Episode 8
Having just emerged from the ruins, I stared blankly into the air.
‘What in the world….’
-Ding! Quest Completed!
A reward is prepared. Will you receive it? (Yes/No)
No, more precisely, I was staring at a semi-transparent window floating in the air.
A reflexive question popped up, but curiosity took precedence.
Pressing ‘Yes’, another screen appeared before my eyes.
Allen.
:Title Demon King (魔王)
:Corrosion Rate 9%
:Fame 0.
An unknown adventurer.
:Traits
No trait selected. Will you select one?
:Stats
[Strength 10]
[Accuracy 5]
[Evasion 5]
[Endurance 5]
Unused 5 points.
You have unused points. Will you use them?
‘Status window?’
An interface both familiar and somewhat crude.
The moment I saw the semi-transparent window resembling screens I’d seen countless times in the game, I instinctively knew this was the help the Black Spirit had prepared.
‘It’s a bit different in some ways, but…’
I felt a sense of relief.
Since arriving here, everything had been a mystery, but at least this semi-transparent window was something I knew well.
Thinking that way, the Black Spirit had been a great help.
Despite its mocking attitude throughout the conversation, I hadn’t expected much.
‘I think I understand the stats…. But what about Traits? And the Title?’
Just as I was examining the welcome reward,
“Dodge!”
Along with Deacon’s urgent voice, a rock the size of a person came flying from a distance.
WHOOSH!
I hastily moved aside with Ethan, and the rock crushed the spot where we had just been, along with the debris.
“What are you doing standing there blankly? Don’t you see that?”
Following Deacon’s pointing finger, now close by, I saw a large imp picking up a rock in the distance.
Judging by how it throws rocks at defenseless targets, the previous attack was likely also its doing, hinting at its brutality.
“What we feared has happened.”
“What we feared?”
“A Giant Imp! Who would have anticipated something like that!”
At Ethan’s words, Deacon spat out angrily.
Giant specimens, even within the same group, can be two to three times larger—a clear distinguishing factor for named monsters in the game.
That setting seemed valid here too, as even Deacon, relatively strong among the guards, clearly looked flustered.
“Fortunately, a path has opened toward the collapsed ruins. We need to evacuate before a siege forms!”
Only then did my surroundings come into focus.
The pungent smell of blood stinging my nostrils and scattered debris.
“Damn it…!”
“Where did all these imps come from!”
“R-run! We’ll all die!”
“A giant… why is something like this here!”
“Gyaaaaah!”
The clash of steel and people’s screams.
Everywhere I looked was nothing short of a living hell.
For now, they were barely holding the line…
But the biggest problem was undoubtedly the Giant Imp at the back, destroying the camp by throwing whatever it could get its hands on.
Judging by the imp numbers alone, they shouldn’t be able to overwhelm the guards.
The situation had escalated this far seemingly because of the chaos caused by that one creature.
A named monster carries that much influence.
‘No, it’s much worse than I thought.’
Moreover, this isn’t a game.
The people engaged in fierce battle with the imps here are real people.
Not NPCs moving according to a set role, but people who think and act for themselves.
Therefore, the chaos brought to the battlefield had an even greater impact.
However.
That also meant the solution was simple.
“Allen, sorry, but can you hold the line? I need to evacuate those who can’t fight first.”
Deacon spoke, seeming relieved that there was one more person who could fight.
‘To run like this…’
But Deacon’s choice was the lesser of two evils.
Splitting their forces in this situation meant abandoning the chance for everyone’s survival.
It could be rational but was inefficient; it seemed cold but lacked resolve.
And I am not someone who can accept such a ‘rational’ choice.
Because the me who lay in a hospital bed waiting to die was also someone who gave in to despair and rationalized my own inaction.
‘I can’t do anything about it.’
‘It’s impossible for me.’
‘This is the best I can do…’
I have no intention of repeating that choice from back then.
So my choice is simple.
“No, Deacon. Gather your people and buy some time.”
“What?”
“I’ll handle that one.”
“What are you talking about…”
Leaving behind a wide-eyed Deacon, I kicked off the ground and ran.
KYAAAAAAH!
KYEEE!
The moment I left the defensive formation, two imps immediately charged.
SWISH!
Without stopping, I cut down the two leaping imps in one stroke.
THWACK!
This time, an imp jumped out from the debris.
I crushed the one thrusting a spear-like weapon along with its body with a kick.
Not missing the brief pause, more imps rushed to close range, but a wide horizontal slash opened a path.
Inside, deeper inside.
The innermost part of the imp horde.
The closer I got to the giant imp boasting immense size, the more obstructors appeared, but I paid them no mind and kept moving.
Every time I moved, I felt it—this body’s abilities were extraordinary.
It moved exactly as I thought.
From a single strand of hair to the tips of my toenails, completely.
My senses were incredibly sharp, my field of vision broad, and my reactions swift.
KR-SLICE!
After cutting down imps dozens of times like that, when the imps, intimidated by their fallen comrades and the momentum, slowly began to create distance, a huge fist flew in with a roar.
THUMP!
Twisting my body to dodge, the spot where I had just been was smashed in like tofu.
Had I not dodged, would I have ended up like that too?
A sudden thought sent shivers down my spine, but I didn’t miss the chance and slashed at the creature’s forearm.
But perhaps because it was a named monster, it only left a long, black gash.
GRAAAAAH!
Letting out a pained roar, the creature began swinging its fists wildly.
THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD!
The ground shook, and chunks of earth disappeared around it.
Its massive body itself was a weapon.
I was narrowly dodging all its attacks by a hair’s breadth, but I couldn’t get any closer than that.
Moreover…
“Allen!”
A situation where even the imps fighting the guards were approaching me.
Turning my head at Deacon’s call, a thrown dagger grazed the tip of my nose.
It seemed they had thrown their weapons, taking advantage of me turning my back. I almost got a hole in the back of my head.
Trickle.
Blood flowed down my face.
What if.
If I die here, what happens?
I don’t think I’ll restart like in a game.
Or return to the beginning.
Miracles don’t happen twice.
So it would be a complete end.
But strangely, as I swing my sword, I don’t feel fear or terror.
Right now, this moment feels incredibly good.
The exhilaration flowing through my body and the hot blood.
My tense, trembling muscles tell me I am alive.
‘Still… I shouldn’t drag this out.’
The imps had drawn near by now.
If surrounded, no matter how excellent my body is, breaking free would be difficult.
Fortunately, I could see Deacon organizing troops in the distance.
It meant I had succeeded in my first goal: drawing their attention.
‘My current strength seems about equal to the Giant Imp. Still a long way to go.’
I had also finished checking my abilities as I intended…
I summoned the status window into the air again.
It wasn’t difficult.
It simply appeared before my eyes when I thought about it.
No trait selected. Will you select one?
:Stats
[Strength 10]….
Unused 5 points.
You have unused points. Will you use them?
I immediately placed my finger on the stats.
[Strength 10 -> 15]….
You have used all points.
If my current strength is roughly equal to a named monster, what would happen if I used all my remaining stat points?
GRAAAAAAH!
The Giant Imp’s fist flew again.
I pushed my sword forward as if grazing past it.
And.
SHWING!
The Giant Imp’s arm was severed.
“What in the world is that…?”
Unable to believe the scene before his eyes, Deacon muttered blankly.
Monsters were, by nature, beings that must be exterminated.
Not only were they threatening in themselves, but if left alone, they would multiply and eventually invade human territory.
Moreover, due to adventurers and mercenaries seeking spoils, they were eventually exterminated, even if it took time.
Thus, monsters had no names.
There was no need to distinguish beings that must be slain.
However.
Occasionally, there were creatures that forgot their purpose as monsters.
Surviving and surviving alone, facing dozens of soldiers, leaving a heavy mark on the battlefield.
Monsters that made their presence known to those who faced them.
Named monsters were beings worthy of having a name.
Therefore, the basic strategy when facing a named monster was to flee.
But what was the scene before his eyes?
Was it possible for a mere human to engage in a one-on-one duel with a monster twice his size?
Moreover, even while surrounded by other imps, his demeanor against the Giant Imp seemed oddly relaxed.
A sight even Deacon, with his considerable experience in the guard, couldn’t easily witness.
Deacon’s jaw hung open.
“Is that even human?”
Even to a guard’s bewildered question, he could only nod.
“But… is it okay to leave him like that?”
After Allen charged into the imp horde, the guards had barely managed to regroup.
They had moved non-combatants and the wounded to the rear and completed their reorganization.
Meaning, all the imps that had attacked the guards were now heading for Allen.
“No, we can’t do that.”
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Deacon shouted.
“Now! Let’s go! Let’s pay them back for what they did!”
The guards took up their weapons and charged toward the imp horde.
Their numbers were still inferior to the imps’.
But now, there was no sense of despair, no anxiety about losing.
KYEK?
KRYAAAK!
Allen, already surrounded by the imp horde, was hard to see.
No matter how formidable his combat power, rivaling a named monster, a situation like that could be dangerous.
Just as Deacon’s group was approaching the center of the imp horde,
GRAAAAAAAAAAH!
A monstrous roar shook the forest.
“Deacon! Th-that…!”
“Impossible…”
The roar emanating from the giant form was intense enough to momentarily instill fear.
But the gazes of the guards following Deacon couldn’t leave one particular spot.
GROOOOOOOWL!
While dodging the flailing attacks of the Giant Imp, sword strikes continued relentlessly.
And then.
THUMP!
The giant body lost its strength and collapsed.
“Allen?”
Amidst the rising dust, Deacon called out.
And from within it,
“It’s over now.”
Allen appeared, calmly pulling his sword from the giant creature’s body.
