Chapter 28
Bad Omen
"Finally! Thank you for purchasing the Black Heart! Here I will even give the scabbard for free!" Lyne said as she threw the scabbard at me.
I finally bought the Black Heart! The Longsword I've been eyeing for more than 2 years! Ehehe! Ahh, I can't wait to test it out!
Not even hearing Lyne's word of appreciation I ran out of the store with both the sword and scabbard in hand. Toward the adventurer guild.
Inside I find that today it is bursting with people. That means some party manages to conquer a dungeon or make a big accomplishment.
I walk toward Annette as quickly as possible. "Annette! Is there any Job or Request for slaying monsters?" I ask her. My eyes practically light up as she smiles at me.
She took out one of the papers that was nailed to the board behind her and gave it to me.
"Of course, for our favorite adventurer Miss Lucelia. This job is requested by the Lord himself too! There is a rumor of an Elder Treant making a habitat in the forest. So the Lord's order was to investigate the area and make sure that the forest is safe."
I was beaming from my eyes! Elder Trent! A Trent monster that lives long enough to be able to use Magic!
As I was about to grab the paper she pulled it away. I was confused and looked at her for an answer.
"Miss Lucelia, This is a B-rank Request. As you are right now a C-rank adventurer of course you can accept it. But the content of this Request is to make sure that there is an Elder Treant in the forest, not subjugate it. Do you understand?"
"Ehhh! But it was an Elder Treant! You know that it is not common for it to be here! I want to fight it too!"
I try to forcefully take away the Paper but her height is making me look like a child trying to take candy from an adult.
"Fine! I promise I won't subjugate it!" I said that. She stared at me sternly before sighing with a smile.
"Then, Miss Lucelia has accepted the Request of Investigating the Forest for Elder Trent." She announced loudly so that other adventurers could hear it.
I thank her and walk toward the door before turning back to look at her.
"I said I won't subjugate it but that doesn't mean I won't Fight it! Bye!" Before she could proceed with what she heard I already made my way toward the forest.
I heard laughter from the adventurer guild from afar too.
As I arrived at the Forest I began to notice something was different. The atmosphere is much heavier than before. The stench of dried corpses and even manure is mixed with the smell of the forest.
The stench would make someone with a good nose like Ghislaine Puke.
As I make my way deeper and deeper the stench becomes stronger. But there is something strange.
There was no sound at all. From the sound of insects or birds or even other monsters.
I quietly take out my new longsword. It was heavy but it was right for me. The length is about 180 cm. The pure jet black blade with a blue line. The handle feels like it was made for me.
"Now then...since Lyne said it was made from Black Drake mana core it is essentially a Semi Magic Item. Let's see what would happen If I pour my mana in…" focusing on pouring a bit of my mana in the Black edge of the sword starts to shine and then a black liquid starts to form around the blade.
"These are...Poison? Hm...since the Black Drake is known for breathing out Poison, maybe this is the secret?"
The liquid poison that is more lethal than even the Twin Death Scorpion Poison. I don't think I can detoxify this just yet. I need more knowledge about this.
Well, I tested it enough. Time for a combat test.
But I think I walked for more than 30 minutes already? But why isn't there even a sign of life in here? Elder Treant...what do they know for again? Big tree...blend in the forest and ambush prey-
Fwush!
Without thinking my instinct took over and cut away all the roots that were aiming at me. With precision, I cut everything down but one of the roots managed to touch me.
Turning around I saw what I was looking for...not.
"Holy shit...It's not just Ordinary Elder Treant. It's a Vampire freaking Elder Treant! How?!" Without leaving me time to think, all the roots in the area started to move some trees too.
"What the?! Parasites! It affects the trees around the area and makes it their own!?" I quickly back away while cutting the root after me.
Ok, this...is quite a situation. Not only is it not an Ordinary Elder Treant but it is a Vampire Variant, which should not be possible. Vampire Treant didn't live long and it only ate insects making it essential for farmers or the Forest.
But this thing...It sucks the blood and nutrition of other animals for itself and grows. From the look of it, this thing looks like a 20-year-old tree.
Slowly backing away from it I try to get some distance between us.
Roar!
"Holy shit! You even got a mouth- shit!"
Suddenly a fireball was launched behind me. I dodged it swiftly but that was a close one.
"Man! It almost got me! That fireball is no joke, it could probably destroy my Touki."
I mutter out. I ready my stance while watching the Treant for its movement.
"But this is good...This is your Debut Black Heart. Don't disappoint me!"
With a roar, I rush forward cutting down the thick root and tree that start to move to block me away from the main body.
More and more Fireballs, Earth Bullets, and even some Wind bullets were sent my way But I countered them all with my magic.
I can feel my mana is being drained at an alarming rate but I keep going. Keep slashing and hacking my way through the sea of trees and roots until I finally meet its main body.
It was big. Too thick and around it are layers and layers of hardened dirt acting as armor. This thing is smart so it is a fiend.
Checking the condition of my Black Heart I noticed that there wasn't even a scratch on this thing. Smiling to myself, I changed my Position. This time I held it outward and focused my Touki around the blade. A blue spark let out of the blade and then burst into a blinding Blue flame.
A new Path I found. Unlike the regular Magic Knight which uses magic to support themself or teammates. I will use my magic along with my swordsmanship.
I still don't have a style of my own but this is a start. I walk toward it slowly with a feral grin while slashing everything it throws at me.
From Fire lance to Ice hammer. Then it raises one of its arms up. An arm that towers over 10 meters in size alone is coming down at me with the speed of a bullet.
My smile deepened and holding my sword up in water Style I waited for it to come. Just as it was about to hit me I moved my hand.
Boom! Roar!
It roars in pain as the giant arm falls down to the ground with a big boom. My hand is twitchy from the weight and hardness of its arm but it is just a minor inconvenience.
Finally walking toward it I finish it off with a simple horizontal slash. It roars out one final time before the whole tree starts to rot.
This never happened before. When they die they won't rot away. Otherwise, how can we get firewood from them?
"This...isn't normal. From Vampire Treant that became Elder and the whole Rotting thing. And the fact that it eats almost everything in this forest. I need to report it to the guild." Sheathing my Black Heart into the Scabbard I take some of its twig with me and make my way back to the guild.
…
After I report this to the Guild and get an earful of ranting from Annette. I make my way back to the mansion.
The events of today are still replaying in my head. The sudden mutation of monsters in Roa is alarming, and Paul's secret letter is the same. He said that the monster in Buena Village is acting strangely and it increases more and more.
Adventurers have come to this city more because of the increase in monsters and the escort job being more profitable.
Suddenly a looming shadow overcomes me. I turn back only to see Chaos Breaker just right above the City or Roa. There was a sudden flash of light from the castle and it moved toward the Black Orb in the sky.
I didn't see much as the light faded away.
It's strange...why would the Chaos Breaker be in here? It has been here for more than 2 years already! Something is definitely going on...but what is it? Can I deal with it? Without Grandma Knowledge or Anashia Power, I wouldn't know what that is.
"...Sigh...there is nothing I can do." I turned back and made my way toward the mansion. This is giving me a bad feeling.
…
"Lucy! There was a letter from Roxy to you and me!" Rudy said excitedly as he ran toward me and handed me a...box?
"Hm? I don't think I sent her any letter?" I ask, feeling confused about this whole situation.
"Oh! I asked her about learning Demon Language about 3 months ago and she sent us this! I already opened mine and it contains a handwritten book about how to speak it. Maybe yours will be the same too!"
I nod at him. "I see...Learning other Languages huh?" As I ponder about things Rudy suddenly hands me a book.
"I already mastered the Fighting God Language so you can have this." He said excitedly before excusing himself to his room to learn more. I laugh at his attitude.
He is always so excited whenever it is about Roxy. Ha...maybe after I read her letter I should ask her about these strange events?
Well, that is for later. I should get to my room now.
…
Arriving at my room I drop the box on the table and stretch myself a bit. God! These were heavier than I thought!
"Now then let's see what She sent me." Sitting down on the chair I open the box. The first thing I see is a letter written on clean paper. It was the expensive kind.
I took it out and laid it to the side then started to pick the other thing. A handwritten book with leather for the cover. And then a scroll?
I put everything aside and picked up the letter and opened it up.
Hello Lucy, this is Roxy Migurdia.
It's been a long time since our last letter, right? I think it was around 2 or 3 years ago.
How are you doing? I'm doing great.
I started learning other Magic to Saint Rank too. Like earth magic but honestly, it was really hard.
Anyway, this isn't about me ranting. But I received a letter from Rudy saying he wants to learn the Demon Language so I decided to send you and Rudy the book.
By the Way, Rudy mentioned that you discovered one of the secrets of magic to me. And he even tells me how in the letter too. Of course, I didn't share that knowledge with anyone else.
I recommend you report this to the Magic Guild. Not only will this be an achievement under your belt but it also will boast the Research in Magic Theory.
Of course, I won't force you.
Anyway, this is the end of my letter, let us meet again in person.
Most sincre Roxy Migurdia.
P.S. There is a surprise for you.
And that...was the end of Roxy's letter. Hm? So Rudy tells her about that Thing? Well, it's not like I mind and she said she won't tell it to anybody so I'm ok with it.
But announce it to the Magic Guild huh? I will need to research more into this and put on a presentable essay about it. Well, that can wait. Let's see what Roxy Gave me!
First is the handwritten book of Roxy's Demon Language Education. It is quite thick. How is she able to write this two times?
Inside it is easy to understand how to speak, how to make specific sounds, and others.
And the other one...I pick up the scroll and open it up. Inside is a language I don't even know. I don't understand any of this. But I found a sentence written in Human Language.
Secret of Detoxification magic.
I can't decipher this with the thing on my plate but I believe that you and Rudy can decipher this. It is in the ancient Demon Language which is quite similar to the present Demon Language.
I believe in you two. Roxy.
Hoh? A secret to detoxification magic? How did she find this anyway? Maybe because she is in Shirone there may be a lot of things to sell. Maybe a hidden treasure she found?
Anyway, let's see...yup not understand anything. Well, leave it for later and go to sleep. I was too tired today.