Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Tongue and Teeth, and Jaw (3)
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As mentioned earlier, Kadim knew exactly how to deal with an enchantment-type demon.
'Just sever its lifeline without falling under the demon's spell.'
Kadim didn't consider his mental fortitude weak. But like madness, the allure of an enchantment-type demon was nearly irresistible to any human.
So he had prepared before even entering the forest.
By drinking every last drop of the remaining possession-type demon's blood.
Its effects had already been proven against the mage. As expected, the 'Mental Attack Immunity' buff blocked most of the enchantment's influence.
However, this was blood from a mid-rank demon, and his opponent was upper-rank, so perfect immunity was impossible. As exposure dragged on, even Kadim's mind began to blur and waver.
Still, he wouldn't fully succumb. The demon's scent registered as a vile stench to him. The moment its tongue brushed his lips, even that fleeting enchantment vanished, replaced by pure rage and disgust.
"Eh, eeeeh..."
Mesetis, her tongue severed, collapsed like a pitiful woman, sobbing. Tears glistened and trickled down like dewdrops. It was the kind of sight that would soften any man's heart and lower his guard.
Kadim knew it was nothing but a shallow disguise.
Shhwick—splat, clang!
He swung Mosquito at her throat, but Mesetis easily blocked it with one hand. Her pale, slender fingers were now covered in pitch-black chitin. Shock faded from the demon's eyes, replaced by seething resentment.
Her voice was no longer clear and ringing, but thick and muddled.
He tried to wrench his sword free, but her grip was unnaturally tight. Only after twisting the hilt and slamming a powerful kick into the demon's jaw could he pull it out. Mesetis slowly righted her broken neck and rose.
Chirrr, the chitin spread from her hand across her entire body. Her snow-white nudity was covered in unblinking armor. Then she hunched forward, and bulging protrusions erupted from her shoulder blades.
Krunch—!
The protrusions writhed, piercing her back skin and blooming wide. They sprayed blood and mucus, revealing vast wings.
Wings made not of feathers, but layer upon layer of human limbs.
A deep, echoing hatred. Mesetis spread her limb-wings, readying for attack.
Kadim scanned his surroundings. He sensed not only the demon's killing intent but also presences charging fiercely in sync with their master's rage. Fighting this upper-rank demon and its minions head-on would be tough.
So he focused his mind.
The tattoo on his chest glowed vivid red, layered buffs awakening his nerves. His vision tinted crimson, scarlet light flickering in his black pupils. Far more potent bloodlust than from low-rank demon blood surged through his bones and muscles.
The 'Hydra's Tattoo' unleashing its intense effects.
But as he'd heard before, its duration wouldn't be long. Speed was key—a swift victory.
Toward the wing-swinging demon, Kadim gripped his sword hilt and shot forward.
Creeeak—slash!
His single stroke pierced and rent the wings instantly.
Before overwhelming power, even thickly layered limbs were like paper. Bone shards and congealed blood spurted from the mangled muscle chunks.
The remaining limbs writhed to fill the gashes. But a second gale-force slash rendered the effort futile. Kadim soared past the split wings, closing in on the demon effortlessly.
Crunch—!
The blade pierced her wrist chitin. Mesetis reflexively swung her other hand in counterattack. Her nails raked his bronze skin, but the wounds were meaningless. Kadim smirked and cleaved her forearm lengthwise.
Chitin shards rained down, muscles splitting along the grain like rags. Meanwhile, Kadim's wounds healed as if stirring mud. The demon's eyes shook with shock once more.
No need to humor her prattle. He went for the other arm, but the demon didn't sit idle. She flapped back hastily, flailing her hand. Severed forearms shot up from beneath his feet.
Crunch, crunch, krunch—
Gripping ankles and calves like drowned ghosts. But far too feeble to halt a berserker's charge. Kadim shook them off easily and stomped hard. The ground quaked like an earthquake, cratering deeply.
——Boom—!
Blood gushed like lava from the cracks. The buried limbs were crushed into meat paste. Kadim kicked off again, closing the gap. Mesetis, aghast, hurriedly assumed a defensive stance.
"Hraaaah!!!"
Clang—ring! Crunch—!
Yet Mesetis's physical prowess was truly befitting an upper-rank demon. After losing one arm, she angled the blade away, thrusting wings into his sword path to deftly block every strike.
But that was her limit. The berserker's ferocious swordplay allowed no counter. Mesetis could only desperately defend as chitin cracked and wings tore. Just as she neared her breaking point, reinforcements arrived.
"Gaaargh, Lady Mesetis!!!"
"Grah, protect Lady Mesetis, graaaargh!!!"
Whoosh, whoosh—!
Incredibly, the minions were charging with hellfire clinging to their bodies.
An extreme desperate measure squeezed out to protect their master. Powerless against Kadim, it was a reasonable call.
But sadly, ineffective. The 'Hydra's Tattoo' granted a 'Regeneration' buff strong enough to heal even burns.
Whoosh—!
"Gaaaahhh!!"
Kadim shrugged off the hellfire indifferently, carving through the minions. Scattered embers, severed torsos, boiling blood. Their resolve to burn themselves protecting their master scattered as futile ash and smoke.
The problem was their numbers blocking his path.
Kadim gritted his teeth. The bloodlust was fading. He couldn't waste time on these grunts. He needed to leap the burning barricade and slit the demon's throat now...
Suddenly, the situation took a bizarre turn.
The soldiers and beasts halted abruptly, clearing the path.
Mesetis had shed her chitin, reverting to womanly form. She approached lightly and knelt before Kadim without warning.
"..."
An absurdly abrupt shift. Kadim scowled down at the demon. No longer filled with resentment—only eyes gleaming with hot longing and lust.
He tsked reflexively. Ah, damn it all. He could guess what happened.
'When I cut her tongue earlier, I swallowed some of her blood. And Mosquito absorbed more while slicing her arms.'
Enchantment-type demon blood granted a potent 'Enchantment' buff. He'd unwittingly enchanted her with her own blood. Seeing the demon ensnared by its own power was ironically amusing.
Not a pretty sight, but a perfect chance to end her. Kadim raised his sword hilt sternly.
"You wanted to kiss my feet?"
"Refused. I'd sooner give my foot skin to a gutter rat than a filthy demon spawn."
As despair like utter abandonment locked her eyes...
Shwick—slash!!
The keen blade severed the demon's neck.
Blood fountained in multiple streams. Her head rolled across the dirt, coming to rest against a tree root. Mesetis's lips worked pitifully, as if words remained. But with no vocal cords or tongue, not even a sigh escaped.
The demon who had forever coveted admiration and ascension died unnamed, unhorned, thoroughly scorned by the very object of her desire.
*
Deep in the earthen pit, Kadim felt a faint pull.
'...Come back, salmon.'
Thud!
Whoosh, whoosh, swoosh, thump—!
The buried throwing axe burst free. Kadim brushed the dirt from its head and haft. He'd need to be more careful to prevent this next time.
Dawn was breaking dimly through the forest. The thick demonic miasma lifted, the woods slowly regaining their true form. His muscles ached; he wanted rest. But first, unfinished business: clearing the monsters turned 'beasts' by the miasma.
Miasma affected monsters far more than humans. Humans might suffer lingering enchantment aftereffects, but it was nothing compared to the transformed beasts. Kadim left the demon corpse and set to purging the surroundings.
Then he stumbled on an unexpected sight.
"Hngh..."
A venom-drooling thorn beetle threatening, and before it, someone huddled with another on their back.
A familiar face. The woman from the village. She'd returned to the forest after all, to find her husband.
Prattle-prattle-slash, splat—!
Kadim slew the beetle and approached. Seeing him blood-soaked, the woman paled. Up close, the man on her back had lost an arm and was unconscious.
"...Is that your 'real' husband?"
"A-ahh, y-you..."
"No worries. No intent to kill your husband now. With the demon dead, he won't be a hindrance even if he snaps out of it."
Yet her anxiety lingered. Kadim sheathed his axe and jerked his chin.
"Follow me. Plenty of dangerous beasts left in the woods. I'll escort you to the village after I'm done."
She hadn't chosen false comfort or surrender. To reclaim her sole family, she'd braved this perilous forest again, overcoming fear and dread. That unyielding struggle against fate earned a warrior's respect.
"..."
She pressed her lips tight, staring into his black eyes. Her anxiety faded like dying embers. Sensing the barbarian's sincerity, she slowly nodded and rose.
Kadim hefted his axe and led the way. Clear the beasts, collect the demon blood, then return to the village with them. So he thought.
But the world rarely goes as planned.
Prattle-slash, shwick—!
With most beasts slain, he detected an unforeseen variable.
A commotion from afar. Kadim narrowed his eyes warily. He retrieved his axe and ordered the woman.
"Hide in these bushes and wait. Don't come out until I call."
Turning his back, he raced toward the clearing with the demon corpse. For some reason, numerous presences gathered there. Not quite beasts—human voices mixed in—and an odd dissonance ruled out ordinary folk...
Arriving, Kadim understood why.
Robed figures methodically inspecting the site, manhandling the demon corpse at will.
"Set down the crate! The rest, preserve the body quick! No, you—cool the neck stump first! Blood's still draining!"
"Yes, sir! Understood, Lord Gayardo!"
"[Eldra, Xanik, Clessia...]"
Magic Tower mages.
They bustled like hunters hauling their kill. Kadim intoned coldly, laced with fury.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The mages' gazes snapped to the blood-drenched barbarian.