Infinite Competitive Dungeon Society Chapter 118-119

Chapter 118. Avarice Devours Everything (5)

The change was dramatic. I felt someone else's presence in my head and my body felt like it was floating up slowly. In the next moment, I gave the right to control my body to someone else and entered spectator mode.

Unfortunately, Peruta did not have the ability to wield elementals, so they were unsummoned. Peruta couldn't use my cla.s.s or subcla.s.s-specific skills, nor could he use Heroic Strike. He could use skills other than them.

[All of your MP has been used.]

[Using 18,790 MP and 12,545 HP, you manifest the Mythological Heroic Spirit, 'Peruta Rello Vatifoa,' for 26 minutes and 57 seconds.]

"It hasn't been 29 days. Plus, this environment…"

[Peruta, I'll leave it to you. I can't handle them with my strength.]

Peruta looked around. He confirmed the single-horned demon and the bladed whip in his hand. Then, he examined his body and grinned.

"This isn't Earth… Plus, you've grown a lot in such a short amount of time. That's good."

Shatuno seemed to have realized something had changed from Peruta's murmuring, as he pointed his whip at him.

"The smell of your mana is different. Who are you?"

"Demon. There were once demons in Edias, too… Words aren't important in a life-or-death battle… Are you ready?"

Without using Divine Speed, Peruta charged at Shatuno with an incredible speed. His whip hastily blocked Peruta's spear, but it could not withstand the impact and flew back.

"You're different from before!"

"He will soon become as strong as me!"

Peruta thrust the Gluttony Spear quickly. The blue maelstrom spiraling around his spear was undoubtedly from the Peruta Circuit that was circulating inside of him.

So this is the Unique Spear Technique that lies beyond the high-rank Spear Technique! Even knowing that now wasn't the appropriate situation, I became immersed in the overwhelming prestige that Peruta's movements created. Not to mention, I even thought his Peruta Circuit was completely different than the one I had been using.

"Kuhat, right! Now I feel like I'm fighting! Snake Touch!"

"A weak attack like that won't be enough!"

Shatuno's whip transformed in an instant, flying toward Peruta's neck to bite it like a living snake. However, Peruta instantly pulled his feet back and vertically struck his spear down, hitting the whip away. The blue whirlwind endlessly spiraling around his spear shattered the snake's head into pieces.

"Dead Steam!"

That was what Shatuno was aiming for. The shards of the whip inflated and exploded. The whip had been a one-time use weapon from the start. I felt bad about Bamirtuno who had lost her life from such a weapon.

No matter how strong Peruta was, he was using my body. As such, he instantly imbued mana into his feet, then jumped back, creating a storm in his path. The explosion was undoubtedly
grand and powerful, but it was easily erased by the storm Peruta created.

At the same time, I was busy trying to understand the manifestation and transformation of mana. His attainment in spearmanship was undoubtedly higher than mine, but what was even more shocking was the way he wielded mana. I was confident that I could catch up to his spearmanship, but the natural application of mana on his spear techniques was something far beyond what I could see.

From the use that did not match its level of attainment, I felt my Peruta Circuit creaking, but Peruta naturally softened it with his rotational power. It was truly shocking. In the next moment, he held Gluttony Spear up again. Peruta Circuit's strong current was gathering mana, not just from the body, but from the world itself. A dazzling blue light enveloped the spear. It was as if I was looking at the completed version of Tempest, which only took 300 MP for me to use.

"Try this!"

"Huhu, as if!"

Despite Peruta's quick charge and spear attack, Shatuno took out a shield out of thin air and defended. However, after colliding and grinding against each other for a moment, the shield quickly gave in, being crushed and sent flying away. With a crack, Shatuno's arm was also severed from his body. It was the perfect attack while Shatuno's guard was down.

"Kahak!"

"You're surprisingly weak. What military rank do you have? A private?"

"Private? Ha… I'll show you the power of a private!'

Shatuno's arm that had fallen to the ground flew up. In an instant, it inflated, becoming large and black, and its tip became hard. It had transformed to a strange weapon similar to a club. Shatuno grabbed the 'weapon' with her remaining hand. Why wasn't she regenerating it? Was there a limit to his regenerative ability?

Wounds from Peruta's attacks could not be regenerated. Rather than his attainment in spearmanship, I had the feeling that there was a secret behind the power created from combining Peruta Circuit and his spearmanship. The desire to learn his techniques drove me crazy.

"Devil Buster!"

"Kuu, did you think of that name? How childish!"

Perhaps because he had turned his arm into a weapon, it was moving on its own and it was powerful. After blocking his attack once with the Gluttony Spear, Peruta dodged his attack. His weapon struck down on the ground, and a part of the earth turned into metallic sludge and shot up.

The metallic sludge let out a black miasma and attacked me. Peruta kicked the ground again and created another storm. He seemed quite surprised by the attack.

[That weapon is dangerous. It will be fine for this weapon enveloped with my aura, but your body won't be so lucky. If it hit you, you'll turn into that metallic sludge.]

[Can't my armor block it?]

[It can, but once or twice only.]

Peruta looked nonchalant as he exchanged blows with Shatuno's weapon, but he whispered in a worried voice that only I could hear. If Peruta allowed himself to get hit, I would receive an irrecoverable injury. Even though Peruta was hiding it, Shatuno seemed to have realized his hesitation, as he attacked more boldly and aggressively.

"Stop running away!"

Shatuno dodged the spear left and right and attacked my body with his weapon. Peruta read the trajectories of his attacks and struck them away with his spear imbued with his mana's rotational power. While their exchange continued, Shatuno's aura continued to grow bigger.

The ground became like a furnace of metallic sludge, and the sludge occasionally attacked Peruta and annoyed him. Although Peruta was striking them down without much difficulty, it was hard to say that it would continue forever. If this continued, Peruta would be at a disadvantage.

"What happened to your confidence!? Try harder, Hero!"

"The Hero is my disciple, not me! I'll express my respect for your strength, but I don't want to deal with such dirty attacks much longer!"

As I had the Regeneration skill on Flesh Golem's Second Finger, I wasn't so worried about losing parts of my body. Even so, I advised Peruta so he could utilize my body more easily.

[Peruta, you can use Heavy Armor Mastery, Divine Speed, Dash, and Gale Track.]

[I don't care about the armor skill, but can you explain what the other skills do?]

I gave an as detailed an explanation as possible for the skills. Shooting out a Tempest, Peruta distanced himself from Shatuno and nodded. Then, he boldly looked around the battlefield. Most of the demons were on the brinks of death, and the remaining mercenaries were working together. It was the same for the surviving knights and magicians.
Peruta restarted the fight.

"Here I go. Gale Track!"

"You!"

Peruta, who had been on the defense, charged at Shatuno. Dash, which let me run faster, was a pa.s.sive skill and automatically applied to Gale Track. As Peruta also received my tattoo and equipment's effects, Gluttony Spear was enveloped with a strong rotational force shook off the wave of metallic sludge shooting toward him and struck Shatuno upward.

"Kuaaak!"

Shatuno flew dozens of meters into the air! Although charge type skills were strengthened, sending a Demon Army Commander flying with a spear showed how powerful Peruta was. At the same time, a tornado connecting the earth and sky appeared, binding Shatuno completely. Of course, he wouldn't stay bound for long!

"Hey, wyvern! Hold him back for a bit!'

"Ha, how arrogant, newbie!"

Peruta ignored the wyvern-riding mercenary's answer and shot toward the other demons. Gale Track did not have to be used in a straight line. Of course, it would be stronger and faster if it was used in a straight line, but using Peruta Circuit, Peruta changed the trajectory of Gale Track so naturally. In fact, Peruta Circuit's rotational force was increasing Gale Track's destructive force.

"Kuk, it's an ambush!"

"Block him!"

"Ek, what's that!"

The demons that were fighting the mercenaries became fl.u.s.tered at Peruta's charge and tried to block him. However, Gale Track was slightly different than when I used it. Peruta Circuit's rotational force swallowed Gale Track, and the boundless current of destruction gathered on the tip of Gluttony Spear, exploding out continuously. Simply put, the demons could not block Peruta's power, which had even devoured Shatuna's abilities. Since I was confident in beating them without Peruta's help, it was easy for Peruta to do the same.

The surviving demons thus began to float into the air one by one, each trapped in a tornado similar to the one Shatuno was in. Interestingly, they flew toward Shatuno, who was trying to break out of his own tornado, and smashed into him.

Shatuno was ignoring the wyvern's flames and was close to escaping the tornado. But when he collided with his allies, the tornadoes binding them combined into one, pushing them up even further into the air. As more and more demons collided, they were pushed further up into the air. It was like watching tornadoes combining to form a greater disaster.

"What, is he really a newbie?"

"It looks like he manifested someone into him. Was there a skill that could do that?"

"Don't lie. I know you were contemplating about running away with Return."

"Lads, attack him while they're grouped up!"

After shooting all the enemies into the air, he encouraged the mercenaries, knights, and magicians with an expression like he just made a game-winning home run. Then, he bent his knees. Feeling the powerful current of wind gathering around Peruta, I trembled. This guys! He turned Gale Track into a completely different skill!

"Whatever! Let's attack!"

"Die demon b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!"

Dozens of auras and magic shot up from the ground. At their levels, even melee range explorers had at least one long-ranged attack. The wyvern's owner seemed to have strengthened the wyvern with his power as it breathed out white flames like Hwaya's. Consecutive explosions rang out in the air like fireworks.

It was then that Peruta jumped.

"Divine Speed"

[Using 10% of your mana, your speed is multiplied by 1000% for 3 seconds!]

I didn't know how, but Peruta transferred the power of wind from Gale Track's final blow underneath his feet, and used Peruta Circuit's strong rotational force to let it explode. Immediately afterwards, he used Divine Speed to make himself faster, and the result was hard to described with words.

"Huaaaaaaa!"

My body shot up so quickly that I was surprised it was breaking from the shock. I felt like fainting from the sensation, but Peruta seemed fine and he even pulled his spear back. Kuk, I thought I wouldn't lose to anyone in willpower, but to think I was about to faint from this much shock.
Even while I was self-reflecting and gathering my focus, Peruta continued to shoot up and up.

At the end of Peruta's path were the demons that were gathered up helplessly. Shatuno, whose feet were tied from the the demons stuck to him, saw Peruta approaching him. Flashing his eyes, he swung his weapon. The other demons were in its trajectory.

"Kuak!"

"Sacrifice yourselves for the Demon Army's future!'

To think he'd sacrifice his subordinates in this situation. While Peruta opened his eyes widely, one of the demons turned to wet tar and swept over Peruta from the sky. This time, I was ready to lose one of my limbs. While I was preparing myself to use regeneration, Peruta revealed his final move.

"Sacrificing your on subordinates! In front of the War G.o.d, there is no greater disrespect!"

With a thunderous roar, Peruta shot his spear. The power that had pushed Peruta to the current height directly flowed to the tip of this spear and caused an explosion. Like shooting a shotgun, the explosion that happened on the spear tip annihilated the tar instantly and continued to the grouped up demons. Although the demons tried to squeeze out their magic and create barriers, they were unable to block Peruta's power.

A great explosion erupted.

[Critical Hit!]

[Demons should have bones right?]

"Probably."

Exchanging rather stupid conversation with Peruta, we began to fall. Did Peruta know we would fall? He must have, right? Peruta then let me down with his murmur.

"Shoot, I forgot how to get down."

[Peruta!?]

"When I focus too much on battle, my blood rises… It's been awhile since I've had a real fight, so I can't help having a side-effect like this. But thanks to you, I enjoyed fighting. Now, I have no regrets."

[Don't say it like I'm going to die, Peruta!]

"I'm kidding, of course. Dying now would be troublesome. Don't worry, we'll land with only a single broken limb."

[So one limb is going to be broken for sure…]

When I sighed, someone caught me from the air. The middle-aged mercenary's wyvern had grabbed my head with its claws.

"Newbie, I don't know who possessed you, but well done. To be honest, that demon commander was the most dangerous."

"Well, thanks."

The wyvern descended quickly and safely put me down on the ground. The mercenaries and knights were gathered, healing their injuries.

"Well done, newbie!"

"The feeling is already a bit different than before. It looks like he's maintaining it with mana."

"Stop complaining. Oi, the paladin over there!"

The mercenaries talked loudly, showing themselves off. As we could take care of the demons with their help, I could look at them happily. As the knights were all paladins under the Order of Mitarus, they were healing each other and the mercenaries.

[We'll have to call Ludia again.]

"I don't know who Ludia is, but you shouldn't."

[Why?]

"Isn't it obvious? It's not over yet."

Just when the battle seemed to be over, the atmosphere froze. Immediately afterwards, as if to prove that Peruta was right, a disturbing whish rang out from the sky.

[Ku… To think I'd need to show my real body. I looked down on humans too much…!]

We all turned to the direction of the voice. In the sky, we saw a winged, large-bodied, single-armed monster.

[I'll swallow you all! Be glad, you can become the blood and flesh of I, Commander Shatuno!]

It was the start of the second battle.

Author's note:
I wanted to end it in this chapter, but I couldn't. As you can see, this chapter is 160% of the normal chapter length, so I really tried hard! But it wasn't possible. I had to show the strength of a Demon Lord Commander and Peruta fight against him. Hope you enjoyed it! We'll wrap it up in the next chapter and go attack the Demon Army!

Translator's note:
160%… The next chapter is the same length as this one. KILL ME

Chapter 119. Avarice Devours Everything (6)

Earlier, he only had one horn. But now, there were two long, thick horns protruding out from his forehead. I didn't know whether the number of horns was important, but the aura he was emanating was twice as powerful as before. In addition, his skin was now deep red, like an explosive volcano, when he had had dark blue skin before. His veins bulged out on his skin, adding to his already creepy appearance.

He grew to over 2 meters tall and his body looked like the Hulk's. With his two bat-like wings and thick scaled tail protruding from his b.u.t.t, he truly looked like a devil that appeared in myths. Surprisingly, even though he had changed so much, he had not regenerated his arm.

I didn't know if that was the reason, but the club he was holding looked stronger and more repugnant. It was red, black, long, thick, and its tip was split into two parts, which swam through the air like water snakes. Patting his wyvern, the middle aged mercenary made a short comment.

"He's big."

[Huu… You should be honored to see this appearance. It's my true body that's rarely shown even in the Demon Realm!]

"I don't think just one of us can do it. Alright, let's go."

"Focus on defense. Besides me, no one here can catch up to his speed."

Peruta replied to one of the mercenaries words. As if to prove that Peruta was right, Shatuno instantly disappeared from the place he was in and appeared behind a mercenary, swinging his whip down. The mercenary, who possessed a defensive equipment, threw the ring that broke from blocking Shatuno's attack and shouted.

"At least 300 dexterity! If you're not confident in dodging his attacks, run!"

"F*ck, he's not even the Demon Lord. How is an Army Commander so strong…!?"

"Haa, at least he's the only one left! The reward for this mission will be no joke!"

At the summoner mercenary's shout, the mercenaries that were about to open the dungeon gate flinched. If the request's difficulty was high, the dungeon would naturally give better rewards. No matter how much the Dimensional Mercenaries prioritized their safety, if they weren't willing to take risk, they wouldn't have become Dimensional Mercenaries in the first place. They were here because they were willing to throw themselves in danger and take challenges.

Thanks to the mercenary's timely shout, other mercenaries that could block Shatuna's attacks got their fighting spirit back. Then, Peruta took a step forward and spoke.

"Sorry, but he's mine."

"What? Are you saying that you want to fight him alone, newbie?"

[Wait, Hero. I'll deal with you after I take care of everyone else.]

"Like I'd wait, Demon Soldier. You become stronger the more you absorb, so I need to deal with you before that happens."

At Peruta words, all the mercenaries' complexions became pale. Everyone, including me, realized. He hadn't changed from being angered. He had changed from absorbing the energies of the demons that accompanied him! But how did Peruta know?

The summoner mercenary then said with a curious expression.

"Wait, newbie. Doesn't that mean you gathered up the demons so he could get stronger?"

"Of course not. It's the opposite. I made him weaker."

"What?"

Despite the contradiction in his words, Peruta had a commanding att.i.tude. Shatuno, who was listening to him, also looked at him with interest.

[Quite funny, Hero! Me? Weaker? See with your own body how weaker I got!]

"I will."

Shatuno's body once again disappeared from the sky. He appeared in front of me in an instant, and at the same time that his two-part whip flew toward me, his sharp tail drew a diagonal line from below. d.a.m.n, I could barely see it! How could he get so fast!?

However, Peruta was able to see his movements. In truth, if Peruta wasn't controlling my body, I would not have been able to see his attack at all. He lightly swung the Gluttony Spear, pushing the whip aside and blocking the tail coming from below. Then, with a smile, he kicked the tail with his left foot enveloped in a whirlwind.

His tail exploded.

[Kuaaak!]

"Demon, I'm already aware of all your patterns. Just from your appearance, I can see through your cla.s.s, choice of weapon, method of attack, potential, and personality!"

Peruta's attack did not stop. His spear, feet, or empty hand! With each of his attacks, Shatuno's body exploded strangely. It even felt like Shatuno's fake body was stronger!

Peruta's blue whirlwind was enveloping my entire body. I realized. Peruta hadn't used his full power when he fought Shatuno before. The reason he used my skills to take him on was to save his own ability to fight Shatuno's real body.

"Unending whirlpool. The ancients called me War G.o.d and Heavenly Calamity, because the whirlpool connecting the earth and the heaven was strong enough to destroy the world."

Every time whirlpools erupted from parts of his body, Shatuno had to grit his teeth and fall back. Eventually, with a scream, he cut off his own tail, which had been half torn to shreds by Peruta's attacks. The tail was then absorbed into his whip, making the whip transform into a club.

[What did you do to me!? You think you can kill me, the demon's Army Commander, Shatuno Gluttony!?]

"Ha."

Peruta snorted. He held the Gluttony Spear in one hand and aimed it at Shatuno's neck, ignoring his club.

"Come here, Demon Soldier."

[Kuaaaaa!]

He appeared. d.a.m.n, even though I was confident in my senses, I couldn't completely grasp his movements. I could only see that he had appeared to my left and swung his club. I couldn't read the exact timing or the trajectory.

However, Peruta easily dodged his attack and sent a blue whirlwind forward, destroying his body. When I saw Shatuno's exploding flesh, I finally understood.

[Dear G.o.d… When you used Gale Track, you already…!]

[As expected of my disciple. 99 points. I took a point off since you didn't realize it at the time that I used the skill.]

Peruta retorted in a voice only I could hear, and leisurely continued to destroy Shatuno's body. He took a step back and stomped the ground strongly. His simple movements had a ma.s.sive impact.

In a 10 meter radius around him, the earth transformed into lava and shot up. To the mercenaries watching Peruta and Shatuno's battle, it was like a bolt of lightning from the clear sky, and they scrambled to dodge the lava. However, Shatuno was no longer concerned with anyone else. He was solely focused on Peruta.

[I'll show you… the power of the Demon Army Commander!]

The lava took the form of a giant serpent. Shatuno lightly waved his hand, and the serpent dropped lava in its surrounding as it charged toward us. Plus, it wasn't any slower than Shatuno himself.

At the same time, Shatuno stomped the ground again, and the ground that Peruta was standing on collapsed. I realized that Shatuno had been hiding his ability to transform earth.

However, I had full confidence in Peruta's victory. Peruta was right. He had weakened Shatuno. During his initial fight, he had realized Shatuno's special power. The moment he used Gale Track, Shatuno had no chance of victory.

[Kuhak!]

As expected, after jumping back to avoid the ground that had become lava, Peruta lightly sent a Tempest forward, blowing Shatuno's remaining arm away. Shatuno's weapon fell on the ground, turning the ground it touched into lava. Of course, the lava serpent that had been flying in the sky lost its power and fell, turning the ground more into a mess. When others saw the battlefield later, they would really wonder what the h.e.l.l happened.

Shatuno seemed to have noticed something was wrong with his body too, as he glared at us with trembling eyes.

[Y-You… What did you do to my body!?]

"When I hit the demons up with Gale Track, I did a little trick."

Peruta answered with a grin. Right. When Shatuno used his strange melting power, Peruta realized he could use that power to absorb others. I didn't know until he told me, but Peruta had ample experience in fighting against demons and was able to recognize his special power with just that.

As such, after learning about Gale Track from me, he immediately went into action. He used his mana to put some sort of device into the demons before sending them flying. He then forced Shatuno into a situation where he had to absorb them. This was the result. Shatuno devoured his subordinates on his own accord, becoming Peruta's toy.

"You might be sensitive to any changes to your body, but you probably didn't expect that bombs would have been planted in your food. Can you feel it now?"

[You think such a crude game can kill me!?]

Shatuno shouted in rage and did something completely unexpected. He began to detonate the mana bombs planted in the demons he absorbed! Explosions erupted from his body.

[I am the Demon Army's Commander Shatuno Gluttony! I can regenerate as long as I have more to eat! I am invincible! Under His Highness, the Demon Lord, I rule above all!]

"The moment you're under someone, you can't call yourself a ruler, Demon Soldier."

Peruta responded coldly. Then, he thrust his spear. Shatuno's wing, which was trying to avoid Peruta and attack other mercenaries, was torn to shreds.

"As long as there's even a single being above you, you are only an underling."

Shatuno didn't stop. He believed he could turn the tide of battle as long as he devoured someone. Disregarding Peruta's words, he continued. When Peruta's spear was pointed the other way, one of Shatuno's horns was torn off, falling on the ground. Shatuno screamed.

"Foolish. You cannot aim for the position of G.o.d that way. A true ruler has none above him and walks a path that no one can block."

[Don't underestimate… the power of an Army Commander!]

"When you can stand on this land alone and hold up the heavens! That's when you can call yourself a ruler!"

Shatuno had somehow turned himself even redder and bigger, but the moment Peruta thrust out his spear, his body blew up without much resistance. Shatuno coughed out deep blue blood and collapsed. It happened quickly and overwhelmingly.

"Hu."

Peruta twisted the corner of his mouth and threw the Gluttony Spear. The spear struck Shatuno's forehead, splitting his head in half and penetrating the ground. Even if he was the Army's Commander, he could not survive with his heart in pieces and brain cut in half. Without even letting out death throes, Shatuno died.

"It is the path I once walked, and the path my disciple will walk. Remember it."

[I don't think he can hear you anymore.]

[Haha, you're right.]

Peruta waved his hand lightly, and the Gluttony Spear flew back to his hand. Shatuno's corpse also flew toward him slowly. His arm, weapon, severed wing, and horn. Peruta was collecting them carefully. Watching the scene, the other mercenaries swallowed their saliva.

"Oi, newbie. Are you going to eat that by yourself?"

"There are portions for you guys too."

The severed wing that was flying toward Peruta changed its direction and landed in front of the mercenaries. Looking at the mercenaries' blank expressions, Peruta spoke with a wink.

"The rest is for my disciple. Young kids have to eat a lot to grow. Since you guys are the seniors, you should yield."

"Disciple, you say. Did you call your master, newbie…"

"Tsk. Since I can complete the mission thanks to you, I'll listen."

"Right, without him, we would've either died or failed the request… Alright, gather up. Let's split this thing."

While the mercenaries were dividing the wing equally, Peruta learned how to operate the inventory from me and stored Shatuno's corpse in it. Then, it was the turn to store its arm, tail, and weapon, which probably ate many of his subordinates. Mm, would this count as an actual weapon? Since he used it as a one, it should, right?

[Peruta, can you touch that weapon with my spear?]

"Hm? Like this?"

Although Peruta was a bit surprised at my sudden request, he immediately did so. Then, the Gluttony Spear radiated a brilliant red light and absorbed the club.

[Crimson Gluttony Spear absorbed 'Symbol of Gluttony (Epic)'. Growth: 54%]

[Oooh, so this weapon can grow by absorbing other weapons! There are still blacksmiths left that can craft such weapons?]

[Kuk, only 7% from eating an Epic-grade weapon… What kind of a weapon is this thing trying to become?]

[Haha, it probably won't meet your expectations. Growth type weapons have rather poor efficiency. But when it reaches its peak one day, it will become a divine artifact that most G.o.d-grade can't even compare. I don't know who made it, but this person must be your close friend. Treat him well.]

At Peruta words, the image of Lin appeared in my mind. Although handsome, he was frowning and smoking a cigarette. He was also cursing at the fact that I already became a Dimensional Mercenary. No, that's…

[Peruta, it seems all the danger is gone now.]

[Right. Besides the bountiful miasma in an area a day-long away from here, there's no danger.]

With Peruta's words, I felt a.s.sured. While I was at it, I asked him.

[Peruta, can you find out if there's a spy among them?]

[Hahaha, I'm not omnipotent. But since you have to worry about a spy, this must be quite a difficult mission.]

[To tell you the truth, we have to go into that area with bountiful miasma and rescue someone.]

[Hm? You want to save someone from that pit? Hoh… be careful.]

[Yes.]

[With your temperament, I probably don't need to worry much… but still, be careful. Don't believe anyone.]

[Haha, so that's the conclusion.]

After giving me tips on Peruta Circuit, Peruta left. I quickly drank a potion worth 50,000 gold that restored both mana and health.

"Hey, newbie. Is…"

"Yeah, he's not here now."

"Huu… Good. I was slightly scared. d.a.m.n, where did you find a skill like that?"

"Ah, that idiot's at it again. Why are you digging at other's business secrets? Are you a newbie?"

The summoner mercenary smacked the man asking for my Deific Manifestation skill. As he was the strongest mercenary out of the 8 that remained, the man didn't say anything after being hit. With a smirk, I called the only person I could trust, Ludia. Then, I sighed and fell to the ground.

When I got back up, thinking I sat on something, it was the headless corpse of Syrmia Bamirtuno.

"Tsk, right…"

She undoubtedly could have run away during battle. However, she seemed to have really liked Ludia, as she continued to fight the Army Commander until the end. Although I couldn't encourage her love, it was true that Ludia could survive thanks to her. Out of respect for her, I decided to put her corpse together.

As for the other mercenaries, they were gathering up the dead mercenaries, knights and magicians and burning them. They seemed to be taking their equipped items, but since the mission was more important than the people that were already dead, I didn't say anything.

Then, after 5 minutes of searching, I found her head. Putting it together with her body, I called Peika.

"Peika, leave the equipment and burn her body."

[Okay!]

Sorry, Bamirtuno-ssi, but I'm an explorer too… After Peika cleanly burned Bamirtuno's body with her elemental power, her equipment shone. Oh, the hoverboard was there too, but…

The hoverboard began to greedily devour Bamirtuno's equipment.

"Peika, am I seeing things?"

[No, that child must have been hungry because she was just born.]

Child? Born? While Peika was answering nonchalantly, the hoverboard continued to devour Bamirtuno's weapon. I mean, if it was eating something, shouldn't it be getting bigger? Why is it getting smaller instead? Its silvery grey color became darker. After devouring all the equipment Bamirtuno left behind, it became a black, metallic elliptical ball.

Just in case, I took out an arrow from my inventory and tried poking it, but it did not budge in the slightest. Instead, I felt a strange sensation. It was incredibly familiar, and touched the deepest part of my soul. This…

"Is this an elemental!? Plus, this feeling… It feels like it's connected to me."

[Yep. I think this child was influenced and created by my elemental power. In the process, master obviously got connected… but because it's still a child and it became full, it felt into deep slumber. Master should sing a lullaby.]

Peika, if I sing a lullaby, it will only fall deeper into sleep. To wake it, we'll at least need a bugle horn…

[No! It was just born, so it needs time to grow! Master has to sing a lullaby, so it can sleep well!]

"Ah, so that's what you meant?"

For the next few minutes, I hugged the metallic egg and sang a lullaby, making Ludia who came back stare at me with strange eyes. I didn't how to feel as a few of the mercenaries listening to me also fell asleep. I didn't sing so you guys could sleep!

Author's note:
I'm crazy, really. How the h.e.l.l did this become 9,000 characters… It's hard to control… Hu…

I didn't want to spend another chapter with Shatuno, so I made this one long as well. I don't know anymore. I'll get scolded one day…

There are lots of avaricious things devouring things in this chapter! Do I need to read it again when I'm hungry!?

Translator's note:
Restrain yourself Toika, please…