Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Cunning Pumpkin-Head Monster
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Gallery posts getting deleted happened often enough.
But a concept post like this getting blatantly taken down was rare.
On top of that, it featured a monster none of us had ever seen before.
- Ah; I was kinda attached to it though
- I'm an elf-hater myself, but I didn't want it to end like this...
- How the hell do you even catch that thing?
The emergence of this new monster was enough to shake up the entire gallery.
"Plus, it seems pretty intelligent."
The pumpkin-headed monster had stalked the elf like prey on the hunt before killing her.
[Title: Why This Incident Feels So Damn Off...]
(Pic of the scythe-wielding pumpkin-head monster)
During the Great War, monsters just mindlessly charged in from outside.
But lately, with these waves, they've been holding back a bit, testing the waters.
Doesn't it feel like they can't take the whole continent at once, so they're scheming on purpose?
- Fr, something's off about it
- Feels like they're probing for weaknesses
- Monsters using their brains? Give me a break
> But that one alone... it's kinda...
- We gotta take that thing down first, right?
> But who's gonna do it...
> Full Elf) We're already forming a subjugation squad
> Oh
> Damn it, Full Elf, I believed in you!
Fortunately, the elves of Elrad took the incident seriously.
Led by Full Elf, a subjugation squad was already heading to the scene.
[Concept Post: Monster Subjugation Log 1.jpg]
Posted by: Full Elf
(Pic of dozens of elves with swords and bows in the subjugation squad)
(Pic of Full Elf holding a high-explosive grenade at the front)
(Pic of an elf confidently thumbs-upping)
We found Elf Bowma's body.
Now it's time for revenge.
[Likes 9999+] [Dislikes 14]
- Lord Judak, time to drop some weapons~
- Holy shit, just going straight for the kill shot lmao
- Whoa, isn't that the Queen's Knight Order? Check the firepower ㄷㄷ
- Elves must be pissed
> Fr, that's why they're packing grenades lol
> They treat those like their lives
"Their faces look murderous."
Rage was etched on the elves' expressions.
The fact they'd brought grenades—something the elven kingdom's forces usually hoarded—said it all.
Plus, the elven subjugation squad consisted of elite elves handpicked to handle the occasional wave variant monsters.
It felt like they'd crush this one monster effortlessly, just like always.
"But something feels off."
My take was a bit different.
Something nagged at me.
Maybe because the pumpkin monster's face in Elf Bowma's pic looked different from regular monsters.
Just as I was thinking it wouldn't go down that easy—
(Pic of the eerily quiet incident site)
(Pic of baffled elves)
?? What the hell?
Where'd they all go?
- Huh?
- No way, did the monster bail?
- No bodies, site's spotless?
- Where'd everyone go?
A new post popped up.
It meant one thing.
The monster had bolted.
This mindless, violent brute that always charged in had fled before the fight even started.
"Does that mean...?"
A bad feeling hit me right then.
A new comment appeared on the post.
- Monster spotted deep in Elrad!!!
- (Pic of pumpkin monster vanishing at the edge of sight)
- (Pic of brutally killed sacred tree caretaker elves)
- It killed a few elves and ran again!
> [Deleted comment]
> EEEEELKIIIYAAAA
> [Deleted comment]
> Full Elf) Wh-what happened!!
A new pumpkin-headed monster.
It was playing mind games against intelligent beings.
*
The pumpkin monster was cunning.
It fled from subjugation squads it couldn't beat, picking off lone or weak elves instead.
- Spotted in eastern Elrad!
- Tried invading the elven kingdom and ran!
- What the fuck is going on
- A monster using tactics...?
A flood of confused elven posts poured in.
Other races couldn't just sit back and watch from afar anymore.
No guarantee that kind of monster wouldn't show up in their own turf.
Above all, the pumpkin monster never crossed certain lines.
- It's only hitting spots without world trees
- If it went deeper inside, we could at least track it
- Full Elf) Th-this bastard, I wanna kill it!!!!
Up until now, monsters swarmed in hordes, and defenses held them off.
That's why elves could roam freely even in the vast Elrad forest.
[Title: Notice from Elradrien]
Posted by: Armion
All elves residing in Elrad Forest, return to Elradrien immediately.
Prohibited from leaving the kingdom until the Knight Order subjugates the monster.
[Likes 4692] [Dislikes 142]
- Ack! ㅠㅠ
- I just left too... ㅠㅅㅠ
- Elradrien's so stuffy...
> True elves spend their whole lives in Elradrien ^^
> Still young and clueless, huh? No kingdom beats Elradrien ^^
> Ugh! Outside's full of monsters, humans wanna kidnap and enslave us—stay put.
> ...What era do you think it is ㅠㅠ
- Whoa, a full elven kingdom-wide notice?
> Never thought I'd see the day lol
> Usually just elders posting—first official from the elven kingdom ㅇㅇ
> Whoa, the Queen!
Now even that was off-limits.
After hearing the monster only hunted lone elves, the kingdom issued an official stance.
Young, curious elves were dying inside.
- Cough cough, wanna go out...
- It's too stuffy here, nothing to do...
> Just read a book^^ Train that skill of sitting ass-planted with a book^^
> Whiiiine ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
> This is why elven homebodies suck!!!
"Now they're mobilizing the Knight Order too."
The subjugation squad was made of skilled elven knights and soldiers.
If things got dire, the Knight Order would step in like last time with the sudden wave.
Elves hoped the Knight Order would wrap it up quick...
But it wasn't that simple.
[Concept Post: Pumpkin Monster Chase Day 3]
(Pic of exhausted elven knights sitting)
(Pic of pointy ears drooping from the heat)
(Pic of flapping clothes through armor gaps)
Haaah, it's so hot I'm gonna die
No sign of the monster... weather's brutal...
Armor in this heat is murder...
[Likes 9999+] [Dislikes 42]
- Whoa, still not caught? ㅠㅠ
- Let us out already!!!
- Sick of reading books...
> Quit gallery posting from the library ^^ Our young elves don't know better—bad etiquette, right?
> Whiiiineㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
- But why's this a concept post...?
- Looks like a normal daily life post...
> Heh... heh
> Heh heh
> Elves' one redeeming quality.jpg
> Might actually warm up to elves now?
> Poster) Ah!
> Poster) Typical humans!!!!
> Heh heh check it
> Already screenshotted ^^
Couldn't hunt the monster solo or in pairs.
But in groups, it sniffed them out like a ghost and hid far away.
You could see elven morale and stamina dropping.
- Judak*) Help us out?
About time to lend a hand.
Elves swarmed the replies like they'd been waiting.
> !!!!
> Of course, you're always welcome!!
> Judak*) But isn't meddling too much in elf business kinda iffy?
> Who's saying that!
> Full Elf: We believed in you, Judak!
- But Judak, you cool helping out nonstop with no real reward?
> Oops
Someone voiced concern.
As that gallery user said, I often helped without expecting payback.
Sure, it tied into preserving the gallery and my own survival, but not everyone bought that.
- Fr, aren't you just giving too much?
- Honestly, none of the market stuff could even be made here lol
- Elves got no shame fr?
> Says the humans?
> They benefit most from Lord Judak then snitch at times like this
> Shh, shh!
> Ugh, this is why we can't deal with humans
> Yeah, official world tree long-ear pests
> Wanna die?
Gallery burst into flames as usual.
But I wasn't getting nothing, like the user worried.
Holy swords, famed blades, mana rations for level-ups right there.
Gallery users didn't know about the points I racked up...
- Judak*) Go for it go for it, no reward needed this time
> He's a god...!
> He'sx A half-elf cutie tsundere Judako who temporarily turned male via magic to prove it
> (Moved elf emoticon)
> Poster) R-really? But why...
> Judak*) Already got mine
I opened one pic.
It showed a silver-haired pale elf wilted from the heat.
"Heh heh."
- Poster) Ah
- Poster) Even you, Lord Judak—how am I supposed to deal with this!!!
> Judak*) Heh heh
> Heh heh
> Heh heh
> Poster) Eeeeek!!!
> Full Elf) Lol
"Intelligent monster? Piece of cake."
I headed to the shop category for modern weapons, picking one list.
Grand names and pics popped up.
[M14 Ankle Mine] - 74 points
[KM16A1 Bounding Mine] - 90 points
[M6 Anti-Tank Mine] - 125 points
.
.
Perfect timing—elves all back in the kingdom, plenty of room to test.
"Been curious to see it in action anyway."
Heard of 'em, never seen real results.
I grabbed a few and decided to trade 'em to Full Elf.
*
Elite elven knights, even acknowledged in Elradrien.
All gathered, ears perked, brimming with curiosity.
"This is..."
"The new weapon from Judak?"
"...Looks weird."
Round cans with some crude add-ons on top.
Cold colors, unknown English letters—plus recalling Judak's past weapon feats—gave chills.
"Supposed to be that effective?"
Eliana felt the same.
She clutched the KM16A1 Bounding Mine, face conflicted.
Probably from Judak's nonstop warnings when handing it over.
Judak*: Remember this before using
Full Elf: Of course
Judak*: Never forget where you bury it
Don't enter 200m radius even if insane, no curious elves approaching.
Not a meme—keep that in mind
One mistake and you're all half-dead
"Ugh..."
Getting hit by this "mine" wouldn't kill but make you wish it did.
Judak, usually so casual, warning that hard? Must be serious.
"Like this?"
Eliana buried the mine ultra-carefully, then backed off—not 200m, but 500m at least.
Pretending to search opposite as instructed.
"Eliana Captain, it's there!"
An elven knight's shout—sure enough, pumpkin monster at the far end.
Happening since yesterday.
It'd hang back, stare dumbly like mocking, then flee.
Like biding its time.
But that anxiety ended now.
"Just a bit more... Got it!"
With elven sharp eyes, the clueless monster stepped on it.
Eliana expected a massive blast like the high-explosive grenade.
Whoosh!
"Huh?"
Way off.
Mine jumped briefly into the air.
Shraaaap!
- Kuruk?
Sinister fragments inside burst everywhere mid-air.