Chapter 144

Chapter 144

144: Part 2 – Prologue Magical creatures with magical power have long been catalysts for various spells and magic, and in modern times, they have established themselves as the essence of magic. And the Mesheen Great Forest was a habitat for all sorts of magical creatures, called monsters. The dimensional distortions spread throughout the Great Forest summon monsters from other dimensions, and the rugged mountain ranges and dense forests embrace and nurture the monsters that visit this strange world. The Great Forest, a barrier created by nature, and teeming with magical creatures, had become an impregnable land that no national army could conquer. Among the rulers who left their names in history, it was not that those with ambition did not think of conquering the Great Forest. However, the kings who dreamed such dreams and marched their armies into the Great Forest only solidified the legend of the impregnable land. The rulers of the Kilkard Kingdom and the Astaltine Empire, as well as those of the Eastern nations beyond, all dreamed of possessing the land where all kinds of magical creatures were summoned, like the underground labyrinth of the old Robenium Empire, which is now regarded as a fantasy. However, all that remained for them was failure recorded in history books and a proverb summarizing their failure in a sentence or two. Of course, that doesn’t mean that people haven’t set foot in pandemoniums like the Great Forest. Since ancient times, humans have used their wisdom and tools to hunt all creatures on land and sea, and the magical creatures of other worlds were no exception. Hunters who hunt magical creatures roamed the untouched lands, using tools and wisdom to hunt down monsters with great power. // As if to prove that the trees of the Great Forest had not allowed human intrusion for a long time, they were all tall and huge. Because of them, who did not easily allow even the scorching summer sun to pass through, the earth was covered with cool shadows. However, the sun that heated the atmosphere and the humid air unique to the Great Forest made people feel the heat despite the fact that it was full of shade. And in that heat, Laila was slowly moving her feet.

-Thump, thump.

Amidst the chirping of mountain birds and the songs of insects echoing from all directions, the sound of trampling on leaves penetrates the silence, which has become familiar with noise, particularly deeply. Her attire was quite light, and also bizarre. Despite being in what could be called the heart of the Great Forest, she had no camping gear or even a common backpack. Only a small pouch on her waist, a dagger on her belt, and a greatsword on her back were all she had. And as for the word bizarre… it was enough to describe her attire, which was not like that of an adventurer, even though she was an adventurer wandering through the Great Forest. Laila’s upper body was almost naked. Adventurers had no armor, which was a spare life, let alone cloth clothes. All she wore on her upper body was a straight piece of cloth that wrapped around her bulging breasts. It was hard to expect that the piece of cloth, which barely covered her nipples, had any special protective function. Her lower body was wearing short pants, but that didn’t make her suggestive attire any better. Of course, there was a reason for such attire. The eastern part of the Kilkard Kingdom has a mild climate, but its summers are so humid and hot that they are called subtropical. The Mesheen Great Forest was no exception. Although the heat was a little less due to the dense trees, the humidity, which was reminiscent of a wet sauna, made adventurers lose their stamina and motivation. In such a situation, Laila, who had mastered Ironclad Body, did not need to cling to clothing. So the fact that her attire was quite suggestive was not for any particular reason. Her sweat-soaked white skin glistened and sparkled under the leaked sunlight, and the dense muscles beneath her soft skin drew dynamic lines. A drop of sweat on her cheek flowed down her elegant neckline and settled on the delicate collarbone of her chest. The water droplets that formed between her collarbones soon dug into the deep cleavage and hid their appearance. It was an attire and sight that would unintentionally arouse lust in men, but fortunately or unfortunately, Laila was alone. Entering the land of magical creatures classified as pandemonium alone is an act that even skilled adventurers are reluctant to do, but there was no fear or hesitation in her steps. “…..” Laila just kept her mouth shut and moved her feet silently. //

-Thump, thump.

“Haa….” Laila Freeman sighed softly as she walked, taking the sound of her footsteps as a companion. It doesn’t mean she’s tired or exhausted. No matter how heavy the greatsword she carries on her back, and no matter how many tens of kilometers she has walked, her body, which has undergone a metamorphosis, does not feel much fatigue. However, the thick humidity and heat that permeated the entire Great Forest were mentally exhausting her. That was why she was walking through the Great Forest in an attire that was almost naked. She would have dressed up even if she was conscious of other people’s eyes, but the humidity that stuck to her whole body and the sweat that flowed down incessantly made her choose to take off her clothes. Other skilled adventurers would click their tongues, saying that she lacked patience. No matter how hot it was, taking off her armor, which was like her life, in a land full of beasts, was tantamount to suicide. However, from Laila’s point of view, who had mastered Ironclad Body, it didn’t matter. After undergoing a metamorphosis and becoming a half-demon, she was able to practice martial arts as much as she wanted with the magic power that sprang from her body. Although not infinite, the Doppelganger’s core, which supplied her with magic power in a form relatively close to eternity, provided her with a moderate amount of magic power every day, which was of great help to her in learning martial arts in this world where there was no natural energy. And she used those martial arts to achieve the feat of obtaining a silver plate from Yurkin in a short period of less than a year.

-Thud.

Laila, who had been walking for a while, turned her gaze to the sound that suddenly rang in her ears. The sound, as if something heavy was rising on the ground, was of a kind she had heard countless times.

-Swish.

Laila drew the greatsword from her back and took a stance. Then she turned her body towards the direction of the sound. “Krr?” A low growl echoed from between the dense trees. Soon, a giant whose entire body was covered with imposing muscles appeared. The giant, who was more than twice as tall as Laila and had a body more than three times as large, stared at her with clearly shining eyes. Seeing that, Laila sighed softly with the greatsword in her hand and muttered. “…Another failure.” Troll. A general term for giants who walk on two feet and have excellent regenerative abilities among magical creatures. Although they are inferior to humans, they are generally intelligent enough to use tools, and their strength and stamina are excellent, making them a symbol of fear for inexperienced adventurers. “Krrk.” The troll looked at Laila and showed a light of hostility in its eyes. It was absurd that it was suddenly angry even though it had not been long since they had met, but it was not so strange considering the characteristics of the troll. Originally, trolls are famous for being belligerent among magical creatures. The terrifying power of trolls is one of the reasons why they have become a symbol of fear for novice adventurers, but their notoriously fierce temper accounts for an even greater proportion. The story of parties who met trolls and did not return could pile up mountains of paper, and adventurers feared trolls that much. However, Laila Freeman did not seem to feel even a trace of fear, and raised her sword towards the troll. Then she opened her mouth towards the growling troll. “…Yeah, I’m sorry too. I’ve been wandering around this area for four days after hearing that there’s a Mimic, but all I see are damn salamanders, weird turtles, and guys like you.” Even Laila, who has a big heart and big breasts, had lost a lot of patience due to the four days of failure and the humid climate. A cool aura flows from the raised greatsword, and a belligerent smile settles on her lips. “Krr…” The troll looked at her and drew a curve at the corner of its mouth as if it was ridiculous. No matter how skilled an adventurer is, it is reckless to catch a troll alone. Moreover, if a magician does not chant a powerful spell, or a ranger does not set a trap, confronting it with a single sword is a feat that would not be strange even if it were made into a bard’s song. Of course, there was no bard in this place, unfortunately. And Laila was more interested in the gravy than such praise or honor from the world, so she didn’t boast about it. With a feeling closer to disappointment than expectation, she slowly took a stance. ‘Oh well, I can’t help it…’ Originally, her goal was a Mimic. The magical creature, which has the ability to convert the substances it eats into a subspace that exists inside, is a symbol of a fortune for adventurers due to its formidable ability of subspace and the treasures inside. She herself had one Mimic, and she had not desperately realized its usefulness over the past year. Laila regained her regretful heart and drew up her inner strength. The inner strength derived from magic power was more pure than before. It was a natural result since it was pure magic power, not mixed energy.

-Wooong.

As she pushed the drawn-up inner strength into the sword, the greatsword she was holding emitted a sword cry as if it was wailing. “Krrk!” The troll looked at Laila, who was pointing her sword at it, and wailed. Even though it was inferior to humans, its intelligence, which was similar to that of a goblin, was enough to read the resistance to itself from the other person’s attitude.

-Kuwoong.

The troll took a heavy step and raised the wooden club in its right hand. It was a crude weapon, more like a tree trunk of a suitable thickness that it had picked up rather than a club, but its mass and length were excellent weapons in themselves. The confrontation between the magical creature and Laila was not long. “Khuuuwoong!!” The troll, who rushed in with a powerful roar, swung its club at Laila with all its might.

-Whooong!!

The weapon, which was closer to a tree trunk than a club, cut through the wind with a heavy sound and plunged down towards Laila. It was a blow that would make even a skilled vanguard’s heart tremble and their legs go numb just from the momentum. In response to the blow that could crush the bones of an armored human, Laila raised her greatsword diagonally.

-Swish.

In a situation where there is a body size difference between an adult and a child, her defense seems useless at first glance. But the result was different.

-Kwaang!!!

The club, which collided with the sword’s blade with great force, bent its direction along the blade of the greatsword to the ground instead of breaking Laila’s fragile arm and sending her flying. Laila’s slender legs, which were standing on the ground, were slightly shaken by the impact caused by the troll’s club, but they never fell. She deflected the impact with the mystery of Redirecting Force, and supported her posture using Thousand Weights. The natural use of martial arts easily turned the troll’s attack into nothing. “Krrk!?” As if it hadn’t expected that the small creature in front of it would be able to withstand its power, the troll wailed in shock. And that brief hesitation stemming from shock became a fatal mistake for the troll.

-Whoong!

Laila, who had completely deflected the troll’s attack, frowned slightly and rotated her greatsword greatly. She naturally transitioned to offense the moment the troll’s club plunged to the ground, and with her right foot forward, she slashed diagonally with her greatsword and cut off the troll’s right leg.

-Slice.

The sword blade gleamed in the sunlight, and the lightning-fast strike severed one of the troll’s legs in an instant. Even with a sharp greatsword, cutting through the thick muscle and bone of a creature in one go was a feat beyond the skill of most, yet she accomplished it with ease.

-Schhwwoooosh!

Red blood gushed from the severed troll’s leg, covering Layla’s white skin, which was already damp with sweat. Splatters of blood on her short leather shorts and concave stomach created bizarre patterns. Her skill was so exquisite that the troll didn’t even realize its leg had been cut off. “Kuh-herr-oong!” Sensing something flash before its eyes, the troll recoiled for a moment, but soon let out a roar of rage and raised its right arm to swing its club again. However, “Krrk?” The body, having lost one leg, had already lost its balance and was tilting to the right, falling over.

-Thump!

Only after the massive body shook the ground did the troll realize its leg had been severed. A look of confusion and bewilderment crossed the troll’s face, followed belatedly by an expression of pain. But by the time the troll realized it, it was already too late.

-Thwack!

“Krr-kuk!” Before it could let out a painful roar, Layla’s greatsword pierced the troll’s neck. Because she held the greatsword in reverse and plunged it down towards the fallen troll, her sword not only pierced the troll’s neck and severed the artery, but also dug into the hard earth beneath.

-Schhwwoooosh!

Red blood gushed from the sword stuck straight into the ground. The spurting blood quickly soaked Layla’s bare upper body, covering her white skin. The moment she felt the warmth of the red liquid, Layla released the sword and took a step back. “Hoo….” No matter how strong the troll’s regenerative abilities, it would die if blood didn’t reach its brain. Layla sighed softly and wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand. “…Ah, damn it.” But because the back of her hand was also covered in blood, her efforts were in vain. Layla grumbled roughly and looked at the troll, which was lying on the ground with the sword stuck in its neck. “Keh, gr, hoo-ook….” As if its vitality was not a lie, the troll was flailing its arms, grabbing the blade of the greatsword and trying to pull it out. And its efforts seemed to be about to bear fruit. Even if it took a long time to regenerate the severed leg, the neck wound was different. With the troll’s regenerative power, it would recover in an instant. “….” Layla watched it for a moment, then gathered her inner energy in her palm and moved towards the troll. ———= Author’s Notes ———= Out of the blue, Part 2 begins. It’s really humid and hot these days. Everyone, be careful not to catch a cold. I think it’s already too late for me to be careful.