Ch.127Karma-Struck NPC. (6)

In my memory, the story in ep. 2 was about elves trying to spread their hatred of humans to the beast-folk by kidnapping 100 beast-folk, killing them, and displaying their 100 severed heads in front of the human army that was busy fighting demons and monsters.

Then the elven scouts would discover this and planned to lie to the beast-folk, claiming that humans had raped the beast-folk, impregnated them, and killed all the babies in their wombs.

Of course, if that plan had been executed, Eight would have been completely ruined by ep. 2, and the game would have crashed.

The story involved the protagonist and player breaking in to rescue the kidnapped beast-folk.

And as is typical with game stories, the player and protagonist’s operation didn’t go perfectly. Since it was based on dark fantasy, there was always that one small margin of error—some beast-folk had already been beheaded by the time we arrived, just a moment too late.

That’s why I was in a hurry. If the information Mayor Avalitia had discovered—the number 23—was actually less than the total number of kidnapped beast-folk, there was a high possibility that Miho’s head was already rolling on the ground.

But then…

“There’s no need to rape them and make them bear half-breeds between humans and beast-folk.”

…After beating up those bugs at the hospital and hearing they were in the mountains, I rushed here using my veteran ranger’s detection skill, fully believing those bastards had perfectly repented thanks to Attorney Ju’s eloquent speech. What I heard upon arrival was so absurd that my astonishment soared to the heavens.

-Crack.

-Thud!

“Wait. We need to listen until they finish talking.”

The guy, unaware of our hiding presence, was spewing nonsense at length, and I realized this was different from the game.

…Not killing 100 people, but raping them to make beast-folk bear human half-breeds? Hmm, Miho, at least you don’t have to worry about losing your head?

“As if I could say that, damn it.”

As soon as I saw them climbing the trees, I swung my fist with all my might, determined not to let a single one escape.

“What are you thinking?! Such a concentrated attack will collapse the cave behind us…!!!”

And right on cue, Green Stone activated his magic, expanding the blast range caused by my punch.

Thanks to that, the cave remained intact, while all the bastards were slammed into the cave wall by my punch.

“Where’s the Kssare beast that was with me? You old elf bastard.”

I suspect she’s in the cave behind them, but the problem is I can’t detect her. More precisely, I can’t see inside the cave at all.

They must have used some kind of magic to block detection, and it seems skills aren’t omnipotent in this regard. I glared at him with murderous intent.

“…Human. You’re the human who was with Miho.”

“Is there moss growing in your ears? I asked where Miho is, you idiot.”

“Green Stone. Can you remain unmoved seeing this situation?”

What’s going on? Can’t he hear me?

Maybe there’s too much profanity and it’s being filtered? Despite clearly seeing me, he completely ignores what I’m saying and focuses only on Green Stone behind me.

“Excuse me, Elder Elf? I was asking where our white tiger beast-folk Miho is…”

“Elder Er Jim. What are you thinking? Do you believe you can live forever trapped in Siltra by increasing the rift with humans this way?”

“You’re right. We will eventually need to go outside.”

Oh, great. Now even Green Stone is ignoring me and they’re starting to talk to each other.

This is driving me crazy. I even spoke politely to avoid profanity filtering, and this is how they respond?

“Then…!!”

“But not now. Just looking at this human you brought makes that clear.”

“He may be unusually strong, but not all humans are this…”

“No. You don’t understand. It’s exactly like 8,000 years ago. When demons invade, humans pile up their corpses and grow stronger. That situation has already begun. Just look at the strength of the humans living in the city of Aigram…”

-Tap!!

“?!”

“Excuse me, do you know where Miho is?”

-BANG!!!

“Y-you?!!”

What? Why? Don’t you know that ostracizing someone is also school violence?

You ignored me first. I’m not interested at all, but you two were having your serious conversation while ignoring me.

I swung my fist—the excellent communication tool of loners—and struck him squarely in the chest.

-Splat!

“Huh?”

“…Cough. Even faster than I thought. I was planning to break your wrist.”

I thought he couldn’t react to my punch and just got sent flying, but blood is spurting from my wrist.

…What? Why is he so strong?

[-Occupation: Elf Elder- Level: 432 Name: Er Jim. Age: 9746]

[HP: 10,921]

Er Jim. Er Jim. What is Er Jim?

I don’t remember this name from the game. Actually, there weren’t any mid-boss elf elders to begin with.

I clearly remember that one Great Elder elf was the mid-boss, and the Demon of Wrath controlling him was the boss of ep.2. This memory can’t be wrong.

“Human, this doesn’t concern you. If you leave now, I won’t pursue you. After our brief exchange, you must understand? If I had intended to take your head, you…”

“No. Stop talking nonsense. I’ve been repeatedly asking where Miho is, and you’ve been completely ignoring me.”

“……”

“Jack! Stop it!”

As I raised my fist and stepped forward again, Green Stone immediately jumped in front of me with his sword drawn, facing off against the elf.

Wait, why are you doing this too?

“Er Jim is the master who taught me swordsmanship! You may be exceptionally strong for a human, but you have no chance against an elf who has lived for almost 10,000 years…”

“You mean he’s just an old geezer with moss growing in his brain from living too long?”

Good grief, Green Stone’s master? Someone I’ve never seen in the game is a rapist? Has the world gone mad?

No. Can an elf who’s lived 10,000 years even get it up? How did he come up with such a disgusting plan?

While I was thinking this, I noticed Green Stone sweating nervously, and I let out a heavy sigh.

“Hey, old man. I’m backing down because Green Stone is asking me to, but here’s my last question. Is Miho inside that cave?”

“Leave this place. Now that I know Green Stone Elder has a connection with you, not killing you here is my greatest mercy…”

“Ah, I might as well talk to the wall. Green Stone, just move aside.”

“You really!!”

-Thud!!

“I said move.”

“!!!”

This is really driving me crazy. I’m tired, and I can’t stand listening to this damn old geezer talking like he’s already won.

I push past Green Stone’s shoulder and lunge forward. That wasn’t even my full power or speed earlier.

Let’s have a proper fight.

“Hmm, even faster than before.”

As I dash forward, kicking off the ground and blending into the landscape, I hear his voice. Wait, could this be…

“But too linear.”

While my stupid brain is thinking all this, my fist still hasn’t reached his face, and the world seems to slow down.

Wait, this isn’t just my imagination? Ah, I get it! This is that life-flashing-before-your-eyes thing! First time experiencing it!

His hand seems to move slowly, yet it’s clearly faster than my outstretched fist.

And the moment his sword is drawn.

-Splat!!

“But you know, I can get even faster?”

“?!!”

-WHAM!! THUD!!!

“Guhk?!!”

His sword, vastly faster than my fist, merely grazed the top of my head, and I curled my lips into a smile as I drove my fist into his solar plexus. Then I grabbed his face and delivered a knee strike.

The moment my face connected with his, his sword accelerated again as if alive, and my world slowed down once more.

Hmm, that’s strange? This… no, this isn’t the life-flashing thing.

-Swish!!!

“Urgh?!!”

“Y-you?!!”

“Well, that wasn’t much.”

“W-what? How on earth?!!”

Three silver lines instantly cut through the air.

But none of them came close to my body, even less effective than the earlier head graze. I faced him directly and flashed a mocking smile.

“Sly old man. You know about [Skills], don’t you?”

“…No way. You too?”

“S-skills? What on earth are you talking about?”

From Green Stone’s reaction, it seems the elder hadn’t shared this knowledge with him.

But for an elf who’s lived nearly 10,000 years, it shouldn’t be surprising that someone knows about his skill.

Well, Ragni knew about two of his own skills too, and in this world, people are gradually discovering the skills they possess.

“Skill. [Swordsman’s Blade] A skill that guarantees your sword connects first in the initial exchange. It doesn’t apply to subsequent strikes. Right?”

“…Ha, hahaha!! Look, Elder Green Stone. Even the secrets of elves preserved for ten thousand years are so easily penetrated by humans who don’t live a hundred years. Do you still think humans won’t attack elves?!!”

Despite bleeding from his nose after being hit by me, he exclaimed toward Green Stone, and I just shrugged my shoulders.

No. That’s just your delusion. Why are you ranting about something that hasn’t happened yet and never will?

“Green Stone. I’ll leave this old geezer to you. It seems Miho is inside the cave, so I’ll go get her.”

“W-what? Wait, I…!!”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never beaten your master? Don’t worry. You’re stronger. That skill isn’t actually what I just described.”

I stepped back and revealed the weakness of that skill to Green Stone.

That thing is a downgraded version of Rey’s [Swift Blade]. It’s even a garbage skill that’s obsolete in PVP.

Right. Now I understand. A weakling relying on such a skill wouldn’t appear as anything significant in the game. He was probably just treated as a random elf mob.

“W-wait!! Even if you tell me that, I can’t…!!”

“Green Stone. You said it yourself earlier, didn’t you? If elves are involved, it’s your job as an elf, not mine as a human.”

“……”

The reason I stayed quiet with Green Stone after arriving here and confirming the elves’ presence was to understand why they were doing this while preventing myself from killing all the elves.

According to him, if I killed elves, their hatred for humans would intensify, potentially leading to a real war.

But you know what?

“If you say you can’t do it, I’ll kill that old geezer right now. War? Tell them to go fuck themselves. If we’re late and something happens to Miho’s body…”

“I understand. …I’ll handle it.”

“Great! Now we’re talking!! So then…”

“Do you think I, ‘we,’ will just stand by and watch?”

The elves who had been slammed into the wall by my punch earlier were getting up one by one, drawing their swords, with the blonde elf wiping his nosebleed at the front.

Hmm, I have to admit I’m envious that he still looks young despite living for 9,000 years. He could pass for my age despite being nearly 10,000 years old.

“If you don’t stand by and watch, you’ll get beaten so badly you’ll regret it for a long time.”

I smiled at Green Stone and charged forward to show him this fight, and the old man activated his skill again.

Come on. I was just caught off guard experiencing it for the first time in reality, but I already told you it won’t work!

-CLANG!!!

“Urgh?!”

“One-trick skill. Path-etic.”

I easily deflect his sword with my palm.

Seriously, even without the skill, isn’t it a problem that his swordsmanship is slower and more predictable than Rey’s?

He’s been wasting 9,000 years. This is Green Stone’s master?

I immediately drive my fists into his arm, solar plexus, and jaw, finishing with a kick to the groin that sends him flying.

“@$#^@!!!!”

[HP: 3,434]

His inhuman scream echoes through the mountains as his HP drops by more than 7,000. Good. This way, Green Stone won’t lose, even by some remote chance.

And even if Green Stone can’t kill his master, the old man will never think about doing anything to a woman ever again.

After completing the chemical (physical) castration of this ill-mannered old man, I notice all the hooded elves who had been seriously trying to block us with their swords are now staring at me with their mouths wide open.

What? Why?

“E-Elder?!!!”

“H-how? This is a human…?”

“M-monster…!!”

“E-Elder Er Jim…!! Defeated in one go?!!”

“W-we can’t win…!!”

Some of them are even dropping their swords on the ground, losing their will to fight. But I have no reason to understand them, and I never intended to let any of them leave alive.

Even if Green Stone doesn’t kill them, I’ll hunt them down to the ends of the continent with my veteran ranger skill.

You guys have crossed a line that should never be crossed, even by world-level standards.

“You beast-folk-raping elf bastards. Your boss just received his punishment. And now, our Attorney Ju… no, Judge Jeong will pass judgment on you.”

“Eek?!!”

“W-wait!! We…!!”

“I never raped any beast-folk…!!!”

“I-it’s a misunderstanding…!!!”

The hooded elves start blurting out whatever they want to say, but I’m in a hurry right now, and also sleepy.

“Shut up. I’ll now deliver Judge Jeong’s verdict to you all. Just accept your punishment.”

Judge Shin-bone has ordered the execution of your groins.