I Became a Raid Boss

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In my life so far, I’ve encountered quite a few geniuses and prodigies…

That is to say, people who are so-called ‘talented.’

Even though the reputation of the Order of the Red Flame has been declining day by day, it’s still the top knight order of a kingdom.

So, sitting in the position of the order’s leader, it’s only natural to meet talented individuals.

Among them, some were indeed worthy of the title of genius, while others made me think, “Is that really all there is to their talent?”

In a small town, they stood out, but once you step into the broader world, they are just slightly above average.

Yuki falls into the former category.

‘A prodigious genius?’

It’s too early to make that claim; there’s still much to verify.

Yuki’s power stems from the system, after all.

However, even relying on someone else’s power, fighting like Yuki is no easy task.

Instinctively seeking survival and making the best judgment in a given situation.

Moreover, the process from thought to action is incredibly smooth as well.

Some might say:

“Can’t everyone just rush in and hit?”

Well, is it really that simple?

Dodging attacks that shake the ground and can shatter your body with just a slight touch.

If it were easy to rush up to a giant that is hard to even glance at and land a solid blow, the monsters of this world would be extinct by now.

What worries me is that I could just grab a sword and rush in, but how could one think so lightly?

Of course, I don’t think someone who turns a kingdom’s capital into ruins in no time would be this trivial.

It’s likely that the small… very tiny wound was inflicted because he underestimated Yuki.

But even so, I couldn’t dismiss the results Yuki had achieved.

Striking when the opponent is off guard is also a skill after all.

“Is this it?”

I spoke without revealing my true feelings.

“For someone so confident, this is pretty underwhelming.”

Yuki pouted her lips.

“You did great.”

“That?”

I raised my hand to point at the giant’s foot.

The foot was dripping with a dull purple liquid.

Due to its immense size, the amount of liquid flowing from the wound wasn’t small, but it definitely couldn’t be considered a lot compared to its size.

“If you leave it like that for a few years, it will die. No, maybe it’s faster to make more blood.”

But is that really blood?

I can’t be sure since dimensional beings are all so unpredictable.

Well, since it’s oozing from the wound, it must serve that function, right?

Uwaaaa-!

The giant screamed dramatically as if a tiny splinter had struck him while sewing.

For just a small injury, the giant made such a commotion.

“Such a drama queen.”

For a creature as large as a mountain, to wail so loudly over just that little wound.

While I clicked my tongue, Yuki proposed a plausible theory.

“When a person gets bitten by a mosquito, they get mad, right? Isn’t it similar?”

“Are you calling yourself a mosquito?”

“It’s just a metaphor. …Or maybe it feels like stepping on a threshold?”

“Ah.”

If that’s the case…

I nodded in agreement.

“Even my master feels pain when stepping on a threshold.”

“I’m still human.”

To be precise, it’s not pain; it’s more of a startled reaction.

But now isn’t the time for such things—

I grabbed Yuki and dove.

Boom!

The giant’s fist landed where we had just been.

When a heavy object falls, it usually makes a ‘thud!’ sound, but the sound made by the giant’s fist surpassed that.

“The lack of finesse…”

The fist dropping from above was indeed threatening.

But it wasn’t something I couldn’t block; the reason I moved to dodge was because of Yuki in my grip.

There was no way a fist of that size swung at that speed carried a light weight.

Even if I blocked it successfully, I’d probably be dead from the impact.

That was my reasoning, and—

“…Did a meteor fall?”

In the end, my judgment was correct.

As I braced myself against the wind fiercely striking my face, I looked down at the giant’s fist, leaving a massive crater where it had landed, as if a meteor had indeed fallen.

Seeing that spectacle, Yuki muttered in disbelief, and I nodded in agreement.

“It’s your fault.”

“…Huh?”

“You made me angry.”

Because you hit.

Saying that, I received a look of utter astonishment in return.

“But master told me to do it.”

“I did.”

“And said there’d be a reward for fighting well too.”

“That was said.”

“…”

And now, you say that?

It was evident she was thinking that.

“Once you start hunting, you’ve got to finish. Just inflicting wounds without going all the way is what makes me mad.”

“…Is Joanie-nim the one who endured this for so long? I just want to punch you.”

“Go ahead if you can. But if you can’t even take down someone like that, it’s a bit much.”

And I wasn’t the one enduring Da-eun’s nonsense; it was me who had to endure it, yet how could she say something so harsh?

I was going to correct the misunderstanding but quickly changed my mind.

Unlike casually chitchatting, the situation was not very leisurely.

“Is it fire this time?”

Seeing the glowing red flames from the giant’s mouth, I let out a chuckle.

What was it that the wolf spit out last time?

Right, it spewed some acidic mist.

“Well, it’s certainly trying many things.”

Thinking it’s acting like a dragon or something.

“If you don’t want to die, run away.”

I might have considered Da-eun, but I didn’t have the loyalty to protect Yuki from those blazing flames.

Surviving attacks like that is a skill too, right?

It’s heart-wrenching, but like a master hoping for their disciple to grow correctly while wielding a stick…

“That’s right, think of it as a loving smack.”

“I will report it. There’s a delinquent teacher hitting their student.”

Yuki complained but quickly distanced herself.

For a moment, the giant’s gaze followed Yuki, but perhaps sensing I was more threatening, it didn’t turn its fiery mouth towards her.

Watching the flames gear up to fly toward me at any moment created a strange sense of déjà vu…

“Oh, it was back then.”

There was a similar situation when battling Krumo’s shadow.

Compared to that guy, this one—

While gauging the giant’s strength, I tilted my head.

“By the way, where’s Gracis?”

Back then, Gracis helped make it easy to catch it.

Of course, even without Gracis, this was an opponent I could win against, and I’d certainly suffer greatly afterward.

…Wait. Is there no need to feel regret?

Thinking about it, it feels like there are more downsides.

Kwaaaa-!

Finally, the giant’s mouth gaped wide, and the flames that had gathered there surged toward me.

Even with a good distance away, the intense heat licked my face beyond the mask.

“You’re not giving me time to think.”

Spitting out thoughts that popped into my head, I drew my sword.

Fire.

Suddenly feeling cheerful, I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.

“What should I do about this?”

I’ve dealt with flames hotter than this before.

Moreover, it’s not like back then; I now have a weapon that can’t be outdone in fiery situations.

Flames roared…!

As I infused mana into the Crimson Aegis, it ignited brilliantly.

Fiercely, like fire itself.

I swung my sword toward the breath that had swiftly approached.

Swish!

Red flames erupted from my burning sword like a red dragon bursting forth.

Kwooo—

The red dragon tore through the air violently, baring its teeth wide.

A battle of fire and flame.

With the prospect of burning everything around, two streams of fire intertwined and bit at each other.

No sounds of friction.

All that could be heard was the roaring of flames intensely blazing.

If I closed my eyes, it almost sounded like a campfire crackling, but the sight before me was far from the serenity of that.

While one side appeared to falter, the very next moment, it regained its strength.

Thus, the two streams of fire desperately clawed at each other.

Time flowed long and short, and finally—

Screeech!

The victor of the battle was decided.

The dragon biting fiercely into the breath’s side twisted its head with force.

With a sounding burst, like the sound of something burning or tearing paper, the sword energy surged through the split breath.

The giant, realizing the fate of the struggle was already determined, tried to flee in haste.

“Too late.”

Where are you trying to run to?

I was already in front of you.

Since it was the right foot before, now it’s the left.

Swoosh!

I slashed at the giant’s left ankle.

The pink sword energy deeply cut the ankle, followed by flames sealing the wound.

I failed to completely sever it.

But it doesn’t matter.

“Besides—”

The ankle, already nearly severed, and the giant who was desperately trying to flee.

The ankle buckled under the giant’s exertion and fully tore away.

As one of the legs that held up its body disappeared, the giant tilted sharply.

Teetering—

Boom!

“-It will end like this.”

As the giant fell heavily to the ground, a far stronger earthquake roared through.

Even as the ground shook noisily, I remained unfazed, gazing at the giant.

“You know, for just losing one leg, this is a lot of weight.”

If there were people around, they surely would have reported it for noise pollution.

With all that banging around, punching the ground, and now playing with fire.

It couldn’t be helped.

“I guess it needs to go on a diet.”

Still, as a former knight, I must eliminate this vicious criminal threatening the citizens.

As I took a step forward, the giant’s eyes spun around in fury.

The enraged giant repeatedly struck the ground.

Bang! Crash!

Each time its fists connected, the ground howled.

Worried it might sink from all the craters being created.

The ground was becoming a complete mess.

“Ouch….”

After soaring safely above the earthquake, I landed only to have a fist rocket straight at me.

It was a different fist, enveloped in dark purple flames.

I brought my pink sword, wrapped in sword energy, to bear.

Kakakakang!

Who would hear that sound and think it’s the clash of sword and fist?

One embers I failed to deflect stuck to my mask before vanishing in the mana.

‘This is a bit tricky.’

Using the remaining foot and fist to strike the ground, I created a faux earthquake.

Without mercy, I would strike back when the enemy lost balance or soared into the air, leaving them vulnerable.

The slow movements from earlier vanished, every swing of the fist sliced through the air sharply.

Clang!

Dodging, parrying, and blocking.

As I did this repeatedly, slowly closing the distance.

“…?”

Wait, didn’t the giant just seem a bit smaller?

Thinking it was just my imagination, I watched keenly.

‘For sure.’

It had shrunk in size compared to before.

There’s no need to point out where it’s smaller.

The more it exerted its strength, the smaller it got.

Noticing it, I adjusted my strategy.

The frequency at which my sword deflected and blocked the giant’s fists noticeably decreased, while instead, the tips of its fists brushed past my hair much more frequently.

Oooooh!

As I dodged around like an eel, the giant roared in anger.

“So what now?”

What’s going to change by yelling?

For such a creature to have invaded the capital…

“It was doomed to happen.”

If royal knights had banded together, they wouldn’t have stood a chance.

My suspicion that they would’ve fled before the fight even began grew stronger.

And soon, as the giant shrunk to about half its original size—

Just before its fist could touch the ground, I launched myself.

Bam!

An attack to disrupt its timing.

Seeing my leap, the giant tried to swing its fist down but retrieving its arm and swinging it before it could strike the ground would be impossible.

Wooosh—

The flaming sword pierced through the dark purple moon.