Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Great Escape (1)

#13

Heart of Harmeno!

The ultimate reward of Blackstone Fortress, and the hidden piece in the form of a trait with the highest versatility.

Anyone could eat it, but it especially boasted great synergy with warrior or tanker type characters.

『The vitality of Harmeno, the dragon that wraps the earth, flows through the blood vessels!』

『You acquire the following abilities.』

Exactly someone like me.

Pababap!

Golden windows rose one after another before his eyes.

▶ Harmful effects received from plants are reduced by half.

▶ Beneficial effects received from plants are amplified by double.

▶ While the feet are touching the ground physical recovery ability greatly increases.

It was worth shitting the death shit.

As soon as the notification window disappeared changes occurred.

Huuuuup, haa.

Bran who took a deep breath smiled crookedly.

“Refreshing.”

The foul smell no longer clung to the air of the Bottom Farm.

Rather his head was clearing.

Damage from toxicity decreased, and beneficial effects increased.

Originally poison and medicine are not different concepts. They are only distinguished according to the amount.

It was a passive that could be used extremely usefully in various situations.

‘I feel like I’ve become a wireless charging smartphone.’

The conditional super recovery was also excellent.

Pain throughout the body was subsiding.

Large and small wounds, and the serious injury on the thigh where bone was exposed were quickly healing.

The process of muscle fibers and blood vessels growing and tangling was visible to the eyes.

The one-shot mentality of just catching the Serpent of Dementia was mostly due to this ability.

“I said if I pick it I can repay it, right?”

Bran giggled.

A super recovery ability useful to all characters.

The condition that the feet must be touching the ground was not even a penalty.

Anyway there should be one more ability?

Just as he was wondering, the next message rose.

『Acquired the skill “Power of the Giant Tree”!』

『Power of the Giant Tree: Once a day, doubles the Strength value.』

▶ Duration 2 minutes.

▶ As proficiency rises the duration increases.

As he remembered this was the last ability.

The active skill that comes with obtaining the Heart of Harmeno.

Confirming the content, Bran clenched his fist.

“This is it.”

The performance matched the game.

Just looking at the point that there was no upper limit like Weed’s Tenacity one could know its brokenness.

Double without asking or questioning!

It was a very excellent skill whose efficiency is maximized as Strength increases.

The short duration is a flaw but that kind of thing can just be increased.

“Now what remains is···.”

Bran who had completely recovered his energy turned his head.

Bandits with pale faces were looking at him.

“Hiiik.”

Or at the Del/gato corpse lying below.

Organs that had flowed from the cut surface were gleaming bright red.

Bran raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm.”

Now he slowly wanted to stop fighting.

It was not that he was shocked by murder or anything.

Originally it was not the first time he had killed a person, and he had seen more terrible corpses.

He just did not want to grapple with guys who had lost their fighting spirit.

What to do.

While pondering Bran turned to the bandits.

“Kyaaaaaak!!”

“Huff.”

And he let out a scream.

The bandits gasped.

A bizarre noise spread while shaking the underground.

Still was this a bit too idiotic?

Just as the echo subsided and a sense of regret was about to slowly bloom.

“M-monster!”

“Mom!”

“Aaak! I’m scared!”

The bandits began to flee while screaming.

Honestly they might have been looking for a justification to run away too.

From the monster that not only had Otherworld tentacles but also killed their captain by halving him.

“Guys with livers smaller than sunflower seeds.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

Anyway he was glad he could pass it smoothly.

He already has a lot of things to do.

“Uh-buh.”

Then, a familiar voice was heard from the management office side.

“Kale?”

Bran urgently turned his body.

It was brief but he had forgotten that existence.

Kale was sitting down in front of the management office door.

The appearance of trembling while looking up at him was exactly like a survivor of a disaster movie.

“Kale. What are you doing there?”

“I-I was surprised so strength left my legs. Why did you suddenly make that sound···.”

Kale whimpered.

It was not only the bandits who were surprised by Bran’s scream.

It seemed he had fallen while strength left his legs as he was carefully coming down.

“S-sorry. I’ll get up soon.”

Kale apologized.

The pretty appearance stood out especially today.

It was understandable. Having spent fifteen days surrounded by a lipstick-applying homo and muscle monkeys.

Of course the appearance was not the only reason.

Bran smiled crookedly and held out his hand.

“What’s there to be sorry for. If it wasn’t for you I would already be dead.”

It was sincere.

If Kale had not cast Morning’s Blessing Bran would have become a cold corpse by now.

He doesn’t know why this guy is here, but he can hear that gradually.

Hesitating, Kale stood up while grabbing Bran’s hand.

“Uuu··· thank you. I’ll try to pull myself together quickly.”

“I’m the one who’s thankful. Honestly I feel like I want to give you a kiss.”

“K-kiss?!”

The small face turned bright red.

Covering his mouth with both hands, Kale restlessly gauged the atmosphere.

Why are you reacting so seriously? It’s annoying.

Bran slightly curled his index finger and flicked Kale’s forehead.

“Ack!”

“Just saying it, you. Do you think I’m Delgato?”

“Th-that’s right? Ahaha···.”

Kale laughed awkwardly while fiddling with his lips.

Somehow his behavior seemed subtly more feminine.

Looking up at Bran glancingly, Kale continued.

“Um··· is Bran okay? The wounds seemed definitely serious.”

“I’m fine. I received a good ability as thanks for catching the tree’s pest. You seem a bit injured too, let’s find some medicine before going out.”

“Uung, thank you. You don’t have to do that much···.”

“Right. Did that Delgato bastard not try to touch you? He must have pulled some trick at least once.”

“That··· yeah.”

Kale nodded.

Precisely it had been about to touch but was thwarted.

It was fortunate Bran came out before it was too late.

If his secret had been exposed he would never have seen a good end.

“Anyway congratulations Kale. You bloomed Divine Power.”

“Ehehe, thanks to Bran. If it wasn’t for you I would never have known for life.”

“How long did it take?”

“Umm··· a day?”

Kale tilted his head.

In fact it was not even a day.

On the day he received advice from Bran, he had bloomed Divine Power in a prayer before going to bed.

“Even bloodline power is this ridiculous. A prestigious family is a prestigious family.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

Kale was indeed a gold spoon among gold spoons.

Just looking at being fine in the Bottom Farm despite being small like a rat bean one could tell.

Morning’s Blessing is always wrapping the body so ordinary poison does not work.

Thinking of the show he had put on to obtain the hidden piece it felt absurd.

“But··· there is one problem.”

“What is it?”

“···Lady Rawiena doesn’t seem interested in me. She lends the minimum power, but it feels like being ignored?”

Kale said hesitantly.

“Eh? That can’t be?”

“M-maybe it’s simply my imagination but for now my feeling is that. Rather it seems other gods like me more··· the voices heard when praying are increasing every day.”

“Hmm. That is definitely strange.”

Bran narrowed his eyes.

Hearing that it seemed Morning’s Blessing had been weaker than expected.

Did he unconsciously offend Rawiena’s mood?

“This problem needs research. Let’s see after leaving here first.”

“Wait, leaving? You mean escaping?”

“Then did you think of not leaving after causing this mess?”

“Th-that’s not it but···! Bran said it would take three more months!”

“Originally life does not go as intended. Wait a moment.”

With his back to Kale, Bran approached the Serpent of Dementia.

The Otherworld creature that had been running wild until a moment ago had turned into a cold corpse.

Slash!

Gripping the sword in reverse, Bran cut the guy’s belly.

While dirtying his hands and rummaging through the organs, one red bead was grasped.

“Found it.”

Bran smiled.

It was the essence of the Dementia Serpent.

A condensed form of vitality gathered while gnawing Harmeno for decades.

It was an item useful in many ways, but today there was a determined use.

“Here, take it back.”

Saying that, Bran threw the essence into the hole the Serpent of Dementia had pierced through.

Even after a long time no falling sound was heard.

Kale was watching that incomprehensible action while blinking his large eyes.

The returned Bran asked him.

“Kale. Are you good at running?”

“Huh? Running?”

“No way. Heave-ho.”

“Huyak?!”

Even if he ran with short legs how fast would it be.

Without further ado Bran lifted Kale and slung him over one shoulder.

“Wh-what are you doing?! Put me down!”

“Stay quiet. We have to keep running.”

Kale struggled but Bran ignored him.

Because now it had really become irreversible.

Rumble rumble rumble!

Suddenly, the ground began to vibrate.

“Hiiik! Wh-what?!”

Kale was astonished.

The entire Bottom Farm was shaking.

It seemed something huge was thrashing its body in the underground.

Large and small rocks were falling from the high ceiling.

Red light was pouring out from inside the hole where Bran had thrown the essence.

“It has begun.”

“Kyaaaak!”

Bran began to run while carrying Kale.

There were many things that needed to be handled quickly.

Suddenly Spera’s face came to mind and he laughed.

‘That woman’s expression will be worth seeing.’

He wanted to listen to music.

With a beat fast and intense enough to make one vomit.

****

“Baron. Are you satisfied with this item?”

Crow Spera said.

An artificial smile was hanging at the corner of her mouth.

She was entertaining a precious guest in the reception room on the top floor of the fortress.

From the opposite side of the gold-decorated table, an oily laughter rang out.

“Muhehe, yes. Very excellent.”

It was Baron Philowin, Spera’s main customer.

In time with the laughter the thick jaw fat was jiggling.

Huuu.

When the Baron who removed his mouth from the pipe exhaled blue smoke poured out.

It was Bottom Farm-brand narcotic that made one feel the ultimate ecstasy.

“Aaah··· the best. Not even a little waste of the expensive price.”

“As expected the medicine made in Blackstone Fortress has good quality. Hehehe!”

A middle-aged man who looked mean was matching his mood.

It was the Philowin Treasurer, a main customer like the Baron.

Beauties wearing revealing clothes were pouring wine into the two people’s glasses.

“Muhehung, I also think so. If you maintain this quality our relationship will be immortal forever, Lady Spira.”

“···I’m glad you are satisfied. But as I said last time, my name is not Spira but Spera.”

“Uum? Isn’t that the same?”

Baron Philowin scratched his head.

The Treasurer who emptied the glass at once gestured to Spera.

“Hehe, please understand. The Baron is not a person leisurely enough to memorize women’s names.”

“Ahaha··· right. It seems I made an unnecessary point.”

Spera smiled brightly while fiddling with the dagger in her pocket.

It was her own routine for calming the mind.

‘Pig bastards. Just die already.’

Taking care of the two in front was easier than slaughtering a piglet.

But business is originally dirty.

If she went wild like in the past just because she was a bit annoyed she could never succeed.

However, stress had to be thoroughly relieved.

‘This time I should play a bit thickly. About three days··· yes, there was a really cute slave.’

Suddenly Bran’s face flitted through her mind.

Originally she was one who did not touch unripe fruit but this time she needed a somewhat different stimulation.

He had volunteered for the Bottom Farm. It would be good if he hasn’t died yet.

Just as she was grinning at the thought of spending pleasant time with Bran.

“······What?”

Sensing something, Spera stood up abruptly.

It was faint but she definitely felt vibration.

The Baron expressed doubt in a thoroughly twisted voice.

“Uum? Why are you doing that?”

“Ah, nothing. It seems I misheard.”

Spera shook her head.

It must have been a passing earthquake.

Surely nothing happened in the Bottom Farm?

Since it was originally an important place she felt unnecessary anxiety.

Sitting back down, she instructed a subordinate.

“You there. Go to the Bottom Farm once.”

“To the Bottom Farm?”

“Yes. Just ask my younger brother if nothing is wrong. It must be simple worry, why is it so···”

Anxious?

Just as Spera was about to end the words like that.

Puwaaaaak!

A giant tree trunk that smashed the floor and surged pierced Baron Philowin’s belly.

“Ungoooook?!”

“B-Baron!”

It was something that happened in an instant.

Spera froze. The Treasurer stood up while kicking the seat. The Baron’s blood was sprayed everywhere.

The women who had been pouring wine screamed and crouched.

The tree trunk that pierced the Baron was blinking in a red color like blood.

Crash!

The trunk that continued to grow smashed the ceiling and went out.

Only then coming to her senses, Spera shouted in a voice filled with shock.

“H-Harmeno?!”

It was certain. It was the Harmeno grown in the Bottom Farm.

Hurriedly looking out the window, Spera clutched her head.

“What!”

The body of the red tree was revealing itself in various places of the fortress.

Every time the winding trunk rose above the ground buildings were collapsing.

Desperate screams were bursting out from all sides.

“E-everyone run!”

“Where is Captain Spera?!”

“You slave bastards! Who told you to leave your places arbitrarily··· kuek!”

A bandit who tried to control fell.

A crack in the ground that opened its mouth at the right time swallowed him.

A pandemonium like seeing the first day of the apocalypse!

Suddenly an angry shout burst out from behind.

“Y-you damn woman! What on earth did you do?!”

“···Ah.”

Spera turned her head.

It was the Treasurer. Even while his eyes were loose from being thoroughly intoxicated by the medicine he was panting and getting angry.

“Don’t even dream of being safe! A lowly woman dares, dares to the Baron···”

“Shut up.”

Spera took her hand out of her pocket.

Pusok!

Something seemed to fly and a dagger grew on the Treasurer’s forehead.

“Gek.”

The Treasurer who had turned into a unicorn collapsed forward.

It was something she had dreamed of so much but it was not particularly refreshing.

Just as Spera was about to run out to grasp the situation.

[Ah. Microphone test.]

“What?”

[Good, it seems to be working.]

Suddenly a soft voice rang out throughout the entire fortress.

It was a loudspeaker using a Resonance Stone.

One that could only be used in the main fortress and the Bottom Farm.

However, what Spera was surprised by was not that.

“This voice is···!”

[I announce to all thief bastards and slaves! This damn building will collapse soon!]

It was a familiar voice.

Goosebumps ran through her entire body.

Bran’s shout that burst out once more shook the fortress.

[So those who value their lives! Escape the fortress before the sun rises!]