Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Old Comrade
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"Kill Satan's offspring!"
The priest who had broken free from the statue raised the cross high above his head and shouted.
-Uwaaaah!
At that moment, the villagers charged at the goblins with torches and various farming tools in hand.
"Kieeeek!"
The goblins, not to be outdone, fought back with clubs and wooden shields.
It was a fierce battle where neither side could claim superiority. Screams and groans echoed from all directions.
The adventurers who had undertaken this floor's trial were thrown into confusion.
"What the hell is going on? Who are we supposed to help?"
"R-right! Since it's a goblin village, should we side with the goblins? No, wait. I'm human, so maybe the humans?"
"Stop standing around like idiots and just help someone, anyone!"
Whose side should they take?
It was too difficult a question to judge on the spot. Of course, some among them had experienced the trial before.
"Let's go."
Berddin hid on the rooftops with his party members.
They did not join the fight but quietly observed the battle among the adventurers participating in the trial.
"Rox, watch how they fight carefully. From now on, reading the flow of the battlefield will be extremely important."
"Okay."
"You'll see the difference between fighting as a minority and as a majority."
"Minority versus majority..."
"And not just that—you can learn how to respond based on the weapons they use and the enemy's abilities."
"Got it. I'll watch closely."
Right now, adventurers of many races and classes were tangled in combat here.
It was an opportunity to gain a wealth of experience just by observing without participating.
Clang, clang, clang!
The ongoing battle slowly drained the adventurers' stamina.
Up close, it seemed like the fight would end quickly, but from afar, it looked endless.
The humans and goblins here were immortal beings—mindless brawling would never end it.
As time dragged on and the battle prolonged, the participants began collapsing one by one.
Thud, thud, thud.
'They've reached their limit.'
Cynthia let out a low groan as she watched them. Having experienced the fight herself, she couldn't just laugh it off.
Time passed, most adventurers were eliminated, and proportionally, the numbers of humans and goblins dwindled, quieting the village.
Of course, excluding Cynthia, who was marveling beside me right now.
"What happens to the goblins once all those guys are dead?"
"We don't deal with them."
"Don't deal with them?"
"Yeah. My goal today isn't fighting—it's climbing. No need to tangle with those guys."
Cynthia tilted her head.
"So you're saying we can climb without facing them?"
"Exactly. There are two ways to clear this floor. First, behead the priest, the leader of that human mob over there."
"Behead the priest..."
"Second, side with the humans, fight, and drive all the goblins out of the village."
Both sounded simple.
But once in the thick of battle, you'd realize just how hard they were.
The priest was an 'advanced mage' capable of high-level spells, and there were too many goblins—defeating them all required every adventurer to unite against the enemy.
'Of course...'
I'd take a third path no one knew about, so it didn't matter.
"...No, if you knew how to climb, why didn't you say so sooner? Why tell me now?"
"You didn't ask."
"Didn't ask, so you didn't tell? Ha! So kind of you, I'm tearing up!"
Something I'd heard often in my past life.
She always grumbled that I was too kind to her.
"You have a problem with that?"
"...Not really."
"Then go with Rox and chase all the adventurers inside the village out."
"The adventurers?"
"Until I negotiate with the Goblin Champion. Just make sure no one enters the village."
So they wouldn't learn how I climbed the tower.
"W-wait a minute. You're going to face the Goblin Champion alone?"
"Yes."
"N-no, do you even know how strong that thing is?"
"I do."
"You do? And you're still going alone?"
"Yes."
The 10th floor was practically the starting point for 'beginner'-level adventurers just beginning their climb.
Facing a champion monster solo there? Even bearing the Strange name, it would seem utterly reckless.
'Cynthia doesn't know my true strength.'
She bit her lip hard, turned, and replied.
"Do whatever you want. I won't take responsibility if you die."
"Fine."
Rox, who had overheard us, shrugged and beckoned to Cynthia.
"Come on, stop dawdling."
"I'm going, alright? I'm going!"
Cynthia strode toward the village entrance.
Rox followed, shaking his head.
"What a temper. Hey, Berddin. We'll head out first."
Roar!
Fires spreading throughout the village grew larger.
I rested my chin on my hand, waiting before the crumbling statue of the Goblin Champion.
I already knew how strong he was—even that an apostle blessed by the gods could never be defeated by human power alone.
But I wasn't an ordinary human. In my past life, I'd earned the title of Sword King and had the strength to challenge dragons.
'Of course, I'm weaker now than then.'
Krunch, krunch, craaack, boom!
With a deafening roar, all the stone encasing the Goblin Champion's body shattered away.
"Kraaaah!"
Now free, he let out a bizarre cry and twisted his body this way and that.
Even without assuming a battle stance, a murderous aura emanated from him—strong enough to make my prepared arms and legs tremble.
"Awake, are you?"
My quiet voice made his ears twitch.
"Human?"
"Yes, a human."
He glanced at me dismissively, like I was insignificant vermin, yawned, and waved his hand.
"This place is beyond your level. I'll give you a chance—leave the tower now."
"And if I refuse?"
"You'll die."
"Who?"
"Who do you think will die?"
I replied to the Goblin Champion with a smile playing on my lips.
"Who knows? Probably the weaker one?"
The conversation was brief.
We glared at each other.
After a few breaths to steady ourselves, the moment our auras clashed in the air...
Whoosh—
The Goblin Champion swung his fist at me.
Bang!
The sound from his fist was like a gunshot—immensely threatening.
'Strong.'
Blocking with the same aura wouldn't win. I'd be repelled by his greater power.
"Mana Shield."
I didn't dodge—instead, I spread mana across my palm to block his fist.
Crackle.
His yellow aura clashed with my blue mana, swirling violently.
It was like watching a storm form—an immense force shook the ground.
Rumble.
'Blocked it.'
I let out a sigh of relief.
If it had failed, I'd have taken heavy damage. But my plan worked perfectly.
Pitting mana and aura—opposing forces—against each other to diminish the power.
It was a tactic the Glazer guys had often used against us in my past life.
'Never thought I'd be the one using it.'
Having blocked the champion's attack, I channeled aura into my other hand and swung my sword.
Crunch!
It struck his shoulder precisely.
It felt like striking iron. A physique on par with—or surpassing—Rox's back then.
Like slashing a diamond with a sword.
"Begone, human."
He grabbed my blade barehanded and exploded aura at his fingertips.
Boom!
The impact pushed my sword back, spinning my body once.
The Goblin Champion didn't miss the opening and charged again.
Thud.
'Not so fast.'
I used the spin's momentum to slash my sword from below upward.
Slash!
The Goblin Champion, rushing to kill me, couldn't control his speed and impaled himself on the blade.
Splat.
"Krek!"
Against a normal monster, I'd have decapitated it instantly. As expected, an apostle's body was unparalleled.
Even with full power, only the tip pierced. Well, it had to be this tough to make the fight worthwhile.
I didn't stop, swinging repeatedly, while the goblin ignored wounds and kept charging.
Clang, clang, clang, crunch!
Incredible. I'd landed countless solid hits that should have shredded him, yet he wouldn't fall.
Of course, while I was slashing the Goblin Champion, he'd landed a few punches on me too.
His body boasted power and speed surpassing beasts, with long arms and legs perfect for martial arts—not unlike a human's.
But that didn't mean he could beat me.
After a long exchange, the decisive blow came.
"It's over now."
Splat.
My sword pierced the Goblin Champion's chest.
No fancy technique—just basic fundamentals stabbing his vital point.
In my past life, I might not have succeeded.
With the Mistilteinn I'd gained this life, I slowly severed his soul bit by bit. Then, exploiting the moment his mind faltered, I hammered the same spot repeatedly.
'Of course, without letting Gregory notice, by melting a tiny Lightning into the blade tip.'
A strike made possible by fusing two new powers.
"Kuhk."
Thus, with an ability no one could predict, I brought the Goblin Champion to his knees.
Thud.
Siegfried, who had been watching, cheered.
"As expected of my disciple!"
Brunhilt clapped with her cat paws.
Clap clap clap!
"Nyanyanyang!"
A perfect plan.
I sheathed my sword.
Click.
"That's enough."
"Kuh..."
"I've already proven I'm stronger. The fight ends here."
"W-what? End the fight? The trial isn't over."
"No, it is."
"What! This battle ends only when one of our heads rolls!"
Whoosh—
Vast aura erupted from the Goblin Champion's body.
The immense pressure made my body shudder.
'Impressive as always.'
If he got serious, even I might not win.
Gregory struggled to his feet.
"Let's finish it, human."
I lightly shook my head side to side.
"I said it's over."
My true goal wasn't the Goblin Champion's head, but the 'artifact' said to be hidden in the tower by those once called gods.
Subduing the Goblin Champion fulfilled the hidden piece's activation condition.
Now it was time for 'Hysteria'—no, 'Rox'—to trigger the hidden mechanism on this floor.
"Gregory. Words won't convince you, so I'll show you why the fight's over."
I raised my hand high and fired Lightning skyward.
Fwash.
Screee—
The Lightning sliced through the air and ascended.
Boom!
It burst in purple light high above.
The Goblin Champion looked up in bewilderment.
And soon after, light footsteps approached from behind him.
Step, step, step.
"Gregory, long time no see."