Chapter 45 : Uninvited Guest (5)

Wandering Karsuyu.

Although it was a named individual I was seeing for the first time, I immediately knew what type of demonic beast it was just by looking at its name and behavior.

‘Territory wandering-type demonic beast.’

In the Demonic Realm, most demonic beasts live while protecting their own territory.

However, that was only in general situations; if the smell of blood spread in a territory, a different situation could arise at any time.

The territory wandering-type demonic beast was one such case.

They usually roam stealthily through the territories of demonic beasts, and when traces like the smell of blood appear, they seek out the territory where the blood smell originated and hunt the weakened demonic beasts.

Just like right now.

-Krrrooooooooh──!!!

When Karsuyu’s roar echoed thunderously, not only Conlan and Albino, but even Alicia’s face turned pale white.

The roar of a Level 5 Named mutant possessed the power to easily plunge humans into fear.

‘Hmm.’

Of course, it wasn’t that we had never caught a Level 5 individual before, but that was only when we had the reliable ally, Edric.

In the current situation without Edric, could we really face a Level 5 Named mutant by ourselves?

‘There’s no choice anyway.’

If a demonic beast of about Level 5 decided to pursue, it’s impossible to escape with human footsteps.

Of course, this world was full of monsters who surpassed human limits, but at least, that wasn’t us right now.

“It’s coming!”

Thud!

Thudoom!

Wandering Karsuyu was a demonic beast with a huge body, unlike a typical wandering-type demonic beast.

Usually, wandering-type demonic beasts had the habits of a hunter lying in wait for an opportunity, so most cases had agile bodies, but it seemed some kind of mutation had occurred due to the Ascension Stone Fragment attached to its head.

‘This is better, actually.’

If it had possessed an agile body and was waiting for an opportunity in the darkness, we would have inevitably suffered damage.

However, since it was charging openly with such a huge bulk, it was much easier to respond.

We just had to shatter it from the front.

Thud!

Thudooom──!

Karsuyu charged straight towards me.

“Dodge it!”

Alicia’s scream-filled shout was heard, but I paid it no mind and stared at Karsuyu charging head-on.

[‘Haima’s Curse’ is active.]

[The wearer’s blood is rampaging due to ‘Haima’s Curse’.]

[Metabolism is greatly enhanced by the effect of ‘Haima’s Curse’.]

Heat rose from my entire body.

Along with a heat that felt as if my blood was evaporating, I narrowly avoided Karsuyu’s charge.

I had intentionally allowed the distance to become dangerously close before dodging, in order to create an opportunity.

“Now!”

With my shout, the 4th Special Task Force members rushed towards Karsuyu, which had failed its charge.

“Hyaaap!”

The one in the lead was Conlan.

Conlan’s axe swung with an absurd amount of force, striking Karsuyu’s back, and immediately after, Albino’s palm faced Karsuyu.

“Lose it.”

Magic that interferes with the senses.

-Kuuu……?

Sure enough, as soon as Albino’s magic hit, Karsuyu showed abnormal behavior.

As if it didn’t know where we were.

“Die.”

Alicia, who wouldn’t miss the opportunity, raised her sword and unleashed a fierce assault.

Although her destructive power in a single blow could be seen as lacking compared to Conlan, her swordsmanship, which looked formally learned as I had seen before, instantly stabbed at Karsuyu’s vital points like a snake.

-Kuuuoooo!!!

Karsuyu started to thrash around, letting out a bizarre cry.

“Uwaht!”

“Be careful! Brute! If you get swept up even once by that huge body, it’s the end!”

At first, Karsuyu’s struggles were merely sweeping away everything around it indiscriminately, but it gradually began to accurately target the 4th Special Task Force members.

It meant the effective time of Albino’s sensory magic was ending.

If Karsuyu was left to rampage like that again, considerable damage would occur on our side as well.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

I had to finish Karsuyu before it regained its senses.

Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to use Weapon Summon.

If I used a firearm, I wouldn’t know how far the gunshot would spread, and in the first place, I didn’t know how effective a firearm would be against a Level 5 Named mutant with such a huge body.

‘Even if I aim for the vitals, it’s difficult to finish it in one go with a firearm. In that case…….’

What I had to do was pretty much decided.

Among the methods left to me right now, there was only one that could finish Karsuyu in one go.

‘The magic I can cast may be limited…… but it’s enough.’

I gripped the Fang of Blazing Fire tightly and quietly evoked the magic of blazing fire.

A tiny magic that could only be evoked limited to the Fang of Blazing Fire.

However, this magic was clearly connected to the Demon of Blazing Fire.

Meaning, if I used this as a medium, it was entirely possible to declare a new contract.

Just like right now.

“Declaration of summary contract.”

This was not a formal contract through The Scales of Fairness.

A temporary and incomplete contract.

Therefore, it was a temporary contract that would end after a single use, but that alone was enough to overcome the current situation.

“The price for the contract is the flesh and blood of Wandering Karsuyu.”

I will let it devour the beast whole.

Fwhoosh……!

As if satisfied with the price of the contract, the blazing fire dwelling in the Fang of Blazing Fire began to surge to a level incomparable to before.

The contract was sealed.

“Blazing Fire Salamander Digs a Tunnel..”

Along with the softly resounding incantation.

Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble……!!!

The true magic of blazing fire began to reveal itself in this world.

“That’s……?”

“Wha- what is that?”

At the flames of blazing fire that began to soar from my hand, Albino, Conlan, and Alicia’s bodies froze.

“……How?”

Leaving behind Alicia’s voice, which was filled with all sorts of emotions, I controlled the magic surging from the Fang of Blazing Fire.

[Shhh, shh-shh……!]

A salamander made of blazing fire stared at Karsuyu with blazing eyes.

“Devour it, all of it.”

[Shh-shh!]

As soon as the command fell, the salamander made of blazing fire burrowed through Karsuyu’s eyes.

-Kueeeeek……!!!

Karsuyu let out a bizarre cry and thrashed, but the flames of blazing fire, which began to spread starting from its eyes, didn’t die down; instead, they instantly engulfed Karsuyu’s entire body.

[Shh-shh-shh!!!]

The tail of the blazing fire salamander repeatedly came out of and went back into Karsuyu’s nose and mouth.

-Kkeureuk, kkeurureuk…….

Naturally, its entire body was made of blazing fire, so Karsuyu’s insides, including its bronchial tubes, burned up completely.

The fight ended there.

Karsuyu couldn’t last long and collapsed, and the blazing fire salamander, having finished its role, also naturally combusted.

All that remained was a scattering pile of ashes.

As expected of the magic of blazing fire, it left nothing but ashes in its wake.

[You have defeated the Named mutant, ‘Wandering Karsuyu’!]

[Your understanding and proficiency of the ‘Fang of Blazing Fire’ greatly increases.]

Amidst the scattering ashes, Conlan and Albino were the first to speak.

“What in the…….”

“……You had that kind of magic too. I’m getting tired of being surprised now.”

Conlan still couldn’t hide his astonishment, and Albino shook his head as if fed up.

Among them, the one who showed the most intense reaction was Alicia.

“That, what happened?”

“What?”

“The magic of blazing fire. What happened to it?”

It seemed as if the flames of blazing fire were reflected in Alicia’s eyes.

“It’s not something you need to worry about.”

“Really?”

I could see Alicia’s eyes.

Eyes that looked angry, yet also somewhat sad.

Why on earth was she looking at me like that?

I couldn’t know.

“Yes.”

“……I’ll believe you.”

Alicia said that and nodded slightly.

While the atmosphere was stiff for a moment, Conlan tapped Karsuyu’s horn and spoke.

“Whew…… Can’t use this, can we? It’s all burnt up. Is it lucky that at least the horn is left? This isn’t even signed.”

A mutant’s horn.

In other words, an Ascension Stone Fragment.

Naturally, I had no intention of handing that over to someone else, so I stepped forward.

“I’d like to take that as my share. That should be fine, right?”

“Well…… It’s no different from you catching it, Vell, so there shouldn’t be any objections. Right?”

Conlan turned his gaze towards Albino and Alicia as if seeking their agreement.

“Do as you please.”

“……I agree, too.”

At Albino’s and Alicia’s words, Conlan nodded his head as if satisfied.

“No objections, then.”

“Good. Then I’ll take this.”

An income that would not have been planned originally had come into my hands.

Of course, when I came all the way to the Demonic Realm for demonic beast hunting, I had intended for this possibility to some extent, but I didn’t expect to encounter a mutant right from the first hunt.

“Then let’s return.”

It was time to return to Winter Castle.

***

The way back to Winter Castle.

“Ugh…… It’s damn heavy.”

“……Just this once, I agree, brute.”

Conlan and Albino grit their teeth and pull the temporary cart, which was loaded with demonic beast materials.

It was a temporary item with wheels made from the Orb of Water, but it was serviceable enough.

“Anyway, how should we distribute these when we get back? Should we just divide them equally among the four of us?”

I replied to Conlan’s words.

“That seems best.”

“Hmm, if you say so.”

That aside, I actually had a much more important issue remaining than that.

‘It would be better to absorb the Ascension Stone Fragment before going back.’

It was obvious, but I had no intention of entering Winter Castle while holding the Ascension Stone Fragment.

Anonymous999 would be inside Winter Castle right now, and I couldn’t possibly show the Ascension Stone Fragment to such a person.

Should I say I feel more at ease by eliminating as many variables as possible?

“Knghhh…….”

“Hey, brute! If you don’t put your back into it, this side gets pushed back!”

“I know, I know.”

While the 4th Special Task Force members were momentarily distracted by the cart, I stroked the Ascension Stone Fragment in my bosom.

It was to absorb this, just as I had done until now.

[Absorbing the ‘Ascension Stone Fragment’.]

[You have taken a great step on the path to the great heavens!]

.

.

.

[The great heavens look upon you.]

[The corrosion of Demonic begins.]

Dark, murky shadows rose, centered on the spot where the Ascension Stone Fragment was, and began to approach me.

Pure Demonic.

That energy, originating from the Ascension Stone Fragment, gradually approached me.

‘This is…….’

Why hadn’t I thought of it.

The mutants that held the Ascension Stone Fragments all possessed the Demonic attribute.

If so, wouldn’t it be somewhat natural for those who embrace the Ascension Stone Fragments to also be corroded by Demonic once they reach a certain level?

However, there was no need to panic.

For no Demonic whatsoever could dare touch me.

[The corrosion of Demonic is nullified by the effect of ‘Postponer of Ruin’.]

The shadow that was approaching me stopped, as if wondering where its earlier momentum had gone.

The power of the Postponer of Ruin did not stop there, and it began to gradually bind the stopped shadow.

Sssss……!

The power of the Postponer of Ruin completely bound the shadow, and finally, it swallowed it in one gulp.

And I could feel it.

That the Demonic which, until just a moment ago, had been eagerly waiting to devour me, had instead become completely subservient to me.

[The power of the ‘Postponer of Ruin’ has completely controlled the Demonic!]

[You have acquired the ‘Demonic energy’ stat.]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep