Chapter 244: Turning Point (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 244: Turning Point (4)
Hans Ifreia—or the man who borrowed his name and appearance to attend the conferment ceremony—washed his face with cold water.
Splash!
Each time the water touched his skin, bits of meat washed away and down the drain. The sight was enough to make him want to throw up.
...It's been a while since I've been this disgusted.
Upon falling into this familiar yet unfamiliar world, he had experienced far worse things from the get-go, but those days were already far behind him.
Instead of approaching, I should just observe from a distance.
After returning to the banquet hall, the man looked to the table where he had spoken to the barbarian earlier. For some reason, it was empty. When he approached the nearby servant and exchanged a few words, he learned that the barbarian had already left in a carriage.
I don't feel like going back to the Magic Tower like this...
The man thought it over for a moment and left the palace. Then, using both an invisibility spell and float magic, he flew over the city in Stealth Flight Mode.
There he is.
He looked down at the street from his spot several yards in the air and soon spotted the carriage carrying Bjorn Yandel. It would have been hard not to spot it, considering the knights on horseback surrounding it.
Looks like he's going home.
Inferring the carriage's destination from the direction it was traveling, the man started to tail it. Although his hope that the barbarian was the one he was looking for had largely faded, it was still possible that what he had seen was a facade. He was the first barbarian he had ever seen act that brainless. And there were even more suspicious things about him.
With his understanding of the game, he would have figured out how he was meant to act in this world before anyone else and begun to play his role perfectly.
As such, the barbarian's actions up to this point could be interpreted either way, positive or negative, so the man needed more information. What kind of person was Bjorn Yandel?
They say he's living with three women...
Ignoring a rising envy, the man eagerly chased after the carriage. If they were living together, it wouldn't be any regular relationship. He'd be able to find more decisive clues by taking a peek into the barbarian's home life.
Kabooom!
While he was in the process of following the carriage with that thought in mind, it exploded.
***
The explosion brought to mind the pillars of fire from that day, but the force of it was nothing compared to back then, fortunately.
[Your HP is below 50%. All Resistance and Resilience stats have increased due to the passive skill Heroic Path.]
My vision was blurry, likely due to retina damage from the heat. Also, reddened skin was peeling off of me, and my whole body was itching and throbbing. I seemed to have suffered a lot of muscle damage, too.
"Assassin! The assassin is here!"
But I hadn't died in one blow, and my body could still move.
Damn it all.
Suppressing the curses clawing up my throat, I quickly gripped the ground and stood up. Then I activated the sub-space ring I'd retrieved upon leaving the palace.
Man, I should have put on equipment first thing.
Regret always came a moment too late. I first took out my shield and secured it to my forearm. Then, something else exploded with a burst of black smoke.
Is that a smoke bomb?
Since I had already experienced my vision being blocked in battle several times before, I quickly focused on my sense of hearing without panicking or missing a beat.
"Kyahhh!"
Since this incident was happening in the middle of the city, I could hear the screams of civilians all around me.
"These insolent—!"
"Down with these wicked rebels!"
The knights responded to the threat and sounds of weapons being drawn were heard, but I had to focus on something else. Through all the noise, I had to distinguish the one threatening my life.
Dash.
For example, that one. As soon as I heard the sound, I turned my body in its direction and shifted my posture, lowering my shoulder. At that moment, a heavy blow jolted through my shield.
Bang!
Whew, so you guys can see where I am even through the smoke.
That meant I no longer had a reason to keep quiet. "Keplow! Are you alive!?" Shouting at the top of my lungs, I tried to confirm the safety of Keplow, who had been next to me right before the explosion. There was no answer. Was he dead? Or just unconscious?
Slide.
I quickly slid a hand into the sub-space and took out my mace. At that exact moment, I heard what sounded like something slicing the air.
Whooom!
In my experience, this kind of sound usually came from a slash. Trusting my subconscious's judgment, I twisted the shield diagonally.
Boom!
An instant later, something collided with the left side of the shield. If things kept going this smoothly, being blinded wouldn't be a problem.
Voom!
I swung the mace with all my might in the direction where I believed the enemy to be.
Crunch!
The resulting blow felt satisfying.
Hmm, can't avoid that? I thought an assassin would be a High Agility type.
"Kurgh!" Something in the smoke released a scream like a death throe as it was launched somewhere far away.
Shaaaaaa!
A clearly artificial gust of wind blew through the street and pushed back the black smoke.
Magic? Whose is it?
There were no wizards on our side. That said, the assassin wouldn't have cleared the smoke themself. So, who had cast the spell? Dismissing the short-lived question, I scanned my surroundings.
"Lord Yandel! Are you all right?"
The number of knights left standing was only four. On the other hand, the number of masked people surrounding the shattered wagon was over thirty.
Is Amelia... not here?
I examined the masked people to see if there was anyone with a build similar to Amelia's. There were about three candidates, but I wasn't sure.
Man, I should have put on equipment first thing.
Regret always came a moment too late. I first took out my shield and secured it to my forearm. Then, something else exploded with a burst of black smoke.
Is that a smoke bomb?
Since I had already experienced my vision being blocked in battle several times before, I quickly focused on my sense of hearing without panicking or missing a beat.
"Kyahhh!"
Since this incident was happening in the middle of the city, I could hear the screams of civilians all around me.
"These insolent—!"
"Down with these wicked rebels!"
The knights responded to the threat and sounds of weapons being drawn were heard, but I had to focus on something else. Through all the noise, I had to distinguish the one threatening my life.
Dash.
For example, that one. As soon as I heard the sound, I turned my body in its direction and shifted my posture, lowering my shoulder. At that moment, a heavy blow jolted through my shield.
Bang!
Whew, so you guys can see where I am even through the smoke.
That meant I no longer had a reason to keep quiet. "Keplow! Are you alive!?" Shouting at the top of my lungs, I tried to confirm the safety of Keplow, who had been next to me right before the explosion. There was no answer. Was he dead? Or just unconscious?
Slide.
I quickly slid a hand into the sub-space and took out my mace. At that exact moment, I heard what sounded like something slicing the air.
Whooom!
In my experience, this kind of sound usually came from a slash. Trusting my subconscious's judgment, I twisted the shield diagonally.
Boom!
An instant later, something collided with the left side of the shield. If things kept going this smoothly, being blinded wouldn't be a problem.
Voom!
I swung the mace with all my might in the direction where I believed the enemy to be.
Crunch!
The resulting blow felt satisfying.
Hmm, can't avoid that? I thought an assassin would be a High Agility type.
"Kurgh!" Something in the smoke released a scream like a death throe as it was launched somewhere far away.
Shaaaaaa!
A clearly artificial gust of wind blew through the street and pushed back the black smoke.
Magic? Whose is it?
There were no wizards on our side. That said, the assassin wouldn't have cleared the smoke themself. So, who had cast the spell? Dismissing the short-lived question, I scanned my surroundings.
"Lord Yandel! Are you all right?"
The number of knights left standing was only four. On the other hand, the number of masked people surrounding the shattered wagon was over thirty.
Is Amelia... not here?
I examined the masked people to see if there was anyone with a build similar to Amelia's. There were about three candidates, but I wasn't sure.
"No one mentioned there'd be wizards!"
"What are you hesitating for? Kill him already!"
Briefly bewildered by the spell that drove away the smoke, the assassins resumed their assault. I was sure they were well aware that since this was a surprise attack in the middle of a busy street, the longer they took to finish, the more trouble this would be for them.
"Protect Lord Yandel!"
The knights, who were each fighting their own battles, confirmed my location before converging and standing in a protective formation around me. I could see why nobles were so obsessed with training knights. How loyal and trustworthy were they?
I don't think I have time to put on armor.
After taking stock of the situation, I neatly dismissed my disappointment and manifested a special ability, the one I had originally planned to use at the training grounds tomorrow. Bayon's ability, Transcendence, was a unique skill that was both passive and active. When activated, the performance of all passive skills was enhanced by 1.5 times. Acid Fluid became more powerful, Heroic Path and Ironskin's stats increased, and Manticore's Heredity was similarly affected. That alone was already great.
[You have cast Transcendence.]
However, where this skill truly shone was when it was used actively.
[The next skill you use will be strengthened.]
It was not a simple enhancement ability, either. A unique additional effect was temporarily added to each skill.
[You have cast Giantization. By the authority of the transcendental body, the potential inherent in this skill is now unlocked.]
There was a reason why a Shield Barbarian's core ability was rank-five Giantization, and it lay in this skill.
[Your Physique will grow in proportion to your Strength stat.]
Transcendence applied a Physique bonus in proportion to the user's Strength rather than a fixed value.
Will it be about fifteen feet?
This was Giantization (Transcendence) Mode.
Yeah, at this size... I'm roughly the same size as during the battle with Riakis.
I estimated my height based on my new eye level. It was about the same as the time I grew 1.5 times thanks to Missha's older brother's skill, the Unclean. I had the Vampire's essence too back then, but I wasn't satisfied with it because the settings weren't where I wanted them yet.
"Behelaaah!"
I couldn't deny I'd become much stronger. Giantization increased Physique and Threat Level in proportion to height, and Wild Outburst caused Threat Level to rise again based on Physique stats. Both were active at the same time, making raw power pulse through my veins.
Leap.
I kicked off the ground as hard as I could and leaped up. My expected landing site was right near the masked assailant aiming an arrow my way.
Bannng!
The moment I touched the ground, the masked assailant and their bow were both sent flying high into the air.
[Your total weight is over 1100 lbs. Special terrain effect Recoil will be applied to your blast radius.]
Fortunately, it looked like the weight limit had been met thanks to my increased height. I had been worried since I wasn't wearing armor.
"Huh?" Not realizing the situation they were in, the masked assailant released a stunned sound.
What, didn't think I'd make the first move?
"No one mentioned there'd be wizards!"
"What are you hesitating for? Kill him already!"
Briefly bewildered by the spell that drove away the smoke, the assassins resumed their assault. I was sure they were well aware that since this was a surprise attack in the middle of a busy street, the longer they took to finish, the more trouble this would be for them.
"Protect Lord Yandel!"
The knights, who were each fighting their own battles, confirmed my location before converging and standing in a protective formation around me. I could see why nobles were so obsessed with training knights. How loyal and trustworthy were they?
I don't think I have time to put on armor.
After taking stock of the situation, I neatly dismissed my disappointment and manifested a special ability, the one I had originally planned to use at the training grounds tomorrow. Bayon's ability, Transcendence, was a unique skill that was both passive and active. When activated, the performance of all passive skills was enhanced by 1.5 times. Acid Fluid became more powerful, Heroic Path and Ironskin's stats increased, and Manticore's Heredity was similarly affected. That alone was already great.
[You have cast Transcendence.]
However, where this skill truly shone was when it was used actively.
[The next skill you use will be strengthened.]
It was not a simple enhancement ability, either. A unique additional effect was temporarily added to each skill.
[You have cast Giantization. By the authority of the transcendental body, the potential inherent in this skill is now unlocked.]
There was a reason why a Shield Barbarian's core ability was rank-five Giantization, and it lay in this skill.
[Your Physique will grow in proportion to your Strength stat.]
Transcendence applied a Physique bonus in proportion to the user's Strength rather than a fixed value.
Will it be about fifteen feet?
This was Giantization (Transcendence) Mode.
Yeah, at this size... I'm roughly the same size as during the battle with Riakis.
I estimated my height based on my new eye level. It was about the same as the time I grew 1.5 times thanks to Missha's older brother's skill, the Unclean. I had the Vampire's essence too back then, but I wasn't satisfied with it because the settings weren't where I wanted them yet.
"Behelaaah!"
I couldn't deny I'd become much stronger. Giantization increased Physique and Threat Level in proportion to height, and Wild Outburst caused Threat Level to rise again based on Physique stats. Both were active at the same time, making raw power pulse through my veins.
Leap.
I kicked off the ground as hard as I could and leaped up. My expected landing site was right near the masked assailant aiming an arrow my way.
Bannng!
The moment I touched the ground, the masked assailant and their bow were both sent flying high into the air.
[Your total weight is over 1100 lbs. Special terrain effect Recoil will be applied to your blast radius.]
Fortunately, it looked like the weight limit had been met thanks to my increased height. I had been worried since I wasn't wearing armor.
"Huh?" Not realizing the situation they were in, the masked assailant released a stunned sound.
What, didn't think I'd make the first move?
When I swung the mace like a baseball bat, their neck snapped at a bizarre angle.
Crack.
Okay, got one... Hmm?
Just as I was about to turn my head to look for the next target, a man jumped out from the lower right corner of my eye, an excellent angle that would have been my blind spot. However, I easily spotted and avoided him thanks to the base stats of my new essence.
[Bayon]
[Soul Power: +100
Soul Regeneration: +30
Strength: +25
Pain Resistance: +30
Bone Strength: +30
Mana Resistance: +20
Vision: +25]
The Vision stat improved the user's field of vision, not their eyesight. In the game, it came with a bonus to Evasion according to the detailed stat logs.
Crunch!
Kicking the bastard flying up at me in the abdomen, I prepared for another Leap. But did the knights finally come to their senses? They shouted in alarm when they realized what I was doing, as I was meant to be under their protection.
"C-Come over here!"
Who was protecting who? Pretending not to hear them, I Leaped to my next destination. With the same combo as before, I took our opponents out one by one. None of the enemies were all that strong yet.
Crunch!
I noticed this when I crushed that guy in the smoke earlier, but these goons were strangely low-level.
Is there really no one in Amelia's league here?
I had planned to use Leap at the slightest hint of danger, but that guardedness soon disappeared. As I faced these guys down, I grew even surer that if it weren't for that first explosion, they could have been defeated by the knights alone. But what was this?
"...I-I thought we only had to deal with knights!"
As I started to go on a rampage and the knights pushed their opponents back in their battles, the masked assailants' assaults began to splinter.
"You said that one explosion would kill him!"
"I'm going back. No one said he fought this well!"
Once one or two fled the battlefield, all the other masked assailants chose to flee too. It was ridiculous.
Who are these guys?
They didn't seem to have any sense of purpose whatsoever.
...Were they really sent from Noark?
I was beginning to doubt that, but for now, I rushed to capture the escaping masked bastards anyway. I managed to catch a total of four. Unfortunately, the rest all got away.
"...Well done, my lord." Judging by the awkward salute he gave me, I guessed this knight had never had the noble he was escorting carry the team like I just did.
"Ah, you guys did a good job too. Is anyone dead?"
The knight replied that three were dead. Thankfully, Keplow wasn't one of them. Although he had been caught up in the explosion with me at the very center, I guessed he was durable enough to survive. Since he'd taken a potion in time, he'd regain consciousness soon.
Then let's go do some interrogating.
The battle was over, and guards were probably on their way, so I grabbed one of the captured men and took off his mask. The face hidden behind it was one I had never seen before.
The man trembled, apparently picking up on the fact that he was screwed. I reached out and shoved my hand in his mouth.
C-Cough, cough!
I searched diligently, but there was no poison inside.
Hmm, I guess reality is different from cartoons. But shouldn't an assassin carry at least one, just in case of capture? Though, if these bastards had had that much dedication, they wouldn't have tried to run away.
Just who the hell were these guys? I wiped off the saliva left on my hand from shoving it in his mouth on his clothes and asked, "Who sent you?"
The man didn't answer. Not that it meant much. A little beating and that mouth would open soon enough.
Flash!
Just as I was thinking that, a white flash of light burst from the dark sky.
Booom!
Something came flying in like a meteorite and hit the ground. At first, I thought it might be a catapult shot by the assassins who escaped.
Choke...!
But it was a man. Surrounded by a spherical, protective shield, his face was all too familiar to me. That was because I had met this bastard before. "Hans Ifreia...?"
Seriously, what's going on? Why did he fall from the sky?
As I was momentarily taken aback by this unexpected development, another man jumped down from the sky from the direction Hans I fell from.
Dash, dash, dash.
Without paying me any mind, he approached Hans I. Neither I nor any of the knights dared to utter a single word at the strange sight. The air around us changed the moment the man arrived, leaving no room for us to speak.
"Let's not make this difficult, old man, okay?"
"I told you, you mistook me for—"
"Ha, I told you those lies won't work on me."
The man then stretched out his hand and the protective shield around Hans I was torn away with ease.
Rippp.
Hans I's face turned white as a sheet from that overwhelming act of intimidation. The man grabbed him by the collar. "It's you, GM. Lift the ban, now. If you don't, you're going to die here."
When I swung the mace like a baseball bat, their neck snapped at a bizarre angle.
Crack.
Okay, got one... Hmm?
Just as I was about to turn my head to look for the next target, a man jumped out from the lower right corner of my eye, an excellent angle that would have been my blind spot. However, I easily spotted and avoided him thanks to the base stats of my new essence.
[Bayon]
[Soul Power: +100
Soul Regeneration: +30
Strength: +25
Pain Resistance: +30
Bone Strength: +30
Mana Resistance: +20
Vision: +25]
The Vision stat improved the user's field of vision, not their eyesight. In the game, it came with a bonus to Evasion according to the detailed stat logs.
Crunch!
Kicking the bastard flying up at me in the abdomen, I prepared for another Leap. But did the knights finally come to their senses? They shouted in alarm when they realized what I was doing, as I was meant to be under their protection.
"C-Come over here!"
Who was protecting who? Pretending not to hear them, I Leaped to my next destination. With the same combo as before, I took our opponents out one by one. None of the enemies were all that strong yet.
Crunch!
I noticed this when I crushed that guy in the smoke earlier, but these goons were strangely low-level.
Is there really no one in Amelia's league here?
I had planned to use Leap at the slightest hint of danger, but that guardedness soon disappeared. As I faced these guys down, I grew even surer that if it weren't for that first explosion, they could have been defeated by the knights alone. But what was this?
"...I-I thought we only had to deal with knights!"
As I started to go on a rampage and the knights pushed their opponents back in their battles, the masked assailants' assaults began to splinter.
"You said that one explosion would kill him!"
"I'm going back. No one said he fought this well!"
Once one or two fled the battlefield, all the other masked assailants chose to flee too. It was ridiculous.
Who are these guys?
They didn't seem to have any sense of purpose whatsoever.
...Were they really sent from Noark?
I was beginning to doubt that, but for now, I rushed to capture the escaping masked bastards anyway. I managed to catch a total of four. Unfortunately, the rest all got away.
"...Well done, my lord." Judging by the awkward salute he gave me, I guessed this knight had never had the noble he was escorting carry the team like I just did.
"Ah, you guys did a good job too. Is anyone dead?"
The knight replied that three were dead. Thankfully, Keplow wasn't one of them. Although he had been caught up in the explosion with me at the very center, I guessed he was durable enough to survive. Since he'd taken a potion in time, he'd regain consciousness soon.
Then let's go do some interrogating.
The battle was over, and guards were probably on their way, so I grabbed one of the captured men and took off his mask. The face hidden behind it was one I had never seen before.
The man trembled, apparently picking up on the fact that he was screwed. I reached out and shoved my hand in his mouth.
C-Cough, cough!
I searched diligently, but there was no poison inside.
Hmm, I guess reality is different from cartoons. But shouldn't an assassin carry at least one, just in case of capture? Though, if these bastards had had that much dedication, they wouldn't have tried to run away.
Just who the hell were these guys? I wiped off the saliva left on my hand from shoving it in his mouth on his clothes and asked, "Who sent you?"
The man didn't answer. Not that it meant much. A little beating and that mouth would open soon enough.
Flash!
Just as I was thinking that, a white flash of light burst from the dark sky.
Booom!
Something came flying in like a meteorite and hit the ground. At first, I thought it might be a catapult shot by the assassins who escaped.
Choke...!
But it was a man. Surrounded by a spherical, protective shield, his face was all too familiar to me. That was because I had met this bastard before. "Hans Ifreia...?"
Seriously, what's going on? Why did he fall from the sky?
As I was momentarily taken aback by this unexpected development, another man jumped down from the sky from the direction Hans I fell from.
Dash, dash, dash.
Without paying me any mind, he approached Hans I. Neither I nor any of the knights dared to utter a single word at the strange sight. The air around us changed the moment the man arrived, leaving no room for us to speak.
"Let's not make this difficult, old man, okay?"
"I told you, you mistook me for—"
"Ha, I told you those lies won't work on me."
The man then stretched out his hand and the protective shield around Hans I was torn away with ease.
Rippp.
Hans I's face turned white as a sheet from that overwhelming act of intimidation. The man grabbed him by the collar. "It's you, GM. Lift the ban, now. If you don't, you're going to die here."