Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Thousand Kills Star Heads Out to Hunt
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“The Thousand Kills Star is off to hunt!”
“Aww, our little Enoch…! Look at him toddling along…!”
[Does that look like toddling to you? Aren’t your eyes a bit off?]
Lione and Undine, hidden up in the trees, whispered back and forth.
Lione was losing her mind over how cute Enoch looked just walking, but Undine didn’t see it that way at all.
‘That sly little brat. Today’s the day I expose your wicked true nature!’
Undine grinned wickedly.
That gait didn’t make any sense from the start.
When Lione had taught him footwork, he’d mimicked it perfectly after just one look—and now he was walking like that?
It was laughable deception.
‘Come on! Show me your true colors!’
Undine’s smile deepened a bit more.
*
Enoch scratched the back of his head, feeling a strange itch there for some reason.
He glanced around, but nothing caught his eye.
Was it that blue fly?
That blue fly that buzzed around every day, getting in the way between him and Lione, turned out to have surprisingly impressive skills.
It was only natural that Enoch couldn’t detect its presence right now.
“Ah.”
As he wobbled along pointlessly, Enoch’s eyes landed on a cluster of black, round mushrooms.
Deer antler mushrooms.
He stuffed them into the large sack he’d brought, then stretched his back with a satisfying pull.
All that was left now was a rabbit, some three yin grass, and a few other miscellaneous herbs.
Everything but the rabbit could be found nearby, so it shouldn’t take long.
Slinging the now quite heavy sack over his shoulder, Enoch scanned the surroundings for his next target.
‘Rabbit and deer antler mushrooms—looks like barbecue for dinner tonight.’
He hummed a cheerful tune as he strolled along, then spotted another find.
It was three yin grass, the kind whose leaves felt cool to the touch.
It was mainly used for reducing fevers—probably something Lione gathered for when Enoch got sick.
About ten minutes passed like that?
Enoch had gathered most of the items on his memo list.
Only the rabbit remained.
But for some reason, there were hardly any animals around today.
Normally, by this point in the walk, he’d spot at least one or two rabbits or deer.
“Hmm…”
After pondering for a moment, Enoch ventured deeper into the forest.
It didn’t seem particularly dangerous, and if it got risky, Lione would handle it.
If she hadn’t come along… well, that’d just be a shame.
Step, step.
The deeper into the forest he went, the denser the trees became, and the surroundings grew dim.
Ki-reuk—strange-sounding birds flitted briefly between the branches.
Should he just catch one of those? Enoch shook his head.
No, meat meant rabbit. At the very least, deer or wild boar.
Was it his earnest wish that moved the heavens?
Sssheeeek───!!
Enoch’s ears perked up at the sound of heavy snorting.
A wild boar.
He ducked for cover to approach, but oddly, the sound was getting closer and closer.
Thud! Thud! Something crashing into things, and
Crack! Thump! Like trees snapping and toppling.
“Oh…?”
It wasn’t long before a tree in front of him collapsed limply like a frail maiden, revealing a massive bulk.
No need to say it—a wild boar.
But an enormously huge one.
The boar was as big as the house he shared with Lione.
Enoch swallowed hard at the size that defied common sense.
‘That thing’s big enough to feed us for months.’
And strangely enough, the bigger these beasts were, the tastier they got.
According to Lione, the really oversized ones usually carried mana, which was why.
“Dinner menu.”
Crackle-crackle! Electric currents rose from Enoch’s entire body.
Sssheeeek──!! The wild boar snorted, unleashing its boiling rage.
Then, in one instant,
Flash—!
The boy and the boar charged straight at each other.
*
“W-What do we do…!?”
Lione panicked, jumping up and down.
Yet somehow, the tree branch she stood on didn’t even sway.
[What do you mean, what? He’ll handle it himself.]
“Shouldn’t we help!?”
[What nonsense is that? You’re the one who trained him.]
If he can’t beat a single boar like that, he might as well drop dead.
Undine sprawled lazily on the branch, watching the fight with indifference.
The contenders: two.
The cocky brat and a wild boar that was inexplicably furious.
Why was it so mad? Thinking it over, something came to mind.
‘Oh, that boar’s family?’
The one the brat had bitten in the throat last time.
If this was family, it made sense.
Those kinds of beasts usually had some weird ability, so it wouldn’t be strange if it recognized the killer as this kid.
[Oh, here we go.]
Undine’s eyes gleamed as she crunched on the dew clinging to the tree.
Kya…! Nothing beats dew for watching a fight!
Slash—!
[First strike from the cocky brat! A huge gash on the wild boar contender’s face! This is way too one-sided! No fun at all!]
Lione glared at Undine, who’d suddenly started commentating, but Undine ignored her.
[Aaah! The wild boar holds firm! Don’t underestimate the rage of lost kin!]
“Undine, you’re impossible…”
Haa… Lione sighed.
But as Undine said, the fight was one-sided.
Enoch was pressing the boar hard.
He’d started with a surprise Scatter Response Step, leaving a big wound on the boar, then calmly used footwork for minor probes.
Her rising worry faded, replaced by pride as his master.
“Ah!”
Then Lione clenched her fist.
Enoch had touched the ground, secretly leaving a magic circle behind.
The boar charged blindly, unaware, and then—
Flaaash─────!!!!
A bolt shot up from the earth like it pierced the sky, slamming straight into its belly.
“Did you see that!? Did you see!?”
He showed no progress in other magic during lessons, but with lightning magic, he advanced at an astonishing pace.
He had an advantage with his lightning affinity, but even accounting for that, the speed was incredible.
Before she knew it, Lione had forgotten her worries and was cheering Enoch on.
“Go, Enoch…!!”
*
Purruk….
Enoch closely observed the weakened boar.
He couldn’t tell if that was smoke or not.
No need to get close, then.
Thump──, mana waves spreading in time with his heartbeat.
He hooked the ring onto his finger and drew an image.
‘Fast and strong.’
With his lightning affinity, he could skip a lot.
He erased the parts for current generation and output, filling them instead with circuits purely for speed and power.
“Purruk…!”
The boar snorted roughly, sensing some threat.
Then it mustered its last strength and charged at Enoch.
Its unnatural bulk alone was intimidating.
But even more threatening was the mana it harbored.
Whoosh—!
The boar’s eyes glowed red as it suddenly accelerated.
It was startling, but Enoch stayed calm.
“Tear, scorch, kill.”
Incantations were a mage’s personal image for the spell they cast.
With his brutal chant, Enoch’s foot slowly shifted one step.
Step, his body advancing diagonally.
At the same time, the boar’s tusk grazed his side.
A tiny bit closer, and it would’ve punched a hole through his ribs—but Enoch didn’t care.
Instead, he thrust out his hand to complete the spell.
“Lightning Bomb.”
A condensed orb of purple lightning shot toward the boar.
The boar flinched and tried to turn, but the spell was faster.
Rumble──────────!!!!
Thunder roared, bathing the forest in purple light for an instant.
Birds burst into the sky in fright; animals held their breath.
Enoch, who’d cast the spell, patted his slightly sore chest from overusing mana and stared intently at where the boar had been.
“Hmm.”
Before his view cleared, a savory aroma tickled his nose.
Convinced the boar was now roasted whole, Enoch waved his hand.
Whoosh—!
A gust laced with lightning blew away the smoke at his gesture.
And sure enough, as he’d guessed, the boar lay dead on the ground.
Sluuuurp—Enoch swallowed his drool and approached.
“Hmm-hmm~.”
With such a bountiful dinner ahead, a tune bubbled up naturally.
Lione would praise him for this, right?
He could hardly wait.
*
Lione, who’d watched Enoch take down the boar to the end, pondered for a moment.
‘Should I help him carry it?’
A house-sized boar wouldn’t be easy for Enoch to haul.
But if she stepped in now, he’d realize she’d followed.
[He’s got a brain; he’ll probably butcher it and bring pieces.]
In the end, persuaded by Undine, Lione headed home first.
She waited, loaded up with praise for him—and then,
Crack—!
“Ah.”
Trees in the forest splintered as a massive roasted boar came tumbling out.
Enoch scratched his head sheepishly, then waved energetically.
“Errands done!”
Should she tell him to be kinder to the trees?
Lione wondered briefly.
*
That evening was a barbecue party.
In the end, after much agonizing, Lione had lavished Enoch with praise and thrown the party.
[Sigh. Such a doting fool.]
Undine grumbled as she gulped down her whiskey.
Lione sipped her own drink happily, then noticed Enoch’s gleaming eyes and asked.
“Want to try some?”
Nod nod—without hesitation, and Lione smiled faintly as she poured whiskey into his glass.