Damned Transmigration - Chapter 38

WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

◈ Damned Transmigration ◈

Chapter 38: Adventure

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The requests Jake had brought contained familiar names.

Carnivorous Vines, Walking Mushrooms, Toxic Flies, Fanged Rabbits, Slimes, Bipedal Lizards, and more. All were low-level monsters that appeared in the Logos from the game.

“We will first pass through a Carnivorous Vine cluster. Walking Mushrooms and Toxic Flies live symbiotically with the Carnivorous Vines there, and you especially need to watch out for the Toxic Flies.”

Fist-sized flies buzzing through the air were disgusting enough, but they also clung to people and poisoned them.

The poison was not deadly, but poisoning began with dizziness and eventually caused the body to become paralyzed and collapse. Once that happened, the Carnivorous Vines would catch the victim, the Toxic Flies would gnaw at their flesh, and the Walking Mushrooms would attach themselves to their body.

The orphan Yuri had never fought, or even encountered, a monster. The current Yuri, however, had seen monsters before. During the month-long journey from Oldor to Rutlan, they had almost always slept outdoors, and monsters frequently appeared while they traveled or at night.

Haryeong had thrown daggers and killed the monsters before Elena even needed to step in, so Yuri had never faced any danger.

“Sounds easy.”

Unlike Yuri, who listened tensely because it was his first time, Elena looked utterly uninterested. There were plenty of ways to deal with poison. They could endure it by taking an antidote in advance, and even if they were poisoned, they only needed to take another antidote. Elena, a fourth-tier mage, also knew detoxification magic.

In truth, even someone at the third tier could withstand the poison of Toxic Flies.

“Only Yuri-nim needs to take an antidote.”

The antidote Yuri took was bitter and sticky, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste. When Yuri grimaced, Haryeong clicked her tongue.

“Being second-tier certainly causes you a great deal of trouble.”

Today’s goal was to pass through the Carnivorous Vine cluster, subjugating monsters along the way, then descend from Logos and return to the village before nightfall.

‘So that is how they confirm subjugations.’

Yuri had wondered whether they would need to cut off monster ears and bring them back, but that was not the case. He looked down at the bracelet on his wrist. It was a basic tool loaned to adventurers in Logos.

If someone killed a monster while wearing the bracelet, the information was recorded on it. After accumulating those records, they could return the bracelet to the guild and receive payment.

“Are you nervous at the thought of facing a goblin?”

Haryeong spoke as Yuri examined the bracelet he had received from the Adventurer Guild with fascination.

“You need not worry too much. An ordinary person can defeat a goblin with nothing but a club.”

“I do not have a club.”

“Oh dear. But Yuri-nim is not an ordinary person, is he?”

After Jake’s brief explanation was over, they left the Adventurer Guild.

They returned to the village entrance and retrieved the carriage they had left at the stable. Naturally, Jake sat in the driver’s seat.

“Yes!”

Haryeong’s expression remained the same, but she clearly sounded delighted that she did not have to drive the carriage. Jake stared strangely at Haryeong, who had cheered without changing expression, then took the reins.

‘What is their relationship...?’

At first, he had assumed that the young mage from the tower was testing new magic. Quite a few mages came to Logos to test the performance of newly created spells.

But the more he watched them, the stranger the group seemed. The woman who was supposedly a third-tier martial artist called the mage “young lady” and spoke to her with utmost respect. Judging by their tiers alone, she did not seem to be a bodyguard. What bodyguard was weaker than the person they guarded?

‘That woman seems to be a servant...’

The most puzzling one was the second-tier martial artist. Jake had naturally assumed Yuri was a servant and porter, but judging by yesterday’s reactions, that did not seem to be Yuri’s role. They did not resemble one another, so they were probably not family. And considering how the mage, the core of the party, seemed so protective of Yuri...

‘Lovers...?’

That did not seem right either. Their levels were far too different, and there was a slight distance between them that did not suit lovers. Then were they simply friends?

“They are childhood friends.”

“Y-Yes?”

He had been caught glancing at them. Jake flinched and looked to the side. Haryeong, expressionless, was staring directly at him.

“I mean Yuri-nim. He is Miss Elena’s childhood friend.”

“Ah... I see...”

“The reason we have come to Logos is, in effect, to let Yuri-nim gain ‘experience’ conveniently, safely, and kindly.”

“Experience...?”

“Yes. Yuri-nim is an aspiring adventurer, after all. This works out well. Jake-nim, you have spent many years as an adventurer, so please offer Yuri-nim some advice during the requests.”

“Advice... advice, is it...”

Jake muttered with a doubtful expression and glanced back. Yuri, empty-handed, was climbing into the carriage.

“The first advice that comes to mind is that he should go to a weapon shop and buy a secondary weapon right away...”

Yuri had several daggers hanging from his belt, but it would be difficult for a low-tier martial artist to face monsters with weapons like those. Swords, spears, and axes. Those were the three weapons adventurers preferred.

“Yuri-nim, did you hear that?”

“I appreciate the advice, but I have no intention of using another weapon.”

“That is what he says.”

Then why had she told him to give advice? Jake grumbled inwardly and pulled the reins.

* * *

Logos.

The mountain was surrounded by a wall about five meters high. It existed to prevent the abnormally proliferating monsters from descending the mountain and spreading outward.

When Yuri looked up, he could sense magic. A transparent ceiling. The wall surrounding the entire mountain was impressive enough, but it could not compare to the magical barrier covering the whole mountain.

It seemed to exist to stop flying monsters from escaping the mountain.

“What about monsters that fly?”

He could not mention the invisible magical barrier, so Yuri asked a more ordinary question. Elena, who was stepping down from the carriage and dusting off her robe, glanced up at the sky.

“The ceiling over the Rift is sealed with magic.”

“They covered this entire area with magic?”

“It is the work of the Mage Tower Masters.”

Perhaps because Yuri had shown a little interest in magic, Elena smiled with satisfaction.

“This wall alone is the joint work of Iron Fortress Guzel Havert and the chief priest of the Sect of Earth. The ceiling in the sky is a spell made when several Mage Tower Masters built upon Polar Point Arsen Lucionell’s design.”

Iron Fortress Guzel Havert was a name Yuri knew as well. For a mage, Guzel had absurdly high health and defense. Unlike Orca, who could barely be damaged at all, physical damage worked well against Guzel, so killing him had been easy.

“What do you think? Impressive, right? It may seem impossible, but magic can do it.”

“Not just anyone can do it.”

“Of course not just anyone can! But mages like the Mage Tower Masters, who have surpassed the seventh tier, can make even the impossible possible. Do you think a Martial Apex Venerable, who is said to be on the same level as the Mage Tower Masters, could do something like this?”

Yuri thought of Chuk-sin-doo. No matter how remarkable Chuk-sin-doo’s condensed force art was, maintaining a ceiling over such a vast area for decades would be impossible.

‘But Chuk-sin-doo could probably destroy this entire area with a single strike.’

Ignoring Elena’s smugness, Yuri ran his hand over the wall.

‘As expected.’

He could feel the flow of mana. And something else. It was probably divine power. They were different kinds of power, yet they were harmonized well enough to be called a joint work. He could not touch the ceiling to confirm it, but like the wall, it seemed to be maintained using the mana in this area.

“Everything is in order.”

They could not pass through the gate in the wall without showing their Adventurer Guild registration cards. Still, Yuri thought they could probably sneak over it if they avoided the guards’ eyes. He glanced at the other adventurers nearby. Almost all of them carried weapons.

After passing through the wall, they went around the mountain to quickly reach their first destination, the Carnivorous Vine cluster.

“From here on, I will lead the way. Please keep your distance and follow me.”

As Jake began climbing the mountain, Haryeong followed directly behind him like a shadow.

“There should not be any danger, but do not stray too far from my side.”

Come to think of it, this was Yuri’s first time seeing Elena fight with magic. Elena looked more motivated than Yuri had expected. Was it because she could show off her ability? Because she could show Yuri how powerful magic was? Because she could display her strength? It was probably something like that.

Once they properly entered Logos, even the air was different. Air unlike that of an ordinary mountain. Rather than refreshing, it was musty, with a faint fishy smell mixed in. The trees had grown to a grotesque extent, and the dense leaves made the sky difficult to see.

Something moved everywhere, and sounds came from all around them. When Yuri listened closely, he heard the sounds of insects and beasts, no, monsters. He could not make them out clearly, but he could also hear fighting in the distance. It seemed another adventurer party was fighting monsters.

“They are here.”

Jake, who had been guiding them some distance ahead, warned them. Dull green vines writhed between tree roots and bushes. Mushrooms as thick as legs moved on tentacle-like feet, while swarms of Toxic Flies buzzed loudly enough to hurt Yuri’s ears as they approached from all directions.

“Do you remember that I hated bugs?”

Yuri remembered. Elena had hated bugs as a child. The mischievous children at the orphanage sometimes caught earthworms or cicadas and held them out to Elena. Every time, Elena screamed, cried, and ran away.

‘Yuri, Yuri!’

Whenever that happened, Elena always sought out Yuri, an orphan her own age, rather than one of the orphanage caretakers. Even then, Yuri had been far from a kind child.

Whenever Elena came looking for him in tears, the mean Yuri beat up the orphan who had brought the insect, then forced the insect into their mouth.

“I still hate them.”

Ten-year-old Elena had wailed when she saw bugs, but twenty-year-old Elena did not cry. Instead, disgust filled her face.

Crackle!

Electricity sparked around Elena.

Crack!

Golden lightning shot out in all directions. The swarm of flies Elena hated was the first to be scorched by the current. The electricity continued to leap outward, striking the monsters one after another. The currents connected around Elena and moved as though alive, sweeping through the monsters.

The magic used by the Dersia Mage Tower in the game specialized in combat, especially clearing mobs. Its performance was just as certain in this world. It was only natural for second-rank monsters without magic resistance to die when struck directly by the magic of a fourth-tier mage.

The slaughter, which could not even be called a battle, ended in an instant.

“Hmm.”

Elena looked around. The vines and mushrooms had been charred black, while the flies had all burst apart without leaving behind corpses. After confirming that, Elena took a comb from inside her robe and ran it through the hair ruined by static.

“It is called Chain Lightning. What do you think?”

What kind of impression was Yuri supposed to give? His mouth half open, Yuri looked around.

If Yuri had fought them, he would have trusted the antidote and swung his fists desperately at the flies. Then he would have kicked the wriggling mushrooms... How would he have dealt with the Carnivorous Vines? Set them on fire? Or stab them repeatedly with a dagger?

“As expected of Elena-nim.”

When Elena had come to Oldor, Yuri had briefly thought about attacking her and trying to escape. It was fortunate he had not done so. If he had attacked Elena then, he would not have escaped. He would have been scorched on the spot.

“How about learning magic from this Elena-nim, even now?”

Elena usually hated being called that, but now she puffed out her chest with pride. She liked the power of the spell she had just cast and Yuri’s reaction to it.

‘This is my chance to show him just how great magic is.’

Yuri might have talent in martial arts great enough to earn the recognition of a Martial Apex Venerable, but Elena still wanted Yuri to learn magic. If Yuri wanted to learn magic, Yuri might not leave the mansion. Giving Yuri experience was one reason they had come to Logos, but another was to show Yuri Elena’s magic in action.

‘Perfect.’

Satisfied with the plan, Elena put away the comb.

Jake guided them, and whenever monsters appeared, Elena used magic. Haryeong occasionally threw daggers as well, but most battles ended the moment Elena cast a spell.

“Wow...”

Partway through, Jake began carrying his spear more casually. He had met many mages while working as a guide, but he thought Elena was beyond the norm. Elena was decades younger than a fourth-tier mage Jake had seen a few years ago, yet Elena’s magic felt to be on an entirely different level.

‘As expected of a mage from a Mage Tower...’

They said that even mages of the same tier were several steps apart when one came from a Mage Tower. Jake continued to marvel as he diligently collected monster corpses. Naturally, he could not take everything, but even after selecting only materials that could be sold, it seemed his backpack might not have enough room.

“Wait.”

Haryeong, who had been walking with both arms hanging loosely at her sides, suddenly spoke.

“What is it? A monster?”

“Please wait here for a moment.”

Without explaining further, Haryeong kicked off the ground.

Whoosh!

Haryeong rushed forward, leaped over the bushes, and vanished from sight.

“What was that about...?”

Haryeong had been quiet until then, so the sudden reaction made Elena tense. Elena’s face stiffened slightly as she poured mana into her wand.

Crackle...!

Electricity began to flow around her. Elena could cast a spell at any moment.

Yuri did not know what was happening, but he prepared for battle as well. The mnemonic of the Heavenly Art of Annihilating Evil flowed through his mind, and the inner power in his dantian spread through his entire body. It still felt burning hot.

Crack.

Yuri’s knuckles cracked inside his clenched fist.

“I am back.”

Haryeong had said it would only take a moment, and it truly had. Haryeong leaped back over the bushes almost immediately.

“...”

Elena and Yuri, who had remained tense, both stared blankly at Haryeong. Haryeong had not returned alone.

“Keek, keeek...”

Haryeong was holding a goblin by the neck.

“What is that...?”

“A goblin. More specifically, I would say it is a Green Goblin Scout.”

With an expressionless face, Haryeong lifted the goblin high for them to see. The goblin, which was at most the size of an elementary school child, kicked both feet wildly, but Haryeong’s arm did not move in the slightest.

“I found it alone and caught it right away. Since there is a scout, there should be a den nearby.”

“Why... did you bring it back?”

“To give Yuri-nim, who has quietly followed along without doing anything so far, a chance to show what Yuri-nim can do.”

As Haryeong spoke, she tapped the struggling goblin’s head with a finger.

“Humanoid monsters such as goblins possess intelligence. Depending on their species and age, it is common to find individuals capable of conversation.”

“Keek!”

“However, most humanoid monsters born in the Rift cannot converse. Since they were born from abnormal proliferation, they lack age and experience. That is quite unfortunate.”

“Kreeek!”

“Still, one never knows. I will try speaking to it.”

The finger tapping its head grabbed one of the goblin’s long ears.

“Listen carefully, Green Goblin Scout. The curly-haired one standing over there is named Yuri.”

“Kiiik!”

“From now on, you must fight that Yuri bastard. If you win, I promise not to kill you and to return you safely to your family.”

“Haryeong-nim, have you lost your mind?”

Yuri finally spoke, but Haryeong shook her head without changing expression.

“I am perfectly sane.”

“I do not think so.”

“Please do not say such rude things. Now, Yuri-nim. The Green Goblin Scout is ready, so Yuri-nim should prepare as well.”

“Kyaaaak!”

“Is it really ready?”

“Unfortunately, I cannot speak the goblin language.”

Haryeong tossed the goblin, and it landed in front of Yuri. Folding her arms, Haryeong ordered it.

“Go, Green Goblin Scout. Show that Yuri bastard your strength.”

As Haryeong had said, the goblin did not understand human language. But it instinctively knew what it had to do now.

It could not fight the human woman who had subdued and thrown it aside in an instant. To escape, it had to kill the human man in front of it.

“Kiaaak!”

The goblin began running. It had no weapon, but it extended its long, sharp nails and tried to claw Yuri.

“Seriously...”

Yuri let out a long sigh and stepped forward. Yuri understood why Haryeong had brought the goblin here, but upon actually facing a goblin monster, Yuri felt only one thing.

‘There was no need to be nervous.’

It was Yuri’s first time fighting a monster, so Yuri had been a little tense. But the goblin charging at Yuri moved so slowly that it was almost yawn-inducing. Frankly, the Oh Brothers Yuri had met right after transmigrating had surely been stronger than this goblin.

Thwack!

Yuri’s swinging kick buried itself in the goblin’s temple. Its head crumpled halfway in, and the goblin fell without even managing to scream.

“...”

Haryeong blinked as she looked at the goblin’s corpse. It was a clean kick without a single point to criticize.

‘What was that?’

For a moment, Yuri’s movement overlapped with the Moonlit Reveller in Haryeong’s eyes. It was absurd. There was no comparison between them. What Yuri had kicked was neither Madorido nor a sphere of condensed force. It was merely a goblin’s head.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Haryeong had also been impressed by the Moonlit Reveller’s martial arts. The mastery of condensed force was excellent, but the feet that continually launched attacks were even more so. Even taken only as kicking and leg techniques, the Moonlit Reveller’s martial arts were an extraordinary art.

The martial arts Yuri had learned were the Fist of the Rending Cloud and the footwork known as Whirlwind Cloud Steps. Yuri had not learned any other martial art involving kicks.

Then had that only been an ordinary kick?

“Why are you making that expression?”

Yuri asked as he lowered his leg.

“Where did you learn that kick?”

“You do not have to learn somewhere to be able to kick, do you?”

“That is not what I meant. That kick just now. It did not have enough depth to be called a martial art, but the form was clean.”

“The Moonlit Reveller used kicks really well.”

“Yes...?”

“Being a martial artist does not mean I should use only my fists. I thought it would be good if I could kick as well. When fighting small opponents like this, it is more convenient to kick with my leg than to punch downward.”

Yuri answered while kicking the goblin’s sprawled corpse.

“For now, I want to focus on fist techniques, and I thought it would be difficult to find a separate kicking art. So I have only been practicing the posture... the form.”

What was that supposed to mean?

Haryeong’s eyes trembled slightly. Was Yuri saying that half a year ago, during the sparring match between the Moonlit Reveller and Fist Wolf, Yuri had copied and learned the form of the Moonlit Reveller’s kicks simply by watching them?

“Crazy.”

The thought slipped out of Haryeong’s mouth. Startled, Haryeong covered her mouth with a hand. Still, it was a situation worthy of such a curse.

Haryeong had known Yuri’s eyes were good from the beginning. Yuri had been able to avoid Namgung Jin’s attacks before even entering martial training, and not long after beginning, Yuri had watched the sparring match between the Moonlit Reveller and Fist Wolf.

Seeing movements, memorizing them, and copying them? Haryeong could do that much as well. But even Haryeong had found it difficult to properly see the Moonlit Reveller’s kicking techniques at the time.

‘Yuri saw them in such detail?’

To think Haryeong would be surprised over a mere kick. Haryeong composed herself and lowered the hand covering her mouth.

“I expected a battle that would decide everything, but it ended rather emptily.”

“Did you really think I would have a hard time fighting a goblin?”

“You said it was your first time fighting a goblin, so I expected you to hesitate a little. I did not expect Yuri-nim to kick it without mercy.”

“Do you think I am an idiot?”

“Yuri-nim just took a life. Do you feel any guilt over that?”

“I do not feel anything.”

“Good. Then let us go kill the goblin group together.”

Haryeong pointed toward the bushes.

“Since there was a scout over there, we should be able to find the goblin group if we search a little more.”

“...”