Chapter 812: Hidden Story (4)

 

The Guild Master’s hair vanished. Not just the sideburns or specific parts, but everything. The ‘annihilation’ was so thorough that his scalp was left smooth and shiny.

 

‘…Well, that’s good.’

 

I tried to look on the bright side as I averted my gaze. It makes sense, right? When looking at a cup half-filled with water, some people think there’s little left, while others think there’s still plenty remaining. In the long run, the latter mindset is more advantageous. Well, in this case, ‘that’s good’ was actually quite fitting.

 

‘It looks a bit unsightly… But if it’s just hair, isn’t this actually a win?’

 

No matter how you think about it, it’s better than losing equipped items, or having essence skills or stats removed. All of those would be far worse penalties than losing hair. Hair will just grow back eventually. However, I absolutely refuse to become bald myself……

 

‘Behell—aaaaaaaah!!’

 

I charge forward with a battle cry. Though my companions probably can’t hear me anyway. But at least that monster should hear me.

 

[——— ——— ——— ——— ——!!!!]

 

Sure enough, the monster responded to my shout by opening its maw wide and letting out a roar. Well, not that I could actually hear it.

 

‘Ugh, spit……’

 

I’ve always felt this way, spit is more disgusting than blood splatter. But there was no time to wipe it off, so I charge forward with it dripping down my face.

 

And……

 

Baaaaang-!!!

 

After blocking another normal attack from the monster that was several times bigger than me with my shield.

 

[You have used Dragon Plate of Aegis.]

 

I activated the effect of the armor that I obtained from outside the city walls, rather than in the labyrinth.

 

——— ——— ——— ——— ——!!

 

Instantly, the monster’s pupils dilate. Well, of course it would be surprised. Not only did a viking warrior larger than itself suddenly appear in front of it.

 

——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——!!!

 

Could it have ever imagined that it’d also bring down a greatsword on its head?

 

‘Hope you like it though.’

 

After all, the Dragon Plate’s reflection damage is proportional to the damage I’ve accumulated while diligently taking hits for 18 minutes.

 

[Reflecting all accumulated damage.]

 

I’m simply returning what I received.

 

***

 

It didn’t take long to completely finish the Beast raid. After the Beast was left in a critical state from the Dragon Plate’s damage reflection, we poured all our firepower into it for three minutes until it lost strength and collapsed to the ground.

 

However, if there was one thing worth mentioning during that process……

 

[The Ancient Beast has cast ‘Authority of Mutation.’]

 

The beast used its authority one more time just before its death.

 

And surprisingly……

 

“……!!!”

 

The Guild Master was selected as the target again. Unlike the first time, the target wasn’t predetermined, but randomly selected……

 

‘…Does this even make sense?’

 

It was already strange enough to be targeted twice, but the effect was truly ridiculous.

 

‘…He turned into a woman.’

 

The bald Guild Master’s frame became slender, and all physical characteristics of the female gender were bestowed upon him. In other words, he became ‘Mrs. Illya Adnus’……

 

“——— ——? ——— ——— —!!!”

 

I wonder what he’s saying.

 

Swish, swish.

 

As soon as I gave the hand signal, Raven understood immediately and dispelled the magic that was cast on everyone.

 

“Wh-What is happening……! F-F-First my hair earlier… Why is m-m-my chest like this……!!!”

 

“That’s not the only thing that changed.”

 

After my response, ‘Mrs. Illya Adnus’ fainted upon checking his appearance in a mirror, but there wasn’t time to console him at length.

 

“Calm down. Your hair will grow back.”

 

“That’s not the issue……!!”

 

“Are you discriminating against women right now?”

 

“No, this isn’t discrimination—!!”

 

“Don’t worry. You’ll return to normal eventually.”

 

“…Is that true?”

 

“Yes, I swear on my honor as a warrior.”

 

I considered playing dumb and teasing him a little longer, but he’d probably just keep whining throughout the entire expedition otherwise, so I decided to tell him the truth right away. After all, there were more important things to do now that the hunt was over, right?

 

“Oh, now I can hear sounds!!”

 

“But… Is it really over, nyah……?”

 

“It doesn’t seem to be moving anymore……”

 

“More importantly… Guild Master……”

 

“Don’t say it. He’ll hear you……”

 

The members showed doubt while looking at the fallen beast, and some were slightly anxious. Well, I can’t blame them.

 

“You can let your guard down. It’s all over.”

 

“But why… Isn’t the corpse disappearing, nyah……?”

 

Ah, that? It’s simple. For some unknown reason, this ‘Beast’ belongs to the unranked monster category. Even in the game, killing it doesn’t give experience points, and the corpse doesn’t disappear even without distortion magic. Except when it drops an essence.

 

“Ah… So that means no essence came out, nyah……”

 

Missha clicked her tongue in disappointment after hearing my explanation. Well, it’s not like I wasn’t disappointed myself. If Missha consumed the Beast’s essence, it could be used as a graduation essence.

 

‘If the essence had dropped, I could have fed her the linked essence right away……’

 

That said, it didn’t mean I’d have to return to this island and challenge it repeatedly.

 

That would take far too much time, and since the Ice Dual Swordmaster is crucial to my strategy, there were multiple types we could make.

 

Type A, using the Beast’s essence as its core. Type B, using other essences as its core.

 

‘There’s also Type C, but since its maximum potential is lower, so it’s better to save that as a last resort……’

 

Because this game has such low essence drop rates, you need to progress flexibly with various combinations like this to reach the Gate of the Abyss.

 

‘It’s disappointing… But it’s not a complete loss.’

 

Though not as valuable as an essence, this monster’s corpse is also quite valuable on its own. For example……

 

“What are you all doing! Start with skinning it!”

 

The hide across is entire body was equivalent to drake leather, which is a grade 4 material.

 

“D-Drake leather? Isn’t that notoriously expensive……?”

 

“I heard only a drake’s back hide is usable, but this huge monster’s entire hide is equivalent……”

 

“Then how much is it worth……?”

 

Well, if we sold it all, I think we could probably buy one or two rank 3 essences…… But don’t be surprised yet.

 

“Be especially careful when skinning the head. That part is equivalent to ogre leather.”

 

“Haah……! You mean it’s a grade 5 material…?”

 

“And make sure to take good care of the skull bones. If you make a sword from them, it will be as hard as adamantium.”

 

“……Now that I see it, this thing really was a treasure.”

 

Although it was a massive monster that couldn’t be butchered by just one or two people, with a truckload of experienced explorers present, the looting process finished quickly.

 

Skull bones. Hide. Various byproducts that Raven wanted to collect for research, including the heart.

 

After gathering everything possible, I notice Arta staring blankly watching the process.

 

‘Ah, that’s right, he’s here too.’

 

His expression seemed strange, so I quickly approached him.

 

“Is there a problem?”

 

“…It’s strange.”

 

“What is?”

 

“If this beast was truly the cause of the End… Everyone here should have died. No, even if you didn’t die, you should have failed. In the first place, I followed you to witness that process and find clues to prevent the End.”

 

What, so he was watching from behind, thinking we were all going to die?

 

“…So what are you trying to say?”

 

“…That it’s strange, far too strange……! My research was about conceptualizing time to derive coordinates. That research succeeded, and I came to today, ‘the final day.’”

 

“I understand, just get to the point.”

 

“If you’ve achieved victory… why is today still the final day?”

 

Arta stated this not as a question but with absolute certainty.

 

“I’m sorry, but the Beast you just defeated… Is not the cause of the End.”

 

Hmm, how curious. The mechanical monster Arta at the secret base across the sea said this was the cause. Yet another Arta with the same name is saying it’s not.

 

“Then what is the cause?”

 

“That’s what we need to find out now.”

 

“How?”

 

“That powerful magic wavelength I mentioned earlier… At first I thought it was coming from what you called the ‘Beast,’ but it wasn’t. I can still feel those wavelengths even after the Beast has been defeated.”

 

“So you’re saying you want to check it out?”

 

“Yes, exactly.”

 

“Fine. Let’s go right now. I don’t have much time left—.”

 

There was no time or reason to hesitate. I had expected something hidden would appear after defeating the Beast anyway. It seems he already has a specific place he wants to take us.

 

“How much time do you have left?”

 

I made sure to check this first, but his remaining time was much more limited than I had expected.

 

“Well… For some reason after that Beast appeared my remaining time has been greatly reduced……”

 

Ah, because of [Song of the End]. Then does that mean next time on this raid we need to keep him at a distance? That thought crossed my mind, but I wasn’t sure if I’d use this hidden piece again. Honestly, I still didn’t fully understand the conditions for it appearing. I don’t even understand why [Final Day] activated in the first place.

 

Therefore……

 

“Everyone, I know it’s tough, but bear with it a little longer. We’ll move at full speed from now on.”

 

After quickly gathering all the loot we could, we quickly headed in the direction Arta guided us to.

 

And……

 

“Here……?”

 

“Yes, I can feel a very powerful magic wavelength from here. Let’s go in quickly!”

 

Surprisingly, we arrived at the cave with the portal.

 

‘There shouldn’t be anything hidden here……’

 

Honestly, I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion. After all, I pride myself on having perfectly explored this cave while playing the game—.

 

“It’s here……! Just a little further this way!”

 

Soon Arta announced we were almost at our destination, and I couldn’t help but tilt my head again.

 

Because……

 

“This is really the place……?”

 

I had expected there might be a hidden area I didn’t know about, but the place we arrived at was the portal location.

 

“Hurry, let’s go inside!”

 

Since we came this far, I moved toward the portal location with Arta.

 

And……

 

Whoooooong-!!

 

Before long, the ominously crimson portal came into our view.

 

“Huh……?”

 

Upon discovering the portal, Arta immediately let out a dazed sound.

 

And……

 

“…A portal? Why is there a portal here……? How? What, what went wrong? This can’t be……”

 

He seemed incredibly confused. No, Arta had fallen into a complete state of panic and started muttering to himself.

 

“W-Wait a moment……”

 

Soon, Arta started backing as if he was overcome with fear, prompting me to jump into the conversation.

 

“What’s the problem? It’s just a portal?”

 

At my question, his expression twisted into something even more unsettling, and then his eyes widened as if he had realized something.

 

And……

 

“…Let me ask just one thing.”

 

He continued in a voice much more subdued than before.

 

“Is this place I’m in by any chance the labyrinth?”

 

That question left me dumbfounded. What the hell is going on here?