Chapter 10 – Unfortunately (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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As I entered the Rift, the scenery of the forest changed.

Vampire, Count Ascura’s territory.

Corrupted land and Russia’s coniferous forest.

An appearance as if those two spaces were mixed exactly half and half.

……I didn’t care about the scenery.

‘Crazy, isn’t it even colder?!’

It was because the trees had rotted away.

It felt like the cold wind was slapping me directly in the face.

“!”

However, kindly enough.

Was it out of consideration telling me not to freeze to death.

I had no choice but to move my body immediately.

“Grrrrrr……!!”

[Bloodstained Wolf: Lv.230]

A wolf infected by Count Ascura’s blood.

Indeed, its movements were fast, befitting its level. Incomparable to the similar-looking Gnolls. However, thanks to being corrupted by the vampire’s blood, its race became ‘Demon race’.

[The skill, ‘Natural Enemy’ is activated.]

You’re not the only one who’s fast.

Click

Easily evading the attack of the lunging wolf.

I recalled the quest’s objective.

‘Announce that the hunt has begun.’

I just had to hunt one demon to achieve the objective.

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation.

Rotating my body just like that.

I attacked the wolf that passed me by.

Naturally, my weapon was the silver dagger.

Slash

“Grrrk!”

The sharp blade slit the back of its thigh.

Blackish blood flowed out from that wound. Looking at that reaction, it was different from the Imp.

Unlike the Imp that screamed at the top of its lungs saying it hurts, it didn’t have much of a reaction.

‘It’s not because of its level.’

The wolf was 20 levels higher than the Imp.

But I had also leveled up just the same.

In addition to 12 levels, if I calculated the stats that increased through the Class Quest…….

My attack just now must have dealt considerable damage to the wolf.

The proof was visible to my eyes.

The wolf was limping on its hind leg.

Yet, it still bared its fangs…….

I could realize the reason for that.

“To foolishly choose the wrong target of loyalty.”

That must be because of its loyalty towards Count Ascura.

Of course, that’s just a saying.

It’s not that that wolf was really loyal to Count Ascura.

It just means the setting of vampires in Arcana is like that.

-I hate vampires. Because they are cowardly. Even though they are demons, those bastards have a habit of trying to command a pack. They mean they corrupt their targets with blood to forcibly make them serve them. To hate humans, yet want to live like humans.

Conversation with the NPC at Akshan coming to mind.

I attached one remark to that NPC’s words.

“How foolish. Just like a demon.”

Count Ascura.

A guy who only knows one thing but not two!

What it means to be a noble since olden times.

One is not a noble just because they are revered by others and possess a large fortress. Above all, there must be pride within their chest.

A noble pride that does not waver in any situation.

A dignity that does not bend even if one gets their hands dirty.

An imposingness that does not yield even to muscle pain.

Such stubbornness where one would not wear a padded jacket even if they were to freeze to death.

Why, like someone who lives somewhere.

Swish

The battle was not long.

Although I was chewing out Count Ascura and Granfel at the same time on the inside.

At this moment, my vision was cooler-headed than ever.

“I despise races like you.”

[Your level has risen.]

[Your level has risen.]

[Your level has risen.]…….

My level rose by 5, reaching Level 72.

I can feel that the experience points required for leveling up are drastically increasing.

I checked the blinking quest window.

─Hunt vampires. (In Progress) ▲

●Announce that the hunt has begun. (Success)

●Make them feel the terror of being hunted. (In Progress)

As soon as the first objective was achieved, the next objective popped up immediately.

Make them feel the terror of being hunted.

Indeed, it befits a Class Quest.

‘I wouldn’t even be able to understand if I wasn’t a Demon Hunter.’

Making demons feel terror?

One would wonder what kind of bullshit this is.

Yet, I had experience as a Demon Hunter.

I am not the last Demon Hunter for nothing.

-The thing that played the biggest role in making humans survive until now is terror. Because they can feel terror, humans were able to avoid enemies stronger than themselves. Therefore, they could survive.

That was during the quest.

The mental theory the NPCs endless babbled about.

-However, in front of a demon, humans cannot utilize the emotion of terror that enables survival.

What on earth were they talking about back then.

I couldn’t understand it.

-Therefore, in order to hunt demons, you must overcome terror. Furthermore, you must return it to them. At this moment, the terror that you guys are being hunted!

Only now did I sort of understand.

After that mental theory class, vicious quests continued.

Thinking back to it now, tests of courage where I wonder how I succeeded kept continuing.

There were quite a lot of Players who gave up there too.

Of course, back then I was a chuunibyou who had nothing to fear.

It means I passed that training with excellent grades.

Thud!

Yes, what makes me tremble is not something like a demon.

Sniff.

It’s the freezing Siberian high pressure in Russia…….

.

.

.

And it was now.

I had a tea time.

The reason why I said a teacup wasn’t needed.

That was because I could manifest a teacup.

I explored and interfered with the rocks lying around to manifest a teacup using them as ingredients.

This was also 『Magic』 that I realized looking at NetTube.

To be exact, it was an [Alchemy Skill], but.

Just like ‘Ignition’, it meant I converted it into magic by borrowing Granfel’s brain.

Just a teacup and heating water.

For racking my brain for a few days.

I felt like its usage was extremely minor, but…….

It didn’t matter.

Right now, this warmth is far too precious…….

*

“I have no tea to serve to you.”

……What’s with him? I wouldn’t drink it even if you gave it to me, you know?!

Leoni whispered seriously.

“……Is he a NetTuber?”

Shake shake

The guild members shook their heads.

“Then what. A rookie? Or else a supernova?”

Shake shake

The guild members exchanged glances with each other, then shook their heads again.

“Then what is that? He’s not a Ranker.”

Leoni scrunched her face.

Didn’t she completely guess wrong?

However, this wasn’t the fault of her intuition.

Who could have expected it. To think it was merely a single Player who made the wolves howl so pitifully. Furthermore, that outfit didn’t make sense either.

Slide

Leoni lowered her head and checked her own outfit.

Yes, no matter how low the level of a Rift was, it was common to properly equip gear like she did.

Furthermore, isn’t this Rift swarming with the Demon race?

It was common sense to equip at least one accessory that increases status effect resistance.

But.

‘……A suit? Dress shoooes?!’

As if that wasn’t enough, that man was holding a teacup.

As if he couldn’t give up the teacup no matter what situation came.

He was holding onto it firmly with his hand.

“Fuck, this is ridiculous.”

Leoni’s irritation surged.

Yeah, whatever. The world is wide and there are many Players.

If there’s a Player like this, there will be a Player like that too.

That was irritation directed at herself.

‘My pride is hurt. Fuck.’

Doesn’t that mean those reticent monsters were terrified in front of that man?

Well, she didn’t watch the battle so she couldn’t know the reason.

But that alone was enough to make her competitive spirit boil.

“Hmph.”

What does it matter whether they make a sound or not?

Taking them down first and clearing it first is what’s important.

Leoni did not want to pay attention to the man anymore.

“……I lost again. Shit.”

……Of course, the man had stopped paying attention to this side a while ago.

At this point, she was slowly getting curious.

Just what kind of tea was in that teacup.

For him to leisurely enjoy tea even in such an environment.

‘……Is it delicious?’

Slurp

Leoni swallowed her saliva and snapped to her senses.

-I have no tea to serve to you.

I’m seriously not going to drink it because you’re petty, you know?!

Leoni turned her body and spoke.

“Let’s go.”

“Didn’t you say it would be better to group up earlier?”

“Forget it. I changed my mind.”

“Ayy~ Big sister, are you sulking? Because he said he won’t give you tea?”

“Be quiet. I said I wouldn’t drink it even if he gave it to me, didn’t I?”

“……When?”

Some guild members looked back at the man and spoke.

“Still, wouldn’t it be dangerous? He’s alone.”

“How about at least asking if he wants to group up? Well, they might have some information we don’t know, right?”

“I said forget it, okay? Because he’s overflowing with confidence, he probably entered the Rift while even wearing a suit and dress shoes. Besides, did you see his manners? He wouldn’t even give us tea, as if he’d share any information.”

“……What, you really are sulking.”

You punks

Leoni raised her fist and continued speaking.

“If he’s good, he’ll be around my level.”

“What is……. By any chance, his level?!”

“Yeah. Well, he might be one of the Rankers who hasn’t revealed their personal information.”

The guild members stirred at Leoni’s words.

“Come to think of it, starting from Skal, he has never properly shown his face…….”

Player Rank 1, Skal.

He was also one of the Players veiled in mystery.

Leoni waved her hand dismissively.

“Forget it. Think of him as a competitor. It’s good to have a proper warm-up. Whatever.”

Indeed, Leoni’s intuition was incredibly dull.

Somehow, she didn’t get a single thing right.

Neither the level of Ho-yeol, who was barely Level 80.

Nor thinking of this Rift as a warm-up.

Swish!

“!”

A noise that seemed to tear through the air.

It was an arrow.

When Leoni noticed that sound.

The arrow was already embedded in the shoulder blade of one of the guild members.

“Everyone prepare for battle! Healers, treat the wounded!”

Indeed, Guild Rank 32nd, Berserker.

They were ambushed, but they skillfully switched their stances.

But…….

“C-Captain. There’s an incredible amount of them, more than we thought?!”

Red light shining in the darkness.

Those red pupils were so numerous that they could not be counted.

“Hawkeye!”

A skill of the Archer class that extremely enlarges vision.

The guild member who checked the surrounding area reported the situation.

“We’re surrounded by Bloodstained Bandits on all sides. We’re completely surrounded. More importantly, Captain……. Doesn’t it look like there are at least 200 of them?”

The number of personnel in the Berserker Guild was 45 in total.

In terms of numbers, they were at a definite disadvantage.

Moreover, Bloodstained Bandits were humanoid monsters.

It meant they were tricky to deal with.

“Yeah, this is how a new update should be!”

“Is it slowly starting for real?”

“There’s no need to annoyingly go looking for them. Nice.”

But Leoni and the Berserker Guild were accustomed to battle.

There’s a reason their guild name is Berserker from the start.

Leoni raised her twin swords.

“They’re coming. Guys.”

After blocking the baptism of arrows once, they would charge.

That was Leoni’s plan.

Even if their numbers were large, the gap in levels could not be ignored.

The tankers would be able to fully take their attacks.

Leoni was planning to aim for that gap and break through the encirclement.

‘It’s enough.’

Leoni made that estimate.

But, wait.

Suddenly, Leoni looked back.

‘……What is he going to do?’

Upon turning her head, the man was there.

Leoni was astonished.

“He, he’s really out of his mind?!”

Even though he definitely must have seen the arrows pouring down.

The man still firmly holding onto his teacup.

*

I held my teacup and observed the situation.

An arrow pierced the Player’s shoulder.

Seeing the presences felt from all directions, we were surrounded.

Considering that number, the arrows that will rain down on me wouldn’t be few either.

Naturally.

Unlike the Players over there, I didn’t have plate armor to block the arrows, nor a shield, nor colleagues who would step up to block them for me.

However, it was fine.

At that moment, arrows flew towards me.

Swish, swish, swish!

I looked at the teacup that was emptied to the bottom.

“Enjoying tea outdoors is not bad either.”

It was confidence with a basis.

The 『Exploration』 target was the teacup I was holding in my hand.

The process up to 『Interference』 was smooth like a series of movements.

Therefore, I 『Manifested』 magic.

“Even if used trivially.”

The shape of the teacup I was holding in my hand was changing.

Thud, thud, thud

Soon, the arrows broke and poured down to my feet.

“Its power is not insignificant.”