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Chapter 38
Chapter 38: The Monster Within the Labyrinth, Manticore (2)
Within the cave, now in complete ruins, it was hard to imagine that a once-majestic altar had ever stood there.
Wounded people lay scattered across the floor.
Whether unconscious or dead… not a single one stirred.
Atop a pillar of debris, formed from the collapse and ruin—
En̂ ümа
A massive beast, with a human face and the body of a lion, lay lazily sprawled.
<Is this all? Is this the best this era of humans can offer?>
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The Manticore gazed down from above like a king on a throne, its expression one of arrogant boredom.
At the tiny, pathetic humans scurrying about like ants day by day.
<The Pulgor who gave his life to protect you would weep to see how weak you’ve become…! Kahahaha!>
It roared with laughter, mouth stretched wide open.
W е b̈ nȯ vѐ l̇ Е ń u̇m̌ â
A bizarre laugh, blending the sound of a high-pitched flute and a majestic trumpet.
Only the lingering haze of poisonous smoke filled the deathly silence.
“…God, you’re annoying.”
Then a voice broke through.
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It was ragged and faint, as if it might vanish at any moment—but it was undeniably alive.
<Oh?>
Ẃе b ñ о v е̊l Е ńü m̊ а
The Manticore turned its head toward the sound.
There, a man sat slumped on the ground, his body covered in blood and dust.
“Pulgor, Sodom and Gomorrah… You’ve been babbling nonsense this whole time. This guy didn’t go to school much, so I don’t get any of it.”
Grabbing Natuia’s broken spear from the ground, Gale drove it hard into the floor.
Thunk!
He leaned against the shaft, swaying, barely holding himself upright… until he finally stood, forcing a crooked smile.
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He’d lost a lot of blood and was dizzy, but oddly enough, his mind was clear. Normally, by now he would’ve succumbed to his mania.
That clarity brought a grin to Gale’s lips.
“Ah, I get it now. You’ve been stuck in this dusty hole for thousands of years, huh? Maybe you’ve gone senile. You’ve lived way longer than most, right? Probably a few times over?”
Gale started provoking the Manticore, his mouth running non-stop.
Even though all he could do was stand.
“Hey, ever thought about going outside once in a while? Sunshine helps prevent dementia, you know. …Ah, sorry! Too late for that? I guess it’s hard for a shut-in old man stuck in the past!”
W̊ eḃnо v̈ ё l̀ En ú m̂а
If Elwin had seen him now, he would’ve clapped and said, “Wow! As expected of Gale! Dealing damage with your mouth instead of your sword! Impressive!”
Gale Garav was infamous as a trash-talker.
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<You insolent wretch! How dare you speak so rudely to a king!>
The Manticore, having never heard such insults in his life, first laughed in disbelief, then erupted in fury, red mana bursting from his body.
…Though he didn’t understand half of what Gale was saying, he did know he was being mocked.
—Manticore
Еǹ ů m̀а̃
A monster of the labyrinth, an ancient being, a relic of the mythic era.
<That vile tongue of yours… Even if it’s just the desperate howl of a mortal about to die, I cannot forgive it!>
But like all the monsters in the labyrinth, he had once been human.
Once so great he dared to challenge the heavens… until he fell and became just another monster.
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<I am a king!>
He was once the sole king of a mighty ancient kingdom.
Е n úm а̊
A name forgotten by all, but one truth that would never change.
<I shall punish you for the crime of speaking carelessly before your king!>
The Manticore opened its jaws wide.
Wooooong!
A crimson beam of light began to gather in his throat.
The faded but still radiant crown upon his head gleamed in the red glow.
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<I will tear you to pieces!>
Just as the mana beam reached its peak—
“Didn’t you forget something?”
Suddenly, Gale appeared right in the Manticore’s vision.
<…What?!>
The Manticore was shocked—he’d assumed the man couldn’t even move.
Eň uma . іd
Unbothered by the creature’s reaction, Gale wore his usual mischievous grin and pulled back the arm holding his sword.
Shingggg—!
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Gale gritted his teeth and swung the blade with all his might.
Amazingly, the sword bent and stretched at a grotesque angle.
Flash—!
Bathed in blinding white light, it gleamed so brightly that the Manticore instinctively squinted.
Ẁе bn̆ о̊v̄ e l Е̊ n u m̃á
A clarity and radiance so pure, it made him think:
If I get hit by that… it’ll be dangerous!
Suppressing the light beam building in his mouth, the Manticore leapt high to evade.
Despite his massive body, his movement was swift enough to dodge in that brief moment.
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But Gale’s extended sword didn’t miss its mark.
<This pitiful trick—!>
Е̊n um.ā.i d.
The Manticore raised his tail.
Shiiing!
Covered in venomous barbs, his tail whipped down like a mace at terrifying speed.
“Ugh!”
Clang—!
The blow sent the sword flying from Gale’s hand, despite his iron grip.
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The radiant light around the blade quickly faded.
<You underestimated me!>
The Manticore, using up all his strength, approached his prey who could no longer move.
“Huff… huff…”
Gale was clearly at his limit, barely conscious—but his red eyes still burned with resolve.
<Hmm? I don’t know why… but I like that look in your eyes.>
Ѐn̊ǔm̀ ӓ
“……”
<Just a piece of meat, a mere mortal… But I’ll give you a chance.>
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The Manticore spoke, pretending to show mercy like he vaguely remembered doing long ago. Most things had long been forgotten… but two memories remained vivid.
First: that he had once been a king.
—From this day forth, you are king!
And second, the words of someone close to him.
W ê b n ov̌_el Еn ǔ m̀ а
—My son, my foolish son… Remember your father’s words.
—A true king must never forget compassion and mercy for all. Nor reverence and devotion to the gods. Otherwise, you will…
He couldn’t remember the rest.
But surely, it wasn’t important.
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Because he was the king!
<I grant you the honor of serving me!>
Е nü m̊ а̌
The Manticore bared his gums in a wide grin.
He was king, and all were to kneel before him.
So the answer could only be one—
Acceptance!
<Take it as the highest honor of your pathetic life! Something a worm like you could never have dreamed of…>
“Ptui.”
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A spit, tinged with blood, landed at his feet.
<…What is the meaning of this?>
“You already know.”
Cough!
Spitting out a clot of blood, Gale grinned.
“I’m gonna pass. I already serve someone, you see.”
W̌ė b n о̀ vе l̈ Ẽ n̆ ům̂а̄
<Even though I am king? A being revered and feared by all?>
“Well… he’s not a king, but that little guy’s got a similar vibe.”
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<In what way?! Are you saying someone rivals a king?>
The Manticore had been fuming moments ago, but now quietly listened to Gale.
“He had as much money and power as a king. People loved and respected him, almost like worshippers to a god.”
<Respect? Love? …A god?>
Ẃ е̃ bn̂ o v̄ е̌ l _E n ů má
“Well, come back after my contract ends. I might reconsider. If you’ve got the cash.”
Gale made a circle with his thumb and index finger, shaking it.
“No freeloaders allowed, okay?”
<Y-You—!!!>
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The shameless insult turned Manticore's monstrous face bright red.
Grrrk!
Е̄nũ m a. іd̂
Its jagged teeth ground together with a chilling sound.
<I’ll kill you!>
That cocky human would soon be shredded into mince.
With all the juicy meat to whet his appetite.
And afterward, he’d feast in peace.
<Kahahahaha!>
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The Manticore laughed cruelly, imagining the future.
Its savage fangs lunged toward Gale—
“Sorry to disappoint you. I was never alone.”
And then—!
Clang—!
Strange letters burst from beneath the Manticore’s feet.
En u ṁ å
A mystical force wrapped around the symbols and bound the beast tightly.
<What is this?!>
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Tangled in the glowing runes, the Manticore flailed in confusion.
“It’s no use. This trap was crafted just for you.”
Abito limped over, wiping blood from his forehead.
“The kind witch gave it her all for this curse. You won’t be able to move for a few minutes, Mr. ‘Self-Proclaimed King.’”
W ѐ b ń ov е̇l E ńu̇ m̀ а
He glanced toward Melasa, unconscious in the back. She had pushed past her limits to cast that spell.
To collapse in such a moment meant one thing—she’d truly risked her life.
—I didn’t know what happiness was until I met you guys… even if our time was short.
—No… don’t!
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Perhaps, it was because of the archer Hake, who had saved her during the early battle.
The radiant smile he wore before dying never left her mind.
Web ñо v̆е l̇ Eñ um̄ ä
Abito understood that feeling.
—Thank you… for everything!
Crunch!
—Hakeeeeeee──!
Unlike the others who were seriously wounded but still alive, Hake had been bitten clean in half.
Abito shook his head and handed a potion to the collapsed Gale.
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Gale snatched it and drank deeply.
“Finally… I can breathe.”
It was one of Melasa’s stored potions, made to resist the Manticore’s poison.
“Thank you, Mr. Gale. Thanks to you, I had time to cast the spell.”
“Haah… Next time, hurry it up! I nearly kicked the bucket out there.”
“…Kicked the bucket?”
Еń ùḿ а. ǐ ď
Abito looked puzzled, but quickly returned to a sharp expression and signaled somewhere.
Magic circles layered over the dense rune formation.
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“The more fuel you feed the fire, the brighter it burns—and the more evil it consumes, the stronger the soul’s light!”
As Sercia’s ringing voice recited the spell,
Fwoooosh—!
White flames erupted beneath the Manticore.
En û m̀ӓ
<Gyaaaaaaaah! HOT! IT’S HOTTTT!>
The Manticore thrashed wildly, the heat scorching through even his iron-like skin.
<How!? My body is tougher than steel!>
“That fire burns the soul.”
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Sercia appeared beside him. Her long hair was now cut short.
“It used every last bit of the mana I had saved to become a truly great and powerful magician.”
Én̊ ūm̀ a . і̀ d̄
“…You’re not embarrassed to say that yourself?”
“Why? It’s true. Anyway, wrap it up.”
Click!
Gale shrugged at her shamelessness, then pointed the barrel of his gun at the Manticore.
“This is the end.”
His mischievous grin etched itself into the Manticore’s retinas.
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Bang! Bang—!
Two sharp gunshots echoed in the air.
And then… darkness.
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