Chapter 28

As the Black Swan moved before my eyes, it reminded me of an illustration that appeared when the boss battle began.

[Phase: Glutton]

It depicted the Black Swan, drawn in a cute style, sticking out its tongue and using a fork and knife to devour a person. Personally, I found the image quite disgusting, but such things were nothing compared to reality.

“Ugh…”

“I don’t want to die. Please save me. Save me.”

Instead of thinking about whether I could save the dying soldiers, all I could think about was not ending up like them.

[Hersel, it’s preparing to attack. Get ready.]

‘…Alright.’

[I’ll say it again: your body is slow. Don’t think you can dodge its attack at close range.]

‘I know.’

There was a reason I came to the broken fountain. The area around it was wide open, providing about 200 meters of clear space. I needed the Black Swan to fly far off into the distance when I dodged its charge.

I reminded myself to avoid its charge.

‘Stay relaxed, keep your feet light.’

[Good, just like that.]

Donatan and I focused solely on our legs and feet. It was most efficient to move in sync by imagining the same actions in our minds, enabling us to move our bodies as quickly as possible.

[Here it comes!]

At Donatan’s signal, I gestured to the maid watching from a distance to start running.

Bang!

The sound of the wall crumbling reached my ears just as the Black Swan’s beak appeared before me. I had already started moving, barely managing to step aside and avoid its beak aimed at my legs.

Whoosh

My feet landed on the ground, carried by the gust of wind. I had been uncertain, but now I was confident I could handle this. I clenched my fists.

‘If only I could react a bit faster?’

[You gain a sense through experience. You’ll dodge the next attack even quicker.]

The Black Swan charged again, and then a third time. Dodging became a little easier with each attempt. Annoyed by my agility, the Black Swan narrowed its three eyes. �

Watching it, I knew this would be its final charge.

From experience, I knew that when its eyes changed, its attack pattern would shift. This meant my time at the fountain was up.

‘Time to take a hit.’

[…Did I hear that right? What did you say?]

‘This time, I’m not dodging. You’ve seen it once, right? How I was fine after taking a Golem’s punch?’

Donatan asked in an exasperated voice.

[Yes, you were. But do you think a mere stone punch compares to this monster?]

‘Just watch.’

I reached into my pocket and taunted the Black Swan.

“Are you worthy of being called a grand beast? To me, you just look like a fat pigeon.”

Though the bird-brained creature couldn’t understand human language… or could it?

The Black Swan’s feathers bristled with rage.

I boasted to Donatan, but honestly, I was terrified. Even with ‘1-second invincibility,’ facing a charging monster like a racing car took immense courage.

“Huff—come at me.”

Bang!

Before I could finish, the Black Swan’s body turned to liquid and splattered everywhere. It had rammed into me and burst. Donatan, seemingly unable to believe what had just happened, spoke in a dazed voice.

[This… this can’t be!]

‘See? It’s fine.’

Though it lasted only one second, ‘invincibility’ was an immutable law. It had proven time and again that I couldn’t die for one second, no matter what.

[Did you kill it? This monster?]

‘If only it were that easy.’

The Black Swan’s only weakness was the ‘Holy Sword.’ This monster wouldn’t die so easily. So, I pulled out a vial from my pocket.

[Viper Silus’s Poison]

A highly corrosive toxin with particles finer than mercury, capable of deep penetration.

I poured the deadly poison, which could penetrate even rock, onto the splattered remains of the Black Swan.

Drip!

The poison wouldn’t kill it, but it would cause pain and buy me some time.

“Well then, time to run.”

The next place to buy time was the mansion.

However, I realized something was wrong. I had ordered the trio to evacuate everyone in the mansion while I bought time, but I hadn’t seen a single person come out.

‘Donatan, did you see anyone leave the mansion?’

[I was focused on the monster. But given the noise inside, it seems your guess was right.]

As expected.

I wasn’t surprised. This was predictable, and I could only sigh in resignation.

***

“Why should we follow his orders?”

“Well… because, head maid, the situation is dire. We need to follow the young master’s orders to survive.”

In the first-floor hall of the mansion, Jack was sweating and practically begging. But the head maid’s expression remained cold and unyielding.

“Jack, I’ve heard rumors that you’ve been getting close to him. It seems they were true. Enough nonsense. If you’re not going to hide here, just leave.”

Convincing the head maid was incredibly difficult, especially since she had a valid reason. Jack glared at the old butler who was standing behind with an apologetic look.

Damn, this is all because of that old man.

The old butler was one of the few survivors from the massacre in Melbra village by the Black Swan. The head maid had sought his advice, and he had said he survived by hiding and waiting for external help. The result was this: they intended to hide here until someone came to save them.

While Jack was pondering how to fulfill Hersel’s orders, Selly stepped forward.

“Given the situation, can we stop this foolish political squabble?”

“What?”

At the head maid’s incredulous response, Selly looked at the old butler and the barricaded door and spoke.

“Head maid, you know well that Harthon survived purely by luck. How many residents were in Melbra village? Did someone survive by dancing in front of the Black Swan? That’s nonsense. The people who died probably also barricaded themselves and prayed for the disaster to pass. Right, Harthon?”

“…I cannot deny that.”

“See? Everyone knows it’s foolish to stay here. Only an idiot would think otherwise.”

The others glared at Selly, but she didn’t flinch and looked straight at the head maid. The head maid’s expression turned grim. Selly’s words had crossed a line, and she moved to slap Sally.

Slap!

But Sally caught her wrist.

“Do you think we don’t know? I know everything. You’re risking everyone’s lives just to look good in front of the mistress! Is that really what a sane person would do?”

Ignoring Selly’s outburst, the head maid ordered the nearby soldiers.

“What are you standing there for? Escort them out by force.”

The three were surrounded by soldiers.

Bang!

The loud noise made everyone flinch.

“It’s coming.”

“The disaster…”

“We’re doomed. Doomed!”

Bang!

After the second loud noise, the front door opened. A tall man with blue eyes looked at the table blocking the entrance and muttered.

“What’s this? How cumbersome.”

Jack’s eyes widened.

“Young Master. We were trying to follow your orders, but—”

“No need for explanations. I can see what’s going on. That old hag is being stubborn, right?”

Click, click.

Hersel stopped in front of the head maid. She held her head high, showing no intention of backing down.

“You heard my orders from Jack, right? Are you refusing them?”

The head maid swallowed nervously under Hersel’s cold and arrogant gaze.

“Are you higher in rank than me?”

“…No, but managing the servants is my duty.”

“Is that so? Then you’re responsible for their lives. Good. Go out alone and hold back the monster’s legs. Or better yet, kill it.”

The head maid hesitated, unable to speak.

“What’s wrong? Can’t do it? But guess what? I can. I can at least buy some time, which is more than you can do hiding here. Isn’t that right?”

Hersel looked around with a chilling smile.

“You all know I don’t die easily, even when you wish I would.”

The people nodded weakly.

“Good, then follow Jack and Rodel to the designated place. Selly, take care of Niasel.”

Hersel clapped his hands loudly, making the hall echo.

“Move quickly, don’t dawdle.”

At his signal, the old butler hesitated but then started moving, followed by the others who gathered around Jack and Rodel. The head maid, realizing she had no choice, followed reluctantly.

Just then, a soldier peeking through the curtains shouted urgently.

“The monster is looking this way!”

Realizing the delay, Hersel sighed.

“…Hold on. We need to revise the plan.”

***

Things never go as planned.

I ran up the mansion’s stairs at full speed. My poor physical condition made breathing difficult, but the urgency of the situation pushed me beyond my limits. Somehow, I managed to reach the top floor.

“Huff! Huff!”

I felt like my lungs would burst.

[Tsk tsk, your stamina is worse than a common soldier.]

“Shut up.”

[So, what are you planning now?]

“What else? What I do best.”

To execute my plan, I needed supplies.

I rushed into Aol’s room and searched the wardrobe.

[What do you need those clothes for?]

‘There’s a reason.’

The Black Swan’s sense of smell was extremely keen. Its moniker ‘Resentment’ came from a story where it chased its target to the ends of the continent to kill them, all based on scent.

And currently, the one it hated the most was Aol, who had cut its neck and sealed it here. Carrying Aol’s clothes would naturally draw its attention.

This was a tactic often used with a tank among playable characters, utilizing its aggro effect.

With the bag full of clothes, I prepared to move.

I opened the window and waved Aol’s coat.

The Black Swan’s eyes widened. It sniffed the air and furrowed its brow.

“What are you going to do? Can you even fly with that body?”

Bang!

It soared at an angle. It was actually jumping. I stepped back, causing it to crash into the ceiling. I then threw myself out the window.

Thunk!

[Physical attack detected.]

[Special trait activated.]

[1-second invincibility cooldown: 60 seconds]

As soon as I landed, I shouted to everyone in the first-floor hall.

“Now! Run!”

Jack and Rodel led the people out.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Selly followed closely behind a soldier carrying Niasel, and people began pouring out of the main gate.

“We’ll move in two lines. Follow Rodel and me!”

“Young Master, good luck.”

“Jack, Rodel, we’ll talk about you trying to abandon me later.”

Jack and Rodel pretended not to hear and ran off. How annoying.

I navigated through the split crowd toward the main hall. By now, the Black Swan would have trashed Aol’s room and would soon be coming down.

[Watching your fights is quite entertaining. What’s next?]

‘Well, I planned to run around the mansion, but that’s impossible with my stamina. I need to rest a bit.’

I rummaged through my pocket. Five vials of poison left. I should use them all. I needed to buy a lot of time.

The next place to buy time was far.

“Time for a big stomachache.”

Bang!

The Black Swan crashed through the ceiling and landed in the main hall. I hid in the rising dust and threw Aol’s clothes on the ground. Realizing that a direct attack wouldn’t work, the Black Swan pounded the ground with its fists, where Aol’s clothes lay.

Crack!

Unaware that five vials of poison were hidden in the pockets.

Screeech!

Now, I could walk leisurely to the next place while regaining my strength.

I took a deep breath and left the mansion. The purple sky had lightened. It dimmed even more.

The speed was astonishing.

Even on a speed run, it would usually take a while to remove one barrier. That’s if you were lucky.

But already, two barriers were down?