Chapter 138
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Swamp of Oblivion (7)
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"Ms. Ha Yu-ri, if heading right last time produced no results, I believe we should try the left path."
"Ah... That's true, but..."
Ha Yu-ri looked lost in thought.
It seemed like she might still choose the right path at this rate, so I approached her and spoke up.
"Ms. Ha Yu-ri, could you and I step aside for a private word?"
"..."
Ha Yu-ri glanced briefly at Priest Comer before giving a small nod.
"... So, what's this about?"
"Go left instead of right."
Ha Yu-ri stared intently at my face and asked a question.
From her perspective, this suggestion must have come out of nowhere.
"... Is there a reason?"
"Yeah, there is. But before I explain, I have a question first."
"... Go ahead."
"During the last expedition, Priest Comer suggested the right path just like now, right?"
"... Yes."
"What happened when you went there?"
"Well... People started losing their senses at an alarming rate, making it impossible to proceed. Especially since it was our first time entering the Swamp of Oblivion, no one knew about losing senses."
Now we had prior knowledge of losing senses, so we could at least prepare countermeasures. But facing it for the first time would have thrown the whole group into panic.
"So, no strong monsters appeared or anything? Just that entering the right path caused a rapid increase in people losing their senses?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Then the group must have panicked en masse. You didn't have any info about losing senses back then."
"Right. That was the main reason we failed."
"In that case, couldn't that Priest Comer guy have been deliberately sabotaging you? Why trust him?"
This was the biggest red flag.
Of course, I knew his true nature thanks to my Unique Trait, but even a normal person would suspect him after following his advice and failing.
"Ah... I've thought about that too, but Priest Comer helped us a lot. He healed the injured and let us stay in the village..."
'He managed his image in the village to avoid suspicion.'
"So, because he helped you out a bunch?"
"Yes. He never actually harmed us. No strong monsters on the right path either..."
'Damn, I guess I have to spell it out.'
This wasn't some ordinary dungeon; it was a massive uncharted zone. We couldn't afford to drag things out.
"... Listen carefully. Priest Comer isn't the original Priest Comer."
"What? What do you..."
"I don't know exactly what the monster called White Devourer is, but that priest has already been taken over by it."
"... What? Hold on. Even if that's true, how do you know?"
"... My Unique Trait lets me see others' Status Windows."
Well, technically there was more to it, but I didn't bother explaining everything.
"A Status Window viewing ability...?"
Ha Yu-ri looked stunned.
Who could imagine such a thing? A power to view others' Status Windows.
My ability didn't show any signs until I revealed it myself.
"Yeah. So don't follow what that priest says—do the opposite."
Ha Yu-ri still wore a face full of disbelief.
She couldn't easily accept my ability.
"Sigh... Your Mana stat is 95, right? It was 94 back at the Training Facility—must've gone up recently."
"R-Really...? Then... No, that explains..."
Ha Yu-ri finally reacted as if everything clicked into place.
From her view, she'd wondered how I'd accomplished what I did with my seemingly pathetic power.
"Now... now it makes sense. Everything you've done, why I was so helpless against you..."
"No, you were helpless because you're an idiot..."
"What?"
... I stopped when Ha Yu-ri glared at me.
"Anyway, so why's that priest pushing the right path?"
"He... said we need to go right to purify the Swamp of Oblivion."
"Hah, that monster's talking shit. Whatever... don't trust him. Do the opposite. Got it?"
"... Got it."
After my private talk with Ha Yu-ri, I returned to my spot, and she made her decision.
"The expedition will head left."
Everyone nodded in agreement—except, as expected, one person objected.
"Why? The oracle from the gods says we must go right."
'Bullshit.'
"To purify the Swamp of Oblivion, you must go right. Please, take the right path."
"I'm sorry, Priest Comer. This isn't my decision alone, and the expedition has chosen left."
"... You must go right."
'What the...'
"Priest Comer, please understand..."
"You must go right."
'What the hell is with this guy?'
His relentless repetition of "go right" felt instinctively creepy, like some primal warning.
Not just me and Ha Yu-ri—others noticed too and stared at Priest Comer.
"... What?"
"... Something's off."
Whispers spread. It was obvious; his fanatical insistence on the right path screamed wrong.
Some even murmured that maybe he was right about going right.
"... No. We're going left. Everyone, prepare."
Priest Comer said nothing more. He just stared at us with a blank expression.
"Ms. Ha Yu-ri, the vanguard has encountered new monsters unlike the previous shapes."
"What kind?"
"They're similar in appearance but much larger—like orcs in size. Completely white on the surface, with only a mouth on their faces."
"How's the fight going?"
"They need support. Plum Blossom Clan and the other frontline clans are holding, but the monsters' physical resistance is too high..."
Ha Yu-ri nodded.
If physical resistance was the issue, it was time for Magic Bullet Clan's forces to step up.
As Magic Bullet Clan and our group reached the front, the battle unfolded before us.
"Damn it! Mages, where are the mages?!"
"This bastard's not taking the blade well! And its strength is insane—watch out, everyone!"
'Melee attacks aren't landing properly.'
I could see why they were struggling. Checking the monster's info visually, their skin was tough and leathery—defense on another level from the shapes.
"... Target the ankles. The skin there isn't as tough."
Everyone looked confused at my words.
Seo Yu-ju's eyes went wide.
As Magic Bullet Clan's spells rained down on some monsters, the fighters tentatively aimed for the ankles.
Slash—
Thud!
Monsters toppled, ankles severed and off-balance.
"... It works! The blades are cutting! Hit the ankles, everyone!"
Once they knew the weak point, the fight turned easy.
The monsters' specs were decent, so some casualties were inevitable in battle.
But Ha Yu-ri's spells stole the show.
"Freeze."
Kwaaang!
The top ice mage in Eras.
True to her reputation, the monsters' lower bodies froze solid in an instant.
"Pierce them, spears."
With movement sealed, the massacre began.
Their tough skin meant nothing against Ha Yu-ri's magic.
Crack—
Countless ice spears impaled the immobilized monsters' heads.
'... Impressive. No wonder they say mages are kings of mass slaughter.'
In one-on-one duels or against hero/legendary monsters, types like Yun Yeon, Seo Yu-ju, or Yanagiya Riki had the edge.
But in wars or large-scale battles, swordsmen, spearmen, or martial artists couldn't match a mage's efficiency.
Even these high-spec monsters fell like wheat.
'I get why Rayhakter—no, Baronia—doesn't want to lose Ha Yu-ri.'
She was a strategic weapon. Not a nuke on Earth terms, but at least tank or missile class.
'And a woman like that is in my grasp.'
A smile crept onto my face.
"... Hey, why are you grinning like a creep at that woman?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you smiling like that?"
Kang I-seo must have seen me grinning at Ha Yu-ri's magic and gotten the wrong idea.
"No, just happy the fight's wrapping up."
"... Bullshit. You were leering at Ha Yu-ri like a total perv. You a freak?"
"Hey, why the hell? Can't I smile how I want?"
"Goddamn, all you guys with dicks can't control yourselves around a pretty face."
"Jeez... What're you on about?"
Seemed like ever since that night alone with Seo Yu-ju at the palace, Kang I-seo had it out for me.
She shot Ha Yu-ri a dirty look before turning to me.
"Hey, I can hear you, bitch. Word is you've been hanging with her a lot lately?"
"... Where'd you hear that?"
"... Overheard some, saw some myself. Anyway, stay away from her."
"... Why?"
Kang I-seo looked incredulous as she replied.
"Why? You seriously asking? You forgot how that bitch acted at the Training Facility?"
"Eh... Water under the bridge, and I'm over it now."
"Ha... Sigh... Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You... sleep with her or what?"
"... What?"
'What the fuck is this chick saying?'
I thought I'd misheard.
"Crazy, what the hell? Eat rat poison?"
"Seo Yu-ju said you went to Ha Yu-ri's tent late at night."
I squeezed my eyes shut at Kang I-seo's words.
'Seo Yu-ju...! What the hell are you telling people?!'
"You shit, be straight. Did you fuck her?"
"What crazy talk, you psycho bitch."
"You lying sack of shit? You've been glued to Ha Yu-ri lately. Spill before I put an arrow in your skull."
"Hey, no. Why would I with Ha Yu-ri?"
"... For real?"
"... What do you take me for?"
"......"
"And straight up, even if I did or didn't, what business is it of yours?"
"... What?"
"No, I mean..."
Smack!
Kang I-seo suddenly kicked my shin.
"Argh!"
"You fucking asshole...!"
'Ow, fuck...!'
... Clutching my shin, I couldn't figure out why I'd gotten hit.