—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyebrows twitched as he lay on the ground.
Bryn was crouching beside him.
It was a strange situation.
How did she get here so stealthily?
And…
‘Why me…?’
He couldn’t understand Bryn’s actions.
They had only been together for a day, so he didn’t know much about her.
But a person’s character wasn’t something that could be easily hidden. It would reveal itself little by little.
She was lazy but not stupid. He had thought she was a student who, despite her emotional side, could make sound judgments.
“I-I’ll pour the potion on you.”
“…”
Why was she helping him?
She could have just run away.
Pop.
He heard the sound of a bottle cap opening.
Jeong Yoo-shin, forgetting his pain, racked his brain. He quickly reached a conclusion.
‘Could it be…?!’
Had she been moved by his party members’ self-sacrifice?
It didn’t matter even if that wasn’t the case. He couldn’t miss this opportunity.
“Oops.”
A voice like air escaping a balloon.
And then potion splashed all over him.
The sticky liquid dripped down his head and face.
“…Oh, s-sorry.”
He heard an embarrassed voice.
‘Could it be…?’
“The… the antidote too. Oops?!”
Splash.
More liquid poured over him. This time, it not only soaked his hair but also got into his nose and ears.
“…”
Jeong Yoo-shin moved his eyes to glare at Bryn.
Bryn, for her part, avoided his gaze while sweating.
‘No. This is an opportunity.’
He wasn’t sure if she was messing with him, but thanks to Bryn’s “help,” he could now barely move his neck and tongue.
Jeong Yoo-shin moved his neck and mouth and licked the potion and antidote scattered on the ground.
He even chewed on the dirt that was soaked with the liquids.
“Ew… That’s disgusting.”
“Ptoo!”
He spat out the dirt after swishing it around in his mouth.
“…Bring me all the potions and bandages in my backpack.”
“…Here.”
Bryn took out a large quantity of potions and placed them on the ground.
‘Did she already bring them?’
All the potions he had meticulously saved were here.
Healing potions, stamina potions, antidotes, everything.
Thanks to the antidote, he could move much more easily.
But it wasn’t enough. He opened the potion bottles with trembling hands and drank them all.
He even poured all of the charcoal powder into his mouth.
“E-Excuse me.”
Bryn pointed at Jeong Yoo-shin’s stomach. The hole was smaller thanks to the healing potions, but it was still there.
Multicolored potion residue that had mixed together inside his stomach was leaking out of it.
It didn’t matter.
He roughly wrapped his stomach with bandages and stood up.
“…Bryn, leave. I have to fight.”
“I-I think running away would be wiser than talking to me.”
“…”
‘Focus.’
Rip.
He tore off the remnants of his light armor, which had become like rags, and stood up bare-chested.
His helmet had flown off somewhere, so the flames of his Revenger imprint were fully visible in his eyes.
Shing.
He drew his longsword, slung it over his shoulder, and started walking.
Towards the one he had to kill.
The chillingly sharp blade gleamed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Iron Mask staggered to his feet.
The brave dwarf priest stood before the Giant Spider while armed with only his staff.
Iron Mask’s gaze was fixed on Kubo, but his mind was wandering through his old memories.
‘Evan Lionel, must you really go?’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Isn’t there another way? The Great Labyrinth is a dangerous place. It’s like a bottomless swamp. Once you step in, it’s very difficult to get out. Heroes and villains alike struggle and die in that swamp.’
‘Isn’t all of life like that? I will go.’
‘…Must you really go? Do you not know how much your people love you?’
He remembered his father’s sorrowful eyes.
The sky he had seen when he left the palace and abandoned everything had been so beautiful.
Wham!!!
Kubo, struck by the spider’s foreleg, flew through the air. His broken staff spun through the sky.
He gripped his greatsword tightly, hoping his dying body would cooperate.
He stood up and walked toward the vile monster.
One step. Two steps.
His faltering steps turned into a run.
He raised the greatsword that had been crafted with meticulous care by the palace blacksmiths.
He had already held his own funeral when he left the palace. He had no regrets. Wasn’t all of human life like this?
A life of wandering through a labyrinth, caught between desire and boredom before finally entering the grave.
“Haaaaaaaaah!!!”
Whoosh!!!
The greatsword made a tremendous whooshing sound.
The Giant Spider, unable to withstand the force, retreated.
‘I won’t let you escape.’
Evan Lionel twisted his greatsword from a downward swing into a spin.
He threw himself forward while swinging his sword.
A desperate horizontal slash.
Slice!!!
The greatsword sliced through two of the spider’s log-like legs.
Thump!!! Thump!!!
The legs flew through the air and landed on the ground.
“Krelerelelek!!!”
The Giant Spider shrieked madly and swung its forelegs.
Evan stood still. He had exhausted all of his strength in that swing and couldn’t move anymore.
‘Is this the end?’
Crash!!!
A giant foreleg descended towards Evan like a guillotine.
At that moment…
Swish!!!
A golden spear embedded itself into the Giant Spider’s side.
Thud!!!
The Giant Spider stumbled.
Its foreleg grazed Evan and slammed into the ground.
Boom!!!
A man walked through the swirling dust and grass.
He was half-naked with bandages wrapped around his stomach and a longsword slung over his shoulder.
His eyes blazed with blue flames.
Skar, the half-blood barbarian.
He was in terrible shape. It was a miracle that he was even able to stand and walk right now.
“Iron Mask.”
“…Skar, run.”
“Nonsense. You rest.”
At Jeong Yoo-shin’s words, Iron Mask knelt. He didn’t even have the strength to stand anymore.
Jeong Yoo-shin turned and faced the Giant Spider.
It was reeling from the direct hit from the Sacred Weapon spear.
‘Different.’
It was different from a typical Giant Spider.
The discrepancy between this creature and what he had read in the books was too great.
A possibility flashed through his mind, but he dismissed it.
What did it matter? He was going to kill it anyway.
The spear of light embedded in the Giant Spider dissipated into particles.
“Krelerelek!!!”
The Giant Spider, regaining its balance, charged at Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin charged at it as well.
The spider’s foreleg descended towards his head.
‘Come on.’
He immediately sidestepped to avoid it.
Boom!!!
The Giant Spider’s foreleg slammed onto the ground.
A cloud of dirt erupted, as if a bomb had exploded.
‘An opening.’
He placed his longsword onto his shoulder and twisted his waist as far as it would go.
A diagonal slash.
Swish!!!
Crack!!!
The sharp blade of the longsword cut halfway through the spider’s leg.
‘Einhorfer.’
[Sacred Weapon]
A weapon honed in the heart of hell.
A golden single-edged axe materialized in his hand.
He swung it.
Crack!!!
As if chopping wood, he struck the half-severed leg, finally severing it completely.
Splat!!!
Green fluid gushed from the severed limb, soaking the ground.
“Kyaaaaa!!!”
The spider shrieked as it swung its forelegs wildly.
Thump!!!
Thump!!!
Thump!!!
He threw himself to the ground and rolled through the dirt. Blood seeped through the bandages around his stomach, but he ignored it.
He rolled and dodged, narrowly avoiding every attack.
It was an almost superhuman display. He was like a madman.
Iron Mask’s jaw dropped.
‘Wh-What fighting spirit…!’
None of the knights serving in the palace could match this man’s tenacity.
Seeing him effortlessly weaving through danger while on the verge of death sent chills down his spine.
He was different from the last time he had seen him.
Wasn’t he like a demon risen from hell?
In fact, Iron Mask’s impression was accurate.
Right now, Jeong Yoo-shin was moving instinctively, his mind hazy.
He stabbed and struck whenever he saw an opening.
Stance? Mental fortitude? He didn’t care about such luxuries.
Kill.
That was his only thought.
Slash!!!
He spun around and swung his sword. A long gash appeared on the spider’s abdomen, and fluid sprayed into the air.
He plunged his hand into the wound, mercilessly tearing at its flesh with all his might.
Rip!!!
“Kraaaaaaaaa!!!”
The spider shrieked in agony. It was a familiar scream.
Wham!!!
A foreleg struck Jeong Yoo-shin.
Thud! Thud! Thud!!!
Jeong Yoo-shin rolled across the ground like an empty can before suddenly springing to his feet.
“Heh…”
Jeong Yoo-shin grinned while ignoring the blood dripping from his mouth. The blue flames in his eyes burned brighter.
The spider turned and presented its abdomen to him.
Thwip!!!
Several lumps of web flew towards him.
“Huup.”
Jeong Yoo-shin stumbled as he twisted his body to dodge each projectile before running at full speed.
The spider tried to flee as it moved forward but with several of its legs severed, its movement was slow.
‘If this turns into a war of attrition, escape will be impossible.’
His party members weren’t in good shape.
A thought flashed through Jeong Yoo-shin’s mind.
‘Can I do this?’
He didn’t know. He wouldn’t consider failure. He would succeed.
He clamped on to the hilt of his longsword with his teeth as he ran.
[Sacred Weapon]
He willed a pole into existence.
‘About this much.’
He grabbed the long pole and plunged it into the ground.
Thud!!!
He used the pole to launch himself into the air.
A pole vault.
Iron Mask, Kubo, Mars, and Bryn all stared up at Jeong Yoo-shin with wide eyes.
Jeong Yoo-shin gave his party members a thumbs-up as he soared through the air.
And then…
He spat out his sword, caught it with both his hands, and aimed it downwards.
A downward strike.
The spider, noticing him, frantically tried to move. But it was too late. There was no escape.
Whoosh!!!
Jeong Yoo-shin landed on the spider’s upper body.
At the same time, his longsword plunged hilt-deep into the spider’s torso.
“Kyaaagh!!!”
The spider shrieked and thrashed about.
‘As expected.’
[Sacred Weapon]
Time to bash its head in.
He willed a warhammer into existence.
He gripped the massive hammer with both hands and raised it high.
From top to bottom.
‘This is the end.’
Wham!!!
The brilliant golden warhammer smashed into the Giant Spider’s eyes and head.
“Kgh…!!!”
The spider stumbled.
He didn’t stop.
One more time.
Boom!!!
The warhammer crushed the Giant Spider’s head and burst all of its eyes.
The Giant Spider collapsed, unable to endure any longer.
Thud!!!
The ground shook from the impact, a testament to how well-fed the creature had been.
He pulled out his sword and climbed down from the spider’s body.
Jeong Yoo-shin leaned down and put his mouth close to the Giant Spider’s head.
“You’re human, aren’t you?”
The Giant Spider twitched slightly.
He was certain for one reason.
When he had been bitten by the fangs, his mana had been temporarily locked, unable to move.
Ordinary Giant Spiders didn’t have venom that suppressed mana.
That left only one possibility.
An imprint ability.
He raised his sword.
“It doesn’t really matter what you are.”
Slice.
The crushed spider head rolled across the ground.
Subjugation complete.
“Gah! Ptoo!!!”
He spat out the rising blood from his mouth and used his sword as a cane to steady himself.
What should he do first?
Should he heal Kubo? He had the Pesticide he had received from Edel. It was a medicine used to kill insects inside the body.
Or take care of Iron Mask who had collapsed and was spitting up blood?
There was also Mars, who was trapped in a web and was about to be eaten alive by baby spiders…
“B-Bryn.”
He barely managed to keep himself from collapsing as he called out the student’s name. Where had she gone now?
At that moment…
Someone approached him. Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened. It wasn’t Bryn. A muscular deer beast-person, well over two meters tall, was looking down at him.
He wore armor camouflaged with leaves and carried a longbow and a shortsword, both as tall as a person.
“I’m a little late.”
“Seems like you’re more than a little late. Who are you?”
“Look at your language. Ashur sent me. Come on.”
“Ptoo!!!”
Jeong Yoo-shin spat out more blood and glared at the male deer beast-person.
Why would Ashur send this deer beast-person?
“It’s not time to sleep yet.”
“…Has madness taken over your mind?”
“Should I just believe you when you say Ashur sent you? These fucking bastards, appearing out of nowhere and spouting nonsense…”
Thump.
The deer beast-person silently dropped something on the ground.
Jeong Yoo-shin’s eyes widened.
A sandbag.
He picked it up with trembling hands.
It was heavy. His name was engraved on it.
How could he forget it? He had worn this and trained like hell at the Swordsman’s Guild before entering the labyrinth.
Ashur’s face, with his devilish grin as he handed it over, sometimes appeared in his dreams.
Jeong Yoo-shin, leaned on his sword and bowed deeply, blood still dripping from his mouth.
“…Please. Save my party members.”
The deer beast-person crossed his arms and nodded.
“…Alright. You’re lucky. To have survived that Giant Spider.”
“F-Fuck. That doesn’t seem to be the case. I’m sorry. Thank you.”
Jeong Yoo-shin mumbled and then slumped, unconscious.
“…”
The deer beast-person stared blankly at Jeong Yoo-shin, who had fainted while leaning on his sword, then turned his gaze to Bryn.
“Little girl, is this barbarian always this foul-mouthed?”
“He’s… he’s a good person. Don’t… don’t insult him. Fuck.”
Bryn defended Jeong Yoo-shin.
“Sigh.”
The deer beast-person sighed deeply, touched his antlers, and muttered.
“That Giant Spider is dead too. Why couldn’t she just stay in the city and live quietly? Why come back to the labyrinth and bother people? Tsk.”
In the dark forest clearing…
The deer beast-person and the girl began to work busily.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
T/N – Damn, the giant spider was a person before? And it seems like the deer beast-person also knew her with that last comment. As if this world’s background lore isn’t dark enough.
Lots of stuff to point out in this chapter too apart from that, like Iron Mask’s flashback, the fact that Ashur actually sent someone to back the MC up, and the MC once again proving himself to be a badass.
If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.
Tftc!
thx
I’m curious if Skar can eventually manifest guns and rocket launchers?
Imagine him making the gun but it has no ammo
With his luck being extremely good and awful, I could see this happening 50/50.
tftc, the mix between dark fantasy and comedy is so jarring sometimes lol. hmm and now i’m wondering if the human turned spider was willingly killing people after getting the imprint or if the imprint made her lose her mind
That pole jump was pretty clever actually. I didn’t think that was a possibility from that ability.
Also, i kinda like this ninja girl. She’s timid, but swear alot. The contrast feels endearing lmao.