LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 83: Test of Loyalty
As its consciousness began fading away, it prayed.
—I don’t want to disappear—
The world had suddenly changed.
It had been separated from its mate. (TN: Still not sure whether Momo is related to this.) —Want to… return—
But its wish was never granted.
Its freedom was robbed after being captured by a strange power.
Above all, its body was heading towards death.
—I don’t want to die—
It wished dearly.
But the wish was not answered.
The only salvation was the sensation that came from the strange chain (which the human casted) unraveling itself.
Probably, the chains would lose their effect when it perished.
But what good would that do?
It was already too late to do anything.
—I don’t want to die—
It prayed once again.
It still had things left to do.
Something that must be done.
Someone it had to meet.
It was unacceptable for it to die.
{ —Zaza—Accepte—d—Zazaza}
—What?
A noise rang inside its head.
{—ConfirmationZa—AcquZa—quired—}
There it was again. The volume gradually increased as if it was trying to maintain a grasp on its consciousness.
{—Zaza—is—}
{—Target—Zazaza—Life—Name—Zazazazazaza}
{—Will be —done—-}
{Skill—[ ]—Zazazaza}
—What was it trying to say?
Interestingly, it didn’t feel any discomfort.
And the words the followed were heard clearly.
{—-Commening Evolution—-}
It lost its consciousness.
“Let’s see now…”
Readying my weapon, I step forward. The monster tamer is obviously flustered.
“What… impossible… it can’t be…”
Shaking her head and moving backward, the monster tamer looks menacingly towards me.
“That… that dark wolf was my greatest fighting power!! Its level was above 20!! That’s twice as high as mine! It had powerful skills as well! For this to happen after strengthening it… it’s unreasonable! Illogical!” She argues while spitting out saliva. She looks like a child throwing a tantrum.
Anyways…. that dark wolf was over level 20? No wonder it was so strong. But there wasn’t any announcement like the one from back when I defeated the high orc. Was the dark wolf not named? My level only increased by 1 too. I thought it was different from the other monsters, but was I mistaken? No, this is best. I wouldn’t want situations like the one with the high orc happening so often. And it was just yesterday that it happened.
Oh right, I should retrieve the magic stone. The stone is already within the retrievable perimeter of the Item Box. When I try to take it in— it fails….Huh? I try it again only to fail again. What does this mean? Despite the wolf’s death, does the magic stone still “belong” to the monster tamer? Well, that’s fine. Leave that for now.
“Kuuuuu! Not yet! It’s not over yet!”
Below her feet, several monsters appear from the dark. An orc and three goblins…. So there are still some left.
“Monsters! Earn me some… time…eh?”
She stops on her track. It is a matter of course. After all, I have already crushed them using some heavy machinery.
{ You have gained experience. }
I hear the voice of heaven. Sorry, but you can’t delay me with this kind of monsters. I get near the monster tamer after quickly removing the heavy machinery.
“Sh-shit!”
The monster tamer attempts to flee with her back against us. However, before she succeeds, a small gunshot is heard. It’s from Ichinose-san. The bullet accurately imbeds itself in the monster tamer’s thigh.
“Gu…”
She falls on the spot and screams in pain. Now that the dark wolf has died, the auto-defense of the “darkness” seems to have disappeared along with it. This is just a speculation, but I believe that she can take some of the status and skills of her familiars. That can explain the strength that she displayed in the cafeteria and why the dark wolf didn’t utilize the automatic defense function during our fight. On the flip side, now that her monsters are dying left and right, her status should be decreasing as we speak.
“Damn it! DAMN IT!”
She is still trying desperately to run away. I speedily arrive in front of her.
“This time, it is truly the end.”
“Hi,hiiii! W-wait! Time out! Please! Don’t kill me!”
She begs while looking up at me. Her expression is different from the one that she had in the cafeteria. She really has no way out this time.
“I apologize for what happened just now! I won’t do this kind of thing ever again! So please! Let me leave!” “…”
“I can be your companion, no, your slave! Please use me as you please! I’m sure I can be of some use! This body will be yours! I don’t mind using it however you like! Right! You can embrace me as many times as you want!” She is desperate. She doesn’t want to die. She is uttering with only that in mind. Unfortunately, her voice doesn’t reach my heart. How would I trust someone that tried to kill me? Considering Momo and Aka’s existence, the monster tamer is too dangerous. My heart is already set in stone. It’s just me who is hesitating. I’m just not determined enough.
“Have you finished saying your last words?”
My cold voice surprises even myself.
“!! N-no! I don’t want it! I don’t want to die! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!” While shaking her head from side to side, she starts to sob.
“Finally…I finally… have the chance to live as I want. There are so many things left that I want to do. I don’t want it to end here… I don’t want to die… no…NOOOO.” The knife on my hand shakes. Sweat drenches my back, and an unpleasant sound is heard from within.
—Isn’t it fine? Just spare her.
—She’s a girl! She’s crying!
—Isn’t it fine to just hand her over to the students after tying her up?
—Why is there a need for you to dirty your own hand?
—You can even have Ichinose-san do the deed.
—You can’t do it.
—You can’t do it. You can’t. You can’t. You can’t.
Stop. I have to stop having these thoughts. I shake my head as if I’m trying to clear my thoughts. This will be— my first stepping stone. It’s a wall that I have to overcome. To survive in this world, this is the stepping stone for my determination. Personally, I don’t want to commit murder. But the difference in being able to do the “deed” or not could vastly influence my scope of actions. Just like this time. Faltering and hesitating could put my companions in danger. So… I must make up my mind as well.
{ Experience has reached a certain threshold }
{ Stress Tolerance has leveled up from LV6 to LV7 }
{ Experience has reached a certain threshold }
{ Stress Tolerance has leveled up from LV7 to LV8 }
{ Experience has reached a certain threshold }
{ Stress Tolerance has leveled up from LV8 to LV9 }
The voice of heaven responds to my resolution. For a moment, it feels like my mind has become lighter.
“Fuuuuu…”
After a deep breath, I look at the monster tamer once again. Her face is dyed with despair. I would most likely remember that expression forever. I will never forget it.
“Farewell.”
And—I swing down the blade… Or so I thought.
“…Eh?”
The blade is stopped midair by a small shield of “darkness”.
“Wa…?”
It is apparent that this situation is not planned by the monster tamer. She appears shocked. What’s going on? The dark wolf should be dead already… “Tsu… perhaps…”
I turn back and glance at the location where the dark wolf’s magic stone should be.
It’s gone.
The dark wolf’s magic stone isn’t there. In the midst of confusion, another event occurs. The darkness which has spawned in front of the monster tamer’s eyes expands to the size of a fist. From there, darkness swells up and erupts. It falls to the ground like a waterfall and instantly spreads out. I fly away by reflex, but the monster tamer who has lost her mobility gets caught up in the darkness.
“Wh-what’s this? Uwaaaaaaaaa!”
She gradually gets swallowed up while screaming. Starting from her legs, moving on to her wrists, and gradually to her torso. It is as if the darkness has its own consciousness, chewing on her with its will.
“Hiiiii! H-HELP ME!!!”
She is engulfed completely, and her scream is no longer intelligible.
“Tsu…!”
I feel something terrible. I can’t stop perspiring. What is this… massive pressure?
“Ichinose-san!”
Shouting, I dash towards her and carry her body.
“Kudou-san! Is that…?”
“I have no idea! But it’s dangerous! We should leave now!”
Without waiting for a response, I start running. The darkness which has been spreading like mud starts expanding radially with terrible momentum. From the center, a beast arises. More precisely, it is the manifestation of darkness in the shape of a monster. A deformed beast with its legs, torso, tail, ears, and fangs painted pitch black.
Is this the dark wolf? No, that’s can’t be. That “thing” is much more threatening. A monster so peculiar and heterogeneous.
“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
It raised its voice as if trying to announce the beginning of despair.
{ Unannounced Announcement }
{ An individual whose racial level has reached its upper limit has appeared } { Confirmed that conditions have been met }
{ Commencing the search for similar individuals }
{ No applicable results }
{ Certified as a unique individual}
{ Confirmed the destruction of the individual’s body }
{ Confirmed the safety of the individual’s core }
{ Connecting — Connecting — Success }
{ Commencing the reconstruction of the individual’s body }
{ Informing the creation of a new race }
{ Reconstruction of the special new race “High Undead Dark Wolf” has been completed } { The target individual is recognized as a named monster }
{ The target has been bestowed the name of “Schwarz” }
{ A bonus has been granted }
{ Bestowal of unique skill “Wolf King” complete }
{ “Intimidation” has been granted. “Blast/Breath” has been granted. “Clawing” has been granted. “Grant Attribute” has been granted } { Various statuses have increased }
{ Scheduled Report}
{ Named Monsters: 41 Occurrences }
{ Subjugation of Named Monsters: 3 Occurrences }
{ Manifestation of Unique Skills: 22 Occurrences }
{ Death of Individuals with Unique Skills: 10 Occurrences }
{ The continued expansion of Chaos Frontier has been confirmed. }