Incidents and Accidents...! # 7
Incidents and Accidents...! # 7
A bizarre headache clouds my mind.
The cause is blindingly obvious.
That ominous shape over there...!
That ominous, perfectly octahedral shape was causing my headache! I realized it instinctively. This was a kind of mental phobia.
Just as someone with acrophobia falls into extreme terror upon climbing high, I too had fallen into a state of terror upon seeing that ominous octahedron.
It was so terrifying that I even felt a headache. With a phenomenon I don't even understand enveloping my body, I felt a brutal rage.
What the hell is that bastard to make me scared of it!
"Kweeeeeek!"
Perhaps that Quoperelzora was feeling something similar to me. Maybe that's why it was rampaging like that, attacking the octahedron.
Anyway.
—Bzzzz.
That ominous octahedron etched with geometric patterns. As I stared at it, some unknowable memory was surfacing. But like something vaguely stuck just outside my field of vision, I couldn't properly see or recognize it.
Just what is it?
"Scream Man, Scream Man! Get a hold of yourself!"
At that, Ken's voice awakened my mind.
"Uh, yeah. I'm with it. I'm observing."
I can't show a pathetic side as squad leader. I managed the situation while spitting out a quick, impromptu answer.
"O-oh, is that so? I thought you'd lost your mind...!"
That strange object and the main quest. It's certain. There's some kind of connection. Then, is that thing related to the scheduled destruction?
I only thought that far.
And then focused on the present reality.
"Guys. Listen up."
We kill the Quoperelzora and then have to mess with that thing.
"Look at that bastard's attack patterns. They're dead simple. He's just rampaging around trusting nothing but his own brute strength. Anyone here going to just stand there and get hit by a guy like that?"
The C-rank monster Quoperelzora looked immensely powerful, but it didn't feel particularly agile at all. Having watched it for a while, its weak points were coming into focus.
"Hm, hmm... To be honest, the attacks are simple. Its turns look slow too, and its flank is wide open. If we fight while dodging, I think we could somehow take it down."
"W-what?! You want to take that thing on? Are you crazy!"
"I'm just saying. Gopchang Man."
"Who's Gopchang Man!"
Still, Ken, having smuggled himself in, had more guts and was braver than Mun Min.
"Hey. Mun Min. This is just analysis. If we properly analyze that thing, we can prepare for any unexpected situation, right?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"Geun-cheol. I'll say one thing."
"Yes. Brian."
"Your English pronunciation is killer. Absolutely killing it. Anyway, well, there are several classifications of C-rank monsters."
Brian gave a simple explanation.
There are the truly strong ones and the ones that are simply stupidly tough with bloated durability. High-rank monsters have powerful dimensional shields. In fact, you could say a monster's rank classification is all about the strength of this dimensional shield.
"Usually, C-rank monsters have very, very strong shields and require high firepower. However, while some C-rank monsters are human-sized and very fast, agile, strong, and smart, others are only very tough and big, and are otherwise unremarkable."
Of course, if a very big and tough one rampages around, boosted by its dimensional shield, wiping out an entire apartment complex is nothing special.
But a veteran hero would say that taking down this kind of oversized monster is easier than a fast, agile one.
"Quoperelzora seems to be the latter, right. I'm sure of it now. If we do it right, we could actually take it down, right."
"That's it! That's the one!"
Brian's showing some drive too!
"W-what! Hey! No matter what, a C-rank monster on our first real deployment is too much! And Kim Geun-cheol, you were bawling your eyes out on the first day of the semester because of that Warp Spider! That thing was C-rank!"
"Hey, Mun Min. That's just my pathetic past. Anyway. I'm thinking of hunting that thing. And that object up ahead. That thing is way too suspicious."
Take down the Quoperelzora.
And investigate that.
"Scream Man. I think it's an object made by a monsterkin. There's a high probability a monsterkin is living on this planet too. It'll be one of those guys."
"Well, I guess so."
I gave a rough answer, but I don't really think so.
Could some monsterkin make something so ominous?
I can feel it. That there's something more to it.
"Are you really going to fight? It does look winnable... but it's too dangerous."
"First, you three keep watch on the perimeter. Looking at it, I can at least manage to run away somehow. If an emergency breaks out, just run. Somehow, let's meet again near that ore deposit from earlier."
"So you're set on it. Understood, I'll take the perimeter watch. If it comes to it, I'll lend a blade, so rest easy!"
"Ohh...! Ken, you bastard!"
"It's dangerous, but it stirs a competitive spirit. This'll be worth a try."
Ken adjusted his glasses, and a light glinted off them. This guy has the samurai spirit too.
"Oh...! Honestly, watashi thinks this is scary as hell and this situation crazy. But a chance to take down a C-rank monster...! It's rare! For my career, I'm going!"
Brian!
"You psycho bastards!"
"Mun Min, you stay back."
"Tch...! A-alright, fine! I'll help out too, okay!"
"Whoa! Mun Min, you brave bastard!"
You're helping out too?
"Don't bullshit me! I'm doing this because I have no choice! If you all die, I can't do anything by myself! So I'm doing it!"
"Good!"
Then let's begin!
"But you three just watch the perimeter for now. I'm going in first since my equipment's in the best shape."
"Got it."
—Boom!
—Thud!
"Kweooooooh!"
The Quoperelzora was still attacking the sphere's force field.
In that state, going in for a stab would be nothing. What I have to watch out for are its hind legs, which are like an elephant's, the tentacles on its face, and the long arms dangling right below its neck. That's it.
Structurally, judging by its joints, if I attack its flank from the side, it won't have many options.
Let's go!
—Slink, slink.
Slowly.
I approached the creature, sword in hand. While doing so, I carefully enchanted my blade with my magic power and formed a helm of magic power to protect my head. With the Quoperelzora exposing its blind spot within my sight like that.
"Hup!"
—Whish!
Lightly stepping forward, I shot forward like a missile.
—Whoosh!
My body charged, tearing through the air. The target is the Quoperelzora's flank. As long as I have my sword aura, piercing a dimensional shield is nothing.
The moment the distance between us reached zero.
—Squelch!
My blade tip slid deep between its ribs!
"Kweo-urrrrrraaaagh!"
Simultaneously, the beast reared up its front legs and let out a pained howl. That launched my body into the air.
"Tch!"
Gripping the sword handle tightly, I made sure not to fly off. And again!
—Shunk!
Using the recoil from yanking my sword out to spring upward, I back-tumbled and landed behind the creature.
—Drip, drip!
Blood spurted from its flank.
Excellent! I used my sword aura to neutralize its dimensional shield and landed a hit! I can definitely win in this state!
"Kwoooooooh!"
The Quoperelzora started to turn around. The motion was huge, like a car making a turn.
"You're done for!"
Slow-ass bastard!
—Whish!
Then I have nothing to worry about. Just as I learned. Just as I practiced. I kicked off the ground and rushed at the creature.
"Kwoooh!"
It tried to thrust its head at me as fast as possible, but the speed gap is huge. Like a matador, I dodged its head and sliced into its flank.
—Sliiink!
Blood burst out.
"Kweoooooh!"
—Thud!
—Thud!
The creature thrashed, slamming its heavy front legs on the ground, but its body structure makes attacking its side very hard. Though it does have those long, spindly, grotesque arms near its neck.
—Whiik!
"This, you bastard, is nothing!"
I'm used to parrying Yu-ri's sword strikes by now. It tried to bend those arms to attack me, and I, very skillfully—
—Severs!
Cut that arm off.
"Kweek...!"
The attacks of a monster that's all size and strength, flailing around trusting only its weight class, don't scare me at all.
I guess it'd be hopeless if a thing like that coated itself in a shield and charged an army base, but I'm a hero.
"A hero who hunts and kills bastards like you!"
Shouting that, I stomped the earth with my right foot and launched my body in a leftward diagonal to evade its head-shaking attack.
—Slash!
And carved a huge gash into its flank again.
"Kweeeek!"
Already, numerous sword strikes were buried in its flank. As the damage accumulated, the Quoperelzora was bleeding profusely from its side, even spilling its internal organs.
Because I wrecked its ribs.
"Kwurrk...! Kweerk!"
Only then, realizing it was no match, the creature tried to turn its body and flee.
"Huh, huhahahahaha!"
You dare show your back in the middle of a fight!
The greatest casualties in a medieval battle aren't during the clash or when holding off a cavalry charge. It's when soldiers lose their will to fight and retreat in a disorderly mob! That's when the damage concentrates!
"Kweeeek!"
The Quoperelzora turned and fled to survive, but that was a worse move. This savage monster had no concept of a withdrawal discipline. It just exposed its back, defenseless.
—Rumble, rumble!
The creature ran. But with its flank wrecked, it couldn't gain speed. I stuck to its side.
"Die!"
Like a matador cutting a bull's throat, I savagely tore into its flank.
—Slash!
Matching the creature's slowed pace, I ran alongside it and hammered a flurry of blows into its flank. I cut diagonally, slashed upward from there, and even added a spin to slice the flesh away in an instant.
—Gush!
As its contents gushed out from inside.
—Thud!
Its massive body collapsed sideways.
—Ding.
[Coin obtained: 452]
—Ding
[Additional Quest Complete]
[Quoperelzora Slain]
[Reward: 1,000 Coin]
And so, I instantly earned 1,452 coins.
"Whoooooa!"
There weren't any unexpected variables. I had already grasped the creature's movements, and it had let its guard down attacking that object. Under those circumstances, me landing a critical hit and lowering its combat ability made slicing it up inevitable.
"Incredible...! Scream Man! To take down the Quoperelzora without giving us a chance to jump in!"
"That was so excellent! You a Sword Master!"
"You crazy bastard!"
Only then did my friends, who had been on perimeter watch, come running.
"Hey, you bastards! See that? If you've got the guts, huh? Even a C-rank monster is a pushover!"
"Truly incredible movement! This is something! Completely different from the start of the semester!"
"At the start of the semester, you even got beaten once by watashi!"
"Beaten my ass! I just barely lost...!"
They're powerful monsters you'd need to bring main cannons or naval guns to take down, but their dimensional shields are powerless before our sword aura.
With enough skill, you can even hunt big bastards like this.
"Phew! It's a shame we won't be able to take these materials back! We could have sold them for a huge price!"
"Yeah, no kidding."
Normally, when you kill a large monster, contractors come to dismantle and take it away. Then they price it, which is pretty substantial. Plus, the state gives out a bounty, so it's decent pay.
"Hey, hey. But, so. That weird thing over there... what do we do about it?"
As I was catching my breath, Mun Min spoke up.
"Yeah. We've gotta investigate that."
—Step.
While fighting, I recalled it. I don't know where this memory comes from, but there's a keyword roughly coming to mind.
That thing is a fragment of something.
—Ding.
[Main Quest generated]
[Reward: #$^%#$^#$]
What the hell is this now.
"We should still be careful, I think. Geun-cheol. You've worked hard. But how's your stamina right now? If that thing were to explode or something, could you handle it?"
At Brian's words, I checked my remaining magic power.
"Yeah. No problem. Even if it explodes, I think I'll be fine. I've got my underarmor on."
"Oh, yes... go ahead."
Let's check it out.
—Step.
I slowly approached the fragment emitting an ominous light. My mind had calmed now, so the headache and fear were gone.
—Flicker.
Aside from my vision wavering, it's all fine.