<442 - The Strongest One>
The Owl Beastfolk is a born assassin.
It slices through the darkness soundlessly, twisting the neck of its prey.
It’s not just the Owl Beastfolk.
Most beastfolk are born assassins.
In the wild, that’s just how it is.
If they’re even a bit lacking in strength…
If there are just a few of them…
They must hunt their prey with a one-hit kill to secure their meal.
An assassin perfected in the ecosystem of the wild.
Even if half of them are human, their beastfolk instincts are innate assassins from birth.
Before they were taken under Pasible Yep’s wing, Jukeongmusae and Silheongmusae had always lived as beastfolk assassins.
“Jukeong.”
“I’m not dying.”
“Spirits revive due to the grudges soaked in the Life Core and Earth, even if you bring them down. Keep battles to a minimum and prioritize the Life Core.”
“Jukeong.”
“You said ‘how do we do that?’ didn’t you?”
“Spirits are only removed if they interfere or pose a threat. We just need to follow the direction this compass points to reach the Life Core.”
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[Pain Tracker]
Grade – Rare Level 4
Description – The compass always points to the target. Some point to the North Pole, some to dreams. This compass points to where more pain is directed.
Effect 1 – Pain Detection
Effect 2 – Damage Prevention
Effect 3 – Distance and Pain Intensity Display
Effect 4 – Detection Range Expansion (100m)
Effect 5 – Detection Range Expansion (1000m)
Effect 6 – Detection Strength Expansion (Mana Saturation Viewing)
Emotion Master – 80 gold coins, 8000 points
━━━
Wild beastfolk live amidst pain.
Neither human nor beast.
Rejected by both humans and beasts.
Ordinary wild beastfolk can’t live in groups.
Because everyone is fighting against everyone else.
That’s why the Pain Compass was developed.
Because there are bound to be beastfolk where the pain points.
‘It’s not a treasure I particularly love, but right now, I’m grateful for its existence.’
Detection results came in.
The direction, distance, and pain sensitivity appeared on the compass’s dashboard.
“Jukeong.”
“Why are we dying?”
As Pasible Yep’s expression turned serious, Jukeongmusae and Silheongmusae feigned indifference but showed their concern.
“The pain intensity is too strong.”
This reaction… Easily surpasses what would be classified as a serious threat in the monster risk classification system, breezing through the Iron Badge (10%) danger level.
It’s classified as Silver Badge (1%) danger level.
In the world, this level is typically deemed stage for regional evacuation orders.
It’s not a situation where a person can survive.
‘Jukeongmusae. Silheongmusae. Their hometown was also destroyed by the emergence of a Silver Badge disaster.’
It was a close call.
The Silver Badge disaster [King Slime] swelling in the forest threatening to engulf the world had rescued the wandering Owl Beastfolk.
They missed a great opportunity to subdue the King Slime, but I have never regretted that investment.
‘Cuteness is justice.’
Even now, as the Owl Beastfolk restored their strength into the form of a girl, they were still glad to be trapped in their little appearance.
They fumbled, fearing they might lose their humanoid transformation if they exerted too much strength, and that brought joy.
The exhilaration of having transformed such a powerful being into a girl gave me satisfaction.
That’s why I must never lose them.
Even if the High-level Ghost Monster Overhands with twenty arms appeared and slammed them into the ground.
“None shall pass without my permission.”
“What do you want?”
“Give me ten fingers.”
From Pasible’s gloves, fingers dropped.
The Overhands, munching on the fingers, spat out what it chewed.
“Not tasty. I’m leaving.”
The moment the Overhands left, the two beastfolk, who rushed back, grimaced at the hands messing up their heads.
“Jukeong.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“If I lose my bodyguard, next will be my life. If I can protect my life with ten fingers, that’s a cheap price.”
“Jukeong?”
“After losing fingers, how can you pet their heads?”
“Haha. That’s because I never lost any fingers. Highly refined tricks can fool even ghosts.”
Some parts of Pasible’s gloves transformed on the spot into finger shapes.
This trick, accomplished swiftly through illusion magic altering forms to deceive the eyes, was possible.
“Jukeong.”
“I warned you that I’ll kill you if you keep that up. And… I don’t want the Director to lose fingers either.”
“Haha. Sorry to cause you worry. I bet Kkamang must be anxious waiting, let’s hurry.”
If we linger any longer, it’s impossible to predict what more dreadful monsters might appear.
But doubts arose.
Is this really a first-year lecture?
No matter how I think about it, it crossed the line.
Ordinary students would surely die in such tests.
Unless intending to turn the students undead, such a test shouldn’t exist, nor should it ever.
‘Was it a trap?’
Unless it was designed for the students to wake up from the start.
If that’s the case, then it makes sense.
If there’s information they wish to extract from me?
A superb necromancer can raise the undead, preserving their memories.
It’s useless to crush their brains and erase their recollections.
If one confines the spirit and tortures it for eternity in the Life Core, they will spill all information they know even after reenacting their memories.
‘This is troublesome. I never thought Jonna’s Agassi would turn out to be such a terrifying person. No way she’s more fearsome than that third lady.’
It’s too late to regret now.
As we neared the Life Core, it felt more real.
This is truly a trap made with the intention to kill.
‘The lovely bodyguards are following me. If they only aim for me…’
There’s no need for everyone to die together.
[Alchemy Magic]
[Secret Technique - Black and White]
Alchemy’s transmutation magic produces results by paying a price.
The higher the cost of the offering, the greater the outcome.
Thus, I decided to offer without holding back.
“Jukeong?!”
“The Director isn’t dead! It must be a clone!”
A flaming clone on a torch fell, pierced through the chest by elongated claws.
The torch it covered was stamped, catching fire completely.
Spirits from everywhere were drawn to the burning clone, while others blocked ahead, trying their best to buy time.
“Jukeong!”
“I told you to hold on a little longer.”
A clone dove in to sink the swampland spirit first targeting the two beastfolk.
An artificial Shinigami born from the fusion of dozens of scythes lifted its scythe, and dozens of clones dove in, entangling to prevent it from swinging its blade.
Treasure.
Property.
All valuable items turned to ash as a price, and finally, the two Owl Beastfolk grasped the Life Core.
“Jukeong.”
“It’s done! We just need to escape now.”
“Well done. Let’s go without looking back.”
The Owl Beastfolk snagged the Director’s shoulder and leapt up.
“Jukeong?”
“Why are you so light?”
“Well done! Let’s go without looking back.”
“Jukeong…?”
“I said the same thing earlier!”
“Well done! Let’s go without looking back.”
“D…Jukeong…?”
“Are you serious about this being the real body?”
“Well done! Let’s go without looking back.”
Jukeongmusae and Silheongmusae’s gazes shifted to the clones holding the artificial Shinigami.
Even amidst the chaos of many fakes pierced by the scythe, only one Director remained unscathed.
Grasping the scythe that had pierced his stomach, the Director bled profusely.
“Well done! Let’s go without looking back.”
“Jukeong!”
“Silheong!”
They couldn’t accept that.
With teary eyes shaking their heads, the two Owl Beastfolk trembled violently.
Even devoid of cuteness, they longed to regain their beast forms, and Pasible laughed cheerfully.
“Isn’t it funny? Just by being honest about the desire that cuteness is justice, so many lovely beastfolk followed me, and now I’m starting to think even the monster form isn’t ugly. At this rate, I can’t mock Jonnas Wahyhiemhai as foolish.”
“Jukeong!!”
“Silheong!!”
The bodies of the two Owl Beastfolk, about to inflate, were embraced by the clones holding the Shinigami.
[Alchemy Magic]
[Erosion - Form Fixation]
[Erosion - Action Control]
[Erosion - Forced Flight]
Having handled too many clones, Pasible Yep lost even his grand stature, turning into a frail figure.
Beneath his drooping attire, only pure boylike eyes continued to gaze lovingly at his beastfolk.
“Indeed, cuteness is justice. You can’t survive in this harsh world with an uncute beast-like form. Live as a person, not a monster. That’s my only wish.”
Jukeongmusae and Silheongmusae’s bodies were forcibly lifted against their will.
Towards the mansion on the other side of the darkness.
“So please, be satisfied with this old man’s life and let them live. Professor Sadako.”
On the other side of the darkness.
In the rift of chaos.
A woman clad in white robes with long hair, who stepped into the edge of a dimension that could drive a person mad simply by touching it, spoke.
“Did you know? We were targeting your bodies.”
“I didn’t know until halfway. I never thought the goals of Oknodie and yours would differ.”
“It’s a creation of Professor Destroyer. I figured out your identity and your standing within the Foundation.”
“When even the previous hero got involved, it was already impossible to survive.”
“Don’t worry. One strong one is enough to peek into the Foundation. Both Kkamagwi Suin and Owl Beastfolk are good materials, but you’re the best subject.”
Despairing waves of death extended from Professor Sadako, raising multiple artificial Shinigami that were crumbling under the alchemy magic’s erosion.
A monster that could raise three more beasts after having downed just one is simply unfair.
‘Truly irrationally strong. They must be the world’s top talents, these professors.’
Even faced with apparent defeat and death, Pasible’s smile didn’t fade.
‘But you will come to regret this. You were the ones who touched the Foundation first. What awaits you next is the Director’s revenge!’
The massive hand of the artificial Shinigami struck the frail Pasible Yep like a mummy.
*
“Jukeong…”
“The Director is dead…”
With a thud, the red orb landed on the table as the Owl Beastfolk’s words rolled my eyes like marbles.
“Uh? That won’t do! I haven’t asked a thing yet.”
“Jukeong…!”
“I told you, playing dumb won’t help.”
“Am I really…? Did that Director really die?”
The beastfolk cried loudly, rallying their spirits.
With their unusual urgency, Jiang stepped back from Titosso.
It looks like it’s going to be quite the fight.
As I reached into my backpack for my secret weapon, the Life Core suddenly trembled.
The orb, catching everyone’s attention, crawled up to the floor and wall, then plopped down into a hole on the altar.
The Skull Instructor guarding the altar revealed disappointment.
“Gek gek gek. It passed the test. It’s unfortunate, but we must settle for one undead.”
“Undead? Ah, could it be that the Director who died is…?”
At that moment, a formally dressed undead waved from afar, flying towards us.
“Director…?”
With eyes wide open in disbelief, Kkamang was approached by the bony skeleton who had only bones left.
“Did you miss me that much? Kkamang, you’re too much of a crybaby. But now that I see this, it seems I can also be a tearful smiling girl Director. Would you mind crying a bit more sorrowfully for me?”
“… The greedy disgust of not knowing that anything is possible, you must be the real Director after all.”
Director Pasible Yep returned as a flying skeleton, spewing blue energy from its eyes.
