◈ 56. Aesthetics (2)[Aesthetics : 下]
The effect was quite alien.
To summarize it in a single line, the effect was this. [It adds an aesthetic sense to everything.]
The unlocking of a stat.
When the information about it seeped into my head……
I remember thinking it was utter nonsense.
But seeing is believing.
Only after witnessing the effect of [Aesthetics] for myself could I correct that impure thought.
It adds an aesthetic sense to “everything.”
There was no effect that suited me better.
“It’s clearly different from other stats.”
Strength, Agility, Mana, and so on.
Each stat had its limits.
For example.
Just as the Strength stat cannot directly affect the power of magic.
That was the reason I evaluated Aesthetics as alien.
“Magic, swordsmanship, and even dark magic……”
Because Aesthetics truly affected “everything.”
What did those words mean?
Things I had, things I did not.
To me, who had no choice but to put everything to use.
There was no effect more suitable than this……!
Goooooh—
I raised my mana.
Magic imbued with an aesthetic sense.
The target of its manifestation was the approaching Demon King’s army.
“Let’s check them one by one.”
The beginning was a familiar one.
Kwadeudeudeuk—!
Once again, a stone pillar.
But the stone pillar with an aesthetic sense added was different from before.
The appearance of the stone pillar bursting from the ground was as if……
“……Commander, what is that?”
Hareukon was visibly surprised.
I could understand that reaction.
Even I, the one who had manifested it, was slightly taken aback.
“……Stop!!”
What blocked the Demon King’s army was…
Soldiers.
Yes, the ones we had just finished recovering.
The soldiers of Frost.
I had manifested their forms as sculptures.
……Damn. Wait a minute.
Just how complex an interference process had gone into this?
I knew well from experience.
Why, even when I had altered the form of that silver dagger.
I had merely twisted its form slightly to increase its lethality.
Yet the mana consumed for that had been no small amount.
But.
“……This isn’t just twisting the form a little.”
From ordinary stone to sculpture.
It was truly on the level of creating form.
Moreover, the sculptures manifested this way numbered over a hundred.
Even though my mana had grown and [Natural Enemy] was activated.
I shouldn’t have been able to avoid mana exhaustion.
Of course, that is, if this were the past.
I checked the consumed mana.
“Not bad.”
Though the consumption was greater than simply manifesting a stone pillar.
Compared to the level of the manifested magic.
This was a level of consumption no different from free.
It was all thanks to Aesthetics.
Aesthetic sense.
It had simplified an incredibly complex interference process.
“To put it simply.”
Something like shortcut keys, macros, or the copy-paste divine art.
Of course, it was more bothersome than not using it.
But by merely pressing a single button.
The output was several times, no, approaching dozens of times greater.
However, that truth was something only I could know.
It was only natural for the Demon King’s army to halt.
“Those are definitely the ones we killed……?”
“Don’t tell me, did he resurrect them?”
“No, there’s no way a mere human could do such a thing!”
Even the Shadow Mercenary Corps watching from the side.
“Old man, try breathing properly for once. What’re you so surprised about? It’s just a few stone sculptures popping out.”
“……Rakkideu. I envy your ignorance.”
“What, you punk?! Who’s ignorant, you bastard!”
They had looked at me like I was a madman when I declared I would recover the bodies.
Now, somehow even that gaze felt strangely different.
Especially Kichi, those eyes were looking at me like I was a complete monster.
But.
“Watch closely. Lowly demon.”
I had no intention of explaining the circumstances.
Nor the leisure to do so.
I continued in a cold voice.
“Not even death can break human pride.”
I had clearly said that while recovering the bodies.
—Your pride, I shall inherit.
Yes, I was hard-pressed just to keep the words I had uttered……!
Now that the Demon King’s army was shaken.
I did not hesitate.
Swoosh—!
The soldier sculptures.
They hurled the weapons they held toward the Demon King’s army.
Since the weapons were also part of the sculpture.
It was only natural that their forms were intricate.
On top of that, my mana was added to them.
Their destructive power was more than enough.
Boom-boom-bang—!
Precisely.
Throws attacking only the Demon King’s army.
“Uwaaaack!! Fuck!!”
“How are dead bastards……!”
“A mere human using cheap tricks!”
As expected, his level was the real deal.
[Demon King’s Army Hundred-Man Captain : Lv.420]
The one who came to his senses shouted to his allies.
“Don’t be fooled. It’s merely an illusion!”
A mere illusion.
I added a word.
“Indeed, my expectations were far too high.”
“……What?”
“There is no way a foolish demon could understand pride.”
The real thing was only starting now.
I raised my mana in earnest.
As I said, Aesthetics affected everything.
“What kind of synergy could it create with each elemental magic? I should find out.”
Then what I needed was Light, a mana orb.
I manifested Light.
It didn’t need to be large.
“Delicacy is required more than great power.”
The battlefield was a complex urban area.
There was a need to distinguish between enemy and ally when attacking.
“Rather than reducing the size, it’s better to increase the number.”
As long as Aesthetics existed.
There was no enormous mana consumption in that interference process either.
And well, though it’s not important……
Dungsil—
“……Beautiful.”
“Splendid!”
“Old man. What kind of magic is that? It’s so flashy it makes my skin crawl.”
Like snowflakes sparkling under sunlight.
The mana orbs imbued with an aesthetic sense were quite beautiful.
Naturally, that beauty was not all there was to them.
Manifest.
Like snowflakes.
The mana orbs flying toward the Demon King’s army began manifesting as various elemental magics.
Since aesthetic sense was imbued into each elemental magic as well.
The flames burned nobly.
The water rippled serenely.
Even the noisy lightning was like divine judgment from the heavens.
To the extent that it felt sublime.
What could I call that sight?
As for me, it was hard to express in words.
That couldn’t be helped.
Whatever that sight was like.
It was ultimately the process of hunting demons.
However the method was, it was an extremely natural thing.
I spoke calmly.
“Step aside.”
Of course, I couldn’t be calm deep inside.
It was all because of the messages rising since earlier.
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
……
And because of the flickering quest window.
───────
Current Contribution : 23,100p
───────
The pouring experience and contribution points.
I shamelessly thought.
……This, might be worth aiming for first place in contribution too?
*Frost.
Sunlight no longer entered Miya’s house.
Miya looked at the window covered by curtains.
How many days had it been?
Since her father had earnestly asked and stepped out the door.
—Miya. You must never open the door.
Miya was not young like her younger brother, Mark.
So she knew.
That demons had invaded Frost, and her father had left home to fight against them.
And.
—Mark. Listen well to your sister until I return.
That her father might never return.
Miya did not think herself miserable.
Because she knew this trial was not happening only to her.
But it was strange.
Ever since hearing the news that other villages had fallen to demons.
It was something she had clearly kept in mind.
But for some reason, tears kept coming.
“……*Sniff*.”
But Miya did not cry.
No, she couldn’t cry in front of Mark.
……Mark?
Miya stretched her arm out with all her might and felt around.
But no matter how far she reached, she couldn’t feel Mark’s round head.
Where did he go?
Don’t tell me, did he go upstairs?
Just as she was thinking that.
A ray of light entered through the darkness.
“!”
Mark had pulled back the curtain.
Miya was startled.
The demons might see them!
She shouted in a whisper to Mark.
“Mark……! Close the curtain!”
Mark’s face under the streaming sunlight.
For some reason, the corners of Mark’s mouth gradually rose.
Mark said brightly.
“Sis, it’s snowing!”
……Snow?
It hadn’t snowed in Frost for a while.
Her father had said so.
Because the gates of hell opened in Frost Forest.
The ground had heated up, so snow would no longer fall.
He had definitely said so…….
Shake, shake—
“Mark is seeing things.”
That fool!
Miya quickly ran to Mark.
In the dark house.
She was hurt by things bumping here and there, but held back her tears.
And quickly, the curtain…….
“……Huh?”
She had tried to close it.
But just as Mark said, snow was really falling.
Dungsil—
Miya stared blankly out the window, then flinched.
……No, was it not snow?
Even if they were large snowflakes, they were too big.
She had never seen such snowflakes even when snow had piled up to the roof.
And above all, they sparkled too much.
“……Beautiful.”
To the extent that it was the first time she had felt that way looking at snow.
Miya, who had spaced out, came to her senses at Mark’s words.
“Sis, let’s go out and have a snowball fight!”
Father had said Mark was still young and that was why he was like that.
“……You idiot!”
Miya could be certain.
Mark was definitely an idiot.
Miya came to her senses.
Whether this was snow or not wasn’t important.
“Quickly!”
Close the curtain before the demons see……!
But in that moment, she naturally saw the street scene.
“……Sis? Don’t be mean and look by yourself!”
The short Mark couldn’t see.
But Miya could see.
“……Could it be, are they here to save us?”
The sight of knights fighting demons.
Miya felt like tears would burst out.
But beside the knights was a man in unfamiliar attire.
“……?”
That clothing was definitely something she had never seen before.
But a word flashed through Miya’s memory.
—It was when you were about your age, Miya. There were people called adventurers who came from another world……. Your father too, everyone received a lot of help from the adventurers.
Miya could intuit it.
“An adventurer.”
That man was exactly the adventurer her father had spoken of.
But at the same time, her father’s warning came to mind.
—Miya. No matter who it is, you must never trust them carelessly.
……Right, Father said demons are good at deceiving people.
Miya bit her lower lip.
Yes, that could be a trick too.
But it was strange.
“……No.”
No matter how much she thought about it, that wasn’t something a demon would do.
The man and the knights were recovering bodies.
Among them was a face Miya knew.
“Uncle Hanson…….”
The guard uncle who had greeted her just a few days ago.
The adventurer closing the uncle’s eyes.
At that sight, Miya’s heart moved.
“I want to see too……. I want to see too. Sis!”
Miya said to the whining Mark.
“……Mark. Let’s have a snowball fight.”
“……Really?!”
“Really. I promise.”
Miya firmly grasped Mark’s hand.
*I realized once again.
“The Shadow Mercenary Corps.”
Their skill.
There was a hierarchy among them with Kichi at the head.
But despite that hierarchy.
Even the lowest-ranked, Rakkideu, had tremendous combat power.
See now.
“Come at me in swarms, you maggot-like bastards.”
Every time Rakkideu swung his war hammer, the Demon King’s army was swept away like falling leaves in the autumn wind.
To massacre monsters over level 400 like that.
“What’s more surprising is that that’s not Sword Qi.”
From Rakkideu, there was no Sword Qi, no characteristic light.
He was overwhelming demons with pure strength alone.
I was struck anew by his sheer gall.
“……I had brought such a Shadow Mercenary Corps.”
Since I had more or less dragged them here to Frost through abuse of power and coercion.
Still, what was fortunate was that separate from their strength, they were favorable toward me.
“We are also exerting our full strength. You are watching, right?”
“I am watching. You seem to still have some leeway.”
“……L-leeway?! Uwah, I’ll work even harder!”
“?”
It had simply been praise for their skill.
What was with that reaction?
Anyway, separate from the gaze that had looked at me like a monster.
Kichi did his best.
“If it’s alright.”
Not only Kichi, but also an old man called Alkari approached me politely.
Even pushing a potion toward me as he did.
“Potion making is my specialty.”
But this noble Sir Geurangpel.
Was a man who would rely on potions passed by others?
I replied as a matter of course.
“I appreciate the kindness, but I’m fine.”
“Ooh……! I’ve unintentionally shown doubt toward you, my Lord. Please forgive this lowly old man’s worried meddling.”
“?”
What was with this reaction again?
It seemed there was some misunderstanding in communication.
But now wasn’t the right time to fix it.
My magic.
The pincer attack of the Ryan Heart Knights and the Shadow Mercenary Corps.
Thanks to that, the Demon King’s army suffered a crushing defeat, retreating only after near-annihilation.
There was no need to pursue. Since the goal was the Demon King’s subjugation, we would meet again.
And now, we had work to do.
Hareukon shouted.
“Recover the bodies!”
Because bodies littered the path everywhere.
Hareukon spoke to me as I closed the eyes of a guard.
“Sir. I firmly believed there would be survivors.”
Brrrr—
“But……!”
Hareukon’s shoulders trembling with rage.
I didn’t know about other things, but one thing was certain.
To incur this much resentment from the great Hareukon.
“Whoever you are, Demon Army Commander, you’re really in for it.”
It was then.
“……!”
The quest window flickered.
Thanks to that, I had something to say to Hareukon.
“Don’t blame yourself, Hareukon.”
“……?”
[Class Quest : Demon King Subjugation]
The King of Demons.
Their demonic claws begin to reach out.
Last Demon Hunter.
Destroy the throne of evil.
—Train your weakened body. (Repeatable)
—Investigate the northern city of Frost. (Success)
Class Quest.
The newly added objective at the end.
—Rescue the survivors. (In Progress)
I spoke calmly.
“It seems your faith was not misplaced after all.”
At that moment.
Swish—!
The drawn curtain opened.
“Su-survivors……!”
But it was still too early to rejoice.
—Prevent the Demon King summoning ritual. (In Progress)
Because the Demon King subjugation was only now truly beginning.