Chapter 35: Quest – 2

Chapter 35: Quest – 2

The warrior’s blood-soaked sword, which had cut through the black wolf’s subordinates, clashed with the black wolf’s fangs, also soaked in its subordinates’ blood.

And, once again, flames erupted.

The black wolf’s body reignited and began to burn.

Its black fur gradually found light, taking on the color of flames.

The yellow and red colors of fire.

However, the warrior didn’t even blink at the wolf’s flames.

She merely… gathered the mana that enveloped her body.

“Burn as much as you want. If you can handle mana as skillfully as I can, those mere flames won’t be able to burn my flesh.”

What enveloped the warrior’s body was not just mana for protection.

It was mana with a special property that resisted fire.

Therefore… no matter how threatening the flames the wolf spewed, they were useless before the warrior.

In the first place, how could flames created by mana penetrate mana that resisted fire?

…Unless the difference in power was overwhelming.

And as the situation unfolded this way, the black wolf couldn’t help but realize it.

For ordinary monsters, it would be normal to be roasted by the flames they spewed or immediately prostrate themselves and beg for their lives, so it had been secretly denying it…

But the human standing before it was clearly not doing so.

“You bastard…. What’s your name?”

“What, a somewhat smart son of a bitch? It’s speaking human words?”

“Consider it an honor… you are the first human… I’ve killed to this extent….”

Therefore, though somewhat clumsy and mixed with growls, the wolf continued to speak in human language.

It wasn’t underestimating her as a mere human, but rather a declaration that it would pour everything into confronting her, just as it would when clashing with the leader of another territory.

And… with that, the black wolf’s fur, completely ignited, became fire itself.

The flames triggered by that single monster spread across the land.

Like a wave, like a storm.

“Ha… I thought this would be easy, but I’m finally seeing it go berserk.”

However, the warrior also seemed to have thought of all countermeasures, raising her greatsword.

The flames rising from the blade showed that she had no intention of losing to the monster’s flames.

A vivid scarlet flame, like the warrior’s eyes.

It was a different kind of flame from the red flames the wolf created, even fiercer and untamed, as if raging.

“Normally, I can’t raise this much firepower either… but today, I don’t have to worry about my arm burning off while raising firepower.”

And… the swordsman, charging forward, cutting horizontally through the flames the black wolf had unleashed.

She cut through one wave of fire, then the next, approaching the wolf that was becoming fire itself.

Despite cutting through countless flames, the warrior’s sword still glowed a vivid scarlet, aimed at the wolf.

`You’re still as insolent as ever. Still… this much effort is worth unleashing this power.`

Immediately after, the wolf’s howl echoed through the sky.

It sounded as if it was calling something.

What was certain was that… the wolf’s flames were spreading beyond itself and the land, reaching even the sky.

At the same time, all living things nearby were… becoming fuel and fading away.

The few remaining subordinates were no exception.

Despite their pitiful cries of burning pain, their leader had no intention of stopping.

Rather… as if that was the true purpose of its subordinates, it merely unleashed even fiercer flames.

Thus created, a phenomenon that could be called a burning disaster in itself.

A scene reminiscent of hellfire unfolded, where the land, the air, and everything before their eyes burned red.

This was possible because, unlike other places, this was the wolf’s home and base.

“Alright…. Come on! Let’s see whose flames are fiercer!”

The color of the flames surrounding the warrior’s sword deepened even further as she spoke.

Flames that seemed to burn everything in sight and use it as fuel, flames that the warrior herself couldn’t quite control, and didn’t even try to control.

No, it was already a raging inferno beyond the scope of mere flames.

Although it was inside the forest, this was a fire zone, and a place where wolf monsters, who made arson a daily routine, lived.

Plants that couldn’t withstand fire had long since withered away, and only plants that could endure any flame remained.

Therefore, there were only rocks with red fire-elemental mana flowing through them and short grasses, so the two flames clashed without any hindrance, trying to burn and consume each other as fuel.

A storm of flames unleashed by the wolf, raging from all directions… and the warrior’s raging inferno, cutting through that storm and engulfing its territory.

It was a clash where ordinary beings would have already turned to ash and vanished, and the bodies of the combatants themselves were slowly burning.

In particular, the warrior’s sword and arm, which had already abandoned control, were catching fire rapidly.

No matter how much mana with fire-resisting properties was used to protect her body, a human body was still a human body… and damage was gradually accumulating on the warrior’s arm and sword.

Of course, the alpha wolf was not in a normal situation either.

Since it was a karma fire that had poured out everything it had, even sacrificing its subordinates, it was a situation where it would inevitably collapse helplessly the moment that karma fire faded and the warrior’s raging inferno reached it.

However, neither of their flames stopped or subsided.

The moment either side faltered, it was clear they would be swallowed by the other.

Even if this forest burned and other monsters joined the fight, it couldn’t be stopped.

A storm of karma fire that swept and dominated all space for a moment, and

A raging inferno that slowly but surely engulfed everything around it.

Clearly, if there was time, it was a fight the warrior’s raging inferno could win, but… the mana the warrior had wrapped around her body to protect herself was gradually evaporating.

The tide of victory was clearly turning.

…No, it was about to turn.

“Stop it, you crazy arsonists!”

If cool mana, a potion that froze space, hadn’t flown into that scene like an arrow,

More precisely……

If dozens of such potions hadn’t fallen simultaneously.

***

The flames that instantly died down.

It wasn’t because one side had lost, nor because there was nothing left for the flames to burn.

It was simply… because of the potions that suppressed all those flames and, in turn, froze the ground that had been burning just moments before.

“Don’t you know when to quit? Are you seriously fighting as if you’re going to burn down the entire forest?”

“…No, that is….”

“You have to fight within what your body can handle! If my potion’s effect had ended just a little faster, you would have been roasted alive! Do you know that?”

And, just like the ground that had cooled down so suddenly, the heated confrontation between the monster and the warrior met a chilly end.

For the wolf, it was a senseless death due to a sudden intrusion, and for the warrior, it was a victory that didn’t feel like a victory, leaving a lingering unpleasantness.

Of course… the girl who had suddenly frozen the ground had an expression that showed she didn’t care about any of that.

“…I apologize. There was practically no situation where I could unleash my full firepower.”

“Indeed, if you had unleashed such flames without the potion’s effect, not only your sword but your arm would have been blown off.”

“I thought it would just be helpful, but… the effect was beyond imagination.”

“……Honestly, I didn’t know it would be that much either, but well, good is good. I also collected a lot of Flame Stones this time, so I can make many more in the future.”

Saying that, the girl, who briefly glanced at the empty air, continued speaking.

“In that sense, could you pull out that bastard’s fangs for me? They’re ingredients.”

“…The guild will dismantle it. The problem is… we have to carry that thing….”

The adventurer, whose words trailed off, pointed to a half-frozen wolf.

…At first glance, it looked so pathetic that one might wonder, ‘Is that even a monster?’

And, covered in ice, it was ridiculously heavy.

“……”

“……”

Watching the girl quietly avoid her gaze, the adventurer scanned the girl’s body once.

And then looked down at her own arm.

…It seemed very clear who would have to carry that heavy-looking ice statue.

“Even if you look at me like that, I don’t have potions that enhance physical strength. Nor do I have potions that dramatically reduce physical fatigue in an instant.”

“…Is it confirmed that I’m carrying it?”

“I’m a bit shameless, you see. Yes, it’s confirmed.”

Saying that, the girl flashed her unique smile.

And, that small smile had the power to captivate people’s hearts.

Thinking what a truly enchanting smile it was, the adventurer looked at the girl who had said that and thought.

……Even saying such things, because she said it with a cute face, it didn’t make her that angry.