Chapter 15 - The Secret Revealed
"Mongshil-i! Now!"
In an instant, the ground beneath me gave way, and I was sucked into the earth.
"Kruk?"
Crokes looked bewildered. As if I, unlike Hong-seop, would have charged in risking my life. I had already set up several insurance policies.
This strategy was one of them. From watching it earlier, I had determined that whenever Crokes was attacked, it would always counterattack.
That would be true even at the moment of its death. I had sent Mosilian away separately for this very moment. Even giving her the Gnoll Chieftain's necklace.
Led into the tunnel that Mosilian had dug, I instantly moved from one end to the other. And as it happened, the tunnel I emerged from was right behind Crokes's bony back.
"Kruk? Krrruk?"
Crokes frantically looked around. It seemed quite flustered that I had suddenly disappeared into the ground.
But no matter how much it looked, there was no way it could find me. I was the incarnation of non-existence, one who had deceived even a goddess. I was not a human that a half-rotten monster could detect.
"Just die already!"
Rankol's sword pierced through Crokes's neck.
"Krreuk, kkeuk."
Until the moment its head fell off, Crokes did not notice me.
That's what death was like.
Something that barges in without permission.
Crokes had stood up after regenerating its rotten body several times, but with its neck severed, it could not escape death.
Crokes instantly turned into black ash.
[You have executed the insurmountable foe, Crokes.]
[Your level has risen.] [Your level has risen.] [Your level has....]
[The news of Crokes's execution echoes throughout the continent.]
[Any village touched by the goddess's breath will now welcome you.]
[You have made the greatest contribution to the execution of Crokes. A special privilege is granted to you.]
[Title: 'Dispeller of Calamities']
['Dispeller of Calamities' Effect: You have defeated a being of a different class. Now, enemies below a certain level will be no match for you.]
['Dispeller of Calamities' Effect: The hero's deeds spread to all villages that worship the goddess. Those who believe in the goddess will be friendly to you.]
[Intimidation: Monsters of low grade and below will be daunted in your presence.]
"Puha!"
The screen flashed in an instant.
I couldn't check all the details right away, but I could tell that my level had skyrocketed and the risk of being killed by low-level monsters was gone.
Once Crokes died, the blackish swamp also disappeared.
In place of the swamp and Crokes, which had vanished like dust, a single, round, jet-black orb remained.
'A jewel?'
[Essence of Crokes (Special)]
[Crokes absorbs the life force of its surroundings and makes it its own power.]
[This essence contains the source of Crokes.]
[Transforms a part of Crokes's ability into the user's ability.]
[Corpse Absorption - Absorbs energy from a dead target to heal wounds.]
"Ooh!"
I am an assassin.
If there are multiple enemies, my combat style is to always start by assassinating one.
In other words, to me, this skill was the same as a permanent potion.
I immediately took the Essence of Crokes.
The essence melted and was absorbed into my hand.
[Corpse Absorption (New) - Heals wounds by absorbing from a dead target.]
[Can only be used on dead targets.]
[Cooldown Time: 24 hours]
[Healing Efficiency: 5%]
Corpse Absorption became a skill, and its description changed slightly.
Unlike Crokes, I couldn't just use it anywhere; there was a cooldown time, and its efficiency was fixed.
But so what?
The fact that the skill had a level meant it could get stronger. I didn't mind a low starting point at all.
"Hero, Hero. I did well, right? The two of us caught Crokes. Isn't that amazing?"
"It wasn't just the two of us, was it?"
"Those other heroes did well too. Thanks to them, we got a lot of hints and wore down its stamina. You are very kind, Hero."
I actually said that because I thought I caught it by myself. But there was no need to spoil the mood, so I didn't correct her.
"But the truly amazing one was you, Hero. I didn't even get hurt just by doing what you said! I think our teamwork is getting better, too. Hehe."
"You didn't get hurt because you gave up on attacking and just defended."
"We're a perfect team. No matter how hard I try, I can't match your destructive power anyway. It would have been nice if my armor was a bit sturdier, but..."
"No. Go back. I have no intention of giving it back."
"It's okay. I like you more than the armor, Hero. I'll be in your care from now on."
"What are you talking about? Where are you going to go with me?"
"What? I'm going with you, of course. Don't tell me you're going to abandon me again?"
"I never had you in the first place."
"But where is there a hero who travels alone? A great hero is bound to have a devoted companion."
"Sorry, but I'm not a hero. Therefore, I don't need a devoted companion. More importantly, if you travel with me, people will figure out it's me."
"Why are you hiding your identity, anyway?"
"That's..."
The reason was simple.
With great power comes great responsibility, and I didn't want to bear that great responsibility.
It wouldn't be hard to tell her, but I didn't think this adventure-crazed hamster would understand.
"It's a necessary thing. So, no."
"What? But I would be more devoted to your path than anyone… More than those people who ran away and left you behind!"
"Hmm..."
That was the most plausible thing Mosilian had said. In truth, I no longer needed to travel with the other kids. The difference in our levels had grown too wide. There was nothing to be gained by being with them anymore.
"Do you know the geography around here?"
"I know the nearby areas."
"Then have you ever heard of a place called Shita Castle?"
"Eh, no?"
"Tsk..."
"Wait a minute. Don't look so openly disappointed. I may not know the human place names, but I can find it with just a map. The Golden Mogu tribe has a good sense of direction."
"Hmm..."
"I-it's true! Besides, I'm nocturnal, so if you travel with me, you won't have to worry about standing watch. Not even the cold! It's warm inside when we sleep in a dugout."
The conditions weren't bad. The biggest worry about separating from the kids was not the day, but the night. Right now, everyone took turns standing watch.
The most inconvenient moment when I'm alone in the future would be exactly that. It's unsettling to sleep soundly, and tiring to take short naps. In that respect, the nocturnal hamster Mongshil-i was a decent alternative.
"Well, I guess I can take you along for a little while."
"Really?"
"From the moment we leave that village. Wait for me at the main gate."
"Can't we just go together?"
"No. I told you I don't want to be found out."
"Can't you give me back the mask? It would easily hide my identity. Our builds are different, so it wouldn't cause any misunderstanding. And it's useless to you anyway, Hero."
"Just because it's useless to me doesn't mean it's useless to other people."
It was a Rare grade item. Even if I couldn't use it, I had to sell it. Was I supposed to hand it over for free?
"To think you even consider other people. You are truly amazing, Hero."
"...Yeah. Let's go with that. Anyway, get ready to leave and pack what you need. We don't know how long it will take."
"The things that are worth money, you already took..."
"You said you'd listen well, are you going to keep talking back like this?"
"Ah, no, sir!"
"Then go and get ready. You didn't forget to place Rankol's head, did you?"
"Nope!"
Rankol's head was placed where the entrance to the swamp used to be. If the people of Carroty Village came to check the swamp, they would be able to confirm that Rankol was also dead.
In the meantime, I naturally slipped into the village.
"Thank you, everyone. The goddess's prophecy was not wrong in the slightest. You have protected the future of this village. And by extension, the future of the continent. Thank you, truly."
Elder Carrotina expressed her gratitude repeatedly. It was a natural reaction, as we had eliminated not only the enemy in front but also the swamp behind them.
Elder Carrotina brought out drinks and food and tried to create a festive atmosphere by singing.
But the kids who were supposed to be enjoying it were like a house in mourning. The colossal being they had never met before, Crokes. The kids who ran away from it and the kids who fought against it were all equally dispirited.
"You did it in the end."
Hong-seop was looking at the vanished swamp and thinking about what I had done. He seemed quite disappointed.
My heroic feat seemed to have served as some kind of stimulus for him.
"Look, everyone. In the end, Crokes was killed by just one person. That means we can do it too. We just need to get a little stronger and prepare better. Let's cheer up!"
"I don't need them. These bastards. They were following us around just fine until now, and what about earlier? Sorry? You dirty bastards."
Joo-hye spat out venomous words. I understood. Only a few of them had faced that great evil.
A commotion arose among the kids as well. But I didn't want to get involved. The emotional rift between them wouldn't be easily resolved anyway.
Instead, I did what I had to do. The festival food Carrotina had prepared with such care was delicious. After filling my stomach, I went to get a map.
Finding the way to Shita Castle wasn't easy. Was it because Shita Castle was a very hidden castle? Not a chance. It was all because I was Kim Jin-woo.
"Excuse me? Hellooo!"
Damn it. Why are there no kiosks in this world? I didn't even know what each shop sold, but I had to make an effort to make myself known every time I entered one.
To make matters worse, when I revealed myself in front of them like that, the merchants were all startled. No, did you see a ghost or something? I'm just a person.
If there was a silver lining, it was the fact that I wasn't a real ghost. I was able to get a map to Shita Castle at the fifth shop I entered.
'At this distance, about a week?'
A week on foot. It was by no means a short distance, but considering the size of the Lumos Continent, it was close. It had taken 3 days just to get from Lagun Village to Carroty Village, which were said to be right next to each other.
All that was left was to procure a week's worth of food and necessary supplies. It was difficult to reveal my identity, but once I had, getting the items wasn't hard.
Thanks to the 'Dispeller of Calamities' effect, people's eyes would sparkle whenever they saw me, and they were eager to help. At this rate, I would be able to leave the village tomorrow.
'That Mongshil-i brat will have to wait longer, though.'
But since I had already decided to leave, wasting time was a foolish thing to do. I finished my preparations with the intention of leaving tomorrow.
"Jin-woo."
It happened at that moment. The being I had forgotten about, and the only person in our department who recognized me, So-young, came to find me. With a completely dejected look on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Can you help me with something?"
It was strange. So-young had never once sought me out for a reason like this. Well, it's not impossible. The situation being what it is. I could see that So-young was dejected too.
Crimson lips contrasting with her slightly moist eyes. Other guys would have taken the bait just by looking at that face, but I was different.
Nothing would ever happen between So-young and me anyway. If I listened to her request, it would only make it harder to refuse.
"If you need help, why don't you go to Hong-seop?"
"This is something only you can do."
"Something like that exists? What is it?"
"Lead the others."
"And that's something only I can do? That doesn't make any sense."
"What do you mean it doesn't make sense? It's a job only you can do."
"How is that..."
"It's you. The secret helper who's been helping us."
"What?"
In that moment, I was making the most foolish face in the world.