Chapter 69: The Underground Giant (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 69: The Underground Giant (3)
“Why did I do that? Seriously…”
Located within the Duchy of Astrea.
The sprawling gardens of the Astrea Manor offered a breathtaking panoramic view, looking as if they had been plucked straight from a watercolor painting. This beauty was maintained by the subtle, constant flow of mana from the Emerald Fairy, Sylphia.
The wide, paved path stretched ahead without obstruction—one of the many reasons the Duchy of Astrea was known as the center of commerce.
It was summer vacation, and Kaya Astrea had returned home.
Unlike when she had left for the Märchen Academy in high spirits, she returned to the mansion looking so devastated that the household staff were genuinely startled.
The reason was simple: she had spent the entire carriage ride agonizing over her mistake.
For days, Kaya had no appetite, barely picking at her meals. She moved with a sluggish gait, and every night, she buried her face in her pillow, letting out deep, agonizing sighs.
She couldn’t help it. She felt like she was going insane.
During the vacation ceremony, she had lost control of her soaring emotions and impulsively kissed Isaac on the cheek.
He must have felt so burdened by that. Of course he did. There’s no doubt about it.
How many times had she repeated the phrase, “Why did I do that?” since that day? She had been drowning in a swamp of regret for days now.
She couldn’t even bring herself to talk about it.
If word got out in the manor that Kaya was in love with someone, her father, Gerald Astrea, would be furious.
He was a stern, traditional man. He had strictly forbidden Kaya from entertaining romantic feelings—let alone a relationship—until she graduated from the academy and met someone befitting her ducal title.
To make matters worse, Sylphia, the Emerald Fairy and the only friend she could confide in, had somehow managed to vanish into the forest.
Kaya was truly going crazy.
Night fell. It was time to sleep.
In the dark room, Kaya tossed and turned in her bed.
“Why did I… why did I do that? Ugh.”
Kaya sobbed, clutching her Armana Wand—the magic weapon Isaac had given her during the end-of-semester evaluation.
For several days, she had repeated this same pattern before finally falling into a fitful sleep.
“…”
Of course, the regretful memory of the vacation ceremony wasn’t the only thing that lingered.
Moonlight streamed through the window. Kaya turned her head to gaze outside.
A bright, crescent moon.
A similar crescent moon had hung in the sky on the day they went to the Tantak Underground Cave on the Märchen Academy grounds. The memory was so etched into Kaya’s mind that she could even recall the exact shape of the moon that night.
It was the day she went camping with Isaac. She remembered it vividly; her heart had pounded so fast she thought it might burst from the tension. Even now, the memory felt fresh.
He had wrapped his blanket over her. He had told her she was beautiful.
The smooth texture of the wand in her hand brought back memories of her end-of-semester evaluation.
He was adamant that I was someone he approved of. He has no idea how happy those words make me every time I think of them.
“…I miss you, Sir Isaac.”
She felt it all over again.
Before she knew it, Isaac’s presence had seeped into Kaya’s life like moonlight.
[Master, is this child… the Kaya you spoke of?]
“Don’t mind her.”
I answered the Frost Dragon Hilde casually as I threw off the bothersome cloak of camouflage. No matter how twisted the scenario became, the only way to save Kaya was to defeat her.
Elphelt, who had become a parasite in the form of an earring, was sharing his blood with Kaya. In that parasitic state, he possessed the highest level of elemental resistance.
Just as a giant’s outer shell distorted external mana, Elphelt had the power to neutralize at least one spell.
Therefore, if I could inflict fatal damage on both Kaya and Elphelt simultaneously, Elphelt would unconditionally endure the attack and exert all his strength to restore his host, Kaya.
There was no other suitable host for him, after all. And as expected, a host sharing blood with a parasitic corpse would eventually perish.
Once he did that, he would be weakened for ten minutes, leaving him vulnerable to my attacks. I had no intention of letting him escape during that window.
With the giant red elephant as the center of gravity, Hilde flew in circles inside the giant’s cavernous body.
In the center, Kaya Astrea floated in midair on a reddish-green wind, stretching her arms out toward me.
With a look of longing on her face, she seemed to find me appetizing. While my muscles were well-developed and I likely looked quite appealing, I had no intention of being eaten.
A multitude of magic circles materialized in the air. Eight of them formed, blending shades of green and crimson.
Behind her, grotesque chunks of flesh sprouted like tentacles, intertwining to form shapes resembling crimson tree trunks. Leaves composed of human appendages bloomed densely all around.
The result was a grotesque tree that radiated a brilliant, bloody glow.
「Tree of Radiance (Plant Element, ★7)」 + 「Flower of Evil (Blood Element, ★6)」
= 「Tree of Blood (Plant + Blood)」
I remembered being intrigued by that spell in the guidebook—a combination of plant and blood elements. I had wondered if it was intended for a future DLC since it didn’t appear in the base game.
This tree provided swift, dramatic recovery by offering blood and flesh to allies. It was a higher-level version of [Tree of Radiance] and was explicitly noted as an unbalanced skill.
It was even said that if Kaya had summoned this tree in 「Act 4, Chapter 3, The Underground Giant」, there would have been no way to defeat her.
The only strategy was to render the tree unusable with a single, overwhelming attack.
[Buooooooooh─────!!]
[Bururuk, Bururuk, Bururuk──!]
[Bbbuuuuiiiiiiiiik──!!!]
[Bugyagyagyagyagyagyagyak──!!!!]
[Ppugyaaak──!!!!]
The walls of the giant’s flesh began to spew out winged, crimson elephantine demons. Each one was a fragment of Elphelt’s body.
They swarmed like an army of ants, bone spears clutched in their hands.
With eerie cries, they dove toward me.
Hilde stopped gliding and flapped her wings, glaring at Kaya. The white dragon’s massive wings shimmered, scattering pure white, freezing mana as they swept through the air.
‘Frostscythe.’
I extended my right arm and instinctively summoned the Frostscythe. Pale blue mana gathered in the air, taking the form of a chilling, dark blue scythe. The weapon heeded my call.
As I grasped it, a surge of ice mana flowed into me as if I had opened a massive reservoir.
[Status]
Name: Isaac Lv: (169) Gender: Male Year: 1st Title: Freshman Who Has Adapted to Student Life Mana: (155,000) / (119,000) + (250,000) – Mana Recovery Speed (S)
Every time Hilde cast a spell, it took a massive chunk out of my mana upkeep.
However, it wouldn't hinder me much, as the large amount of bonus mana provided by the Frostscythe would be consumed first.
“Slaughter them.”
I commanded, pointing the head of the Frostscythe at Kaya.
Above me, a magnificent pale blue arc of magic traced a path. It was Hilde’s magic circle.
Hilde’s mana glowed with brilliance, spreading out as an all-encompassing force.
Kaya’s magic circles responded instantly, releasing their spells at Hilde.
「Song of the Mountain Goat (Wind Element, ★7)」+ 「Blood Siphon (Blood Element, ★5)」
= 「Baphomet’s Hymn (Wind + Blood)」
A reddish-green typhoon surged forward with the sharpness of a thousand blades.
Without distinction, the entire army of crimson elephant demons was ruthlessly shredded by the blades of wind.
This was one of Kaya’s official patterns: [Baphomet’s Hymn].
The wind spell gradually increased in power as it absorbed the blood of the creatures it slew.
───────── [Kaaaaaaaaaaa────!!!]
In defiance, Hilde unleashed a spell with a fierce roar.
「Hell of the Crimson Lotus (Ice Element, ★8)」
In an instant, shimmering silver lines appeared in the air.
Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa────────────────!!!!
With a thunderous roar, the lines transformed into a massive beam of light, pouring out extreme cold.
[Hell of the Crimson Lotus] devoured [Baphomet’s Hymn] and annihilated the elephantine demon horde that had approached me.
The world was bathed in pristine white, and the surroundings were instantly coated in frost.
For a moment, even time itself felt frozen.
I remained calm, blinking slowly.
The frozen army of elephant demons came into view. Hilde’s cold beam hadn’t even hit them directly.
This isn't just luck.
Crackle──
Crackle───
Hilde’s cold beams burrowed into the bodies of the elephant demons and went on a rampage.
Soon, like flower buds bursting into full bloom, their flesh began to tear in all directions.
Whoooooosh───
An eerie crimson landscape emerged amidst the white world.
[Hell of the Crimson Lotus]. One of the eight great cold hells—a spell that freezes and bursts the target's entire body with intense cold, transforming them into something akin to a crimson lotus flower.
True to its name, everything that had charged at me was transformed into falling crimson lotuses, plunging into the darkness beyond the cliff.
After defending Kaya with all its might, the [Tree of Blood] grew into a humming mass of flesh. Its trunk splintered into many branches as Hilde’s cold beams churned within it, turning it into crimson dust before it vanished.
It was a futile end.
“What the…”
Lisetta, protected by my [Ice Barrier], exclaimed in a shaky voice.
The surrounding landscape regained its warmth as the giant’s blood flowed, turning red once more.
[…]
Kaya’s face hardened. She began to fly away sideways.
One after another, masses of crimson venus flytraps bloomed on the walls of the giant’s flesh. These hellish carnivorous plants had mouths lined with rows of neatly aligned white teeth.
「Parasitic Ensnarement (Plant Element, ★5)」 + 「Vampirism (Blood Element, ★4)」
= 「Field of Slaughter (Plant + Blood)」
[Keekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekee──!!!]
Young, eerie laughter echoed from the carnivorous horde of the [Field of Slaughter]. It was a spell designed to drain me of my blood.
I felt a sensation inside my body as if the very flow of my blood was being twisted. If I stayed still, the blood coursing through my veins would pierce my skin, float through the air, and fall prey to the [Field of Slaughter].
With that many flowers, not a drop of my blood would remain.
But that wasn't the end. A huge, grotesque flower bloomed, filling the entire wall. Its petals, like those of a clockwork flower, pulsed with a brilliantly colored bloodstream.
In the center of the flower, a round mouth gaped open, revealing a multitude of sharp thorns like a snail’s mouth. It looked like a passage leading to another dimension.
The giant flower with the gaping mouth. It was the [Apocalypse].
「Hell Flower (Plant Element, ★8)」 + 「Flower of Evil (Blood Element, ★6)」
= 「Apocalypse (Plant + Blood)」
[Apocalypse]. The lore stated that no living thing could survive where this flower bloomed; the area around it was destined to perish.
Kaya, hovering in the air with her back to the [Apocalypse], glared at me.
She had clearly decided to go all out after being hit by Hilde.
“Hilde, charge.”
[Understood.]
Hilde began to fly toward Kaya.
「Ice Sovereign’s Majesty (Ice Element, ★7)」
A brilliant pale blue light emitted from my body. It was [Ice Sovereign’s Majesty], a spell that repelled all incoming attacks.
The [Field of Slaughter] stopped its laughter. Each flower gushed out copious amounts of blood from its mouth before withering away.
Then, the radiance emanating from me faded.
The horde from the [Field of Slaughter] that had withered helplessly bowed their heads in silence.
Soon, [Apocalypse] unleashed a magic circle where luminous iridescence and vivid crimson colors intertwined harmoniously, aiming directly at me. Its size was impossible to gauge at a glance.
“Kaya, please endure it.”
As we flew through the air, I leaped upward, kicking off Hilde’s back. I needed the height to get a good swing with the Frostscythe.
The hem of my uniform fluttered as I firmly gripped the Frostscythe with both hands.
A pale blue, flame-like mana surged intensely around the blade. As I swung it horizontally, shimmering pale blue lines appeared along the scythe's path, cutting through Kaya’s abdomen and the form of [Apocalypse]. The lines then expanded rapidly, devouring everything the scythe touched.
「Absolute Zero (Ice Element, ★7)」
Chaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!─────────────!!
The Frostscythe’s unique active skill, [Absolute Zero].
It was a spell that indiscriminately cut and froze everything in its path, regardless of spatial limitations.
[Apocalypse] and the giant’s wall of flesh were frozen and split in half by the chilling beam that penetrated deep through them. Even the space where the Frostscythe had sliced was frozen solid.
Suddenly, vividly colored blood spurted from Kaya’s earlobe and enveloped her entire body.
The blood that had restored Kaya from the brink of death clumped into a single mass, taking the form of a small elephant.
It kicked off Kaya’s body and leaped against the wall to escape. I opened the status window to identify it.
[Elphelt the Evanescent]
Lv: 145 Race: Demon Elements: Darkness, Fire, Blood Danger: X Psychology: [Wants to live.]
Yeah, no.
「Ice Generation (Ice Element, ★1)」
I quickly conjured a massive iceberg in mid-air to sustain my leap. With a burst of speed, I dashed through the air like a bullet toward the fleeing Elphelt.
Kwaaang────!!!
The pressure built as I thrust off the iceberg, the sound echoing like a cannon blast.
The Frostscythe turned into pale blue dust. I had dismissed it intentionally. Instead, my hands were now filled with a dense mass of ice mana.
[Ppukeuh?!]
As I approached Elphelt the Evanescent floating in the air, I detonated the concentrated mana in my hands.
「Frost Explosion (Ice Element, ★5)」
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah─────────────!!!!
The ice exploded, engulfing Elphelt in a flood of frost. Weakened by defending Kaya for his own survival, his body was shredded to pieces by the force of the instantaneous explosion. He was trapped inside a massive iceberg that formed in a matter of seconds.
Kaya lost consciousness and began to fall. Hilde swooped down and caught her in her mouth. Hilde then turned to me, allowing me to land on her back.
Finally, Hilde flew to a fleshy leg and gently placed Kaya on the ground.
I descended from her back with a perfect landing.
Kuuuuuu────!
The giant ice chunk landed with overwhelming force. I gently extended my hand toward it.
Shalalalak──
The ice melted away. The massive iceberg instantly turned into light blue powder and disappeared.
[Ppukeuk…!]
Elphelt, who had been hemorrhaging blood, let out a pitiful cry before turning to ash and scattering in the wind.
[Congratulations! You’ve defeated the demon [Elphelt the Evanescent (Level 145)] and gained EXP!]
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 72!]
[You’ve gained 6 stat points!]
[You have unlocked the achievement ❰Dance on a Shell?❱! You have gained an additional 10 stat points!]
My body rapidly grew heavier as the [Hunter] trait deactivated.
I could savor the rewards later. The loot would be left with Kaya, so I could check it afterwards.
I quickly hoisted Kaya onto my back.
[Whew, we won. I am glad we fought together, Master──]
The mana cost of maintaining the summon was extremely high, so I immediately unsummoned Hilde.
‘Maast—’
She tried to speak in a confused voice before disappearing in a blur of light blue mana.
I’m sorry, Hilde. Blame your weak master.
With Kaya on my back, I began to run.
I urgently shouted at Lisetta, who had been staring at me in admiration until now.
“Lisetta! Run!”
“Huh? What?!”
Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu—
The earthquake began, and Lisetta startled.
Upon Elphelt's defeat, the giant’s body would slowly turn to ash, starting from its core. In its wake, the soil, seawater, and everything else that was originally there would begin to return to the area where the giant once stood.
Touching them would instantly trigger the bad ending: [Live Burial].
In other words, we had to run at full speed to the giant’s mouth. It was the final mission of 「Act 4, Chapter 3, The Underground Giant」.
From the center, eerie crimson mana began to surge. The mana transformed into masses of sand and earth.
The blood-colored mana gradually spread like a suffocating force.
‘Huh, shit!’
It’s actually scarier in person!
“Run! Run!”
I let out a yell that bordered on a scream and ran at full speed alongside Eden, who was carrying an unconscious Ian, and Lisetta.