Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Mongchi (3)
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A cheerful thud echoed as the two high-class knights' heads slammed into the ground.
This time, neither of them could lift their heads. They simply lay there on the floor, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"Hmm... I accidentally put too much force into it."
Thanks to the Personality Corrector's realm of 'Strict Discipline,' there were no wounds, but the pain was so intense that both passed out.
"Still, it feels good to get that off my chest."
Demian wore a satisfied expression as he stored the club in his subspace.
"You lot over there."
Demian pointed to the back and spoke. The knights the two high-class ones had brought stared at him in horror.
"Take these guys and get out of here right now."
At Demian's threat, the knights hurriedly supported the two high-class knights and fled outside the castle.
"Now they won't spout any more nonsense."
Demian said contentedly, turning his head.
But there was Athena, staring at him with a very strange expression.
"Why?"
"Oh, no... I just realized you're scarier than I thought."
Athena added in a plaintive voice.
"That side of you... it's kinda cool too."
Demian looked at Athena with a face that said, *What the hell are you talking about?*
* * *
Opis and Valet, carried out by the knights, didn't open their eyes until quite some time later.
"Huh?"
"Hah?"
The two knights sat up and looked around. Only then did they realize they were lying in a cart.
"W-What the hell are we doing here...?"
Opis muttered in bewilderment. Then the other knights rushed over.
"Sir Opis! You're awake!"
"You got hit by that monster... no, Demian Haksen's club and passed out."
Opis and Valet looked at each other's faces.
They, as high-class knights, had passed out from a single club hit? It was hard to accept.
"...Understood."
Then Valet spoke up, his eyes resolute.
"We were too careless."
"...Hm? What do you mean?"
"Think about it. Did you expect to be ambushed in Baron Barer's castle?"
"N-No... I didn't?"
"Because we let our guard down, our bodies and minds relaxed. That's why we couldn't react to that guy's club."
The surrounding knights wore incredulous expressions. No matter how you looked at it, that didn't seem right.
"...Indeed."
But Opis took Valet's words seriously.
"We were too careless. We need to reflect on this."
"Exactly. If we'd been in top form, we could've taken that punk down in an instant."
Opis and Valet nodded.
It was mere self-justification, but the two didn't sense anything off about it.
"By the way, where are we headed?"
"We're on our way to the Fish domain."
The Fish domain was located not far from the territory where the fight had just broken out.
It was also one of the domains the two knights, along with the Baron Barer household, had been considering as a base.
"A wise decision. The Fish Viscount family is trustworthy."
It was then that Opis spoke those words.
"K-Knights! Knights! P-Please, help me!"
A young man came running desperately from afar. The knights stopped in their tracks.
"What's wrong?"
Opis asked the young man. The youth panted heavily for a while before speaking.
"I-I encountered an undead that looks exactly like a w-wolf, and my companions all died. I barely escaped alive!"
At the mention of a wolf-like monster, Opis and Valet exchanged glances.
It had to be the undead they were pursuing.
"You're lucky. We're on our way to slay that monster."
"R-Really?"
"Where is that monster? Do you know its location?"
The young man nodded at their questions.
"I-In the forest! I saw it in the forest! I can guide you there too!"
"Good. Lead the way. I'll let you watch up close as we slay that monster."
Opis thumped his chest. At his action, the young man smiled in relief.
"Bringing such valuable information. I'll reward you later, so tell me your name."
"M-Me? I'm..."
The young man caught his breath and said.
"Garot."
The lens of the telescope hanging around the young man's neck glinted in the sunlight.
* * *
Mongchi was dreaming.
It was evening, running along a trail with his master. Looking up, he saw the red-tinted sky between tall trees.
-Found you!
His master hugged Mongchi from behind. Mongchi wriggled wildly to escape his master's hands.
-No way! I'm never letting go!
Mongchi gave up struggling and licked his master's cheek.
His master giggled and released Mongchi. But Mongchi didn't leave his master's face.
"Ahaha, that tickles. Stop, stay still.
When his master was happy, Mongchi was happy too. When Mongchi was happy, his master was happy.
-Mongchi, listen. I want to become a knight.
Suddenly, his master said that.
-I heard from the village uncles that knights are super strong, super brave, and super powerful. They say even monsters can't stand up to them.
Mongchi couldn't understand a word his master was saying.
But just knowing his master was happy made Mongchi happy.
-If I become a great person like a knight... maybe Dad will like me? He won't call me a monster who killed Mom anymore...
His master's face turned gloomy. Mongchi's mood soured too.
Mongchi rubbed his face against his master's leg. His master smiled bitterly and stroked Mongchi's head.
Then Mongchi woke from the dream.
The world filled with red sunset was gone. Only the eerily blue sky and dark forest shadows remained.
Mongchi shook himself and stood. He blankly scanned his surroundings.
Mashter... not here...
Even though it was a dream, maybe because he'd met his master, the emptiness felt even greater.
Mashter... where are you?
He missed his master's voice, his laughter, the touch of his hand stroking his fur.
Mongchi lowered his head and let out a small whine. In the quiet forest, only Mongchi's whimper echoed.
That was when it happened. The scent of his master reached his nose.
Mashter?
Mongchi hurriedly lifted his head. He turned toward the direction of the scent.
He wasn't mistaken. His master's scent wafted strongly.
Mashter!
Just as Mongchi was about to dash toward the scent,
Something burst through the bushes. An invisible blade stretched out long, piercing Mongchi's body.
"Yelp!"
It felt like being skewered by a red-hot iron lump. Mongchi screamed and rolled on the ground.
"So it really was here."
Two human males emerged from between the bushes.
The moment Mongchi saw their faces, he felt a chill. They were the scary humans who had attacked him before.
Why? Mashter?
Mongchi felt confused. When they first met, there was no master's scent on them. Why did they smell like his master now?
"Valet, this time let's cut off that thing's head and take it."
"Yes, Sir Opis. Let's reclaim our honor."
The two human males drew their swords. The blades began to shimmer with haze.
The moment Mongchi saw that haze, his body trembled.
He knew from last time. How easily that haze sliced his body. And how much pain it brought.
"Whine..."
Mongchi backed away warily from the two. At his sight, the two human males sneered.
"A monster showing fear... We won't fall for that disguise."
"It's probably planning to make us drop our guard and strike like last time."
The two charged at Mongchi simultaneously.
The two males, coming from different directions, swung their swords at the same time.
Mongchi's blade split like water before the haze-coated sword edges.
"Yelp! Grrr!"
Mongchi thrashed wildly to shake them off. He clawed the ground with his front paws and rammed trees with his body.
But the two human males were relentless. They didn't retreat an inch, continuously hacking at Mongchi's body.
It hurts! Hurts so much!
The pain was incomparable to being kicked or trampled by humans.
Each slash from those blades felt like fire burning the wounds. And then thorns sprouting from them.
Mashter! Mashterrrr!
Mongchi desperately called for his master. But no one came to protect him.
Why.
Amid the surging pain, Mongchi wondered.
Why do humans always...
Torment me. Only give me pain.
Why.
I just need to find my master. Just need to meet my master.
Why! Why! Me! Myself! Master! Always! Every time! All the time!
"This thing! It's not moving at all like last time!"
"Sir Opis! Now, let's cut its head off!"
The two males aimed for Mongchi's neck from both sides and swung down.
That was when it happened.
Dark mana exploded from Mongchi's body. An enormous amount of dark mana burst out in all directions.
The dark mana Mongchi emitted was like a storm. It upheaved the ground and snapped trees. Even the two males were swept back by the storm.
"W-What is this dark mana...?"
One of the males looked at Mongchi in panic.
Mongchi threw his head back. He let out a howl toward the sky.
-■■■■■■!
No, it wasn't a howl. It was something filled with pain and rage.
A horrific sound beyond human ears shook the entire world.
Mongchi lowered his raised head. He glared at the two human males. His previously dazed eyes now blazed with red light.
At that overwhelming killing intent, the two males froze solid.
Mongchi bared his teeth at the two males. Only one thought dominated his mind now.
I'll kill them!
Rage surged. Hatred welled up endlessly.
I'll crush their guts under my paws! Bite and tear their heads. Give them as much as they gave me...!
-Mongchi~
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from his memories. Mongchi's body stiffened.
-You're hurt bad...
-You need to eat... Eating will heal your body.
-Feeling better now?
The dark mana Mongchi had been emitting calmed in an instant.
Mongchi turned his body. He ran in the opposite direction from the males.
"...W-What?"
"W-What just happened?"
The two males chased after Mongchi's retreating form in confusion.
They didn't know why the undead had stopped, but they'd clearly survived a dangerous moment.
"It wasn't an ordinary undead..."
"It was far more dangerous than we anticipated."
It was while Opis and Valet trembled in fear.
"Sir Opis, Sir Valet!"
"Are you both alright?"
The other knights ran over to them. The two nodded as if they were fine.
Then, they suddenly realized one person was missing.
"Garot? Where's that young man?"
Opis asked the knights. They looked around.
"No idea."
"He was here just a moment ago..."
The knights said with bewildered faces.
* * *
"I don't get why you're going through this hassle."
Cardac said in a dissatisfied tone.
"Why bother making the knights attack the undead like this? Is there a reason?"
Garot peered at the fleeing undead through his telescope and asked.
"When do you think the undead will be complete?"
"How should I know? I don't mess with corpses."
"Ahaha, right, I forgot. You don't handle corpse poison."
Garot laughed cheerfully.
"Instead of asking questions, let me give you the answer. It's when it finds an enemy to hate."
Garot added with a regretful expression.
"What a shame. It was so close to completion... Why didn't it kill those two?"
Garot pondered for a moment before speaking.
"It seems like a very timid child despite its talent. No choice. I'll have to take it and train it separately."
Garot's eyes gleamed.
"Shall we go retrieve it now?"