Chapter 1035 – Those Who Try to Break Through and Those Who Try to Block

000

After hearing her scream for about a minute, Cleon pulled her out of the swamp of bugs overflowing with poison, and Galatea’s blade was stained sticky with a purple liquid. 〉

If you think that they are all poison spit out by the bugs that make up the swamp, you shouldn’t touch them with your bare hands, even by mistake.

[Ugh… It stings… I feel bad…]

Fortunately, the liquid only adhered to the surface, and when Cleon swung Galatea with the same skill as he used to shake off the blood on her blade, her poison just scattered to the ground.

Chii Iik…

“…”

And even if the poison that fell like that was the ground, it wasn’t made by piled up dirt, but I broke into a cold sweat when I saw the rocky area discolored black and a pock-like hole was created there.

“Over there…”

And, with Cleon by her side, Yuni carefully raised her voice again.

“As expected, it may be dangerous to go to the top after passing through this cliff like this. If you are going to Jade Dragon Mountain to join her colleagues, why not turn around a little?”

“Turn around?”

At Uni’s words, Cleon will look back at her.

“Yes. As I said before, there are several routes to Jade Dragon Mountain. The road from Chukryong Mountain, where we are, to Jade Dragon Mountain is definitely faster if you pass through this peak and move on to the next mountain… But it is complicated and requires movement. Even though the distance is long, it is a safer route than crossing the embankment.”

Uni seemed to be worried that Cleon would get hurt by her loyalty.

Cleon will think for a while after hearing that story.

Certainly, poison is not just the type of ‘acidic liquid’ that melts flesh and pierces bones.

Rather, the type that enters the body and hardens the blood or rots the organs can be said to be more dangerous.

‘Going back…’

Considering safety, you can definitely consider it as an option.

But…

“No. I’ll go over the peak like this and go to the top.”

Cleon shook his head at Uni’s suggestion and grabbed Galatea with both hands.

“Chu, you’ve seen how dangerous Chungso is!? Are you still going to let this go?”

“If you’re thinking about safety, the right answer would be to avoid these guys… But since I’m also an adventurer, I don’t want to avoid a game where I have a chance of winning.”

Of course, Cleon’s desire to win is probably the greatest, but crossing this swamp is the way to join his colleagues more quickly.

Cleon, having made up his mind, speaks in his usual relaxed manner.

“Stay back because it’s dangerous, Uni. We’ll defeat these guys and walk confidently to the top.”

“Oh, I understand! But please don’t overdo it!”

At Cleon’s words, Uni also stands in the space where the distance is widened.

[So? Have you decided what to do? It would be most effective to use fire magic against insect colonies, but…]

[It is impossible for the current Cleon to draw magical power from a connection through engraving~]

The magic that Cleon can use now is ‘Mana Shock’, which can be said to be effective only in interpersonal combat, especially against wizards, and the types of magic derived from it.

And, a curtain of darkness that can hide the presence of one’s body.

“If I had known it would be like this, I would have developed more magic…”

[It’s too late now~ And even if Cleon develops magic, he won’t be like Lila, right?]

[A magic swordsman is not a job that uses magic and a sword, but a job that uses a magic sword~]

Now, when not only Galatea but also Caliburn made fun of him, Cleon sighed deeply and jumped straight towards the toxin.

Galatea’s blade is coated with magic, and a flash strikes from top to bottom, drawing a black trail.

Suddenly! If you hear the sound, Galatea will have succeeded in cutting the swamp cleanly as Cleon wanted.

The feeling of cutting something was clearly felt in Cleon’s hands, and at the end of his fixed gaze, he could see the black swamp split, reminiscent of the legend of a prophet splitting the sea. 〈 Br〉

But.

And that was just a brief moment, the moment the sword was struck.

As if trying to fill the gap, the insects gathered again before Cleon’s eyes.

It doesn’t stop there, and due to the pressure created by the insects gathering together, I feel a force that makes it difficult to pull out Galatea.

By pouring Manashock onto the sword blade, it was possible to paralyze the insects that were stuck on it and make them fall back to the ground, but in the meantime, the cracked part had already been filled.

The good news was that they did not move to a location that would escape the ‘swamp’ they had created.

As if the original location was their correct location, they did not show much interest in the other party who did not want to go beyond the swamp.

[As expected, attacks in the form of ‘lines’ are less effective against colony-type enemies.]

“Yes, as long as you don’t attack to cover the face.”

Cleon agrees with Galatea’s words, but this time he widens the distance a little and looks at the entire swamp.

In fact, in Yuni’s words, this was called a ‘swamp’, but it was safe to think of this area as a ‘lake’ with a mountain-like hill in the middle, which was impossible to jump over with human dexterity.

If only I could break through even one side of a huge swarm of insects that wide.

Amplifies the amount of magical energy flowing to Galatea.

Even in this land where it was difficult to use magical power, he felt as if he could ignore those limitations to some extent when it came to Galatea, who was no different from his own body.

And—

A horizontal cut made by swinging a sword filled with magical power to the limit.

At the same time, black magical energy burst out and flew along the trajectory towards the group of insects in front.

A simple technique of enclosing magical power, feeding it, compressing it, and then releasing it with a slash.

Among Cleon’s cards, it was an attack method that could cover as wide a surface as possible without using magic.

Jiing!

It sounded a bit strange to say it was a slash.

This is because a heated, crescent-shaped plasma created using magic split the air.

In the same way as when using a broom to push away dust.

The high-temperature magic was covering the purple-black swamp in front of me from above and pushing it forward.

[Look, Cleon!]

I could tell what Galatea had asked me to see even without asking.

All that remains where the magic blade passes is the remains of insects.

The gap that had been created by the blade directly struck a moment ago was once again created, this time widening to the left and right.

As soon as Cleon saw it, he immediately put his foot forward.

His body leaps forward immediately after stepping on the ground.

Since the slash was not held in place, it will soon move to fill that spot.

Cleon runs and breaks through the swamp faster than the recovery speed.

Because Cleon himself knew that, he did not stop his steps.

Like this, towards a place that can be called the summit, constantly moving forward—

Piyung

“!”

While running inside the swamp territory, Cleon quickly swung Galatea upward.

Because I heard a sound like an arrow splitting the air.

Then.

Empty! I saw an arrow of light hitting Galatea’s sword and bouncing off.

“Tsk…!”

Just one shot.

After only deflecting a single arrow that fell from the sky, Cleon’s body stumbled, and his arms lost strength.

I don’t know if it was the weight of the arrow or the skill of the person who shot it, but it was inevitable that my body would slow down.

However, it was successful in blocking it.

If it had been lodged in the body, it would have definitely been a fatal wound.

If there is a problem-

[Cleon! Watch your step!]

Cleon saw a group of poisonous insects flocking to his feet.

I only stopped for a moment, but the way forward and the way back were blocked.

[Uh, what should I do…]

With Cleon’s unstrengthened legs, he cannot escape this swamp of poisonous insects.

If things continue like this, it wouldn’t be strange if poisonous insects swarmed from both sides, front and back, melting from under your feet.

At that time.

“Cleon!”

An urgent voice coming from behind.

When I reflexively turned around, I could see Yuni extending her hand towards me.

Yuni was extending her hand towards herself from a position that would not put her on the edge of the swamp territory.

If I want to get out of this place, I have no choice but to get her help.

Thinking so, Cleon followed her instinct and jumped with all her might in the direction where Uni was, stretching out her hand towards her –

Thump!

Cleon is grabbed by her hand with a strong grip.

At the same time.

“Yeah!”

The same roar as before erupted, and Cleon’s body once again fell apart.

“Wow!?”

I rose to a height where it wouldn’t be strange even if a scream came out of my mouth-

Boom!

Making a sound, Cleon said earlier.

She fell head first in the same position she was in before jumping into the swamp.

“Ugh…!”

Intense pain runs through Cleon’s arms and back.

He somehow succeeded in protecting his head with his arms right before the collision.

“Cleon! I’m sorry, are you okay?”

And Yuni, who was running toward her, looked at Cleon, whom she had blown away, and bent down to look over as if she was worried.

“Gwae, it’s okay… I was thrown to the ground… But I’m getting used to it now…”

[How can I get used to being thrown to the ground…]

Galatea lightly criticized Cleon’s words.

However, she soon confirmed that she was safe and had not been bitten by any bugs, and she too was heartbroken.

Anyway, she managed to get her sore body back on her feet and leave the swamp.

To be exact, Cleon looking across the swamp.

“What on earth was that arrow just now…?”

An arrow of magic flew in, aiming precisely for this ‘head’.

Considering that it flew in a parabola, it must have been a ‘curve’, but it struck Cleon’s body much more heavily than a ‘direct shot’ of a normal arrow.

“The gun I just shot… I think it’s probably the ‘Guardian’s’ arrow.”

“Guardian…?”

When Yuni herself said that she was not sure, Cleon reacted to her words.

“Yes. They exist in caves that can go underground in each mountain of the Four Dragon Mountains. The reason I told you that caves are dangerous is because of the guardians…”

Yuni was talking about the guardian of Mt. Chukryong that she knew.

It is said that the guardian usually stays in a cave located halfway up Chukyongsan Mountain, and does not go outside and only prevents anyone from walking into the cave.

He was holding a mechanical bow and shooting arrows of shining magic to stop those who entered the cave.

“… I wasn’t trying to go into the cave?”

“Yes… I was just guessing based on the characteristics of the arrow. Furthermore, I jumped over the arrow several times, but this didn’t happen that time.”

Cleon fell silent for a moment at Yuni’s words.

And then he suddenly realized something that was a bit shocking, so he raised his head and spoke to Yuni.

“… Wait a minute, so that arrow just now… Flew towards here from the cave in the middle of the hill you mentioned?”

“Huh? … Ah, is that really going to happen?”

In response to Cleon’s question, Uni also scratched her cheek.

If you think about it with common sense, it makes no sense.

It’s understandable if you’re shooting downwards near the top of a mountain, in the middle of a hill, or in a terrain called a cave, but how can you ignore the general trajectory of an arrow and shoot it upwards?

─ But.

Probably, guardians are also one of the systems created by beings of the original world.

Considering that, he thought that a shot that overturned his common sense was not impossible.

“Ha… Seeing what has already happened, I can’t help but doubt it. The problem is… Something that didn’t happen to you, Uni, happened to me.”

Uni nodded at Cleon’s words and looked in the direction where the arrow had come from just a moment ago.

“First… The difference between me and Yuni…”

“There are too many of you, right? Humans and demons… Men and women… Beings that are not inhabitants of the mountain, inhabitants of the mountain…”

When Uni explained Cleon’s words by stretching out his fingers one by one, Cleon put his hand on his head as if his head was in pain.

“… It would be too difficult to find one of these. It’s not like it can be easily turned over.”

“… That’s right. Let’s think about it a little simply. Yuni, have you ever seen a guardian in person?”

When Cleon asks that question, Uni nods her head.

“Yes. A few times, to save demonic beasts that had accidentally entered the cave where the guardian was… I guarded the huge door inside the cave and just kept shooting arrows in this direction without saying anything.”

At her words, Cleon nodded his head once.

“Then, have you never seen an arrow fly out of a cave like this one…”

“Ah.”

When Cleon said that, Yuni let out an exclamation from her mouth as if those words reminded her of something.

And, she is speaking to Cleon.

“… There is. Since it wasn’t aimed at us directly, I’m a little doubtful whether it will be of use…”

As Yuni says so, she explains to Cleon what happened before.

In order to survive in this harsh environment, it was necessary to somehow store food.

Whether it’s mushrooms, fruits, or birds, including bugs.

This would not apply to Uni, who is basically a herbivore, but for carnivores, there was a natural need to hunt fellow beasts and weak animals.

Therefore, periodically, the carnivorous beasts temporarily leave Yuni’s group and hunt beasts in the mountains to satisfy their hunger.

There are times when demon beasts who get excited from hunting for the first time in a long time and get drunk, or who have weakened their rationality due to starvation for a long time, target prey ‘more than necessary’ without even realizing it.

In other words, if done incorrectly, a situation may arise that could collapse the mountain’s loose but weak food chain and ecosystem.

It is said that when that time comes, an arrow of magic flies and lands at their feet, as if to awaken their reason.

When they see the arrow, the fact that they too were ‘prey’ suddenly comes back to them in their minds, so they stop hunting and come back.

This is not just a story limited to meat-eating beasts.

Vegetarian beasts also experienced similar things when they picked too much fruit or drank too much grass.

“—Something like this happened… Is there something to do with it?”

“… I think I understand. In other words, it’s a ‘warning’ to those who take lives and destroy the environment of this land.”

When Cleon said that, Yuni blinked.

“I thought the guardian was a being who only protected the ruins…”

“A guardian in many senses. … Above all, if the environment of this land collapses, the number of people coming to the ruins will increase. If you think of it as an action to prevent that, it is not so contradictory.”

After expressing his guess, Cleon stood up from his seat.

“Then maybe this is why he shot me with an arrow.”

Then, he took his stance once again and sent magical energy to Galatea.

In a situation where the blade is stained black.

Once again, ‘Ilseom’.

Jiing!

Just like before, magic power in the form of plasma flies and covers the swamp, and if the bugs on the surface are cut off, a path will be created in the swamp.

However, Cleon did not run forward this time.

And after a while.

Piyung!

Likewise, the sound of cutting through the air was heard, so Cleon swung his sword on the spot.

Kaang!

This time, I had expected it, so I swung my sword at the right time to minimize the impact on my arm, but it was still a heavy blow.

… This time, he was aiming precisely at his own head.

“Another arrow…”

“Yes. The condition for him to shoot an arrow is when I kill the bugs in this swamp. … Since there are so many of them, I thought it would be okay if they disappeared. It seems he can’t forgive that either.”

“Ugh…”

Uni groaned as if Cleon’s words were unreasonable.

“Then… What should I do?”

“… I don’t know. I can’t get past these bugs unless I do something about them. If I try to do anything with them, they’ll attack… But even if I go to take down the guardian, I think I’ll need to be prepared…”

As Cleon thought so, he once again imbued Galatea’s sword with his magic.

Just like before, a flash of magic was fired.

Burning bugs.

A swamp of poison opens up.

And the arrow flies again.

Cut it out, and the swamp in between is filled.

“…”

Once again.

And the situation repeats itself.

Jiing!

Piyung!

Kaang!

Jiing!

Piyung!

Kaang!

“Huh, Cleon?! What are you doing!?”

“No, if I keep repeating this, I think eventually the bugs in the swamp will decrease and there will be a way to pass through…”

Silence.

“Yes…?”

[Wow, are you serious?]

[They say simple is best, but…]

And then the three people’s indescribable reaction came back.

“… That’s too much. Are you serious even after looking at me like this?”

And, the moment when Cleon tried to swing the sword again.

Piyung!

This time, the sound of cutting through the air was heard first.

And, as the arrow collided with the magic power that was trying to come out of Cleon’s sword, both sides were canceled out.

“…”

Cleon will look a little surprised, and Uni will look very surprised.

Because.

This is because an illusion in the shape of something vague appeared above the swamp.

It clearly had a human shape, but it had a tail growing from behind its waist and ears that appeared to resemble those of a wolf growing on top of its head.

He was wearing pure white armor and had visor-like equipment on his face that covered his eyes.

At the same time, long white hair similar to Uni’s was falling down.

Just as Yuni said, he was holding a white mechanical bow in his hand.

[…

“That’s…”

“Yes, it’s a guardian…! Did it come out of the cave?!”

“No, this is a welcome. It seems like only a welcome was sent towards this place from its original location.”

Cleon responded to Uni’s words like that, took her stance again, and confronted her.

Because it was an illusion, it was difficult to tell how different it was from the original… But it felt like he was a head shorter than Cleon.

[You… You never get tired of swinging your sword at my poisonous insects.]

Surprisingly, the woman who raised her voice in this direction was looking in this direction through her visor and putting her dissatisfaction into her mouth.

“I’m sorry, but I also have a reason to quickly go to Jade Dragon Mountain. If these guys don’t block my way, I have no reason to cut them down.”

Cleon also opened her mouth to communicate with her as if it were her natural choice.

[The mountains of the Four Dragon Mountains are connected in terms of topography. That traffic was originally not permitted to you, outsiders. You and your colleagues. There will be no way to reach Jade Dragon Mountain.]

“… Let’s see if that happens.”

However, in response to her answer as if there was no room for negotiation, Cleon took a deep breath and resumed his stance.

[No. It will definitely happen. Because I have confirmed that your will not be broken by a warning.]

However, as the ‘Guardian’ said that, he put his hand towards the visor of his face.

And then, when a clanking sound was heard, the visor covering her face fell off.

Her bare face was revealed.

Then, when Cleon saw her true appearance, he couldn’t help but look so surprised that the sword she was holding faltered.

[From here on, I will stop you with all my might.]

The guardian, with his calm voice burning his fighting spirit, was quietly looking at Cleon.

What shines underneath are ‘golden eyes’.

And, what floated above it.

“Hunter’s imprint…!? That face is-“

Although he is kinder than anyone he knows.

A girl who is very scared, but has the courage to overcome that fear.

The child whom Cleon wrapped with her body and saved from the curse.

She has her face just like hers. She talks.

[This Guardian-S’s pledge. I will hunt you down.]