Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 62: Strengthening My Foundation (11)

“Krurrrrrong!”

—Kuwung!

A massive shock was transmitted through my hands, gripping the wooden cover. The Barghest, totally turned into a bloody mess, was still this strong? It was hair-raising. Just one mistake and I would already be dead.

“Uaaaaaaaah!”

I should have dug the trap deeper! Increasing the number of wooden spikes inside would have been good, too!

Anyway, let’s think!

The Barghest was on the verge of death…! I had Sharan and Lumica! I just had to hold out like this!

“Massteeerrrr!”

I could hear Sharan calling me from afar. Simultaneously, I could hear the sound of Lumica firing Water Arrows.

“Keryaaaaah!”

“Kerruk!”

I could also hear Buril and the goblins shouting!

“Kill, kill him! Kill him!”

Everyone was risking their lives to save me!

—Kuwung!

Meanwhile, the Barghest continued to hit my cover using its head and front paws. I must hold on till the end, no matter what happens.

—Kwaang!

“I can’t hold it!”

I immediately bring my mouth to the hole in the center of the cover, designed for stabbing.

“Devil’s Breathhhhh!”

—Whirr!

I released the flames!

“Kaehaaaaaaaang!”

It was dirty, dark magic, but I had to do everything I could. After killing this Barghest bastard, I needed to learn dark magic.

—Kuwung!

“Kruck!”

Depending only on a single cover, I was struggling with the Barghest.

—Puhuk!

—Chyahak!

—Jjeek!

“Kaehahahahang!”

I heard violent noises from the other side.

The goblins were stabbing with spears, Sharan was using her scratch, and Lumica was firing Water Arrows. The pressure on my cover was weakening.

“Keryaaaaah!”

I was truly moved. Tears were flowing. I was very thankful. Infinite thanks to those lovely beings fighting to save me. Then I had to live. I must survive at all costs.

Thinking so, I waited for a chance.

—Pahak!

Soon, I saw the Barghest trying to turn its body backward under the cover.

“You!”

Was it completely giving up on me and thinking of throwing its body backward?

I couldn’t let that happen!

—Kwaak!

I grabbed the spear lying next to me. It was a wooden spear that fell when the barricade broke. I held it and moved the cover used as a shield aside.

“Krurrrrhong!!!”

The Barghest’s hind parts were exposed in front of my eyes!

It completely turned its body! It was giving up on me and thinking of killing my subordinates behind me! Thinking that made my blood boil. I could not let it happen.

“How dare you.”

The Barghest’s hindquarters were completely wrecked. The flesh was torn and hanging loose, blood was flowing freely, and the bones were visible. Its vitality was hanging by a thread.

I could kill it. I could win! With that thought, I focused solely on the Barghest’s hindquarters!

—Papchichik!

At the height of concentration, it seemed like a gleam shot out from my eyes, splitting time. It powerfully kicked the ground while trembling its hindquarters, and I positioned myself even faster.

In that state!

“To me!”

Aiming at its rectum!

“Showing your back!”

Drawing strength from my whole body, I kicked the ground.

—Kwaang!

Like hammering a siege ram into the city gates!

“Dieeeeeeeeee!!!”

Shooting my body forward, I powerfully stabbed with the spear —Sweeeeeack! I stuck the spear tip into its rectum!!!

—Puhooowoooooook!

Deeply.

It went very deep.

My wooden spear.

“Kkeok?!”

From the impaled spear, I could feel the trembling of the internal organs. That intense trembling cooled off very quickly over time. It was losing its strength.

That lost strength. At the moment, it couldn’t support the Barghest’s weight.

—Thud.

It collapsed like a rotten old tree.

“…”

Leaving only a profound silence.

“Haa… Haa…”

Only then did I catch my breath and I could look forward. My subordinates, covered in sweat and dust, were gasping, staring at me with wide eyes.

—Wobble.

My legs wobbled, but

—Kuwung!

I strongly stepped forward to gain balance.

And then.

“We wonnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!”

I roared powerfully!

“Uooooooo!!!”

We won!

We defeated this powerful beast solely with our strength! Using all kinds of strategies, fighting until the very last moment! Finally, I stabbed my spear into its rectum and ended its life!

“Kuaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I couldn’t stop roaring! The ultimate thrill! Pleasure! All these feelings seized my brain!

Once more, we achieved victory and survived!

“Master!”

“Keruk!”

“Is Master okay?!”

“Keruk! Kerukruk!”

Immediately, my subordinates rushed over to me, stepping over the corpse. Sharan almost seemed like she was about to cry.

“Ah. I’m fine. Not hurt badly. Hey! We won! We won!”

Relieving their worries, I checked the condition of my subordinates.

“Guys! Anyone hurt?”

“Keruk!”

“Sharan is fine! The goblins, too, they’re not hurt!”

“That’s a relief!”

It was reassuring that they were not hurt. The strategy was really well laid out. The perfectly placed trap minimized our damage.

“Where’s Lumica?”

I immediately looked at Lumica, who was standing over there. She was covering her mouth with both hands and looking at me.

Then she said something.

“Tha…That was cool…”

Cool?

“Hehehe, it was cool, wasn’t it. Lumica, rest over there. Now!”

From this point forward!

“I’m extracting its power!”

I looked at the Barghest’s corpse.

It was completely ragged after falling into all sorts of traps and enduring our concentrated damage.

I once watched a documentary where dozens of savannah natives raided an elephant. No matter how strong the elephant was, dozens of natives were throwing spears like mad, and in a few seconds, it fell like a porcupine.

The Barghest had died in an even more miserable state than that elephant.

“You were strong, but you were foolish.”

Living only in the jungle, it never saw the strategies of intelligent beings like me. That’s why it died in such a miserable state.

Anyway, I started the mana extraction ritual.

—Hwaruruk!

My right hand was engulfed in flames. In that state, I thrust my hand into the Barghest’s upper body.

—Fwishfwish.

And then I found the heart. It felt like finding a stone in the mud. Before long, my hand grasped the heart,

—Chwyudduk!

And I pulled it out!

“Kheuk!”

The pulled-out heart melted and transformed into a mana stone.

“Oh!”

“Master! It’s shining!”

The shining mana stone. It was even more radiant than the hobgoblin chief’s. It meant that it contained more power.

“Sharan! If I eat this, I’ll get more subordinates!”

“Sharan is so happy!”

“Then I’ll eat it. Watch my back!”

“Yes, Master!”

I consumed the mana stone right away.

—Ppudeuk.

As soon as I chewed, the deep taste of mana spread. What kind of sensation was this? It was hot. It was like having a fire in my mouth. I felt overflowing energy.

—Gulp.

The moment I crushed and swallowed it.

“Hup?!”

It felt like my esophagus was burning! The powdered mana stone reached my stomach, emanating heat!

“Kuoowoooo!”

This feeling as if the insides were burning…!

I couldn’t endure it!

“Oh, my stomachhhhhhhh!”

“Master!”

Pain!

Was this what I think it was?!

Like in martial arts novels, it was like the reverse flow of Qi! It felt like the energy inside was rampaging because I took the elixir incorrectly!

“Kheuk!”

“Master! Are you okay?”

I didn’t have time to answer Sharan. I sat down in a cross-legged position immediately. I slowly breathed, suppressed the pain, and felt the rampaging power in that state.

Indeed, it was the Barghest.

The power it held within was tremendous. Naturally, it should be. It was a monster bigger than a predator.

“Master…!”

I feel Sharan holding my shoulder. It was very warm. Thus, I calmed the rampaging power within and strived to absorb it.

“…!”

This was truly energy cultivation.

Very carefully. And slowly. We couldn’t lose the trophy we got by risking all of our lives. With the determination to absorb all of it, I gathered energy.

“Uh.”

When I opened my eyes, I could see the dungeon ceiling.

Damn it, when did I fall asleep? I was sure I was circulating qi? Wait a minute! Did everything go well?!

“Eh!”

I instantly raised my upper body!

“Master!”

Sharan, who was outside, rushed in.

“Oh! Sharan! What happened?”

“Master, you’ve woken up?”

“Yeah… I’m awake.”

“Master fell asleep sitting up yesterday.”

“Is that so?”

Looking around, everything seemed to be in order. They must have tidied up while I was asleep, those thoughtful creatures.

“How long did I sleep?”

“You slept for one night.”

Didn’t sleep much then.

“Anyway, Sharan. Thanks. We fought hard and won.”

“Yes, Master.”

Sharan grinned, then started licking my face. Anyway… there was nothing wrong with my body. Rather, I felt an overflow of energy.

“Sharan. Where are the others?”

“They’re working. Lumica is digging a well.”

“I see. Let’s go out for a bit.”

“Yes, Master.”

Sharan and I went outside the dungeon. It was quite neat. The traps were all exposed, though.

“Keureuk!”

“Oh, Buril. How have you been?”

“Keureuuk!”

Buril wailed, clinging to my leg.

“Kid. Did you think I died or something? Don’t cry.”

“Kerurung!”

After patting his head to calm him down, I looked at the well. Then Lumica sprang out of the water.

ㅡSplush!

“Oh. Lumica. Did you sleep well?”

“…Master.”

“Yeah.”

“Are you okay?”

Lumica asked with a somewhat shy attitude.

“Ah, it’s fine. No problem. Thanks, Water Arrow. I won because of you.”

“I’m glad I could help…”

Lumica avoided eye contact, and her words trailed off.

“Huh? Why?”

“No, it’s nothing! Do you want to drink water?”

“No. Let me look at my appearance. Can you come out for a bit?”

“Yes…”

She seemed a bit cautious in her demeanor.

— Swoosh.

Lumica emerged from the well. I immediately checked my reflection in the well.

“Oh.”

The most noticeable change was the horn. It had grown a bit, about half the length of a pinky finger.

“Wow!”

It had grown quite a bit, hadn’t it? And I also felt more muscular. I had put on some muscle. Which meant… indeed.

— Roar.

The magical power inside me had been strengthened. It was as noticeable as when I killed the chief and absorbed his power.

“I’m certain.”

I had grown even more.

“Hahahaha!”

“Master. Is it good?”

“Yes! I’ve grown properly! Now I can give more White Stuff!”

Since I had grown, naturally, the quality of White Stuff had also improved. Upon hearing this, Sharan jumped and cheered in joy.

— Bounce!

Her chest also bounced.

“Uhm, Master?”

“Yes, Lumica.”

“Since I worked hard… You’ll give more White Stuff, right?”

“Of course I will. I’ll let you eat with Shalani in a bit. Wait for now.”

“…Alright.”

With her face reddened, Lumica nodded and went back into the well. Good! So!

“Now that growth is confirmed, it’s time to reward my subordinates. All my minions, gather around!”

“Heh!”

Immediately, all my subordinates lined up, from Buril to the goblins. And also Imsoong and Gyuil.

“Now, guys. You all know we killed that damn strong monster, right?”

“Heh!”

“It was a victory we could seize because all of you were there. So, we should share this joy. I’ll inject mana in each of you, so stay still!”

“Heh!”

“Grr!”

“Gyosat!”

Everyone cheered at the mention of mana injection.

I injected mana into each one, starting from Buril. Of course, I gave a bit more to Buril. I divided a bit for the rest. However, I could inject mana into everyone thanks to my considerable growth.

After injecting all the mana…

“Heh?!”

“He, Heh!”

“Heher!”

“Grr?!”

Huh?

Suddenly, these little ones were twisting their bodies!

— Pop!

Right before my eyes, they grew a bit larger!

Everyone!

“What the hell!”

Buril had become a Hobgoblin!