Chapter 118.1

The Grand Witch of the Snowfield (1)

“Is it because of the factory I built?”

When I spoke in the ancient language, Nuchka and the remaining elite druid both tilted their heads slightly.

“Civilization is destruction. Humanity is foolish and repeats its mistakes.”

After a small nod, Nuchka continued.

“So, what do you want us to do about it?”

“Humanity must become one with nature. We cannot repeat the sins of the Golden Age, the era of corruption.”

“Sorry to say, but even if we don’t, it’s meaningless. All of humanity is already building civilizations across the world.”

“Then we’ll destroy those civilizations through slaughter and plunder, just as we did to the humans of the south in the distant past.”

“…Vandalism mixed with eco-activism, huh?”

It felt like I was staring at an extreme environmentalist transplanted into another world.

“If they saw Earth, they’d completely lose it.”

“Earth?”

“Just a place. By the way, if you reject civilization, what’s with all that equipment you’re wearing?”

I pointed to the magical devices embedded like piercings across their bodies.

Despite rejecting civilization, they wore magical tools supplied by the Devil’s Den.

Even the chieftain, who denounced the artifacts of the Golden Age, carried one himself.

Their already-high magic resistance was practically invincible thanks to these tools.

“To defeat a devil, one must sometimes become one.”

Nuchka answered with a cruel smile.

“…”

A devil, huh? That’s rich coming from creatures that look more demonic than anything else.

“I’ve heard that taking even a small part of civilization prevents beast transformation. Is that true?”

“If I, the high priest, allow it, sometimes it’s permissible.”

“Ah, I see.”

Clack, clack…

The sound of my tongue clicking came naturally.

These guys were worse than elves. Their extreme vandalism, superiority complex, and hypocrisy were unmatched.

“I understand. Though it’s a bit late, could I join you? This brief conversation has been enlightening, truly moving.”

I disliked them immensely, but I needed to buy time at all costs.

“I’ll repent! Reflect and regret! Look here, I’ll even dismantle my magnum with my own hands. Everything must return to nature, after all.”

I poured my soul into the act.

“…”

Nuchka stared at me silently before asking briefly.

“Is that your final will?”

“Tch.”

It seemed I wasn’t quite max-level when it came to acting.

“Raaaargh!”

“Graaah!”

Nuchka and the remaining two druids roared savagely and charged at me.

All three had fully transformed into enormous polar bears, far larger than any ordinary monster.

“Defend him! Protect the Chairman!”

If these had been normal polar bears, we wouldn’t have struggled so much.

Even though the beasts in this world were larger and stronger than Earth’s, the humans here were fortified with mana.

Roaaaaaaar!!

But the druids before us were more than just transformed beasts.

Their bodies—muscles, hearts, nerves, bone density—had grown to monstrous proportions.

And their absurd passive skill, Magic Resistance, nullified attacks from even the knights’ mana-infused strikes.

Thwack!

“Urgh!”

Assistant Director Teo was the first to be struck, sent flying into a corner of the factory by a massive paw.

Crash!

The sound of shattered equipment and a magical stone breaking followed as he landed. The stone was part of his enchanted armor.

At least he’s not dead.

The magic armor had absorbed the impact of both the druid’s strike and the fall, doing its job until the end.

“Haaaah!”

“Graaaaah!”

Boom! Thud! Smash!

Unlike Teo, Eote, Sir Rosie, and Sir Carrot managed to hold their ground.

Each of them took on one of the three polar bear druids, shielding me bravely.

Among them, Eote, the most skilled, confronted Nuchka, while Rosie and Carrot faced the other two.

And me?

“Chairman! Now’s your chance!”

“Please, escape!”@@novelbin@@

“…Your sacrifice won’t be forgotten.”

I prepared to run.

Even if I wanted to help, I was out of options—my stock of magical bullets had run out long ago.

I spotted an opening I hadn’t expected and took off toward the rear exit without looking back.

I ran, putting my faith in my Luck stat, and kept running.

Thud! Crash! Boom!

The sounds of battle and destruction echoed behind me, reminiscent of Teo’s earlier flight.

Please, just survive.

I firmly believed the magical armor I had made would protect them.

Leaving their sacrifices behind, I finally made it out of the factory.

“What the…?”

The scene outside the factory felt oddly unfamiliar.

The landscape had changed since I last saw it, just minutes ago. I slowed my frantic sprint to a cautious jog.

“Rebuilding from scratch would probably cost less than repairs,” I muttered.

What lay before me was a snowfield—a pristine, desolate white expanse, utterly devoid of life.

Crash! Rumble!

Boom!

Behind me, the sound of walls collapsing echoed from the direction of the factory I had just escaped.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp, murderous intent pierce my neck and back like a blade.

Oh no!

I switched back to a full sprint, abandoning my cautious pace.

But even as someone skilled in everything except combat, my running ability was painfully average.

ROAAAARR!!

It wasn’t long before one of the massive polar bears—a hulking, bloodied Nuchka—caught up to me with terrifying speed.

Eote, Sir Carrot, and Sir Rosie had either been incapacitated or were occupied with the other two polar bears.

Damn it.

Nuchka, relentless in his pursuit, was clearly wounded and fatigued, but still more than capable of dispatching someone like me with ease.

I, with no combat skills and no bullets left in my magnum, stood no chance.

“Huff… huff…!”

No matter how hard I ran, I could feel Nuchka’s breath hot on the back of my neck.

Clack.

Hurriedly, I tightened my coat around me.

The enchantments embedded in it could likely endure two of his strikes at most.

ROARR!!

Whoosh!

Nuchka let out a bellowing roar and swung his massive paw toward me, the force of the wind pressure alone tearing through the magical defenses.

This is it…

I clenched my eyes shut just as the blow was about to land.

Slash!