## Chapter 555 – The Little Match Girl

“Katt-nim. Just a moment.”

It was during our search.

“I sense something.”
“Ooh, as expected of Hildegard. Where is it?”

Having a radar really makes things extremely convenient. Suppressing my bursting joy, I immediately hid behind a tree with Hilde.

“No, it doesn’t seem to be nearby, so there’s no need to hide.”
“Really?”

Clutching my pounding heart, I asked her to guide me.

Is this finally the moment I meet that Sasquatch bastard?

It was a monster I’d never seen before, but no lie, I was incredibly excited.

After being so elusive, I’ve finally found that son of a bitch. It feels like things are finally progressing. Actually, I had been diligently searching for monster traces here and there on the way, but it wasn’t very effective, so I was getting impatient.

I want to catch him right now, kill him, and rip out his heart. Risha is looking forward to it, and I’ve been feeling un-easy because I haven’t been able to get it for her.

Karin also told me to bring back a head as a souvenir.

It’s a monster with a lot of uses anyway. I’ll skin it and make some money for the first time in a while.

“Hehehe. Let’s go quickly.”

Thinking about it made me laugh involuntarily.
Hildegard really is a lucky bluebird.

“Katt-nim, it’s too early to be happy. It might not be the Sasquatch or an occultist you’re aiming for, but another demon. I can only sense the energy, so I can’t tell who it is.”
“As long as I’ve found something similar to a demon, it doesn’t matter.”

If it’s a demon, I can torture it for information. In my experience, demons haven’t been able to withstand my torture.

“Then let’s go.”

I followed Hildegard, keeping my footsteps as quiet as possible.

—Floating.

Come to think of it, this one was floating in the air without flapping its wings, so it seemed to be moving with magical power. It’s a really incomprehensible principle.

Is it flying with magic?

“Hmm, it seems like it’s moving. A slow speed… Could it be a human walking?”
“If it’s a human, it’s even easier.”

If it’s a real occultist, that’s great.

Beating him to a pulp and taking him into custody is as good as completing the mission.

But thinking about it, it seems difficult to drag an occultist around in a city where paladins exist. They’ll try to kill him as soon as they see him… Well, let’s think about that then.

Hildegard’s demon detection sensor had a pretty wide radius, so it took quite a while to get to the destination.

“Katt-nim. It seems to be near here. But I don’t sense any more movement.”
“…”

That means it’s currently stationary.

Immediately hiding and lowering my posture, I glanced around. Could it be that it noticed our pursuit and is hiding?

If it has that good of a sense, it could be tricky.

Since Hildegard sensed demonic power, it was clear that it was at least a being with such powerful power. I carefully drew the life-saving sword, Hwalin-geom, and prepared for battle.

Whatever it is, I have nothing to worry about as long as I have a sword in my hand.

I’m just being cautious and careful.

“Hey, Hilde, is it moving now?”
“I don’t know for sure… but it still doesn’t seem to be moving.”
“Direction?”
“Over there.”

Then let’s move slowly.

“Follow me while guarding the surroundings. If you see anything like a person, transform into a human right away. Can you do that?”
“Ohoho, that’s easy. I’m not a succubus for nothing.”

Whatever the identity of that thing in front of us, it must be killed since it’s using demonic power.

Anyone in a place like this in such cold weather can’t be normal.

If someone who isn’t normal has demonic power, that says it all.

It would be nice to capture it alive, but if you fight while `thinking` about `capturing` it alive, your combat power decreases. You fight with the determination to kill, and if the opportunity arises, you subdue it. There’s no need to aim to save it from the beginning.

I can just write in the report that I found it while searching diligently today.

—…

With my sword drawn, I walked very slowly towards the direction Hildegard pointed out. She also moved behind me, matching my speed.

While walking, I focused intensely and scanned the surroundings.

It’s a mountain, so there are a lot of trees.

All the leaves have fallen, but the lush branches are covered in white snow, so they look quite full. The terrain is also uneven, so there seem to be many places to hide.

In this kind of terrain, it wouldn’t be strange if it suddenly jumped out from somewhere.

I’m just moving forward slowly, taking in everything around me and preparing for battle.

According to the document I received from the Saintess, Sasquatch was a monster that simply fought with strength, agility derived from that strength, and a tough body. Let’s conclude that it’s a little stronger than a troll and engage in battle.

There’s no need to be intimidated at all, even if it appears.

But it would be easier if it were an occultist.

—Halt.

As I walked, I noticed something white huddled in the distance. Anyone who isn’t blind could tell at a glance.

That thing isn’t human.

If that’s a human, something is wrong with the world.

“…Katt-nim.”
“I’m watching.”

—…

Covered in white fur, it was huddled still, without showing any movement. White fur… and a considerable size.

It seemed that was the Sasquatch.

Should I go and attack first?
Should I immediately imbue my sword with sword energy and stab it?

I don’t know for sure, but it was here first.

It’s said to have low intelligence, but it’s not completely absent.

It might have prepared something or set a trap. Since I haven’t read about its detailed habits, I refrained from rash actions.

“…”

Even if I throw a Bijuk Yuseongtan, it probably won’t do much damage because of its fur… And it might run away.

Let’s just go for killing it.

With that in mind, I thoroughly checked the ground, left, right, and above, and slowly approached it again. There were no other enemies within my sight and senses.

—Creak?!

That’s when it suddenly raised its body and turned to look at me.

“Katt-nim!”
“Alright, you son of a bitch!!!”

Sasquatch.

With a pitch-black face like a demon from hell, it stood up abruptly and glared at me for a moment. —Glared at me for just a moment, literally.

—Kuwahhhhhhhh!!!!!

Suddenly, it let out a roar and, after taking a running start, began to charge at me like crazy.

—Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Using its long arms and relatively short legs, it charged on all fours like an angry gorilla. It was extremely threatening, with a truly murderous aura!

“This bastard! It’s fast!”

And above all, if I get hit by that fucking horn on its head, that’s the day Kim Katt dies!

“Hilde! Dodge and stay alert!”
“Yes, yes! I understand!”

Immediately giving the order, I took a stance.

—Thump, thump, thump, thump!
—Kuoohhhhhhhhh!!!!

Its arms were long, but shorter than a troll’s, and although its back was slightly hunched, it was bigger than a troll. It was over 2.3 meters tall and had thick shoulders. Sasquatch literally launched a physical charge based on its confidence in its physical specifications.

The muscles packed inside that bulk were truly powerful.

“But.”

It wasn’t a speed I couldn’t keep up with.

I kept my sword pointed at it, being careful that it didn’t suddenly increase its speed or show unexpected agility.

—Kuwoooooooo!!!!

Tapseol Yuhyun (踏雪有痕). [Footprints in the Snow]

It charged, scattering snow in all directions like a clumsy fool who doesn’t even know the basics of footwork.

While gauging its arm length and speed, I kicked off the ground.

—Kwaang!

As the condensed mana exploded and was consumed, hot energy burst from both legs. With the strengthened leg strength, I took a single step and shot my body out like a cannonball.

—Hwaaak!!

Crossing the space at a fierce speed. Feeling the now familiar resistance of the air, I thrust the extremely trained thrust, Siljang Thrust, towards Sasquatch’s chest!

“Siljang Thrust Dejaaaahhhhh!!!!!”
—Kuuoooohhhhhhhh!!!!

Its arms were long.

But not as long as a troll’s, and shorter than the combined length of my arm and the blade of Hwalin-geom. The most important thing in a one-on-one battle is distance and reach.

Remembering that, I unleashed sword energy from the blade at the most critical moment.

—Puhwak!

“Kururuk?!?!”

The extreme thrust combined with the speed of the body being shot out. And with the inhuman combination of sword energy, my sword deeply penetrated Sasquatch’s chest. —Cool-huk! At the same time, it spat out blood.

Just as I was about to pull out the sword and strike its head,

“No, shit!!”

—Ku, Kuooo!!!

Suddenly, it roared and retracted its outstretched arms to grab my head. What the fuck, it’s moving like that even with its chest pierced? It’s an amazing amount of mental strength.

But since I assumed its combat power was higher than a troll’s and fought, it wasn’t an unexpected situation.

—Whirik!

With the sword still stuck in its chest, I immediately let go of the handle and dodged the attack by lowering my posture and flying sideways. —Hwaak! Then its large palm tore through the air.

“You— son of a bitch!!!”

There’s no time to rest. As soon as my feet touched the ground, I drew my dagger and jumped towards Sasquatch’s broad back, which was bent over.

It was an easy series of movements.

I clung to its back as if I were piggybacking on it.

“Die!!!”

As soon as I got on, I infused the dagger with sword energy and began a frenzied flurry of stabs. Its neck was attached to its shoulders, so I didn’t know where the carotid artery was, so I stabbed randomly, trying to cut off the blood vessels.

—Kuok?!?! Kuoooook!!!!

As Sasquatch writhed in agony from the neck being slashed, it suddenly seemed to try to lie down, shifting its center of gravity backwards.

“Mother, you son of a bitch!!!”

It’s showing this much struggle even with a sword in its chest and its neck mangled!

This was, to put it simply, a very strong monster.

Anyway, I pulled my body away at the same time as it tried to lie down on the ground. This bastard has good durability, but it didn’t seem to be able to move nimbly due to the repeated damage.

“Ku, Kuooo! Kuuuuuk…! Kuuh-erk!”

Sasquatch, who had shaken me off, staggered and stood up again. It grabbed the sword stuck in its chest and tried to pull it out, as if it were in great pain. Of course, there’s no way I’d give it time to recover.

Now is the time for extreme damage.

—Gather mana.

“Cheonma Gunrimbo.” [Demonic Heavenly Host Footwork]

—Kwaang!

Once again, I kicked off the ground and flew towards its face, and at the same time,

“Cheonma Pacheonjang.” [Demonic Heavenly Destruction Palm]

I used Cheonma Pacheonjang with imbued fist energy to punch its face with all my might.

—Bbak!

Sasquatch’s body, which had been hit in the face with a direct fist strike, fell backwards. It was literally like a piledriver.

“Ku, Kuuh-uh-uh-erk!!”

In that state, I stepped on its chest, pulled out the deeply embedded Hwalin-geom, and struck down on its neck.

“Ku… Kurororok…! Kul…!”
“Truly an amazing life force, Sasquatch.”

Sasquatch spewed blood foam and glared at me. Its vitality is amazing. Looking at it, I felt somewhat inhuman, so I frantically rummaged through its neck.

I had to find the vital point.

—…

As I cut its neck halfway open, its breath was completely cut off.

No, but what the fuck, why is this bastard so strong?

“Hoo. Hey, Hilde, come out now.”

I called Hilde and pulled out my sword. It was a bastard whose physical specifications were more excessively outstanding than I thought. It moves powerfully even with a sword piercing its chest and its neck mangled.

Was it so tough because it was a Sasquatch that received the power of a demon?

Certainly, if I had been hit by its attack even once, I would have been sent flying far away. This bastard’s muscles were literally insane.

Of course, it wasn’t a match for me, who had gone through an extreme training process.

With this, I’ve roughly grasped its muscle structure, movements, and combat power level. There will be no problem if I catch it next time.

Let’s just put in the extreme damage from the start and see how it goes.

“Katt-nim! You’re so cool! It was an amazing move! Katt-nim is the best!”
“Hey, hey. Don’t get close.”

Hildegard, who had been hiding somewhere, flew over and hugged me in an instant. Pushing her away, I pointed to Sasquatch’s corpse.

“Did this bastard really receive the power of a demon?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. Just a moment.”

Hildegard, who had moved away from me, looked around Sasquatch’s corpse.

“Oh my, this guy.”
“Do you sense something?”
“Hmm… Just a moment.”

She examined the corpse, touching its arms and looking for something.

“What are you looking for?”
“Yes. Katt-nim. Could you turn this corpse over?”
“It’s easy.”

I immediately grabbed its side and pulled up my strength to turn the large corpse over. It didn’t feel particularly heavy.

“Wow, Katt-nim, you seem really strong.”
“Hehehe, well, of course.”
“Ohoho, you’re so cool… Ah, I found it.”

Hilde, who was laughing, pointed to Sasquatch’s lower back.

“Look.”
“This is…”

There was a black mark on its lower back, as if it had been branded with a hot iron. I didn’t notice it during the battle, but the fur around it was gone, so it stood out.

“It seems like it was injected with something similar to the power of a demon. This uncivilized monster wouldn’t have paid the price himself, so it seems like someone intervened. Could it be the occultists that humans talk about?”
“Hmm…”