NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 17.2
What if that monster defeated the Sage?
Even if Hyun Woo knew so much, could he handle something like that?
It was strong enough to withstand even the Hero’s attacks.
They had to help him.
Even if he hated it.
Even if it was just to make amends.
As Claire made up her mind to act, Evangeline and Leventia moved first.
Evangeline held the bow she had once obtained alongside Hyun Woo, during a dungeon raid they’d tackled alone while Claire was at the palace.
Leventia charged forward, wielding the sword Hyun Woo had repaired earlier that day.
Just as they were about to step in to face the monster,
“…What?”
The monster’s attacks were being effortlessly blocked by the unit.
A white light enveloped the soldiers, granting them strength.
As the archers targeted and destroyed small stone structures nearby, the pale monster weakened.
It was being systematically defeated.
A creature they themselves couldn’t handle was falling easily, simply because Hyun Woo was there.
Evangeline, frozen in place, whispered.
“Why…?”
He doesn’t need help.
He refuses companionship.
He is…
He is enough on his own.
He doesn’t need us.
That truth, laid bare before the Hero’s Party, left them with only one feeling: Despair.
—
“So you can take it down easily?!”
“It’s simple once you know how.”
The dragon-headed monster collapsed after its head was severed by the lieutenant’s magic. Watching this, I turned to the archers.
“But be careful. See those altars over there?”
“Yes!”
“If you break them haphazardly, small monsters will pop out.”
“Like that one?”
“Exactly.”
From a shattered altar, a pale, horned rabbit emerged. With its glowing red eyes and sharp fangs, it made the archers gulp nervously.
“When those appear, deal with them. But for now, leave that one alone.”
“Uh… understood. But why?”
One of the archers asked curiously, and I grinned as I explained.
“That’s called the White Beast’s Spawn. It strengthens other monsters if it gets to them.”
In other words, it triggers the second phase.
As a seasoned veteran, I knew how to skip the second phase, but most people didn’t. Many had struggled to defeat the White Beast’s Spawn in the past.
“Wha—what?! Then shouldn’t we take it down now?!”
As the rabbit frantically darted toward the fallen dragon-headed monster, I casually waved my staff.
“Well, there’s always the chance it’ll slip past in the chaos of battle. If that happens, we’ll deal with it.”
“O-okay.”
“I’ll teach you how to fight it, too.”
KROOOOOAAAAR!!!
While I explained, the rabbit reached the dragon-headed monster and drove its sharp horn into its corpse.
Immediately, the monster’s pale skin ruptured, enveloping the rabbit. Moments later, the headless monster began to rise again.
ROOOOOARRR!!
A beast infused with moonlight.
The headless dragon-headed monster roared, holding its own severed head in one of its arms.
“SAGE!!”
“I’ll help! Let me help!”
“Hyun Woo!!”
Panicked shouts rang out from afar. It seemed the Hero’s Party wanted to intervene.
Even though we had already dispatched the dragon-headed monster earlier, they were rushing to help now that the White Beast had appeared.
“Uh… It looks like the Hero’s Party wants to join. What should we do?”
The soldiers were hopeful for their assistance.
But
“There’s no need. Let’s just fight.”
I raised the Divine Mark and addressed the priests.
“Get ready to heal. When the headless monster raises its arm, it’ll use that arm to fire a breath attack.”
KROOOOAAAAAR!!
No sooner had I finished speaking than the monster unleashed a pale beam of light.
The priests quickly cast protective barriers to block it, just as the Hero reached the scene.
“If you interfere, I won’t forgive you!”
“Eep?!”
At my sharp warning, the three froze in their tracks.
The effect was impressive.
If only this had worked in the past.
“Lancers! Ready your spears! Aim for the wounds in the center!”
The weak points from earlier were still visible on the White Beast. Targeting those spots was the key to taking it down.
ROOOOOOAR!!
As the monster raised its dragon-headed arm, a blinding light burst forth.
Moonlight.
A pure, ominous white moonlight—a phenomenon that wouldn’t appear in Hardcore Mode—was now forming into a blade, ready to strike us down.
“Shadow Barrier.”
“Y-yes!”
The lieutenant’s black shadow absorbed the descending blade, neutralizing the moonlight’s ominous glow. All it did was leave a gash in the ground, though the sight of the fissure turned some of the soldiers pale.
“Don’t lose your nerve. Attack.”
Taking it down was simple enough.
[Achievement unlocked: Defeated the White Beast.]
“Ah, another achievement complete!”
I grinned as the notification appeared. The others around me smiled as well, relieved.
Despite the White Beast’s terrifying power and aura, the damage was minimal.
Only one knight had sprained an ankle while dodging the monster’s sweeping attack, and even that was nothing serious.
“Heal.”
I quickly treated the injured knight.
“This is the basics. I’ll teach you how to handle other monsters next.”
“Really… You’re amazing!”
The lieutenant’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
Meanwhile, the Hero’s Party stood utterly defeated—not by the monster, but by their inability to contribute.
Looking at their deflated figures, I gave them a brief smile before turning away.
Back at the tent, I reviewed my upcoming tasks and remaining achievement points. As I was killing time, a small voice came from outside.
“Hyun Woo… Hyun Woo… Are you… asleep?”
“I’m not.”
“Can I… come in?”
“Do you think you can?”
I could practically feel her deflating through the tent flap.
“I’m kidding. Come in.”
“…Thank you…”
Claire entered softly, her steps hesitant. She stood there for a moment, gazing at me before muttering.
“Thank you… really.”
“For what? For talking to you?”
She nodded, her small head bobbing slightly.
“I’m a very rational person, you know.”
“Then… rationally speaking… is there any way… you’d need our help? If you want, I’ll do anything…”
I crossed my arms and thought.
Was there any situation where I might need the Hero’s Party?
Hmm…
Nope.
If there was, I’d have used them already.
And there weren’t any achievements tied to working with them, either.
“Or… it’s cold here, right? Our tent’s warmer, so maybe you could…”
It was true—it was a bit chilly.
But I picked up my staff.
“Warm.”
With a flick, the tent was instantly cozy. Claire pouted.
“Really? You know I’ve seen you do that a thousand times during the journey. Trying to lure me with that? Come on.”
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