Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: EP.89 Curse Removal - 1
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EP.89 Curse Removal - 1
Eurie couldn't hold out for long against the concentrated fire from Veronica and Cecil.
Truth be told, Eurie isn't an easy opponent like that.
She's the kind that would earn her the title of "bitch from hell" among inexperienced players.
In the first phase, she deals damage with normal attacks to a party that's already battered from the three trials.
If you bring only characters with high physical and magic defense to counter that, you get wiped out in the second phase by mental attacks.
But that's only for less seasoned players.
To veterans, she's no different from an event boss.
In the end, it's all about the right composition and control.
On top of that, Veronica and Cecil followed my orders perfectly.
Man, party members actually listening to orders like this.
This is why you shouldn't party with trolls...
I watched as Eurie vanished. Her body, collapsed on the ground, motionless and staring blankly at the sky, began to fade away bit by bit.
Once Eurie had completely disappeared, all that remained in her place was a single gem.
A vivid red, like blood itself, and thick mana emanated from it.
"Gotcha."
I picked up the red gem from the ground. Just holding it filled me with mana, but a faint headache signaled my mental strength draining away.
"...Hyunwoo. That thing."
Veronica spoke in a grave tone, reacting to the mana emanating from the gem. It was only natural.
After all, it was the conduit for a curse passed down through generations of a single family.
A gem soaked in a dragon's curse—no wonder it unsettled Veronica, with her holy power.
"Urk... Ugh..."
Cecil didn't look well either. The moment she saw the gem, her face paled.
"...Blech."
She couldn't hold it in and vomited up a rainbow-colored liquid.
Uh. Um.
A beauty like Cecil vomiting like that... Hmm.
I wanted to pat her back, but I couldn't approach with the gem in hand.
Even at this distance, it was affecting her like that; getting closer would probably make her collapse.
"Veronica. Go pat her back."
"...Okay!"
Veronica walked over with a strangely pleased expression and thumped Cecil's back.
Isn't that a bit too hard...?
*Smack!! Smack!!
"Ugh! Ack! Eck! Bleeech!"
"Phew. Rough, huh?"
"Bleeech!! Ah, that hurts! Ugh!!"
After vomiting for a while with the back-thumping, Cecil finally stabilized once there was nothing left to come up. With a ghastly expression, she glared daggers at me and Veronica before wiping her lips with a handkerchief and asking uncomfortably.
"...What the hell is that?"
"The conduit for the curse. It was inside Eurie, so the curse's aftermath was muted, but now that she's gone, it's only natural the energy strengthens. Just wait a bit. It'll weaken as it feeds on my mental strength. You two head out first. Veronica, take Cecil and go."
"Huh? What about you?"
"Yeah, what about you?"
I pocketed the gem and crossed my arms. Veronica let out a deep sigh and supported Cecil as they left the area.
How much time passed after they left?
Assuming everyone was gone, I emerged from the deep sewers.
"Oh ho."
At the sewer entrance, I spotted people in black robes.
Just as I suspected.
"You didn't have to come out to greet me."
The black-robed figures shed their robes. Ordinary-looking men and women, hard to identify, all armed with swords, knives, spears—nothing special, just stuff you could buy at any shop.
But even an idiot could tell who they were.
"Sent by Rotbang?"
Rotbang Claudia.
A member of the Claudia family who stands to lose big once Archduke Cecil's curse is lifted.
Recalling the guy who scowled at me before, I smirked and flicked Moonlight.
But there was no answer.
They just surrounded me with blank faces.
"Kill him."
The moment the apparent leader gave the order, the attackers lunged.
As I swung Moonlight to meet their assault—
*Whiiiiiish!!
A long spear flew in, piercing one through the side. The unexpected intrusion startled both me and the attackers.
"Hey~ Sage! What're you doing here?!"
"Huh?"
Sixman, the hulking warrior with a head that gleamed even in the dim torchlight.
And next to him...
"Ugh."
"What? That's the face you make after so long? I just helped you out. Maybe I should just leave."
It was the dark elf Sairon, flaunting excessive exposure.
Behind her, as she grumbled and twirled her staff, a black cat beastkin with cat ears, cat face, and cat tail stepped lightly forward.
And floating in the air behind her were seven long spears.
Just like the one that had impaled the guy about to attack me.
With a casual wave of her hand, the spear pulled free from the corpse and returned to her.
"Ha! Honey! You're so cool!"
"Nyaang~"
Sixman gripped his unique axe 'Executioner'—earned from a quest we did together—with both hands, flashing a fierce, murderous grin.
With his brutal looks, he resembled an axe murderer from a slasher flick.
"By the way, who are these guys? Why're they surrounding someone from another party? What? Showing off?"
"...."
No answer. Sixman probably didn't expect one. He twitched his thick eyebrows and facial scars before shouting.
"Honey!! One more, please!!"
*Whiiiiiish!!
The cat beastkin flicked her finger, and the seven spears streaked through the sky.
A telekinetic attack, a shaman skill.
Her spear control was so skilled, she seemed at least A-rank adventurer level.
Where'd he find a talent like that?
"Gotcha."
Sairon slammed her staff down lightly. Shadow arms emerged from the sewer darkness, grabbing the attackers dodging the spears, and the spears pierced them effortlessly.
"Tch. They're attacking too..."
"I'm not done!"
I charged at the attackers' leader. Surprised I was attacking?
He raised his sword in bewilderment to block.
But that was a feint.
The real deal...
"Raaah!!"
Sixman burst out from nowhere, his axe severing the leader's leg.
As the one-legged leader tumbled, I morphed Moonlight into a staff and clubbed his head, knocking him out.
"But who are these guys?"
"Assassins sent by Rotbang."
"...Huh?"
Sixman must've heard the name Rotbang before.
The man in the Claudia family who'll be the father of the next Archduke after Cecil.
In other words, a power player.
Adventurers might be free, but good commissions come from the powerful.
So Sixman muttered in confusion.
"Did I butt in where I shouldn't have?"
"You totally did."
I wouldn't lose to these guys, but if it got dicey, I'd just teleport out.
But what's done is done.
Sixman looked at me, sighed deeply, and gripped Executioner tight.
"Raaah! Whatever!"
Quick to commit, nice.
With Sixman, Sairon, and this unnamed cat beastkin shaman joining, mopping up the rest was easy.
Once all attackers except the knocked-out, one-legged leader were dealt with, I turned to Sairon.
"Hey. Sairon. Your gem's crooked. And shaman, why's your tail wagging so wildly?"
"Oh? It is. Ohohon~. But you noticed quick, huh? Pretending not to look but saw everything? Kinda pervy, aren't ya?"
Sairon smirked slyly, adjusting the gem covering her important bits, then poked my side with her elbow.
I scowled at her.
"But who's she...?"
"Ah. My girlfriend."
"Huh? What?"
Sixman grinned and pulled the cat beastkin into a waist hug. She nestled naturally into his arms and licked his head with her long tongue.
Was it the sticky saliva? His head gleamed even more.
No wonder it sparkled extra weird today...
"That punk. Avoids my eyes weirdly, turns out he likes beastkin."
"I like furry girls."
"Furry freak."
"What?! You hairless bitch?! Hey! Sage! You think so too, right?! Don't beastkin with thick fur have the true appeal? Rubbing against their soft fur..."
"Eh. Uh... No interest in your refined tastes, teacher. Humans are creatures of possibility, so I'll respect it. Anyway. Nice to meet you. I'm the Sage."
"Ufufu. No name, nya?"
"Everyone knows me as the Sage, so Sage is fine."
"Nyaang nyaang~! Got it, nya. I'm Rachel, nya. Heard lots about you from honey, nya. Supposed to party up for next promotion, right nya? Me too, nya!"
So she's one of the party members Sixman said he'd bring? Seems nice... no trolling vibes.
Minus the licking his shiny head thing.
Rachel spoke with the cat beastkin trait of nya endings, smiling and offering her hand.
Those soft-looking pink paw pads were appealing.
After shaking, I eyed the fainted attacker leader on the ground.
"Alright. Shall we take this guy back?"
"Where to? By the way, Sage. What're you up to?"
"Trying to lift Archduke Cecil's curse."
"Ooh... Involved with a high-ranking noble like that. Cool. Can we spoon a little too?"
"After just this help? I'll introduce you to Cecil later. Call it even."
"Ooh."
Knowing someone like an Archduke means better commissions.
Mages especially commission adventurers for materials often, so it could mean good money.
Maybe even magic items.
As the happy Sixman and Rachel hugged, Sairon crossed her arms, emphasizing her brown water-balloon-like huge breasts.
What? Seducing? Or showing off?
"But why're you guys here?"
"Sairon said to come."
Sixman replied, offering his shiny head for Rachel to lick while rubbing his face in her fur. I looked at Sairon, who shrugged.
"Felt a really bad vibe around here suddenly."
"Yeah?"
"And that bad vibe felt like it was coming from you, Sage?"
I nodded and pulled out the gem. Sairon narrowed her eyes.
"What's that? Makes me nauseous just looking..."
"Conduit for a dragon's curse."
No need to hide it, so I explained briefly.
Hearing it all, Sairon crossed her arms and frowned.
"A dragon's curse... Curse removal won't be easy, huh? Need a shaman by any chance?"
I do.
Was gonna call Wilkes or another shaman acquaintance.
"Why? Wanna help?"
"Doesn't seem bad to have you owe me one like this."
No reason to stop her then.
Sairon's a skilled shaman anyway.
"Huh? Then let's spoon too! Honey! Can you help?"
"Ufufu~ If my honey wants, I'll do it, nya~"
Two useful shamans and a shiny-headed warrior who isn't much use joined up!
We exited the sewers and returned to the castle.
Taking the main road on purpose, no further attacks.
Entering the castle, Veronica and Cecil were waiting.
"Why're you so late?! Something happened again, huh."
"Yeah. An ambush."
I tossed the fainted leader on the floor. Cecil sighed the moment she saw him.
"Rotbang. He's finally lost it."
"Power's a sweet poison that drives people mad, right?"
"...I'll handle this."
I'd said I'd come slow, but arriving with a one-legged casualty and adventurers, Cecil seemed to grasp the situation.
Not a position earned lightly.
As she instructed the Duchy Knight Order members,
Veronica stood by me, stared hard at the scouting Sairon, then pouted, poked my cheek, and sniffed around my body.
"What?"
"Just checking if you're giving off some irresistible scent that attracts women."
"I smell?"
Veronica puffed her cheeks sulkily.
"Tons."
Author's Note
Huge thanks to Ryu So-hyun for the support!!
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul!
Finally beat the vaccine!
Wow!
Feels like my body's back to normal after so long.
Everyone, take care of yourselves...
See you tomorrow! Bye~!