Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Hunting the Mage (5)
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Ymir was a master of mental magic, even acknowledged within the Magic Tower itself.
His research on large-scale monster mind control and human mind control magic had sparked massive ethical controversies, but it was recognized by many mages for its superior academic merit and value. Building on those achievements, Ymir had ascended to the rank of Conjurer and received full backing to implement his plans.
As such, his pride in mental magic was immense. He could confidently claim that across the entire continent, only a handful of mages had reached his level.
Of course, human mind control magic was still in its infancy. It could shatter from even a minor shock, like bumping into a wall. But while stability was lacking, its effects were far from weak. He was absolutely certain that no human could be completely immune to it.
That conviction shattered once again without fail.
Ssslruk, gulp, whooo...
The afterimage for mind control faded away into nothingness yet again.
The barbarian ignored the magic entirely, steadily closing in as he butchered the bear owls. Growing desperate, Ymir unleashed every mental spell he had indiscriminately—not just mind control, but stun magic, confusion magic, sleep magic, fear magic...
None of them worked.
If delving into another person's mind felt like piercing meat with a knife, this one was like stabbing stone with a needle.
'What the hell... what did he do to his mind...?'
A empty vial rolling on the distant floor held the answer, but Ymir could never realize it. He could only stare vacantly at the barbarian roaring and spraying blood everywhere.
"Hraaaaaah!"
Craaack—crunch! Craaack-crunch!
- Guwok!
- Guwaaaargh!
Before long, the barbarian had torn apart every monster and reached him. There was no escape but death.
Whoosh—!
But just as he tried to flee, a dagger embedded itself at his feet, flames erupting to block his path. He tried to unleash his iron chains in attack, but the barbarian was faster.
Squiiiish!
Seeing the blade looming over his face in an instant, Ymir sucked in a sharp breath. To survive, he needed to quickly gather his wits.
"...Ahem, impressive. To think the Delutana Conference had nurtured talent to this extent. With warriors like you, wiping out the demons across the continent and even swallowing the Empire wouldn't be a dream."
"...?"
"That monstrous physical prowess and resistance to magic, the courage and loyalty to charge alone into enemy territory without hesitation... Truly flawless. As a mercenary, you'd rake in gold; in the arena, you'd claim a champion's glory. But... what were you promised as payment for this mission?"
"... ."
"Heh heh, looks like nothing special, then. Lower your blade, barbarian. We could be allies. The Magic Tower can offer far better treatment than what you're getting..."
"Gurk!"
Slaaash!
The sharp blade covered his mouth. His lips tore, teeth shattered, and tongue split. The mage's mouth, once spitting incantations and sweet talk, now vomited only hot blood.
Kadim pointed his blade impassively and spoke.
"I have no idea what nonsense you're spouting. From now on, answer only what I ask. Write with blood from your fingers."
"Eek, ugh, heh-hek... Eek, eeeeeek!!!"
"First, let me ask this. Why is a mage using 'demonic' methods? Sacrificing humans as offerings, using demonic energy instead of mana, shoving grudges into minds—it's all demon arts, not spirit magic."
Ymir had no strength to reply. The foul metallic taste of blood filling his mouth and the agony of torn flesh made his mind hazy. Tears and snot poured out, beastly groans leaking from his vocal cords nonstop.
"Heh-ek, gek, ehk, khek, ke-ek..."
If I answer every question honestly, can I live?
Ymir looked up at the barbarian mournfully. He saw eyes like an executioner gazing down at a condemned prisoner. No hope there. He'd probably only delay death until the questions ended.
So Ymir decided. Abandon this flesh and use his final resort against the barbarian.
He gripped the iron chains tightly. Squeezing his heart with all his might until it crumpled. The sluggish energy surging from his chest flowed entirely into the chains.
Chiririririr—!
"...!"
The chains writhed on their own, binding Ymir. Sensing foul play, Kadim struck them with Mosquito.
Clang—clang!
But the chains didn't break. Like a snake ensnaring prey, they relentlessly wrapped around Ymir's body and crushed it.
Crack, crunch, craaaack—
"Gaaaaaaaah!!!"
Limbs folded, neck twisted, and Ymir turned into a soggy lump of meat. Even after breath stopped, the chains' grip didn't weaken. Blood and fluids dripped below.
Ssslr...
Soon, the pooled blood on the stone slab turned black, vaporizing into a dark afterimage that flew off somewhere.
'Damn it, what the hell did this bastard...'
Kadim retrieved his axe and dagger, hurriedly chasing the afterimage. A bad feeling gnawed at him. No reason for that guy to kill himself without cause. He'd surely offered himself as sacrifice for some troublesome trick.
And Kadim's prediction was spot on.
――――Boom—bang!
The moment he turned the corner following the afterimage, a massive hand burst through the wall.
He barely dodged the grasping fingers and looked up. Beyond the hole in the wall stood a majestic divine form too vast for it.
Twisted eyes, blunt nose over brass-yellow skin, jagged fangs protruding unevenly. Limbs bulged with monstrous muscles like jagged rocks, and even beyond the protruding belly, iron-hard abs outlined clearly. The monster, strong enough to uproot a mountain, gleamed with pitch-black eyes.
The overwhelming brute of raw power: an ogre.
The voice resonated grotesquely through the ogre's vocal cords, echoing everywhere.
――――Rumble!
The ogre infused with the mage's mind charged, crumbling the wall.
*
Kadim gritted his teeth.
He'd felt it clearly when the afterimage possessed the body. Demonic energy laden with grudges, diluted and mixed with something. Whether by usage or source, it wasn't magic—Ymir wielded demon arts, closest to possession-type demon spells.
But Ymir hadn't contracted a demon. Otherwise, it'd be purer demonic energy, and the monsters would've turned fiends long ago.
In the end, the absurd conclusion: over 300 years, the principles of 'magic' had changed like that.
"... ."
Countless derivative questions arose. How did they dilute demonic energy? Why use it instead of mana? Why did the Elga Church tolerate it...?
But no time for contemplation. Answers would come after felling that ogre.
――――――――Boom-boom-boom!
A fist the size of a battering ram swept through the wall. Bricks shattered, dust and debris billowed thickly, leaving a deep gouge. The devastating arc ended at Kadim's position. Stone slabs exploded, floor caved in, heavy vibrations shaking the passage.
――――Boom—bang! Rumble...
He swiftly stepped back, avoiding a pulped fate. Kadim swung Mosquito in counterattack. But the blade rebounding off the fist felt like striking iron. The ogre flicked away the sword with a casual swipe and sneered.
Boom—crack!
- "...Grk!"
Kadim switched weapons, slamming down the throwing axe. This time, hide tore. The chilling blade plunged into flesh, severing the ogre's middle finger in one go.
But the wound healed instantly. A new finger even regrew from the stump.
'What? Ogres don't have regeneration.'
The ogre burst into sinister laughter at Kadim's furrowed brow, delighted.
"... ."
Kadim nearly snorted in disbelief himself. Kindly explaining it all—had its intelligence regressed to mere ogre levels?
But his lips soon hardened.
An ogre was tough enough with its immense strength and hide. Add troll regeneration, and it rivaled mid-tier demons or worse. To make matters worse, his 'Agility Boost' buff was nearly depleted, leaving only the now-useless 'Mental Attack Immunity'.
'Drink Hydra blood too? Damn, but three kinds in a day would surely worsen the frenzy badly...'
――――Thud-thud-thud!
As he pondered, a heavy kick flew in. The ogre's pillar-like foot pulverized the floor toward Kadim. He threw himself right, but couldn't evade all debris. Stone hail tore skin and bruised flesh.
Fwoosh, fwoosh—!
Kadim retreated swiftly, hurling four daggers in succession. Three bounced off harmlessly like fireflies, but one buried deep in the right forearm.
Crunch.
Yet the ogre ripped out the flesh with the dagger embedded. Hellfire scorched only a tiny chunk, failing to spread. Even the torn spot clotted and regrew swiftly.
"... ."
He gripped the axe and charged like lightning. Aiming low between legs, but the ogre anticipated, dropping its stance. It uprooted loosened slabs from impacts and flipped them entirely.
――――Boom-boom-boom-bang!
Ceiling and floor inverted. Stone waves surged like walls. Kadim shouldered through the flow, breaking free. But before recovering, the ogre's fist arrived.
This time, he couldn't dodge.
Thwack—thud, bang!
"Guhk!"
Crashing back-first into the wall, breath caught, something surged up from within. A vial in his pocket must've shattered, soaking his top. No time to check which. The ogre whirled its fist again, charging.
Boom—bang!
The fight continued unfavorably for Kadim thereafter.
The enemy was overwhelmingly strong. Inflicting wounds was hard enough; they healed instantly. With buffs gone, it was near naked combat. Counters dwindled; he barely evaded incoming blows.
"Huff, huff..."
Blood streamed down his forehead; muscles frayed. Ribs cracked, each breath stabbing pain. Kadim glared, grinding broken teeth. The hulking monster remained unscathed.
Still, one final move to fell it remained.
'If infused with troll factors... it can't regenerate vitals fully. Blow heart or head, done.'
He gripped the axe handle like suckers on palm joints. Held breath, aimed blade carefully. Power built from wrist to forearm to bicep. Fingers thrust full force; metallic wings bloomed sharply.
Whiiiirrr!
Craaack!
- "Guuk!"
But it missed.
The ogre twisted torso; axe only tore shoulder.
His sole reliable weapon gone. The ogre seemed to realize. It brushed hot shoulder and charged. Feeble resistance blocked easily. It snatched and tossed Kadim's sword, then smashed a heavy fist.
――――Bang!
"Guhk!"
Kadim slammed into the wall again. A triumphant smirk lit the ogre's face.
"... ."
Body ached like crumbling. Yet Kadim's mind was serene as a still lake.
Plan worked. Injuries severe but survived. Dragged time without demon blood. No night sky in the fortress, but heartbeat like war drums signaled the moment.
No last words from Kadim. Instead, a question.
"Do you... happen to know?"
- "...."
"Tonight's a moonless night."
- "...?"
"And midnight just passed."
The ogre couldn't comprehend. Kadim's words.
Nor the prayer that followed.
"[Master of all plagues who knows no defeat, Atala. Grant your axe to my hand, bless the great warrior thirsting for battle, quench his throat with enemies' red blood. On this night when eyes surveying the land hide away, by your unyielding name shining through unbreakable will, I sharpen this weapon.]"
⟨ Judgment of Atala ⟩
Hummm—
Blinding blue radiance spread. Waves of light flooded like a deluge, banishing darkness and cooling the devastated chaos. Overwhelmed by the unknown glow, the ogre stared blankly ahead, mind wiped like an idiot.
Incomprehensible, naturally. Divine miracles transcended even a lifetime mage's reason.
Kadim's second unique trait, The One Who Sharpens Names, activated.
A clear will, not voice, echoed inwardly.
Kadim didn't hesitate. The name and effect for that axe decided long ago.
"Salmon."
[... .]
"That axe's name is now 'Salmon'."
Hummmm—!
He knew without holding it. The weapon resonated, accepting the new name.
Churning glow surged like rapids toward the axe behind the ogre. Light compressed into lines etched the blade, emitting vivid blue glow visible here.
Kadim reached out.
Nothing in hand, yet he felt it clearly. Like salmon swimming upstream to birth, alive and pulsing, drawn back to origin.
"...Return, 'Salmon'."
As Kadim murmured, the axe rose midair, unfurling metallic wings again.
Whiiiirrr!
Its return path crossed the ogre's back. Blizzard-like wavy blade sliced thick hide mercilessly, plunging in...
――――Shraaaash!!
...shredding half the heart and lungs to ribbons, exploding flesh outward.
- "Guwaaaaaargh!!"
'Recall.'
Wherever, it returns to owner's hand on command—a special effect.
The axe settled in Kadim's grip. The critically wounded ogre spewed blood violently, knees buckling. Kadim smirked chillingly, slowly wiping bloodied blade on his sleeve.