Chapter 69 |
◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (69)
Ruthven's marksmanship was astounding, and despite his race being fatally mismatched for handling a blessed gun, the bullets he fired were incredibly fast and powerful.
However, KiJun was a summon who had contracted with spirits of light and flame.
His shield, already quite sturdy, became nearly invincible against firearms.
-Tung!
A bullet, deflected by the swiftly swung shield, streaked through the air like a laser and penetrated Ruthven's thigh in return.
Bouncing bullets off his shield to hit the shooter was an amazing feat, an adaptation of the Flash Throw skill, but a surprising technique for those on the receiving end.
"Ha."
Even as he fell, losing his balance, Ruthven admired purely.
"Everything about you is beyond expectation... Vampires have become a laughingstock because of you."
Ruthven chuckled and looked up at KiJun, letting his gun hand droop.
But KiJun, seeing that Ruthven couldn't move, also lowered his shield.
"…You won't kill me?"
"I have my own principles."
KiJun spoke calmly.
"I want to be a superhuman who is not swayed by external pressure, situations, or my own desires."
"Aaah―I kind of got that from the short time we explored the relic together. Cough, sounds a bit naive, doesn't it?"
Ruthven, coughing up blackened blood, teased KiJun.
KiJun snorted in response.
"There’s no use provoking me. Killing someone who never intended to kill me from the start leaves a bad taste."
"You're going to tire of it. Cough... What if I escape alive? All your information will be delivered to the vampires, right?"
"I have no information that would be problematic if leaked."
"There is one. If they eat your cooking, all vampires will weaken―Ah, Carmilla will probably spread that herself. Cough, oh, Carmilla is Armillca's real name, by the way, a vampire."
"I know."
Seeing that nothing he said would change KiJun's mind, Ruthven sighed and raised his gun.
"It was always like this. I intended to test you, but it turns out I was the one being tested all along... Not bad, but you're too straightforward."
Bang, Ruthven fired the last of his mana into the trigger.
KiJun, realizing the shot wasn't aimed at him, quickly turned around.
The first thing he saw was the giant wolf Hati's body, split open at the abdomen.
Next, a blue moon fragment soaring into the air—Hati's heart.
Lastly, the figure of a black-furred werewolf, caught off guard and failing to catch it, entered his view.
"So you fall prey to such hyenas coveting your loot."
Ruthven mocked KiJun.
Who was the one who insisted on fighting without time to loot?
KiJun, incredulous, casually retorted.
"Actually, I didn't kill you because I knew this would happen."
"Smooth talker."
-Grrrrr...
Could that be Quinodon, the one who led the other werewolves into this relic?
He seemed quite strong, of course—but recalling how I had been wary of him as a Legendary grade, I couldn't help but laugh.
Moreover, his sorry state and apparent injuries suggested he might have already clashed with KiJun's party members.
'Right, Lora, In!'
KiJun, suddenly remembering his party members, became anxious, but dealing with the werewolf before him was the immediate priority.
'Lucy!'
—I was already prepared!
—Keiiit!
Chains of light sprang from the ground, swiftly binding the werewolf.
Ur added his power a moment later, igniting the chains and inflicting additional damage on the werewolf.
—This much―!
The werewolf, Quinodon, forcefully tore apart the chains binding him.
But before he could seize the heart floating in mid-air, a hand reached out from behind.
"Uh...?"
-What!
Even KiJun, sharing senses with Lucy, couldn't catch the movement in time—was it not just fast, but stealthy?
In any case, the hand suddenly reached out, snatching the moon fragment without giving Quinodon any chance.
The essence of the moon, swallowed by Hati and merged with the divine beast's heart in his body, was highly condensed.
The greatest treasure of this relic, sought by Quinodon―
"Mr. Jun."
The werewolf holding Hati's heart called KiJun's name.
His entire body was soaked in blood not his own, his eyes gleamed with murderous intent, and his axe, originally silver-plated, was now so stained with blood that its original appearance was barely discernible.
Yet, there was still rationality in his voice.
"Instead of the moon-infused silver, may I have this?"
"Gin..."
Even as KiJun faced him and called his name, he couldn't believe it.
The guy who seemed to have no talent for battle had fought until his weapons and body were drenched in blood.
—It is mine―!
"It's not yours. It belongs to Mr. Jun."
Facing a werewolf twice his size, Gin skillfully maneuvered his body to dodge every attack and protected the heart.
—He's become a completely different being. His level seems to have risen tremendously too.
With Lucy's remark, KiJun realized something.
Hadn't the area been eerily quiet since a while ago?
He had thought everyone fled at Hati's appearance, but if not, then...
If someone had been killing them one by one...
If it was the werewolf before him...
His rapid growth would make sense.
"Indeed... Cough, you've overcome it."
"Overcome? That's overcoming?"
"If you may, could you give that to the boy... At least, it has a higher chance of success than consuming the moon-infused silver, Cough... "
Ruthven spoke calmly.
"Of course, he won't become human. But gaining the strength to resist reality is better than dreaming an impossible dream... Hoo."
KiJun recalled what Ruthven had said earlier and closed his eyes, then reopened them.
Ruthven wasn't curious if Gin could become human again; he sensed that Gin would walk the same path as him.
An immortal hunter.
Sensing the anger and hatred emanating from the werewolf, who could no longer be called a boy, KiJun bit his lip and finally said,
"Gin, if you become a monster—I'll kill you."
He formally transferred his loot to Gin.
"It's okay, Mr. Jun."
—Release it!
Lucy's chains, spawned anew, captured Quinodon as he surged towards Gin with his remaining energy.
From the moment Ruthven noticed his attempt to steal, Quinodon's intention was as good as thwarted, his struggle now only laughable.
Gin, too, sneered at him and muttered quietly.
"I'm already a monster, aren't I? Feel free to take my life."
After finishing his words, Gin swallowed the blue heart in one gulp.
—No, nooo―― Ahh!
A racial transformation occurred.
Firstly, a mist-like black smoke seeped out of Gin's body and dissolved into the air.
Next, a simultaneous surge of blue and silver light enveloped Gin's entire body. Quinodon, trying to break the chains and pounce on him, was repelled by the light, suggesting it was indeed the essence of silver.
The change was brief but dramatic.
Though smaller compared to Quinodon, Gin's physique, which was much larger than that of an average human or Ain, shrank noticeably to resemble that of a regular human male.
"Ah...?"
Not just in size, but his overall appearance became more human-like too.
He still had the silver-blue tail and wolf ears, but apart from those, he looked entirely human.
His hair turned blue, and his still youthful face now bore silver eyes.
As KiJun heaved a sigh of relief, a message appeared as if on cue.
—You have completed the Hidden Quest! By fulfilling the wishes of the unfortunate werewolves trapped by the curse of the Vrykolakas, you have removed the yoke from the necks of the runaways!
—You have skillfully resolved a quest that was hidden in its very existence, approaching it without prejudice towards light and darkness. A very positive adjustment is added to [Unveiler of Veils (R)]! The title effect amplifies the rewards beyond limits! You have gained 12,000 points!
—Your level has increased by 5 to 50! Strength (U) 3, Dexterity (L) 3, Endurance (U) 5, Light Magic (L) 2, Spirit Power (L) 2 have increased!
—As a quest reward, the lowest stat [Strength (U)] increased by 3, the next lowest [Endurance (U)] by 3, and additionally, Charisma (L) increased by 5!
—You have gained 1 skill point to increase the level of a skill of your choice as a quest reward!
"What is this...?"
"You've escaped the curse of the Vrykolakas... congratulations."
Ruthven chuckled and commented as Gin, now resembling a muscular young man, awkwardly felt his own body.
"With the true power of the moon now within you―you'll no longer be swayed by the moon in the sky."
Swoosh, he tossed the gun in his hand to Gin.
Gin, though confused, caught Vladimir. Unlike when Ruthven held it, Vladimir didn't ignite in flames in Gin's hands.
Rather, it resonated with the magic flowing within Gin, enhancing its power in real-time.
"It has found its master."
Ruthven muttered with satisfaction and pointed at something.
Gin, following Ruthven's gesture, saw a black werewolf struggling to stand, charging towards him.
—How dare you, such a lowly creature―!
Though it was like a hyena, aiming for a backstab, its persistence in clinging to its target was indeed worthy of the wolf name.
Bang!
Without hesitation, Gin pulled the trigger, sending a silver bullet through its forehead.
As Quinodon, already at his limit, fell lifeless, Lucy remarked quietly,
—There were plenty of chances to end it. You let it go, didn't you?
'I just thought it'd be better to end it myself.'
KiJun sighed and replied, prompting Ruthven to speak again.
"Could you give us a moment, then?"
"You wanted to be killed?"
"So, I found someone to do it in my place."
"Ha."
If he was so eager to die, KiJun felt it was no longer his concern.
...Besides, Ruthven seemed like he would die soon without anyone's interference.
Though he wondered why he hadn't received the quest reward, it seemed he was automatically excluded from the quest due to leaving the party.
If Ruthven had anticipated even this...
KiJun snorted, hiding his bitter feelings.
"Do as you please."
"Mr. Jun..."
"I'm sorry to pass this on to you."
He patted the flustered Gin on the shoulder and spoke softly,
"Please."
"…Okay."
As KiJun walked past him, he spotted the still intact corpse of the giant wolf.
Normally, a monster's corpse would disappear once the parts rich in magic were harvested.
After extracting eight claws, crushing the teeth, and even removing the heart, the fact that the corpse remained was extraordinary.
'Or does it not count if harvested while alive? If so, the Slaughter skill is more amazing than I thought.'
KiJun pondered for a moment before checking with Lucy.
'Have you found In and Lora, Lucy?'
—Both are safe. In is carrying Lora and walking this way. You can go on with your business.
'Thanks.'
Now that he had confirmed the safety of his party members, KiJun dragged the wolf's corpse away, careful not to disturb the two's conversation, and quietly proceeded with the butchery.
He selected the sharpest and hardest teeth (U+), harvested the most intact and tough parts of the hide (U+) for possibly making two or three leather armors, and after all that, the wolf still didn't disappear, which impressed him, so he butchered the ribs (L).
'Why are only the ribs of Legendary grade, it's infuriating.'
-But why the ribs, Contractor?
'Well, I've already taken all the parts for equipment, so now it's time to choose the parts for eating. Didn't you know, Lucy, that hunting monsters is partly for the food?'
—I love how you become eloquent when it comes to eating.
—Keiiii!
Naturally, both Lucy and Ur had long been influenced by KiJun's ways, eagerly anticipating the meal he would prepare from the legendary wolf Hati's ribs.
Despite the wolf's massive size suggesting over a ton of ribs could easily be harvested, regretfully, only about 300 kilograms were secured before the remainder of the wolf's corpse vanished in a flash of light.
'Ah, I should've just skinned it without taking the ribs.'
Regret was futile after the fact.
KiJun stored all the harvested items in his inventory and watched the disappearing body of Hati, lost in fleeting thoughts, when he noticed a small coin falling to the ground.
—Phew, the sensation of an avatar disintegrating is truly dreadful.
Part of the soul of the vampire Carmilla, a split spirit, was flying inside the relic.
As she told Lora, her avatar was made of blood, but that alone was insufficient for proper thought or to wield a vampire's power.
Thus, a part of the soul had to be temporarily encapsulated, but failing to properly reclaim this piece could severely harm the main body.
—Ideally, I wanted to ensure our Lora fully awakened as a vampire before making a move, but it seems that vermin Ruthven likely failed, so no choice.
Given a mission to investigate and possibly kill the man who inflicted significant damage on vampires, only for him to constantly oppose her and act strangely, she was not surprised by his pathetic failure.
If he returned alive, she'd gladly crush him herself, she vowed while flying, when suddenly something dark blocked her path.
It was another spectral entity.
—What are you?
—Hehe...
It approached with a sinister laugh and whispered to her,
—You dared harm Him and thought to escape?
—What nonsense are you spouting, you lowly spirit?
—You can't escape.
The spirit suddenly expanded.
Her beautiful, flowing black hair spread out like a curtain, engulfing everything in darkness.
Only then did Carmilla realize the spirit was no easy foe, but by then it was too late.
The spirit, having engulfed Carmilla's split spirit, digested it to strengthen itself, then―hehe, laughing as if nothing had happened, returned the way it came.
Back to His side.
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