Chapter 48
Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Master of the Jungle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How could I use Mistilteinn to make my movements even more concise?
I swung my sword with only that thought in mind. Whether one enemy charged or ten, it didn't matter.
'Bear down on them.'
These weren't opponents I couldn't beat anyway.
If they had been humans, it would have been a different story, but the mutant ants guarding the jungle entrance were simple-minded monsters that only knew how to charge straight ahead.
Kwajik!
I pierced the back shell of the nearest mutant ant.
Then,
Peok!
I sliced through the neck of the next one charging in.
Hoo-.
Was it finally over?
The battlefield filled with ant corpses signaled the end of the fight. The scout ants peeking from cracks in the ground withdrew.
'We won.'
And perfectly, at that.
"Woooaaah!"
The ponytail guy from Cynthia's party raised his sword above his head and cheered.
He wore an expression of disbelief at the victory in this battle.
"Whoa, I really thought we were goners!"
His party member Alfredo lightly patted his back in response.
"I knew we'd win from the start."
"You were the one whispering to Berddin earlier about running away on the sly."
"Wh-what? I just said I was tired and needed a quick walk."
"A walk my ass! Who the hell takes a break in the middle of a fight?!"
Cynthia smirked at them before sidling up to me.
"Good work."
I pulled a cloth from my pocket and wiped down my sword as I replied.
Swipe-.
"Any injuries?"
"None. You?"
"None."
Our conversation was curt.
We were simply confirming survival.
Cynthia gave a short nod, then examined the mutant ant corpses as she asked,
"Devil's horn?"
"Found it."
"Where?"
"Everywhere."
"Everywhere?"
"Yeah. Hey, Rox. Show Cynthia the devil's horn."
Rox yanked out a mutant ant's fang from a nearby corpse.
Kwaduk.
"How many?"
"One's enough."
"Uh, here."
He handed the mutant ant's fang to Cynthia. She held it with a puzzled look and asked me,
"What's this?"
"Devil's horn."
"Devil's horn? This?"
That's right.
This was one of the materials mid-level alchemists needed to advance to high-level alchemists.
'Devil's horn.'
But only a rare few knew how to obtain it.
Even if you reached the jungle, you might not encounter mutant ants, or know their fangs were devil's horns.
"Alchemists in the past mistook them based on appearance alone. They were that hard to obtain and exotic a material."
"I thought... after dealing with the ants, a real devil would pop out or something."
"These guys used to be called devils."
"Really?"
"Yeah, by adventurers who came to the tower, anyway. Even flying or crawling experts from outside have no answer if ambushed unprepared."
"Ah...."
"Doesn't mean they're unbeatable. We're a small party now, but most visiting the 11th floor come in groups of fifteen."
Cynthia knew this fact too.
That's why she had hesitated on this operation.
"Quest complete?"
"Yep."
"What now?"
"We go down."
"Down?"
"Yeah. We didn't come to climb today anyway. No need to stay here."
And so we completed the devil's horn collection quest with ease.
'Not just one, but hundreds of materials.'
In this trial, we'd unlocked a hidden piece and secured funds for Cynthia's party to fight properly. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We spent half a day dismantling mutant ant corpses to collect devil's horns.
With five party members, I thought it'd be quick, but we ended up taking too long in the jungle.
"We'll camp here tonight."
I set up in the jungle's central area.
The exit wasn't far, but the jungle at night was too dangerous to move carelessly.
'Of course.'
Not that I'd lose to monsters here. But unexpected monsters or adventurers hunting adventurers.
The bounty hunters called 'Takers' roamed around, so caution was needed.
'I can escape them.'
They still lacked the skill for that.
I tossed a mutant ant leg into the campfire.
Crackle. As flames sputtered, a delicious smell began to rise.
Hoo-ha- hoo-ha-
Alfredo wiped sweat from his brow with his palm and said,
"When's it ready?"
Rox flipped the ant leg as he replied,
"When it's done. Mutant ant blood has poison, so undercook it and you're in trouble."
"Ah...."
"Eat it if you wanna die. Want one?"
"N-no."
Judah pushed up his glasses with a finger and scribbled in his book.
"Mutant ant blood contains poison.... I see. That's why the blood splatters from the fight earlier numbed my skin."
"You were thinking that far ahead while fighting?"
"Yes. More could appear while climbing the tower. I can't memorize every monster's traits, so I note them down."
"Up to you if you wanna log monster info. But next time, don't slack off alone when battle starts."
"Slack off?"
"Yeah. I saw you from behind Berddin earlier—hiding instead of fighting."
"......"
"You only joined after things settled."
Judah clasped his hands behind his back, pulling his ponytail tight as he replied,
"Sorry for not explaining sooner. My guardian spirit's abilities only shine when it reads the battlefield. That's why I joined late."
"Because of your guardian spirit?"
"Yes."
"What ability?"
"Sorry, but a guardian spirit's abilities aren't something to reveal lightly."
Crackle, crackle.
I pulled a well-cooked ant leg from the fire and handed it to Judah.
"Right, Rox. You don't blab your abilities to just anyone."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Thanks nothing—eat."
"...Yes."
Rox nodded as if getting my point and grabbed a cooked ant leg.
"My bad."
"Happens. First time living with others like this."
"...You seem softer lately? Used to sting like a bee at any mistake."
"Want me to go back to that?"
"No!"
"Then eat. We'll take watches in order after."
"Ah, yeah."
We all grabbed ant legs and started eating. Meanwhile, I sharpened the Aura I'd spread around us.
Something was definitely watching us, but I couldn't pinpoint it.
'One? No, at least two. Three or two—unclear.'
And one was insanely strong. Stronger than me now, or about equal, by my guess.
'Who the hell?'
They'd watched since the mutant ants.
A bit closer and I'd locate them, but their stealth was top-notch.
Kwaduk.
I chewed the ant leg while gazing at the jungle sky.
'Hope it's not that guy.'
Judah, finishing first, cautiously spoke up.
"Hey, Berddin."
"Yeah."
"Why're you climbing the tower?"
"Why?"
"Yeah. Your family's one of the top five on the continent—honored and rich. At your age, why bother with the tower?"
Fair point from an outsider's view.
"Academy for strength, or lead your knight order to dungeons—safer. Why the tower?"
I drew a dragon on my palm with Aura as I replied,
"Dragon."
"Dragon?"
"Yeah. Here to kill a dragon."
No lies.
I was climbing the tower to hunt a dragon.
Growth mattered too, but it'd end by the time I reached it—not the main goal.
"Cool. Climbing the tower to slay a dragon!"
Cynthia, gauging us, chimed in.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. Traveled together, but never heard your reason."
Judah scratched his head sheepishly.
"Well.... Looking for family."
"Family?"
"Yeah. Grew up in an orphanage without any. Later, the director said my parents lived in the tower."
"Where?"
"Dunno. Climbing like this, I'll find 'em eventually."
No Judah in my past life.
Met Cynthia's party after they'd wiped.
Didn't know this backstory.
'Tower for parents?'
I eyed Judah top to bottom. No human villages here unless you're a climbing adventurer.
I knew from personal high-floor trips.
'Lie?'
Frankly, sounded like orphanage director's white lie for hope.
"Thought you were here for money."
"That too. Need cash for everything."
Mid-conversation,
Shhuk.
I drew my sword and shot up.
"Enemy."
Before words finished, Rox summoned marionette mutant ants.
Dudududu.
Cynthia gripped her sword and stuck to my back.
"Enemy? No presence."
"Hiding approach. About 300m east-west. Arriving soon."
"Numbers?"
"One."
"Strong?"
"Very."
Even all here except me combined couldn't win.
So I'd have to block it.
'Stamina hold?'
Hadn't recovered Aura from mutant ants.
We tensed in combat stance, awaiting the foe. Soon, bushes rustled as it appeared.
Pabab!
Rox, nearest, lunged first, swinging his mace.
Whoosh.
"Where you going!"
The red-cloaked figure dodged Rox's mace, grabbed his head, and slammed him down.
Thud!
"Wait, stop! It's me, me! Mongcle!"
Flutter.
Mongcle raised both hands above his head, grinning sheepishly. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I handed a cooked ant leg to Mongcle as I asked,
"So the jungle apostle came down here?"
"Yeah! I saw it clear as day. While you fought mutant ants, it neared then veered off elsewhere."
So the killing intent during ants was his?
'Hmm-.'
Didn't add up.
The jungle's master apostle descending to the lowest floor.
A 20th-floor trial guardian moving layers?
Unbelievable without seeing it—defied the gods' will.
"Where'd it go?"
"North."
"North?"
"Yeah, suddenly turned and vanished."
I closed my eyes, recalling events. Why was Dead Road here? Why seek us now?
If watching to protect from threats, he'd have shown sooner.
"Mongcle, one question."
"Yeah, shoot."
"Why'd you come find me?"
"Why?"
"Yeah."
Mongcle pondered, chin in hand, then his grin hardened to ice.
"To kill you."
He drew his sword and shed his cloak.
Swipe, flutter.
"Can't have two apostles in one trial."