Chapter 5. It Exploded
“Will you do it?”
No matter how good it might be to borrow the power of a spirit, how many people would want to give up a part of their body?
Of course, there might be some, but I’m definitely not one of them.
【Why!? Even without one arm, I can live my daily life just fine! I can still walk!】
Sure, if all you think about is getting stronger immediately, it might be better to give up an arm and make the contract.
But…
‘Then I can’t take revenge with my own hands.’
The important thing is for me to become stronger myself, not to get stronger by borrowing someone else’s power.
What if the other party gets fickle?
And above all…
“No. I won’t.”
The initiative of this situation is mine, so why should I?
Even if she offered way better terms, Frill would have no choice but to accept.
【Ah, no…】
“Bring different conditions. Ones where I don’t lose out.”
【Where’s the logic in that!】
“If you don’t want to, then stay here for a thousand years.”
【…Aagh!】
She yelled out in frustration.
But I remained calm.
‘I have nothing to lose.’
Even if this contract falls through here, it’s not a loss.
I already gained one divine power and solved the side effect of “Excessive Magic.”
Even if magic accumulates again and causes my body to collapse, I can just release it again using the “One Punch” skill.
Whether or not I contract with Frill, I have already laid the foundation to quit being a porter and leap forward as a hunter.
In such a situation, why would I sacrifice an arm to go through this contract?
Of course, I wouldn’t.
【You’ll die if you keep that up!】
Krrrrr-
Eventually, she created a spinning ice orb and began threatening me.
It was the skill I saw earlier.
“Frost Bomb.”
If it detonates, a blizzard will rage around and everything will freeze.
‘I can’t stop it.’
She’ll try desperately, but it’s probably nearly impossible.
The Frost Bomb skill I saw earlier was judged to be at least a 7-star level in power.
But there was no need to block it.
“Go ahead.”
【You think I can’t do it!? I can!】
I’ve never seen anyone who says that actually pull it off.
And then,
Sshhh-
The “Frost Bomb” skill vanished without a trace.
【Sniff… sob.】
Frill canceled the skill and started crying heavily.
Wait, was she really that upset?
【I want to… go outside…】
“…”
Okay.
Got it.
“What are the contract terms?”
【I’ll offer my power as the sacrifice… you just make the contract…】
“Fine.”
Finally, the right contract terms came out.
After sealing the contract with Frill, I searched the surroundings more thoroughly.
I was wondering if there was anything else worth taking.
【There’s nothing. Stop and let’s go quickly.】
Then Frill grabbed my collar.
Having sacrificed her power as the contract’s offering, she was now much smaller and younger.
From about 1 meter tall, she shrunk to about 30 cm.
Her appearance, which once looked like an adult woman, was now like that of a child.
Thanks to her puffed-up cheeks, she looked quite cute.
“Well, I still have to check.”
Cute or not, there was work to do.
Since this place held a dragon’s divine power, there was a good chance something else might still be here.
【I’ve been here for ten thousand years. I haven’t found anything in all that time!】
Frill kept whining, clearly wanting to get out as soon as possible.
“No. Wait.”
【Waa. Do Yujin’s so mean. Waa.】
“…”
Does getting younger make one more childish mentally?
She didn’t usually seem this immature.
“Just so you know, don’t call my name recklessly in front of others.”
【Why?】
“Because if things go wrong, assassins might come looking for me.”
【Assassins!?】
It’s been ten years since I fled Namgung Myung and the Gaia Order paladins.
I thought maybe they’ve given up tracking me, but I can’t let my guard down.
‘I did give Frill my “real name” because of the contract…’
If that name leaked in front of others, it could cause trouble.
【But only you, the contractor, can hear my voice anyway, right?】
“Really?”
【Yes!】
“But we did talk before the contract, didn’t we?”
【That was because I used a different power! Normally I can’t!】
“I see. Still, be careful.”
【Ugh…】
I kept her quiet and kept exploring the area.
‘Even if I conclude there’s nothing, that’s my own judgment.’
I think it’s foolish to give up my own judgment just because someone else says so.
Thinking and judging by myself, I’m responsible for the results.
And finally,
“Look at this. Hey.”
【…Huh?】
Among the melting ruins of the ice castle, I found something.
If I had stopped exploring as she said, I wouldn’t have discovered it.
I picked up a sword made of piercing blue ice.
《Everfrost Sword – One-handed Sword, Unique》
-
A sword forged with cold for ten thousand years.
-
Originally decorative, but became a powerful weapon after enduring ten thousand years.
-
On hit, inflicts ‘Frostbite’ status on the target.
【…Why hasn’t this melted?】
Despite the ice structures melting due to Frill’s weakened power, this ice sword showed no sign of melting.
“Do you know what this is?”
【I made it!】
According to Frill, this sword was one of the ice structures she made.
It was something she inserted as decoration when she was bored making ice statues.
But somehow, that decoration became an item called “Everfrost Sword.”
“That makes sense. Ten thousand years is a long time.”
I accepted that explanation reasonably.
Even if the origin was small, ten thousand years is enough to hold history and be reborn as an “item.”
I continued searching the ruins.
Now that I found something like this, Frill didn’t complain anymore.
“Found it!”
And as if rewarded for that effort, another “item” was discovered.
《Everfrost Core – Material, Unique》
-
A core imbued with the power of cold.
-
Used as a key material for crafting cold attribute items.
“I can’t use this right now.”
The Everfrost Core was a material item.
No way for me to use it immediately.
‘But since it’s a unique grade, if I take it to the Blacksmith Guild in Seoul later, it could be turned into a good item.’
That was enough for now.
After gathering these two items, I searched thoroughly but found nothing else useful.
“Let’s go now.”
【Really!?】
Frill, who had been expressing boredom with her whole body, brightened up and shouted.
It was time to leave.
Thud.
“Hup!”
I put my hands on the cliff and pulled myself up with effort.
“Phew, that was tough.”
Next to me, Frill flew around teasing me.
【Hehe. I can fly!】
“You’re so proud, huh.”
【Right! Now you finally recognize it?】
“……”
Frill could just fly next to me because she’s a spirit, but I’m human.
To climb the cliff again, I had to grit my teeth and use all my strength.
‘When the path disappeared in the middle, it was really dizzying.’
I had no choice but to risk a dangerous jump that would’ve meant death if I missed.
There were many close calls, but I finally succeeded in climbing the long cliff.
On the clifftop, I looked forward to see a red land laid out against the black sky.
And then,
【Ah, there are dead humans! And orcs too!】
The hunters who entered the dungeon with me and the bodies of orcs they killed came into view.
‘…’
Seeing that reminded me sharply of how dangerous it had been before.
The hunters who beat me up.
The Red Hunter who was slashing through them.
And…
‘The obvious weakest porter was me.’
But in the end, the one who survived was none other than me.
“Irony.”
And, I’d also benefit from it.
When a party member who entered a dungeon dies, half of the equipment the deceased possessed goes to the survivors who return alive.
This is stated in the Hunter Law, enacted during the Great Cataclysm’s early days to minimize item losses in dungeon raids.
And right now, the only survivor of the dungeon raid team was me.
By taking their items, I could legally claim half of them as mine!
“I probably can’t take it all, but whatever, it’s still good. I made some money.”
I quickly gathered the items.
Weapons, armor, various hunter gear, and consumables.
Even the mana stones they collected by hunting orcs.
The mana stones weren’t really mine, so that wasn’t a direct benefit, but the other stuff alone was quite a lot.
It would definitely be way more than the porter’s wages.
The amount of gear was huge.
One backpack couldn’t hold it all, and even after pulling out a spare pack, space was still insufficient.
“I guess I’ll have to bundle and drag it.”
But I had no intention of giving any of this up.
Since half would legally be mine just by taking it, I had to grab as much as possible.
While tying the gear together with a string,
【Wow, that’s amazing! A living orc!】
“After ten thousand years out here, I guess everything is fascinating?”
【Yeah! I want to see up close… huh? It’s coming this way.】
“Sure, sure. Keep watching…”
Wait.
What was that?
A living orc?
I suddenly lifted my head, sensing something off.
Kruaaar──!
The orc roared while staring at me.
“That guy… that’s the one from earlier…”
【You know that orc?】
“Yes.”
It was definitely the one who pushed me off the cliff.
Thud! Thud!
Holding an unknown hand axe, it slowly approached me.
“Come to think of it, that guy was here.”
I had forgotten for a moment, distracted by surviving and looting items.
I wasn’t the only survivor of this dungeon.
Clack-
Quickly, I raised the Everfrost Sword towards the orc, readying for battle.
【Are we fighting? Want me to help?】
“No.”
Frill wanted to help, but I declined.
“Not now.”
I need to understand the strength Frill has as my spirit someday.
I have to know how powerful she is to use her power when necessary.
But before that, I have to gauge my own abilities.
“I got a lot this time.”
The new abilities.
I would understand their power and make them truly mine.
That was the most important priority.
‘First, the Everfrost Sword.’
Kruaaar─
The orc swung its hand axe, which I blocked with the Everfrost Sword.
Klang!
‘…Not bad.’
The sword was light and sturdy.
Even if it’s made of ice, since it’s unique grade, this was expected.
But,
‘I’m not used to it at all.’
I wasn’t satisfied with my own posture.
I had swung wooden swords a few times, but never properly handled a real sword before, so it was natural.
‘It’s been a long time since I had just the right amount of magic.’
Because of my “Excessive Magic” trait, I had always been in a state of magic overload.
I had to forcibly use magic or suppress it with magic inhibitors to avoid my body breaking.
But now, I don’t have that much magic in my body.
Thanks to the “One Punch” skill, the released magic quickly recovered, but it was still at a manageable level.
‘This should be doable.’
Swoosh-
I flowed magic through my magic circuits.
Amplifying my physical abilities using magic.
Before, the excessive magic would have destroyed my body, but now it was different.
The power entered just the right amount, and my body accelerated.
I moved my faster body and dodged the orc’s hand axe.
Then I thrust the Everfrost Sword toward the opening.
Skkk!
Unfortunately, the Everfrost Sword only grazed the orc’s side.
The orc didn’t dodge well.
I just missed.
Though I got a good weapon, my technique didn’t match.
Since my swordsmanship skill was low, that was only natural.
‘I have to train.’
I definitely needed swordsmanship training.
Ku, ooh?
The orc looked confused and checked its side wound.
Frost settled on the wound.
‘That’s frostbite.’
-
On hit, inflicts the ‘Frostbite’ status ailment.
That was the effect of the Everfrost Sword’s hit.
Watching closely, I could see it somewhat limited the orc’s movement.
Kruaar─
The orc roared and kept attacking me.
I dodged, blocked, or parried its attacks.
‘Easier than I thought.’
It wasn’t difficult.
Handling one orc.
Since I had to suppress magic, I was just a porter, but my physical ability alone was at least a 3-star hunter level.
Now that I could use magic, a 2-star orc was no big deal.
This was my first proper hunter fight.
And I was quickly getting used to it.
Though awkward with the sword, I hadn’t landed a finishing blow yet, but I didn’t feel like I was in danger.
“Then now…”
It was time to test a new skill.
“One Punch.”
The dragon’s power skill, which had destroyed a cliff with uncontrollable magic before.
But now I had an extremely small amount of magic compared to back then.
‘I wonder how powerful it will be?’
How much destruction would the “One Punch” skill show using this magic?
Could I kill the orc in one hit?
“Phew.”
I took a breath and adjusted my grip on the Everfrost Sword with my left hand.
Kuaaar!
The orc didn’t miss the chance and raised its hand axe high, then swung down.
The hand axe was swinging as if it would split my head.
Whoosh-
I twisted my body and avoided the attack.
At the same time, I charged at the orc.
Then I clenched my right fist tightly and used the skill.
[Using Divine Power: One Punch Skill.]
[A small amount of magic is consumed.]
Shaaah-
All the magic in my body rushed toward one point.
Not as much as before, but thanks to the “Excessive Magic” trait, my magic was recovering quickly.
It all gathered into my right hand.
‘The amount isn’t much.’
A tiny amount of magic.
At most, equivalent to 1 to 2-star level.
How much performance could this amount of magic show?
Curious, I thrust my fist forward.
Vroom-
The magic gathered in my right hand vibrated.
As if a suppressed beast was unleashed, it burst out all at once.
Bammm──!
“Huh?”
And the attack hit the 2-star monster, the orc.
That orc also…
【Wow! It’s so cool how the orc exploded!】
“…Crazy.”
Literally, it ‘exploded.’
