Ch.169Awakened NPC. (1)

“Did I really think the machete would go all the way through? I was planning to just swing if it got stuck on something, even if the ground collapsed.”

I was surprised at how cleanly it penetrated, even though I was the one who did it.

“How does it feel to have a ventilation hole in your head? Makes you want to talk now that you’ve got better airflow, doesn’t it?”

Since I saw him writing something like a scream in his status window, damage must have reached his main body(?).

I tried provoking him to draw out some clues, but he didn’t say anything.

Hmm, has he already detached like he did with Luxuria?

[Trial complete. Returning in 10 seconds.]

I tried throwing a few more words at him, but all I got back was the notification from my normal status window.

Seems like he’s really gone. Looking around, I see the Ancestor and the saint demon gradually becoming mere dots in the distance.

They’re probably heading toward the village. They’ll go back there to recover.

“Hmm, it’s a shame I couldn’t say goodbye properly, even though it was just one day.”

Anyway, the cabin collapsed because of me, and the Ancestor’s demon woman went through quite a lot. I wonder why that demon looked like Ira when she was grown up, but maybe it was just my imagination.

She looked so incredibly similar that I still have to force myself to believe otherwise. But if I force myself, I can accept it.

[8 seconds, 7 seconds…]

Well, well. In the past, it would have taken me minutes to process thoughts like these, but whether it’s because that thing detached from me or because my intelligence actually increased, my thinking speed has become dozens of times faster.

I started feeling like I was sinking into water, and suddenly thought, ‘Wasn’t I originally at the bottom of a pond in a cave?’ But whatever. The high-class spirit will fish me out.

With that thought, I quietly closed my eyes…

“…What the fuck?!”

[6 seconds.]

The moment I closed my eyes, clearing my mind of distractions, one thing popped into my head.

The still-active [Human Radar] and the image of the tentacle demon, my main target—

“Where is it going? Where?! Fuck, where is it going right now?!”

[5 seconds.]

-THUD!!!

It’s moving at an incredible speed beneath the ground. Truly, at an impossible speed, like a slimy octopus swimming underwater!

It was rising diagonally, moving silently. It had even cut off all the tentacles that had been sticking out, quietly moving so I wouldn’t detect it!!

“You bastard!! Focus on me, I said!!! Playing dead?!!”

[4 seconds.]

No matter how I look at it, it’s heading toward my Ancestor’s group. This fucking bastard!!!

I immediately grabbed a nearby tree with both hands, curling my body up like a cat. Then I put all my strength into my thighs and calves until they felt like they might burst.

I never thought I’d have to test my full power like this…!!!

[3 seconds.]

“Hey!! No. Status Window!! Please give me 10 more seconds!!!”

[2 seconds.]

-KWAAANG⎯⎯⎯⎯!!!

Seems like my status window has no intention of giving me more time, so I kicked off the tree with all my might and ‘flew’ toward where the Ancestor was.

Ah, this sensation feels familiar somehow. Right, it’s what I felt when Gor threw me.

The surrounding scenery passes by so quickly I can barely recognize it, and trees in my path explode before I even hit them. Even as a retired forest ranger, it hurts my heart to damage the mountain with my own hands, but well. The Ancestor will take care of the restoration.

“URYAAAAA!!!!”

“?!!”

As soon as the Ancestor’s group came into view and I shouted, everyone turned their heads toward me in surprise.

‘Got it…!!!’

-KUUUNG!!!

[Kceeeee!!!]

When I saw that malignant tumor-like creature—an octopus-like thing with all its legs cut off—piercing through the ground and leaping toward them, my thoughts raced instantly.

I immediately understood that this was the demon itself screaming, not its status window. And somehow I understood that my body was already starting to disappear, beginning with my legs. I didn’t see it, but I knew.

“Wha?!!”

“DIEEEE!!!!”

[1 second. Returning now.]

As the status window appeared before my eyes, my fist registered a soft yet hot, disgusting sensation.

*

“Elder!! The elves are really approaching with weapons!!”

“The spirit corps of the demon race is also visible! They’re few in number, but we have no means to fight them from a distance!!!”

“The, the front. The front!! What appears to be the Grand Elder of the elves is at their forefront!!”

A day had passed since Jack arrived at the beastkin village and entered the chief’s trial. The tension in the beastkin village was reaching its peak.

“Hohoho. Why is everyone so flustered? Are you afraid of fighting the elves?”

“N-not exactly. But we’re outnumbered, so is it really alright to let them approach without any preparations?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to use our specialty of guerrilla warfare to ambush and shake them up?!”

“That’s right!! Those pointy-eared bast—Ack!!!”

The elder flicked the forehead of the last male beastkin warrior who had spoken so passionately, and shook his head.

“Tsk tsk. You rascal. ‘Pointy-eared bastards’? We don’t like being called ‘beast mongrels’ either, so why would you call our countrymen that?”

“I-I’m sorry. B-but even one Elf Grand Elder would be quite a challenge to—Ack!! Why are you hitting me again?!”

“You rascal! That senile old pointy-ear, you can call him a pointy-ear.”

The elder pulled up the corners of his mouth into a grin and withdrew his hand, making the surrounding beastkin warriors laugh helplessly. Yes, their real enemy right now isn’t the elves or the demon race. Their real enemy is…

“C-can we really fight too?”

“I’d rather be asking you to.”

“More precisely, we’d like you to keep an eye on Elder Green Stone rather than actively fighting.”

“D-don’t worry!! In place of the injured elder! We will take the Grand Elder’s head!!”

“…I doubt even a hundred of you would be enough.”

Last night, they had brought along some of the elf knights who had been captured at Chikuyo’s house—the ones who believed their story. Amusingly, all three female elves had believed them, and among the male knights, only the younger ones did.

The senior elves—specifically those over 3,000 years old—wouldn’t listen at all, but for some reason, the younger elves around 1,000 years old immediately believed Green Stone’s explanation and Miho’s story, saying they had felt something was off too.

Yes, our enemy isn’t the elves or the demon race. It’s the Grand Elder who sold his body and soul to a demon.

“Hohoho. No guerrilla warfare. When they approach, maintain the defensive line and minimize casualties. This battle is a ‘trial’ to judge the one who harmed our village’s darling white tiger, Miho, not a ‘war’.”

“Then, we’ll set up non-lethal traps in front of the defensive line!”

“Hoho. Yes, that’s good. Off you go.”

“Yes!!”

As the male beastkin energetically left the building, the elder looked at Green Stone, who was opening his eyes with displeasure in front of him, and Miho and Chikuyo standing protectively on either side.

“Do you think you’ll win if you go again?”

“…Well, I won’t be defeated as easily as the first time.”

“No. From my perspective, you’d lose 100 times out of 100.”

“A hunt undertaken with death in mind usually ends in death.”

Despite Green Stone’s determined voice, the two women just looked down at him indifferently with their arms crossed.

And seeing the sisters’ behavior, Green Stone rubbed his face with his remaining arm, while the beastkin elder Perna smiled, his eyes crinkling pleasantly.

“Hohoho~ My, my. Two sisters so smitten with one male! You’d even cut off this elder’s remaining arm for that man’s sake, wouldn’t you~?”

“If he really doesn’t listen and tries to rush out alone, I’m thinking of breaking it at the very least.”

“Oh? Miho dear. No need to break his arm. We should crush his leg bones instead.”

“Sigh… Why am I suffering for Jack’s karma?”

“Hohoho~! If you’re resentful, you should have found a wife too! You’re not even that young anymore.”

“…Actually, I did consider it, but there was no one suitable among the elves, and if I were to take someone compatible as a partner, the lifespan difference would be too great, so I chose ‘not’ to.”

“Hoho. Typically, beast mongrels who live alone put on such airs~”

Green Stone was completely overwhelmed by the three beastkin, unable to get a word in. Seeing this, the elves watching from behind were slightly bewildered.

Indeed, how absurd it seemed now—the idea that these beastkin would want to be at odds with elves, or that the human they trusted had massacred elves. They were feeling firsthand how ridiculous those claims were.

After a brief moment of mutual understanding and pleasant conversation…

-Shiver!!

“…They’re here.”

“I won’t rush to the front, but if he takes the lead, I’ll make the first move. I don’t want the beastkin to die in vain. Besides, I’m the only one who knows his sword…”

“Just 3 moves. Show me 3 moves. Then I’ll take over.”

“Sister, I also…”

“No. The opponent is a swordsman. Leave weapon combat to me.”

“Hoho. Don’t worry. You’re not the only ones who want to face him, including myself.”

Following Perna, who started walking outside using his staff, all the beastkin and elves in the building began to move.

And all the beastkin who climbed onto the wooden barricade of the village looked outside with tension, while Perna jumped up onto the barricade and looked down.

“Hohoho. Have you come, Grand Elder of the elves? What brings you all this way with a sword in hand, without any prior notice?”

“So you’re the elder of the beastkin… It seems the chief hasn’t come out? You must know why I’m here, since you’ve been constantly scouting us. I’d like to avoid unnecessary conversation.”

“Hohoho. What we know might differ from reality, which is why I’m asking. What one sees and assumes is entirely different from what one directly sees and hears, so—”

“You must already know about the white tiger beside you, who almost became a cornerstone for the greater cause on my child’s orders, and you must have heard how Green Stone, who is in your village with his arm cut off, was defeated by me? And…”

Speaking as if discussing trivial matters, the Grand Elder continued with a relaxed smile.

“You must also know about my intention to exterminate humans, if you’re not deaf! This is all I have to say. Open your village gates immediately and submit to us elves! And participate in the coming war!! If you do, I will raise you beasts, you foolish creatures!!!”

Hearing the Grand Elder’s words, delivered with a smile and raised voice, the beastkin’s faces reddened.

And even the elves and demon race who were listening to him widened their eyes in shock. In that frozen atmosphere where astonishment and anger intersected…

“Hohohohoho…!!! Kack! Kack…!! Oh, my! At my age, to have a day where I laugh so heartily. Are you trying to kill me with laughter?”

Wiping away the tears that had formed in his eyes as if genuinely amused, Elder Perna slowly regulated his breathing and then spoke with a grin.

“Autumn is almost over and winter is approaching, yet stupidity is in full bloom? You senile pointy-eared bastard.”

Perna immediately lunged toward the Grand Elder.