017 – Nymph Inoi #17
An old, dry well.
Shining a smartphone’s flash into it, I was surprised in many ways.
My face was reflected.
“Water?”
No.
At first glance, it seemed as if water was collecting, reflecting my face, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that wasn’t the case.
What sparkled beneath the well was a bizarre haze.
To be more precise, it was the entrance to a “rift.”
“…Is it an anomalous rift?”
I would need to enter in order to know the details. Given the weak amount of magical energy, it seemed like it was an F-class rift or possibly even lower.
“So, this was a house where a rift opens.”
If the strange events that happened in this haunted house until now were caused by this rift, it would explain a lot.
The magical energy emitted from the rift creates a negative wave for ordinary people, leading to deteriorating health or causing them to have nightmares.
“Thank goodness it’s not a ghost.”
As I thought this, I brought in a piece of equipment that looked like a guitar bag from the room. Inside was a high-frequency blade I had used for a long time during my time as a D-class.
Srrrng-.
The blade, shining in the moonlight, looked magnificent.
This blade had cost around 5 million won.
I had earned even more from using this blade.
“Thanks in advance.”
Just as I was about to enter the rift, Inoi spoke up.
“This Inoi also wants to enter the well…! I don’t know if it’s just my feeling, but this Inoi can sense a Nymph-friendly energy inside the well…!”
“Really?”
What should I do?
On a personal level, I wished for Inoi to guard around this well. However, Inoi’s desire to go inside was quite clear.
“This Inoi really wants to go in…! I promise to stay quietly, so please take me with you…! This Inoi doesn’t want to be left alone….”
Inoi looked forlorn.
Hearing that it didn’t want to be left alone softened my heart.
This creature was the only Nymph in the world.
It was a friend who had rummaged through garbage and had been chased by the police all alone.
Would it be better to go together rather than leave it alone?
I had seen before that it seemed like entering an anomalous rift didn’t cause injuries due to rebound.
“Inoi, I’m telling you in advance: you can’t cause any trouble. You need to stay still.”
Well, I didn’t think anything serious would happen.
It seemed that this place was a rift with a weak magic force that wouldn’t even be caught by a “Rift Detection System.”
That’s why it had been opening at night without being detected by other Awakened until now.
—Kkung…!
—Zuzuzu…!
The Squirrel Beast and Emperor Ant climbed onto my shoulder.
I thought caring for these guys would be a bit difficult while entering the well, but I proceeded inside.
# # #
Wuuuung-.
It felt like my insides were twisting as if riding an extreme amusement park ride. My chest felt like it was about to burst, and I had the sensation that my stomach was lifting.
I had entered rifts countless times, but I never got used to this feeling. However, as a veteran, I had to assess my surroundings first.
“Where is this?”
Looking around, I saw the bright moon above. Below it, bushes swayed in the wind, and something green pricked my eyes.
“Aah…! The owner of the house is looking at that…! There’s a pond…! This Inoi has discovered a pond…!”
Just as Inoi said, there was a pond in the center of the bushes. Its width was similar to that of a large communal bath.
It was a pond that could be considered small or large depending on perspective.
The blue water of the pond reflecting the moonlight had an oddly surreal feel, but soon Inoi began to tremble intensely behind me.
“It’s a very Nymph-friendly pond…! This Inoi wants to jump in right now and show off ‘Nymph Splash, Wild Water Splash’…!”
What is Nymph Splash, Wild Water Splash again?
Every time Inoi spoke, it felt like my common sense was being eroded like a sandcastle by waves.
Anyway.
With such thoughts, I moved forward toward the pond. As I thought I didn’t sense anything unusual, something erupted from the surface of the pond.
Two periscope-like shapes.
“What—.”
As I was trying to figure out what they were, a large current surged, making the pond seem to rise suddenly.
To be precise, something inside the pond was rising.
—Grek, greb.
It was a creature making strange noises.
It was huge, about 5 meters wide, and it had pincers on either side.
“Crab!?”
I was greatly surprised.
While I had witnessed various ecosystems in rifts, this was my first encounter with a “large crab.”
Its appearance shimmered darkly like a galaxy, making it even more mystical.
“Aah…! That’s the crab known to have pinched the heel of Hercules, ‘Carkinos’…! It’s a Nymph-friendly species, but it’s said to be delicious when cooked…!”
Galactic Crab.
It was a fitting name.
Hearing that it was a Nymph-friendly species, I thought it might be a creature that followed people well, like the Emperor Ant or the Squirrel Beast.
However, the large crab started clicking its pincers threateningly.
A chill ran down my spine.
In an instant, feeling paralytic, I shoved Inoi away.
“Inoi, get away!”
“Hiieek…!”
I pushed Inoi away with my hands, and it flew—boom!
Soon after, something heavy collided with my body.
Kkakakak-!
My weapon, the high-frequency blade, screamed.
I had to withstand a weight as heavy as being hit by a one-ton truck.
—Grek, grek!
The crab opened its grotesque mouth, making incomprehensible sounds. I had never learned the language of animals, but it probably meant something like, “Intruder, get lost!”
With this, I had no choice but to fight.
“Ugh!”
Kaaaang-!
I gathered all my strength into my legs and arms. After a long time of maximizing my power, my muscles screamed as I unleashed an explosive force.
Bang—!
The galactic crab was finally knocked back.
—Gurrr, greb-.
Its shimmering galactic shell showed no signs of damage. The high-frequency blade, capable of splitting even average D-class demons like firewood, was ineffective against it.
What that meant was simple.
“This monster must be at least C-class! It was hiding so quietly that it wasn’t detected!?”
C-class demons were strong.
When they were first discovered, it was referred to as a “disaster.”
Of course, there were many C-class hunters now, and tactics and ecological details about C-class demons were well known, so the risks weren’t the same as before…
I had just recently reached C-class, and this galactic crab was the first of its kind I had encountered. I thought it wouldn’t be easy, but the crab charged at me again.
Kuuung-!
A simple physical assault using its bulk.
But because of its size, even a simple body slam had great power.
“Ugh!”
I screamed as I was sent flying.
The problem was that the crab, having sent me flying, turned its gaze toward Inoi.
“Hiieek…! That crazy crab is targeting Inoi…! It clearly has a deep grudge against Nymphs…! Hiieek…!”
What would happen if the crab went after Inoi?
Something terrible would surely happen!
I shouldn’t have brought Inoi along after all.
That was my mistake.
Protecting civilians is the duty of an Awakened, after all.
Even if it meant perishing together, I had to get Inoi to safety.
With such thoughts, I gripped my sword tightly.
My internal magic capacity had reached C-class.
As I spread that abundant magic energy from my heart to my fingertips and toes, I felt my whole body temperature rise sharply.
I channeled all of it into my weapon.
Simplicity itself is strong.
Just as I was concentrating my entire magic into the weapon for the symbolic technique of C-class hunters, the “Mana Blade….”
Goooong, zzz- bang!
My high-frequency blade vibrated violently and shattered!
“Are you kidding me!?”
To have my weapon shatter after blocking the crab’s attack just twice. The crab’s shell was more robust and powerful than I had anticipated.
—Krek, greb, grr-.
While I was looking for another method, the crab opened its hideously shaped mouth and spewed bubbles from it. The color was purple, and just by looking at it, it seemed dangerous.
Indeed, the wood that came into contact with the bubbles showed signs of corrosion, indicating it was poisonous or acidic!
“Hiieek…! It’s Nymph-hating bubbles…! Owner of the house, don’t mind this Inoi, just run away alone…! This Inoi will attract its attention…!”
Surrounded by bubbles and screaming, Inoi.
I tightly closed my eyes.
I thought it would be right to break through the bubbles with my body and save Inoi when…
—Kkung…!
Bang, bang bang-!
Something brown and furry burst through the bubbles and rushed toward Inoi. It was none other than the Squirrel Beast Kkungkkungi!
Kkungkkungi, with its swift movements, burst all the bubbles surrounding Inoi and then charged at the gigantic crab.
—Grrrr…!
A thunderous roar.
And even more astonishing things happened next.
Ka-BANG—!
It sounded like two trucks collided, and the giant crab’s body swayed greatly.
—Greb, greb!?
“…What is this!?”
I was very surprised.
Could Kkungkkungi be strong enough to face a C-class demon!?
Soon Inoi was also greatly surprised.
“I knew Kkungkkungi was the top Squirrel Beast, but I’ve never seen such a strong Squirrel Beast in my life…! It’s truly amazing…!”
It was astonishing.
At that moment.
Something clung to my leg.
I turned my head and saw the Emperor Ant Angangi attached to my leg, expressing something.
—Zuzuzu, jizuzu,
What did it want to say?
Soon, Emperor Ant Angangi started crawling all over the wreckage of my broken weapon, picking it up and bringing it to me with its pincers.
I felt like I understood what it was saying.
“Are you saying I should infuse you with mana?”
The weapons of Awakened beings.
They were generally made from materials that could maximize the energy known as ‘mana.’ That’s why superconducting blades are of such great value and become weapons for S-class users.
“Could it be….”
As I pondered quietly, the thought that “Kkungkkungi’s fur possess a unique mana” came to mind.
Could it be that Kkungkkungi became so strong because the mana that burst forth when my weapon broke enveloped its fur─?
If that was the case, what about the Emperor Ant, which could be on par with Kkungkkungi? This creature’s gleaming golden armor and horns started to look even more impressive.
“It sounds impossible….”
I had experienced more than anyone the transition from what was seemingly ‘impossible’ to becoming ‘common sense’ since I first achieved D-class after the rift had opened.
“Infusing mana into a living being. Today, my common sense will change once again. Huuugh!”
Swoosh-.
I touched Angangi with my hand and infused it with mana.
Wuuuung-.
Then I felt the body of the Emperor Ant shining with golden radiance becoming even more brilliant. The target I should aim for was the relatively softer joint area of the exoskeleton.
“Ant─.”
With that, I threw the empowered Emperor Ant towards the gigantic crab monster.
“Annihilation Blast!”
Pshuuuuuuuuu-!!!
The ant darted through the air faster than expected.
It finally struck the giant crab, penetrating its body and lodging itself in the tree behind it.
Pwak, pwak, pwak, bang!
It had exceptional penetrating power. The crab’s left leg was completely severed!
—Greb….
The crab fell after being fatally injured by losing its left leg. As I saw the ground shake, I realized its weight was no joke.
So, it wasn’t just my weapon that broke for nothing.
That was both the monster’s strength and weakness, causing it to perish under its own weight.
“…I really defeated a C-class monster all by myself!”
—Kkung…!
—Zuzuzu…!
“No, to be precise, I wasn’t alone. Still.”
It was truly astonishing.
I thought everything was over after my weapon broke.
—Greb….
The giant crab groaned and finally lost its strength, breathless. Now that the creature that resembled a Rift Core had died, the rift should slowly begin to close—I thought, but it didn’t.
It meant that there was a separate Rift Core.
At that moment, Inoi said.
“Aah…! Look at that…! Now that I see it, there’s something strange tied to the right leg of the galactic crab…!”
Just as Inoi said, something was tied to the crab’s leg.
It was something like a handkerchief.
“This handkerchief tied to the galactic crab’s leg has the name Grebnoi written on it…! This crab’s name was Grebnoi…!”
Grebnoi.
It was a peculiar name.
At the same time, something popped into my head.
“Wasn’t ‘noi’ a name given to Nymphs born in autumn and summer?”
“That’s right…! But we Nymphs sometimes gift names like ‘noi’ to our pets and honorary Nymphs as well…. This Grebnoi must undoubtedly be a Nymph’s pet…!”
It was a strange story.
“Let’s get out first.”
I took the handkerchief and exited the rift.
The rift did not close.
It might mean that the handkerchief wasn’t the Rift Core or that this rift was peculiar.
Exhausted from expending all my magical energy, I lay on the ground of the haunted house that night and dreamed.
In the dream, I was a small being, being looked down upon by someone. It was a dream of someone gently petting my hard head with soft hands.
—My friend Grebnoi, be sure to protect my treasure. I will return soon, so please take care of it.
—Greb, greb.
After that, the little sentinel guarded the pond for a long time.
A very, very long time.
So long that longing transformed into sorrow and resentment, and that sorrow and resentment transformed back into longing.
I opened my eyes.
“The Rift Core was buried in the ground. The crab was guarding it.”
