Chapter 17

Ossan, dreams about that time *DISCLAIMER: I DON'T REALLY KNOW j.a.pANESE, THESE ARE MACHINE TRANSLATIONS THAT I TRY TO PUT INTO PROPER ENGLISH. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

The Arienne Kong understood the danger it was in. Its body was bound by what it seemed to be a chain made of light that extended from magic circles floating in all directions, and thus, it could not move.

Because it was being suspended in the air, it only had one means of attacking…

It immediately noticed the knights about to start fiercely attacking it, and started gathering its mana. Though, it's quite the stupid monster, it isn't so weak as to let itself be attacked by a combined a.s.sault from the knights.

Mana was concentrated in its throat, fused with its body own fluids in order to retaliate against the knights.

―――Kaah ~ Petsu!~

Something flew out of its mouth.

"Uuohh!?"

"Disgusting!!"

It spitted a cloudy fluid from its mouth, and makes the ground where it landed, immediately turn hot red and melt into lava.

(*T.N:RAWs say it's “Tang soup” for some reason. It's such a weird a.n.a.logy that I don't know if it's correct.)

Everyone was at a loss for words. No matter how much you're strengthened with magic, you won't come out unscathed after receiving an attack like that head on.

Moreover, the enemy is above them.

Ignoring the knights' thoughts, the Arienne Kong continues to spit at them.

"Prepare the bows!"

"f.u.c.king monkey! That's such a disgusting attack!"

Although it looks like cloudy soup, it's actually a dissolvent synthetic substance. The venom acc.u.mulated in its throat was modified with magic and turned into a strong corrosive liquid. 

It also possesses a considerable adhesive power. Once it gets stuck to the body, it'll completely dissolve everything, even if it's metal.

While the knights were quickly preparing their bows to shoot it down, the boss desperately tried to break the glowing chains binding it.

"Let's gooo!!"

Warrior-type long range attack techniques depend on the distance from the target. And the knights' distance from the ape was about 5 times the lengths of their swords, and since they were still within the range of the Arienne Kong's attacks, they were pointless, and the same could be said about their spears. Therefore, their only choice was to shoot arrows at it. The problem was that a bow wouldn't be able to inflict a fatal wound to such a strong monster.

Even after reaching level 100, no matter how much they're buffed with magic, they won't be able to deal considerable damage to an opponent double their level.

"Captain, they have no effect."

"If its skin is too hard, Do you want to wait until the restraining magic breaks?"

"I don't wanna go near it while it's still spitting acid…"

"I don't want to melt, either."

The knights don't have any effective means of attacking it.

Only a magic attack would be effective at this point…

"Piece of s.h.i.t! This thing is hard! Even magic is practically bouncing off of its body."

"Our level is too low, if we had a bit more time we'd be able to deal more damage…"

They still don't have a high enough level.

It's not like they can't beat it due to the lack of skill and combat experience. In the past two days the level of the knights have exceeded 100. However, the high-ranked Arienne Kong at level 15, is stronger than the low-ranked level 200 Crazy Apes.

In the first place, since they don't know at which level it evolves, they don't have the time or information to verify it. Moreover, the information from the 【Appraisal] skill was unreliable.

A person's status is clearly visible, but when it comes to monsters, only the level and a small amount of information on them appears.

That's a noticeable difference from when it was a game. Zeros' game knowledge can't be reliably used as a reference for this world.

"Should I use the chains of darkness? I was careless because you guys had leveled up."

"Really? There's something else going on, right?

"Nah, there's no way…"

The knights were able to fight on equal terms against the Crazy Apes when they reached level 100. Zeros had a.s.sumed that even if their opponent was a high-ranked species, they wouldn't lag behind.

(This is a group of level 100 monsters, a couple of level 200 ones, and the boss… they're, at least, weaker than the ones that inhabit the depths of this forest.

How much have the monsters in this area evolved?

Rather than that, it's not good if the knights that were sent as our escorts die. Would it be my fault if they do?

Well, there's a higher chance the Chivalric Order will keep a watch on me if I let them die… well if it's only one or two… no, no, no!

They also have families, and it wouldn't be good if they held a grudge against me. Trust is paramount in this world. )

There was one troubled uncle (*T.N: Ossan).

In Far-flung forest, the deeper you go, the higher the concentration of mana is. 

Mana concentration is the determining factor that produces the differences in strength between monsters. But, even in the same forest, the strength of the monsters inhabiting the deepest parts of it is leagues apart from the strength of the monsters living on the boundaries.

Even a Goblin would be stronger than the Queen Arienne Kong we're fighting this time around.

(Hmmm, if mana concentration determines the upper limit of the monsters' strength in this forest, then there must be something in there that's producing these changes.

I'm interested but… at this age, I just want sake.)

He loved sake more than the romance of adventures.

(Watching hockey with a gla.s.s of a prized Kagurazaka Daiginjō… this worthless G.o.ddess,

Do you want me to hold another grudge!?) 

*T.N: A Daiginjō is a high-end type of sake and Kagurazaka is the brand I guess?

This uncle, deprived of the pleasures of his previous world, holds a grudge against the G.o.ds.

Anyways…

"Let's wrap this up, 『Spear of the Lighting Emperor』"

Zeros produced a lighting spear from the palms of his hands, and readily hurls it towards the Arienne Kong.

―――Gyaaaa!!!

The monster's scream echoes through the forest.

(Ah… I guess this is animal cruelty. In j.a.pan this would be a crime, and I'd likely be sued by an NGO from somewhere. 

For example, most organizations stage incidents to affect the public's opinion on whaling companies and damage their reputation, but those people should really learn about our history of whaling. 

First of all, j.a.panese whalers ate everything except the bones, and some of them were even used as tools, whereas, overseas whalers only used the oil. Such a waste.

That's a blasphemy against whaling and it's too late to protect them now! First of all, they overhunt whales.

Their ancestors' actions caused the whale population to plummet. It's the peak of people who denounce other countries' cultures! Reflect on that, will you!

After all, they don't really understand j.a.panese culture. If they say something is bad, then it's cancelled immediately, and exaggerated to their heart's content.

If you're ashamed of your own history then that's fair enough, but after all, they don't realize they're just being instigated by others, and that there are many other endangered species that need protection, but these people just focus on that one thing. Gorillas also suffer casualties in human wars! They're still here so we need to protect them! )

*T.N: This whole paragraph was a nightmare to try translating and I'm sure I got it completely wrong, but I guess the main points were that j.a.panese whalers aren't as bad as foreigners; cancel culture bad; j.a.pan good no hate; Gorillas are aight.

Is Zeros fond of gorillas? 

Does he hold a grudge against anti-whaling groups?

Moreover, his information was completely biased. It's a fact that, in some countries, gorillas are endangered species. Although, Zeros, who had a gorilla hanging in the air by its limbs seems to be an awfully guilty person himself.

His aura is that of a poacher. 

―――Pakyiiinnnn!!!

A high-pitched metallic sound, different from the Arienne Kong's cries, echoes. 

The glowing light chain, that had been restraining the monster's movements, broke.

"Woah!? Its bindings broke apart!"

【Bind Break], a skill that wards off the effects of binding and restraining magics.

Zeros' magic can't be resisted by normal monsters, but this Queen Arienne Kong managed to break his spell.

"What is this? Which is it, 'hidden power' or 'berserk' ?"

(*T.N: terms from the game I suppose)

"The h.e.l.l you on about!! This is dangerous!"

The hairs on the Arienne Kong's back stood and started dying red. Its body also grew one size bigger and its muscles started pulsating abnormally.

"It's going berserk, I should've killed it instantly though? I guess I still need to get the hang of it"

"""Get it properly!!!"""

This uncle liked Roland The Gorilla.

He cherished the gorilla plushie he bought on a company trip abroad when he was younger. He even named it 'Uhho-kun' 

"Sayonara, Uhho-kun… 【Shadow Javelin]"

Countless jet-black spears emerged from the shadows and pierced the Arienne Kong.

This uncle was overlaying the image of Uhho-kun with the Arienne Kong… and said his eternal farewell.

The gorillas of this world weren't cute though…

But the berserk gorilla didn't stop moving. It pulled out a nearby tree from its roots and swung it towards Zeros. 

"It's getting more violent!"

"It's out of control! Please do something!"

Involving the remaining surviving Crazy Apes, the berserk Arienne Kong goes on a rampage. It continues to fight even after trees are knocked down and rocks are smashed. 

Monsters go berserk when their rage reaches a certain threshold, but at the same time, they put their lives at risk, without minding collateral damage or even injuring their own bodies.

They are blinded with rage until they manage to kill their enemies.

"…Now let's make it a bit easier,【Roaring Lightning of the Thunder G.o.d]"(*T.N: 雷神轟雷球)

This uncle also like animal animatronics…

(At the very least, I'll grant it mercy.)

As he thought that, Zeros brings forth a palm-sized ball of lightning and shoots it at the Arienne Kong.

It looks like the magic 【Lighting Ball] but the power and the amount of mana packed-in are in a different league.

The ball of lighting hits the Arienne Kong, and releasing its destructive power, burns its body from the inside out. In addition, the excess electric discharge overruns the surroundings, smashing nearby trees and rocks.

The body of the Arienne Kong was completely burned to a cinder, and its ashes scatters about when a gust of wind blows through.

Zeros took a cigarette out of the small pouch at his waist and lighted it up with magic. He lets out the white smoke of the ignited tobacco quietly with an expressionless face.

"Fuu… Empty. What is this empty feeling…?"

In his mind was Uhho-kun, who he had left behind in his former world.

Zeros had abandoned something important. The knights and his two disciples sent him cold gazes, but that didn't matter to him.

The cigarette smoke is washed away by the wind, like incenses in memoriam of the Arienne Kong.

By the end of the day, the remaining Apes were completely wiped out.

Zeros had a dream. It was the third night after he arrived to this world. That day, he was attacked by monsters since morning.

Even if he managed to hunt a prey, it was soon stolen by flying monsters. And when he hunted another prey, the smell of blood attracted carnivorous monsters in tropes. If you defeat those monsters, another horde appears before you could finish dismantling them.

In this endless vicious cycle, Zeros became exhausted both mentally and physically. And, before he noticed, the forest was already enclosed in darkness, and because he didn't eat since morning, he was a.s.saulted by a terrible hunger.

His food was taken away from him. It was a very dismal day.

The day after, he was sleeping by the river, but he was attacked by a group of lizardmen, so he decided to spend the night in the shadow of a rock.

Not being winter was the only good thing.

He soon stops thinking about those things. He immediately fell asleep due to fatigue. But then… it showed up.

He wakes up with a faint shaking sensation, and he squints his sleepy eyes to check what was happening.

And then, he realizes…

A b.u.t.t was showing from some slightly lowered trousers. In other words, half of his a.s.s was exposed. Moreover, it was a white-haired monkey with long arms and a slovenly expression on its red face, trying to lower down his pants. 

The uncle's and the Crazy Ape's eyes meet.

"" …… ""

…A long silence elapses.

And then he confirms it.

A fiendish and violent sky tree that stands up high as if penetrating the heavens, so ferocious and brutal that mosaics would be made of it…

"Fuuhi♡"

"Nooooooooo!?"

The uncle's scream echoes far and wide in the gigantic forest of Far-flung. 

His voices reverberates endlessly, though he was so exhausted that he couldn't form any words. 

From that day on, he sold his soul to a demon. Well, it probably wasn't The Devil, because selling your actual soul would mean certain death. (*T.N: no clue about this: 悪魔でないのは、おそらく魂を売れば死は確実だからだろう。)

All monsters that come to attack him are annihilated, monsters wandering around on guard are indiscriminately killed, and even monsters that run away get merrily slaughtered. 

He became an Oni in order to protect his chast.i.ty. 

After all, this is a world where might makes right, and the weak have no right to complain. 

Naturally, no rights to take one's chast.i.ty.

It's really quiet when he wakes up…

―――Kyin! Kankan!

"f.u.c.k, Where did they come in from!?"

"No clue! But this is good, you can mince a lot of them with these numbers!"

"Kyaahh!!!"

"Ness got caught!! Captain!"

"Kuh, Zweit-sama, Celestinsama, support…"

" 『Fireball』！！"

―――Dogooonnn!

Well, actually, there was a big commotion outside.

When Zeros exits the tent, rubbing his eyes, a knight in front of him gets blown away.

"………."

Were the timing a bit off, that could've been Zeros. 

It was actually quite dangerous.

*** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ ***

In the morning of the final day of Far-flung forest's training excursion, they were attacked by plant-type monsters. 

*** You are reading on https://www.novelhall.com/ ***