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Chapter 09
“Fine. Let’s hurry.”
We ran deeper inside. The further we went into the depths, the more crystals were embedded in the walls. The smell of blood grew stronger.
Then we saw the workers crouched on the ground. Bat-sized creatures were biting into them.
Crystal bats.
Their wings shimmered like crystal on the inside—beautiful, yet they were powerful monsters.
Still, not as strong as the slime wolves we had encountered on the way here.
—KWAJIK!
Cesare’s thrown spear struck a crystal bat directly. Spilling blue blood, the bat was knocked away.
Without giving it time to react, Cesare closed the distance instantly. Even without his spear, his movements were without hesitation.
“Just lie down like the rats you are.”
—BUUK!
He tore through one of the bat’s wings. As the creature let out a grotesque scream, he crushed it underfoot.
At that moment, another crystal bat rushed at Cesare from behind at high speed. It wasn’t particularly strong, but its speed was unmatched.
—KWAJIK!
Cesare grabbed its head mid-air—and twisted it cleanly. The bat collapsed lifelessly.
Once the situation was cleared, the workers finally lifted their heads. They stared at Cesare, trembling violently.
“T-thank you… you saved our lives…”
“Brown hair, black hair, bald, bald.”
Cesare muttered as he counted them off, then grabbed one of the workers by the collar, growling as if threatening him.
“Where’s that skinny blonde old man? Speak fast if you don’t want to die.”
The workers, who had just looked at Cesare as their savior, now changed their expressions. They began trembling again.
“H-he was dragged deeper inside. The crystal bats took several workers…”
We left them behind and ran further inward. In the darkness of the cave, crystal light flickered. A strong, unpleasant magical presence also lingered.
Cesare looked around as he ran.
“They’ve been mining in a place full of monsters for ten years. Maybe the director is actually a hidden master?”
“Crystal bats are usually docile, but it seems they’ve become violent due to breeding season. They must have taken the workers as food for their young.”
Since it was food for the young, it would take time. They wouldn’t die immediately—but we were still in a hurry.
We gritted our teeth and kept running. Then the space suddenly opened up.
A vast chamber appeared. The ceiling soared at least ten meters high, and the area was wide.
Sunlight poured in through a small hole in the ceiling. It struck the crystal ore, scattering brilliant reflections everywhere.
Under different circumstances, it would have been a breathtaking sight.
But there was no time to admire it.
Just as we were about to run toward the opposite exit—
—KIIIII!
A piercing scream echoed as something rained down from above.
Crystal bats poured from the ceiling like a waterfall.
Not one or two—but an overwhelming swarm.
They blocked our path. Protecting their young.
Cesare tried to cut through them, but it wasn’t easy. Then one bat dove down from above.
It aimed straight for Cesare, who was already busy fighting the ones in front of him.
I drew my sword and rushed forward. Just as I was about to sever its wing—
—KAAANG!
A spear and sword collided with a sharp clang.
Cesare blocked my attack and shouted urgently.
“Master, I’ll handle them all! Please don’t kill them!”
Blood was dripping from Cesare’s body. He was covered in wounds from the bats.
There was anxiety in his voice and gaze.
Was it because of his oath?
I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him back forcefully, retreating with the bleeding Cesare.
“Keep your distance. They won’t attack if you stay far enough away.”
The crystal bats only watched us cautiously and did not approach.
They were covered in Cesare’s blood.
At this level of blood loss, he was likely becoming anemic. Yet he still tried to rush back in.
“I’ll finish them quickly.”
“Wait. Listen to me first.”
“I can kill them all. I have healing potions. I’ll just use them and keep fighting.”
Cesare seemed unable to see anything else. He tried to shake me off and move forward.
A master’s role is to be a guiding light for their disciple. Especially if that disciple was shaped because of me.
“Trust me, Cesare, and stop.”
He flinched and froze. Even though his expression screamed that he wanted to leap forward immediately.
To keep that trust from being wasted, I spoke.
“Cesare. How do you infuse magic into objects or living beings?”
“Eh?”
He looked confused at the sudden question.
“W-well… you either make direct contact with the target, or use blood infused with mana…”
“Correct. And those bats are covered in your blood.”
A moment later, his eyes widened.
He finally looked around properly.
A smile spread across his face. He had regained his composure.
“You don’t need to explain further.”
The moment he said that, Cesare disappeared.
A shadow fell over my head.
He was suddenly above us.
The crystal bats were confused by his sudden appearance.
He was behind them. Their teeth and claws were stained with his blood.
Cesare could move to the location of anything he had infused his mana into. Whether that ability worked on living beings was uncertain.
Now we had our answer.
Cesare smiled cruelly.
“Still tough, huh? I thought you’d burst from the mana.”
—KWAJIK!
His spear pierced a bat.
As it fell, Cesare was already gone.
Like lightning flashing, he vanished and reappeared repeatedly.
Within ten seconds, five bats fell.
The enemies moved fast—but Cesare moved in instant shifts.
The bats began gathering rapidly into one mass, trying to block his movement.
But it was useless.
—CRASH!
Crystal shattered everywhere like falling starlight.
Cesare appeared near the wall. Blood was scattered across the crystal surfaces.
Wherever he had moved, the crystals shattered under the strain of his mana.
This entire crystal cavern had become his playground.
—CRASH, CRASH!
With each movement, more crystals broke apart, scattering light everywhere.
It looked like a galaxy had been born inside the cave.
Between the flashes of light, Cesare soared like a meteor.
As the number of crystal fragments increased, the monsters rapidly dwindled.
“Now—last one!”
He gripped his spear upside down and smiled.
He dove through the galaxy of light and struck the final blow.
—KWAANG!
The crystal bat was pinned to the ground.
Cesare landed on top of it.
“Damn things… nothing spe—”
He stopped mid-sentence and collapsed.
I rushed over. His face was completely pale.
“Cesare, are you alright?”
“Y-yeah… of course I’m fine.”
He stood up shakily, legs trembling.
I clicked my tongue as I supported him.
“Stop pretending. You’re low on both mana and blood.”
He must have exhausted himself using that technique repeatedly.
“No, I’m really fine. I can still fight. Master, just stay back.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but don’t be overprotective. Your master isn’t that helpless.”
Cesare scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
“Save your strength for catching cockroaches later.”
“Ah, of course. I’ll catch cockroaches and moths for you too.”
“Good. And start walking on your own again. You’re heavy.”
Though he could no longer use mana, he seemed fine walking.
We moved deeper once more.
After passing through a tunnel, another wide space appeared. This one was dim, with little sunlight.
A nest made of intertwined branches was visible in the darkness.
Inside it were figures—about four of them.
Cesare pointed.
“Hey! The skinny blonde old man!”
The director appeared to be groaning. He was still alive.
Just as Cesare rushed forward—
“Cesare, behind you!”
—KWAANG!
Something enormous dropped from the ceiling.
A crystal bat at least two meters long.
The ground where Cesare had stood was crushed. If it had hit directly, his bones would have shattered.
It was unusually large.
The mother bat, perhaps?
It spread its wings again—but instead of attacking us, it shot upward.
It slammed into the ceiling.
A violent tremor shook the cave.
—KUUUNG… KUNG!
Stalactites the size of human bodies began falling like spears.
One hit meant instant death.
“Wow, this rat is smart.”
Cesare dodged narrowly, shocked.
The crystal bat kept ramming the ceiling instead of attacking us directly.
It was a stalling tactic.
Then—
—KUUUNG!
The entrance collapsed.
A wall of fallen rock blocked the exit.
Complete darkness fell.
“Master! Where are you?! Ah—!”
A scream echoed in the dark.
Along with the smell of blood.
I could see nothing.
But I had fought in darkness before.
More than half my life had been spent in it.
I drew my sword.
Sight wasn’t needed.
Scent, sound, temperature—everything became a guide.
A flapping sound rushed toward me.
It was coming to protect its young.
Hunters had a rule: never touch the young.
Because if you do, the beast goes mad.
And I, too, was once a creature with a young one.
