Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Forest of No Return (7)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When he opened his eyes, familiar darkness greeted him.
He couldn't breathe. Earth saturated with foul demonic energy poured into every orifice on his face. His limbs wouldn't budge either. His entire body was bound by restraint magic strong enough to hold even a golem, and on top of that, iron chains reinforced with strengthening spells were wrapped tightly around him.
Anyone else trapped like this would have plunged into sheer panic.
But for Kadim, it was nothing new. He actually felt a strange sense of relief. At least today, I didn't break free of these restraints.
...
That didn't mean he could stay like this forever. Kadim extended his fingers and applied force.
Rumble rumble...
A tremor spread from his fingertips. The power grew steadily. Before long, it shook the surrounding earth violently. Even the intangible magic couldn't withstand the aftershocks and began to crack.
He clenched his fist, and something shattered.
Crack, shatter!!
The thick membrane gripping his skin vanished. The restraint magic had been dispelled in a single instant. It was a sight that would make any mage who had painstakingly prepared the spell over a long time lament in despair.
Next, Kadim lightly snapped his fingers. The power concentrated in his middle finger exploded with a deafening noise.
―――――― Boom!
Earth erupted, boring a small hole. Stale exhalation escaped the stuffy seal, and outside air seeped in.
He could snap the chains easily by flexing his forearms, but Kadim decided against it. He'd already broken three chains, leaving no spares. Besides, rescue was on the way anyway, so there was no need.
...
'...sir. ..........'
"...dim sir, Kadim sir! Are you okay? I'm so sorry, it must have been awful. Just a little longer, please hold on! I'll get you out..."
Voices filtered through faintly. Light appeared at the edge of his vision. Kadim narrowed his eyes and looked toward the surface. The shrine maiden, rags bound over her eyes, was clawing desperately at the dirt pile, oblivious to her broken, blood-smeared nails.
"Step aside, Cyril sis. I'll handle it from here..."
The hollow-cheeked mage stepped forward. As she chanted and swung her staff, Kadim's body emerged from the earth mound. The tightly bound chains loosened and clattered to the ground.
Kadim gathered the debris in his mouth and spat it out. A hefty clump of pale dirt came with it. Only after shaking out his ears did he muster the wits to speak.
"Thanks, Melissa."
"Phew, what're you thanking me for now..."
"What happened to that demon from yesterday?"
"...What's there to say? You tore it to shreds and turned it into mincemeat."
"Good. Nothing else happen?"
"..."
The mage dropped her gaze to her feet. The shrine maiden fidgeted her fingers anxiously. He could already guess what had gone down.
"...Sorry. I don't want to hurt you all, but controlling the berserk state is getting harder by the day."
The shrine maiden gasped and waved her hands frantically.
"Ah, no, Kadim sir! Don't say that! Just yesterday, without you, someone in our group would've been seriously hurt. Thanks to you..."
"..."
"...I'll find a solution to the side effects from the demon blood, so please don't worry and keep traveling with us..."
She went on at length about how indispensable Kadim was, ending up trying to reassure him instead. Even sightless, her tear glands didn't quit—the rag over her eyes soaked through in moments.
Kadim gave a wry smile. She was always like this. Her intentions touched him and earned his gratitude, but the berserk state wasn't something with a fix. She had to know that.
Still, she wasn't one to back down just because he said so. Kadim silently shifted his gaze from the shrine maiden. He turned to the mage, who stared blankly at the horizon, and asked after the others.
"Where'd Gordon go?"
"East again today. The sun's Elga's eye surveying the world, so morning prayers have to be offered right before it, or some such... Pointless nonsense when it's perpetually overcast here and you can't even see the sun."
"I see. And Gale?"
"Gale? Why ask? Our hero naturally went off to resurrect the dead demons."
A chilling sense of wrongness seeped into his spine.
Kadim's eyes widened.
The mage's mouth tore to her ears in a grotesque grin. Her skin prickled with goosebumps, then swiftly covered in olive scales. Now sporting a massive serpent's head, the mage flicked her forked tongue and hissed.
-Why...? Can't believe it? Hiss, but... it's the truth. Even if you don't believe me now... you'll learn eventually...
Kadim raised his axe. But what he'd taken for an axe was his own severed forearm. The pale ground at his feet turned into inky mire. Countless snakes coiled around his ankles, trapping him inescapably.
His body sank gradually into the quagmire. Revolting sludge clogged his throat. Deep, thick emptiness devoured his senses.
Kadim jolted awake with a sharp intake of breath.
It was evening, sunset glowing. Forest shadows blanketing his view.
Kadim pressed his forehead, pinching his temples between thumb and ring finger.
"..."
Childish. He wasn't some five-year-old, waking startled from a nightmare. He'd thought his mind was better off than in his first playthrough, but apparently not.
A faint presence lingered five or six paces away. When he stared blankly, the figure tumbled backward in panic.
Duncan peeked cautiously from behind a tree.
"A-are you feeling better, milord? Any lingering discomfort...?"
Kadim glanced at his left arm.
No serpentine shape remained. No ringing tinnitus echoed, and his vision held normal colors. No signs of berserk anywhere.
Yet he couldn't relax.
The scariest part of berserk was how hard it was to notice when you were losing it. He'd once swung his axe wildly at comrades while convinced he was sane.
Still, it wasn't that severe yet. It had come faster than expected, but inevitable after overusing 'greater demon' blood. Kadim gathered his wits and waved his hand dismissively.
"I'm fine now. Sorry for the unseemly display."
"..."
"Think of it as a chronic condition. It doesn't last long, so no worries."
"..."
"Just... if I show similar symptoms again, stay far away. No exceptions."
Duncan nodded hesitantly and emerged from behind the tree. Unsettling as it was, he had no choice. Surviving alone here was impossible.
Kadim spoke in a dry tone.
"That aside, merchant. I owe you my life this time."
"...Pardon?"
"Thanks. Without you, I'd have drowned in that swamp for sure."
"...!"
Duncan's eyes bulged like a rabbit's as he doubted his ears.
Kadim meant it.
He didn't fear death. But dying without achieving his goal? Unacceptable. Especially after hearing that from the demon. He'd nearly drowned without unraveling the mystery—gratitude to the merchant was only natural.
"Thanks again." Kadim repeated. Duncan's mouth gaped in a dopey grin. He scratched his head sheepishly.
"N-no, milord, I... heh... just did what anyone would. You've saved my life countless times. Heh heh..."
He might not have faced mortal peril without being kidnapped as a guide in the first place, but Duncan wasn't thinking that far.
Overwhelming power bred intense admiration. Those subjugated by its authority often accepted violations as inevitable, fixating on favors instead—like a hostage defending their captor.
Duncan was no different. He feared this barbarian utterly, yet revered him just as much. Over the past month, his desire for recognition had grown as fiercely as his survival instinct.
Unfortunately, the barbarian was stingy with praise. Even after all the hardship in Molden, Duncan got treated like yesterday's leftovers. But now, outright acknowledgment of his worth and thanks? An indescribable sense of accomplishment and joy welled up.
Kadim paid no mind to such inner workings. He'd just pegged him as a fool and figured some reward was due.
"Merchant, didn't I say I'd spare your life as payment for guiding me before?"
"Y-yes, milord!"
"You've proven your value, so I'll add one more reward on top."
"...?"
"Name one person—anyone you want dead. An insolent fool who mocked you, a hated enemy, a rival cramping your trade. Whoever. Just say the word, and I'll handle it anytime."
The unimaginable reward left Duncan dumbfounded. He worked his lips stutteringly before managing words.
"Th-that... I appreciate the offer, milord, but... couldn't it just be plain old money...?"
"That works too. Whatever we gather on the journey."
"Th-then, just convert whatever we collect to cash..."
Killing was simpler, but if that's what he wanted. Kadim nodded quietly. Duncan wiped cold sweat and sighed inwardly in relief.
"Oh, right! Wait a moment, milord. Got something for you."
Duncan stepped away briefly. Kadim took the chance to lean against a tree trunk.
Sitting idle invited rumination. He couldn't help replaying his conversation with the demon.
'One of my old comrades is resurrecting the dead demons and unleashing them...'
Unbelievable. But true, no doubt. Before dying, Hidra had sincerely mocked that ironic twist of fate.
It made no sense. The hero party had endured hellish trials to exterminate demons. Who would undo all that suffering, and why? He couldn't even guess.
Melissa? The mage loathed demons. Gordon? Elga's priest would have to be mad. Cyril? The shrine maiden blinded by demons? No way.
...Gale?
"..."
The dream words resurfaced, leaving a nagging unease.
But Gale was the least likely. He was the one who'd received the oracle to slay the archdemon. The noble hero always striving to save people with pure goodwill.
...Yet three centuries had passed in between.
Even a decade could flip a person's values. Thirty times that? Staying the same would be weirder. In the end, his outdated memories led nowhere—a deflating dead end.
"...Hoo."
Back to square one.
No leads on his comrades anyway. Goal remained the Magic Tower to check Melissa's records. That was the only path now. He could only hope they held the answers.
Finishing his mental整理, Kadim checked his gear. Mosquito and the dwarven axe—both safe at his side. His clothes were rags, though; he'd need new ones.
As he rose and belted his weapons, Duncan returned, huffing and dragging a sack.
Inside: olive scales and full leather waterskins.
"The demon's head floated up in the muck, so I figured maybe useful—peeled the scales and drained the blood. Your wounds regenerated fast thanks to this demon blood, I think..."
"..."
Kadim shot him a strange look whose intent Duncan couldn't fathom. His guts twisted in dread. Had he overstepped? He cut in preemptively.
"If it's useless, just say! I'll dump it right—"
Kadim shook his head. No way he'd waste potent demon blood just because of berserk. The merchant's savvy move deserved reward.
"Merchant, what was your name again?"
"Y-yes, milord! Duncan. Duncan Wheeled!"
"Right, Duncan. I swear here and now by Atala's name."
"..."
"When this journey ends, you'll receive riches so vast, a lifetime won't spend them all."
Duncan's eyes nearly popped out.
Not an Atalan himself, but he knew: oaths sworn by their god's name weren't lightly made. With Kadim's might, making a fortune anywhere would be trivial.
From hostage with life as collateral to guide promised a golden future—in one leap. Duncan couldn't hide his beaming grin.
"Th-thank you, milord! Truly! Uh... could you specify the exact value in coin? I'm a merchant at heart, so firm numbers motivate me more..."
Kadim's brows furrowed slightly. He'd forgotten 300 years of inflation and devaluation, blurting it out carelessly.
"...10,000 ludent?"
"..."
Enough for three ponies.