Chapter 143

Cohral, unlike the rest who cowered before the snowy creature, lambasted Cayna. “Yo, c’mon! Warn people before you summon somethin’ like that outta nowhere! Look, everyone is scared stiff!” “Okay?” “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about! Anyway, what is that thing? I can’t read its level, and I’ve never seen it before in my life!” Cayna raised one hand to lightly beckon the creature, and the vigilant, four-eyed large weasel stooped to rub its head against her. Myleene and Lonti watched Cayna stroke its soft pelt and blushed as if remembering the touch of the White Dragon. No longer bound by the summons’s scowl, the students and everyone else observed from a cautious distance as Cayna introduced it to Cohral. “This is the Great Weasel of Euphoria. It’s a rare monster from the Hermit Area.” “That’s shady as hell…” Even Cayna had to smirk at the strange name as she said it. It sounded like some kind of quack cure-all a sketchy religion might tout. The Euphoria part was a nickname among the players, but its official name was Hermit Beast Izunae. This monster was level 450 and, as the name implied, only found in the Hermit Area. It wasn’t a rare monster, per se, but simply one that was difficult to defeat. Thanks to special abilities like Flee and Good Fortune, escape was the creature’s specialty. It would run for the hills before players even had a chance to encounter it and would scurry off if anyone so much as looked at it from afar or happened to cross its path. Guildmasters at the time agreed the Hermit Beast was completely pointless as an Active Monster. It was notoriously difficult to catch, and the flood of complaints made to the Admins reflected this. Izunae managed to elude even the fastest of guild members, which perpetuated rumors that it was a rare monster. This activity pattern meant it was rare to encounter them in the Hermit Area, and fighting one was practically impossible. Cayna and the others had tried human wave tactics and magically carpet-bombing within several widespread barriers. After several attempts, they finally succeeded. It took a total of thirty-five people a full night in real time. This included thirteen Skill Masters, making the battle unprecedented in Leadale history. If Izunae was appointed as a summons rather than eliminated, its unique abilities served both parties and summoners. Flee wasn’t used often, but Good Fortune increased one’s drop item rate and resistance against status ailments. It also improved the effectiveness of poison of an ally’s special attack (such as poison or paralysis) and increased the chance of a critical hit, so it was useful both offensively and defensively. Izunae’s physical attacks were limited to biting and scratching, which really only hampered Limit Breakers like Cayna in a typical hunt. Overall, it was considered an option that desperately clung to your party like a bad cold once summoned. Cayna had called upon Izunae this time for its soft white fur. And like the previous White Dragon, she wanted it for one single purpose—to use as a living, breathing blanket. Even so, a dragon summoned at the lowest level was still a dragon. Cayna wasn’t sure how eyewitnesses would react to a creature regarded as myth and legend, but this time around everyone had unanimously stiffened when she summoned Izunae. “Huh?” “Who wouldn’t be scared?! That thing you just summoned looks like it can swallow people whole!” Cohral shouted, accurately voicing the concerns of all present. The students’ tents were clustered at the center of the campsite and dotted with bonfires. The adventurers had their own arrangements, but the four Swift Horses and five Armor of Victory members positioned themselves on opposite sides of the central bonfire. Their basic strategy was to wrap up in blankets and take turns sleeping in a huddle. The students would spearhead the night watch, but the adventurers were there to provide guidance on how to pass the night and perceive outside threats. Cayna followed suit and positioned herself near Myleene and Lonti’s tent along the camp’s perimeter. This would allow Izunae’s heightened senses to detect danger and give Cayna the greatest defensive advantage. Furthermore, even if Cayna failed to notice nearby hostiles, her Anti-Perv AutoGuard summons would pick up the slack. However, this was strictly for emergencies only. Mai-Mai said Cayna could unleash her full might if the princess was in danger (Mai-Mai: “I certainly did not!”), so she had a solid excuse. Cayna figured their biggest threat here was quest monsters prowling around the continent and shouldered the responsibility of bodyguard. She was the first to volunteer if anyone needed a job done. Mai-Mai herself informed the rest of the faculty about this, so no questions were raised. Cayna had initially thought the whole escort gig was a pain but appreciated Cohral’s help as a go-between. As the students (including the princess) skillfully prepared dinner, the faculty and party leaders planned that night’s patrol schedule. “Um, can we talk for a sec?” “Oh, Cayna. Is there something you’d like to add?” Everyone turned to Cayna as she approached the group with a raised hand. “I’m quite sure we mentioned that we’d be using a different system.” “You did, but I just wanted to check in, since I’ll be gone for a few hours tonight.” “Ah, yes. The headmaster said you had business to attend to. We don’t mind, but you did accept this escort position. Are you sure it’s all right to leave?” “It’s only for the night, and Izunae will be here. I don’t think it’s a problem. I can call out another summons, depending on the situation.” Cohral grimaced at that last sentence. The creatures Cayna summoned were generally high-level and far outside this world’s idea of common sense. Many looked like unknown monsters, and if any aspiring adventurers had a terrifying encounter with one outside the city, he feared it would lead to road closures. “Hey.” “What’s up, Cohral? You’ve got a scary look on your face.” “Don’t summon anything too crazy. It’ll cause all kinds of problems if people misunderstand and can’t go outside,” Cohral warned, pointing at Izunae. The weasel was curled up in a donut but exuding a commanding presence. “But it’s adorable,” Cayna insisted. “Yeah, maybe to you!” She frowned in disappointment. Cohral had more experience with the general population, though, so she took heed and summoned a cat. It was the cath palug that had stayed back to protect Luka during the River Festival in the capital. Cayna handed the pure white kitten to Myleene and Lonti, and they grinned from ear to ear. “Meooow.” ““It’s…it’s…it’s so cuuuute!”” “Cath palug, please watch over these two.” “Meooow.” Although it was kitten-like at the moment, the cath palug’s true form was akin to a fierce panther. It could change size at will and was far more powerful than Izunae, at level 600. As the cath palug’s summoner, Cayna kept it a harmless-looking kitten, but it could nonetheless kill Cohral in an instant. Given that Cayna had perhaps used Search on the cath palug, Cohral’s face soured as he took a step back. He probably got a bad feeling. Around the campsite, the students continued to prepare dinner. Although the adventurers had their own foodstuffs on hand, the Swift Horses were friendly with the students and decided to eat with them. Cohral and his Armor of Victory boiled a jumbled mess of ingredients into a soup and ate it with tough salted bread. Meanwhile, Cayna paid the curious adventurers no mind as she casually processed the meat, vegetables, smoked fish, and water she brought with Cooking Skill: Witch’s Brew. This versatile soup could be made with any three or more ingredients and restored 10 percent HP and MP. Since the standard recovery amount was one-tenth of the caster’s HP and MP, Cayna’s Witch’s Brew was an unparalleled magical panacea. As usual, it was finished in a literal flash and caught the attention of every student. For whatever reason, the end result resembled a pot of chopped ingredients floating in a bubbling purple liquid. Onlookers instinctively took one step back from the mysterious mess. Those were the actual graphics back in the game, so Cayna broke into a sweat over what she’d concocted. Cohral winced. “So, that’s what Witch’s Brew looks like in real life…” “Um, I think I’ll pass…” “The students are watching. Eat it.” “…Right. I’ll try to keep it down.” Sadness and resignation fell upon Cayna as Cohral, the only one who knew the truth of the situation, dealt a final blow. The Great Weasel of Happiness turned away from the purple steam and placed a paw on its master’s shoulder. Tears in her eyes, Cayna dipped a spoon into the purple liquid. The crowd nervously watched her take a bite. “Tastes like hospital food,” she concluded. Cayna polished off the rest of the Witch’s Brew, but concern spread among the students when one brave teacher who had agreed to try some fainted. It wasn’t poisonous, though, so the teacher was simply moved to a tent. By the next day, it was like nothing had ever happened. “Must be ’cause you made it, Cayna. Wasn’t it packed with MP?” Cohral said. As everyone took up their positions for night patrol, Cayna asked Izunae to search out nearby enemies and had the cath palug guard Myleene and the others. “Please be careful, Cayna.” “You got it. I’ll be back by tomorrow morning at the latest.” The Abandoned Capital barrier wasn’t too far. Including the time it would take to check out the situation, Cayna expected three hours total. Unless something popped up along the way, she figured matters would be more or less settled by sunrise. “I’m not too worried, since it’s you, but this world can be unpredictable,” Cohral warned Cayna. “Don’t let your guard down.” “Right, thanks. I’m counting on you, too, Supreme Swordsman.” “You got it. And don’t call me that.” “Ha-ha-ha. Well, I’m off.” With a wave of her cloak, Cayna headed into the dark forest as a sea of eyes watched anxiously. A number of students thought she was nuts and had a death wish. When Cayna’s figure receded, Izunae uncurled itself and stood on its hind legs to survey the area. Several students stiffened, but Cohral called out to them. “Don’t panic! That creature is just keeping an eye out for enemies. It means us no harm!” As Cohral said, Izunae’s ears and nose were concentrated on the surrounding vicinity. It did nothing more than twitch its whiskers repeatedly. Several people gave a deep sigh of relief, but the Armor of Victory’s leader, a male mage, rebuked Cohral. “You’ll attract every monster around if you yell like that,” he said. “Oops. Sorry.” Cohral scratched his head in apology, and his party members burst into laughter. “Hey, if that happens, we’ll just have the great Supreme Swordsman cut ’em down.” “Quit it! What am I supposed to do if you praise me like that and people realize I’m just an average swordsman?” “Then we’ll beg them for forgiveness.” “You make it sound like it’s my fault!” The students watched the Armor of Victory’s comedy routine and envied their fearlessness of the night. The Swift Horses had intended to ease their nerves with humor as well. Jild’s shoulders slumped when he realized he’d been beaten to the punch. “Enemy sighted.” “Seriously?!” Meanwhile, Cayna made a beeline through the forest to the barrier but screeched to a halt when Kee suddenly detected an enemy. She was still only a few hundred meters from the campsite. “Ahead of me?” “Correct. There are many.” “Tch! It’s like they knew I was going to the Abandoned Capital!” Cayna immediately summoned Cerberus. “Cerberwoof! Sneak around from behind so we can pincer ’em!” “““Woof!””” The three-headed wolf-dog that came out of the magic circle crouched low to the ground and then raced off into the woods on the right. When her internal radar indicated an incoming cluster of glowing red dots, Cayna whipped out Hungry Like the Wolf from her Item Box and wielded a Rune Blade as well. “Geh-geh-geh-geh-geh!” The thicket ahead rustled and cracked as a group of armored goblins peeked their heads out. “The Favelle Regional Guard?!” The goblin fighters wore leather armor, and over half wielded stone axes and spears. The rest were goblin archers and mages equipped with bows and wands. “Hold up. Aren’t there, like, sixty here?!” “Perhaps they account for more than one quest?” A look of impatience shot across Cayna’s face at the huge discrepancy between the quest monsters she’d expected and the quest monsters she got. The Favelle Regional Guard was originally a group of twelve quest monsters. This was five times that. Each was also level 200, which made them a collective powerhouse. A level-400-ish player could normally take on the quest with a party without issue. Although Kee’s defensive shield currently repelled their attack, the rain of arrows and magic missiles was a chilling scene. “Gigiii!” “Wha?!” In addition, rather than closing in on their quarry, the presumed goblin leader in the back gave the command to spread out. One unit advanced toward Cayna, but the rest went off in twos and threes in every direction. Cayna was powerful but alone, so this battle was to their advantage. After all, although she couldn’t let them go a step farther, the enemy had the option to avoid conflict. “There seem to be a few intelligent monsters in the mix.” “This is no time to be impressed! Kuu, help me out!” Cayna cast a spell as she sought the hidden fairy’s aid. Magic Skill: Spatial Stagnation Zari Rael: Ready Set “Take this!” A blueish white electric net fifteen meters in diameter covered the goblins who charged straight at her. Sparks flew everywhere as they were entangled in a web of pain and paralysis. The monsters were reduced to charcoal in an instant. Cayna didn’t even wait long enough to witness their demise before swinging the Rune Blade in her left hand and slicing in half the goblin mages who tried to flee. Answering Cayna’s plea, Kuu popped out into the air. After assessing the situation with a vicious glare, she sent a hail of red arrows down on a few goblins who had tried to escape to the right. No, it was more than a hail; the arrows were like a violent torrent that tore the three to pieces. “Yay me!” “A bit overkill, though.” Kuu’s innocent joy was terrifying. One group led by the goblin commander was quickly slain by the Cerberus’s ferocious claws and fangs when it sneaked up on them from behind. When Cayna checked her internal radar, the scattered goblins had split into two main groups, with one heading northeast and the other south. Since there were fewer enemies to the south, she left those to the Cerberus and chased the goblins escaping to the northeast. She continued straight ahead and eventually reached the main road leading to Felskeilo’s western gate. She kept a close eye on her radar, but at a certain point, the goblins suddenly disappeared off the map. “What?” Confused, Cayna came to an abrupt halt just as a cross-shaped flash shot at her from the opposite side of the road. There was no question it was some kind of blade technique, but she realized a head-on collision was imminent and instantly cast Air Blast Blade Giga Gohron, which she’d added to her shortcut list. The powerful wind jet and cross-flash clashed, and both attacks vanished into thin air. At the same time, a massive blade swung down from the forest. Cayna crossed the Rune Blade and Hungry Like the Wolf together to absorb it. “Cayna?!” “Exis?!” Her attacker was someone Cayna knew all too well. The puzzled Exis held his strike position for a moment but jumped out of the way when he noticed a large shadow pass over Cayna to swoop down on him. “““Raaaaagh!””” “A Cerberus?!” “Cerberwoof! Down, boy! He’s not an enemy!” After chomping the goblins to death as Cayna asked, Cerberus had followed from behind and quickly determined the figure crossing swords with its master must be trouble. The beast was about to leap into action again when Cayna called a time-out. Fangs still bared, it now growled by her side. To prove he bore no ill will, Exis returned his massive blade to the sheath on his back. Quolkeh came up from behind with her whip in hand. “Exis, I’ve taken care of things on my end,” she said. “Whoa—Cayna?!” “Oh, Quolkeh. You’re here, too.” “Were those your goblins just now?” While not exactly hostile, both eyed Cayna suspiciously. Since the goblins came from the same direction, they had mistakenly assumed she was the one who unleashed them. “Nope, it wasn’t me,” Cayna told them. “Only demons can summon goblins.” “Then isn’t there a chance Opus handled the summons and you brought ’em along?” “Of course not! I was attacked, too, so stop jumping to weird conclusions!” she exclaimed, thoroughly tired of these odd misunderstandings. “Fair enough,” Exis said apologetically, seemingly convinced. Quolkeh, meanwhile, wasn’t following the conversation at all, so Cayna explained why she’d left the camp. “I get your point,” Quolkeh began, “but that’s not what I wanna hear.” “Huh?” said Cayna. Exis was unusually fidgety; he brought his threatening dragoid face close to Cayna’s. “Exis has been acting weird ever since he got this one message from you,” Quolkeh went on. “He teleported us to Felskeilo in the middle of the night, threatened the guard and busted through the gate, then spotted a bunch of goblins and yelled, ‘What is this, a test?!’ and started going off the rails. Think of the poor soul who had to deal with all that crap.” She wearily took a canteen from her Item Box and started chugging it. “Wow, good work,” said Cayna. “Ain’t nothin’ good about it!” griped Exis. “What the heck was that message earlier?” “‘Earlier’?” “Don’t act like you forgot. I mean the one you sent about my sister!” “Ohhh!” Cayna pressed a palm to her fist upon remembering. “You mean Ark?” “Hurry up and tell me where she is.” “Chill out, Exis,” Quolkeh cut in, yanking him backward, “Cayna can’t talk if you’re in her face like that.” Exis was obviously worried about his sister. Cayna considered foisting her escort mission on him and decided to reveal Ark’s location. “Ark’s on guard duty over there…” As soon as Cayna specified his sister’s place of work, Exis raced past her toward the camp. Cayna and Quolkeh watched in mute amazement. “Um, I’ll follow him,” Quolkeh told Cayna. “Uh, right. Good plan. He might be mistaken as a shady character and captured.” Izunae was one thing, but the cath palug would spring into action if it deemed him a serious threat. It boasted a strength no armor could match, and Exis would need backup if he didn’t want to be taken out while wildly barreling toward the camp. After Quolkeh disappeared into the night, Kuu finally returned to Cayna. They looked at each other, and Cayna sighed. She decided to return to her earlier route. As Cayna approached the Abandoned Capital’s barrier, she glanced around and frowned. “This is pretty terrible…” Most people wouldn’t be able to see the semitransparent film barrier, but Cayna’s Magic Eye and Magic Perception skills were at full throttle and highlighted the condition of the present barrier. The curved surface, originally smooth as a pearl, had countless cracks running all throughout it. One section even had a giant hole in it. The barrier’s restorative functions hung on by a thread, but even if the hole were filled, widespread cracks across other areas threatened to open in a domino effect. The barrier wasn’t just nicked all over; it was clearly on the verge of collapse. “This is all because Opus did a rush job,” Cayna mumbled. Suddenly, the barrier rippled next to her. Thinking this signaled that monsters were on their way, Cayna wasted no time and entered a battle stance. However, both a discreet figure and a sinister one appeared before her in tandem. Such a combination was rare, and Cayna’s eyes went wide. They were an angel and a demon. The first was a young female angel with four white wings. The other was a headless tree in the shape of a person. The misplaced head was a white skull in a cavity on the right side of its chest.