Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Monster at Euroa Temple
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Before we knew it, Kalun and I had entered the wooded area. Suddenly, Kalun spoke up.
"So, White Mask, how old are you anyway?"
"Why?"
"You look kinda young."
"Not really. Around thirty."
I gave my honest age. My physical age was twenty, but the years I'd lived added up to thirty.
"Younger-looking than I thought."
"I get that a lot. Always been baby-faced, and reaching Master level made my skin even smoother."
"But your mental age must be pretty weathered. Hitting Master at just thirty? Probably not many precedents in history."
"Nah, there are plenty. Grand Duke Cloud, and if you convert to human years, Gromog or Ilfain Cydes too."
Kalun waved his hand dismissively.
"Those are exceptions. Not really human-class."
"Huh. Well... Ah! There's Baldy Grandpa too. Fabius of the Single Eye. You know him?"
Fabius of the Single Eye was a top-tier Master swordsman from the Robros Kingdom's knights, now holding a marquis title. But man, that old guy's personality was weird. He bragged endlessly about the eye he lost in battle, but had a massive complex about his bald head after years on the front lines.
"Oh, right. Him too."
"And Uncle Jenbe."
"Yeah, Jenbe of the Holy Oil was like that."
"And the Black Hero Wayne, who died recently?"
Wayne was a Master-level holy knight from the Flame Church. Known for his iron will and rigid sense of justice, he earned huge respect from the masses by slaughtering mercenary bands and villains he encountered on his pilgrimages.
Me? I had a bit of bad blood with the guy.
Second year of imperial noble academy's intermediate course? I sent him a letter suggesting we conquer the world together, and he straight-up ghosted me.
Kalun gazed at the distant mountains.
"Wayne... Yeah, him too."
"See? Plenty."
We emerged from the dense foliage path into view of Kara Lake. We turned toward the bridge leading to the island with the Euroa Temple.
As I crossed the bridge, I peered into the lake. Beneath the clear surface lay a colorful gravel bed mixed with sand, and schools of vibrant fish swimming lazily through it.
Definitely bringing a net next time. Palm-sized fish like that would make a killer stew.
'As expected of the Water Church's premier holy site. Pretty impressive scale.'
Stepping onto the island, the temple revealed its grandeur. The buildings weren't tall, but the sprawling grounds rivaled any I'd seen.
We pushed through the crowded plaza past statues spouting water. Called the Water Baptism Fountain, pilgrims and faithful received baptisms here to wash away the world's sins.
I scanned around with a lecherous glint, and Kalun shot me a puzzled look.
"What?"
"Hoping to spot a curvy babe getting baptized."
"Baptisms only happen at dawn, when the lake's purest."
"Tch. Why not anytime? What's with the timing..."
Kalun narrowed his eyes.
"Watch yourself. You seem doomed by women."
I snorted.
"If I go down, let it be surrounded by beauties. No regrets. Heh heh."
Soon we reached the massive statue at the plaza's center. It depicted Saint Euroa, weathered from eons facing the fountain's spray.
Still, it drew decent temple revenue. Coins littered the fountain base, and a long line of wish-makers queued before it.
Kalun bid me farewell before the Euroa statue.
"White Mask. Let's split here."
"Got somewhere to be?"
"Urgent appointment. Already a bit late."
I made an awkward face. Couldn't hold him back from an appointment.
"Well, I've got stuff to do anyway."
"Like what?"
"Hitting on local hotties. Perfect timing today."
"Lucky bastard. Have fun. I'm off."
Kalun gave a wry smile and left. Alone now, I scanned the crowd like a hawk eyeing prey. But no luck. Cute face, flat chest; slim figure, meh face.
'Am I too picky?'
Mist from the fountain caught the noon sun in rainbows, scattering around. The fountain swallowed pilgrims' coins even now. The Euroa statue gazed benevolently on those praying for wishes.
I perched on the fountain railing, eyeing the lost coins at the bottom. Always tempted at times like this. Not much money, but the urge to dip a hand secretly welled up.
Glancing at the pilgrims, I smacked my lips, then clutched my rumbling stomach.
Hunger hit. My navel clock signaling high noon. Time to eat.
I shelved the girl-hunting and headed to the food stalls clustered under the plaza's outer trees.
'Huh?'
At the food stall street, I spotted a huge figure and grinned. Unexpectedly, Uncle Jenbe was vending here.
"Yo, Uncle Jenbe! Fancy meeting you here."
Jenbe twitched his nose at my approach. Unlike me, he wasn't thrilled.
"Human. What brings you to this temple?"
"Festival fun. You?"
"Busiest during festival season."
"Makes sense."
I sat on the long bench before his stall and glanced around. Come to think of it, the stalker orc mercs were missing.
"Where'd those nuisance stalkers go? Do they take holidays?"
"Gone. Probably merc-ing somewhere in Kara by now."
At Jenbe's nonchalant reply, I narrowed my eyes.
"No way."
"Really gone."
"Weird. They're not the quit-easy type... How'd you chase 'em off?"
Jenbe paused long before answering plainly.
"Beat 'em. Orcs obey when shown superior strength."
"All of them? That horde?"
"Just smacked the leaders. The rest fall in line."
"They'll keep coming though. Word's spreading across the Great Desert."
"Beat and send back every batch."
"Ah~."
Jenbe scowled, done answering.
"Enough chit-chat. What do you want today?"
I plopped on the bench.
"Eat, obviously. Serve me up."
Jenbe grumbled at me.
"Food's fine, but you know?"
"What?"
"Never paid once at our stall."
Now that he mentioned it, no memory of paying. First time, rushed off to exterminate freakers; next, skipped since he paid me 300 gold leaves as wages.
"Oh, really?"
"Paying today, right?"
"Relax, just serve. Same as last time."
"Got it. Wait."
Soon Jenbe slapped ground meat on the grill and cooked. As patties sizzled, he eyed me scanning slyly.
"What? Waiting for someone?"
"Yeah."
"Who?"
"A beautiful fateful encounter."
Jenbe snorted.
"Still living frivolously."
"Nah, living fully. Man's worthless if not girl-crazy. That's when the coffin lid slams shut."
"Still silver-tongued."
Then a long palanquin procession entered the Euroa Temple. Twelve bearers carried it, veiled in white silk.
I noted the hundred armed guards flanking it. Kara soldiers. Looked like the palanquin held someone high-ranking in Kara.
"Who's that?"
"Probably Kara's emir. Parading to deliver festival greetings to the citizens."
Kara's emir was Hesa Sharif Kara. Called the Pearl of the Great Desert, she became emir at age six after plagues killed her predecessors 22 and 14 years ago.
"Heard she's a beauty..."
"Don't bother. Highborn ladies' reps get inflated."
"True. That's the issue."
"Whatever. Eat... Huh?"
Jenbe halted mid-handover of bread, looking skyward. A massive shadow had just streaked overhead.
Our gazes followed the shadow.
A huge flying creature dove from the sky, crashing a small tent shrine in the plaza, snatching a young priest before it, then soaring back up.
"What the?"
The beast twisted the young priest's head 180 degrees with its long sharp beak and tossed him casually.
"Oh, he's dead."
The dazed festival-goers screamed and scattered as the priest's body plummeted.
Shouts erupted from the emir's procession.
"Monster attack! Form defensive lines!"
Guards drew bows, aiming at the flying monster.
Jenbe rummaged his stall for his holy sword Titanian.
I bit into the bread and chided him casually.
"Uncle, what're you doing?"
"You blind? Monster!"
I stared at the circling giant flying monster.
Nearly 7m wingspan like a bat, body under 3m with the long beak. Bulging nasal ridge above beak, vicious 20cm talons on sturdy legs.
Level 50s Velbock. High-risk monster, but nothing special. Flyers seem tough 'cause they fly, but structurally weak.
"Tell your guys to handle it. No pay for us. Even idiots don't sword a bird."
"But..."
"Run like everyone else then. Hilarious sight that'd be."
Embarrassed, Jenbe watched the circling Velbock. Too proud and honorable to flee from one monster.
I observed too. Kara soldiers loosed arrows at it; holy knights and templars poured from the temple at the news.
I snickered at the hundreds fumbling one monster.
"Duh~ Idiots shooting arrows. Like that'll work easy."
"Then what?"
"Mana shell launcher."
Mana shell launchers fired 1-cycle mana shells. Old concept, rarely used outside rich hunter nobles. Poor efficiency.
Example: Lowest-grade launcher with 60m lock-on and tracking magic fired three shells every three days. That cost could fund scholarships for 2-3 1-cycle mages. Plus, useless against mana-resistant swordmasters or mages.
Jenbe gave me a dumbfounded look.
"1-cycle shell take down that big guy?"
"Lightning type up close. Stuns on hit."
"Sure."
I slammed my relaxed palm down flat.
"Fast flyer? Stunned, it crashes at speed. Combat ineffective minimum."
"Ah, clever."
Early apocalypse, flyers terrorized humanity. Bypassed fortresses and mountains.
Many died until launchers spread. Lightning shells did the trick.
Issue was pricey essence, but apocalypse meant chaos pieces and essences everywhere.
Jenbe urgently drew Titanian.
"Human!"
"What?"
"Look at that!"