Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The City That Lost the Sun (2)
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-Thud!
After exchanging glances at the report of a monster appearing, I scooped Ariana up in a princess carry and leaped out the window.
Thanks to my Holy Power having grown far beyond its previous level, I was able to land safely without her help.
Ariana's eyes widened in surprise, but with the situation so urgent, she chose to discuss the sudden event rather than praise me.
"Is, it looks like that monster and the barrier enveloping the city are connected, doesn't it?"
"Seems that way. The timing is too perfect to be coincidence."
I already knew, of course, but I nodded as if I'd just realized it.
Letting on that I knew would only complicate things.
"A city shrouded in eternal darkness, monsters emerging from the shadows..."
Ariana muttered gravely.
Before long, we encountered the monster the servant had mentioned.
"Grulk, gruk..."
Its body was so pitch-black it seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
The form looked like ink clumsily shaped into a bipedal figure, evoking pure terror.
"Grr, grek?"
Unlike its lower body—which vaguely resembled something human... no, more like a wolf's—the monster's disproportionately massive upper body split open at the center, revealing a gigantic maw.
"Kreeeeeeek!"
It let out a hideous screech and charged straight at us.
This was the darkness-devouring monster, Murky.
Unlike Ariana, who was seeing it for the first time, I'd faced them several times in the game and knew exactly how to deal with them.
I set her down beside me and stepped forward.
"Shield of Faith."
A golden barrier unfurled before me.
"Grulk?"
Murky froze at the sight of the Shield of Faith, then raised both arms high.
It was about to smash down.
At that moment, I poured more Holy Power into the shield.
-Shiiiine...!
The shield blazed with eye-searing brilliance.
Only then did Murky cover its face and stagger back.
"Grrrulk..."
"Saintess, these things seem tied to darkness, so they're weak to light."
"Oh! It's really retreating!"
As she said, I slowly advanced with the shield raised, and Murky backed away bit by bit.
Time to finish it off.
Defeating it too quickly might raise suspicions, so I needed to share some intel with Ariana.
-Stab.
I thrust my Shotel into Murky on the sly.
"Grrrulk..."
But Murky ignored the Shotel entirely, fixated only on the Shield of Faith.
"Saintess, normal attacks don't seem to work on them."
"What? No way..."
Ariana looked disappointed.
I didn't want to see that expression on her again, so I immediately infused the Shotel with Holy Power.
The actual power was low, but I maxed out the brightness.
I stabbed again, and this time, it reacted.
-Sizzle...
"Kreeeek!"
The spot where the Shotel touched melted away as Murky shrieked in agony.
These things only take damage from light-infused attacks.
Most classes can use light-based attacks, but Holy Power, fire, and light magic are the most effective.
Knights wield aura, but unfortunately, it's not very bright, making it the least effective. A torch would work better.
Even someone as strong as Adel would struggle here.
She's a knight who rarely uses aura anyway, pursuing pure physical prowess.
In the game, Adel only used aura to launch sword beams or block unblockable attacks.
And that meant the opposite for me...
A perfect hunting ground for a Holy Knight like myself.
-Stab! Stab! Stab!
I kept plunging the Shotel into Murky.
"Kreeeeek!"
It writhed and thrashed wildly, but after facing northern demons and the black mage captain, this was nothing to me. Block with the Shield of Faith, stab with the Shotel.
Just a simple loop, and soon...
"Grekk..."
Murky collapsed completely.
"Phew... Infusing weapons with Holy Power was the key, as expected."
Taking time to show Ariana made it drag a bit.
But now she'd learned the strategy, so it was a productive fight.
"Wow... Figuring out how to fight a new monster on the spot! You're amazing, Is!"
"It's nothing."
Even without me, everyone would eventually figure it out.
Really nothing special.
I just shared it early to save lives before the casualties piled up.
This much knowledge was enough for the early Murkies.
"You said 'monsters,' plural, so let's hurry and take out the rest, Is!"
"Yes, Saintess."
And so, Ariana and I swiftly cleared the Murkies.
There were about four, just like in the game, and Ariana took down two now that she knew the trick.
I wondered how she'd handle infusing weapons, but with her overflowing Holy Power, she just blasted it directly onto their bodies.
Seeing her so exhilarated made me proud.
After wiping them all out, we hurried back to the lord's mansion, where Lord Abyss Solara rushed out to greet us.
"Y-You went to fight the monster?! Are you hurt? Any injuries?"
"We're fine! Thanks to Is, we took them down without a scratch."
"I-Is that true?"
As Abyss's gaze turned to me, I smiled and nodded.
"Yes. They seemed connected to the darkness-wrapped barrier around the city, so I tried emitting light with Holy Power. They retreated from it. Normal attacks did nothing, but Holy Power-infused ones worked."
"Holy Power... Of course, nothing chases away darkness like light! This will help tremendously in dismantling the barrier!"
"Glad it helped! With light, we can handle them easily!"
Abyss pondered her words briefly.
"Alfred!"
"Yes, my lord."
"Spread the word to the citizens right now! That monster? Er, let's name it while we're at it! What should we call it?"
"Since it emerged from the darkness, something like 'Murky' fits."
"Yes, yes! Name the darkness-spawned monsters 'Murky,' and announce that only 'Holy Power' harms them!"
"Understood, my lord."
Abyss acted swiftly, dispatching the info to the people.
Alfred vanished at once to carry out the order.
"Phew... For the time being, the citizens can live safely thanks to you, Saintess. Truly grateful."
"No need! It's only natural for people's sake!"
"Hahaha! As expected of the Saintess!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days later.
"My lord, four Murkies have appeared in District D."
"Handled?"
"Thanks to the citizens alerting them, the guards arrived quickly. Minor injuries to two out of thirteen—no other casualties."
"Good... But the appearances are getting more frequent by the day."
We'd been visiting the lord's mansion almost daily and overheard Abyss and Alfred's conversation.
"...Even with us patrolling every day, it never ends..."
Ariana looked glum at the nonstop reports, so Abyss tried to cheer her up.
"Haha, but thanks to you and your companions, our city's losses are noticeably low. We relied so heavily on the sun that many functions are down, but you're helping us recover bit by bit."
"Really...?"
Ariana managed a small smile.
Seeing her brighten, Abyss boomed with laughter.
"Hahaha! You've taught us how to fight Murkies, so now we just need to get organized and stand tall! Even ordinary citizens are grabbing torches and slaying them—no major worries—"
At that moment.
-Bang!
"My lord!!"
"What is it?"
The same servant burst in with a frantic expression.
"M-Murkies... The Murkies..."
"Calm down and speak. What's with the Murkies?"
Instead of scolding, Abyss soothed him and waited.
The news from his lips stunned both Abyss and Ariana.
"The Murkies..."
are evolving!!