Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Chapter 86: The Alchemist's Friend (3)
Translation: godtl
Screech.
Like the grating of rusted metal.
A scream seeped out from between the aged wooden planks.
Despite its crude and worn appearance, the source of the scream—the carriage—
Creak.
continued its precarious march, laden with a considerable load.
"Kegul, move faster, you slug!"
Whack.
A sharp voice accompanied the lash of a whip.
Groan.
The massive toad, which had let out a small whimper, forced more strength into its sluggish steps.
The other giant toads pulling the carriage nearby, fearing the same fate as their kin,
Screeeech.
picked up their pace as well.
"Tsk tsk."
The one wielding the whip—or rather, the long, whip-like tongue—
was a being with a face half-frog, half-reptilian, clicking its tongue in displeasure.
"Poison toads are such a pain. They only listen when you hit them."
"Kik! That's why they're Demonic Beasts, right? What can you do?"
The one beside him also glared at the poison toads with contempt-filled eyes.
Judging by size alone,
it wouldn't have been strange if the giant poison toads swallowed them whole in one bite, but...
Groooan...
The poison toads, their bulbous eyes brimming with fear,
could only watch the two cautiously.
They had no choice.
"Tsk. I can't fathom Lord Apophis's intentions. Recruiting these lowly creatures into the legion..."
"That's why we were sent along, wasn't it? To keep these vermin in line."
"Well, if not for our Drag here, who else could manage these wretched things? Kehahah!"
The Dragonkin retracted his whip-like tongue into his large mouth.
As an upper-level Dragonkin, Drag was one of the apex predators to these poison toads.
Sluurp."Anyway..."
Drahel, who had naturally retracted his tongue after laughing,
scanned the surroundings with the vertically slit pupils unique to Dragonkin.
"The climate of the Black Smeltery is said to be lethally harsh, but this place is quite nice, eh?"
"The warm, sticky humidity, the miasma flowing everywhere... Perfect for a little relaxation."
"Exactly. Lord Drahel, why not enjoy ourselves here a bit after finishing the supply run?"
"Kehahah! That sounds splendid. A bottle of Blood Wine would top it off nicely! I'll have to get some when we reach the Black Smeltery."
Drahel burst into laughter again, and Drag cautiously interjected.
"Um... I'm afraid Blood Wine might be out of the question."
"Huh?"
"As you know, the current overseer of the Black Smeltery is Lord Sargas, isn't he? Do you really think he'd allow Blood Wine...?"
The Undefeated Sargas.
His cold, calculating temperament, so like that of their master, the 3rd Dragon Emperor, was already infamous among the Dragonkin.
There was no way Sargas would permit Blood Wine,
and given his personality, he wouldn't even stock such luxury items in the Black Smeltery in the first place.
But whether Drahel's thoughts reached that far was another matter.
"Ha! What's that bastard Sargas gonna do about it?!"
Displeasure twisted Drahel's face.
"You think he can stop me from having Blood Wine? Wait. Are you... suggesting that I'm beneath Sargas?"
"N-no, of course not! Lord Drahel, you are a revered member of Squama One—how could I ever think such a thing?"
Drag hastily shook his head, startled.
But the answer didn't seem to satisfy Drahel.
Whooosh.
Drahel's face began to puff up like a balloon.
Panicking, Drag quickly added:
"What I meant was! He wouldn't let another member of Squama One enjoy Blood Wine and relax in peace. Lord Sargas is just... petty like that!"
Fortunately, the appeasement seemed to work.
"Hmm... I suppose."
Drahel's inflated face gradually deflated.
"That bastard wouldn't stand seeing others rest easy while he suffers in the Black Smeltery. He's always been a miserable wretch."
"Exactly! And lately, hasn't the Black Smeltery been hit with one disaster after another?"
"Right. That damn—ahem—fearsome Lord Nidhogg's domain must be giving even Sargas a real headache."
Can you picture it?
"Kehahah! That Sargas, scrambling in panic? That would be a finer delicacy than Blood Wine!"
Flicking out his long, whip-like tongue, Drahel burst into laughter before lashing it through the air again.
Crack.
"Move it, you lowly wretches! I must see Sargas' face immediately!"
Croooak.
The mournful cries of the toxic toads accompanied the spurred-on carriages.
Then—
"Lord Drahel!"
One of the Dragonkin scouts at the vanguard leaped forward like a frog, bounding all the way to Drahel at the center of the supply unit.
Already worked up at the thought of seeing Sargas struggle, Drahel spat out his irritation.
"What's the commotion?! If this is pointless, I'll melt you alive!"
Stammering under Drahel's threat, the scout glanced nervously ahead before hastily explaining.
"T-there's something up ahead!"
"What do you mean, something?"
"W-well... it's like... a massive boulder blocking—"
"A boulder? You dare interrupt me over a mere boulder?!"
Drahel's head swelled with rage, veins bulging.
"If there's a boulder, just move it! Maybe I should smash your stupid skull first!"
Flinching at Drahel's fury, the scout hurriedly continued.
"But—it's not something to take lightly! That boulder... it's almost as if it's alive—"
No.
He didn't even need to finish.
KWAARRRGH!
A deafening explosion from ahead said it all.
Then—
As the thick dust settled—
"Who the hell dares?!"
The instigator of this chaos revealed itself.
Screeeech.
The sound of grinding stone.
And with it, an enormous body rising.
"W-what in the...?"
Drahel's eyes widened into saucers at the sight of the ambusher.
And for good reason.
"Why the hell is a Golem here?!"
A Golem, appearing out of nowhere.
Not just any Golem—one so massive its shadow loomed over Drahel himself. Who wouldn't be shocked?
And above Drahel's head—
CRRRACK!
The colossal Golem's arm came crashing down.
Groooan.
With every movement of the massive Golem—
KWAARRRGH!
Violent explosions and tremors shook the poisoned supply route.
Players watching the overwhelming spectacle stood dumbfounded, jaws slack.
"Holy hell..."
"It's wiping them out single-handedly..."
"I've never seen a Golem that huge..."
Of course.
The enormous Golem, synthesized by Si-mun.
Forged using the supply route's bridge as a medium, its body embedded with toxic herbs and poisonous mushrooms.
KWAANG!
"Gahk!"
"Gurgle!"
With every mechanical swing of its arm, dozens of Dragonkin were effortlessly swept aside.
Perhaps because he'd already encountered Kim Si-mun a couple of times, Choi Jin-su—who was barely keeping his emotions in check—shook his head slightly.
"This makes maintaining formation pointless."
As he said.
The massive Golem blocking the poisoned supply route—stretched out in a straight line—was no different from a fortress wall.
All the effort they'd put into forming ranks while enduring Dayna's taunts had been for nothing.
"You trash, what are you gawking at? The situation's changed—cover them already!"
Dayna, who had already returned to formation, barked at them.
At her command, combat-class Players hastily gripped their weapons tighter—but that was it.
"B-but..."
"...What now?"
"I can't see an opening here."
They didn't even dare think of joining the fray.
Naturally.
CRRRACK!
"Gyaaaaah! Damn Golem!"
"I'll smash you to pieces!"
The desperate battle between the rampaging Golem and the monsters charging in even as they were pulverized was one thing.
Hssssss.
And true to its name—the Poisoned Supply Route—
The shattered monsters and surrounding toxic substances spewed a noxious miasma.
'Going in means 100% death...'
'How the hell are we supposed to fight in that?'
'I can't even see an angle to swing my sword...'
They'd collapse from the poison before even fighting.
And even if they endured that, none had the confidence to survive that slaughterhouse.
The archers and Magic Class Players were no different.
"W-what do we do? What if my magic accidentally hits the Golem?"
"Is that miasma flammable? If it is, I can't cast—I specialize in fire magic!"
"Ugh! I can't even see properly because of the toxic miasma. How am I supposed to fire arrows like this!"
What if I hit the Golem instead?
Or worse—what if my support ends up making the situation even worse?
They were all just exchanging wary glances, hesitating.
However.
Thud.
Only Choi Jin-su, positioned at the very front, continued forward, his body transformed into a venomous reptile through Beastification.
"Tch. Useless trash."
Dayna clicked her tongue in disapproval before grabbing Choi Jin-su's shoulder as he advanced.
"Grr? What?"
"Stop, you fool. You charging in there alone is pointless."
"Hmph. Stop spouting nonsense."
Choi Jin-su scoffed, his competitive spirit flaring as he tried to shake her off, but—
'What kind of strength does an Elf have?!'
Like a statue rooted deep in the ground.
Dayna didn't budge an inch, leaving Choi Jin-su wide-eyed.
Perhaps she liked what she saw?
"You're a bold one. What's your name?"
Dayna asked for the name of the human who had defied her.
"Choi Jin-su."
"Choi Jin-su. I quite like your fighting spirit. Unlike those trash over there, you have the soul of a warrior. But—"
With just the raw Strength emanating from her lithe arm,
"Charging in there alone is suicide. Unless you have long-range support, turn back now."
She effortlessly spun Choi Jin-su's massive, beastified form around.
"......"
Choi Jin-su silently stared at Dayna's hand gripping his shoulder before finally nodding.
"Fine."
A small, reluctant dip of his head.
But—
"That doesn't mean I'll just sit back and do nothing in this fight. I didn't come here to hitch a free ride. I came to get stronger."
"Truly, a warrior through and through. Honestly... if it weren't for his request, I'd charge in there with you right now."
"Request?"
Choi Jin-su tilted his head in confusion.
Dayna glanced toward a man standing slightly apart from the main group, watching the battlefield ahead.
Choi Jin-su's gaze followed.
"Don't tell me... Kim Si-mun asked you to protect our lives?"
His voice was hollow with disbelief.
"Sharp. That's right."
Dayna nodded lightly and continued.
"He said, 'Only if all of you—including those trash—survive can we claim the full reward.'"
"Ha."
A dry laugh escaped Choi Jin-su.
Contrary to Dayna's expectation that he'd fly into a rage,
"That's... brutally pragmatic. Not that he's wrong, though."
Choi Jin-su merely chuckled and nodded obediently.
"Fine. I won't go in there, like you said."
But he wasn't about to retreat completely.
"Still, I won't just sit idle. I'll say it again—I'm not here to slack off. If necessary, I'll strike from the rear."
Fighting Spirit and competitive drive.
Choi Jin-su's eyes, brimming with both, flicked between Si-mun and the chaotic battlefield ahead.
"Warrior, I understand your desire to throw yourself into battle. But don't worry."
Dayna smiled in satisfaction before turning her gaze forward.
"You and those trash won't just be sitting around sucking your thumbs."
"What do you mean?"
"See for yourself."
The moment Dayna finished speaking—
BOOM.
The rampaging Golem was flung backward.
"Gyaaah! You damn rock bastard!"
SCHLICK!
A long, whip-like tongue lashed out, severing one of the Golem's arms.
Then—
"Go! Find the bastard who controls this damned Golem! Tear them limb from limb and bring them before me, Lord Drahel!"
A voice so menacing it made muscles tense involuntarily.
And through the gap left by the Golem's missing arm—
"Kegul!"
"Kegurul! Over there! Humans on the other side!"
A group of frog-like creatures leaped forward in unison.
But that wasn't all.
Grrrl.
Screech!
Bestial cries echoed from the surroundings.
Through his SS-rank Beastification trait, Choi Jin-su instantly recognized them.
'Beast-type Monsters. Natives of this area, huh?'
Which meant every last one of them carried toxic miasma.
Dayna gave Choi Jin-su a slight nod.
"Now you see? Hurry back to formation. With a warrior like you, we might just keep those trash alive a little longer."
Then she vanished into the ground as if sinking into shadows.
For a moment, Choi Jin-su stared at the spot where she'd disappeared before his gaze shifted to a handsome man frantically flicking his fingers at the incoming monsters.
"Kim Si-mun..."
With every snap of Si-mun's fingers, enemies crossing the terrain were blasted away.
After watching for a moment, Choi Jin-su clenched his beastified fist.
"I will surpass you."
Then he sprinted toward the main group, now facing the horde of Beast-type Monsters.