Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 55 : Minor Demon Realm (5)

Minor Demon Realm (5)

With Ralph's Strong Sword, the bone monster Skel was split in half vertically.

Pugagak!

But that wasn't the end.

The separated upper and lower halves of the bones quickly reassembled, regaining their limbs.

Now, there were two Skels.

They were a lot smaller though, only about knee-high now.

'Skel's combat power is low, but you have to smash them several times.'

I threw a utility knife at the now smaller Skels.

Puk! Pak!

Pasasak.

Thankfully, my attack turned them to powder.

'That size is the last form.'

From the beginning, the Skel had been about waist-high when I found it.

That must have been because of the battle with the soldiers who got sucked into the Demon Realm.

"Ian! I'll take care of the first round, so you finish them off!"

That's exactly what I was going to say.

"Aren't we already doing that?!"

When Ralph broke them up with his Strong Sword,

I would quickly finish off the tiniest fragments with my Quick Sword.

"Getting mouthy— you little— oryup!"

Ppogogeok!

Peobeok. Pasasak.

The Skels vanished at a rapid pace.

We were actually coordinating well, fending off a heap of impets.

'This is fun.'

Until now, I'd fought almost entirely on my own.

But this teamwork offered a different taste altogether.

More concerning, though, was that these bone monsters stretched all the way down the corridor ahead.

'Endless. Seriously.'

I vaguely recalled whether this many Skels had come out of "Imprel's Burrow" before,

but I quickly pushed away the distracted thoughts and focused on fighting.

If I started daydreaming, Ralph and I wouldn't be in sync.

"Damn it!"

Finally, a curse slipped from Ralph, who'd been breaking Skels nonstop.

Suddenly, the new Skels were our size.

They had clearly skipped the previous battles.

Unlike the earlier ones, we'd have to break these guys four or five times to wipe them out completely.

'Leaving all the first rounds to Ralph won't work.'

Perhaps noticing the situation, Plerine shouted out.

"Both of you, fall back. I'll handle it."

Plerine was already right behind us.

There was no other way.

"Just buy me a second!"

I spoke to Plerine, pulled back with Ralph, and searched my bag.

Ralph wiped the sweat running down his chin and said,

"Shit! There are way too many."

I ignored him and handed him a rice ball I found.

"Eat this, Ralph."

"Huh? Now? I thought we'd eat before the Ruler's Domain—?!"

Before he could finish, I stuffed the rice ball in his mouth.

I swallowed mine as fast as I could as well.

〈 Strength increases slightly. 〉

〈 By consuming the completed Korean dish 'rice ball,' a bonus effect is granted. 〉

〈 Increased strength will not drop. (30 minutes) 〉

Good. I could feel the strength rising.

"Let's go, Ralph. Plerine, fall back!"

Switching the utility knife in my left hand for a kitchen knife, I charged up next to Plerine.

Then, using both hands together, I slashed at Skel's torso.

Pagak!

Now, I could also use the Strong Sword.

*

It wasn't easy, but Ralph and I managed to clear away the Skel herd.

We were both completely spent by the end.

I'm not sure I've ever moved so relentlessly in my life.

But that was fine.

Us exhausting ourselves was crucial to conquering the Demon Realm.

'Plerine saved plenty of mana, so it worked out.'

After all, the most important role in the boss fight belonged to Plerine.

So, everything so far was going according to plan.

'If I remember, not much should happen ahead anyway.'

Maybe a trap or two at best, but with Plerine as our guide, we could trust her.

"You both did well."

With that, we started walking down the corridor again, with Plerine leading.

Crunch.

As Ralph crunched a candy, he spoke.

"Ian. Can I ask you something?"

"Since when do you need permission?"

"That attitude, jeez. Whatever. Anyway, how can you use all the sword styles?"

Ralph had wondered about this ever since he saw me duel with Pab.

"I heard it's only possible from the 5th rank up, but you're the first guy I've seen do it."

Ralph's tone and gaze became serious.

Anyone obsessed with power and martial arts, like a northern soldier, would go nuts with curiosity.

"Hm. Let's do this. If you answer my question, I'll share my secret with you."

Ralph gave a disbelief chuckle.

"This guy, trying to make deals with me now? Fine. Go ahead, let's hear it."

Again, Ralph's a good-hearted but simple guy.

I explained as briefly as possible.

He already knew that my food has positive effects.

"So what you're saying is, Ian, if you eat, you can use the three basic sword forms and even Sword Energy?!"

Technically, it's not food but rice,

but Ralph muttered in disbelief.

"Crazy. Seriously, is that even possible?!"

"Whatever the case, isn't it good for a soldier of the Duchy like me to be strong?"

"That's true. But in other words... does this mean you can't use Sword Energy without rice?"

"......"

My body flinched slightly.

I could sense that Ralph was looking down on me a little.

Thinking I was just a 2nd rank, not a fellow 3rd-rank?

Something like that.

It pissed me off, but this is just how northerners are. Let's just let it pass.

I was about to exchange a little weakness for some valuable information.

"... That's what I wanted to ask. How did you advance from 2nd-rank to 3rd-rank?"

Ever since before my duel with Sergeant Pab,

I'd been yearning the most for exactly that: advancement to the 3rd-rank.

Unlike the blurry boundary between 1st-rank and 2nd-rank,

The leap from 2nd-rank to 3rd-rank was very clear.

'It's not like in a game where you just grind levels.'

At my question, Ralph's huge chin started to rise smugly.

"......"

His expression was so greasy I wanted to punch it,

but considering the advice of a man who reached 3rd-rank after decades of effort could be useful, I held back.

"Hmhm. Yes. Heh. Of course you'd be curious, since you're still a 2nd-ranker. Heheheh."

Should I just kick him in the butt?

But just as I was seriously tempted, Ralph suddenly spoke in a serious voice.

"Enlightenment will come."

"... Sorry?"

His statement was so obvious and bland it made my blood boil,

but Ralph continued without pause.

"When you 'completely understand' and awaken to Sword Energy, another something within you will speak to you."

Another something within me?

The system voice is always talking, you know?

That can't be what he means.

"The most important thing in advancement is 'complete understanding.' Not even a little bit can be left lacking. Otherwise, the succession of enlightenment won't come."

In the end, I blurted out with frustration.

"I already know enough about Sword Energy."

It's not like I've only played Belkhazium for a day or two.

"Hm. Really? Then try explaining it."

I mustered all my knowledge and explained Sword Energy to Ralph.

Transforming mana into physical force, 'real power'.

Maximizing its usage, overlaying energy onto the blade's form,

which increases the blade's hardness and cutting power.

In game terms, it's a passive skill that boosts % of physical damage.

"That's what Sword Energy is."

Ralph stroked his big chin and responded.

"You understand the theory. But that's not enough."

"Exactly. So explain what's missing. Like, what was the moment you advanced?"

"Hm. For me, it was during meditation. I hear people advance in different ways, though."

"Meditation?"

"Yeah, meditation. That time... Even now, just thinking about it gives me chills. Suddenly, I heard a voice. Haah. Really..."

A voice, huh.

Remembering the moment, Ralph's face looked deeply pleased—

but honestly, I was quite disappointed.

This wasn't immediately helpful advice.

'So, meditation, too.'

Come to think of it, I never had meditation in my training curriculum.

I'd always thought about getting stronger in a game-like way, so I overlooked it.

'I'll try meditating once I'm back in the village.'

Resolved, I kept walking.

"Hm?"

Plerine suddenly stopped in apparent confusion, and so did Ralph.

"?!"

I felt my breath get stuck in my throat as well.

My body grew instantly heavy.

'Damn.'

I dug through my bag and pulled out a Korean pear.

"Everyone, eat this."

Crunch!

.

.

〈 Strength increases slightly. 〉

〈 Anti-demonic power resistance increases slightly. 〉

〈 Since you have eaten enough Korean pears, anti-demonic power resistance will not drop. (30 minutes) 〉

Only then did my body return to normal, like when we first entered the minor Demon Realm,

and Ralph and Plerine signaled they were okay too.

"Ian. Do you have any more of that fruit? It's gonna be bad if you don't."

"I'm out for now, but don't worry."

I could just open the [shop window] and buy some if needed soon,

and we would reach the boss room any minute now—

"Boss. We're here."

Ah. Right on time.

The boss room where the low-rank demonkin boss Imprel would be waiting.

The official name is—

"The Ruler's Domain."

A barrier, obscuring the inside, shrouded the entrance.

This was exactly like the game.

Finally reaching the boss room, Ralph spoke tensely.

"Hoo. We made it all the way here. But, what does this mean?"

Ralph pointed at the number 4 written on the wall right next to the boss room entrance.

"That's the number of people allowed inside at the same time."

Anyone, even a hundred people, could enter the Demon Realm.

But only a limited number could enter the boss room.

'What a damned system.'

Think of it this way.

Say the clear rewards are for three, but four go in.

What would happen?

'Even if you defeat the boss together, people often stab each other in the back over rewards.'

The Demon Realm's boss rooms let more people inside than there were rewards.

But it didn't matter this time.

It's not like only one person can monopolize the Spirit Orb,

and all three of my party members are trustworthy.

"Anyway, Ralph, let me go over what to watch out for once we go in."

I once again explained Imprel's four patterns and phase two strategies, just as I'd done on the way here.

"Got it. I'll keep it in mind."

"Boss."

After I finished, Plerine opened her palm to me and said,

"I want to eat and fight too."

"What?"

"Rice ball."

The rice ball's strength buff had zero relevance to a mage like Plerine.

"......"

But you can't upset your party's bus driver.

So I politely handed her one.

Plerine ate with a satisfied look.

Now there was only one rice ball left.

But since it'd all be over soon, it was fine.

"If you're finished eating, let's head in."

"Okay."

Jijik.

Plerine passed through the barrier first to enter the boss room.

I saw the number on the wall change from four to three, and then Ralph and I went in after her.

Jijik. Jijijik.

Unlike the caves we'd walked through so far, this place had the feel of a sanctuary or altar.

Hwiing. Hwi-iing.

Though the interior was tightly sealed,

an eerie breeze from somewhere made everyone's hair flutter.

Even knowing the situation, the tension spiked.

'Now, soon, right in that center altar, imprel will appear.'

The fireflies from the Demon Realm entrance.

They drifted in from somewhere, slowly gathering together.

They turned into something like ghostly will-o'-the-wisps, seeping into the altar floor.

Suddenly, imps erupted from below.

Kkullung.

It all happened in a flash.

Kkullung kkullung. Kkullleung.

The imps' flesh broke down and wove together, forming a monstrous being five meters tall.

"Keugeugeug. Are you watching?"

Imprel, the boss of this Demon Realm, took on a form and appeared.

Facing a real boss for the first time made me swallow nervously.

Just as I was about to warn Ralph to be careful—

"Summon— Burn—"

Interrupted by Plerine's voice.

It was an oddly resonant tone.

It was the first chant I'd ever seen from Plerine.

I must not interfere.

Shiiik.

Small rings of fire spun on the ground around Imprel.

"Deploy—"

Meanwhile, the low-rank demonkin Imprel twisted its body grotesquely and recited the assigned lines.

"To the great Count Mor-ozen, I shall offer these heaps of flesh! Offer—ing!"

The moment those words ended, tick.

A magic array flashed in the space encircled by the ring of fire. Shining, with a blast.

"Azure Flame Pillar (靑焰柱)."

Hwaruk.

Enormous blue fire pillars shot up from below.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!

A magic array was completed and shone where the ring of fire had passed.

"Azure Flame Pillar."

Fwoosh.

Crack. Crackle!

Immense pillars of blue flames shot upward from below.

Kwagwagwang!

A fierce heatwave swept over my body.

Goosebumps erupted all over and my hair stood on end.

My eyes must have grown as wide as saucers.

It was a power I'd never seen in Plerine's magic before.

"Kuaaaaaaagh!"

Imprel's scream echoed,

but Plerine swung her hand downwards, without mercy.

"Flame Vortex—."

The rising blue pillars of fire twisted together in a great swirl.

The blue vortex of flame kept tormenting Imprel.

Again and again. Fwoooosh!

Eventually, imprel's screams cut off,

and the blazing flames died down.

Goooooo—

Where the pillar and vortex of fire had been,

instead of the low-rank demonkin Imprel, there was now a green orb the size of a human head.

The boss Imprel had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only an item.

'... This is unreal.'

A one-shot, one-kill that skipped all boss patterns.