novelraw Chapter 129 : You See All Sorts of Things When You Live Long Enough
Chapter 129 : You See All Sorts of Things When You Live Long Enough
Chapter 129: You See All Sorts of Things When You Live Long Enough
“Gweeiiik.”
The place they headed to with the Rainbow Pig in front was Michael’s house.
After confirming that Michael had just stepped out, they infiltrated it in secret.
“Thanks to Humphrey, we got in easily.”
“It’s fortunate that innkeepers have something in common.”
They had been able to determine Michael’s location, but the guest room door had been locked.
Just as he wondered what to do, Humphrey persuaded the innkeeper and received a spare key.
Beyond the door that opened without a sound, a small room revealed itself.
“How can there be so little luggage?”
“Michael is an employee with no greed for wealth.”
‘It seems he still thinks of him as one of his own.’
The not-so-spacious room contained only a wardrobe and a bed.
Humphrey searched under the bed, while Robin opened the wardrobe and rummaged through it.
Aside from a few sets of clothes, there was nothing special.
“There’s something here.”
Humphrey pulled out a chest from beneath the bed.
Daily necessities were gathered inside.
Among them, drinking glasses caught the eye.
Several glasses identical to those used at the Oak Tree Inn were stacked together.
“Could it really be Michael…….”
Humphrey’s brow furrowed as he examined the glasses.
Rather than the glasses, Robin’s attention went to a bundle of papers.
Amid the stale scent of paper that seemed over ten years old,
characters he had never seen before were lined up across the pages.
‘It looks like something I’ve seen somewhere.’
“They’re letters of the Demon Tribe.”
“You can read them?”
Robin handed the paper to Humphrey.
After skimming through it, Humphrey shook his head.
“I can only recognize the form. I don’t know the details.”
“Still, one thing has become certain.”
Humphrey erased the faint thread of hope he had held on to.
With evidence right before his eyes, his desire to defend Michael vanished.
Deep down, he had hoped it wasn’t true, but he could no longer deny it.
“Kkyuk. Gweeiiik.”
“We’re about to follow Michael. What will you do, Humphrey?”
From the moment Michael had left, the Rainbow Pig had kept its snout pointed toward the path he had taken.
Its tracking ability was astonishing.
Even so, it wouldn’t be able to last forever.
Although Sigbard had informed them of the location, following Michael directly was the surest form of pursuit.
“I have a request.”
“What is it.”
“If we find Michael, please grant me time to speak with him.”
‘It doesn’t seem like Sigbard would let him off quietly.’
“If he’s still alive.”
“That alone is enough.”
Humphrey gripped his mace tightly.
Veins bulged across the back of his hand.
‘Come to think of it, Humphrey doesn’t seem like an ordinary person either.’
“Pig, show us the way.”
“Gweeik.”
The two men walked in the direction indicated by the snorting pig.
“So you are a worshiper of the Demon Tribe after all?”
“…….”
Cold sweat streamed down the back of Michael’s neck.
‘Can I win?’
If the opponent had merely been a large-built adventurer, he would have attacked without hesitation.
And Sigbard, true to his massive build, was a warrior possessing tremendous strength.
At a glance, he seemed full of openings.
His thick muscles exuded intimidation, yet he appeared defenseless.
Nevertheless, Michael’s ambush had not worked.
“Why is there no answer?”
“…I am not a worshiper of the Demon Tribe.”
“Hoh? Then what was that demonic energy just now?”
So he knew that demonic energy had been used.
Michael did not know how much the other man had discovered before coming here.
His opponent was not an imperial constable.
He was a Copper-Ranked Adventurer like himself.
Just as he was about to speak casually in response,
Sigbard issued a warning.
“It would be wise not to lie.”
“…….”
“If you wish to prolong your life even a little.”
A chill ran down Michael’s spine.
That man had no intention of keeping him alive.
He spoke as if the outcome—Michael’s death—had already been decided.
“I have never met a member of the Demon Tribe.”
That was the truth.
As Michael began to speak, Sigbard jerked his chin, signaling him to continue.
“Rather than worshiping the Demon Tribe, I use demonic energy in my own way.”
“Your own way?”
“I learned the language of the Demon Tribe from ancient texts.”
As he obediently spoke the truth, he quietly clasped his left hand behind his back.
“You can control demonic energy simply by learning their language?”
“Yes. Other conditions are required, but it is not difficult.”
A black sphere formed in Michael’s left hand.
He condensed demonic energy to a degree he normally would not have dared attempt.
Swiftly throwing the sphere, he curled his lips into a smile.
“Like this.”
Swaeaaak.
The mass of demonic energy flew toward Sigbard.
Boom!
“Ha! How does it taste!”
From within the black dust, Sigbard walked out, cracking his neck.
“Not very tasty.”
“Tch!”
Michael hid his fluster and gathered demonic energy once more.
In a place where a large quantity of magic stones was gathered, he could exert greater power than usual.
He hurled a sphere stronger than the previous one.
“There’s nothing more.”
Whoong!
“Infuriating than being cut off while speaking.”
The sphere burst apart in all directions from the rod Sigbard swung.
Tak.
Sigbard leapt high and landed right in front of Michael.
As he tried to seize his throat, a gust of wind pushed Michael away.
Michael thought.
At this rate, the only future awaiting him was being captured by that monster of a man.
‘I had intended to take my time and learn more. It can’t be helped.’
Retreating, he gripped a small magic stone.
With the sharp tip of the magic stone, he sliced his palm.
The blood-soaked magic stone scattered sinister demonic energy.
Exposed to the demonic energy, Michael’s grip strength became far superior to that of an ordinary person.
Crack!
He crushed the magic stone in his hand.
At his next action, Sigbard raised one eyebrow.
“What are you doing.”
Gulp.
Michael swallowed the finely shattered fragments of the magic stone whole.
“You really do see all sorts of things when you live long enough.”
Though he had watched for a moment at the bizarre act, it was time to finish this.
He infused strength into the arm holding the rod and swung it.
Michael raised his arm.
Clang!
Sigbard’s eyes widened.
That was not the sound made when striking a person.
Moreover, Michael was still standing his ground.
“Khuhuhu, the gamble succeeded.”
Black stones sprouted across the surface of Michael’s arm.
Upon closer look, his skin had hardened like rock.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sigbard repeatedly brought his rod down, yet astonishingly, all of it was blocked.
“Your attacks won’t work anymore.”
“Then I’ll just hit harder.”
Sigbard’s momentum changed abruptly.
What he had thought would be a quick subjugation was dragging on unexpectedly.
He shifted from a swinging motion to a thrusting stance.
Against skin as hard as stone, point impact was more effective than surface impact.
“Hup.”
Enveloping it even with fighting spirit, he thrust in at once.
Kwa-ja-ja-ja-jak!
“…That was dangerous!”
Fragments of stone fell in clatters as Michael poked his head out.
Around him, countless magic stones had clumped together to form a single shield.
Sigbard’s rod, aimed at his heart, had not reached its end.
A wind rose, and the pulverized magic stones gathered at Michael’s fingertips.
Like dipping a finger into powdered sugar, he licked the magic stone powder and burst into laughter.
“Hahahahahaha! I see. So this was how it worked!”
Laughing like a madman, Michael opened his mouth wide.
The shattered fragments of magic stone turned to powder and were sucked into his mouth.
“No matter how hungry you are, to eat dirt like that. Were you that impoverished?”
Sigbard withdrew his rod and widened the distance.
The demonic energy the bastard was emitting surged sharply.
Michael, having inhaled his fill, had his entire body dyed purple.
Crack. Drrrdrdrk.
Not just his arms—his whole body transformed into hard stone.
“This isn’t a matter of whether he’s a worshiper of the Demon Tribe or not.”
The surrounding magic stones clung to Michael’s body like magnets.
Dozens, hundreds of magic stones attached themselves, and in an instant his size swelled.
“I’ll trample you, barbarian.”
It was like seeing the golem one had only heard about in stories.
Michael, now as large as a giant monster, brought down a massive foot.
Kooong!
The ground trembled from the vibration of that single step.
Leaping in place, Sigbard raised his rod vertically.
“Did you know.”
Kwaang!
The creature’s rocky arm blocked the rod.
“Compared to a potato, you’re nothing…….”
Thud!
Before he could finish speaking, he was struck by a fist.
Sigbard hit the ceiling and shot outward with a crash!
Thump! Thud-thud!
Rolling across the field like a kicked ball, Sigbard groaned and rose to his feet.
At the moment of impact, he had wrapped his entire body in fighting spirit, yet the shock had been considerable.
“Huh? Sigbard?”
Nearby, Robin and Humphrey stared at Sigbard with wide eyes.
Looking around, they were near the cavern.
That brutish golem’s punch had sent him crashing through the ceiling.
“Are you alright?”
“Ptooey. I’m fine.”
Blood was mixed in the spit he spat onto the ground.
Startled, Humphrey scanned Sigbard up and down.
“You appear fine on the outside.”
“What happened? Don’t tell me some dangerous monster came out?”
Robin’s question did not need an answer.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!
With the sound of a building collapsing, Michael emerged onto the ground.
Dragging that massive weight, he had somehow made it up to the surface.
“What is that?”
“It’s Michael.”
“That lump of magic stones?”
For some reason, it had grown far larger than when Sigbard had seen it.
Even at this very moment, magic stones were clinging to it one after another.
“That’s not even a monster—you're saying that’s Michael?”
It was only natural that Robin could hardly recognize him.
Michael’s body had long since been hidden from view.
He was likely buried somewhere within that enormous mass of magic stones.
“I’ve never seen anything like that in a safe zone.”
“That’s not the problem—it’s coming this way.”
Michael, now a Magic Stone Golem, came charging with heavy thuds.
It was clearly aiming straight at them.
“I’ll handle it.”
“Can you manage it alone?”
“That bastard sent me flying all the way here.”
Though Sigbard was far larger than an ordinary man, compared to that Magic Stone Golem, he was little more than a toy.
“I won’t feel better until I land a blow on him.”
Whoooooong.
Sigbard spun his rod with both hands, drawing up his fighting spirit.
The fierce rotation stirred up violent winds as if a typhoon had descended.
“Michael! You dare send me flying!”
Whether the resounding shout reached Michael was unknown.
Even as Sigbard prepared to give it his all, Michael did not stop.
“You two, do not interfere.”
The ground around Sigbard’s feet caved in as he leapt in a single bound.
The rod that had been spinning above his head came crashing down toward the creature’s head.
“Shatter!”
Kwaaaang!
This time, the creature crossed both arms to block it.
Crack-crack-crack.
The ground beneath the Magic Stone Golem sank to ankle depth where it stood.
Cracks spread across the arms that seemed capable of blocking anything, and then they collapsed.
If it were a person, it would have been akin to having both arms severed.
“Stay buried underground!”
Bang! Kwaang!
Sigbard stood atop the creature’s head, swinging his rod with fervor.
With booming crashes, the magic stones encasing Michael shattered and fell away.
The Magic Stone Golem bent down to retrieve its broken arms.
“Stay down! Crumble!”
Leaping off the tilted head, Sigbard prepared his final strike.
He spun the rod at high speed in a thrusting stance.
This technique, which maximized penetration, had even worked on a potato.
“The one who’ll be crushed is you!”
At Michael’s shout, a punch descended upon Sigbard.
The attack came from an unexpected direction.
The fallen arm reattached itself, and from the creature’s head, a fist sprouted forth.
Craaaack!
In haste, Sigbard thrust his rod, and its tip met the fist.
Once again, Sigbard had the upper hand.
The mass of magic stones was pierced, and before the shock could reach the head,
the creature’s size noticeably shrank as magic stones gathered around its head.
“Sigbard! It’s dangerous!”
Thud.
Another fist shot out from Sigbard’s side.
He barely managed to retrieve his rod, but he could not disperse the impact.
Once more, he flew far away, tracing a long arc through the air.
“Damn.”
Could he catch him even at a full sprint?
Focusing solely on running, Robin threw himself forward.
Shraaaak.
From a distance of fifty meters, he barely managed to catch Sigbard.
Given the sheer weight, Robin had no choice but to fall.
Even though he had caught him squarely, he slid across the ground on his back.
“Sigbard!”
“Kaaak! Ptooey.”
As soon as Robin came to a stop, Sigbard stepped aside and spat out phlegm.
It was closer to a lump of blood than saliva.
“I’m fine. Thank you, Robin.”
He did not look unharmed, but Robin felt relieved.
Sigbard’s body was no ordinary one.
Robin sprang to his feet and checked his back.
“Ah, it stings.”
“Your back’s scraped.”
“I’ll have to use a potion when we return. More importantly, what about Humphrey?”
The Magic Stone Golem, which had recovered its form even after Sigbard’s attack, now stood before Humphrey.
This was dangerous.
Just as Robin was about to shout for Humphrey to run—
“Michael, if you can hear me, answer.”
“…….”
“Can you truly not hear me? Or are you pretending not to?”
Even before that massive Magic Stone Golem, Humphrey did not shrink back.
Instead, he raised the hand gripping his mace and aimed it at Michael.
“This is my fault for failing to train my employee properly.”
The creature extended its foot toward Humphrey.
Kooong.
Before Robin could react, the spot where Humphrey had stood was crushed.