We returned to Shiratsuki due to the penalty. However, it seemed boring just to stop for the day since we had just logged in. So, I decided to take Jigoro on a little excursion.
“Well, we were sent back here for reasons entirely of our own making… Jigoro, do you have any plans now?”
“None. I was planning to go wild at the event… Well, I guess I’ll move around a bit outside before I log out.”
“Your idea of ‘a bit’ is not exactly ‘a bit’ from my perspective… but that’s fine. If you’re free, I suppose there’s no harm in dragging you along.”
“That’s perfect then. I’d like to ride Karl to a place I’ve been wanting to visit. Will you guys come with me?”
“Sure. So, where are we heading?”
“Ah, I’ve heard there’s a forest to the west from here. I want to make contact with the Dark Elves who supposedly live there.”
“Dark Elves after the Centaurs, huh? Sounds interesting!”
After I agreed with his plan, Jigoro and I climbed aboard Karl, who had been sleeping on the deck, and set off for the forest to the west we had heard about from Lady Muno. Thanks to his evolution, Karl had grown large enough that even multiple people could ride on his back comfortably. He could probably even carry Eiji now, though he might refuse since he would be too heavy.
During the journey, I checked the messages that had arrived. It wasn’t just Usuba; I had also received one from Hanna. I decided to check hers first.
“Hmm, we seem to have caused them trouble.”
“For that couple?”
“Yes. They wrote that they were sorry they couldn’t join the fight and that they managed to divert the people looking for information from them. However, they did reveal that I am the guild leader and shared our names.”
While Jigoro’s violent actions often stole the spotlight, there was also considerable attention on me, a mage who had managed to defeat a vanguard fighter in a one-on-one battle using a scythe. She said that they hardly spoke about us because we weren’t there but they were forced to reveal our names to some persistent people to get rid of them.
Information was an intangible asset, and it seemed that those who traded in it also existed in the game. We were aware that we were not ordinary players, so we wanted to keep it a secret until we felt it was okay to make it public, but…we were the ones who made things big and attracted attention. In fact, we should be grateful to the couple for managing to handle it just by giving out our names. We caused them trouble.
“Huh? Well, if some idiotic guys show up, we’ll just have to blow them away.”
“That’s not the way to handle it. Repeating the same mistake twice would be problematic for adults.”
While I was reprimanding Jigoro for making such a disturbing suggestion, I checked another message. This one was from Usuba, and I had already read the title, so I skipped it. The content was as expected.
“I’m looking forward to a day we can fight, huh? Half of this is addressed to Jigoro.”
“What did I do?”
“He’s the PK considered the strongest. I think I said it before, but he’s a dangerous guy whose hobby is challenging strong guys like you and Genjuro to fights that don’t require rules.”
“Haha! That sounds fun!”
Jigoro grinned. He seemed to be thrilled at the prospect of facing an unknown strong opponent. His unyielding pursuit of battle had not wavered since the first time we met. You’re such an upright person that I envy you brother.
“When we first met, I was forced to spar with him. He is a light warrior who moves quickly and attacks with a flurry of moves. I think he wasn’t serious at that time, so be careful when you fight him.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll crush him head-on.”
“Just out of curiosity, how would you approach a fight with Usuba if it were planned?”
“What? Why would I decide my strategy before even meeting him? Plans like that crumble the moment something unexpected pops up.”
“Hoho, is that so?”
“That’s how I gear up for a battle; it’s my style.”
Indeed, learning an opponent’s tactics during battle and adapting accordingly seems straightforward enough but it’s easier said than done. This man was terrifying because he could do it.
And it seemed likely that Genjuro could do the same. I wondered if there were any players who could defeat the two of them in a duel. If I were to seriously attempt to win against them, I would need to prepare thoroughly in advance and have allies ready to fight alongside me. They have that much fighting power.
“Guooon!”
“Ah, we’re finally starting to see our destination. That’s the forest on the western side of the ‘Ashfall Hills’, the Dark Forest of Temptation. Karl, land us around here.”
While we were talking about combat, Karl had been nearing our destination. His massive size made it difficult for him to move nimbly, but his inherent strength allowed him to cover great distances straight ahead at considerable speed. Well done, Karl!
The obedient Karl began to slow down and lower his altitude before landing quietly to ensure he didn’t strain those of us riding on his back. Jigoro and I dismounted from his back, and after showing our appreciation, we decided to head into the forest.
“Brother, do you know what kind of monsters appear here?”
“No, it seems Lady Muno and the others have never entered the forest. It’s not because it’s forbidden by the Dark Elves, but because it’s said to be extremely dangerous.
That’s what I thought when I heard that, but just how strong are the Dark Elves who live in the forest, where it’s considered dangerous to even set foot in by Lady Muno and the others? Whether they had a secret or were simply all elite warriors, I supposed we would find out upon encountering them.
The place Karl had reached was like an orchard, filled with colorful fruits. As we got closer, not only the earlier scents but also the sweet aromas of melons and peaches mingled, almost giving us the illusion that we were in a fruit shop.
Karl was devouring the fruits with relish. His enthusiasm was so fierce that it seemed he might strip a whole tree of its fruit. Could he eat so much without getting sick?
“Guo… Guooon?”
“Hey, Karl! What, paralysis?”
Karl had been gobbling up fruits like a mountain, but suddenly, he seemed to convulse and then collapsed before he started foaming at the mouth! We rushed over in panic, and his marker was flashing with a paralysis icon.
Oh no, what in the world… Could it be these fruits? Eating something that smelled so delicious only to end up paralyzed seemed almost like a trap…a trap!
“Hey, brother. We need to worry about Karl, but it looks like we’re surrounded too.”
“As expected!”
When Jigoro prompted me to look around, I noticed that we were suddenly surrounded by monsters of the Evil Vine type which resembled Nenashi, and the Roper type which resembled Iris. Moreover, each one possessed a more aggressive form than Nenashi, and their killing intent was incomparably more pronounced than Iris’s.
It seemed they had been hiding in the shadows of the trees and observing us. Surely, this was their natural hunting ground! Hahaha, the situation was so dire it was laughable!
――――――――――
Race: Deadly Poison Predator Vine Lv64~68
Job: Skilled Predator Lv4~8
Skills:
- [Super Health Enhancement]
- [Super Strength Enhancement]
- [Super Dexterity Enhancement]
- [Vine Whip Mastery]
- [Vine Extension]
- [Capture]
- [Intense Poison]
- [Predatory Healing]
- [Root Legs]
- [Stealth]
- [Sneak]
- [Ambush]
- [Assassination]
- [Rapid Regeneration]
- [Photosynthesis]
- [Status Resistance]
- [Earth Resistance]
- [Fire Weakness]
Race: Great Hanging Roper Lv65~69
Job: Strangling Expert Lv5~9
Skills:
- [Super Health Enhancement]
- [Super Strength Enhancement]
- [Super Defense Enhancement]
- [Dexterity Enhancement]
- [Whip Mastery]
- [Armor Mastery]
- [Tentacle Extension]
- [Capture]
- [Critical Attack: Neck]
- [Predatory Healing]
- [Root Legs]
- [Stealth]
- [Silent Steps]
- [Surprise Attack]
- [Assassination Techniques]
- [Rapid Regeneration]
- [Photosynthesis]
- [Physical Resistance]
- [Earth Resistance]
- [Fire Weakness]
――――――――――
The Deadly Poison Predator Vine and the Great Hanging Roper…. they both relied mainly on physical attacks. The former required caution due to its poison, while the latter targeted the neck with its attacks.
Though they were of a lower level, their numbers were overwhelmingly greater. Moreover, we were forced into battle while protecting Karl, who was paralyzed. This was not the time to hold back, yet it was a tricky situation indeed, as we could not afford to cause excessive damage to the forest!
“Brother, we need to take them down with all we’ve got. But try to keep it to a level where we don’t turn the forest into a scorched wasteland.”
“You’re asking for the impossible, but let’s give it a shot! Here goes, [Asura Thunder Flame]!”
Jigoro activated his skill which released golden lightning and flames from his body and charged into the horde of enemies.
I first cast the defensive spell of Sanctuary to secure Karl’s safety. At least with this, there was no immediate worry of Karl being killed.
“Tch, how annoying!”
While I was strengthening Karl’s protection, Jigoro was trapped. As soon as the tentacles and vines tied him up, they began to burn one by one, but before they could be completely removed, new tentacles and vines would arrive. So he was always tied up.
Moreover, thanks to the effect of the enemies’ [Rapid Regeneration], the burnt tentacles and vines quickly returned to their original state, and their number hadn’t decreased at all. Still, there was no demand for the sight of a muscular, macho man bound by tentacles; at least, I wasn’t looking forward to it! He needed to be freed immediately!
“Star Magic Circle Activation, Wind Blade! Flying Slash Dance!”
“I owe you one, brother!”
With the Wind Blade spell and the Flying Slash Dance martial technique, the tentacles and vines were cut from their roots. The restraints seemed to weaken, and as Jigoro expressed his gratitude, he tore through them and charged forward.
The regrown tentacles and vines quickly closed in and started filling Jigoro’s field of vision. In response, I used Wind Blade and Flying Slash Dance to thin their numbers, and Jigoro seized the moment and drove his fist into the Great Hanging Roper.
“It’s heavy, huh!”
“Don’t ever tell Iris that, okay? Even if it’s just an avatar, she’s sensitive about being the third heaviest after Eiji and Roja.”
“I’ll keep it in the back of my mind!”
Jigoro swung his fist and knocked the tentacle away, causing it to collide with another creature nearby. Even though his blow caused significant cracks in its rock-like cell wall, its health hardly decreased. Moreover, the cracks were slowly beginning to close.
This was going to be a prolonged battle. With that premonition in mind, I continued to chant spells to provide support.
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