NOVEL NEXT Chapter 511
<511 – Evil Goo!>
Masugaki’s attack pattern has changed.
Back in the first semester during the insect collection contest, Masugaki used the patterns I was familiar with.
[Imperial Family Mana Flow Technique]
[Stealth - Property Change]
[Metalization]
She throws projectiles the size of a small tweezers and when she flicks her fingers, she forcibly injects mana that metalizes the targeted area.
Wood, rock, and soil become as hard as metal, and this even works on living beings.
[Mana Flow Technique]
[Infiltration Defense Technique]
If you can’t defend yourself with the refined control skills, a part of your body will inevitably turn to metal and without magical intervention, physical recovery becomes impossible.
There’s no reason you can’t do what you can do with projectiles with your bare body, either.
Pfft pfft. Who said I’m weak in close combat~? You’re just deluded! ♡
Masugaki the Second Princess can turn her entire surroundings into metal whenever she wants.
In close proximity, just the Infiltration Defense Technique is not enough.
With the ground underfoot, she can metalize her opponent’s shoes, instantly putting them in a state of evasion inability.
No way, my hand is turning to metal…!
Did you really think you would be fine after directly facing my blade~? If the infiltration time gets this long, even the Infiltration Defense Technique can be breached. Pfft. So easy! ♡ No adaptability…
Iron Fist!!!
Uggaah!
Heheh! I’ve always wanted such an amazing fist. From today, call me the Strength Marine of Steel Fist!!
But… are you really that stupid? If you throw punches in metalization and it breaks, your hand will disappear! You ignorant barbarian!
Well, back when I was a curious five-year-old newbie, even that was something fun to enjoy.
Or not?
Isn’t my curiosity still the same even now?
Anyway, that was how I knew Masugaki’s fighting style.
From a distance, she would throw projectiles infused with the Stealth technique to force close combat and, in close combat, use the ground or blade to inject forced metalization to ignore infiltration.
Even her martial arts skills allow attacks from Masugaki’s small hands, elbows, and knees to land, causing clothes or body to harden, and before you know it, they are completely beaten.
If you push yourself too much, your expensive clothes or body will break, so you would generally have no choice but to take the hits without resistance to avoid unnecessary losses.
But later, when I checked other people’s strategies, they even mentioned recklessly punching while accepting bodily loss.
It’s a tactic called guilt tactics that incites the guilt of the “useless princess” by losing parts of the metalized body, but as a good kid, I’m not really aware of what that means?
“Let’s kill each other♡”
That was Masugaki, who now uses Dark Mana to utilize [Absolute Command], exterminating the rebel guard units who originally opposed her through the acquisition of Dark Mana.
The last remaining assailant attempted to slash his neck with a sword, but Masugaki didn’t allow that either.
“Before you die, tell me where you were originally stationed and what orders you received♡”
“I was a member of the Iron and Scale Knights… infiltrated the guard and when the time came, received orders to take the medicine and participate in the mission…”
“What reward did you receive for taking on the mission~?”
“I received a promise from his secret organization that they wouldn’t kill my family…”
“Thank you♡ Tell me how I can repay my family’s revenge♡”
The assassin trembled.
Blood that should not flow fell from his nose as pain pierced his soul, trying to deliberately violate a contract sworn in the name of the god of contracts.
“G…”
As soon as a single letter was uttered, blood gushed from the assassin’s face.
“L…”
His body twisted as if something were squeezing him, yet the assassin finally held the last letter in his mouth.
“A…”
Glass.
As soon as he revealed that name, the assassin’s body exploded.
Clack.
“No, Your Highness. In emergencies, stepping outside of the carriage is…”
“Get out of the way♡”
Eungchilgeom Alexander was startled and stepped back from the hand Masugaki extended.
He couldn’t touch a hand that could truly turn him into metal.
Masugaki, standing before the head of the assassin rolling on the ground, squatted down to meet the eyes of his head alone.
“Did you know~? A person can maintain consciousness for about a minute with just their head left♡ So let me make it clear, I can’t save your family.”
Is this humiliation?
“Instead, I can grant you revenge♡”
That was all Masugaki wanted to say in the end.
Only then did the assassin’s bloodshot eyes slowly close as if he felt relieved.
“Glass the Port. Heir of the Port House, which refines monster blood into high-calorie energy sources. Currently a third-year student at the Academy♡”
“Wow. How did you know?”
“I memorized the list of all students as soon as the entrance exam finished♡”
Masugaki identified the identities of the Prince’s minions who instigated the assault.
“I was hit by my brother, but I can’t go back without meeting Abama♡ If I do, I’ll lose out in the succession to the throne~? What about the useless version? ♡”
“Let’s go together!”
“Are you really okay~? Little kids will be attacked and keep crying ‘Wah Wah’~? The guard has been wiped out, and Eungchilgeom has been injured~?”
Hiscliff defeated the leader of the assassins, but the injuries on his side and shoulder didn’t look light.
“Why don’t we leave the escort carriage and take another one?”
“The Non-fair Flight is out of the question♡ If we get attacked in midair, we’ll either die in the Non-fair Flight or crash! ♡”
“There are other things to ride besides that?”
Even if the meta has changed, good-hearted Masugaki hasn’t. I confidently suggested a nearby area while spreading the map.
“…Monster Habitat?”
“Call it the Mount Riding Habitat!”
Mount rides are a veteran player’s unique content.
I just can’t resist winged mounts!
*
The on-site manager commanding the assassins sent by the prince.
The Black Knight Isaac.
He didn’t deeply contemplate his own situation or the princess’s plight.
If someone without power or honor dares to seek a high position, they must drink someone’s blood to rise.
That was common sense.
If it’s the princess’s blood, it could elevate him very high in the prince’s ranks.
He could eventually become a close aide and a trusted minister to the next emperor of the empire, reaching a status comparable to the Three Great Sword Kings.
“Royal Family’s Elixir. A knight’s tonic that can instantly elevate a knight of demonic sword level to king level. For that, I’d gladly cut the princess’ throat.”
A man obsessed with ascendance.
A kidnapped man.
Those wishing for elixirs to elevate their levels.
Though most of their goals may be sinister, their situation of not being able to sever ties with the prince remains the same.
They monitored the ships at the harbor, the horses at the relay station, and the Non-fair Flights at the airport, ensuring no gaps.
“Traffic and passage in this area are all under our surveillance. The princess cannot escape anywhere.”
Once caught in the surveillance net, it’s over.
They have formulated terrorist methods for all transport, and it would be difficult to counter with just two Eungchilgeoms.
Even if by chance, they manage to save their lives through sacrifice, sending pursuit teams will mean the end.
“Execute surveillance team location report.”
“From the surveillance team: The target is currently moving by land and has taken refuge in the Kantar Mountains.”
“Oh. Trying to buy time by avoiding surveillance until reinforcements arrive, huh? Quite clever.”
Time was undoubtedly on her side.
By now, reports must have confirmed that the Imperial Family’s escort carriage had ceased operation due to an accident.
The emperor would send reinforcements.
However, it would take time until they arrived.
Time enough for them to kill the princess.
“Proceed with Plan E Formation 3. All units, transition to E3 formation.”
The individuals implanted to block the princess’s escape swiftly gathered in the mountains.
“The hiking course of Kantar Mountain has just been declared off-limits. Please descend quickly.”
“We’ve been traveling by carriage for more than ten days just to climb this mountain!”
“There’s a risk of landslides.”
“Surely every climber prepares at least one landslide prevention kit per person!”
“There’s widespread news of man-eating monsters lurking.”
“It’s common sense that strong monsters gather in high places! Of course, we’ve equipped ourselves with battle gear.”
“Thanks to the rainy season, there are many puddles everywhere, and rumors say a plethora of people-blood-sucking mosquitoes are appearing.”
“Haha. To ensure a pleasant climb, we’ve all mastered the Wood Skin Mana Flow Technique. Any elite climber should learn at least one technique that helps from landslide accidents to mosquito resistance.”
Why are these guys so well-prepared?
The leader of the surrounding encampment stopped his men as they were about to draw their swords in frustration over chasing away commoners.
“Actually, there have been reports of monster girls appearing in the mountains, capturing climbers and forcing them.”
“Oh, is that a good news?”
“Is it a slime girl?”
“The were-tiger girl looks quite muscular and amazing.”
“It’s a grotesque mutated monster girl so ugly that even an eighty-year-old man would throw away his cane and run away.”
“Oh my, what a terrible thing!!”
“Damn, the climbing bell rang.”
“…”
Having managed to drive away the civilians, the assassin team successfully established a siege around the mountains.
Every soldier surrounded the area, leaving no chance for even a rat to escape.
“There are bloodstains here. It is assumed the leader of the assault injured the Eungchilgeom.”
“From here on, we’ll be entering the habitat of female flying monsters [Harpies] that kidnap and force human men while killing the women. If we’re lucky, we might discover the princess’s corpse.”
As things unraveled smoothly without lifting a finger, the team members longing for easy rewards discovered the devastated Harpy habitat and men crying bitterly.
The bewildered leader of the siege stopped the soldiers who were pulling out their swords and approached the men to inquire.
“Where have all the Harpies vanished to, and who are you that you cry so bitterly in a place like this?”
One man then said,
“Two evil little girls suddenly appeared, captured the Harpies, forcibly infused them with Dark Mana, and together with their team, disappeared somewhere on top of the Harpies.”
“…”
“With wives who used to share three meals a day gone, how are we supposed to live now?”
Listening to their distress which meant absolutely nothing, the leader of the siege realized,
“This is bad.”