Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Lizardman
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Splash.
I cautiously stepped into the swamp where the water reached up to my waist.
I was on high alert, knowing I had to fight new monsters in this unfamiliar environment.
‘Swamps don’t have many obstacles like trees to block line of sight. Assassination’s impossible for me.’
On the flip side, the lizardmen could hide in the swamp and ambush me instead.
The terrain was definitely stacked against me.
At least I’d scouted the surrounding hunting grounds beforehand, so I had a rough grasp of the layout.
The lizardmen’s nests were spread widely across the swamp at the mouth of a large river to the north.
‘I need to scout the enemy positions first before engaging. Can’t go too deep and get stuck in quicksand—gotta watch out for that too.’
For this hunt, I’d brought all three succubi. One to create a minimap, another to watch my back against potential ambushes.
‘Moemoe-chan knows what to do without me saying, right?’
‘Yes. Cast illusions on the enemies, yeah?’
‘Exactly.’
‘You always give me the hardest jobs.’
‘You’re the only one for it. Love you.’
‘……Liar.’
Casting illusions on 2-star monsters like lizardmen was a heavy burden on the caster. If the spell broke, they’d take a serious hit.
Even if her level were higher, maybe, but Moemoe-chan specialized in non-combat roles like scouting and surveillance, so her level was a bit low.
Even if she cast it, it’d only buy a brief moment at best.
But in battle, that slight breather could mean the difference between life and death. That tiny edge could save you—or doom you.
Swish—
I moved carefully, loading a steel ball into my sling. Luckily, the rushing river noise covered any sounds, so I didn’t need total silence.
Whirr—whirr—
My first target was one half-buried in the swamp, its head just poking out—perfect for aiming.
Flick—thunk!
It nailed the crown of its head. Thanks to my boosted strength and agility, my throws were stronger and faster than before.
“Grrrk!”
The lizardman’s skull cracked as it stuck out its tongue and died. Its blue-stained tongue lolled out over the swamp surface.
A nearby insect resembling a dragonfly, flying along, suddenly plummeted and convulsed.
‘So lizardmen tongues are venomous, huh…’
As I recalled their racial skill ‘Poison,’ the other lizardmen noticed their comrade’s death and raised their heads from spots all over the swamp.
“Shreek—shriiek!”
“Shreek!”
I suddenly felt like a Thomson’s gazelle surrounded by a pack of crocodiles.
Ssshh—
Over a dozen lizardmen churned through the swamp toward me. They glided over the surface belly-down, swimming like pros.
Flick—thunk!
I slung another shot, killing one more, but by then they were right in front of me. Faster than goblins, even.
‘Fighting in the swamp puts me at a disadvantage. Lure them out.’
I hurriedly backed away. The lizardmen followed, their mud-caked bodies emerging onto land.
‘As expected… they’ve slowed down.’
Once on solid ground, their movements dulled sharply. About orc-level. No, a bit slower.
‘They’re heavily terrain-dependent, just like the rumors said.’
This meant I could handle the outer ones easily, but the deeper I went, the tougher it’d get.
‘I’ll worry about that later.’
I put more distance between us and hurled a dart. Lizardmen had lower defense than orcs—the lightly thrown dart pierced its hide easily.
“Shk! Shshk!”
Even with flesh tearing from their bodies, they didn’t stop. Wounds that would make an orc writhe in pain didn’t faze them.
‘Damn! Like zombies.’
If that were all, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Just keep hitting until they stopped.
The real issue was the poison. Look closely, and their tongues weren’t the only blue parts—claws, skin surfaces, all over.
Proof of venom.
‘Lizardman poison is lethal even from a graze.’
Even Instructor Song, a 2-star hunter, got fully paralyzed from a mere brush.
‘Status ailments mid-fight are dangerous. Avoid them at all costs.’
Fighting with that mindset naturally ramped up mental fatigue. And as the battle dragged on just a bit, my focus slipped for a moment.
“Master, behind you!”
If Yan hadn’t warned me right then, I’d have missed the lizardman circling back.
They were camouflaged with the surroundings, sneaking up undetected.
“Shriiek!”
Only right before striking did the camouflage drop, revealing their true forms. They swung their gleaming blue claws.
“Illusion!”
Luckily, Moemoe-chan cast it just in time, making the attack whiff. I dodged the sudden ambush.
“Ow, that startled me! Damn lizards, quit playing ninja!”
With my back exposed, slinging was too risky now. Their numbers had thinned decently anyway. I drew Gentle Breeze.
“In the name of love and justice, I’ll dice you up!”
Whoosh—
The moment it felt like a breeze stirred, a lizardman’s wrist flew into the air. I swung again, careful not to get clawed.
Splurt!
Green blood sprayed over the swamp. In dodging, I’d unconsciously moved back into the muck. The lizardmen pressed me like they’d been waiting.
“You think three of you can take me? Dream on. Gentle Breeze!”
The lead one’s wrist severed, then its knee shattered. Its head dropped naturally, and I cleaved its neck upward.
Thud!
Two down in a flash, one left. That one had tried ambushing from behind but lost its wrist.
I went for the same combo on it, but halfway through, something unexpected happened.
“Shriiek!”
As I smashed its knee and went for the neck, its lips parted slightly, shooting something fast.
‘Spit? No, its tongue.’
The purplish tongue dripped blue saliva.
‘Poison!’
Danger flashed; I desperately twisted my head. Simultaneously, I swung Gentle Breeze, severing its neck.
Thump!
Clean decapitation. But inertia carried the tongue forward, grazing my cheek.
Strength drained instantly; my vision blurred. I reflexively tried to force my eyes open. Or at least, I tried. My body wouldn’t obey.
“Master! Snap out of it!”
Wish I could. My eyes kept drooping. Worse, my feet sank into quicksand. My body was slowly submerging.
‘I’ll drown like this.’
Gotta escape before it’s too late. First, shake off the paralysis—but it lingered stubbornly.
By now, water was at my waist. My heart sank.
‘No way I die like this? So pointlessly?’
I glanced at the dark red mark on my left hand, then shook my head. Better to die than let the left side take over.
‘Besides, too early to give up.’
The paralysis wasn’t too severe. If I didn’t sink fully before it wore off, I’d live. Thinking that, I pulled my sling from my belt.
The straps were long enough to extend over a meter. I gripped one end and hurled the other toward solid ground.
Flick—
As it hit, I threw a dart to pin it down. I tugged a couple times to confirm, then wrapped it around my wrist.
‘Phew. This’ll slow the sinking.’
A breather. Now just find a way out of the paralysis. Hurry—couldn’t handle a lizardman rush while helpless.
‘There’s gotta be some antidote material around here.’
Anime taught me poison and cures grow together. Somewhere here was something to counter lizardman venom.
Maybe a natural predator, or a plant, or rock.
‘Or both.’
Nearby, moss clung to a rock caught my eye. The only plant life in this swamp besides the lizardmen.
But no guarantee it was the antidote. Could be more poison.
As I hesitated, distant lizardmen cries echoed.
“Shk! Shreek!”
Getting closer. No more waiting. I steeled myself and shoved the moss in my mouth.
‘Gamble time.’
Munch munch.
Oh! This taste!?
“Gaaah!”
Bitter as hell. The swamp moss was so vile, Ma Dekasia grass tasted sweet by comparison.
“Ugh… just kill me.”
My tongue throbbed like I’d been punched. I sobbed, clutching it. No joke—my whole body hurt.
As I wailed, Moemoe-chan clapped like it worked.
“It worked, Master! You can move!”
“Huh? Yeah?”
Somehow, I’d pulled halfway out of the quicksand.
“Shreek!!”
They heard my voice and charged.
I grabbed the sling strap and yanked myself out. Just then, a lizardman spotted and lunged. I retreated, hurling Gentle Breeze.
Crack!
It beheaded two, embedded in the third’s chest.
“Retrieve!”
It spun, gouging the chest deeply, and returned.
“Phew. Thank god they’ve got no weapons or armor.”
Probably the terrain. Metal would rust away fast in a swamp like this.
But no slacking just because they were underarmed. Their real weapon was the swamp itself.
“Shriiek!”
One popped up from seemingly empty swamp—camouflaged, half-submerged approach.
I’d been waiting; Gentle Breeze split its head vertically.
Its claw grazed my forearm in the process, but moss effects lingered—no paralysis.
‘Got their hunt pattern now. Sneak in hiding, paralyze with poison, swallow whole.’
Lizardmen were perfectly adapted to the swamp.
‘No need to fight in their front yard.’
I quickly retreated to solid ground.
“Shk! Sh, shk!”
Excited, they followed. Speed dropped instantly.
Their splayed, ill-suited legs for bipedal movement showed. That’s why.
‘And camouflage gone.’
Mud sloughed off, ruining it. Poison was their only play left.
Knowing it, they closed in desperately. I backed off in disgust.
‘Sorry, close quarters isn’t my thing.’
My specialty’s always thrown weapons. Close combat’s just support, even if I’d gained confidence lately.
Flick—thud thud!!
“Shk!!”
“Blame it on yourselves for no weapons.”
On land, they were no match. I pulled spears from inventory and hurled them one after another.
Obvious attacks, but slowed legs couldn’t dodge. Unilateral slaughter followed.
“Sh-shk!!”
Morale broken, some fled back to the swamp. Like I’d let them.
“You can come out whenever, but leaving? Not so fast.”
I chased and finished them. Including the earlier ones, nearly 40 down.
[Level Up!]
[Cha In-hyeok. Lv 16. (2.6%)] [Mana 3/22]
[Strength 52, Agility 42, Vitality 43, Intelligence 40]
[Unallocated Stat Points: 10]
“Experience’s pouring in hot.”
To boost swamp mobility, I dumped all points into Agility. Then hired a lizardman.
[Acquire Lizardman racial skills ‘Camouflage’ and ‘Paralysis Poison’?]
Wanted both, but mana too low.
Just 3 left.
Camouflage or Paralysis Poison—one only.
‘Obviously pick the one that helps hunting.’
My choice…