by, unremarkable styles, but there's always one villain type anywhere.
One slouched delinquently, waving cheerfully.
"Kang Cheol-min."
"B-bro, you're here—why greet sitting down?"
Kang Cheol-min puffed up, spouting nauseating lines smoothly.
Old sayings are spot on.
Birds of a feather flock together. Like attracts like.
Joo Ah-rin, cringing, plugged one ear and asked Baek Sa-young.
"Seol Yun-gi?"
"Seems she went in first."
"Fearless. I always think it, but she's so reckless."
"Well, it's Seol Yun-gi. She'll handle it. Anyway, wanna team up? Scores separate, but safer that way."
"Sure. No reason not to."
Joo Ah-rin accepted readily.
No downsides, all things considered.
"Then wait a bit more for Cheon Seo-yoon too—"
"No. I don't like that."
"Huh?"
But she cut off what needed cutting, sharply.
Awkwardness flowed, so Joo Ah-rin hastily added.
"......Won't we lose out delaying? Plus, too many already. Ten people."
Not about beating Cheon Seo-yoon?
Pretty logical excuse for on-the-spot.
Knowing her true feelings, I smirked.
Similar houses, looks, positions—fated to compare.
Not taking sides, but this time, I'd back Joo Ah-rin, same goal.
"How long we gonna sit? Let's go. Think of the waiting teams."
Prodded grudgingly, Baek Sa-young finally nodded.
"Got it. My bad, short-sighted. Let's move."
Now the plot had veered completely.
Baek Sa-young joined Joo Ah-rin's team, not Cheon Seo-yoon's.
Raising solo queen odds to near 90%.
All that remained: if variables arose, Baek Sa-young grabbing my extended hand.
"Take care, everyone."
Joo Ah-rin smiled genuinely, pleased, with Min Young-ji still guiding.
Thus, we entered the queen's lair.
* * *
Nest G-17 hid a special secret.
State danger rating: E-rank, fairly low, but based on 3-year-old data.
Fortune favors the bold.
Like a killer hitting the lottery with right numbers, beasts hitting good spots absorb ambient energy accidentally, gaining special powers.
People call them 'Irregulars.'
The queen was one.
Awakened just 2 years ago, no realm achieved, but with bizarre abilities, her underground kingdom differed vastly from norms.
A massive defense system, methodically eliminating intruders step by step.
What that meant......
First, the moment intruders entered, the queen sensed it instantly.
She dispatches scouts to gauge levels.
The first Carnispider pack we met exemplified that.
"What? Easy. That all?"
As Kang Cheol-min said, simple foes. Just a dozen regulars.
But using sacrificed offspring intel, the queen calculates.
Their level? Any threats to watch?
Then strikes again.
With an unignorable army.
Whiiiiiish.
Right now.
They ambushed using air as weapon; Joo Ah-rin and Kang Cheol-min shouted.
"This attack's no joke. Be careful."
"Crazy, why so many."
Queen's force: three males, two dozen regulars.
Formidable enough to swarm the cave, but our combined team was no pushover.
"I'll take one."
Baek Sa-young charged a nearby male Carnispider.
Drew the longsword at her waist; its blade transformed.
Dark gray mana swirled around it, spinning at high speed.
Apt choice.
Wind attribute, freer than earth or metal.
Craaaack.
Meanwhile, one remaining male fell to Joo Ah-rin.
She exploited attribute superiority too, targeting eyes with freeze.
Even Rank 7 beast, weaker than prior leader, so no big issue.
Last one......
"Cover good."
"Y-yeah."
Kang Cheol-min, grinding teeth, dragged his thug friend along.
No high hopes.
If they stalled, Baek Sa-young would finish.
Regulars for the rest; I pitched in moderately.
Battle ended quicker than thought.
No zero casualties.
Two from Baek Sa-young's team poisoned, combat ineffective.
They wisely declared mid-abandon.
Smart move.
Queen's defenses still active.
1st wave: scouts.
2nd: main force.
If all failed, 3rd wave awaited.
Personal expedition.
Queen herself emerging to annihilate.
"Cheon Seo-yoon's team entered too, right?"
Sensing the moment, I approached Baek Sa-young.
Face said, 'Why's this guy acting buddy-buddy?' but nice guy, no snub.
"......Probably. About an hour in."
"Yeah. Time flies. But no signs of Seol Yun-gi's team? Weird, no?"
"Was just pondering that. They fought ahead of us, clearly. Too clean."
Baek Sa-young furrowed brows, deep in thought.
"Won't be long till we know?"
"......Soon?"
My meaningful tone?
As Baek Sa-young asked again—
Fwoooosh.
"Eek!"
"Argh! What the fuck!"
Short screams, and front-runners Lee Min-ha and Kang Cheol-min vanished.
Precisely, the ground they'd been treading caved in suddenly.