Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Wind Blowing on the Plateau (1)

#65

From of old the gimmick of falling and being eaten was instant death without asking or caring.

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

The time taken until the message rose matched the time food reaches the stomach.

Savoring the taste Arazan nodded.

“Unexpectedly sweet. If eating wild strawberries and beetle larvae together this kind of taste would come.”

“Really information I wanted to know.”

If amplifying the cool in the word cool beauty about 200 times this kind of character would come out.

In the place the defeat notification disappeared a new message rose.

『You defeated an otherworld intelligent being for the first time. Resistance to all attribute damage and Mental Power increase!』

『Weed’s Pack activates. The Mental Power growth speed of the entire pack increases slightly!』

Just roughly scanning it is delicious.

Whether because hidden boss the reward is really substantial.

A smile rose at the corner of Bran’s mouth.

‘The thought that I receive a lot compared to the effort is the first time.’

The growth of Mental Power felt good whenever he saw it.

Because it was literally a stat useful to all characters.

Furthermore the bonus of eliminating an otherworld intelligent being for the first time!

It was a level excessive for a reward eaten for free.

“Oh. My god.”

However the group’s atmosphere was not particularly good.

Clatter.

A field shovel fell from Benden’s hand.

“······Um, did I see wrong?”

Ilark who was frozen like a statue opened her mouth.

“Arazan you just now··· ate that monster?”

“Yes though.”

“Fuck.”

Ilark’s face turned pale.

Running in one go she grabbed both of Arazan’s shoulders.

“Hey. Are you crazy?!”

“Why?”

“Why? What if you get sick or something? Spit it out immediately!”

And vigorously shook her body back and forth.

An appearance as if soothing a pet dog that swallowed a bug.

Arazan shook her head.

“It’s okay. Because too small I don’t even feel like I ate it.”

“Small or whatever it is a monster from the otherworld, there is no way it is okay!”

“I have eaten worse so don’t worry. Ilark you are quite affectionate unlike your appearance.”

“What?”

“I didn’t know you would worry about me who met today like this. The flesh is steel, the heart is silk.”

Truly a direct praise.

Ilark’s ears heated up.

Stuttering forgetting what to say she removed her hands from Arazan’s shoulders.

“S-suddenly what nonsense? I just don’t want to clean up a corpse unnecessarily.”

“Thank you for caring. But I am really okay.”

Arazan smiled.

Seeing the leisurely expression Bran raised an eyebrow.

Okay. Is it really so?

Barely withdrawing the concern Ilark let out a sigh.

“Uum. If you say so then what···”

“Uwek!”

Right at that moment Arazan gagged.

As the upper body shook greatly the deer mask fell.

Sitting on one knee Arazan covered her mouth.

“Keueuk! Gak!”

“Kyaaak! I knew it would be like this!”

Ilark was astonished.

Just as she was about to drive a vomit-inducing punch into Arazan’s abdomen before it was too late.

“It’s okay Ilark. Because not dying.”

“Bran.”

“It is the side effect of predation. As you said it is not that she ate an ordinary bizarre thing.”

Bran intervened between the two.

Since it was an expected reaction it was not surprising.

In his hand a leather canteen was already held.

“Drink water. A bit different right?”

“Keueuk··· heuk··· thank you.”

Arazan stood while receiving Bran’s support.

Emptying the canteen at once she rubbed and wiped the corner of her mouth.

“···No face. I unnecessarily showed off.”

“It can be so.”

“The ability to absorb is also not clearly visible. This kind of case is the first.”

“Because that jellyfish is too strong. Empty your mind and wait a little.”

It was the same system as the game.

Arazan took longer to absorb ability the stronger the preyed enemy.

Along with the skill number limit, a handicap that somewhat catches the balance of the fraudulent trait predation that is self-proclaimed.

If it was a game a notification like [Time remaining until predation completes - 00:00] would have risen by now.

Short one or two days, long have to see up to a month.

Although caught too easily Star Shadow was originally a very strong boss.

‘I don’t know how long it will take. Since reproduction it would be faster than usual though.’

Still the value of waiting was sufficient.

Because the skills Star Shadow possessed were literally irreplaceable.

Unique skills only boss monsters have, that people and players can never learn!

It was while pondering whether to rub the stomach while waiting.

【Kyaaaaaaak-!】

Suddenly a hair-raising scream rang out.

It was the side where Kale and Namoon are.

“What, what matter··· this fuck world!”

“······Dwarf’s god.”

At the same time turning their heads the group was astonished.

A clearly different change from before was occurring.

Kale was no longer hugging Namoon.

“······!!!”

He was kneeling on the ground with both hands gathered praying.

Between the small lips an incomprehensible prayer was rapidly flowing out.

Namoon was in front of such Kale.

In a state floating about 1m from the ground.

【Kyaaaaak! Gigik! Kieek!】

The deer’s skull had been peeled long ago.

Black tears were flowing under the flipped eyes.

The arms and legs spread wide, the back bent like a bow toward the ground reminded of the heroine of an exorcism movie.

“Madam! Come to your senses, madam!”

Although Rahir was anxiously calling her no answer returned.

A beast-like scream was echoing on the dawn plateau.

“Damn, I don’t know what is what but at least Kale has to be saved!”

“S-succeeded in the end?”

The group lamented.

Arazan clenched her fist.

Although she does not know well about the purification ritual she could intuitively feel that something was going wrong.

Just as they were about to rush out to do something.

“No.”

Bran stopped the three.

On his face that turned back a meaningful smile was rising.

“It is the opposite. Kale did it.”

“What?”

“Ha, that bastard finally···.”

The group including Arazan were dumbfounded as is.

A situation that looks ruined no matter who sees it, what words?

Bran continued.

“Although it looks worsened on the outside it is not. There, do you see something going in and out around Namoon’s nose and mouth?”

“Nose and mouth··· eot, really!”

“That is evidence that purification is imminent. The fragment stuck in the head is making a last struggle. Resisting with all strength because it does not want to be driven out.”

The group’s eyes widened.

Sure enough evil energy was repeating going out and entering through her nose and mouth.

Like a refugee resisting forced eviction measures.

‘Have to strike the decisive blow.’

Judging from experience if helping a little the balance weight would tilt.

Unlike earlier when a fierce battle was occurring both would have their five senses returned so that point had to be used.

Decisive blow. Decisive blow.

Pondering the method Bran snapped his fingers.

“Aha.”

A lightning-like idea rose.

“Arazan. Go to Namoon.”

“What?”

“Hurry. You just need to enter the vision.”

“What kind of··· uum, understood.”

Although incomprehensible words Arazan did as Bran said.

Because there would be a reason as she had done until now.

Quickly approaching she stood in front of Namoon.

“······!”

And froze.

Because the deer’s skull broke the bare face was revealed.

The bare face of Namoon seen for the first time was surprisingly similar to herself.

To the point of not being an exaggeration to say everything except the color of the pupils and hair.

“So it was that.”

Arazan let out a hollow laugh.

She seemed to know why Bran made this kind of request to her.

What she had to do too.

The gaze of Namoon floating in the air while lying was not toward herself.

Then she had to make her see.

Lowering her waist Arazan whispered in Namoon’s ear.

“Mother.”

【···What?】

It was a calm voice.

Namoon’s pupils dyed black regained light for an instant.

Meeting eyes with Arazan she froze.

【Narhael.】

It was the daughter’s name.

Because Arazan wore the deer mask throughout the battle Namoon was also seeing her face for the first time.

The main voice leaked from Namoon’s mouth.

【It is a lie. How.】

Arazan made a bitter smile.

It was the same reaction as when Rahir first saw her.

Originally she was going to recite lines like ‘I missed you.’ but her mouth did not part well.

Namoon who came down from the air stood facing Arazan.

Slowly raising her hand she placed her hand on Arazan’s cheek.

“···My daughter.”

No longer did the voice ring.

Tears flowed down Namoon’s cheeks.

Not black tears but clear and transparent tears.

Just as the energy of the Outer God subsided from her eyes.

“Haaap!”

Kale let out a spirit shout and raised his body.

Paaaat!

The Divine Power he had been gathering while waiting for the timing burst at once.

The Divine Power became a flash and wrapped Namoon.

Her head tilted back.

“Keueuk!”

“Hey···!”

Arazan supported her who was about to fall.

The weight completely tilted.

From Namoon’s open mouth a blue-green light mass popped out.

The exhausted Kale fell forward.

“Ah···.”

“Kale!”

Bran threw his body and received him.

Whether completely exhausted he was only panting breath.

Looking around with unfocused eyes Kale tilted his head.

“······Bran?”

“Good work. As expected you are an amazing guy.”

It seemed he used too much strength so he could not even see the front properly.

It is understandable.

Although he did a really amazing thing now was not a good time to praise the merit.

Because the last of the last remained.

Flare.

The light mass that came out of Namoon’s mouth settled in the air.

“Th-that?!”

Benden was startled.

It looked like seeing a will-o’-the-wisp of the deep sea.

The light mass burning quietly was emitting an indescribably ominous energy.

Carefully laying Kale down Bran looked up at the light mass.

“Finally crawled out.”

Actually seeing it the impression is new.

Probably a part of the final boss encountered at the fastest timing.

Suddenly, a red warning window rose before Bran’s eyes.

『The presence of the otherworld presses you!』

『The emptiness of the Outer Sea overwhelms you!』

『The authority of ■■ denies your existence!』

『Warning! All stats greatly decrease!』

That too in succession.

It was felt that the body suddenly becomes heavy.

So-called external pressure.

The group looking at the light mass froze in place like taxidermy.

“Keueuk!”

“Sh-shit, what?!”

“The head···!”

It was a natural reaction.

Although the message is not displayed they would be receiving the same influence.

Despite being only a fragment it was emitting external pressure comparable to the rampaging Silien.

The identity of the light mass is a fragment of the Outer God.

The root of all evil that drove the great shaman crazy.

Goooooo···.

Slowly looking around the fragment began to float into the air.

【······.】

It was trying to leave judging there is no reason to be here anymore.

Even if a fragment minimal ego existed.

If left like this the guy would return to the Outer God. Or Namoon’s teacher.

Slowly. Crossing the sky as if enjoying leisure.

Although truly annoying behavior most players cannot stop that fragment.

“Damn, stop there···!”

"The body... does not move.”

Because they cannot endure the external pressure that dominates the area just by existence.

Since just pulling that out from Namoon a general happy ending is guaranteed there was no need to force it.

But.

“Where are you trying to go?”

Very occasionally there are exceptions.

【······?】

The fragment that turned to the place the sound came vibrated.

At some point Bran who leaped was swinging the sword downward vertically.

Toward none other than itself.

Hwaaaaak-!

Blue-green waves burst from inside the fragment.

『The presence of the otherworld strengthens further!』

『The emptiness of the Outer Sea amplifies!』

A new warning rose.

With this level it could take the lives of most creatures just with external pressure.

Sure enough as soon as the message appeared the body suddenly became heavy.

Capillaries burst in Bran’s eyes.

Blood dripped from the ears and nose.

Of course that did not become a reason to stop.

【······?!】

The fragment vibrated greatly.

Although it seemed to belatedly realize something was wrong the guy had no defense means except external pressure.

The blade of the longsword was digging into the blue-green body.

Mistakes are forbidden.

Bran firmly gripped the sword hilt.

“Hueup.”

In our pack each has a role.

Kale is support.

Ilark is destruction.

Benden is history exploration and data collection.

Arazan is long-range attack and utility.

Bran’s role was also decided.

Although ambiguous before now he can answer for sure.

『Indomitable Mental Power endures the external pressure!』

First advancing forward.

Even if rolling, even if getting hurt making a path the other guys can play an active part.

It was the moment the longsword that drew a wide arc came out downward.

Slaaaash!

The fragment of the Outer God was split in half.

The crushed light mass disappeared into the dawn sky.

At some point the first light of dawn was rising.

Against the background of the brightening plateau a golden window rose.

『You defeated the fragment of ■■.』

『The darkness remaining on the cursed plateau completely perished!』

The message announcing the true happy ending, that he had waited so long for.