Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: EP.17 Pale Beast - 2
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Did they really not expect me to refuse?
If we lacked a tank, that might be one thing, but we have plenty of knights, and I can step in if needed.
Besides, we're not off to slay the Demon King right now, so Leventia isn't strictly necessary.
There's a limit to using a cattle knife to catch a chicken, after all.
Of course, that's not the only reason. I just don't want to get tangled up with her.
"Considering all the humiliations I've endured traveling with you until now, I feel like slapping you across the face right here..."
Her eyes sparkled. Leventia was hoping I'd lash out at her.
She wanted that to forge a new relationship between us.
"But that would just hurt my hand."
Given her defense stat, I'd be the one in pain if I tried.
"Ah... ugh... ahh..."
"You've got your own duties anyway, so go rest."
I brushed her off casually and turned my gaze to the Adjutant, staring into her gray eyes filled with dismay before shrugging.
"Let's move out."
Silence hung over the march to the battlefield. It seemed today's events weighed heavily on everyone's minds.
Morale's in shambles.
I immediately picked up my lute.
"What are you planning to do, sir?"
"Everyone's mood is down. A little boost would help, right?"
- Twang~
The lute's strings vibrated, the sound echoing across the field. Normally, stealth is best on the battlefield, but this was too gloomy.
Besides, the monsters we'd encounter could be handled by our current unit just fine.
-Twang~ Twang!
A sour note slipped out.
Probably because I was lost in thought. But even that wasn't bad. As I plucked away, releasing a bit of their stress, the troops' faces relaxed.
"Haha. Even someone like you makes mistakes, Sage?"
"I'm human too, you know."
"That's true... The piece you just played was 'Morning on the Frontlines,' right?"
"Yes. Shall we all sing it together?"
I plucked the strings once more, and lively melodies paired with lyrics spread through the unit.
And then.
"...Hmm."
I glanced to the side. At the rear of the unit, where they walked singing and laughing.
Three familiar figures came into view. Scanning with my Hawk's Eye archer skill, I spotted Claire, Leventia, and...
What the heck? What's with those ears?
Evangeline staggered along, her ears half-severed on both sides.
No, one look at her expression—those widened eyes.
Trembling lips—and I realized.
Yep, she's not normal either.
"Sage?"
"Ah. What comes next?"
"Hahaha. Forgot the lyrics? 'Walking through the orange fields~'"
"'Walking through the orange fields~ With the superhuman on the white horse~'"
As the singing grew louder, Evangeline's face twisted in agony.
And understandably so.
Because Evangeline loved this song the most.
***
"'Walking through the orange fields~ With the superhuman on the white horse~'"
"Ah... ahh... uwaa..."
Evangeline clutched her face. Memories flooded back.
Happy, joyful, fun times—pummeling her sickened body and soul relentlessly.
He used to sing it often. Upbeat, exciting.
And so soothing to the heart.
Sometimes his voice would crack, and she'd harmonize with him then, high-fiving at the end.
"Aah... aaaaaaah...!"
The joy those memories brought crashed down with equal guilt.
Ah.
I ruined it all.
I crushed it all.
"Ah... ugh... u..."
No alcohol, no drugs—yet hallucinations appeared. Hyeonwoo stood before her, smiling.
Just like when he left.
With a remarkably carefree face.
"Ahh... ah... aaah..."
Tears dripped one by one onto the mud-caked battlefield. As Claire moved to support her, looking pityingly on.
Leventia gripped her sword tightly.
"Look over there."
She could see where they were heading.
A massive demon beast emitting pale white light, defying the blood-red moon.
A horrific monster with two dragon heads.
Their unit headed toward a beast unlike any she'd seen before.
"We have to stop it."
Leventia muttered firmly. The Sage was strong. But that monster regenerated from blades and ignored mediocre magic.
Only they could handle something that powerful.
Not mere knights, soldiers, or priests.
"...Let's go."
They had wounded him, ruined him.
So they had to at least keep him safe.
Leventia shuddered at the goosebumps rising all over her. If the Sage fell to that monster...?
Even with all Hyeonwoo knew, could he handle it?
It was strong enough to withstand even the Hero's attacks—not just hers.
So they had to help.
Even if he hated it.
If only to atone.
As Claire moved with that thought, Evangeline and Leventia acted first.
Evangeline held the bow he and she had gotten from a dungeon while he was away at the palace.
Leventia charged with the sword he'd repaired for her today.
The moment they tried to block the beast.
"...Huh?"
The unit blocked the monster's attack with absurd ease.
The white light enveloping the unit empowered the knights and soldiers.
Each volley from the archers shattered small stone clusters, and the pale beast began to weaken.
It was being conquered.
A monster only they could defeat was falling easily just because the Sage was there.
Watching, Evangeline muttered in place.
"Why...?"
He didn't need help.
He refused to be with them.
He.
Was enough alone.
He.
Didn't need them.
The Hero's Party felt only one emotion upon witnessing it.
Despair.
***
"To take it down this easily!!"
"Once you know the method, it's simple."
The dragon-headed monster collapsed as its head was severed by the Adjutant's shaman spell. Watching, I addressed the archers.
"But be careful. See that altar over there?"
"Yes!"
"Smashing it spawns small monsters, right?"
"Like that one?"
"Yeah."
Right on cue, a pale horned rabbit emerged from the shattered altar. The archers gulped nervously at the sight of its red eyes and fangs.
"Take them out when they appear. Ah, not this one yet."
"Uh... Understood. But why?"
One archer asked curiously, and I smiled as I replied.
"That's the Pale Beast. It enters other monsters and strengthens them further."
In other words, it triggers phase 2. As a veteran player, I know how to skip it, but newbies used to struggle hard to kill it.
"Huh? Huh?! Then shouldn't we kill that one too?!"
I watched the rabbit desperately hopping toward the fallen dragon-head monster, then lightly swung my staff.
"But in battle, you might miss it. And the Pale Beast could appear."
"Uh... Yes."
"I'll teach you how to handle it too."
-ROOOAAARRR!!!
While I explained, the rabbit stabbed its sharp horn into the dragon-head monster's body. Its pale hide burst, enveloping the rabbit, and soon the headless dragon-head beast began to rise.
-ROOOAAARRR!!
A moonlit monster.
The headless dragon-head beast, clutching its own severed head in one arm, roared.
"Sage!!"
"I-I'll help! Let me help!"
"Hyeonwoo!!"
Urgent cries came from afar. They'd tried to interfere earlier when I killed the dragon-head quickly.
And now they were charging even with the Pale Beast out.
"Uh... The Hero's Party wants to join. What should we do?"
The troops hoped for their participation.
But.
"No need. Let's just fight."
I raised my Divine Mark and told the priests.
"Healing prep. When the headless monster grabs its head with that arm, it breathes from it."
-ROOOAAARRR!!
No sooner had I spoken than the pale breath erupted.
The priests blocked it with a shield as the Hero arrived first.
"Touch him and you're dead!"
"Eek?!"
At my shout, the three froze stiff. Effective.
If only they'd done this before.
"Spearmen!! Javelin prep! Target the center wound!!"
The wounds I'd made earlier lingered on the Pale Beast. We attack based on those.
-ROOOAAARRR!!
As the roaring monster raised its dragon-head arm, light poured from it.
Moonlight.
A pure, ominous white never seen in hardcore mode—forming a sword slashing down at us.
"Shadow Barrier."
"Ah. Yes!"
The Adjutant's black shadow absorbed the descending light. The ominous moonlight sword merely gouged the earth, its depth paling the troops' faces like the blade's glow.
"Don't freak out. Attack."
It was no big deal.
[Pale Beast Subjugation achievement unlocked.]
Whoa~ Another achievement down~
I smiled at the new window. The others did too.
Compared to the power and terror it showed, our damage was negligible.
Only one knight who rolled dodging a massive swing clutched his twisted leg.
"Heal."
I healed that too, of course.
"This is the basics. Next time, I'll teach you how to handle other monsters."
"Wow... Truly... incredible, sir!"
The Adjutant's eyes sparkled.
And perhaps because they couldn't help?
The Hero's Party looked utterly dejected.
I gave them a grin before turning away.
Back at camp, I checked upcoming tasks and remaining achievement points. While passing time.
A creeping voice came from outside the tent.
"Hyeonwoo... Hyeonwoo... Um... asleep?"
"Nope."
"Can I... come in?"
"Think you can?"
I could see her sulking through the tent fabric.
"Kidding. Come in."
"...Thanks..."
The tent flap opened. Claire entered lightly, stared at me, then murmured.
"Thanks... really."
"What, that I'd at least talk to you?"
Nod.
She bobbed her small head, and I smiled.
"I'm a perfectly rational guy."
"Then rationally... um... you don't... need our strength? If, if you want, I can do anything..."
I crossed my arms, pondering.
Where could I use the Hero's Party?
Hmm...
Nothing comes to mind.
If there was, I'd have used them already.
No achievements requiring them either.
"Or, it's cold here. Our tent's warmer, so..."
It was chilly.
So I raised my staff.
"Warm."
The tent warmed instantly, and Claire pouted.
Come on, you knew I did this the whole journey—trying to lure me with that?
Author's Note (Afterword)
Hello, it's Malmulmalmul. ㅎ Hope you enjoyed today's chapter.
Have a great night~