Chapter 96
"Zero, you heard too, right?"
"Keke, for now."
"There's another demon appearing? Shouldn't we be following them?"
Of course, that's not the case.
"That place will be sufficient with just those people. What we need to focus on is something entirely different."
"What? What does that mean?"
"Keke, it's a secret."
"..."
Hmm, sorry Luna. The truth is, I don't really know any more than that.
-When the protagonist's party enters the boss room of each episode, a portal leading to a hidden boss room opens.
It was one of the phrases written in the quest [For the Clear] I received when I woke up in the game.
'Rodelin's party has entered the boss room, so a portal leading to the hidden boss should open soon...'
Nothing was visible.
Is it a bug? Just as I was thinking that, Rezé suddenly jumped and clung to Luna.
"What's the matter? Why are you like this?"
"There, there, there, there, there, there, there..."
"What's 'there'?"
"It's, it's an ominous aura. We, we have to run away!"
I immediately headed towards the place Rezé was pointing to.
'Found it.'
The darkness with no visible end inside it, and the black mist swirling around it.
Shaking irregularly here and there.
'The portal.'
"Yiikes!!"
Turning around, Luna and Rezé were already there.
The idiot hair on top of Rezé's head started spinning around. (TL Note: For those that are fans of anime, it's basically an Ahoge)
"Yikes! It's, it's ominous! That, that place is definitely hell!"
What's that? Can it detect danger? Is it some kind of radar?
Then, if I take off that idiot hair and attach it to my head, will I be able to detect crises too?
It was when that I was entertaining such absurd thoughts.
"...Zero, what is that? You know, don't you?"
But I couldn't scare them.
After all, I have to occasionally enter there and have thrilling dates with the hidden boss.
I decided to speak as calmly as possible.
"Well, it's nothing much. Just a portal that leads to a place with a demon?"
"How, how can that be nothing!!"
Rezé screamed out loud.
So, she was a child with such a loud voice. I learned something new about Rezé.
Luna slowly approached and examined the portal.
"Definitely, I can feel the magic. It's certain there's something like a demon there. Zero, don't go near. The demon might suddenly drag you in."
Luna raised her arm and gently pushed my chest.
Whether it's a demon-filled portal or not.
It meant she would stand in front and wait.
'I would usually be happy about this...'
But not today. I raised my hand and lowered Luna's arm. And then.
"Keke, it's because of me."
"...What does that mean?"
I couldn't tell her it was because of a quest.
But it was fine. I had thought up a plausible excuse long ago.
"It's a curse. A demon has cursed me."
"A curse...!"
It's a world where magic exists. Naturally, curses exist too.
A demon's curse that can be used from at least the third tier.
Luna's expression turned gloomy in an instant.
"Is it a persistent type of curse? There may be a way to break it inside there."
"Well, something like that. I'll explain later. We need to solve this first."
"That's right. Well, we just need to kill it, right? Rezé, you stay here. We'll be back soon."
Rezé, hiding behind a tree, nodded frantically.
Luna stepped in front of me.
"Ready? Then let's go."
A smirk escaped me at Luna's matter-of-fact attitude.
Going together to a place with a demon, not even knowing what it is.
Sometimes I think, Luna's loyalty to me is astonishing. "I can go alone. Just tell me how to do it. To break your curse..."
I reached out and grabbed Luna's shoulder.
And looked into her eyes.
"What?"
"Keke, I appreciate the sentiment, but this is something I must handle alone."
"Why? It's better together."
"Do you remember what I consulted you about last time?"
Then Luna's head snapped up.
Inside there... there's someone who has made a contract with a demon.
I scratched my head.
It was because I remembered Luna's advice about my first killing.
-If you find yourself in a situation where you have to kill each other, don't hesitate to kill. That's how the person beside you survives.
Not killing to save myself, but to protect my comrades, that was the advice.
I've deeply engraved that advice in my heart ever since that day. And today is.
'Just the day to put it into practice.'
Luna nodded as if she understood.
"...I see."
"Yes, that's why I must go alone."
"Go by yourself?"
I nodded.
There was a good reason for wanting to go alone.
'I overwhelmingly have the upper hand in terms of strength.'
Lérang is just the boss of the first chapter.
One Flash, two or at most three times should be enough to take him down.
'Normally, it should end in one blow, but my stats are too low.'
The One Flash I mimicked with Divine Imitation is an A-grade skill, but it means I can't unleash its full power.
But even that was enough to defeat Lérang.
Anyway, there's no chance I'll die, so I planned to use this opportunity to adapt to this world.
I wanted to gain experience in fighting, but the biggest reason was...
'The experience of killing.'
If Luna came with me, she would definitely be the one to strike Lérang's neck.
Because she wouldn't want me to feel guilty.
But that shouldn't happen. To a comrade, to a friend.
I can't force the guilt of killing upon them.
So, this is something that Luna shouldn't do, but I must.
"Idiot. You can rely on your friend."
"...Keke, it's mutual. Because later, I'll make you rely on me, so look forward to it."
"I don't need to. I'll kill all my enemies myself. Anyway, next time, even if you hate it, we'll go together. So..."
Thump-.
Luna's fist lightly tapped my chest.
"Go and come back. I trust you. If it seems dangerous, scream right away."
"Keke, understood."
Receiving Luna's farewell with a forced smile.
I threw myself into the portal.
* * *
Click!
As soon as I emerged from the portal, I took a stance.
The stance to use One Flash.
But no attack came.
Whoosh-.
The portal vanished in an instant.
I wasn't worried. As soon as I kill Lérang, the way back would open, that's the system.
I quickly scanned the surroundings.
'It's a training ground.'
How did I know? Because it looked exactly like the map from the game.
Lérang's personal training room in the northwestern blue forest.
Since gamers had to pass through here to finish chapter one, it was impossible not to know.
Yes. The place I was in was the same place Rodelin's party had entered.
'Though the background is the same, we're in different dimensions.'
It was when I was cautiously surveying the surroundings.
"Urgh... uh..."
A groan was heard.
Instinctively, I knew it was Lérang's groan.
I peeked out from behind a training dummy.
Lérang was lying on the ground, groaning.
His right hand was tightly clutching a demon sword.
No, it felt more like the demon sword was clutching his right hand.
Because mysterious veins from the demon sword were burrowing into Lérang's right hand.
'...A surprise attack won't do.'
If I attacked from behind with One Flash and Sky Splitter, I could easily win.
But that wouldn't allow me to 'repent' Lérang.
That's exactly why I gave up on a surprise attack.
I slowly revealed myself in front of Lérang.
"Teacher Lérang..."
"Ze, Zero... How did you... Urgh! I thought Rodelin and the others would come... Unexpected."
Lérang started trembling.
He shouted, holding his right arm with his left hand.
"Zero! Go, go back! This place isn't for you!"
"..."
Currently, Lérang was being consumed by the demon sword.
Struggling to contain his anger, and the reason he took up the demon sword, was his emotion.
'Inferiority complex' was exploding and driving him mad.
Yet, he was worried about me. Could it be that he is a teacher after all?
It seems like there won't be much time for conversation.
So, I decided to provoke him to draw out his true feelings.
The true feeling of inferiority complex had to be drawn out for repentance to follow.
"To contract with a demon... I'm disappointed."
"Th, this is... I was deceived! I just wanted to learn more of the noble families' swordsmanship!"
"That's exactly why I'm disappointed."
Lérang's body twitched.
"I didn't understand when you advised me last time, to learn the noble families' swordsmanship and succeed."
"That, that was all for you..."
"For me? Well... I'm not sure. The end is right before my eyes... Should I say it's quite ugly? I don't really want to follow that."
"Ugh, aaaaaah!!"
Squelch- sizzle-.
Lérang grabbed and tore at the veins sticking to his right hand with his left hand.
Boom!!
At the same time, the demon sword pulsed greatly, and magic power burst out.
At the same time, Lérang let out a roar.
"What do you know to babble about!"
Hmm, successful. It seems he hasn't been completely consumed by the demon sword.
Though he seems very angry.
'Information Window.'
[The Disgraced, Mimic Lérang: ???]
Lv: 21
Strength: 66(+33)
Agility: 43
Intelligence: 57
Stamina: 400(+200)
Magic Power: 100
Disposition: Neutral
The being who led his family to ruin.
Each secret technique he uses boasts astonishing destructive power.
With the power of the demon sword obtained through a contract with a demon, he became able to use more families' secret techniques.
Owned Skills: [Swordsmanship B], [Dynamic Vision C], [Fleur Family Style C], [Mimic C], ..., [Imitation C]
Current State: Berserk state. Strength and stamina are doubled.
The right arm is being eroded by the demon sword.
Current Erosion Rate: [79.325%]
Special Skill: [Demon Sword Release]
When unleashing the power of the demon sword, attack power increases by 200%.
In return, the erosion rate of the demon sword increases by 0.5%.
A manageable spec to confront.
Especially since I've gained 10 levels in the ant nest.
Although I haven't used stat points, all stats have increased by +10 due to leveling up.
With such a difference, it was worth a try.
'The special skill is a bit annoying.'
[Demon Sword Release].
Originally it's a 100% increase, but now it's increased to 200%. One mistake could lead to death.
Of course.
'That won't happen.'
Lérang slowly approached, shouting.
"Zero, you have to believe me! Believe and follow the advice of your senior!"
Senior, huh...
I used the [Eye Opening] skill and took a stance.
The left knee slightly bent, with the scabbard set at a right angle to match.
This caused the waist to bend further.
Stepping forward slightly, with explosive instantaneous acceleration.
Lérang's eyes widened.
The first secret technique of the Lester Family Style.
One Flash.
--TL Notes--
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