Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Cleanup
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“Phew! How the hell did I survive that?”
Thanks to my holy power returning, I was able to take down the murkies that had been lunging at me.
The first to go were the ones trying to kill me, then the ones that wanted to possess me, then the ones trying to pounce, in that order.
And what was left...
“Keruk... Joa...”
Just one murky that unilaterally 'liked' me.
It had no intent to attack me or resist, so I immediately raised my shotel.
“Joa...”
Even as I lifted my shotel, it just kept repeating how much it liked me.
“...I'm grateful for your feelings toward me, but you've probably committed plenty of sins already.”
With a heavy heart, I swung my shotel down.
At that moment.
-Clang!
[Grrrruk! Gruk!]
“What the...”
Something hard collided with my shotel, and the blade that was meant to crush the murky sliced past it instead.
“Who are you!”
I scanned for the intruder who had interfered, poised for combat.
“Ahh, Gyudok!”
Frelia's voice rang out from afar.
Could she be the one who interfered?
'No, doesn't seem like it.'
As I pondered the culprit's identity, a strange noise came from beside me.
[Grrrruk! Grrrrruk!]
“Hm?”
I turned toward the sound right next to me.
[Grrrruk!]
“Whoa?!”
I jolted back in shock at the sight of the Flying Golden Centipede and tumbled over.
[Grrrruk! Gruk!]
“Gyudok! You're really impossible sometimes...!”
Frelia, who had arrived before I knew it, grabbed the Flying Golden Centipede and started scolding it.
“Did you forget you're a centipede? I told you not to pop up in front of people like that!”
[Gruk...]
“What? You had no choice?”
[Gruk gruk.]
“That shadow monster was just too pitiful? Are you kidding me?!”
Frelia pinched both sides of the centipede's head with her fingers.
“Do you have a brain or not!”
It felt like watching a sitcom.
I stood up and addressed Frelia.
“Um...”
“Eep?! Oh, yes! Cute knight?”
“Cute...?”
“I mean, thank you for saving me! You released the fire spirit so I could find my way out, right?”
“Well...”
It might seem arrogant to take credit, so I just nodded without a word.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Thank you! I managed to escape because of you! I really thought I was done for—those shadow monsters kept chasing me, and I barely escaped death so many times... Thank you so much!”
“No need. All I did was shatter the gem. Finding the way out was all you, miss. I'm just glad you made it safely.”
“How can you be so cu— I mean, so charming in how you speak...!”
She kept saying weird things, but I ignored it and got to the point.
“Ahem, if it's not too rude, could you tell me more about... that thing you're holding?”
“Oh, Gyudok?”
“Gyudok...? Anyway, yes. I'd like to hear more about your friend.”
“Hmm... Sure! Gyudok, this knight wants to hear more from you!”
[Grrrruk!]
The centipede called Gyudok was finally released.
“This one's Gyudok! A spirit in centipede form!”
“A spirit... I see.”
“Yeah! Gyudok says that shadow monster was just too pitiful to let die like that!”
“Why is that?”
[Grrrruk, gruk.]
“That shadow monster hasn't done anything since gaining a sense of self except like you.”
“...Really?”
[Grrrrruk! Grur!]
“No karma at all? Spirits can sense karma too?”
[Gruk.]
“I see.”
A murky with no karma whatsoever, one that simply liked me.
I glanced down at the murky, which had somehow latched onto my leg.
“...But now that its owner is dead, it'll vanish soon.”
[Grrrruk, grur.]
“It says just become its new owner...? Is that even possible?!”
[Gruk.]
“You know black magic well...? But you're a spirit?”
[...Gruk!]
“Anyway, that's how it works? What...”
“Well, let's give it a shot. Being its owner.”
“Huh? You're serious?”
Frelia looked at me with worried eyes.
I smiled reassuringly at her.
“Don't worry. I can handle a murky like this. And even though I'm a holy knight... my great predecessor already tamed a creature created by a black mage.”
“Really?”
“And...”
I turned my gaze back to the murky.
“A pure soul that hasn't sinned, loving me? What could be more grateful than that?”
“...! R-Really...”
I asked Gyudok, ignoring Frelia who was blushing for some reason.
“How does it work? Becoming its owner.”
[Grrrrruk. Gruk gruk gruk. Grur grur!]
“Just ask if it wants you as owner, and if it says yes, the contract forms!”
“Got it.”
I knelt on one knee and met the murky's eyes.
“Do you know my name?”
“Sunkisa...?”
“You don't. My name is Is Adonis. Just call me Is.”
“Isu...”
“Yes. From now on, I'd like to become your owner... Would you allow it?”
Even if it was to save it, suddenly demanding servitude might upset it.
I asked carefully, and its answer was...
“Joa... Isu, owner... love...”
Consent.
At that instant, silver energy flowed from my body into the murky, turning its yellow eyes silver.
“...Did it work?”
“Ah, yes! Looks like your mana entered it and formed the contract!”
“I see...”
I met the murky's eyes again.
Its eyes now gleamed the same silver as mine.
“Looking forward to working with you.”
“Joa!”
And just like that, I somehow ended up as a murky's owner.
-Shlurp!
“Whoa, wait—”
The moment I let my guard down, it turned liquid-monster-like and slipped into my armor.
Was this betrayal?
“Gruk.”
The murky poked out near my left shoulder, wrapping around my now bare left arm where the armor was gone.
A silver eye formed on the back of my hand, and it morphed into something like black armor.
'It's helping me.'
I tested by touching my left arm—it was as hard as real armor.
'My combat power just went up.'
Like a liquid monster suit from the movies, it could change shape freely and harden like armor.
Very useful in many ways.
“...Thank you, murky.”
“Isu! Love!”
“Haha, I like you too.”
As I smiled and stroked it, Frelia cautiously spoke up.
“You're not disgusted? Humans usually see other species as tools or get creeped out.”
“Hm... Well.”
What was her angle with that question? Pure curiosity?
No, she asked because she's not a normal human either.
Normally, I'd pretty up my answer to impress a heroine like her, but even without that, I could say this.
“So what if it's a monster? As long as it doesn't harm anyone and lives nicely, no reason to hate it. That's not my answer as a holy knight—that's just me personally.”
-Whoosh!
“R-Really? Ahahaha...”
Her face turned red in an instant, and she looked away.
[Gruk gruk.]
Gyudok circled her teasingly.
“Hey, quit it! Ya!”
Frelia flailed to catch the zippy Gyudok.
I'd never seen Gyudok before, but watching Frelia move so lively like in the original story brought a warm smile to my face.
Then, a shout from afar.
“Is!!”
“Ah! Saintess!”
It was Ariana.
Joy at seeing her again after thinking I'd die was short-lived.
“Is, you really died...!”
“Ah.”
I recalled the promise I'd made her before.
“I told you not to throw your body away recklesslyyyyy!”
“...Murky, can you slip into shadows or something?”
“Miana...”
“...Um, maybe.”
Clutching my last hope, I turned to Frelia.
But for some reason, she was smirking meaningfully at Ariana.
“Hmmm... Tough opponent, huh?”
With those cryptic words, she hooked her arm in mine.
“Uh...?”
“Sorry, but... mind staying like this a bit?”
“Ah, sure.”
'She's hiding me, right? Some spells don't apply if you're not close.'
Trusting Frelia, I closed my eyes and waited.
...Wait a sec.
Did Frelia ever learn stealth magic in the game?
-Grab.
“Is!!”
“Ah.”
Frelia, you tricked me?
When I opened my eyes and turned to her.
“Ahaha! I don't know any stealth magic!”
She grinned mischievously as Ariana grabbed me.
“Let go!!”
“Kyaa~”
“Urgh...!”
Ariana pried us apart.
Her angry glare turned to me.
“Is! What is this situation?! You rush into a dangerous tower alone, barely survive the hero slicing you, and now you're arm-in-arm with some woman I've never seen?! Is, are you that loose?!”
“N-No! She was trapped in the tower, and I just helped her escape...”
“Then why arm-in-arm?! Is, you're in for a big scolding today!”
“But...”
This was so unfair.
But I couldn't defy Ariana, so all I could do was stand there like a drenched puppy.
At that moment.
“No bully owner!”
The murky around my arm reverted to its female form and struck a threatening pose (arms up) at Ariana.
It was trying to help me, but unfortunately...
“...Owner? Is's?”
It only stoked Ariana's rage further.