Chapter 233

A new episode proceeded haphazardly.

A timer appeared ominously.

Simultaneously, an HP bar appeared right next to the timer.

This HP bar was not showing the HP of Carsein but someone else’s.

I didn’t know whose HP it was.

However, given that I had experienced this situation before, I immediately knew what to do.

As the time limit decreased, so did the HP.

If I couldn’t find them within the time limit, I would definitely meet a bad ending.

My current task was to rescue Claire, whose HP was decreasing.

“Oh, I think… my sister went upstairs from the conference hall.”

I thought about where I could leave a gift and places Claire might have visited.

After somehow extracting information from Flora, I ran at full speed.

In the midst of desperation, I thought maybe the term ‘Hidden Memorial’ was foreshadowing this situation.

If this situation was similar to back then,

I needed to hurry even more.

▶Expanding senses with Mana!◀

▶Beware! Overusing mana can burden the body!◀

‘I found her.’

A strange mana barrier was set up in a mysterious spot.

The place seemed soundproofed as no sound could be heard.

I began to suspect something.

You were quite popular in this world. Just like the second sister. So, it’s not strange for there to be someone like Yeeoungjeon here.

I arrived at the door.

It was certain that Claire was inside.

‘Internal situation…’

…I could guess.

-Slither. Clang!

“Ugh?!”

“…!”

I don’t consider this woman family.

But I didn’t wish for her to die like this.

“Ha. You really came far. What’s so important about a mere gift?”

“You… you?!”

-Ding!

▶The final boss of CHAPTER 2 has appeared.◀

▶Objective: Eliminate the Tree Monster Marf.◀

▶Level 150◀

[ HP : ■■■■■■■■■■ ]

▶Beware! If Claire dies, you will receive a Dead Flag!◀

[ HP : 35% ]

***

Being freed from Marf’s tentacles was clearly good news.

Whether casting magic to fight back or fleeing to seek help, it was crucial not to be restrained by the monster.

One should express gratitude to the rescued person.

But Claire, who had collapsed, felt sheer fear when she saw the boy holding a sword.

“Why are you here?”

‘No.’

I need to get up.

Claire struggled to her feet and prepared another spell.

“Hey. Get out of here now.”

“What?”

“Get out! Go ask for support or call for help. I’ll hold on until you do!”

Time can be stretched.

But I overheard the nobles saying that if Marf meets Carsein, he would naturally suffocate him.

That is, after saying such nauseating lines, Marf’s target shifted from herself to Carsein.

As Claire struggled to stand, she cast a spell to obstruct Marf’s vision.

“Quickly go. I’ve done enough to help!”

I’ve bought enough time.

With a surprise attack, Carsein might have enough time to escape this room and run.

Although there was no attack before, this time, a clear impact was felt.

Enough power.

Direct attacks.

Blinded while taking damage, the conditions for a perfect hit were met.

Now, it was about how long Carsein could hold on until reinforcements arrived.

However.

-Swish!

“Eh?!”

Tentacles flew out from the smoke.

The tentacle, with the same power as before, created a clear hole where Claire had dodged.

“What? How can you still…”

Claire turned her head in panic.

Marf revealed himself in perfect condition from the silhouette in the smoke.

“My future wife seems to have sore hands?”

“…”

“It won’t do. We need some etiquette training. It’s not right to threaten your husband with such dangerous magic.”

Three tentacles flew again.

Claire hastily tried to create a defense barrier to block them.

But the tentacles never reached the barrier.

-Splat, splat.

They cleanly cut through the thick wooden tentacles.

“Gross little thing. From the moment you started ruining Shatren, you’ve been weird. But you’re crazier than I imagined.”

Seeing Carsein shake off foreign matter from his sword, Marf glared.

“Again. Again. Again it’s you!!”

Marf roared in anger.

“Carsein… Carsein…! Who are you to interfere with my love!!!”

With a roar, a storm of demonic energy surged.

The force of the storm was so intense that objects in the room were pushed towards Marf, and Claire could barely keep her eyes open.

“Hey, Carsein!”

Amidst this, a wooden tentacle pierced the wall and headed towards Carsein.

‘No… This is too late…!’

I tried to cast a spell, but it was too late.

There was no way to protect Carsein here…

-Slash!

…Huh?

-Slash, slash!

The tentacles that had emerged from the wall were swiftly severed.

Even the green tentacles, which hadn’t been damaged by magic before, were cleanly cut.

Not once or twice.

This wasn’t chance; it certainly wasn’t luck.

Faintly visible now,

tiny runes etched into the blade and the subtle ripple of mana flowing into it.

Without a doubt, this was a mana-infused sword.

“I get it. You were eating the Shatren Territory and planning to buy a noble’s mansion with the money? Thinking Claire would accept you?”

“Y-You…”

“Looks like you’re right. That’s a truly terrifying delusion.”

“It’s not a delusion!!!”

-Ssssh.

More tentacles sprouted from Marf’s body.

“Claire is my woman. The one I’ve marked, my love!!!”

“Hmm. Even though it’s cut, it regenerates. Looks like it’s made using demonic energy. When the tentacles are cut, demonic energy remains. Wouldn’t poking the demonic energy receptor make it unable to regenerate for a while? For example,”

“Y-You…”

“Like this.”

When Carsein’s sword struck a tentacle, it withered and fell off.

That tentacle didn’t regenerate.

‘It’s true…?’

I never knew.

These thick tentacles had such a weakness.

‘If that’s the case… maybe fighting against them isn’t so difficult.’

Claire, who had been watching Carsein, stood up.

Just as a tentacle flew towards her, she deflected it away from Carsein.

Seeing the tentacle miss its mark, Carsein glanced behind.

“…”

“Carsein. I’ll cover you.”

***

‘That’s covering.’

It made sense.

The tentacle attacks were widespread. Blocking them was possible only from a distance, but getting closer made it impossible to avoid danger.

With short tentacles attacking from all directions and me holding only a sword, I had to intercept all attacks.

The back would be a straightforward fight.

So, do I have to cut all the demonic energy receptors?

That wouldn’t work. With his weakness exposed, Marf wouldn’t produce longer tentacles.

Thus, Claire’s proposal was the most correct.

While I slashed through Marf’s tentacles, she would use magic to immobilize or disrupt attacks.

In theory, this tactic was the most effective for me.

‘Maybe not entirely without options…’

It’s my last resort.

-Ding!

▶Claire joins the battle.◀

▶Claire’s HP will drop to zero if she dies.◀

[ Current Claire’s HP : 35% ]

There’s no other choice.

I threw an item to Claire.

▶Using Item!◀

“…”

“Drink.”

“Are you… okay?”

“Are you worried about me now?”

Hearing that, Claire silently took the elixir bottle.

◆Elixir

[ Can recover 25% of max HP over 5 seconds. ]

[ Repeated use causes side effects! Cooldown of 30 minutes required. ]

[ Only one of this item can be held. ]

This game’s rare recovery item.

Though expensive and with a cooldown, the recovery effect was sure.

If it works on Carsein, it should work on Claire too.

And indeed, Claire’s HP rose from 35% to 60%.

The problem was how strong Claire’s magic was.

“Your magic, does it work?”

“Of course! A magic beast with a mana receptacle can handle magic better than a sword!”

That means I just need to find a way in.

Plus, magic damage increases with casting time. Preparing multi-casting during downtime might be possible.

“What are you blabbering about!”

-Bam!

“Sorry, I let you talk to yourself.”

“You dared to speak ill of my wife! Die, you meddler!”

▶Defeat Marf!◀

▶Remaining enemy HP : 96%◀

***

“Die, die!!”

Tentacles kept coming.

Having experienced it once, Marf didn’t immediately extend his long tentacles.

But.

-Splat!

“Guh?!”

Just as a spell hit, the accuracy of the tentacles dropped.

“Claire…! Are you helping this guy instead of me?!”

“I’m grateful if you help elsewhere.”

-Slash!

“Argh!”

Carsein’s strike severed one of Marf’s branches.

Like losing an arm, this couldn’t be recovered by magic.

It was humiliating.

To lose an arm to a mere commoner’s sword.

But the most frustrating thing for Marf was Claire helping Carsein instead.

“How dare you, my future husband! Not only aiming magic at me but siding with this lowly commoner?!”

I won’t forgive this.

“I won’t forgive you. I won’t forgive you!!”

Rumble!

“What? An earthquake?!”

“Damn, that’s why!”

“What? Do you know something?”

“Claire! Get out of here now!”

What?

What does that mean?

Claire, who didn’t understand the situation, looked puzzled.

Dozens of tentacles sprouted from the floor.

“Isn’t this just blocking them?”

“Damn it! Just follow my orders!”

Carsein jumped and dashed towards us, cutting the tentacles and pushing Claire out.

“Eh? Hey! What are you…!”

Clumsily falling outside the room, Claire.

Before she could ask what was happening.

-Splat. Splat.

Blood droplets splattered on Claire’s fallen body.

“Carsein…?”

A thorn that hadn’t been removed had pierced Carsein’s shoulder.

Without Carsein’s protection, Claire might have been impaled by those thorns and died.

Yes. In a word.

She was protected.

Carsein silently pulled out the thorn and raised his sword.

Instantly, the sword sliced through the ceiling, precisely dividing Claire and Carsein.

“What are you doing?!”

The collapsing ceiling formed a wall of rubble.

Pushing Claire back as she struggled to get up, Carsein left only one sentence.

“Go back.”

“What are you…”

“…”

-Bam!

As soon as Carsein finished speaking, the room was completely sealed off.

Claire’s heart sank.

“Don’t do ridiculous things. You’re hurt.”

I feel frustrated.

The fact that I escaped safely alone feels unbearably frustrating.

“Fix this. You still have mana, right? Then you can fix this!”

No.

I hated that I couldn’t help Carsein, who was bleeding and fighting inside.

“Open it. Open it! We agreed to fight together! You can’t win alone, you know!!!”

As a sister who needs to protect her younger brother, it felt wrong to survive by relying on her brother.

Especially when told to run away alone.

“How can a sister do that…?”

Standing helplessly at the blocked entrance, Claire trembled in despair.

-Ding!

[I wanted to be a sister who could protect her younger brother : 90%]