Chapter 626
Chapter 626
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 626
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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I glanced at the table in the corner. There was a glass of water and a pile of white powder on it.
"What's that powder? Don't tell me it's... drugs?"
"Do I look like the kind of woman who does drugs, Sir Knight?"
"Ah, sorry. That was a slip of the tongue. White powder just makes you think of that first..."
"It's medicine, but not that kind. Have you heard of Yett powder?"
"Of course. Precisely, it's Yett slug powder, right? Is that it?"
Yett powder was more expensive than drugs.
Because ingesting Yett powder heightened all your senses. Training while under its effects yielded far better results than usual.
'It showed up in the original story, too.'
The protagonist, Kang Myeong-jin, had a scene where he used Yett powder to train.
"That's right. Yett powder. I take it occasionally when training at the estate. Want to try it?"
"I've heard Yett powder costs a fortune. More than a commoner's monthly wage per gram... And it's not easy to obtain."
"No worries. One of Arphis's territories produces it. We can get Yett powder anytime."
"...In that case, I'll give it a shot."
She stirred a spoonful of Yett powder into the glass of water and handed it to me.
"The dose determines the effect and duration. One spoonful is just right."
I stared at the glass. The water with Yett powder was clear and odorless. I pressed it to my lips and gulped down the lukewarm liquid. It was tasteless. But the effect was immediate.
My senses sharpened. The hairs on my body stood on end. My vision felt keener, and the sensation in my hands was more vivid than before.
'Training in this state would definitely help a ton.'
I placed my hand on the sword hilt. A chilling sharpness prickled my skin like goosebumps.
"This is... impressive."
"Glad you like it. Feel free to swing your sword."
Seira gave her permission. No reason to hold back. I drew the Blazing Lotus Blade from its sheath and slashed through the air.
The blade felt like an extension of my own body.
'This is the kind of sensation you only feel with deep focus... I never imagined a drug could do this.'
I swung the sword a few more times.
Then I noticed the downside. Each swing left me mentally exhausted, even if my body held up.
"Hard to train long in this state."
"Regular knights can't even last half a day."
"Does the effect really last that long?"
"No. Three hours. Unless you take more."
"Does more extend the duration?"
"It boosts both duration and effect. But the mages warned against overdosing—could drive you mad. Though you'd need an insane amount for that."
After that, I trained with her, swinging my sword alongside.
Every time her ample breasts bounced beneath her training robes, my heart pounded and blood rushed south. It was torture.
Three days passed.
All I'd done was train with Seira and tour Arphis City under her guidance.
The reason the princess herself showed me around was obvious. She wanted to show off how advanced Arphis was and recruit me as a knight.
Arphis was remarkably developed for a city on the empire's frontier, but that was it. Nothing special.
After lunch, I was resting in my room.
'Afternoon training with Seira again.'
Seira was a training fanatic. She headed to the training grounds first thing in the morning and trained until bedtime. Her attendants said she'd been obsessed since childhood, causing friction with the retainers back then.
'We're training together, but we're not getting closer. At this rate, I won't get to bed her... Huh?'
A red pigeon flew toward the castle through the window. It looked just like the magic messenger birds I'd seen before—except entirely red.
'Red messenger... That's urgent, plain as day.'
Something had happened in one of Duke Arphis's territories. I stayed detached. Whether invaded or hit by civil war, it didn't concern me.
I headed to the underground training grounds. Seira, whom I'd expected early, arrived two hours later.
"Sir Knight. Sorry, but our joint training ends today. I told the attendants, so you can use the grounds even without me."
"Your expression is grave. What happened?"
"Trouble in Yett Territory—specifically, Yett Mountain."
"Yett Territory... where they produce Yett powder. Is it related?"
"Signs of a monster wave. Probably a Yett Slug Queen was born."
Yett slugs.
Yett powder came from these monsters. A monster wave meant a massive swarm attacking at once.
"Does Lady Seira need to handle it personally?"
"Father usually does. It's quicker that way. But this time, it's me. I'm his heir. Can't just hole up training forever."
"Is your task killing the Yett Slug Queen?"
"Yes. Yett slugs rampage only with a queen. Kill her, they go docile again. It happens periodically."
Seira spoke matter-of-factly. It sounded simple enough.
"Going alone?"
"With ten knights and three hundred soldiers."
My eyes lit up. This was my chance. A way to get closer to Seira.
"Lady Seira. I want to go with you. To help however little."
"I appreciate it. But you're Arphis's honored guest. No house sends a guest against monsters."
"If I'm truly an honored guest, then respect my wish. I want to fight the Yett Slug Queen with you."
"......"
Seira fell silent, her black eyes fixed on me.
"Do you want to become an Arphis knight?"
"You've misunderstood. That's not it."
Seira chuckled softly.
"You're Arphis's guest. Father's, technically. Ask him directly."
"Understood."
I prepared various arguments on my way to Duke Arphis. But he just laughed heartily and nodded.
"If that's what you want, go ahead."
"Didn't expect approval so easily."
"More firepower? Why refuse? And with your skills, you'll help Seira."
"I'll protect Lady Seira no matter what."
Noit waved dismissively as if to say "fine." I backed away. Given how much stronger Seira was, I might not need to protect her.
[Entered Zone 6,155: Yett Mountain.]
Zone 6,155 featured a massive rocky mountain rivaling Jiri Mountain, with a small city at its base. The mountain was Yett Mountain, the city Yett City.
The harmony of rock and city was a fantastical painting. But no time to admire it. The city's plight was more dire than expected.
Hundreds of 3-meter yellow slugs—Yett slugs—poured from the mountain toward the city. Their crawling speed matched a human sprint.
Yett slugs clung to the walls, climbing up. Soldiers poured hot oil, shot arrows, thrust spears. Humans resisted fiercely. But the slugs pressed on undeterred.
"...It's different."
Seira said coolly. I couldn't ask how. She spurred her horse forward, shouting.
"Charge! Sweep every Yett slug trying to breach the walls!"
"Yes, milady!"
Mounted knights charged, foot soldiers with spears following.
I mounted and trailed Seira.
I called lightning on the Yett slugs.
The effect was superb. Struck slugs shriveled and died.
I struck from afar. Up close, they'd burst with stench and slime. No thanks.
Seira did the same, unleashing sword energy from range.
"Lightning, too... Not just swordsmanship. Impressive abilities."
"Nothing compared to Lady Seira's prowess. Looks like the Yett slugs are cleared. Let's head inside."
Yett slug corpses littered the area.
Boom!
The large gate opened. A middle-aged man in armor came out to greet us.
"Milady! Baron Pollax, acting lord of Shett City! We've been waiting!"
"Baron Pollax. You've held well so far. But this raid is different from before."
"Yes. Far too many Yett slugs. We don't know why."
"We'll discuss details inside."
We entered the walls.
Crowds poured out—soldiers and civilians—all swarming the Yett slug corpses.
As I watched curiously, Seira explained.
"Harvesting Yett powder from the bodies."
"That many corpses should yield plenty."
"No, not really. One body gives less than 100g."
"Those huge things, and so little powder?"
"Most of a Yett slug is slime. Dries to 50cm. Then salt to dissolve, burn, repeat—that makes Yett powder."
"Good to know. Honestly, this might not be all bad. Repeated raids mean more powder, right?"
"Yett slugs are dangerous. Their slime melts normals in ten seconds. One or two, manageable. A swarm? Not so much."
Seira conferred with Baron Pollax. I was there but had little to add.
"No idea why their numbers surged..."
"Yes, milady. Too risky to send scouts."
"Prioritizing defense was best. Good call."
"But perhaps this Yett Slug Queen is a special specimen..."
"Hm. Possible. Anyway, we'll adjust plans."
Seira pondered silently, then spoke.
"I was going to lead a squad up Yett Mountain to kill the queen. But the city's strained. Next wave might break us. I'll handle the queen alone. You all stay and defend."
The knights protested instantly.
"No, milady!"
"Please reconsider!"
"Our duty is to protect you!"
Seira scowled and barked.
"Your duty is to obey my orders, not coddle me. Defend the city with the soldiers. I'll kill the Yett Slug Queen and return."
"Milady! She's no ordinary monster! Please!"
"Think I can't do what Father has? That's an order."
"Milady...!"
The knights pleaded desperately, but Seira didn't budge.
And the next dawn.
Seira ascended Yett Mountain alone.
I secretly followed behind.