Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

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Chapter 63

To add to the reasons why this situation wasn't dangerous, this wasn't the middle of an open field like before, but our base camp.

In other words, our territory.

We had already set up various kinds of magic throughout the camp in preparation for such a situation.

As a result…

Bang-!

Ki, kieeeeek!

Indeed, one of the [Demon Crows] that was running towards the base camp stepped on a fire trap spell and fell flat on its face.

It rolled around on the ground, burnt black, like a déjà vu experience.

“Now there are three left.”

“…That magic is really effective.”

“Unless they're incredibly stupid, they won't step on it.”

“That means it's perfect for those demons.”

We watched the remaining crows and checked our equipment.

Barundel and Thompson quickly put their gear back on, and Kayla focused on regenerating her depleted mana.

Of course, it would take quite a bit of time to recover mana, and Barundel and Thompson weren't in very good shape either, as they didn't have much stamina left.

On the other hand, my mana had already been fully recharged.

-Mana regeneration rate increased by 300%.

‘This is when mythic tier traits are really reliable.’

It was beyond the realm of normal mana recovery speed.

If only the total amount of mana could be increased, there would be nothing more to wish for.

But that was something that time and money would solve.

Anyway, everyone except me was in poor condition right now.

No, actually, even I hadn't fully recovered from my leg injury, so should I say that I was only half recovered?

Because of this, we had to deal with the demons as efficiently as possible without any waste in the upcoming battle, and there was only one strategy to achieve that efficiency.

‘Quick and decisive.’

Woong!

Before Barundel and Thompson finished their preparations, I stepped forward and gathered my mana.

To be precise, I didn't step forward, but simply stood still and drew out my mana, but that was enough.

I wasn't some warrior with short arms, but a mage, a long-range dealer who could deal explosive damage from the rear… the highest 존엄 of [Devil Fantasy].

Crackle!

Yellow electric currents spread out like stray hairs from the sphere imbued with the lightning attribute.

The image in my mind was being implemented as magic.

It wasn't through a magic book, but magic I created myself, so it was a moment that truly showed the value of mythic tier traits.

…Ki-gi-gi-gik!

The [Demon Crows] were electrocuted and their bodies trembled.

I didn't stop there and fired a ray of light.

Pew! Pew!

It wasn't a ray with a bizarre range like before, but with a casting time that was almost instantaneous and the special training in Aldeon, it had enough power to inflict sufficient damage on a single target.

Kieek!

The crows' bodies were riddled with holes like sponges, and perhaps awakened by the pain, they finally started to use their heads.

Caw!

Flap-!

The crow, which had been battered by the rays of light, realized that it couldn't approach recklessly without getting killed, so it suddenly spread one of its wings.

Black feathers then surged towards me.

Shwaaaek!

As expected of a demon, each and every feather was like a sharp dagger.

In my current injured state, it was impossible to avoid them.

Of course, it wasn't a problem.

Because I wasn't alone.

Thud thud thud!

Barundel, who had somehow taken out his shield, jumped up and struck down the incoming feathers.

“I'll protect you, so just focus on your magic.”

Could the back of that small dwarf be so reliable?

“Alright. Just hold them off for a bit.”

I put my complete trust in Barundel and channeled my mana again.

Despite having just used it a moment ago, my mana had already recovered.

Woooong!

Although double casting was the best I could do with my low Circle, if I could cast magic indefinitely like this, the number of casts didn't matter.

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Two at a time.

As a result, I fired countless rays of light.

‘They won't be able to take another step forward.’

Kieeeeek!

They had come all the way here with the grand ambition of avenging their friend, but all they could do was scream.

Well, in a way, it wasn't unfair to them.

This was the law of the jungle that they pursued.

The weak die, and the strong live.

They were bitterly experiencing the end of that simple law.

Ping! Thud! Clang!

I continued to fire the rays, Barundel struck down the incoming feathers, and if anyone broke through the attacks and advanced, Thompson would send them back with a body slam…

With Kayla, who had recovered her mana, joining in the offensive, the battle ended without any variables.

And then…

Whoosh!

As the energy from the [Demon Crow] corpses flew in and was absorbed, my body flashed for a moment.

The long-awaited level-up had finally happened.

“Huu.”

I rotated my arms, stretched my neck, and jumped in place.

It was a moment that felt good no matter how many times I experienced it.

Unlike before, when it felt like I was carrying something heavy, now my body felt as light as a feather.

My legs, which had been in bad shape, were also completely healed.

I led my refreshed body and patted each of my sprawled out companions on the shoulder.

“Good work, everyone.”

“Huh?”

Their faces distorted as if they had seen a ghost.

“How…?”

Recovering from all injuries and fatigue upon leveling up.

Perhaps, this was the true mythic tier trait?

***

"No way, you had such a cheat-like ability all along?"

When I finished my explanation, Barundel raised his voice, unlike him, and said,

Even using the word "cheat-like," which didn't suit him at all, showed how surprised he was.

Or maybe there was no other way to express this situation.

Anyway, Kayla also showed a strong reaction.

"No wonder you didn't look tired at all during the hunt..."

She wasn't just surprised; she also had a somewhat blank expression, and I knew exactly what that face meant.

'...When I was really into zombie swordsman, I was like that when I first saw how mages fought.'

To put this feeling simply, it was a kind of emptiness that came from relative deprivation.

Kayla, who had taken the red pill, must have been feeling something similar.

But what could I do? It was the truth.

"Kayla, you have your own strengths."

"Just get your hand off me."

"...Okay."

I stopped the cheap comfort and turned my head towards Thompson, who was relatively normal.

Of course, he wasn't normal either.

In a slightly different sense, though.

"Hehe..."

For some reason, Thompson had been staring at me with a sly grin and making creepy noises.

At this point, the question that had been resolved a few days ago was about to resurface.

"...Mr Thompson, what's wrong with you?"

"No, it's just... I feel closer to Mr First Place."

"Closer? How?"

"You told me when that precious ability activates. There's no better way to show trust than sharing your secrets."

"...Ah, okay."

Honestly, I didn't quite understand even after hearing the reason.

Was this something to be so happy about?

'It wasn't really a secret.'

It was just that no one had asked.

While I was thinking that, Thompson opened his mouth again.

"By the way, is that for real? That your ability activates when you hunt demons?"

"Yes. The cooldown gets a bit longer the more I use it, but that's the condition."

"That's a really amazing ability. Then, in a way, Mr First Place was born to hunt demons, right?"

"Is... is that so?"

"Of course! I've never even heard of such an ability in my life!"

Thompson, who shouted that, started muttering again with a sly grin.

I could roughly hear him saying something about being born a hero... Whatever he was thinking, it didn't seem like something I should be too concerned about.

Rather, what I should be concerned about now was that time was being wasted.

Clap!

I clapped my hands once to get my companions' attention.

"Now, have you all rested enough? Then let's get started again."

And then.

"What? You're going hunting again?"

"M-Mr First Place. Isn't that a bit too much? It seems like it's going to get dark soon..."

"...How many times have we done this already? I think this is harder than any training I've ever done."

As expected, my exhausted companions began to complain.

But my mind was unchanged.

Hunting had to be done to the extreme to get the best efficiency.

I had even taken measures beforehand in case something like this happened.

“You can't rest even if you want to.”

“What do you mean?”

At Thompson's question, I took out what I had hidden in my bosom.

It was jet black, yet it had a faint glow, making it look like 'obsidian.'

“That's…”

“It's a Demon Crow's core.”

It was called a [Crow Core], an item that dropped with a certain probability when a [Demon Crow] died.

Luckily, it dropped when I caught the first [Demon Crow], and its effect was…

“They say that if you have this, they'll smell it and keep coming. Something about avenging their kin.”

It was simple.

Crow bait.

“You, you…!”

Kayla pointed at me with a dumbfounded look and said,

“Then, could it be that those guys came earlier because of…?”

Perhaps it was because she had been training her magic, but Kayla seemed to be thinking faster.

To think she could already deduce that much.

Instead of denying her question, I gave her a slight smile.

“Bingo.”

They wouldn't know.

How much I suffered to pick up this core without anyone knowing.

It felt like my knees were still throbbing from when I crawled with my injured legs and bumped them on a rock.

“Give that to me! I need to destroy it right now!”

“No way.”

Swoosh-

Around the time I was dodging Kayla, who was trying to snatch the [Crow Core]…

A signal flare went off at that very moment.

Gieeeeek!

What a welcome sound.

“What are you doing? We need to get ready.”

When I urged them, my companions glared at me.

They must have realized that it was already an irreversible situation.

Everyone looked at me and said in unison,

“…You're a demon. A real demon.”

“No doubt. How about we take care of this demon first?”

“That's not enough. Let's subdue him and torture him? I'll take the supporting role.”

Flare!

The flames that bloomed on top of Kayla's staff flickered as if they were about to attack me at any moment.

But I didn't mind at all and shrugged.

“Why is everyone making such a fuss?”

In fact, wasn't this something they should have been prepared for when they agreed to go outside the border?

I couldn't understand why they were acting like this now.

'If you joined my party, you should be able to do this much, right?'

RPGs are definitely not a game you can play passively.

[Translator - Prøks]

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