CHAPTER 68: PAIN IS REAL

It’s on my shoulder. The Pirantroph corpse.

It was a relatively easy task.

Even though the Pirantrophs were stronger than the D-rank ones that I’m used to hunting as a mercenary, they were still pretty weak.

Their weakness is due to fact that ossess no special or unique trait, except from the fact that they can feel mana and somehow, unconsciously, through unknown means, gather it through their mana roots to form cores.

The bigger the core, the higher the rank.

The mana that these beasts possess though— It isn’t of any element, and it isn’t pure mana too. When I feel it, it feels like pure mana that’s been tweaked and made unusable, but usable only to these beasts.

I think K called it corrupt or poisonous mana.

But, if that’s so, what about that beast that I assume is an S-rank? Because it has a large core that’s neither pure mana, elemental mana or even corrupt mana.

"Hooo." I breathe out as I shake my head.

Well, all that doesn’t matter, there’s nothing I can do.

What matters is that I caught one Pirantroph. And I sliced its neck off with a windblade.

The moment the other Pirantrophs saw the display, they went into haywire frenzy mode, and they started running away under the pouring rain— heading deeper into the terrains.

I’m never going to journey deeper into those unknown terrains. I’ve seen enough of it to last me a year.

Now, the large pirantroph weighs on my shoulder. But the weight isn’t enough to make me quiver.

I’m out of the terrains. On that pathway that leads to K’s home.

Would he be at home? Hmm, this is around the time he goes out to that abandoned farm in Ludia.. If he isn’t at home when I get there, then I’d roast it and eat it without him.

I nod, "yes, that’s a solid plan."

The sky’s clears up as the pitter patter of the rain slowly fades aw–

"Really?! It chose now that I’m not in hell anymore to stop raining?!" I yell, at no one, maybe to the wind that’s my only audience.

"Haaaah, what shitty luck." I mutter as I continue moving.

Finally, I’ve arrived at the divergent point of the footpath. Straight leads to Ludia, and left leads to K’s house.

I stand still, and I glance at the Pirantroph on my shoulder, and I raise my head and stare at the city in the distance.

I shake my head slowly, a bittersweet smile on my lips. "I hope he isn’t at home." I tell myself as I turn left and walk straight to K’s house.

***

I open the small wooden gate, and I head inside.

"Five thousand two hundred and fourty-five..." K’s low, gruff voice rings out as the first thing I hear. "Oh! You’re back, kid?"

Shit! He’s at home.

As I glance at him, he’s still at that same spot that he was when I left about two or three hours ago.

He stops doing the push ups, and sits down on the floor, looking at me with eyes glinting with amusement

His face is filled with sweat that pours down to his bare chest and abs.

A satisfied smile plays on my lips as I nod, "yes, I’m back."

He breaks out with a low chuckle, "I thought you were gonna run away to Ludia." He says.

"I thought about it." I reply in a cheeky tone.

He nods, "I know."

Hmm, is that so..

"Then what would you have done if I really did go back to Ludia?" I ask as I walk forward, and gently drop the headless Pirantroph corpse on the ground.

I make my way to the corner where heaps of wood are kept. It’s close to the pile of training dummies where K dropped his sword and robe.

I scoop in an arm full of wood to use as fire wood.

"Is that really a question?" He asks with a slightly loud, stern voice. "We made a deal. I make you stronger, you help me with one thing. I can’t let you run off when you haven’t fulfilled your part of the deal. And in case you didn’t notice, but I know you definitely did.." he pauses for a second and points his index finger toward my chest area.

I stand in the area where I’m arranging the firewood to roast the Pirantroph. Dumbfounded and amazed.

"You’re stronger than you were before." He continues.

I don’t reply, I just continue arranging the firewood, and setting up stones around the woods.

He stands up, moving slowly toward me, "so, how was it?" He asks with a low, curious voice.

It was hell! The rain! And the ants! And the smell! And the mud! And that.. what the hell was that rainbow colored eyes thing??!

"It wasn’t bad." I reply.

He scoffs, slapping my back hard.

"Ouch! What was that for?!" I yell as I turn to face him.

"For lying to me. It rained. I know how bad the terrain gets whenever it rains. Oh! Did you encounter the Miroes? Those bugs only come out whenever it rains!" He exclaims, bringing his mouth toward my ear, and shouting in it.

I swear he’s doing this on purpose. If I complain he’ll say it’s eardrums training.

"Yeah. I encountered the mirrors or whatever." I reply bluntly. I’ve fully set the fireplace now. It’s ready to roast.

I stand up, and look straight at K. Waiting for him to take out the core.

"Miroes! Not mirrors, learn how to speak properly!" He yells again in my ear.

Haaaah, says the guy with the shitty Levarian accent. You mispronounce words more than an eight-year-old child. A normal one I mean.

I nod, then point my right thumb toward the pirantroph corpse.

"Anyway. Is that the reason why you used spells when I told you not to?" He asks in a cool, calm voice, devoid of that playful flair.

Shit. How did he even know?

"What are you even talking about?" I ask, trying to act cool.

He points toward the Pirantroph. "The head. It’s smoothly sliced off. And I don’t remember you taking any blade with you on your way to the terrains." he speaks.

Shit shit shit.

He has that mad glint in his eyes that tells you he’s about to–

Thwack!