Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: §Na Cho Mu§ Teaching the Slave Her Proper Place
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Thud thud, whoosh. Bang!
I clashed with the powered-up Punger.
He hounded me with absurd agility and speed.
Anything I spotted in front of me was his attack.
There was only one way to detect it: the sound of air being sliced.
Whoosh!
'Flank!'
I gripped Almas with both hands and held it at a slant.
His fist whistled past.
The impact traveled up my arms clutching the sword.
They trembled violently, but I barely steadied them.
A high kick came flying from the opposite side. I ducked my head to dodge.
'Just need to counter now.'
But then his knee appeared right in front of my face.
Wait, his knee?
I shoved my buckler forward to deflect it.
As my balance crumbled in that instant, Punger's voice rang out from behind.
It sent chills down my spine.
"Done dancing?"
"Fuck."
Smack!
The moment I turned to swing my sword.
Punger unleashed a spinning back elbow.
A strike he'd timed perfectly, anticipating even my counter.
It nailed my jaw.
Followed by his rear straight slamming into my chest.
"Urk!"
It felt like my muscles were tearing.
I flew back endlessly and crashed to the ground.
"Guh!"
I had to get up. I had to.
I tried rising but squeezed my eyes shut.
My brain rattled; I couldn't find my center.
Even breathing hurt.
The thought hit me instantly.
'Run. This is a loss.'
I gripped the ground and ground my teeth.
Shook my head.
I'd gained the power to grow stronger.
I'd come this far without issue.
'But run now? Bullshit. Don't be pathetic.'
If I fled here, everything would crumble.
The fragile ideal I'd built so far.
I felt it would collapse from the roots.
So I forced myself up.
I poured strength into my wobbling legs.
"Ho? Strong willpower. Must be the half-demon in you."
"I'm human."
"Sure, whatever you say."
"And the human who's about to beat your ass."
Punger tilted his head to the side.
Sneer spread across his face.
"After taking all those hits, what now?"
"Now I just kill you."
"Why go this far? You look like an outsider. Who'd even care if you threw your life away?"
"She would. The one precious to me. And I promised. I'd go back."
I gripped Almas with both hands.
Aimed it at Punger and smiled.
My hands trembled on the hilt.
But my heart was calmer than ever.
"You'd get it. You had that pathetic past too, right? She's the one who helped me overcome mine."
Punger's eyes widened in shock.
He clenched his fist.
"H-how?"
"Don't know if some cult brainwashed you, but cut it out. Even without that, you're strong."
"Hah, idealism? This power made me who I am!"
"Lacking goblin grit. If a guy like me can do it, what's stopping you?"
"Lashing out with your dying breath. Time to end this."
Punger kicked off the ground.
He was fast and strong, no doubt.
But it was a winnable fight.
The reason?
'Even after all those hits, no fatal wounds. Dragging it out puts me at a disadvantage, though.'
Stat-wise, we were even, or close.
This was a clash of equals.
No way I could lose.
I exhaled deeply and recalled.
'The wind power Rohi and the harpies used. I need to wield it more skillfully!'
Unlike him, I had plenty of cards.
Time to play them.
I sidestepped.
He pursued instantly with a front kick.
I blocked with the buckler and retreated further.
The moment Punger reset his stance.
'Now!'
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Wind Mastery – Wind Arrow
Pheew!
The wind arrow pierced Punger's thigh as he pivoted.
"Kuh!"
His stance crumbled. I charged.
I rapidly stomped the ground and swung Almas.
Almas arced, closing the distance.
Punger sneered.
"Think a shaky stance beats me? I'm going to be the strongest!"
He parried Almas's blade.
His own balance broke from the force.
I couldn't let him seize momentum, so I desperately reached out.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Wind Mastery – Savage Whistle
It blasted Punger back as he tried for a follow-up.
Even mid-air, I saw him fighting to regain control.
I smirked.
'Tough bastard. But I've learned and collected plenty to survive. So I win!'
Punger flipped in the air and landed.
I swung Almas at him with full force. Daniela flashed in my mind.
I wanted to protect her smile.
Everything on the line here!
"Freezing Wave!"
Flashes of my efforts to grow stronger.
As I poured mana into Almas, the world seemed to freeze.
Then I unleashed it.
Like a rant, a plea.
Like a victory speech.
Whoooosh!
Almas gleamed white.
Frigid air swept over Punger.
He froze in place, unable to move.
But even then, he twitched slightly.
"Y-you... h-human... nooo!"
"Hoo!"
I kicked off the ground.
Rushed at Punger.
Distance closed.
Crack, slash!
He was truly strong.
One of Punger's arms broke free of the ice, mangled.
The instant he clenched his fist.
⚔ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚔
Freezing
I froze it solid and swung.
Almas traced a crescent, wrapped in fierce energy.
Punger's frozen neck severed.
Crack, splat!
As his head flew, his body crumbled all too easily.
I drew a deep breath and swallowed dryly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Defeated the enemy!]
[Acquired 3 MILF Mileage (MM)!]
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
['Punger' defeated!]
['Persistent Tenacity' absorbed!]
"Hah, romantic victory approved!"
📜 QUEST CLEARED 📜
Emergency Quest 'Overcoming Weakness' cleared!
[Secret reward confirmed!]
[Acquired 'Amulet of Life'!]
Only then did it feel over.
I sighed in relief, then clutched my chest.
Suddenly, it felt clogged.
"Guh, hack! Urk!"
Splat!
Blood gushed from my mouth.
Sternum probably cracked, piercing my lung.
Every breath was agony.
"Heh, seh."
Only wheezing escaped.
Injuries from Punger worsened by my wild movements.
Staying like this meant death.
Just then, I gripped the emergency quest reward amulet.
Amulet of Life
Rarity: Rare
*Unique Passive: 'Life Regeneration' – Recovers 3% of max HP per second.
「Life is in all of us, giving everything.」
'Please, please!'
I collapsed, writhing on the ground.
Breathing grew more painful.
Was this the end?
I gritted my teeth and smiled.
'No, I'm not my past self anymore. I'm not weak!'
As if rewarding that faith.
My breathing stabilized gradually.
Pain faded.
A pale green energy flowed over my body.
'The amulet! It's healing me!'
Breathing steadied bit by bit.
I rose in amazement.
About to sigh in relief.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
['Persistent Tenacity' activates.]
[You grow stronger than before!]
"Wha, huh?"
My voice worked.
Stunned, I checked the new ability from Punger.
My jaw dropped.
Persistent Tenacity
Each time you naturally overcome near-death, all stats increase by 15.
※Passive
"Whoa, what is this? Jackpot!"
All stats surged massively each brush with death.
I checked the status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
⚡ Strength:35
💨 Agility:36
✨ Magic Power:44
💪 Stamina:31
🍀 Luck:26
Sure enough, they'd risen.
My cheeks hurt from grinning.
At this rate, I might graduate from E-rank hunter.
"Whoa, not even a Saiyan."
I was thrilled.
A blessing from overcoming a worthy foe—pure bliss.
I stood and eyed Punger's corpse.
Tried dismantling and looting skillfully.
'What? No heart?'
Where a heart should be: a crimson sea urchin-like thing.
Touching yielded no info.
Core of the Deviant
Classification: Special
「A heart once of this world, no longer.」
'Core of the Deviant? What is this?'
Felt like it'd be key somewhere. Like for enhancement.
Loud battle noises from outside.
I emerged to see Demis and a few folks slaying goblins.
Goblin corpses littered around.
'Mostly wind-scratched wounds.'
Demis rushed over as I appeared.
"Adventurer! You alright?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Just killed the chief."
"Y-you did? Incredible!"
"How'd you get here?"
"Right after you left, a harpy headed for the goblin village. Seemed dangerous, so we came!"
"Ah, yeah. Thanks."
I chuckled inwardly.
They came fearing for me after spotting Rohi.
Made sense without knowing she was allied.
Impressive, though.
'See? I'm human, damn it.'
No big expectations this time.
But their arrival enabled cleanup.
I could entrust the territory to this man.
Demis shouted.
"Everyone! The adventurer beheaded the goblin chief!"
"Woooah!"
Cheers erupted.
I smiled and clapped along.
"Thanks, everyone! You're the heroes who fought hard today!"
"Woooaaah!"
I approached Demis, exhaling.
Whispered.
"Handle the rest. I'm heading back to rest."
"Yes, sir! Baron might throw a feast! Save room."
"Uh, sure."
I smiled wryly passing him.
As if.
If the Baron did, I'd fuck his castle. Fuck it.
'Keep it in your pants, you bastard.'
Fatigue weighed on my body as I advanced.
Passed the forest, back to the territory.
Finally home.
One slip and I wouldn't have made it.
'Today's meaningful all around. Got a cheat skill too.'
Grinning, I entered the alley.
Couldn't wait to tell Daniela this triumph.
Then, a familiar figure.
Kerry.
"Oh, slave. Where to?"
"Tch. What's it to you? Move."
What a pain.
Like a stray cat.
With those huge tits jiggling.
"Why so prickly."
"Going for fabric materials! Move! Couldn't yesterday 'cause of goblins."
"Nah, this won't do."
Slap!
I backhanded Kerry's cheek.
"Aak!"
"Time to teach you a slave's duty, eh?"
I leered down at Kerry.
Show her how to train a defiant slave.
Celebrating victory, I dropped my pants.
Kerry trembled, staring up at me.
