NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58
“Um… Ran? Is it really okay to be doing this?”
“Hey, why not? You agreed too, didn’t you, Senpai?”
“Shh shh~.”
Black Lotus, stretching out, lifted the sunglasses made from shadows.
It felt more like we were on vacation than in a tournament.
Of course, I felt the same way.
“Isn’t the air nice?”
“…It really is.”
I laid down on huge leaves basking in sunlight as if they were a bed.
From this high vantage point, I could see the vast landscape of the enormous dungeon below.
“The air in the dungeon has a high concentration of magical energy and life force. There’s no better place to absorb quality life force.”
Though it was meaningless for me since I hadn’t learned any breathing techniques.
Just being here allowed me to gather quite a bit of life force through normal breathing.
“Is it really okay to be this relaxed?”
“I already explained it to you.”
I said again to Elma, who was anxiously fidgeting.
“Moving recklessly in this tournament is a disadvantage.”
On the surface, it looked like those who found the hidden relics first would have the upper hand.
But in reality, those who rush in first would actually end up at a loss.
‘Relics carry a strong curse.’
The longer you hold onto them, the more fatigued you become.
Relics try to imprint their presence onto the surroundings.
To put it simply.
‘They attract attention.’
There’s no reason to seize a relic early, becoming targets not just for the dungeon monsters but also for other participants.
It’s better to just wait and ambush a team that has collected four relics.
After all, a team with relics would be targeted by others; keeping an eye on things from a distance would make you easily noticeable.
‘Cowardly, huh?’
In competitions, it’s expected to play dirty and sly.
There’s even a saying.
“Did you think you were facing a saint?”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.”
Anyway, being here means we’re less likely to encounter other teams.
We can just sit back and join the fray later on.
Crunch!
Except for cases like this.
“Grrrrrr!”
Along with the sound of splintering wood, a dreadful roar filled the air.
Turning around, I saw a monster with two faces walking toward us.
“Grrr!”
Two pairs of enormous eyes glared at us.
“It’s a Twin-Headed Orc.”
The Twin-Headed Orc.
A variant of the orc, with two heads as the name suggests.
While it’s classified at the same level as ‘Floor 3’…
‘It’s stronger than a regular orc.’
If I had to specify, it’s about 3.5 levels high.
It’s not quite in the deep-tier category but definitely stronger than what’s classified as Tier 3.
‘It’s a fitting term for a variant.’
“I’ll take care of it right away.”
Just as Elma tried to draw her sword, I reached out and stopped her.
“Ran…?”
“Senpai, you should take it easy. Our team’s key player shouldn’t be exhaustively fighting something like this.”
With those words, I signaled Black Lotus.
“Black Lotus.”
“Shh!”
Black Lotus wrapped around my arm and shifted form.
Swish!
The night sky coalesced into a massive sword.
『Shadow Greatsword』
The blade nearly matched my own height.
A large greatsword rested against my shoulder.
The heaviness in my hands felt refreshingly noticeable.
‘It’s my first time using a greatsword.’
But I had been through the ‘sword techniques’ countless times already.
Woosh…!
Life force wrapped around me.
Superhuman strength surged throughout my body.
“GRAAAAH!”
The orc opened its mouth and launched its hefty body forward.
In response, I kicked off the ground and leapt into the air.
“Whoosh…!”
Then, I swung the greatsword.
「Fierce Strike: Rensens」
Once.
Swoosh!
Twice.
Shlurp!
Three times, four times, five times.
Crash! Splurt!
The sword techniques unleashed by the greatsword ripped apart the opponent mercilessly.
“GRAAAAH!”
The orc’s right head was severed.
Its body marked with wounds, blood gushed out.
“Gah…!”
“Quiet, you brute.”
Finally.
Thwack!
A downward strike finished the remaining head in two.
Thudthudthud!
The monster’s guts poured out like a waterfall.
“…Hah.”
I chuckled at the fallen orc’s corpse.
‘My power has increased, but the life force consumption is remarkably low.’
Until now, I had been using typical blades for all my sword techniques.
Carrying all those swords would become a hefty burden.
‘Moreover.’
This ridiculous game treats all close-combat weapons as ‘swords.’
In other words, axes, scythes, and such are treated as swords—meaning I would need to haul countless weapons to unleash their ‘true power.’
That was practically the reason I needed to narrow down my build to one.
However.
“Black Lotus!”
“Shh~!”
Black Lotus lifted those restrictions for me.
Plus, the skill I possessed.
「Sword Mastery」
If it’s a ‘sword,’ the skill substantially increases proficiency universally.
The compatibility of the two is exceptionally harmonious.
“If this is the case…!”
The paths for growth multiply endlessly.
*
“Dirty creatures.”
Pernia frowned and swung the whip in her hand.
Wham!
The whip imbued with magical power burst through the air, smashing the monster’s head mercilessly.
“There are many things in this world that need to be wiped out. Dungeons, monsters. Like parasites that cling to the human world and drain their lifeblood.”
Whirr! Whoosh!
The whip she wielded was nothing short of mystical.
With just a flick of her wrist, the whip moved with a life of its own to strike the enemy.
“What do you think?”
“…What do you mean?”
“About things that should not exist disappearing.”
Pernia bore no change in expression as she swept away the enemies.
Truly, a noble strength befitting a potential future emperor.
“Well, I’m not as decisive as you, sister.”
Angela just stood still.
Without even unsheathing her sword, she was protected by Pernia.
The reason being.
Glint!
The sparkling green gem embedded in the ring on Angela’s finger.
“I believe that nothing must necessarily disappear.”
“Foolish. That nature of yours will catch up to you someday.”
Everything has a reason.
Pernia’s deeply embedded principle within her came as common sense.
No matter how absurd the moment, choice, or situation might be.
When considering the ‘reason’ behind them, an answer always emerges.
However, those that lack an answer entirely.
Phenomena for which there’s simply no conceivable ‘reason’ for their existence.
Even the sharpest mind cannot draw a conclusion.
That, precisely, is what ‘should not exist’ means.
There are contradictory beings whose existence reason was never even established from the start.
“…Hmm.”
Pernia glanced briefly at Angela.
“Listening to you, it seems there’s some merit in what you say.”
“…?”
“When things that should disappear do disappear, they fulfill their purpose.”
Cleaning up trash makes the streets clean, killing monsters brings peace to humanity.
The demise of existence becomes their very reason for being.
Pernia smiled.
‘This is intriguing.’
Just how much value would Angela’s disappearance hold for her?
“GRAAAH!”
Boom!
Pernia exploded the monster lunging toward Angela.
Like a balloon bursting, blood erupted, splattering everywhere.
“Be cautious.”
“……”
Not now.
There are still many eyes watching.
At least until those gazes disappear, Angela must not injure herself through her negligence.
“Looks like you got blood on you. Wipe it with this.”
“…Thank you.”
Angela cleaned the blood on her body with the handkerchief Pernia handed her.
“Once you’re all cleaned up, let’s move. The next relic…”
Thrum-!
At that moment.
A tremendous tremor echoed nearby.
“Is that… a ‘Land Shark’?”
I could see the ground and trees ripping apart from afar.
Only the Land Shark displays such characteristics in this area.
True to the saying, it swims through the earth.
The Land Shark advances, destroying everything in its path.
Its blade-like fins and teeth possess devastating lethality rivaling even the deep-tier.
“Damn it.”
Of all the annoying creatures to encounter.
If I fought that thing, I’d end up dirty with mud and dust.
It was a bit humiliating, but.
“I’ll turn back here.”
For now, there’s no choice but to withdraw.
Pernia clicked her tongue and turned back.
However.
Thud!
It was Angela taking a step forward instead.
“…What are you doing?”
“I think I agree with what you said, sister.”
“What do you mean?”
“What should disappear—”
Thud thud thud!
Angela jumped into the air.
Drawing her sword from her waist while raising her eyelids.
“Sparkle…”
Beautifully gleaming eyes.
A hint of silvery energy seeped in.
She thrust her sword forward.
“When they disappear, they hold value.”
Angela’s sword.
Shone with moonlight.
「Moonlight Technique」
As if the moonlight were descending upon the world.
The light emanating from the sword pierced through the ground, attacking the enemies within.
Swish!
The vibrations lessened as the Land Shark’s movements came to a halt.
A single strike.
Angela’s one and only attack annihilated the Land Shark.
“…You?!”
“Sister.”
Angela removed the ring and tossed it to Pernia.
“I’ll leave the relics to you?”