Chapter 99
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: The Freak and the Curse (7)
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“Hmm...”
After casting the flame magic spell.
I slowly approached the spot where the monster's corpse lay.
Its body was charred black, and flames still flickered here and there, filling the air with the smell of roasting meat.
Then.
Psssh!
The tentacles, which hadn't so much as twitched until now, shot toward me.
About ten of them.
Even charred as they were, they weren't in normal condition.
But each one packed enough power to kill a person.
'Yeah, I figured as much.'
The mana emanating from the monster's body.
That was why I'd assumed it wasn't dead yet—and my hunch had been spot on.
No way was I getting caught off guard by a sneak attack.
Thud!
The moment the monster's tentacles reached me.
An invisible force dropped from above and crushed them flat.
It was the effect of my land-leveling spell.
'Sneaky bastard.'
After successfully blocking the monster's ambush.
I felt the mana inside it scatter in all directions.
Only then had it truly met its end.
Meaning the thing had been biding its time right up to its last breath, waiting for a chance to take me down.
Impressive tenacity.
Of course, I'd come out on top.
'Gilbert.'
With victory secured.
I directed Gilbert to search the monster's corpse.
He checked the spots where mana was emanating from.
And soon enough, he found a red gem shattered into several pieces amid the creature's flesh.
'Eremus's handiwork, just as I thought.'
The destroyed red gem had lost its value as a magic tool, but it was proof enough of Eremus's involvement.
Thanks to that, I could now be certain the plague tormenting the barbarians was the work of black mages.
'Wonder if things are wrapped up over there?'
Once I'd confirmed the black mages' interference, I started worrying about Stott.
I was just about to hurry back when.
Cedric burst out from the bushes.
“Lord Heros, are you all right?!”
Cedric led the way as a crowd of people came rushing over.
All of them members of the Oak Mercenary Corps.
“Yeah, it's already over.”
“Oh.”
I answered Cedric.
He let out a sigh and stopped in his tracks.
“So why'd you come here? What about Stott?”
The fact that Cedric and his group had come here meant that many fewer troops were left at Stott.
I pointed that out, and he replied.
“Things were wrapping up on our end too. So Sir Timothy sent us here.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Those barbarians... they're no joke. Smashing the freaks' heads with their axes—gave me chills.”
Was he picturing the battle?
Cedric shuddered.
Then I recalled what Pergal had said.
If a freak managed to injure a healthy barbarian, the curse would transfer to the wounded person as well.
“What happened to the injured?”
“We quarantined them. They say anyone turning into a freak will show changes within three days at the latest.”
“Hope not too many turn.”
I meant it.
There was no way to revert someone who'd turned into a freak right now.
“Let's head back to Stott for now.”
The burly trio and the mercenaries.
I said that to them, all staring at me.
And as I did, I thought about what I needed to do next.
'I've got a lot on my plate.'
First, recover my mana.
Only then could I prepare the materials for body sculpting magic.
Mana soil and bone armor, that is.
And...
'Gotta collect some blood too.'
The monster's blood.
The rotten blood infused with curse magic in its body would make excellent material for body sculpting.
Better than plain water.
That would take care of bones, flesh, and blood.
All that was left was the heart.
So if I went back to Stott like this and claimed Sir Timothy's red gems as my reward?
I'd have everything needed for body sculpting magic.
Meaning I could give my undead knights new bodies.
Once all six got their new flesh, there'd be no more need to hide them away.
'Can't wait.'
Gilbert and the other seven undead knights.
I pictured myself surrounded by their protection.
It felt solid.
Back in Stott, the villagers were gathering the freaks' corpses in one spot.
Aftermath cleanup was in full swing.
“John! You okay?”
Sir Timothy, overseeing the site, approached me.
He scanned me up and down, checking for any injuries.
“I'm fine.”
“Good! I can say without a doubt—you're the MVP of this battle. Truly grateful!”
“Wasn't it you who hired the Oak Mercenaries, Sir Timothy? My contributions are yours as well.”
Timothy and I praised each other.
Having won the fight, we were both grinning ear to ear.
With the mood softened like that, I brought up what I'd prepared to say.
“Oh, Sir Timothy. I'll handle disposing of the monster's corpse. It's infused with a curse—best not to leave it be, or trouble might brew.”
Truth be told, it was fine to leave it.
The curse magic in the corpse had cleanly vanished the moment the monster died.
But I kept that quiet to ensure no one approached it.
I deserved spoils like these, didn't I?
“Very well. The disposal's yours.”
Timothy nodded and accepted my proposal.
Only then did I relax.
“I'll take care of it cleanly.”
With that, I wrapped up our talk.
He looked busy; no point holding him longer.
Honestly, I wanted to ask for my reward right then.
But the timing was off.
Cleanup was underway—demanding gems now would tank his goodwill in a heartbeat.
Better to wait patiently.
“Let's help the villagers too.”
I said that to my group.
Couldn't just stand around with Timothy watching.
Until we left Stott, we had to mind his gaze.
Thankfully, Timothy was thorough.
Three days of cleanup, and once things settled, he called me over and paid up right away.
“Here. Check it.”
“No need. A knight like you wouldn't cheat.”
The leather pouch Timothy handed me.
I took it while flattering him.
Didn't even need to look inside to know what was there.
I could feel the mana.
Yep, red gems, all right.
And a dozen of them.
Exactly matching what I'd counted before.
“Staying longer in Stott?”
“Planning to leave tomorrow.”
“I'll prepare travel supplies then. Come see me before you go.”
“No need. I know the village is in rough shape—wouldn't dream of asking.”
I turned down his offer.
But he was firm.
“If I send off the hero who saved us empty-handed, folks'll laugh at me. Just take it.”
“All right then. Thank you.”
With supplies promised, I left the manor.
Then headed to the monster's corpse.
Six undead knights encircled it, standing guard.
But they all looked rough.
Still battered to hell.
Without body sculpting magic, no way to fix their damaged bodies, so I'd left them like that.
'That's why I waited for Timothy's reward.'
First, I checked my mana.
Total available: 647.
Body sculpting magic six times would take 480.
Plenty for reinforcing the six knights before me.
No more waiting.
“Sir Bear, Sir Connel—keep watch around us.”
I told them that.
Then had Gilbert fetch the materials.
'Gilbert, bring the wooden tub here.'
Gilbert obeyed my order.
He quickly brought the tub.
Inside: the monster's blood.
One of the materials for body sculpting.
'Mana soil looks good.'
After checking the tub, I eyed the nearby pile of dirt.
Mana soil I'd gathered over three days.
'Bone armor's ready too.'
I looked around again.
This time at the undead knights.
The pristine bone armor protecting their torsos.
It contrasted sharply with their wrecked bodies.
'Just the heart left, then.'
Body sculpting needed four materials.
Bone, flesh, blood, heart.
I'd finally gathered them all.
Bone: bone armor from the monster's bones.
Flesh: mana soil.
Blood: monster's blood.
Heart? The red gems, obviously.
Plop.
I opened the pouch from Timothy and set it on the ground.
The thumb-sized red gems inside began glowing mysteriously in the moonlight.
I admired them for a moment before snapping to.
Then cast body sculpting magic right away.
Target: the undead knight on the far left.
'Here we go!'
The instant mana drained from my body.
I maxed out my focus.
A red gem floated up at my will.
It slowly drifted to the knight's chest.
'Smooth sailing.'
The gem reached its destination.
Its mana enveloped the knight's body.
The gem emitted a faint red glow.
Sign it had bonded well with the familiar's body.
Shh...
Soon, the light faded.
Confirming that, I moved to the next step.
'Bone now.'
The bone armor on the undead knight.
The moment I decided to use it as material, the sturdy armor crumbled to dust.
I carefully guided the powder to the knight's body, where it absorbed right in.
His flesh regenerated at the same time.
Specifically, broken or shattered bones mended.
But skin wounds remained, so he still looked battered.
'That's where flesh comes in.'
The mountain of mana soil.
I tore off a chunk and slapped it onto the knight's upper body, then spread it out.
He soon resembled a clay doll.
Shh...
Once his whole body was coated in clay.
The dull brown surface brightened, turning into human-like skin.
It fully integrated as skin.
No scars left on the knight's body now.
A flawless new body.
'Stay focused to the end.'
The monster's blood in the tub.
I lifted a portion with my will.
The blood surged into the air.
Splash!
Fetid black blood.
I sent it to the undead knight.
Splatter!
The blood soaked the knight's body.
It wrapped around him in an instant, then seeped into his skin.
After a bit, veins bulged on his flesh.
Color returned to his pale skin.
'Body sculpting magic: perfect success.'
I gazed at the knight.
No different from when he'd been alive.
Appearance unchanged.
The magic had worked.
'Just five more to go.'
I sighed at the remaining knights.
This was going to be a long night.