68 – Irregular Mutation – 3

—You have defeated the largest and most massive enemy you have ever encountered in your life almost entirely by yourself. The Uncommon-grade title [Experienced Hunter] has grown to become the Unique-grade title [Giant Killer]! If the enemy is larger than you, all stats increase from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 20% depending on the scale. Charm (L) has increased by 3. You have obtained 5,000 points.

—You have achieved victory against a legendary enemy that you should never have been able to defeat at your current level! A highly positive correction has been given to the Legendary-grade title [Limit Transcender]. If you succeed in recording a few more legends, an epic with you as the protagonist will be completed. Charm (L) has increased by 2.

—You have defeated the largest and most massive enemy you have ever encountered in your life almost entirely by yourself. The Uncommon-grade title [Experienced Hunter] has grown to become the Unique-grade title [Giant Killer]! If the enemy is larger than you, all stats increase from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 20% depending on the scale. Charm (L) has increased by 3. You have obtained 5,000 points.

—You have achieved victory against a legendary enemy that you should never have been able to defeat at your current level! A highly positive correction has been given to the Legendary-grade title [Limit Transcender]. If you succeed in recording a few more legends, an epic with you as the protagonist will be completed. Charm (L) has increased by 2.

The first thing that came to mind was those two messages.

Not only had the title, which he had forgotten about since obtaining it so long ago in the tutorial because it had little effect, grown to the Unique grade in an instant and reborn as a helpful tool he could use for a long time,

but it even showed the possibility of title growth by adding ‘experience points’ once again to Limit Transcender, which had grown to the Legendary grade after defeating the Demon King… Biche.

The expression “epic” felt familiar.

It was clear that it was discussing the grade above Legendary, ‘Epic.’

But why? He had clearly hunted the guy together with Hervunt.

It was certainly great that the two of them had hunted a legendary boss monster, but looking only at the system messages, wasn’t there something strange…?

As he thought up to that point, Gi-jun suddenly realized that Hervunt had left the party.

Just as he was about to question it, a second barrage of messages began.

It was a message that was more violent and brought direct changes to Gi-jun’s body and mind.

—Your level has increased by 15, reaching Level 45! Strength (U) increased by 9, Dexterity (L) by 7, Endurance (U) by 12, Light Mana (L) by 9, and Spiritual Power (L) by 8.

—Although you received help from an outsider, you stood your ground without backing down against an enemy that had reached legend, and ultimately delivered death with your own hands. Through the fierce battle that deserves to be recorded as a legend, Strength (U) grows by 2, Dexterity (L) by 1, Endurance (U) by 3, Light Mana (L) by 1, and Spiritual Power (L) by 1.

—Fire Spirit Arts (R) has reached Level 74, Slaughter (R) Level 35, and Flash Throw (R) Level 12.

—Luminescent Provocation (U) has reached Level 9, Moonlight Blood Fangs (L) Level 10, Lucy (L) Level 11, Adamant (L) Level 10, and Salutaris (L) Level 15.

—You have obtained 5,000 points as a reward for defeating the ruins boss!

—Your level has increased by 15, reaching Level 45! Strength (U) increased by 9, Dexterity (L) by 7, Endurance (U) by 12, Light Mana (L) by 9, and Spiritual Power (L) by 8.

—Although you received help from an outsider, you stood your ground without backing down against an enemy that had reached legend, and ultimately delivered death with your own hands. Through the fierce battle that deserves to be recorded as a legend, Strength (U) grows by 2, Dexterity (L) by 1, Endurance (U) by 3, Light Mana (L) by 1, and Spiritual Power (L) by 1.

—Fire Spirit Arts (R) has reached Level 74, Slaughter (R) Level 35, and Flash Throw (R) Level 12.

—Luminescent Provocation (U) has reached Level 9, Moonlight Blood Fangs (L) Level 10, Lucy (L) Level 11, Adamant (L) Level 10, and Salutaris (L) Level 15.

—You have obtained 5,000 points as a reward for defeating the ruins boss!

It was a change too massive to accept with a sober mind.

Not only was the level increase itself unprecedented, but he had also obtained a status bonus equivalent to a full three levels due to his short but intense battle with Hati.

On top of that, as even his skills had grown significantly, Gi-jun’s abilities had already reached a different realm compared to before he entered these ruins.

—Contractor, are you okay?

‘Of course. Rather, my battered body has completely recovered in an instant, and I’m practically bursting with energy.’

Despite the fact that his entire body had been creaking after repeatedly taking the massive wolf’s charges and attacks head-on, power now boiled and overflowed throughout his whole body.

And what about his stats? Although they had been reset when he crossed over to Leta and had been languishing near the base values, they now showed their true power as they approached 40 and 50 through various experiences and level-ups.

In particular, since his Endurance had grown a lot this time, he felt as though he had regained his identity as a tank.

If his Endurance reached the Legendary grade—wouldn’t he be able to withstand the charge of a guy like Hati and hold his ground with relative ease?

“It is over, Jun.”

“Yeah, Hervunt—why did you leave the party…”

Turning around at Hervunt’s voice that was heard while he was imagining pleasant thoughts, Gi-jun, who was about to question him about his withdrawal from the party, stopped speaking right then and there upon seeing one of Hervunt’s hands burning.

It was probably because of the heavy, silver-plated pistol held in that hand.

“You…”

“I’m glad to be able to introduce him to you. My partner, Vladimir.”

Hervunt spoke in a sly tone, as if introducing his gun was more important than his hand burning.

Certainly, the pistol held in his hand was even more delicate and artistic than the magic shotgun Gin’s father had possessed.

It had a barrel that stretched longer than any pistol Gi-jun knew of, engraved with all kinds of complex characters, and in the center was a cross-shaped mark.

That mark was made of a silvery metal purer than silver, which was the main cause of the sacred flame rising from it.

“You have good eyes. It is Divine Silver. It is also called Mithril, and not only is its power to destroy wicked entities outstanding, but it is also useful for strengthening holy power and mana. Since it is ridiculously rare, I couldn’t even dream of plating the entire barrel, and had to be satisfied with engraving a cross-shaped recess when receiving the Pope’s blessing and filling it in. Even that alone had a great effect.”

“Hervunt.”

“The barrel alone is 40 centimeters, and being manufactured with all kinds of reinforced metals, it weighs as much as 25 kilograms. It only uses consecrated holy-fire armor-piercing bullets with custom-made 15mm pure silver warheads. The ruler that brings peace, Vladimir. Isn’t it perfect?”

“Hervunt…”

It was truly a masterpiece among masterpieces created to hunt immortal monsters, a monstrous pistol that most people would not even dare to handle due to the gun’s weight and the recoil of the absurd bullet that could not possibly be believed to be a pistol round.

But why did Hervunt have such a thing?

That question was instantly resolved by the words Hervunt spat out in the next moment.

“Do you know about Dhampirs, Jun?”

“…I know.”

A dhampir referred to a mixed-blood child born when a vampire, who originally does not engage in reproductive acts with humans, miraculously bears a child with a human.

It was said that while sharing the strengths of vampires, they did not inherit weaknesses like being weak to sunlight, and because they even possessed the ability to detect vampires, they had a high probability of becoming outstanding vampire hunters…

“Vampire hunter Ruthven. I was quite famous, believe it or not. Until I died, that is.”

The problem was that if a dhampir died, they would resurrect as a full vampire.

Judging by the fact that he was taking damage in real-time from the consecrated pistol he held, Hervunt.

No, Ruthven was clearly a vampire.

“The feeling of the enemy I chased all my life waking up after sleeping inside me is something I cannot possibly describe. The freedom I yearned for slipped vainly through my fingers—and on top of that, being leashed by those I opposed and swung around at their whim.”

Only then did Gi-jun realize.

The reason Ruthven had strangely clashed with Armillca, a fellow vampire.

And the fact that rather than trying to deceive Gi-jun from a vampire’s perspective, he had subtly, or even blatantly, hinted at his own identity.

It had all been traces of his resistance to go against the blood that coerced him.

The reason he took out and held that pistol now was likely for the same reason.

“So that was also why you empathized with the ruins’ werewolves… even more than I did.”

“Haha, I’m slightly curious about which side the boy who survived alone will eventually choose, but—whatever.”

Ruthven grinned as he raised the pistol, which seemed more likely to harm himself before harming the enemy, and aimed it at Gi-jun.

“If that boy overcomes his loss and walks the path of an undead hunter like me, please hand this gun to him. As you can see, I no longer have the qualification to handle this.”

At Ruthven’s words, adding that he was able to hold it one last time thanks to him, Gi-jun suddenly realized something.

“My cooking?”

“Exactly. I diligently ate it to replenish my stamina in preparation for the time I would fight you, but I was quite surprised that it would have such an effect.”

Gi-jun also ended up laughing at the terrible irony he employed.

Whether because the fastening had loosened as he rolled on the ground and shook on top of the massive body while fighting Hati, his helmet had fallen off at some point, allowing Ruthven to see his lips relaxing.

“You were a great comrade, Hervunt.”

“Ah… you were a great comrade, too. Thank you for making sure I have no regrets about my choice.”

“But we are enemies now,” he added.

“Shall I introduce myself again? I am the vampire Ruthven. Now, let’s fight.”

At the words that put an end to Gi-jun’s hesitation,

he also eventually took a stance while holding two shields.

Gi-jun, who was in perfect condition after fully reaping the achievement of confronting and defeating a legendary enemy and undergoing a massive level-up, and

Ruthven, who had left the party before receiving the reward and thus could not properly settle the achievement—and was in a battered state without even leveling up.

Therefore, this was closer to a promised ritual rather than a battle, but because of that, the expressions of the two were even more serious.

“Don’t die, Jun. No, that’s not something I should be saying when I’m trying to shoot you.”

“Shoot as much as you want. I will absolutely not die.”

Declaring with confidence, Gi-jun charged forward with his shields in front.

Ruthven smirked and pulled the trigger of his beloved weapon.

It did not take very long for the outcome to be decided.

* * *

The battle with the werewolf leader, Quinodon, was fierce enough to make one’s soul escape.

Laura’s holy magic armaments, which were composed of holy runes and stored a large amount of divine power, were cleanly depleted, and Armillca, who attacked the enemy by recycling even all the blood she spilled, was at the limit of maintaining her own physical body.

However, Quinodon was also fatally wounded in return, so even if one side succeeded in taking the other’s life here, the aftermath could not be guaranteed.

—Damn it… you trash…!

Quinodon gnashed his teeth and cursed the two, but he could not genuinely throw himself into a fight to the death.

He still had work to do on this battlefield.

He had never dreamed that he would be pushed to such a disastrous state by the two he had planned to take hostage to handle things more easily.

If he withdrew now, there would still be a chance left.

—Consider it fortunate that I have a task to perform…!

In the end, he spat out the words as if chewing them and turned around to disappear.

Laura, who already did not have the energy left to chant holy magic, could not stop him even though she knew the guy was going to harm Gi-jun.

“Armillca…! Go and kill him, you still have the energy to do that!”

“No, Lau—ra. Having work left to do is the same for me as well.”

Armillca, who drove her sword, which was completely dyed red and showed no sign of losing its bloodiness, into the ground, turned toward Laura and smiled.

Laura, recalling the relationship between her and Armillca, stiffened her expression and stepped back.

However, because her older brother was collapsed behind her, she could not bear to leave him and retreat, so she ended up stopping.

“Are you really planning to turn me into a vampire?”

“Yes—. If Laura remains human, I will eventually have no choice but to kill you. I don’t want that.”

“Your… your mission shouldn’t have been something like that.”

“Mission? Who cares?”

One step, then another.

Armillca smirked as she closed the distance with Laura.

“I am a direct descendant of a great bloodline. I am different from a slave like Ruthven, who is merely swung around by the elders’ will. Ah, by Ruthven, I mean Hervunt. A vampire. I wonder if he is putting a hole in the back of that Flame Human’s head by now?”

Armillca, who was approaching another step as she said that, thought for a moment, then frowned deeply and shook her head.

“He might have failed. Whatever, they’ll both die to that monster anyway.”

“Lord Jun will not die. He will come to kill you.”

“Ah, our Lau—ra still doesn’t know.”

“I’m not the main body.”

Laura was dumbfounded by Armillca’s giggling words.

“You’re… not the main body?”

“It was made by drawing quite a bit of blood from the main body, but, yeah, it’s ultimately a clone. If it were the main body, there’s no way it would be this weak. So don’t worry even if I perish here. We will eventually meet again, and we will be together forever.”

“How… can that be…”

Even though she had to risk her life along with her older brother just to push Armillca this far,

to think that she wasn’t even the main body?

Her legs, which had almost no strength left, gave way completely under the vast sense of despair.

Such a thing could not be.

It should not have been.

“Don’t… don’t come close.”

“Even your tantrums are cute.”

“I am—a priestess of Ishtar, sucking my blood will only be poison to you!”

“It might hurt me, but it will be ecstatic for you. If I can make you mine, I can easily give up the life of a clone.”

At the sight of Armillca giggling and closing the distance, Laura was swept by an instinctive terror.

If she ran away, she might be able to avoid it.

Her older brother would also not want her to become a vampire and be abandoned by Lord Ishtar.

He was not the kind of person who would resent her even if she fled and left him behind.

“—Ugh.”

However, Laura could not bring herself to back down in the end.

Even if her older brother did not wish for it, she wanted to protect him.

She recalled the face of the hero who had risked his life without hesitation for complete strangers.

If she only admired him and did not put it into practice, she would remain the same for the rest of her life.

“Lau—ra, you are truly the most beautiful and wonderful. Finding you is the greatest blessing of my life…!”

“And you are an ugly vampire.”

Applying strength to her legs, Laura stood firm with a determined attitude.

She resisted the fear of her very existence being overturned.

At that moment, she felt a golden energy boiling up from deep within her body.

Realizing that Gi-jun was with her, Laura smiled faintly.

She gained courage.

“Go ahead and bite me, monster.”

“You will be with me soon.”

Armillca hugged Laura and bit into her neck with a crunch.

At the pleasure that followed the sharp pain, Laura shuddered.

Filling her field of vision were Armillca’s eyes, which were dyed red and emitted a seductive glow.

Looking at Armillca’s beautiful hair and feeling her alluring body fragrance, she preferred to close her eyes,

thinking how foolish she was to have harbored positive feelings toward Armillca even for a split second.

“Sssss—”

Ishtar’s divine power was indeed severe.

As the price for daring to violate her priestess and taint her with darkness, Armillca had to taste the pain of her physical body being shattered to pieces.

It was a blood-sucking act she would not have dared to attempt if it were the main body.

However, she endured the pain with the single-minded determination to push all the remaining blood in the clone into Laura.

Eventually, having finished injecting more blood into Laura than she had sucked out, Armillca stumbled back, unable to support her body properly due to the pain from the holy blood, the pleasure of blood-sucking, and the sense of achievement at having finally made Laura her thrall.

“Aha, ahahaha.”

She watched Laura, released from her grip, lose consciousness and collapse onto the half-orc’s chest.

As a vampire, she could tell that their blood was mixing inside Laura’s body and causing a fantastic evolution.

A racial mutation was taking place.

“It’s done, I succeeded…!”

Muttering as she staggered as if drunk, Armillca felt herself crumbling starting from her fingertips.

Of course, she had prepared for the clone’s demise, but she couldn’t just vanish like this.

Armillca knelt in front of the collapsed Laura, kissed her forehead, and then whispered softly in her ear.

“When you wake up, come find me, you’ll know… I’ll leave a gift behind before I go. See you later, my Lau—ra.”

“Ah,” she added.

“When you find me again, call me Carmilla.”

Immediately afterward, her body decomposed into pieces and scattered.

What remained in that place was only a dimensional pocket decorated colorfully with gold thread and jewels, and a blood-colored blade.

At that moment, Laura’s body, left alone, twitched.

A dazzling golden light and blood-red light rose as if competing, and then mingled together,

beginning to cause a mutation that neither Carmilla nor anyone else had anticipated.