Ch.278Grown NPC. (4)

[Superior Demon of Greed: Level 562]

[HP: 150,000]

[Is this for real.]

-Rip!! Boom!!! Arghhhh!!!

[Guhack?!!]

The arm that was holding the spirit gets severed, and my fist plunges into the demon’s core, smashing its hideous face into the ground as it burns in Ira’s flames.

How is a demon with a higher level than the Seven Deadly Sins I saw in Aigram only a superior demon? Was Ira fighting… Has Grace been dealing with demons like this all along?

“Grace!!”

“H-huh?”

As Ira rushes toward Grace, who’s sobbing with tears and snot thinking her spirit was about to be devoured, I reluctantly follow behind, not wanting to collapse again.

[Ray.]

“Ah, I’m fine. I’ll handle this.”

Ray, immediately understanding what I was about to say, smiles bitterly as he points his sword at the burning demon. I nod and follow behind Ira.

“Why did you suddenly do that?! Trying to lure such a dangerous demon by yourself…!!!”

“U-uh. B-but Ira could get hurt too…”

“Eep!!”

Unsure whether to be angry or worried, Ira makes a strange expression and sound before finally just embracing the crying girl.

From their conversation, it seems there were two enemies. Grace had left one to Ira while she herself acted as bait to lure this demon away. She did it to keep Ira out of danger—I have to commend her for that.

[-Occupation: Second Daughter of a Count’s Family- Level: 65 Name: Grace Müller. Age: 13.]

[-Occupation Village Girl: Level 201 Name: Ira. Age: 12.]

She managed to buy time against a demon about 9 times her level. Even though Ira’s level has risen explosively recently, it must have been difficult to face an enemy with nearly 400 levels of difference. At least.

[Supreme Fire Spirit Phoenix(Infant): Name: Piyaki Level: 603]

“Peep! Peeep!!”

[Yes. You did well too.]

When the spirit on Ira’s shoulder chirps at me, I give it a small smile instead of praise. The little thing still seems unsatisfied and continues to chirp…

-Whoosh!! Boom!!

“Kugh!!”

[Guhack, what’s this? New offerings?]

[…This is absurd. Did it just devour the fire?]

“Peeek!!”

The demon, which had launched a magical bombardment at Ray who was keeping it in check, got up without any HP loss despite our attacks, even swallowing Ira’s flames from Piyaki and then burping.

Wait, no HP loss? How is that possible when its arm was cut off? My punch definitely connected too.

[One soft human swordsman, one hard golem? Both full of magical energy. They’ll be crunchy to chew.]

The moment the creature licks its lips while eyeing Ray and me, the arm that had clearly been severed begins to wriggle like a worm and regenerates like a lizard’s tail. Hmm, is this yet another new type of demon?

“Wind Riding Form 3. Wind of Exclusion!!”

Undeterred by the demon’s appearance, Ray swings his sword with a silver skill enveloping it.

Multiple slashes targeting all limbs simultaneously rush toward the demon on swift winds, and then…

-Crack!!

“Huh?!”

[What’s this? Wind? Pfft. There’s nothing here.]

Just before the attack could connect, the demon’s maw appeared in midair and devoured all the slashes.

“What?! It just… ate my slashes?!”

“Peep! Peeeep!!”

“Unnie!! Piyaki says that demon eats everything—flames, magic, and even things like cabins!!”

“*Sniff* It’s devouring all spirit arts and magic. All my spirit’s attacks, even the walls I made with magic…”

[…How absurd. A demon that eats attacks and magic?]

[Superior Demon of Greed: Level 562]

[HP: 150,000]

It ate them with its mouth. Ray’s slashes did connect somehow, but there was no change in HP. If there had been any change in HP, we’d have something to work with. Unfortunately, its HP remains unchanged. In that case…

[Lady Ira. Please climb on me.]

“Okay! Piyaki, protect Grace!!”

“Peep!!”

As Piyaki moves to Grace’s shoulder, Ira immediately jumps onto my shoulders for a piggyback ride. Even though I didn’t explain what I was planning, she seems to understand already, which makes me feel slightly proud as I proceed.

[Gigantification.]

-Boooom!!!

I expand to my maximum size. With a body reaching about 20 meters, I try to crush it with a mass too large for it to devour!

[Huh? What’s this size? Could it be, Wrath of the Seven Deadly S…?]

-Crash!!!!

I heard the creature muttering something, but with no reason to listen or respond, I simply stomp down on it.

“Wow!! We won!!! Gor, you’re amazing!!”

[Hmph. No matter what kind of all-devouring demon it is, when stepped on by something larger than its mouth, there’s no way it could…]

-Crack!! Stagger!!

[Huh?!]

“Eek?!!”

[Sla Mime Golem: Level 403]

[HP: 104,651]

The foot I used to step on the creature—that spot is torn away as if the space itself was carved out, and as my HP decreases, my giant body staggers. Wait, could it be! It ate my foot…?! Oh no, if I fall like this…!!!

[C-cancel!!]

-Thud!!!

“Gor?! Ira?!!”

“Ugh…”

[I-I’m fine!]

That’s not a report about my condition—if I had fallen while still gigantic, Ray and Grace below would have been caught up in it. So I immediately canceled the gigantification and, just before falling from midair, embraced Ira and transformed my body into slime to cushion the impact, reporting that she was safe. However…

“G-Gor!! Your leg!!”

[It’s fine. More importantly, what on earth is that demon?]

[Crunch! Crunch!! Gulp!! Ah!!! This is it!! So crunchy and delicious!! And full of magical energy, I love it!!!]

[Superior Demon of Greed: Level 562]

[HP: 150,000]

I definitely stepped on it properly, and I felt the pressure of crushing it under my foot. So how is it that its HP didn’t decrease at all? Moreover…

[Sla Mime Golem: Level 403]

[HP: 104,351]

[MP: 110]

[…I’ve lost more than half my MP.]

Originally my HP was around 110,000 and MP was about 350. The gigantification lasted no more than 20 seconds, but when my foot was bitten off, before the pain or HP loss, I first felt as if the very energy to move was being drained.

“Your m-magical energy?”

[…I can regenerate my leg quickly. Don’t worry about me, for now…]

-Whoosh!!

[Hey!! You’re delicious?! Let me eat more!!!]

“Tch!! Form 2 Guardian Wind!!!”

As soon as I fell, the creature spread its wings and charged, and Ray began countering with numerous slashes. But.

[Ah, damn it!! Your wind tastes terrible?! Put some magical energy into it! Magic!!!]

“I’m not using it to fill your stomach, you know?!!”

He can’t use his sword directly. If that maw touches his blade, it would be devoured immediately. However, it’s difficult to completely block a level 560+ demon with just wind slashes from a distance, so for now…!!

[Lady Ira. Please escape with Miss Grace using teleportation. We’ll handle this…!!]

“No!! Gor, your foot is cut off, and you can’t move without me!!!”

[That’s…!!]

Lady Ira, sticky with my slime fluid, wipes the liquid from her face and raises her eyebrows. Indeed, if Ira escapes now, I’ll be just baggage again. But still…!!

[Lady Ira. As you know, this body is just a golem. Even if it gets eaten by that creature, I won’t die. I’ll find another body and continue to serve you, so…]

“No!! I can fight too!!!”

With that, Ira begins launching fireballs at the demon, and from a distance, Piyaki also helps with other fire magic. Thanks to this, Ray’s attacks gradually begin to connect with the creature’s body, but…

[Ah! Yes!! This is it!!! Use magic, use magic I say!!!]

“Damn it!! Isn’t it cheating that you don’t die even when your face is sliced?!!”

[Superior Demon of Greed: Level 562]

[HP: 150,000]

Why? Why isn’t the HP decreasing at all? No matter how fast its recovery, there should at least be some fluctuation—decreasing and then recovering again.

Ira’s massive fireball hits the demon’s severed shoulder directly, and Piyaki’s flames burn its wings. Taking advantage of the opening, Ray’s swift slashes dice the demon’s face like cube steak, but neither the demon’s laughter nor its HP shows any sign of decreasing. What on earth…

[Ah!! You fucking swordsman?! Can’t you use magic?!! You have magical energy, so why are you only using a sword…!!!]

“You’re the one who’s fucked!! Just die already! Die!!”

[Magical energy… MP?]

[-Occupation: Bestowed Swordsman- Level: 432 Name: Ray Sol. Age: 21.]

[HP: 4,191]

[MP: 193]

The demon hurls insults at Ray, who is slicing and suppressing it, and is clearly devouring Ira and Piyaki’s magic and spirit arts. However, it can’t consume Ray’s swordsmanship—or more precisely, the magical energy imbued in his swordsmanship. Why?

Ray is properly consuming MP while using his skill [Swift Sword], so why can’t the creature steal magic from there…? Ah!!

“Eeek!!! Fireball!! Fireball!! Fireballl!!!”

[Lady Ira. Lady Ira!]

“No!! I won’t run away!! Gor, hurry and make your leg first…!!!”

[No, I’m not asking you to escape. Here, take this staff!!]

[+4 Multi-Enchanted Magic Barrier Staff: A staff made by an Aiti craftsman. (+1) Automatically deploys a magic barrier using the holder’s MP. (+1) All spell casting speed increases proportionally to intelligence. (+1) Consumed durability can be restored once a day by consuming the owner’s MP. (+1) Improves magical energy control and recovery circulation while equipped.]

[(Magic Barrier reduces 30 damage per 1 MP. Maximum damage reduction: 30,000) (Casting speed increases by Intelligence×0.3) (Automatically draws magical energy from the last person who touched it to restore durability 1 hour after use, consuming 5 MP per 1 durability. Current durability: 100/100) (Recovers 3 MP per minute. Existing spell power increases by +20) [-When they asked us to make a quadruple-enchanted staff for 10 million Can in Aigram, I thought they were suckers. But seeing the materials and enchantments they sent, turns out we were the suckers!- Aiti weapon craftsman who thinks this staff is his life’s achievement but sold it too cheaply-]]

This is the staff that Master had made specifically for Lady Ira. I had it packed in my luggage inside my body, but since it’s specialized for Ira’s protection with little difference in offensive capabilities, I hadn’t taken it out. I immediately handed the staff to Ira and told her to let only Piyaki attack while continuing my explanation.

[Lady Ira. Do you understand? That creature is devouring ‘magical energy.’]

“Yes! That’s why neither my attacks nor Piyaki’s are working!!”

[Correct. However, it can’t absorb ‘MP’ from Ray’s attacks that contain magical energy.]

“Huh, MP? I’m sure Gor said before that was magical energy…”

[No. MP is not pure magical energy. MP is a slightly different energy used to activate skills—the special abilities each of us possesses!]

At my explanation, Lady Ira tilts her head in confusion. Of course she would—despite having incredible skills, she has never consumed a single point of MP for those amazing skills. All her attacks so far have been ‘magic based on innate magical energy.’

[Do you understand? Here, the only one who can defeat that creature is probably you, Lady Ira.]

[-Occupation Village Girl: Level 201 Name: Ira. Age: 12.]

[Strength: 54]

[Agility: 79]

[Intelligence: 252]

[Luck: 93]

[HP: 1,683]

[MP: 2,031]

Only her growth can surely defeat that demon. I decided to bet everything on the fact that even if we combined the MP of everyone here, it wouldn’t amount to half of what she has even in her depleted state.