Chapter 226 – The Wizard and the Swamp Monster

Talisman resurrected dead creatures. He did not vaguely revive them by turning them into undead, but revived them as they were when they were alive. When I found out about the efficacy of that bright red stone, my mouth was watering.

‘Even if I just bring it in and sell it, I’ll be able to eat and live for the rest of my life.’

But at this moment, what I was coveting was not money.

Pure curiosity as a wizard.
How does the treasure called Talisman work? If I research, will I be able to create the same treasure? That kind of curiosity made me restless.

‘Even if you eat that and jump out, no one will say anything, right? If it’s a human, not a monster.’

You shouldn’t misunderstand that we had a friendly conversation. What was in front of my eyes was a man-eating monster that preyed on beasts. A legendary Witchbeast who once worked for the Demon King’s Army in the distant past. Seeing that human sacrifice was taken for granted, it was clear that his personality was rotten.

Talisman is a treasure that delivers life force to Grendel.
Because without that, Grendel’s body would disintegrate. Stealing the talisman could do a lot of damage to Grendel.

‘Yes, let’s steal it!’

It was a somewhat impulsive thought, but I quickly made up my mind. While talking with Grendel, I looked for an opportunity to steal Talisman.

Mr. Baldur!
Allow me to be a righteous thief tonight!

“You mean your body will collapse without that treasure?
[Yes. Albert said that I must not let Talisman off my body even for a moment. He said that now this stone plays the same role as my heart.]
“Is it like carrying the heart directly? You must have suffered a lot.”

Grendel clenched his fist with his large palm to hide Talisman. She doesn’t have any clothes on, and since she’s almost naked, she seems to be carrying it with her hands.

It can be said that the difficulty of pickpocketing is quite high. If you’re carrying it in your pocket, you might sneak a peek at it without looking. To steal that talisman, you have to make contact with Grendel’s body unconditionally. It’s obvious that stealing is immediately discovered.

Preparation was needed.
Before revealing my true colors, I decided to do preliminary work. It is to store the impact energy in the wand in order to cast the [Space Leap] Spell.

“Oh, excuse me for a minute.”
[Well?]

I raised my staff and hit everything I saw around me. Finally, there was a big tree growing around me, probably because it was a forest. He hit the tree with his cane like an axe.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

[What are you doing suddenly and loudly? I should have told you that I am sensitive to noise.]

Grendel frowned at the tree-chopping that had started abruptly. Continuing to wield my staff, I opened my mouth.

“It’s because your hands suddenly itchy. Do you sometimes get the urge to destroy something? I bet you also have the urge to eat people. It’s similar to cannibalism. If I don’t fill my quota today, I can’t sleep because I’m sore. “
[… Is it the urge for violence?]

It was an impromptu setting, but in order to gather shock energy, there is no choice but to act like a madman! At this moment, I decided to become a madman who uses violence for entertainment. In fact, deep down I love non-violence and praise Mahatma Gandhi, but I have to become a monster to fool the monster!

[As expected of my compatriots, you are living a life captivated by impulses. I like the fact that you are honest about your own desires.]

It was a sudden acceleration without context, but was it because he was faithful to his acting? Grendel let me hit the tree. In real time, the wand was filled with impact energy to cast a spell.

[The time I spent talking with you was quite beneficial. I’ll just step back.]
“From now on… Hehe! Where are you planning to go? Are you going to recklessly massacre beastmen like you did in the past?”
[I plan to fill my stomach and join Albert. Albert asked me to become his subordinate in return for saving his life. He asked me to deal with things that threaten him instead.]

Are you planning to join Albert?
It was a monster that should not be left alone. If you add Grendel’s power to an alchemist, it’s like putting wings on a tiger. It would be better to get rid of one of them before they stick together. If you are going to be a villain, you have to step on the cotyledon first!

[I hope to see you again someday, Luke.]

Grendel left his greetings and turned to leave. The moment he took a step, the staff finally finished charging. Because he swung his cane enough to make his hand tingle. [Space Leap] I gathered enough shock energy to use the spell eight times.

“Wait! Stop!”
[Why are you calling me?]

Grendel turned to me. Talisman was still in her left hand clenched into a fist. There is only one chance to steal the treasure by taking advantage of the carelessness.

“The beastmen are coming! Armed beastmen are coming to get you!”
[Hmm? The prisoners are nowhere to be seen.]

Grendel looked around, but there was no way the beastmen could be seen. Because he just hit the ball to draw attention in a hurry. However, my facial expression and voice contained the force that made even the beasts that were not there seem to exist.

“Look at the sky! My God! Beasts are flying around!”
[What?!]
“It’s a flying beast!! They’re approaching from the air!!”

I can’t hear the sound of flapping wings. In the dark forest, only grass bugs chirped. There was nothing to be seen in the night sky, such as the shape of something flying. But I looked up at the sky with a frightened expression on my face.

“Is that true? A Flying Beast?”

Overwhelming facial expression that attracts the attention of the audience.
A voice full of fear, as if being chased by a monster.

“Um…!”

The first to respond was Wendy, who was squatting while imitating a dog. She was the moment Wendy lifted her head and looked up at the sky. Grendel’s stiff neck muscles began to move slowly.

[… Really? I can’t see anything in my eyes?]

Is this what the situation of knowing and being deceived means?
Grendel lifted her head and looked up at the night sky with her yellow eyes. His pupils could only see the now empty landscape of the sky.

Exactly 1 second!

I was completely out of sight of Grendel. Grendel’s left hand holding the talisman was defenselessly exposed. Time passed slowly, as if feeling a kaleidoscope.
Everyone except me was looking up at the sky.

[As expected, didn’t you see something wrong… ?]
“Luke?”

In that fleeting moment, I uttered an incantation.

“Thurisaz-.”

As I recited the starting language of [Space Leap], A wormhole created by magical energy absorbed my body. The moment I came out through the other side of the wormhole, the scenery reflected in my eyes changed. I appeared from the side of Grendel, who was raising her head.

“Hagalaz-!”
[Keuuuuu?!]

He struck Grendel’s wrist with a staff filled with cold elements. The ice that began to cover his wrists tried to swallow Grendel’s body in an instant. It would be great if I could make a one-com with this, but like a legendary monster, it was impossible to defeat it in one blow.

Black mana gushed out of Grendel’s body as if he had touched a beehive. The black mana swallowed the ice that covered her body in reverse. The surprise attack with [Quick Freeze] Was blocked. But it was enough to break Grendel’s composure.

The surprise that I, whom I believed to be my countryman, was struck with betrayal.
Body freezing pain.

[Hiahhhhh!

Grendel’s left hand, which was clenched in his fist, loosened. I snatched up the Talisman that had fallen down. The stone, like the heart of a monster, was now in my hand.

Grendel glared at me with her magical eyes.
He didn’t tremble at all and opened his mouth with a grave expression.

“This talisman is mine now.”
[Bastard-!!]
“I can do whatever I want.”

It was the moment when he finally revealed his true colors.
Enraged, Grendel swung a fist wrapped in mana at me. The strong wind pressure made his hair flutter before he even touched it. When Grendel’s fist was right in front of his nose, I quickly recited an incantation.

“Thurisaz.”

Flashing ON!

My body, sucked into the wormhole, appeared right next to Wendy, who was squatting. Losing his target, Grendel’s fist flew through the air. Of course, Grendel couldn’t be said to be a martial artist who only fought purely physically.

Unlike the unmanned people who are identical to the land dogs, that monster knows how to jump through space. He was a chosen monster who knew how to blink like me!

[You bastard-!! Were you coveting Talisman!]
“I told you it’s a treasure that brings the dead back to life! If you’re like me, you wouldn’t be able to turn your eyes away, would you? It’s a lie to say you’re a compatriot! It’s unacceptable to treat a monster like you as one’s kin!”
[Then, did you say that the women in the wagon were sacrificed?! Is that a lie too?]
“Of course it’s a lie! Who would laugh and chat with a sacrifice, you fool!”
[That he was not a compatriot… !]

Realizing the truth, Grendel was shocked for a moment.
[I will kill you-!!]

Soon, Grendel’s body sank into the ground. It is a premonition that can be found when it jumps through space. Soon, Grendel will appear nearby and try to turn me into a clot of blood.
However, because there was a bar designed in advance, it did not run away.
I hugged Wendy and bowed her head on the spot.

“Get her down! Mr. Wendy!”
“Yes Yes!”

Wendy hurriedly lowered her head like me, pressing her as close to the ground as she could.

Seruk! Grendel’s body, which had disappeared, jumped right in front of us. Grendel, who had burst through his ground, was about to pounce on us at any moment.

I was aiming for this situation.
Before Grendel appeared around Wendy, she had set [Spark traps]. She placed ten layers of magic traps that emitted lightning. The reason I purposely approached Wendy was to get him to step on the [Spark Trap].

[Ugh, ugh!]

The moment Grendel stepped on the ground, 10 [Spark Traps] Sensed the heavy weight. A throbbing electric shock erupted from under Grendel’s feet.

“Burn to death!! Liquid monster!!”

It was like a scene where lightning was emitted backwards from the ground to the sky! Grendel, swept away by the electric shock that burned her flesh, made her body tremble on the spot.

[Kuaaaaah-!!!

The brain flowed into the ground, and we could have been electrocuted.
Fortunately, before it was too late, we protected our bodies from brain damage by surrounding the barrier.

She lifted her head slightly and looked ahead.
At that moment, I witnessed an unbelievable sight.

[Off-!!!]

Grendel gritted his teeth and held on to the electric shock that erupted from her.