Chapter 10

The magical binding that had held me captive was finally released.

This was proof that my plan, based on fragmented fantasy knowledge I’d picked up from the village chief, had worked.

Honestly, it was a gamble. But it was also true that I had no other choice. “You scoundrel! You tricked me…!”

“That’s my line!”

The pain I endured was enough to turn even a best friend into a sworn enemy.

I had let my guard down, believing the village chief’s promise that it wouldn’t hurt, and I almost completely lost my mind.

A certain god says it’s the outcast’s fault for being deceived. Thanks for hitting a nerve! “You, you scoundrel…!”

The village chief, recoiling immediately after being punched in the face, was greatly agitated. But that was all. My punch inflicted no significant damage on the village chief. Was it because his level was high? Or because he wasn’t human?

Whatever the reason, since I couldn’t defeat the village chief, I decided to focus solely on escaping. “That magic won’t work anymore!”

Because we had made a contract with Black Magic to trade lifespans.

That if I survived, he would release me freely.

And I survived. Now it was the village chief’s turn to fulfill his promise.

“How can you be alive?!”

“I’ll tell you when you’re dead!” [Outcast] The Outcast’s blessing even reset my reduced lifespan.

I had anticipated this from the start, but isn’t that too overpowered?

“Hmph! A mere brat who barely survived…!”

“Chief. Don’t forget your promise.” “Gah!” I retrieved the Blue Cutter, displayed among various weapons. I was no match for the village chief bare-handed. The next thing to do was…

“Bingo.”

I visually searched for the smallest elf here.

Snip.

I cut the bindings of a female elf with long, emerald-colored straight hair. ” …?”

“Witness secured.”

For me, who couldn’t speak their language, the testimony of an elf imprisoned in this basement was absolutely necessary to explain things to the villagers. Stumble~ Thud. But the elf, having been mistreated for so long, couldn’t walk on her own. “□, □□…”

“No choice, then.”

I had anticipated this level of difficulty from the beginning. That’s why I chose the smallest elf, who seemed like she’d be the lightest. Thump! I picked up the female elf who had collapsed on the floor and slung her over my left shoulder like a sack of goods. Then I ran quickly towards the basement exit.

“No…!”

The village chief wouldn’t just stand by and watch. If I went outside and exposed the truth of the basement to the villagers, he’d be finished. “Hahaha! Chief! You haven’t forgotten your promise, have you?” The contract was absolute. The village chief had to sit idly by until I met ‘Misa.’ Of course, there was no way to find her, who had turned into gnoll poop. “Promise? Hmph! I’ll just give up the lifespan I received from you and break the contract!” “What?! Is that how it works?!” There was a huge flaw in the Black Magic contract that I thought was absolute. A bluff? No.

Thud.

I reached the basement exit and was once again caught by the village chief’s magic, unable to move. “Hahahaha! Comrade Kang Han-soo. I’m very disappointed in you. So, give up any thoughts of dying peacefully.” “…I think it’s a bit too early to give up.”

“Still spouting nonsense… Cough! Wh-what?!”

Thud!

The village chief, spitting bright red blood, sank to his knees weakly. I had an inkling why. Something had been rapidly draining from his body ever since he suppressed my freedom. “Chief. What is this ‘Fantasy’?” It was incredibly mystical, like the Aurora Borealis in the polar regions. “N-no! My power…!” “Power, you say?”

After being hit by that terrible Black Magic, I had awakened to a new sensory organ I hadn’t possessed before. I just knew. Inexplicable. Truly a fantasy-like development. “I-I can’t believe this! What in the world are you?!” “A human.” “That’s impossible! A human couldn’t be fine after losing so much power! Are you even a Demon King?!”

“I am…” A certain god chides me for trying to set the mood. This god is really too much! I’ve decided. “I am the Apostle of the Outcast!”

A certain god writhes in embarrassment. I’m happy too, as they seem very pleased!

Prince Arsuth led the heroes who wanted to become great swordsmen to the banquet hall.

Ta-da! Sparkle, sparkle!

Luxurious refreshments were prepared at each table.

“W-what is this…?” “Suddenly pastries and tea?” “A break from the start?” The heroes, who had expected to be hitting scarecrows with wooden practice swords in a dusty training ground, were flustered.

But that was only for a moment. “This way.”

“Please sit here.” “Hero, here.” The accompanying knights quickly quelled the commotion by guiding the heroes to their seats. Prince Arsuth, seated at the head table, elegantly raised his teacup and exclaimed, “A toast to the heroes who chose the path of the sword!”

“A toast!”

“A toast!”

The knights, seated in the periphery of the banquet hall, chanted in powerful unison.

Prince Arsuth explained to the heroes, who were overwhelmed by the fervor and couldn’t utter a word, “I unintentionally overheard your conversation and was quite surprised. Because the brutish training you imagine is not swordsmanship.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

The heroes merely looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

At this, Prince Arsuth rose with a smile.

“To help you understand, I will give a simple demonstration. Commander.”

“Yes!”

“I ask you for a duel.”

“It would be an honor!”

A man who looked like a black bear strode onto the platform.

“First, I will show you the swordsmanship you imagine. Commander. Seal your swordsmanship.”

“Understood.”

The prince and the knight commander, like stage actors, clashed swords on the banquet hall platform.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Sometimes blocking, sometimes deflecting, sometimes dodging, sometimes striking back…

The two swordsmen’s precarious offense and defense continued without a break. The heroes all thought the same thing. Anyone can see that’s swordsmanship, right? …they thought.

The winner of the fierce battle was the knight commander, with his overwhelming physique. “That was a splendid sword dance, Commander.” “You flatter me.” Prince Arsuth, whose palm was torn and had dropped his sword, praised the knight commander.

Swish.

With the help of a waiting priest, the prince quickly healed the injury to his hand and gripped his sword again.

“Heroes. Please observe closely. This is the swordsmanship you will learn. Commander. This time, I ask for your full power.”

“It would be an honor!” The knight commander, with an overwhelming physique, charged at the prince once more. What was different from before?

Whoosh!

Whoosh! White whirlwinds swirled around their swords.

The blades clashed head-on.

Snap.

And it broke.

There was no second clash. The knight commander, who had lost his weapon, dropped the hilt of his sword and said, “I lost.”

“Commander. Your swordsmanship has improved greatly.” “Hahaha! Still, it doesn’t even come close to His Highness’s skill.” “Please refrain from such embarrassing flattery.”

“It’s not flattery, it’s the truth. Prince Arsuth is the pride of the Swordmaster Knight Kingdom!”

“This person…”

The second match ended anticlimactically.

The heroes, who had expected a splendid duel, wore dumbfounded expressions. “What?” “What happened?”

“That’s it?”

Prince Arsuth explained to the heroes, who were slow to grasp the situation because it ended so quickly. “The power to cut down all of an opponent’s means in a single strike! This is swordsmanship. With mere flashy swordplay, you can’t even defeat the ironclad cavalry that our nation boasts of, let alone the Demon King.”

“Aha!” “I-I see!” The heroes, who had been cultural citizens of Earth, understood very quickly.

In fantasy novels and comics, they would fight bit by bit to fill pages, only to finish it with one ultimate move.

But reality is different.

Efficiency, not romance. Prince Arsuth raised his teacup again and said, “Since you understand, I will now teach you swordsmanship. Please drink without exception.” “Ugh?!” “W-what kind of taste?!”

“Ptui, ptui, ptui!”

The heroes, who had nonchalantly gulped down the tea water like the prince, were all horrified.

What kind of taste is this?!

It felt like drinking sewage. “To master swordsmanship, the Warrior’s blessing is essential. This medicine is a quick and safe shortcut to acquiring the blessing.”

[Warrior]

▶ You, who have overcome countless life-and-death situations, are fully qualified to become stronger.

▶ Defeat all enemies who stand in your way with the power of love and justice!

“Ugh…”

“Ugh…!”

The heroes understood.

This taste, which killed not only their tongues but also their souls, must surely be ‘the brink of death.’ They felt they could probably eat poison more deliciously.

“I understand your feelings, but absolutely do not spill or spit it out. To learn swordsmanship in the future, you must get used to this taste.” “Oh, gods…” “Mother…”

A certain innocent goddess wonders what it tastes like.

A certain Water God stops their curious friend.

A certain kind God of Death looks on with pity. As everyone let out wails in unison, a boy, his face deathly pale, exclaimed, “One more glass…!”

Thunk!

His eyes, half-glazed, had completely emptied the teacup. His handsome face was contorted, making him look ten years older. Is he alright? As everyone watched worriedly, Prince Arsuth spoke in a slightly admiring tone. “If you eat the sweet pastries in front of you, you’ll feel a bit better.”

“Ah! Yes!”

“Commander. With respect, pour Hero Choi Kang-min another glass.” “Of course!”

The truly remarkable swordsmanship training began in earnest.

“Chief. If you don’t stop me, I’m just going to run away like this?”

Situation over.

There was no need to call the villagers with the terribly disfigured female elf as a witness.

“Cough! Ugh…” That was because the village chief’s condition, having collapsed and coughed up blood, was that bad.

Wouldn’t it be better to stay and take his head, since he’s Level 13, and gobble up the experience, instead of running away?

…No. I had that audacious thought for a moment, but I discarded my greed and chose the safe path of escaping the basement.

“Then, see you later.” “I won’t forgive you…!”

“Huh?!”

The dying village chief suddenly stood up and rushed at me with unbelievable speed. “Meat! I’ll kill only you! I will definitely turn only you, who ruined my dream, into minced meat! Meat! Meat…!”

The village chief wasn’t speaking with a human head.

Flash!

The gnoll’s head on his chest, its two eyes glowing bright red, glared at me and roared madly. “Crazy…!”

I threw the elf off my shoulder and rolled on the floor. Swish! His hand, sweeping past my chest, tore Misa’s leather clothes and left a large wound on my abdomen.

What was that, too? In the village chief’s hands, red jelly was clumped together like boxing gloves.

He looked down at me, fallen, and gloated.

“Surprised? You must be! This power is the gnoll’s swordsmanship, only possible for gnolls! Originally, it was power I saved up to hunt elves, but because of you…!”

“My apologies.” “, How?! It was clearly a fatal blow…!”

The village chief was horrified to see me stand up as if nothing had happened. The wound had already disappeared. [Outcast]

“Indeed. That was truly dangerous.” If it weren’t for the blessing, I would have died without a doubt.

The village chief had unleashed terrifying power by burning his remaining life, but he didn’t seem to have thought beyond that.

“Gah! You’ll see!”

Having exhausted his strength with the recent attack, he chose to flee.

However,

“□, □□…!”

The female elf, who I hadn’t even noticed, grabbed his ankles with both hands, causing him to fail. “You, you wretched bug…!”

Thud!

I seized the opportunity, and the Blue Cutter I swung accurately severed the village chief’s neck.

But this much isn’t enough to feel safe. He has another head, after all.

Thrust! I stabbed the forehead of the gnoll’s head, still glowing red, and cut downwards vertically.

“Goodbye.” “Damn it… Mage… Power… Magic… My daughter… Dad will avenge… I’m sorry… Love…”

The village chief’s severed head slowly closed its eyes. A certain god says they are very sorry.

“I know, right.”

It seems they’re very sorry that I’m alive, even after they wished me a peaceful rest. Now then…

“How should I clean this up to get a good reputation?” “□, □□□.” ” . ᄆᄆ…” “OOO? □□.”

The elves, who had been holding their breath and watching the battle, each spoke a word.

Thank you, truly grateful, who are you, release us quickly, give us back our lost bundles… I guessed these were roughly their meanings. I silently unbound the elves and called for the villagers. Terrified resident A, seeing the basement, ran out to call resident B, and similarly terrified resident B called resident C, and resident C called resident D… Finally, the village’s self-defense force rushed in to take control of the situation. And so, it seemed the situation was settled.

Until just now.

“OO!”

“□□□!”

“I’ll kill you, you elf bastards…!”

I escaped the village and once again jumped off the cliff.