Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Translator: Silver

「Chapter 018」

My battle log was extraordinary!

Now that things had settled down, I noticed the pile of unfamiliar items clogging up my item box.

Even though it was a drop in the bucket at this point, I earned a lot of experience points!

And then there was the main point.

The thing that made me want to put in a call up above.

“Hello, anyone there?! Where are the abilities?!”

The number hadn’t grown at all.

Although it’s a bit crazy, I didn’t expect much from common monsters, but these results weren’t worth the effort.

The main benefit from the battle was the large number of 『Grief Crystals』 I acquired.

“I’m so excited, Kai-kun.”

“Don’t worry. I’m planning to stay until things settle down here. Any problem?”

“If I can relax the entire time, there are no objections.”

The decision had been made.

Surveying the abandoned tunnels may reveal something, so we would stay here a little longer.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

“You need something else from us?”

“I’m sorry.”

“So, what is it this time?”

“Actually, the investigators went into the abandoned mine, but they had to return halfway because it had collapsed. So it was decided that they would head to the tunnels that you two purified before, but…”

According to Cromwell, the grudge in the area was so powerful that it became an environment ordinary people could no longer survive in.

It seems that all of the investigators were priests with sufficient ability, and they barely made it out. At this point, the only other option was to call in paladins from the capital.

“In other words, we have to go again?”

“I’m sorry for asking for so many favors……”

“If we had managed to clean up the main cause in advance, things might not have reached this stage. That’s why I’ll accept it. Kai-kun, take a break this time.”

“Huh? I should be able to go. Mental attacks don’t work on me.”

The opportunity to use 『Dragon God’s Protection』 had finally arrived.

It nullified the negative mental status effect and increased resistance to all forms of attack.

However, most attacks would be neutralized by the level difference between my opponents and myself.

But, I still wanted to use it this time.

Also, this was the perfect opportunity to us an untested usurper series ability.

『Rights of The Usurper (Spirit)』

『Third of the Seven Stars, proof that one has wholly subjugated Yōkai』

【Half damage from all ghost, x10 experience gain】

It was almost the exact same effect as the proof of usurper (dragon).

But with these two abilities, almost nothing could harm me in the tunnel.

We immediately set off for the abandoned mine.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

“I’m a paladin, so it’s no for me, but as expected of Kai-kun.”

“Well, I did manage to beat the original Seven Stars.”

“One was a White Fox Demon, right? If you could defeat that, it doesn’t matter how many ghosts there are.”

I told a little story as we approached our destination.

Even though I wasn’t in my demon king set, I still received enthusiastic cheers from the residents along the way.

Soon we arrived at the abandoned mine.

Previously, I went to the deepest section with Rue, and she purified the grudges there with her magic, but would things be the same this time?

I immediately pierced the ground with my sword, and a new mini-map appeared.

“Rue, how are you feeling?”

“It’s been really annoying for a while, but there’s no problem.”

“I can barely hear you. Let’s see.”

The spirits spirits here were wailing so loud I could hardly hear myself think.

I activated Terror Voice.

“Shut up for a minute!”

Oh, I surprised myself there. I was channeling my inner-death metal singer.

I searched the area to see if it had any effect.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t do anything. Please forgive me.”

A familiar figure was trembling in the corner with teary eyes.

What a cute girl.

“Why did it affect Rue?”

“That was absolutely terrifying?! ……But it’s too quiet now.”

Oh, something appeared on my battle log.

……I got a drop from a vengeful ghost.

It was counted as a monster, though.

And that vengeful ghost was dead now.

What useless mental defenses!

“Well, they’re here again.”

“There are more vengeful spirits than before. There’s something inside that crack.”

“How about I break it open?”

I excitedly equipped the 『Assimilation』 ability.

Now, how much will this weapon’s performance improve?

“Thunderous Slash.”

This was an advanced great sword skill.

It dealt a set amount of damage that bypassed all defenses.

Because the range was limited and the skill consumed a large amount of energy, it was mainly used as a combo finisher.

However, that wasn’t an issue with stationary targets.

By combining the effects『Rights of The Usurper (Fighter)』 and 『MP Conversion』I was able to unleash the skill multiple times.

『MP Conversion』 was a risky ability that converted a fixed amount of HP into MP every ten seconds.

Having a self-healing skill significantly reduced the risk. However, it was still a skill that constantly shaved away at one’s lifeforce.

What needed to be focused on was the fixed conversion rate of the ability.

Then I factored in my 『Enhance Maximum Vitality』.

This ability automatically restored 3 HP every second.

As a result, my recovery on both fronts outpaced the expenditure.

Long story short, I was recovering MP at Mach speed.

Normally, I didn’t need to continuously use my skills, so using this configuration was a first.

“ORAORAORAORA.”

The barrage of slashes gradually broke through the rocks. Or rather, the wall was denigrating.

The cracks widened as I shaved away at the rocks so fast it felt like I was carving out a new path.

And finally――

“Kai-kun, stop! What a technique…… there’s more behind it than continuous slashes.”

“Each blow was capable of leaving a fatal wound.”

“That’s monstrous.”

“You’re embarrassing me.”

“Don’t be shy.”

I managed to break into an artificially created space with my sword.

The domed space had been dug up from the other side.

There was a large black statue in the center of the room.

……It was apparent what it was.

“Kai-kun……it’s a curse, and a terrible one at that.”

“Do you know what that is?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I understand the effect. The vengeful spirits here are being repeatedly killed.”

“Killed, not cleansed?”

Wouldn’t that just make them stronger?

The spirits…… weren’t they trapped in an infinite loop.

This was different from someone creating a loop with a stone.

“Oh no, Kai-kun, I can’t……”

“Seriously? Then, I’ll break it.”

I wasn’t being affected――

You.

You are you.

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOU!

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU.

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU.

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU.

This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU.

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU.

YOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOUYOU!

Hated.

“Wow, I even broke into a cold sweat.”

I just had a strange daydream.

From the adults swayed by the carriage, the children playing in the town square, and the people entering the city, all of them had spoken to me.

And they said, “I hate you.”.

I don’t remember ever being so resented, and the experience made me want to throw up.

However, this body didn’t show any ill effects.

The LV difference was notable.

There were various stats such as 『Attack Power』, 『Defense』, 『Mana』, 『Mental Strenght』, 『Hit Points』, 『Speed』, 『Skills』, and『Physical Strength』, but these things took on different purposes ever since I came to this world.

In this case, the most important one was 『Mental Strength』.

Initially, it was just a number that affected non-physical damage, such as magic and psychic attacks, but things weren’t the same here.

What kind of person do you think of when someone is said to be mentally strong?

Yes, that’s right.

It was the will to overcome all fears and adversity.

And the preparedness needed to carry something out.

Things like that and more had been strengthened.

However, it doesn’t seem to affect my personality and only showed its real value when I’m hit with an abnormal status effect.

“And, this?”

The faceless goddess statue was right in front of me.

It resembled Mary’s statue from a Christian church, but the clothes were tattered, and it was carved out of a mysterious black mass.

The statue didn’t have a face, but that was because the features had been removed.

The eyes had been gouged out, and there was a hole where the nose should be.

The mouth was lipless, and the cheeks were shaved down.

……This was too realistic, wasn’t it?

“Kai-kun, hurry!”

“Oーkーaーy,”

I raised my sword and swing down with all my might.

However, what happened next,

……The statue wasn’t a statue. It was a human body that had been discolored and hardened through mysterious means.

“……I don’t feel good, as expected.”

“Kai……kun?”

“Rue, cleanse this place, please. Give it your all.”

“Alright.”

Perhaps she realized something, as Rue drew her sword with a serious expression.

She held her sword in front of her face and began casting a spell.

Small balls of light appeared on the tip of the sword and started spreading throughout the room.

It was a beautiful sight no matter how many times I saw it.

『Dispel Earth』

This was an area of effect purifying and healing spell that only max level paladins could learn.

It was also one of those rare spells that required a holy weapon of a certain rank to cast.

The effect was incredible.

The spell not only purified harmful environments and hazardous substances but granted those places and things healing properties.

However, in this world, recovery effects gradually diminished over time.

“Good work.”

“Kai-kun, what should we do with her.”

Her.

That black goddess statue had been a real human.

It’d been cut in half, but the body was still there.

Further investigation was needed, but I was reluctant.

I mean…… this person was already experienced the worst.

It was hard to do anything more.

“Return to the earth. Heavenly flame.”

It was an ad-lib spell.

Despite the name, jet black flames appeared.

A pillar of flames, which didn’t generate any heat, rose to the ceiling as it engulfed the entire body.

As the flames dissipated, the corpse gradually blew away like ashes.

I hoped that the magic that trapped her in the stone would disappear as she disappeared into the sky.

Dark magic could be very flexible and bend to the user’s whims if they had enough creativity.

“I’m acting as more of a priest than anything.”

“With that appearance?”

At some point, I’d switched into my demon king set.

I seemed to have subconsciously put all my strength into the act.

For all I knew, that person could’ve been a willing participant in causing the monster tide.

But I still cremated them because I wanted to.

I did it because I pitied them. That’s all.

“A demon manipulating black flames, they wouldn’t look like anything but a mastermind.”

“Fufu, then am I a fallen saint?”

“Self-made saint……”

“W-What!”

Oh, no.

Rest in peace.

On another note, breaking rocks didn’t improve my sword at all.