Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Star Shadow (5)

#64

The fight ended in an instant.

Ilark could come to the friends’ side only after the fire of the axe went out.

Facing her Bran extended his fist.

“Good work Ilark. As expected you are the best.”

“Heung, of course.”

Matching fists Ilark smiled while baring her teeth.

The top contributor of this battle.

Even though the muscles are pumped like the protagonist of a fighting manga she looked pure like a fairy.

Is this the suspension bridge effect?

“Yes. There was no hard work?”

“Particularly? Except almost burning Benden to death about five times because flame control is not done.”

“···Yes?”

“Hathat! Precisely seven times!”

From a not far place Benden’s laughter was heard.

He was going around the ruined Namoon’s room and picking up items that still looked usable.

The face that turned black like a miner was proving his ordeal.

“But it was really a valuable time! Although regrettable that I could not see the intact shaman’s room, rather I was happy to be able to go around every corner of the tent. It was an experience I will never forget.”

There was a reason in the cheerful attitude unlike a person who almost died.

The volume of the backpack full of relics was swollen close to five times his own.

“Benden also worked hard.”

“It is work I did because I like it what hardship! I collected all relics with preservation value. The world will now know how honorable a country Kargai was!”

Benden laughed heartily.

At the appearance that looked sincerely happy Bran also ended up smiling along.

If it was another person not Benden he would not have been able to collect the spoils as the essence to that extent.

Like a magnet pet or something.

Anyway both performed the mission excellently.

“Fortunate that it succeeded.”

The mission of arson and relic collection.

Bran let out a sigh of relief.

“Huu···.”

It was one of the clear methods he discovered.

If burning the tent and driving out the souls the difficulty of the Star Shadow boss fight greatly decreases.

Because all of Star Shadow’s patterns are made by consuming souls.

‘If leaving Ghost Devour there is no answer. In the end even the hidden boss was eaten for free.’

The strategy used in the game worked.

The fact that he smashed the warehouse more thoroughly than Namoon’s room was also because of this.

Because the warehouse full of magic tools containing beast souls was no different from Star Shadow’s auxiliary battery.

Bran muttered to himself.

“By the way really. Firepower that words do not come out.”

He was looking at the hole Ilark pierced and entered.

In the place the tent disappeared a wide plain was unfolding.

Thread-like sparks were fluttering in the night wind.

‘Even receiving the assistance of the Crimson Stone there is a degree.’

Honestly he did not know he would do it so fiercely to this extent.

Even if he burned only about 30% of the tent he would have thought well done, to think he almost burned the whole.

It was destructive power that makes the formidable damage resistance colorless.

Ilark shook her head.

“I also almost fainted. What on earth did this bastard Alto give me?”

“Crimson Stone. I said it is a good thing.”

The Crimson Stone was an ore that has the effect of amplifying the power of fire.

A rare material that unconditionally enters the staffs of flame magicians.

The synergy with Ilark who handles heat as her main force was literally a fantastic level.

A gift befitting a dark tall uncle.

“Still I didn’t know it would be this good.”

“It means Alto cherishes you that much. A Crimson Stone of that size is hard to find even in the Red Magic Tower.”

“Heh.”

“If grateful why not write a thank you letter?”

“Th-thank you letter? Uwek!”

Ilark gagged.

Judging from standing even the scales of the tail it seemed she disliked it quite a bit.

“Telling me to write a letter to that guy?! Is that words you said to me?”

“Seems he would like it why.”

“Don’t make me laugh. You don’t know that guy’s personality. Just a crazy guy.”

Although he was confident he knew much better than the current Ilark he did not deliberately say.

Because she was a person with common sense unlike her appearance.

Briefly silent Ilark scratched her nape.

“Still what··· since I received a favor I should say thank you.”

“Thought well.”

It was a good judgment.

Alto would definitely be glad.

Maintaining a good relationship with the powerful pure-blooded Fire Dragon was by no means a bad choice.

Bran muttered.

“Then the remaining tasks are two.”

Doing a dry face wash Bran turned.

Since he shared the joy of reunion it was time to become serious again.

The remaining tasks are two.

Eliminating the curse dwelling in this land, and returning Namoon’s mind.

“Uuuu···!”

Kale’s fight was still continuing.

“Exert strength. Kale.”

He was hugging Namoon in the same posture as before.

Tremendous Divine Power enough to be visible with the eyes was overflowing and flowing out.

Rahir and Arazan were guarding the side of the two with expressions full of concern.

“Madam.”

“Eureuk. Uaaa, aaaak!”

Namoon was still convulsing.

The appearance of struggling while screaming looked pitiful.

Arazan asked.

“Bran. Why can’t Namoon come to her senses even though the enemy was defeated?”

“Because this is not something that guy did.”

What ruined Namoon was the guy she calls teacher.

An existence strong and dangerous enough that Star Shadow cannot even hand over a name card.

The teacher shook Namoon’s heart with a three-inch tongue and planted a fragment of the Outer God in her head.

“Is there nothing more we can help?”

“No.”

Bran firmly shook his head.

“From here it is Kale and Namoon’s fight. Our role is only believing the two.”

It is the reason seeing the happy ending of the Kargai Plateau is difficult.

Because eliminating Star Shadow and returning Namoon’s mind were separate stories.

Bran was confident that the players who saw a ‘perfect’ happy ending would not even be fifty including himself.

Arazan nodded.

“······Yes. Understood.”

“It will be okay. Because our peanut is amazing.”

“Even if Namoon goes wrong there will be no matter of resenting you guys. By the way there is something I have wanted to ask since earlier.”

“Yes? What?”

“Why did you leave that guy alive?”

Arazan gestured with her chin.

Star Shadow was flinching inside the glass bottle placed at Bran’s feet.

It had become smaller in size because it failed while fleeing.

At best the level of a little fingernail.

The crushed form had changed similar to fruit-flavored jelly.

“Because the curse dwelling in the plateau has to be eliminated. There is also a corner to use besides that.”

“Does the curse not release just by killing?”

“It releases but this way is better.”

By this point the guy would have come to its senses.

Bran kicked the bottle.

“Hey. Listening?”

【Eu, geueuk.】

“Release the curse.”

Whether because the size reduced the voice also became small and cute.

Star Shadow let out a low laughter.

【······Funny lowly one. Do you think I will listen to the words of the likes of you?】

“You should. Or I am thinking of handing you over to the Pantheon.”

【P-Pantheon?】

“Yes. Precisely to the apostles who manage there. Since you are serving a master from this world you would know what my words mean.”

The Pantheon spoken here was the temple located in the capital that enshrines all gods.

Judging from the appearance of flinching as if pricked by a needle it seemed the story would work.

Bran continued.

“You do not know but the gods of our world are firmly preparing these days. Because of idiots like you or your master. Guys whose origin of rolling around is unknown are continuously disrupting the order of the world.”

【······.】

“So your kind has very high value. Among the creatures that crossed from the otherworld there is almost no existence with high intelligence and able to converse like you. To find out what they were usually curious about they will show off torture techniques mortals cannot even imagine.”

Silence descended.

From the appearance of pondering he could confirm once again the fact that Star Shadow’s intelligence is high.

Because it meant it knows that being dragged to the Pantheon is a terrible matter enough to abandon pride.

Soon an answer returned.

【···I will release the curse.】

“Should have done so earlier. Also release the souls you were binding to the land.”

【The souls are already being released. Did you think I could maintain power in this state?】

Reasonable words.

Somehow there was not a single evil spirit rushing.

Hwaaaaak!

Suddenly red ripples burst from inside the glass bottle.

『The hidden boss of the cursed king’s tent, Star Shadow casts [Curse Decomposition]!』

At the same time a message appeared.

It was evidence that Bran’s threat worked.

Surprised Ilark spat out a curse.

“Ssang, what?!”

“This energy is···!”

It was a scale hard to believe it came from a small body.

The ripples that spread in an instant disappeared beyond the horizon.

【Ended.】

Soon the light subsided.

However unlike the flashy effect there was no change on the plateau.

Arazan’s brows narrowed.

“End? Nothing changed.”

【If waiting it will be. Because it is an old curse it only takes time.】

It was a voice that carried confidence.

As the guy’s words change soon occurred.

Saaaaaa···!

Over the land the waves swept dark red smoke began to rise.

It was the process of the curse that eroded the plateau perishing.

The grass of the field in the part the smoke exited was returning to blue color.

Arazan’s eyes widened round.

“That is···!”

“Doing like this it disappears faster.”

If know-how then know-how.

Even if instantly killing Star Shadow the curse releases but that method is too slow in speed.

Just shooting Curse Decomposition once like this Kargai could recover its original appearance much faster.

Star Shadow asked.

【Is there more needed?】

“What. Why suddenly acting so cooperatively?”

【Because thoughts changed. I still want to live.】

“What?”

【I will help you. I cannot die like this.】

Bran’s eyes widened.

It was a situation he experienced for the first time while doing Return Road until now.

At the truly honest remark he let out a hollow laugh.

“Funny bastard this. Saying master or something do you have no integrity either?”

【Nothing is more important than survival. Furthermore as you also know I am strong. If taking me around I will become a great power.】

“Oh···.”

Honestly it was interesting.

To the point of seriously considering recruitment if it was a game.

The boss he was fighting until just now volunteering as a pet, abandoning this kind of extremely fun choice was not an easy matter.

Bran nodded.

“Yes. Good.”

Ilark and Benden gasped.

“Wh-what how? Are you saying with a sound mind now?!”

“My god. You!”

Even Rahir who was taking care of madam could not hide his astonishment and was looking this way.

Even a three-year-old child would see it as a proposal with pitch-black insides why!

“······.”

The only one not shaken was Arazan.

Dumbfounded Star Shadow opened its mouth.

【······Really?】

“Yes. I don’t lie.”

Bran said so and picked up the bottle.

Roll roll. Tok.

Star Shadow that rolled onto the palm shouted in an excited voice.

【Excellent judgment. You will absolutely not regret!】

“I also think so. Actually I was thinking of taking you from the beginning.”

【What?】

“Among the purposes of coming to Kargai there was also taking you.”

Bran smiled.

He extended Star Shadow to Arazan.

She who picked up the soft mass nodded.

“Understood.”

And poured Star Shadow into her mouth.

Because it was small like jelly there was no rejection at all.

Between her closing lips a low perplexity leaked.

【What.】

That was the last.

Gulp.

Arazan swallowed Star Shadow.

Since it might cause trouble she chewed thoroughly.

Bran said.

“Of course what is taken is only your ability.”

The second reason he did not kill immediately.

Ability predation is fast if eaten raw.

Around the time about ten seconds passed.

『You defeated the hidden boss of the cursed king’s tent, Star Shadow!』