Chapter 16

A certain god is anxious.

“…It’s okay.”

I had already expected that growth would be difficult due to the curse of the wicked goddess disguised as a hypocrite.

[Hero]

The language of hostile races is automatically translated.

Experience gained from hunting and achievements is greatly reduced!

It was just that the degree of ‘greatly reduced’ was more severe than I had anticipated.

I never imagined that my level wouldn’t rise at all. “She was determined to kill me…” Throwing me into a forest teeming with man-eating monsters wasn’t enough to appease her, so she even cast a terrible curse. Not being able to level up in a world that runs on levels?

It’s practically a death sentence.

A certain god gazes at a distant galaxy.

A certain god says there are many stars in the galaxy today too. “Why are they suddenly acting like this?” I expected them to wish me peace and say I got what I deserved. I roughly gathered valuable-looking items from the gnoll corpses. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, jewels… The craftsmanship was too exquisite for gnolls to have made them. They must have been stolen from humans and elves.

Why am I so sure?

Because around the gnolls’ burrows, human and elf heads were impaled on stakes as decorations.

“Originally, I just planned to take a few things…”

Now that I knew the terrible truth that my level wouldn’t increase, I had no choice but to completely revise my plan.

If I want to get stronger?

Money! Money! Money!

Having been a cultured citizen steeped in capitalism, I know the terrifying power of money.

The card is stronger than the sword! Also, ‘good equipment’ obtained with a large sum of money is one of the means to become physically stronger.

“Scary meat!” “Not weak meat!” “Kill! Meat!” “Human meat! Revenge!” Ah! Were there still gnolls left? Huge gnolls came rushing out of the dark burrow. They exuded the aura of seasoned warriors who had been through all sorts of hardships, each with a bulging belly, fully armed with weapons and armor stolen from humans and elves.

[Name] Hook that makes elves cry

[Level] 9

[Blessing] Warrior F

[Curse] Elf

“Indeed…”

So there was a reason they were nowhere to be seen while their kin were being massacred. Those who judged that they could never win by numbers alone were thoroughly prepared. Flash! Flash! Flash! The gnolls, gorged from gluttony, simultaneously used the ‘Power of Meat.’ There were about a hundred of them. But I had no fear.

[Outcast]

It wasn’t just because I couldn’t feel emotions due to the blessing.

I became more skilled every time I used the ‘Power of Meat,’ constantly refining and experimenting to strengthen it. And I just learned again. “Strong meat! My meat!” “Swallow! Heart! Swallow!” “Male meat! No!” “Eyeball! Give me your eyeball!” Gnolls, with their diverse appetites, also had slight differences in their ‘Power of Meat’ usage.

The goal of becoming stronger was the same, but the subtle differences in their application determined the efficiency of their power. “Thankful, aren’t I?”

Watching the gnolls’ methods, I cut out the unnecessary parts and applied the useful points to my own power. As a result,

Flash!

It seemed impossible to lose. I, who didn’t have large, hard claws like a gnoll, infused power into the Blue Cutter in my right hand.

[Outcast]

(Elf)

Blood-red jelly, like blood, covered the blade of the Blue Cutter. “M-meat?!” “What is it?!” “Dangerous meat!” “Strong claws!” I hadn’t had a need to use it until now, but to tear through a gnoll’s armor in an instant, I also needed to strengthen my weapon.

With this, my preparations were complete.

I immediately leaped.

“M-meat?!” The gnoll’s body was vertically bisected.

The thick, hard power that enveloped my right hand and the Blue Cutter ripped through the plate armor like paper.

Swordsmanship? Martial arts? Technique?

I never learned them, nor did I need them.

Overwhelming destructive power is a perfect offensive means in itself. “D-dangerous!” “Too strong!”

“Dangerous meat!” “Run…!” Even with gnolls 강화 (strengthened) by the ‘Power of Meat’ and fully armed, my absolute superiority didn’t change. [Massacre]

“I know you worked hard to prepare, but it seems you’re very lacking.”

You are not ready yet.

The second day of group hunting to level up the heroes. Although their combat strength had increased with experience, the total number of heroes was slightly less than yesterday. The Saintess explained the reason, unable to hide her discomfort. “We have excluded those who were afraid and abandoned their duty as heroes. The budget allocated to them will be reduced and invested more in you all. So rest assured.” “Ohh!”

“Good!”

“Nice!”

The heroes rejoiced at the news that the service would improve even further.

Scared classmates? Most heroes wished there were more of them. That way, the quality of equipment and treatment provided to them would further improve. Prince Arsuth reported. “The heroes’ leveling speed is astonishing. Even considering the cooperation of the knight order and excellent equipment, an average of Level 3 in just one day is a remarkable result. The expression ‘hope of humanity’ is by no means an exaggeration.”

“Hehe.”

“Hohoho!”

“Hehehe!” It was largely thanks to the heroes’ blessings rather than the heroes themselves, but Prince Arsuth stopped his negative thoughts.

That was a ‘taboo.’ Just as heroes had the blessing of heroes, mages relied on the blessing of magic. High-level personnel like priests and knights were also the same.

If he didn’t want to make enemies of all of them, if he wanted to maintain his right to succession, he had to watch his words. “Prince.” A knight who had ridden quickly on horseback reported the situation in the hunting ground. Prince Arsuth, judging it too big an issue to decide himself, immediately sought the Saintess’s opinion. “Saintess. We have found a gnoll that is overeating.” “What’s its level?” “It’s Level 5.”

“Hmm. Choi Kang-min, Jang Mi-yeon, and Yu Bo-ra were Level 5. It’s a rare opportunity, so proceed.” “Understood.” Thus, the heroes moved to a new hunting ground for the first time. Until now, they had hunted in the same place, with Prince Arsuth and the knights herding gnolls, but this time they couldn’t.

Rustle.

Prince Arsuth, hidden in the bushes, pointed at a gnoll waddling comically.

“That gnoll is a special individual. Be careful, as it’s aggressive enough to challenge even strong opponents.”

Princess Atena, whose words had become fewer due to the interference of old mages, shouted for the first time.

“A well-fed gnoll can use powerful dark magic! Be especially careful if its eyes glow red!”

“Ah! S-sorry. I got us discovered…”

“■■■■ ■■■ ■ ■■ ■ ■■■■■■■…!”

Flash!

The gnoll, turning its head after hearing the human female’s voice, began to flash red in both eyes.

Whoosh! Its plump body deflated like a balloon, transforming into a wicked muscular physique.

And it charged.

“Good luck.”

“Good luck!”

Prince Arsuth and Princess Atena retreated to a safe distance so as not to steal contributions.

Only the heroes remained.

“It’s coming!” “F-fast…!”

“Eek!”

They seemed strong, just as the prince and princess had warned, but they were no longer the disorganized rabble of yesterday. Average Level 3.

Their overall combat power had improved enough to block even a dozen gnolls charging at once. “No need to be scared!” [Leadership]

Hero Choi Kang-min bravely blocked the gnoll’s path, reassuring the heroes.

He had a proven winning strategy verified yesterday.

[Fighting Spirit]

Since the battle had just begun, he needed to buy time until the blessing’s effect fully manifested.

[Haste]

First, quickly evade the gnoll’s attacks and stop its advance, then

Whack!

“Kyaaah!” “Kang-min?!”

Choi Kang-min’s head, slapped by the gnoll, flew into the air. His body, having lost the head that issued commands, crumbled.

“■■…!”

The gnoll did not stop its momentum and continued to charge. And it directly collided with the clustered group of heroes! “Kyaaah~?!” “Cough?!” “Argh?!” The heroes, armored and quite heavy, were sent flying in all directions like bowling pins.

The gnoll also faltered from the recoil of the collision.

“Yah!”

“?”

Boom!

Hero Yu Bo-ra’s magic, seizing the opportunity, exploded on the gnoll’s face.

It didn’t end there.

[Weapon] With her strength enhanced by the blessing, her strike, now using an iron sword instead of a wooden sword, stabbed the gnoll’s flank.

Thud!

But immediately after, a powerful impact struck Yu Bo-ra.

“Kyaah…?!”

Her waist folded like a shrimp as she was kicked in the abdomen by the gnoll’s knee.

The gnoll’s judgment, as it strangely stared at the human female who didn’t die in one hit, was very quick.

Grab.

It gripped Yu Bo-ra’s exposed neck, which had folded as her waist bent, and swung her like a club.

“Kyaah?!”

“!”

“Kuaargh?!”

[Weapon]

Thanks to her blessing, Yu Bo-ra could wield her entire body like a weapon.

Hard, tough, flexible… And now, she became the gnoll’s weapon, assaulting the heroes.

[Weapon]

Whack! Whack! Whack! The gnoll, not wanting to suffer from hunger, bit and tore at the fallen heroes, taking their blood and flesh.

It continued hunting in that manner, maintaining the ‘Power of Meat.’ “S-someone…!” Hero Jang Mi-yeon, exposed to danger as the heroes’ defensive line collapsed, froze in fear.

[Charm]

[Beauty] She activated her blessings to the maximum, but her followers, who were supposed to protect her, were all annihilated and didn’t budge.

“■■■…?”

“Eek!”

Jang Mi-yeon, whose gaze met the gnoll’s, lost strength in her legs and collapsed.

The gnoll, which had beaten countless heroes and discarded the tattered human club, Yu Bo-ra, like trash, slowly approached Jang Mi-yeon. “S-save… Gasp?!” The gnoll’s tongue, stained with the heroes’ blood and flesh, licked her cheek.

As the gnoll’s snout went down, poking its nose between her legs and sniffing, Jang Mi-yeon’s thoughts completely stopped.

There was only one reason.

[Charm]

[Beauty] Jang Mi-yeon’s blessings, which captivated minds, had no racial restrictions.

A certain innocent goddess shudders at someone’s taste.

A certain male god shouts that tastes should be respected.

A certain magnanimous beauty god is excited with anticipation.

A certain god…

Just as the excited gnoll was about to proceed to its next action.

Chop!

Prince Arsuth, who had approached stealthily, beheaded the beast. “Hero Jang Mi-yeon. Are you alright?”

Jang Mi-yeon, her face pale, barely managed to nod. A certain male god sighs. A certain evil god feels regret. A certain Water God splashes cold water.

A certain male god freezes. A certain evil god freezes.

“Ugh…”

“Quickly, treatment…!” “S-save…” Knights and priests began to clean up in an orderly fashion. Since a similar precedent had occurred just the day before, they were not flustered or disappointed.

Just one… they decided not to think about it. In particular, the Saintess’s dignified attitude was exemplary. “May the blessings of the gods be with the heroes who bravely fought against a strong enemy.”

I went into the gnoll’s burrow and gathered a lot of jewels and gold coins. I had hunted a great many gnolls, who had been my nemeses since my first day abducted into this fantasy world, but I felt nothing. [Outcast] The fate of gnolls, who were incapable of capturing me or killing me with a single blow, had been sealed from the beginning. More than that…

[Massacre]

Friendly races will be slightly afraid of you and avoid you.

The probability of them rebelling against your cruel actions greatly increases.

“What is this curse anyway… it’s practically forcing me to be an outcast.” A certain god beams. “Why don’t you smile with me?”

A certain god spins around in place.

The god, who was enjoying themselves alone, was incredibly annoying, but what could I do as a level 1 useless piece of trash but endure?

Jingle! The pouch, bulging with loot, somewhat lifted my spirits. The problem, as always, was language. If I couldn’t sell these at their true value, they were just simple rocks.

In other words, I needed a trustworthy interpreter whom I could rely on.

How great would it be if I could befriend a smart gnoll who could transform into a human?

Gnolls are bad at lying, so I can ‘trust’ them…

“You, Level 1 human. Where did the one who defeated all these gnolls go?” “It’s real!”

I found a smart male gnoll who looked like a handsome human.

He didn’t scream “meat!” and had horns on his head, but that was a minor issue compared to the shattered language barrier.

“…Can’t you hear me? I spoke in human language— cough?!”

“Gotcha!”

“Cough, cough! B-breath…!” “What’s your name?”

I don’t know what kind of gnoll he is, but we could be good friends.