episode_0019
by fnovelpia“···This is it.”
Werner, who was walking forward, muttered as if he was curious. Sonia also asked Revan in a somewhat excited voice.
“Uh, what did you do, Revan?”
“······.”
Revan quietly put his hand into his pocket, took out something, and held it out to everyone.
***
It was just before. In fact, Revan’s inducement did not work.
At best, I thought it was a golem. So, I tried to use the classic method of creating shock and bringing them together.
However, even when Revan made loud noises and vibrations, such as hitting the ground hard and knocking down trees, the golems did not react.
‘I guess it was made more elaborately than I thought.’
Since they said it was modeled after a demonic beast, I thought they had created a golem with a strange way of thinking, but it seemed to have been made more elaborately than I thought.
“Ha.”
Revan sighed, adjusted his sword, and rushed towards the golem that was relatively far away. At least I needed to know its durability and strength so I could plan for the future.
“Guooo-”
“···?”
However, the golems did not rush to Revan. Instead, he turned his back and ran away. As if he was scared.
‘Golems are scared?’
I couldn’t understand it with common sense. So Revan tore one of the fleeing golems to pieces. It was easy to just run away as if I had no intention of fighting.
Between the broken pieces of the golem, something shiny was visible. Revan reached out and picked it up.
The identity of the object that looked similar to a gem at first glance was one that Revan knew very well.
“···It’s a magic stone, right?”
A magic stone, an object that performs the same function as a human mana core in the hearts of demonic beasts, was embedded in the heart of the golem.
***
“In other words, if Revan says, in the center of those golems…”
“Yes. A magic stone is embedded.”
“······!”
Just use the magic stone as the heart of the golem. It was a simple and bold tactic.
‘I can’t use that magic stone anymore, so what do I do with it sitting there?’
Apparently, the professors at the academy thought this way.
After techniques for extracting magic power from magic crystals mined in mines were discovered, there was no need to catch magic beasts to extract magic power.
Therefore, magic stones were no longer classified as practical items. There are people who collect them professionally, but they don’t really do anything with the magic stones they collect. I just collected them to feel like jewels.
“They are quite expensive, but they are bold.”
“···Because it’s Geoff. This much is natural.”
Still, it was quite expensive. It was quite popular as a collectible and not easy to obtain.
But Benny opened his mouth, which had been closed all along, and swaggered as if it was natural. Since the words weren’t that aggressive, Sonia didn’t try to stop him.
“It is made with magic stones, so it is not simply a golem that imitates a magic beast. He probably has the same mindset as a real demon.”
“If you have the same mindset as a demonic beast…?”
hmm. Revan closed his mouth for a moment and looked around.
There was no sign of anything around. At least there was no need to worry about an attack because the detection radius of the other groups was not wider than Revan’s.
Every time Revan approached, the golems ran away somewhere without even looking back. In other words, there were no significant risk factors around.
“······.”
Everyone’s eyes became quiet and focused on Revan. It was a bit difficult to keep my mouth shut in this situation.
“What do you think the devil is?”
The three of them quietly pondered at Revan’s question. Among them, Werner was the first to open his mouth.
“Uh…an incredibly strong and vicious wild animal?”
Werner’s answer was the interpretation that reflected the most popular perception. It’s not entirely wrong, but Revan shook his head.
“It’s not entirely wrong, but it doesn’t mean it’s right either.”
“Well, then what is it?”
“Demon beasts have many similarities to wild animals. They fight and eat each other.”
Good! Sigh! Revan spoke as he made a path through the bushes with his sword.
“But there is the biggest difference. Unlike wild animals, demonic beasts always make humans their priority target.”
“Well, isn’t that for survival?”
“No.”
Wild predator. For example, the main prey of tigers and lions is not humans. But magic beasts are different. As long as you witness it, the demonic beasts will never back down and make humans their priority target.
“In fact, demonic beasts only look similar, and are not animals. It’s a completely different category.”
“If it is different, what is the difference?”
Revan opened his mouth in response to Sonia’s question.
“Sense of sight, taste, hearing, etc. do not exist for demonic beasts.”
“Yes, yes?”
It was an explanation from Faust, who was probably the most knowledgeable about demonic beasts on the continent. At least it was more accurate than the knowledge of students learned at the academy.
puck! months! Revan’s sword, cutting a path through the forest, gained strength. It was as if he was irritated.
“All they can feel is magic power and mana.”
“···Does that make sense?”
“If you don’t want to believe it, don’t believe it.”
Revan answered Benny’s question indifferently. As the saying goes, if you don’t want to believe it, just don’t believe it.
Cheee. Benny clicked his tongue slightly. Seeing that, Sonia lowered her eyebrows but asked Revan.
“So, what is the reason why demonic beasts target humans first?”
“Because of mana.”
“Mana?”
“Mana exists in the human body. Whether you can use magic or not, whether you can strengthen your body or not.”
“Yes, what about it?”
“Demon beasts are born with their magic stones fully filled with magic power. You are born strong, but you are born with a body that cannot grow.”
Phew. Revan sighed and continued speaking.
“However, human mana is different. Mana, which is created by refining magic power from the core, is much lighter, easier to accept, and has a thicker concentration. It is thanks to the superiority of mana that a small human can deal with monsters the size of a house.”
“···Then really?”
“Yes. Demonic beasts can eat humans to absorb mana and break through their original limits. That’s why they go crazy when they see a human.”
Only then were the three able to understand the notoriety of the mud golems that appeared in the flag drawing game. It must have been so ferocious to have driven into the hearts of monsters with such behavioral patterns.
But the fundamental question was not answered. In the end, Werner, unable to overcome his curiosity, put on his gun and asked Revan.
“···Then why do they run away every time they see you?”
Sonia and Benny’s eyes were also fixed on Revan. It was a fundamental curiosity.
However, Revan did not answer and remained silent. Werner and Sonia saw that and forced their voices to rise.
“Well, I was just asking because I was curious! You don’t have to answer!”
“Ma, that’s right, Revan! Everyone has something to hide!”
Revan, who saw that, quietly walked forward without looking back and responded.
“I will think about it if we become a little closer.”
It was a heavy voice, filled with many emotions.
“···I hope that day comes.”
Sonia quietly answered in a subdued voice. I had no idea how Revan would feel.
***
“Is it okay to be this comfortable?”
Whoop! Werner muttered as he took a sip of warm coffee.
As Werner said, the journey was very easy. If Revan led the way, the golems would just run away.
-On the left, there seem to be different groups.
Not only that, Revan also detected signs of other groups that the three could not sense. Unlike the first day, they avoided the other groups, so Group 9 was able to move forward without any collision.
“If things continue like this, we might be able to arrive around the morning of the 4th day, right?”
The previous record was on the evening of the fourth day. Sonia spoke with excitement, perhaps excited about being able to set a new fastest record.
“······.”
But for some reason, Benny wasn’t in a good mood. No matter how much he got scolded by Sonia, there was something strange about him being so intimidated.
“Benny?”
“Yes, yes! Lady!”
“···Is it because of something I said?”
Sonia must have noticed his timid appearance and lifted Benny up and took him to a corner of the camp.
At the center of the camp are Revan and Werner. Only the two of them remained.
“······.”
“······.”
To be honest, we weren’t that comfortable with each other. Because it was the first time we met during this exam.
As the silence continued, Werner spoke to Revan with eyes that seemed to have made up their mind.
“That, Revan?”
“Yes. Senior.”
“···Thank you.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. I’m serious.”
Werner, who had already finished drinking his coffee, put down his coffee and looked into Revan’s eyes.
“Actually, I was a poor student throughout my life.”
“It has been my dream since I was young to join the Golden Dragon. However, when I came in, it was different from the dream. I was the most inferior and behind.”
“There was no exciting story like the main character in the books I read when I was young, nor was there a good grade achieved through hard work. All I was left with was being treated as a talentless idiot.”
“But this time, for the first time, I got a chance to get a good score on the practical test. It’s all thanks to you. So… thank you. Sincerely.”
Revan calmly listened to Werner’s words. It seemed like emotions were rising from time to time, but I didn’t shed any tears or anything.
After finishing speaking, Werner lowered his head as if embarrassed. Revan spoke towards that place.
“Senior.”
“···Huh?”
“Isn’t it great that you got into Xeorp Academy and even the Golden Dragon in the first place?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“You say you have no talent even though you are a student of the Golden Dragon. In your eyes, the silver eagles and bronze crows will look like two heads.”
“No, not that!”
“Then why are you so obsessed with entitlement?”
“······!”
Huh. Werner’s mouth was tightly shut. Regardless, Revan continued speaking.
“Viewed objectively, you are a very outstanding talent. Because I’m a student of Geoff’s Golden Dragon”
Hmm. Revan cleared his throat and spoke in a playful voice.
“So stop whining and look at yourself in the mirror every morning after the exam and at least mutter something to yourself. ‘who am I? ‘Group flag drawing A owner’. Like this.”
“Puhup-!”
Werner burst into laughter at Revan’s unexpected joke.
“I wonder why you are so shriveled when you are living your life to the fullest.”
To Revan, who had seen all kinds of humans in back alleys, laboratories, and arenas, Werner was a human in the top 0.1%. Therefore, I expressed my honest impressions without embellishment.
“······.”
But Werner’s sentiments were different. I lived away from my parents for a long time. It was the first sincere encouragement I had received in a long time.
“Yes. Okay.”
Soon, Werner’s face became more confident than before.
And not long after, Sonia returned holding Benny’s hand.
“Oh my, you look good?”
Seeing as it took quite some time, it seemed like they had a lot of conversation, but Benny’s complexion didn’t seem to have improved much.
“We had some honest conversation.”
“Honest conversation! It’s good.”
“Yes. And I think it’s time to fall asleep.”
At Revan’s words, everyone left for their beds without a word.
However, Revan said that he would remain on guard despite everyone’s dissuasion.
“I will do it too!”
“···?”
However, in a suspiciously strong tone, Werner volunteered to be on watch. Because of this, it was decided that Revan would only be on watch for about 3 hours.
“You have to wake up! Really!”
“Yes, yes. I understand.”
All three of them went to bed except for Revan, who was on watch. Except for Benny, who is secretly awake.
***
‘In the end, you too were the one trying to take advantage of the young lady.’
‘Well, you may be able to fool a good girl’s eyes, but you can’t fool mine…!’
‘There was no need to feel guilty. I’m just cleaning up the trash that sticks to you, as usual…!’
***
“My legs hurt.”
“What?”
“Are your ears clogged? My legs hurt. I can’t go any further.”
The next day, after falling asleep in a good mood, Benny suddenly sat down on the stump, complaining that his legs were hurting.
It was the beginning of feigning illness.
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