NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 61
– Kieeeek!!
– Kyahh!!
Sonia was surprisingly calm for someone handling Green Skins on her own for the first time.
Thanks to the “realistic combat training” with goblins that Libertus had arranged for her.
[You do have a talent for curses, but it’s not sufficient for use during combat. So this. This will be an excellent response that requires the minimum of resources against an opponent that lacks intellect and is mindless.]
– Kyahh!!
“「Ice Surface Creation」!”
As soon as she peeked her head down the stairs and saw a goblin charging at her, Sonia immediately reached out her hand towards the floor of the stairs, casting her magic.
Splat!
– Kiek!
Boom!
A thin layer of ice instantly formed on the staircase, and with a “whoosh,” two goblins that stepped onto it fell headfirst to the first floor.
If Libertus had seen this, he would have thought it was “cartoonish.”
[Your power is still lacking, but that can be resolved with mass. Be sure to carry this with you on your journey. For the time being, you should value this more than your staff.]
– Kirrr…
Plop! Thwack!!
‘Done.’
Sonia finished off the goblins who had toppled to the floor, striking their heads with her hand-axe.
Confirming that the goblins were silent as her master taught her, she looked up again and spotted several green heads visible from the second floor.
– Kyahh!
“「Ice Wall！」”
– Kweck!!
Sonia extended her hand to block the charging goblins, squishing some of the faster ones between the ceiling and the wall.
She didn’t stop there and moved instantly.
The accommodation they were currently staying at was a temporary rental from a house where the owner had gone traveling. There were two stairs leading up to the second floor, and even if she blocked one, the other still remained.
Boom!!
– Kwoak…!
‘An Orc…!’
Charging down from the other staircase was a green skin with a muscular build that looked to weigh at least five times more than her.
The orc, clad in armor and wearing a wolf skull as a helmet, was in a completely different league compared to the goblins from earlier.
As soon as Sonia confirmed the identity of her enemy, she lowered her stance and glared at the Orc.
[Mages are no different from warriors when it comes to the basics of combat. Keep your eyes on your target. Whether it’s a human or a monster, it’s the eyes that decide where you’re going. …that’s what Evangeline said.]
This time it was what she learned from Evangeline, not Libertus.
– Kwooorrrk!!
The standoff didn’t last long.
The reckless nature of the green skin was notorious for not being able to hold off, especially when it was an attack on prey smaller than itself.
‘Now.’
Sonia noticed the orc’s eyes scanning the ground just before it charged.
Immediately, she used the prepared magic.
“「Ice Surface Creation」!”
Using more mana due to the weight of the enemy, this spell created a thicker and denser ice on the floor, which quickly solidified as it stuck to the ground.
– Kwoorr!
However, the outcome this time was different from the goblins before.
While a bit of ice was enough to slip monsters on the stairs, it was not the case on the flat ground.
The opponent was also not to be underestimated.
Crack!
‘The strength is too great…!’
“「Frozen Arrow」!”
The Orc charged forward, smashing through the ice on the ground.
Startled by this strength, Sonia canceled the large magic she was preparing and released a spell that could be cast instantly.
Crash!
– Kwoack!!
The Orc, hit glancingly by the magic through its shoulder blade, disregarded its freezing arm, charging forward while trying to swing the hammer it held.
[Always think flexibly about accidents. It will save your life for sure.]
And at that moment, Sonia’s ingenuity came into play.
“「Ice Wall」!!”
A barrier magic that blocks physical attacks by occupying a specific space.
By specifying a narrow area at the base of the charging Orc, she managed to summon the element from the elemental world to the material world.
Plop – !
– Kwoak!!
The Orc, leaning heavily forward to boost its momentum while gripping the axe with both hands, had its jaw exposed due to its thrust, making it vulnerable to her counter.
Bam! Boom! Clonk!
– Kweeek!!
The Orc crashed its jaw against what could only be described as a pillar of ice, hitting its head on the ceiling, causing it to fall while its own axe struck its arm, leading to its screaming.
The once ice-frozen arm was now completely incapacitated.
However, she did not simply watch.
“「Frozen Arrow」!”
Thud!
She fired another spell and immediately dashed forward, gripping the axe with both hands.
Boom!
– Kwoack!!
The Orc extended its good arm to block the incoming arrow of magic, resulting in momentary hesitation as that arm extended out from its body.
That was exactly what she was aiming for.
“Gah…!”
With a sound too weak to be called a battle cry, Sonia swung her hand axe from left to right.
What she didn’t anticipate was that she was still not at an adult level of strength due to insufficient physical training.
And the Orc was a creature with excellent stamina and durability.
Crack!
– Kwoack!!
The axe did pierce, but it didn’t sever as it got stuck deep in the Orc’s arm, swinging back on its own.
Considering that she was still not accustomed to aggressive elemental magic, she had made a choice to swing the axe rather than rely on it.
Yet, she misjudged the strength of her opponent’s sturdy body against her own level.
– Kuwoor…
Fortunately, the Orc didn’t immediately lash out in rage upon being incapacitated, instead appearing startled and slow to act.
– Kuwoork…!
Being a green skin, the Orc started to turn red with fury, but Sonia was not alone in this matter.
“Gulp!”
Though they had lost their swordsmanship ability, the sensation of swinging a weapon hadn’t disappeared entirely.
And a warrior who understood exactly where to strike to deal a significant blow, despite her weakened state.
Swoosh!
– Krrr…! Krrr…
With all her might, Maria used her short sword in a short and concise swing.
That simple strike, which wasn’t even proper swordsmanship, slashed through the flesh and blood on the Orc’s neck, retreating before it could react.
Bang!!
Clatter!
The sound of a small, sturdy body hitting the ground accompanied the short sword’s clattering drop.
“Damn it.”
Maria’s trembling hand due to the shock of grappling the small sword with all her strength.
Looking down at her hand with a complicated expression, she quickly shook off her bitter thoughts and rushed towards Sonia.
“Are you okay? Sonia?”
“Yes, yes… Ah, we need to block the stairs…!”
“Right. I’ll help you.”
– Kyaaaack – !!
– Kuweeek!!
– Block them!
From outside the window, screams, shouts, and the sounds of battle could still be heard.
Sonia briefly considered joining those fighting outside to help secure safety on both sides, but deep down, she shook her head immediately.
She still hadn’t given up hope on the slightest chance.
‘If my master caused this incident, then of course those who joined us would also be targeted for death.’
Though this wasn’t how she preferred to handle things, she was after all the Dungeon Lord.
It was not known to exist that Dungeon Lords themselves directly intervened to handle matters, but the stealthy attacks using monsters were among the well-known tactics used by demon clans employing fanatics.
Furthermore, although she had been managing decently in recent times, Sonia still didn’t fully trust her.
Stopping one’s self-immolation with hatred does not mean having faith in another as a person.
– Kwoooork!
Boom! Crash!
However, soon, she was faced with a situation where she needed to reevaluate her resolve.
“What… is this?”
“The house is shaking. Surely…”
– Kwoork! Kwoork!
Boom!! Crack!!
– Over there! That house is being attacked! There seems to be survivors!
– Damn it! Everyone gather!! It’s an Ogre!!
– Are you insane? Block here or run away! How are we supposed to contend with an Ogre?!
Hearing the cries of those trying to help stirred both Sonia’s conscience and fears, yet the assault on the house only intensified.
‘An Ogre…’
Maria’s expression darkened upon learning the enemy’s identity.
Not only the Green Skins, but those creatures also disputed over the position of the strongest living being on the surface, reaching at least an upper level when they were still juveniles.
This was not a threat anticipated in advance, and they couldn’t respond to it with just them alone.
– Kwooorrr!!
Crash!!
“Eep!”
“Already…!”
A giant hand crashed through the ceiling, piercing from the second floor to the ground.
– Kuhuh… Kuhuh.
It brushed against the ground, sweeping around, then disappeared back upwards.
Like a cub searching for prey under the ground.
What that meant was self-evident.
‘It’s already detected us!’
It was no longer about barricading the house and holding out, but rather about escaping this place as quickly as possible.
Their hearts started to race with urgency.
“Sis! The senior…!”
“I’ll get her! Uh…?”
“Both of you, get out now! 「Giant Vines」!!”
“Senior?”
Just as Sonia remembered Leonis, whom she had locked away in the room, Maria also recalled him and rushed to move.
At that moment, a loud shout erupted from the room where he had been confined, and dozens of thick vines shot up from what had been an empty floor.
It was the signature spell of Leonis that Sonia was all too familiar with.
This magic could be deployed at any moment during combat, being both offensive and defensive, yet she often downplayed it, saying it was better to learn something else due to its ambiguous attack and defense capabilities.
Awakened by the vibrations shaking the house, Leonis had intertwined his magic to summon.
“Let’s hurry!! That way!”
Leonis was supporting the entire building with plant vines, pointing in a direction and starting to run.
Choosing which direction to move wasn’t a problem. The shaking of the house was intuitively indicating where the Ogre was located.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes! 「Ice Wall」!”
As soon as Maria confirmed Leonis had left the room, she pushed Sonia aside to start their escape.
Sonia also started running while erecting additional barriers to create pillars that would withstand the shock until they could escape.
– Kwoorack!!
Bang!!!
As the three of them escaped from the house, it collapsed right behind them.
The Ogre’s rampage had officially begun.
Crack!
– Uwaah!!
“Oh my god…”
Sonia swallowed hard, witnessing the debris of a broken house shoot into the sky and crash down upon other adventurers in the distance.
Realizing that if they had been there, they likely would have been incapacitated before they even had a chance to do anything.
The Green Skins that boasted of their endurance and stamina, competing for the title of the strongest, their rampage fueled by madness was indeed on a different scale— the size of which contrasted sharply with how smaller it appeared in familiar tales.
“Quick! Before they notice us!”
“Damn it… An Ogre. It’s the largest attack we’ve seen recently…”
“That way! There’s an Ogre over there!”
“When will elite adventurers or knights arrive…!”
“Why are these guys suddenly here!!”
Questions of ‘why’ regarding the monster’s attack held no meaning.
This world had been at war with the demon clans for over 200 years, after all, and there had been many recorded instances in history where fanatics summoning monsters attacked in nearing suicidal ways within cities.
But why had magic to sense such attacks not developed sufficiently beforehand?
Because ‘fanatics’ are merely ‘humans’ serving demon clans, not monsters using those powers or contractors.
The treatment of them as ‘living landmines’ accurately describes the situation at hand.
– Kwoaarrr!!
“「Giant Rafflesia」!!”
Crack!!
And in a harsh world like this, such misfortunes could easily happen.
“Ugh…!! S-Senior…?”
When Maria and Sonia, knocked back by Leonis from behind, lifted their heads.
– Growl…
“Cough! L-Let’s go…!”
“Leonis!!”
Thicker and sturdier vines tore apart, and a massive flower grown by magic was mercilessly ripped apart.
In front their eyes, a thin figure was lifted by a gigantic hand.
Weakly gesturing it to get away from them.
“Cough…! 「Spear of Freezing」 – !!!”
A literal cry that seemed to bleed.
The internal injuries caused by the sudden surge of mana, and the blood that erupted from her mouth confirmed that she was trying to exert her full power.
Thud!
However, the rare magic that summoned a spear capable of freezing everything it touched and the notable amount of mana expended relative to the short training period failed to reach the Ogre.
She couldn’t stop its one arm like she did the Orc, and it merely dulled its forearm.
– Kwoorack!!!
The attack barely connected, only serving to enrage the Ogre further.
“Run – !”
“I won’t go!!!”
‘I absolutely refuse to lose anything else right in front of me…!’
But for Sonia, that even felt like a glimmer of hope.
Because the furious Ogre was now glaring at them, holding Leonis in its hand.
“「Spear of Freezing」! 「Spear of Freezing」! 「Spear of Freezing」!”
– Kwooorack!!!
Thud!
“Gah…!”
Ignoring the pain rippling up inside, she cast the spell once, twice, three times.
Sonia continued summoning magic.
And in turn, the enraged Ogre tossed Leonis aside and charged toward her.
“This way…!”
Sonia, pushing even Maria aside, started running with all her might, but the Ogre was overwhelmingly stronger in size, stamina, and endurance.
Even starting from a far distance, it was gradually closing in.
“「Spear of Freezing」!”
‘Just a little… just a bit more!’
If Libertus could have seen her state right now, he would have seriously furrowed his brows at the alarming sight of ‘Mana Overreaction’ and its ominous glow alongside ‘Mana Overload.’
Simultaneously, he would have been happy to see Sonia pushing beyond her limits to save Leonis.
That ‘not hesitating when it’s time to give it your all’ truly exemplifies one of the great virtues of a thinking being.
“Well done, Sonia.”
“Master…?”
In truth, she indeed was doing well.
As she felt her master’s hand gently stroke her head, there was a definite smile resting on the lips of the shadowy figure as it passed by.
“Be ‘reliable’ and ‘strong.’ Those whom I cherish.”
– Growl…!!
– Thud.
With a significant increase in power, the upsurge of necromancy buffed her, and the accumulated ‘madness’ and intensively summoned mana manifested in the two people that had arrived.
Swoosh!
The assassin, dashing out from the shadow in a forward-leaning stance, twisted his body in the air, briefly slicing across the Ogre’s legs before disappearing.
– Grrroooarr!!
A blood-red shroud descended from the sky and pulled down upon the Ogre’s neck.
“「Hellhound of Baskerville」.”
The shadow, risen in the form of a dog with red flames for eyes, devoured the Ogre’s heart and swallowed it whole.
– Kuh…orr…
Their combined efforts had devoured a full group of adventurers and could have torn through at least thirty more elite monsters. Such was the tragic end of the once-mighty Green Skin.
– 2 –
“So… this incident was spurred by a grudge?”
“According to the culprit’s claim, yes.”
As I listened to Talhan’s report, I couldn’t help but feel a grimace wanting to form on my face.
The monster attack that occurred in Copgerin.
It was an unexpected occurrence, and at the same time, I realized that perhaps I could have prevented it.
Only sheer luck and an active intuition could have made it possible.
“Ha… so it really was this person.”
The magically ignited image brought by my Undead informant.
Within it was the sight of a noblewoman stoking unfounded rumors at a dinner party.
[The Count is a hypocrite. He appears to support the people, but in fact…]
[He will pay the price.]
Her name was Elenore Claymel.
Once part of an influential family that was the nemesis of Count Julesheim, whom I had attended a banquet with, she was also the last heir of a now-fallen noble house due to his schemes.
Furthermore, she was an unknowable fanatic of the demon clan.
“Where is she now?”
“She is in the underground prison of the castle.”
She was also the one who summoned the monsters in the city of Copgerin.