Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Gearing Up and Moving Out
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[Weapon Enhancement].
Though its name is Weapon Enhancement, in reality, it's a technique that infuses mana into external objects.
Of course, it works on armor too, and even on a random stick you pick up off the ground.
Objects infused with a warrior's mana gain increased durability and resistance to mana-based phenomena, making them better at countering such effects.
It's less about boosting attack power and more about enhancing toughness and endurance. Of course, it can later evolve into Sword Aura, which sharpens cutting power as well, but that's still a distant prospect.
"Skill...?"
"Yes."
"So, using this lets me learn some new technique?"
"Spot on."
"Whoa!"
With an exclamation of delight, Hyun Tae-jin takes the Scroll of Records.
But once he actually holds the parchment in his hands, he tilts his head, examining it quizzically.
"Uh, but how do you use this thing?"
"Just pour some mana into it."
"...How do you pour mana into it?"
"With your basic skill. Use Inner Force Activation, and the paper should react—"
[-Chiik.]
"—Whoa!?"
"...Yeah, that's how you use it."
Acquiring the skill isn't hard.
Erasing it later is what's tricky.
As blue smoke rises from the Scroll of Records and seeps into Hyun Tae-jin's body, he wears a dazed expression.
"Uh... is that it?"
"Yep. There's one more scroll, but I don't know exactly what skill it is, so I'm holding off on it for now."
"Oh... But if you don't know what skill it is, why not just learn it and see?"
"That's an option, but it's not safe. Remember that goblin butcher from earlier? The one with skin all rough and studded with rock shards."
"Ah, yeah."
"That was a passive skill. Learn the wrong unknown one, and you could end up like that."
".....Ah, I see."
As if realization dawned, Hyun Tae-jin nods with a queasy look.
"...This place really is a dangerous world..."
"Tell me something I don't know. Anyway, stand still for a sec."
"?"
Handing over the skill isn't the end of it.
I pick out gear I'd sorted on the hut floor and pass it to Hyun Tae-jin one by one.
"Here. Arm guards for your arms, a new shield. A belt for your waist, and..."
"Whoa..."
True to its status as a prime farming spot, the Butcher's Hut had a few pieces of decent warrior gear.
Some from chests, others scavenged from the hut.
A few were probably the goblins' gear.
It looked just like legionnaire equipment.
Not magical gear, though.
Warriors don't infuse magic into their equipment by the book.
Most magic clashes with warrior skills, so from a resource standpoint, it's better to apply alchemical treatments to the materials instead.
"And... congrats. We got an armor piece."
"Ooh...? Ooh!"
"...."
...No.
Why is this guy so thrilled?
Was he seriously wishing for armor last time?
What Hyun Tae-jin received was lamellar armor.
Armor made by lacing together metal plates.
Not the fancy plate mail of knights in games, but it had a proper armor shape to it.
Lamellar... or something like that.
[Clank.]
"Oh, ooh...!?"
"...Put on the rest too."
The size seemed to fit well.
It was designed with ties to secure front and back plates, so anyone could wear it.
Once he donned the arm guards and greaves for limbs, plus the belt, he looked like a proper warrior.
Gone was the bare-bones level 1 rice-eater starter look from games.
His weapons were still just a short arming sword and basic longsword, and he lacked experience, but...
"Yeah, this is it!"
"...."
...Well, if he's happy, that's what matters.
.
.
.
I didn't know this in the game,
but in reality, packing up was its own chore.
Stuffing all the items laid out in the hut into backpacks one by one.
"...Do-hwa, are we taking this?"
"No, that's just a bow, so toss it. The keepers are over there."
"Ah. Yeah, this one's shape is... Huh? Infinite... Blessing? This looks amazing."
"Ignore the name. Most of these are player-made, so they name them whatever.
"Ah..."
"Some idiot names something 'Sword that Cleaves the World' and it's trash. Don't fall for fancy names."
I pack all the worthwhile loot into the backpacks.
Bulky junk gets left behind, regretfully.
Even accounting for discards, it's a huge haul.
Four Scrolls of Records and four magic items.
Plus a warrior gear set.
For a first return-line farm—not frontline—this is a smashing success.
"Oh, and tuck the potions and bandages in your belt. Need quick access if hurt. Keep the needle kit handy too—"
"—Ah, got it."
After a bit of chaotic bustle, I check the packed bags.
Three backpacks, half-full each.
Our original one plus two from the hut, total three.
"Three... how do we carry them?"
"We got the girls. Let 'em."
"Huh? You sure? They're all women..."
"They can handle it. Lighter than full kit anyway."
"Hmm, true, but..."
Gender doesn't matter here.
Anyone able-bodied carries.
I retort, then test-lift one of the hut bags.
'...Whoa.'
...Insanely heavy.
Yeah, no way I could.
Not that I planned to—
"Oh, but Do-hwa."
"Yeah."
"You ever carried full kit yourself?"
"....."
—Crap.
Forgot.
Shouldn't have said that.
I turn guiltily, and Hyun Tae-jin looks puzzled, innocently curious.
No hint he'd clocked my original gender as male.
Not that it'd matter much if he did...
[....Aaaahhh!!]
"...Huh?"
"...."
...No need to answer anyway.
A sudden scream echoes.
An unfamiliar woman's shriek, resounding from the 'slaughterhouse' inside the hut.
.
.
.
"What happened!?"
"...."
I head to the hut's interior 'slaughterhouse' with quick steps.
The scent sharpens: sweet bloody aroma mixed with rotting stench.
"Uh, uhh...?"
"What... is this...?"
"...."
Three women stand before the reeking door.
Dazed expressions.
They stare blankly at the scene beyond, as if unable to believe the reality before them.
'...They saw.'
They ended up seeing it after all.
Kept it shut for this reason, but who opened it?
Scattered human chunks and discarded entrails.
I get how hard it is to stay sane seeing that...
"...Nooooooo—!!!"
...But this scream isn't just from the gruesome sight.
Inside the slaughterhouse, a woman kneels, clutching something.
A severed man's head.
Pale without a drop of blood, frozen in terror.
Trapped in eternal nightmare agony.
Horrific enough to sear into your eyes just looking—but the woman hugs it, sobbing.
"Sob, sob, waaahhh...."
"...."
"...."
All watchers fall silent.
No one speaks, but everyone guesses.
The survivor woman and the dead man.
Their relationship... no need to ask.
Nothing to be done.
He's already dead.
Won't come back no matter what, words won't reach.
So,
I skip the comforting words.
'Lightning Strike.'
[Pazzzik—]
Instead, I fire the memorized spell, knocking her out.
"...Huh?"
"Eek!?"
"Wh-what!"
"...Do-hwa?"
From a safe distance, [Lightning Strike] flashes blue lightning, striking her down.
She crumples without a scream, met with shocked yells.
But this range should minimize harm.
Can't guarantee, but no choice.
Verbal comfort looks weak.
...I know.
Honestly, seems harsh human-wise.
But there's limits to indulging.
"—Everyone, shut up. You know where we are? Screaming like that."
"...."
"...Mmph..."
"Wanna get caught by those monsters again? Scream like her then."
I warn them lowly, drag the fainted woman out, and shut the slaughterhouse door.
[-Bang.]
.
.
.
The clearing where the 'Butcher's Hut' sits is fairly spacious.
Hut in the center, a well-like spring in the corner.
Probably a real well.
Most settlements center on mana-surging springs.
Behind the clearing, a small forest.
Grove of 'Root Trees'.
Per lore, they grow endlessly from Divine Tree roots, felled for resources.
Seemed plausible back then; now, it's oddly real.
The 'Sun Lanterns' blooming on the vast ceiling too. Less dungeon, more living space.
...Makes sense if this world is real.
[Honk, honk, honk.]
"...."
The geese cries have died down.
Any louder, I'd have culled them—dodged that hassle.
[-Slice.]
"Ah."
Amid stray thoughts, a welcome sound hits my ear.
A cutting noise. The tough innards, resistant even to [Rock Skin], tearing free.
"Ugh, urgh..."
"...."
It's the fallen 'Goblin Butcher' corpse.
Half charred, half cooked—melted flesh, muscle, fat in a gruesome mess.
...Don't wanna touch, but loot what you can.
[Stab.]
I plunge a hand into the split belly, fishing for the 'Mana Stone'.
Soon, a hard crystal touches my fingertips.
Pulling out slowly, the blood- and filth-smeared Mana Stone gleams in my hand.
"Done."
"...Gonna puke..."
"...Yeah. Same."
Part of me wonders if it's worth it... but no choice.
Won't skip goblin stones ahead just 'cause gross.
"Hoo..."
[Splash.]
With a sigh, I wash hands and stone at the clearing well, pocket it.
Eight Mana Stones total now.
Three from ants, five from hut scavenging.
Some might be...
"...."
...No need to dwell.
Mana Stone's a Mana Stone.
Resource, not corpse or soul.
Just a battery from someone's body.
Strictly, removing it doesn't kill—dead ones just look off after.
Thus.
I tie the stone pouch to my robe belt, head to the hut's rear.
There, the women sit with their packs.
"...Alright, time to head out. Everyone ready?"
"..."
"...Y-yeah..."
"...Yes."
Ready to leave the hut.
Hyun Tae-jin and I geared up with new items, learned skills.
Refilled mana and memorized spells at the well too.
Bags split among the other three women; fainted one on Hyun Tae-jin's back.
"...."
My load: one item.
The severed man's head.
The sobbing-then-fainted woman's clutch.
She's no total bitch; couldn't leave it after seeing.
Kinda gross, creepy at times... but wrapped in cloth, invisible.
Other remains? No need to haul.
No requests anyway.
"...Do-hwa. How's the wound?"
"Pain's gone. Scar's there, but it'll just heal now. Moving's fine."
"...Healing's insanely fast."
"Well, yeah..."
I trail off; Hyun Tae-jin nods in understanding.
"Right. You're... that, then."
"...Yeah, that."
"Ahem."
No need to say 'Vampire' outright.
Tedious explaining non-human to newbies.
"Let's move."
"Got it."
"I'll lead, like before. Stop when I say, walk when I say. No noise unless absolute must—actually, none at all—"
Destination: yesterday's well.
No special reason.
Just heading back, nowhere else.
Portal en route? Ideal, but unlikely.
Pavarintos's real scale is overwhelmingly vast.
Bigger space means slower pace.
Plus...
'Party... total six.'
To 'return' to Labyrinth City together? Numbers don't match.
Our party's six: four rescued women, Hyun Tae-jin, me.
But portals allow five to Labyrinth City.
Game limit: one party per return.
Unknown in reality... but no info, so trust game mechanics for now.
Means at least one stays in this cave.
'...No helping it.'
Obvious who.
Me.
Highest solo survival odds, natural pick.
Don't need Labyrinth City anyway.
Blood supply's hassle there; build done, no need to stick.
Money? Mana Stones cover.
I'm dungeon-bound soon regardless.
Send the desperate ones first.
"Hm? Something on my face?"
"...No. Just looking."
"....?"
Newbie training was fun, but can't drag forever.
Skills and gear sorted; rest from other players.
But... no need to say parting now.
Persuasion's hassle, and futures uncertain.
Bonds might linger, so keep in mind for now.
"Shall we?"
"Ah, yeah."
He nods, hoists the woman again.
Armor plus her—burden's heavy, but... no choice now.
Not my place post-knockout, but... hope she wakes soon.