Chapter 96

96. The First Boss, Leang (14)

"Zero, you heard that, right?"

"Hehe, for now."

"Another devil has appeared, you say? Shouldn't we follow them in?"

Of course, no.

"I think they will be fine with just the current members. What we need to focus on is something completely different."

"What? What do you mean by that?"

"Hehe, it's a secret."

"......"

Well, sorry, Luna. I don't really know much more myself.

-When the protagonist's party enters the boss room of each episode, a portal to the hidden boss room opens.

This is one of the phrases written in the [For the Clear] quest I received when I opened my eyes in the game.

'Since the Rodelin party has entered the boss room, a portal to the hidden boss should open soon...'

But nothing was visible.

When I thought it might be a bug, Reje jumped and clung to Luna.

"What's wrong? Why are you doing that?"

"O-Over there......"

"What's over there?"

"It, it feels ominous. W-We need to run away!"

We immediately headed towards where Reje pointed.

'I found it.'

The darkness within, with no end in sight, and the black mist floating around it.

A portal, shapeless and wavering.

"Ah, ah!!"

When I turned around, Luna and Reje were already there.

The idiot hair on top of Reje's head started to spin.

"A-Ah! It's ominous! That place is definitely hell!"

What is that? Detecting danger? Does it work for any kind of danger?

If I remove that idiot hair and attach it to my head, will I be able to detect danger too?

While I was having such an absurd thought,

"Zero, what is that? You know, right?"

But I couldn't scare them.

We would often have to enter that place and have a thrilling date with the hidden boss.

I decided to speak as calmly as possible.

"It's nothing much. Just a portal to a place where a devil is."

"H-How can that be nothing!!"

Reje screamed.

I didn't know he had such a loud voice. I learned something new about Reje.

Luna slowly approached and examined the portal.

"Indeed, I can feel the demonic aura. It's certain that there's something devil-like in there. Zero, don't get too close. The devil might suddenly pull you in."

Luna raised her arm and gently pushed my chest.

Whether it's a portal to a devil or not.

She meant to stand in front and wait.

'Normally, I would be happy...'

But not today. I raised my hand and lowered Luna's arm. Then,

"Hehe, it's because of me."

"......What do you mean by that?"

I couldn't say it was because of the quest.

But it was fine. I had been thinking of a plausible excuse for a long time.

"It's a curse. A curse from a devil."

"Curse...!"

In a world where magic exists, curses are naturally present.

A devil's curse, usable from at least the third tier.

Luna's expression instantly turned gloomy.

"It's a curse of the sustained type. The way to break it is inside there."

"More or less. I'll explain later. Right now, we need to solve it."

"That's true. Well, we just need to kill it, right? Reje, stay here. We'll be back soon."

Reje, hiding behind a tree, nodded frantically.

Luna stepped forward.

"Are you ready? Let's go."

A smile escaped my lips at Luna's matter-of-fact attitude.

Going along without knowing what it is, and to a place with a devil, no less.

Sometimes I think about it, but Luna's loyalty to me is astonishing.

"I can go alone. Just tell me what to do. To break your curse..."

I reached out and grabbed Luna's shoulder.

And looked her in the eye.

"Why?"

"Hehe, I'm grateful, but I need to handle this alone."

"Why? It would be better to do it together."

"Do you remember the consultation I had last time?"

Luna's head snapped up.

"There's... someone inside. Someone who made a contract with a devil."

I scratched my head.

Luna's advice on my first murder. I remembered it because of that.

-If a situation arises where you have to kill each other, don't hesitate. Only then can the person next to you survive.

The advice to kill the other to protect my comrades, not to kill for my own survival.

I had kept it in mind deeply since that day. And today,

'It's just the day to put it into practice.'

Luna nodded as if understanding.

"......I see."

"Yes, so I have to go alone."

"Go alone?"

I nodded.

There was a good reason for going alone.

'My power is overwhelmingly superior.'

Leang is just the boss of the first chapter.

'Normally, it should be over in one hit, but my stats are too low.'

But even so, it was enough to bring Leang down.

Anyway, there was no chance of me dying, so I planned to use this opportunity to adapt to this world.

I wanted to gain experience in fighting, but the biggest reason was...

'The experience of killing.'

If I went in with Luna, she would definitely be the one to cut Leang's neck.

She wouldn't want me to feel guilty.

But that can't be. To a comrade, to a friend.

I can't force the guilt of killing on them.

So this is something I, not Luna, have to do.

"Idiot. You can rely on your friends, you know?"

"......Hehe, it's mutual. I'll make you rely on me later, so look forward to it."

"You don't need to? I'll kill all my enemies. Anyway, next time, even if you don't want to, I'll go with you. So..."

Thump.

Luna's fist lightly tapped my chest.

"Go and come back. I trust you. If it gets dangerous, shout immediately."

"Hehe, I understand."

With a forced smile, I received Luna's farewell.

And threw myself into the portal.

* * *

Thud!

As soon as I came out of the portal, I took a stance.

But no attack came.

Whoosh.

The portal disappeared instantly.

I wasn't worried. The system would open a way back as soon as I killed Leang.

I quickly looked around.

'A training ground.'

How did I know? Because it looked exactly like the map from the game.

The personal training ground of Leang, located in the northwest blue forest.

Since it was a place gamers visited to finish the first chapter, it was impossible not to know.

That's right. The place I was in now was the same as where the Rodelin party had entered.

'Just a different dimension with the same background.'

While crouching and cautiously observing the surroundings,

"Ugh... Ugh..."

A groan reached my ears.

I instinctively knew it was Leang's groan.

I peeked behind the training dummy.

Leang was lying on the ground, groaning.

His right hand was tightly gripping a magic sword.

No, it felt more like the magic sword was gripping his right hand.

Because the unknown blood vessels from the magic sword had penetrated Leang's right hand.

'...An ambush won't work.'

I could easily win by using [One Flash] and [Sky Split] from behind.

But that wouldn't allow Leang to 'repent.'

That's why I gave up on the ambush.

I slowly revealed myself in front of Leang.

"Mr. Leang..."

"Z-Zero... How did Zero get here... Ugh! I thought it would be Rodelin and the others... Surprising."

Leang started to tremble.

He grabbed his right arm with his left hand and shouted.

"Zero! G-Get out of here! This isn't a place for you!"

"......"

Leang is currently being consumed by the magic sword.

His inability to control his temper, the reason he picked up the magic sword, and his emotions.

'Inferiority' is exploding, driving him mad.

Yet, he's worried about me. Indeed, he is a teacher, isn't he?

It didn't seem like I would have much time for conversation.

So, I decided to provoke him to draw out his true feelings.

I needed to draw out his inferiority to lead him to repentance.

"Making a contract with a devil... I'm disappointed."

"T-This... It's a trick! I just wanted to obtain more family sword techniques!"

"That's exactly what I'm disappointed about."

Leang's body shuddered.

"I didn't understand when you advised me last time, but... to learn the sword techniques of a prestigious family and succeed..."

"T-That was all for you..."

"For me? I see... I don't really understand. The end is right in front of me... It's a bit too ugly, isn't it? I don't really want to follow it."

"Ugh, Ugh!!"

Snap, snap.

Leang grabbed the blood vessels attached to his right hand with his left hand and tore them off.

Bang!!

At the same time, the magic sword pulsed violently, and demonic energy burst out.

Leang let out a roar like a storm.

"What do you know!"

Hmm, it's successful. He doesn't seem to be completely consumed by the magic sword.

He looks very angry, though.

'Status window.'

Level: 21

Strength: 66 (+33)

Agility: 43

Intelligence: 57

Health: 400 (+200)

Mana: 100

Alignment: Neutral

A being who caused the downfall of his own family.

Each of his techniques boasts astonishing destructive power.

By making a contract with a devil and obtaining the power of the magic sword, he can use more family techniques.

Skills: [Swordsmanship B], [Dynamic Vision C], [Fleur Family Style C], [Imitation C], ..., [Mimicry C]

Current Status: In a berserk state. Strength and health are doubled.

The right arm is being consumed by the magic sword.

Current consumption rate: [79.325%]

Special Skill: [Magic Sword Release]

When the magic sword's power is released, attack power increases by 200%.

In exchange, the consumption rate of the magic sword increases by 0.5%.

A decent enough spec to handle.

I've leveled up 10 levels in the ant nest.

I haven't used stat points, but all stats have increased by +10 due to leveling up.

With this difference, it's worth a try.

'The special skill is a bit annoying, though.'

Originally, it increases by 100%, but now it increases by 200%. If I make a mistake, I might die in one hit.

Of course,

'That won't happen, though.'

Leang slowly approached and shouted.

"Zero, you have to believe me! Believe and follow the advice of your senior!"

Senior? I see...

Slightly bent left knee, the sword sheath set at a right angle to it.

The waist bent even more.

Taking a step forward, explosive acceleration.

Leang's eyes widened.

The first technique of the Lester family.

One Flash (一閃).