NOVEL NEXT Chapter 356
Side Story: Boss Battle Experience – 2
Sometimes, the unexpected catches people off guard. No, it actually happens quite often.
“…….”
Except for me, Laksia, who ranks the highest among the Dark Night Order, managed to hit once; the rest of the members didn’t even graze him. That includes the five vice commanders.
This means that out of more than a hundred members, not a single one landed a successful attack. They even allowed unconventional attacks like flying sword energy or elemental strikes, yet they still ended up like this.
Kairas flaunted all sorts of bizarre movements, dodging every attack directed at him. It was hard to believe that such a large body could move so quickly. I wondered how this would be represented in the game.
The members in the back, who saw the front row getting beaten up, adjusted their strategies and charged in too, but it made no difference.
According to Laksia, they reached a private agreement that the front line would earn more money to account for the order’s advantage, but at this rate, that condition becomes utterly meaningless.
“Isn’t the difficulty a bit too high?”
—Huh? It shouldn’t be this strong… Strange…?
As I muttered quietly, I heard Eclipse’s flustered voice reverberate in my head. She wouldn’t have made it this strong; could this clumsy goddess have messed up again?
“Ugh… It’s a complete monster.”
The battered Laksia plopped down beside me.
Her once mangled, black armor had been fully restored, but it seemed she hadn’t quite overcome the mental shock of being utterly beaten up.
On the rectangular screen floating in the center of the audience, the knights from the first order were charging at the boss again. The rest were glued to the scene, neglecting their popcorn and cola.
Since they only managed to land a single attack, the promised bonus would be ridiculously low for all 110 members. However, the reason the Dark Night Order was so enraged wasn’t about money.
‘It’s their pride.’
Once, they stood alongside the Silver Dawn Knights, guarding the emperor directly. Their pride couldn’t be weak.
Their pride was bound to be hurt when they couldn’t even land a single strike and got beaten like that.
Just how shocked were they? They unitedly volunteered to try again, saying they didn’t need the money, just the challenge.
“Are you sure you didn’t bring in the strongest one just because you didn’t want to give us free money?”
“Do I look like that kind of person?”
“It was a joke. I was just throwing a tantrum due to the shock.”
“Then I should congratulate you for taking the overwhelming first place. Congratulations, Laksia.”
Laksia chuckled dryly.
“I wouldn’t take a prize like that even if it were free. Zero or one are the same anyway.”
“Is that all you have to say about getting first place? Too simple.”
“After getting beaten up like that, is there more to say? And I can say this only because it’s me; the others couldn’t even land a single hit and didn’t last long enough to be asked for comments. They’d probably try to eat the commander.”
“Eat me? How?”
“Well, of course……”
Laksia paused for a moment and flushed red. It seemed she realized my last comment had another implication.
I took it as a joke, smiling at her. Laksia, still blushing, twitched her lips, which seemed to be leaning toward something a bit vulgar.
Well, being able to exchange such banter was proof enough that I felt comfortable. If that golden moron were the commander, these kinds of jokes would have been unthinkable.
“Where on earth did you bring such a monster from?”
“If you reach a position similar to mine, you’ll find out, how about it?”
I couldn’t reveal that he’s the boss who appears in Brightest Darkness 5.
“You could just say you won’t tell me directly.”
Laksia snickered while looking at the screen. She seemed to brush it off as just a joke. I too focused back on the screen. With a single strike from the boss, two or three knights were sent flying.
‘Is the spec difference really that serious?’
It made me wonder. No matter how much the vice commanders were mid-bosses and the regular members were field mobs, the Dark Night Order was supposed to be an adversary in the late game.
The field mobs in the later stages of the Imperial Palace had specs similar to mid-bosses in the early to mid game. Mid-bosses in the late game had specs comparable to major bosses in early to mid game.
Yet, these guys were being swept away like autumn leaves with a single strike.
‘Something feels off.’
As I wore a contemplative expression, Laksia shot me a glance.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing much. I was just thinking about how I would deal with that thing when I have to fight it later.”
For now, it was merely speculation. I quickly pulled out another excuse I’d thought of in advance. The fact that I was indeed contemplating how to take it down was also true.
“Then you don’t need to be doing this at all.”
“I have my reasons.”
I wasn’t going to directly confront it; I’d either have Kimah or a pad handle it. However, Laksia had no way of knowing this, so a question mark floated above her head.
“It seems you’re uncomfortable as someone who has transcended humanity. You barely provide any proper guidance for me, your vice commander.”
“I’m still very much human. For now.”
I thought I should add “for now” since in the future, I’d become a being close to a deity, just like Eclipse. Laksia seemed to take this as a joke, as a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.
“Okay, okay, understood. Our not-yet-transcendent human commander. Then I’ll rephrase. You’re a being who will transcend humanity.”
Laksia had changed a lot compared to our first meeting. Back then, she had been trying to pick a fight with the Silver Dawn Knights and was moaning after getting hit with my sword.
‘…… Maybe she’s changed for the better?’
Perhaps she had transformed into something good.
“Should I try catching it first?”
“What?”
“I thought you guys were totally lost, so it might help to show a demonstration.”
“Um… I won’t refuse if you insist. Although I wonder how much we can learn from how you handle things, Commander.”
At that moment, the first group that had engaged the boss had been annihilated entirely. The last remaining vice commander was summoned back to the audience.
His broken, mangled armor was instantly repaired.
“Next order—”
“That’s me.”
“……Huh? Commander, what did you just say?”
“I said the next order you mentioned is me.”
Since no one else knew about the exchange between Laksia and me, everyone looked confused as I picked up the Wingless Nightmare and headed towards the boss. Kairas immediately got into battle stance.
According to the setting, Kairas was a boss who had lived as a noble warrior, wanting to die honorably in battle according to the traditions of his faith. It was said that if he died fighting, the war god would guide him to heaven.
Having adorned his body so flamboyantly was his way of respecting the warriors who would face him.
‘Once Brightest Darkness 5 is released, he’s bound to die in an incredibly dishonorable fashion…’
A part of me felt a bit sad about that. Given that setup, he was bound to become a target of humiliation for hardcore players. He would likely die in ways far removed from honor.
Like getting stomped with a foot, or having a purple-skinned undead character spamming the fight barehanded, or being defeated with some ridiculous weapon.
‘Well, that’s that.’
The slight feeling of sadness would only ever be a bit of a feeling. After all, I was going to join that line too.
I readied my posture. The monster began to move. First, its upper right arm lifted, and at the same time, its lower left arm pulled back. It seemed to perform a spinning multi-hit attack pattern.
There weren’t any low attacks, so I’d start with parrying—
Vwaaaang!!!!
‘What the?!’
As soon as I parried the first spinning slash, my body was violently shoved backward. Continuing the combos, I found my legs being pushed back as if stepping onto a moving walkway.
Even though I had approached with a light heart, being pushed back like this in a contest of strength was undeniably abnormal. I steadied my mind and drew a little more power.
Though my legs had ceased sliding back, the shock to my arms remained. The monster finished the eighth attack and immediately continued with the next pattern.
It swept low twice and then slammed all four arms down simultaneously, spinning sideways and attacking in each of the four directions, or floating up into the air and slamming down with dark flames to create an explosion.
The blatant multi-target attack pattern came rushing at me with terrifying speed and damage.
‘If this gets released as a game, it could be tougher than Lepanteka!’
Honestly, I felt that this matched what Eclipse had said would be the most difficult hidden boss. My feeling that something was very off was amplifying.
‘I need to finish this quickly.’
Kicking off the ground, I ascended and changed the Wingless Nightmare to the divine attribute. Golden light burst forth from the blade. Raising the Wingless Nightmare above my head, I prepared my special ability.
Seeing the ray of light descending from above, Kairas conjured black flames. A black fireball rose up, and he swung his arm straight down toward me.
BOOM!
A colossal pillar of light struck from the sky.
The light pillar overwhelmingly suppressed the black fireball that had just started to rise and plunged it into the ground. A divine explosion erupted, sweeping the area. Dust and debris mixed with dirt swirled around.
‘……’
I landed on the ground. The monster, even after taking that attack, was still barely alive for a moment. It was completely wrecked, and just a light poke from my sword would reduce it to fragments, but the important thing was that it was still alive.
I quietly called out to Eclipse.
“Lady Goddess.”
“……Yes. You.”
“What was that this time?”
She had a somewhat guilty demeanor, indicating she had messed up, but I could infer from Eclipse’s reaction that it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“I… made an input error…”
“And the reason?”
“…….”
“And the reason?”
After trying to hesitate for a bit, Eclipse finally opened her mouth under my persistent urging.
“I… I got too excited thinking my turn would come soon… A-and my uterus is tingling… Just thinking about it sends a shiver through me…”
“…….”
This goddess, really.
Side Story: Difference in Talent
“Why is the goddess acting up again? Now she’s even got her hands up?”
“Well, something happened. What about Claudia?”
“Hangover. Minerva offered to heal her, but she desperately refused. She said she’d come down on her own when the time passed, so just ignore it.”
“A hangover? What did she drink?”
“Moon’s Kiss.”
“Oh.”
Finishing the short conversation, I turned on the computer. While the screen was booting up, I rotated the chair to face Eclipse, who sat in the living room. As soon as I made eye contact, Eclipse pouted and pleaded.
“I… I’m sorry, please forgive me…”
If it were someone else’s mistake, I might have overlooked it.
The goddess had done absurd things like this more than once. Most of the time, she would look at me with pity as I gave her that look, and she would subtly cling to me after a little hesitation.
However, I couldn’t let slide a mistake related to Brightest Darkness 5.
“Just put your hands down properly, Goddess. I can see you lowering them little by little.”
“It’s… really embarrassing…”
“That’s exactly why you should feel embarrassed for a punishment you set up. Isn’t that right?”
“You….”
“One extra hour.”
“Aaaargh…! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…! Please, not that…!”
Eclipse panicked, apologizing, and pressed her arms tight against her sides.
‘What if she actually enjoys being embarrassed as a punishment? That would be awkward for me.’
Given her past fine-tuning since she was punished, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised. If that became a source of reward instead of a punishment, I would have quite a problem on my hands.
“……”
Other girls, except for Nix and Claudia, were whispering among themselves while watching Eclipse, who sat cross-legged holding a sketchbook, a burning red face half in tears.
It’s not a scene one sees every day, a goddess sitting on the floor holding a sketchbook. This is the second time; it might happen occasionally in the future.
“Hey, Holy One.”
In about two hours, I figured I could let her off, so I attempted to launch Brightest Darkness 4, but Floretta and Luna approached.
When Eclipse first appeared and was punished, the Sun and Moon descended directly, causing a commotion, but now their expressions have grown quite accustomed.
“Is it really true that you can reach climax just by your name being called?”
“That’s right. It’s true.”
Though it was not a loud voice, it was sufficient to resonate throughout the living room. All eyes in the room turned toward Eclipse. Eclipse started trembling and hung her head low.
From the way everyone was reacting, it appeared that being able to climax just by being called was considered quite extraordinary even by their world’s standards.
‘Is Kaikilia commendable for achieving that?’
I glanced over at Kaikilia, who had succeeded without much practice apart from a little real combat. As she sat on the sofa watching Eclipse, she flinched as soon as our eyes met and turned beet red, darting her gaze away.
Well, I didn’t plan on revealing that Kaikilia could pull off the same trick as the goddess—
“Can a child do it as well?”
“Wha… What are you… Wh-What did you just say?!”
Suddenly the arrow turned toward Kaikilia, who was bewildered to the point of stuttering, even crushing the cola can she was holding in her hand.
Thanks to Minerva’s quick magic, there was no disaster of cola soaking clothes, sofa, and table, but they could not stop the focus of attention.
With a trembling voice, Luna spoke up.
“Kaikilia too…?”
“N-no! That’s not it! What an outrageous thing to say, Minerva!”
Kaikilia vigorously denied it, but no one believed her. Once a calm and composed human shows such flustered reactions, it’s practically confirmed.
“Oh my, are you really going to deny it, dear?”
“Of course not!”
“Well then, that’s wonderful. If you ask them to call your name right now, it might prove it!”
“Wh-What are you…?”
The golden pupils trembled with anxiety. Her shoulders visibly hunched in.
What had been half-confirmed moments ago was now completely confirmed by her reaction. That look on Kaikilia’s face was evidence.
Minerva, grinning, added a comment.
“Since you claim not to be a child, I’m giving you the chance to prove that my statement is wrong. Now, quickly say it. Whisper Kaikilia, please.”
Kaikilia looked at me with anxious eyes. It was a look I had never seen on her before. It seemed I needed to step in to intervene.
“That’s enough, Minerva.”
As soon as I said to stop, Minerva zipped her mouth shut, smiling as if to say she’d never teased anyone. Nevertheless, the initial goal was accomplished, making the silence somehow meaningless.
Rize led the other two commanders into Delta’s room, indicating it would take time while they closed the door. Then, with firm determination on their faces, the popes approached Kaikilia.
As Kaikilia shot a glance at Minerva, who had been glaring at her, she turned away. However, even towards the popes, her gaze held no signs of good feelings.
“I have a request, Kaikilia.”
“No! Get lost!”
Floretta and Luna stood their ground despite being growled at. As the popes showed no signs of retreating, Kaikilia ground her teeth.
It was obvious what those walking pieces of filth would say.
“Could you possibly teach us how to climax just by being called by name?”
As expected. Kaikilia shrieked in frustration.
“Did you not hear me say to get lost?!”
With her sensitivity increasing the more she interacted, and recently feeling reactions just from holding hands, even merely sitting beside me would send a tingle down her spine.
As a woman, it was making her feel ashamed; asking to teach such things was nothing less than mocking her. Like, the response Minerva was giving as well.
“Why are you embarrassed?”
“That’s right. You should take pride in it.”
Floretta and Luna didn’t exactly set out to bait Kaikilia. They were probably more envious than anything else.
While the Sun and Moon can reach climax just by names, Kaikilia had managed to make it possible as a human. This meant she had arrived at a level comparable to the goddess of the Holy Kingdom.
How being at the same level as a god was something to be embarrassed about was totally beyond their understanding.
“Why on earth should I feel proud about that!”
“Isn’t it meaningful that you’ve reached a state similar to the Sun?”
“If that fact were known, I’d certainly be praised as an incredible achievement—”
“I don’t need that kind of praise, not even a bit!”
Having shouted harshly, Kaikilia tried to flee into the room, grasping the door to lock it behind her, but the popes were quicker.
Floretta and Luna successfully stepped in before the door could fully shut, and soon, raucous noise erupted from within.
“I’ll make this request, Kaikilia! Please teach us that trick!”
“If you want, we’ll even give up our order of sleeping with you! So pleeeease!”
“Did you truly not hear me say to get lost! You filthy perverts!”
As Floretta and Luna desperately clung to Kaikilia, Stella and Selene sneaked in to join their ranks, when Minerva approached Eclipse.
With her silvery-white eyes scanning the words scrawled on the sketchbook, the words related to this entire debacle.
‘I’m an immoral goddess who can climax just by having my name called. I couldn’t perform my tasks properly because of my lewdness.’
I didn’t know the context behind such a statement surfacing, but Delta’s intent was undoubtedly clear. It was to remind Eclipse that, before being a goddess, she was one of Delta’s girls, reducing the distance.
Minerva could thoroughly relate to that sentiment. No, she could understand it all too well. So, she decided to use the best way to reduce that distance. With a sweet smile, she squatted right in front of Eclipse.
“Lady Goddess, are you okay for a moment?”
With a voice completely different from her typically gentle tone, Aurora stared wide-eyed at her back.
“Yes…? What do you want…?”
“I wanted to ask something. Since you said ‘goddess,’ you must have lived for quite a long time, right?”
“That’s correct…?”
“Then, you must be much older than me, right?”
“Uh… Yes, of course… for now…?”
Eclipse, left dumbfounded by the emphasis on ‘much,’ nodded her head. Minerva clapped her hands in delight.
“Oh my, that’s wonderful! Since you’re older than me and I’m younger, can I call you ‘big sis’ from now on?”
“Wha—?”
“……”
Watching from the side, Aurora sighed inwardly.