Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 56 - Aesthetic (2)

[Aesthetic: Low]

 

Its effect was quite unusual.

 

To sum it up in one line, its effect was this.

 

[Add aesthetic flair to everything.]

 

The opened stat.

 

When information about it seeped into my head.

 

…I thought, what kind of bullshit is this?

 

However, it was only the first impression.

 

After confirming the effect of [aesthetic] stat, I was able to correct that impure thought.

 

Add aesthetic flair to ‘everything’.

 

There was no effect that suited me better than that.

 

‘It’s definitely different from other stats.’

 

Strength, agility, mana, etc.

 

Each stats had its own limitations.

 

For example.

 

Strength stat couldn’t directly affect the power of magic.

 

That’s why I rated aesthetic stat as unusual.

 

‘Magic, swordsmanship, even black magic…’

 

Aesthetic stat really influenced ‘everything’.

 

What does that mean?

 

What I had, and what I didn’t have.

 

I had no choice but to drag and use everything.

 

There is no effect that suits me more than this…!

 

Goo–

 

I raised my spell.

 

Aesthetic flair was added to 『magic』.

 

The target of the manifestation was the advancing demon army.

 

‘Let’s check one by one.’

 

I started with what I was familiar with.

 

Crush–!

 

Again, I made a stone pillar.

 

However, the stone pillars with added aesthetic flair were different from before.

 

Just like that, the stone pillars rose from the ground.

 

“…Sir Hoyeol, what is that?”

 

Harkon was surprised.

 

That kind of reaction was understandable.

 

I was a little surprised when it actually showed up.

 

“…Stop!”

 

The ones who stood in the way of the demon army.

 

Were soldiers.

 

Yeah, the one we’d just managed to patch up just now.

 

Frost’s soldiers.

 

I manifested their appearance as statues.

 

…Wow. Wait a minute.

 

How complicated is the interference process?

 

I knew it well from experience.

 

Well, when I only modified the shape of the silver dagger.

 

I just twisted its shape a little to increase its lethality.

 

The mana consumed was at a level impossible to ignore.

 

However.

 

‘…This isn’t just some twisting.’

 

Forming statues from ordinary stones.

 

In other words, it was at the level of creating shapes.

 

There were even more than a hundred statues that I manifested that way.

 

Even if my magic had grown and [Natural Enemy Relationship] relationship was activated.

 

If this was in the past.

 

I would have run out of mana.

 

I checked the mana consumed.

 

‘It’s not bad.’

 

Although it consumed a lot more than just manifesting stone pillars.

 

Compared to the level of magic manifested.

 

This level of mana consumption was as good as free.

 

It was all thanks to aesthetic stat.

 

Aesthetic flair.

 

It was a simplification of the most complex interference process.

 

‘To put it simply.’

 

It was something like shortcut keys, macros, or copy-and-paste.

 

Naturally, the problem would be cumbersome if I didn’t use it.

 

Just by pressing a button.

 

The output was several times, no, a hundred times greater.

 

But the truth was a fact that only I could know.

 

Naturally, the demon army stopped advancing.

 

“We definitely had killed them..?”

 

“No way, did he revive them?”

 

“No, there’s no way a human can do that!”

 

Even the Shadow Mercenary Corps were watching.

 

“Old man, at least take a deep breath. What are you so surprised about? It’s all just a few pieces of stone sticking out.”

 

“…Lakid. I envy your ignorance.”

 

“What?! Who is the ignorant one, you bastard!”

 

When I recovered the bodies.

 

They looked at me as if I was a crazy person.

 

Now, somehow, that gaze felt strangely different.

 

Especially Kitch. Her eyes looked at me as if I was a monster.

 

However.

 

“Watch it clearly. You little demon.”

 

I didn’t think about explaining the whole story.

 

I couldn’t afford to do so.

 

I continued in a cold voice.

 

“Even death cannot break human pride.”

 

When recovering the body, I certainly had said it.

 

– I’ll take over your pride.

 

Yeah, I’m in a hurry to keep my word…!

 

Now that the demons were agitated.

 

I didn’t hesitate.

 

Clash–!

 

The soldier statues.

 

They blew the weapons they were carrying toward the demon army.

 

Since weapons were also part of the sculpture.

 

It was natural for the shape to be elaborate.

 

And my magic was added to that.

 

Its destructive power was indescribable.

 

Clang!

 

Accurately.

 

A throw that only attacked the demon army.

 

“Aargh!! Fuck!!”

 

“How come those dead bastards…!”

 

“You’re using cunning tricks, humans!”

 

Perhaps befitting of his level.

 

[Demon King’s Centurion: Lv.420]

 

The guy came to his senses and shouted to his allies.

 

“Don’t be fooled. It’s just a simple trick!”

 

A simple trick.

 

I added.

 

“Indeed, my expectations were too high.”

 

“…What?”

 

“There’s no way a dull demon can understand pride.”

 

The real thing started now.

 

I raised my mana in earnest.

 

As I said, aesthetic stat affected everything.

 

‘What kind of synergy can be created with each attribute magic? I need to know.’

 

Then all I needed was light and a mana sphere.

 

I developed light.

 

It didn’t have to be big.

 

‘It requires delicacy rather than a great power.’

 

The battlefield was a complex urban area.

 

I needed to separate the enemy from our allies.

 

‘Instead of reducing the size, I should increase the number.’

 

As long as aesthetic stat existed.

 

The interference process didn’t consume a huge amount of mana.

 

And well, this wasn’t important, but…

 

Float–

 

“…It’s pretty.”

 

“It’s brilliant!”

 

“Old man. What is that magic that tickles me just by looking at it?”

 

Like snowflakes glistening in the sunlight.

 

The mana sphere with added aesthetic flair was beautiful.

 

Of course, its beauty wasn’t everything.

 

Manifestation.

 

Like snowflakes.

 

The magic spheres that flew towards the demon army began to manifest as each magic attribute.

 

Each magic attribute also had an aesthetic flair.

 

The flames were burning high.

 

The water fluctuated in silence.

 

Even the loud thunderbolt was like a judgment in heaven.

 

It felt sublime.

 

What is that scene like?

 

It was difficult for me to put into words.

 

That was unavoidable.

 

No matter what the sight was.

 

After all, whatever the method I used for the process of hunting demons.

 

It was all perfectly natural.

 

I spoke calmly.

 

“Get out of my way.”

 

Of course, I couldn’t be calm inside.

 

Since a while ago, messages kept appearing.

 

[Your level has gone up.]

 

[Your level has gone up.]

 

[Your level has gone up.]…

 

And because of the flashing quest window.

 

──────

 

– Current contribution: 23,100p

 

──────

 

Experience and contribution points poured out.

 

I shamelessly thought.

 

…This, I think I can aim for first place in contribution?

 

*

 

Frost.

 

There was no more sunlight in Miya’s house.

 

Miya looked at the window covered with curtains.

 

How many days had it been?

 

Her father stepped out the door with a request.

 

– Miya. You must never open the door.

 

Miya was not as young as her younger brother, Mark.

 

So she knew.

 

That the demons had invaded Frost and her father had left home to fight them.

 

And.

 

– Mark, listen to your sister until you come back.

 

The fact that her father wouldn’t come back again.

 

Miya didn’t think of herself as pitiful.

 

Because she knew this ordeal didn’t just happen to her.

 

But it was weird.

 

Ever since she heard the news that another village had been captured by demons.

 

She kept thinking about it.

 

For some reason, tears kept coming out.

 

“…Sniff.”

 

But Miya didn’t cry.

 

No, she couldn’t cry in front of Mark.

 

…Mark?

 

Miya stretched out her arms as much as she could and felt around.

 

However, no matter how much she stretched out her arms, she couldn’t touch the back of Mark’s round head.

 

Where did he go?

 

No way, did he go upstairs?

 

The moment she thought like that.

 

A ray of light shone in the darkness.

 

“!”

 

Mark had removed the curtains.

 

Miya was horrified.

 

He might get caught by the demons!

 

She whispered to Mark.

 

“Mark…! Close the curtains!”

 

Mark’s face in the sunlight.

 

Somehow, the corners of Mark’s mouth were gradually rising.

 

Mark said brightly.

 

“It’s snowing!”

 

…It was snowing?

 

Frost hadn’t had now for a while.

 

Her father had told her.

 

Due to the Gate of Hell opening in Frost Forest.

 

The land was getting hotter and there would be no more snow.

 

He definitely had said that….

 

Shake–

 

‘Mark has seen it wrong.’

 

That idiot!

 

Miya ran to Mark quickly.

 

In the dark house.

 

It hurt as she bumped into things here and there, but she held back her tears.

 

And she hurried up and got to the curtains…

 

“…Huh?”

 

She was about to close it.

 

But as Mark said, it was really snowing.

 

Float–

 

Miya stared blankly out of the window and was startled.

 

…No, it’s not snow?

 

Even if it was thick snow, the snowflakes were too big.

 

She had never seen a snowflake like this even when the snow was piled up to the roof.

 

And above all, it was so shiny.

 

“…It’s pretty.”

 

That was what she felt the first time she looked at it.

 

Miya, who was mesmerized, came to her senses at Mark’s words.

 

“Noona, let’s go out and have a snowball fight!”

 

Her dad had said it was because Mark was still young.

 

“…You idiot!”

 

Miya could be sure.

 

Mark was definitely an idiot.

 

Miya came back to her senses.

 

It didn’t matter whether it was snow or not.

 

‘Hurry up!’

 

Close the curtain before the demon finds out…!

 

Then, she naturally saw the street.

 

“…Noona? How can you watch it alone!”

 

She couldn’t see the tiny Mark.

 

Miya saw it.

 

“…Are you here to save me?”

 

The sight of the Knights fighting the demons.

 

Miya felt like she was about to burst into tears.

 

But there was a strange man next to the Knights.

 

“…?”

 

She definitely had never seen that outfit before.

 

However, some words passed by in Miya’s memory.

 

– When Dad was about Miya’s age. There were people called adventurers from another world… Dad and everyone else got a lot of help from the adventurers.

 

Miya could feel it.

 

‘He’s an adventurer.’

 

That man was the adventurer her father told her about.

 

But at the same time, she recalled her father’s request.

 

– Miya. You should never trust anyone.

 

…Yes, her dad said that demons were good at deceiving people.

 

Miya bit her lower lip.

 

Yeah, this might be a trick, too.

 

But it was a strange thing.

 

“…No, it’s not a trick.”

 

No matter how she thought about it, that wasn’t something the demons would do.

 

The man and the Knights were recovering the bodies.

 

Among them, there was a face Miya knew.

 

“Uncle Hanson…”

 

It was the guard who had been accepting her greetings just until a few days ago.

 

The adventurer closed his eyes.

 

Miya’s heart moved at that sight.

 

“Me too… I want to see it too. Noona!”

 

Miya said to the whining Mark.

 

“…Mark. Let’s have a snowball fight.”

 

“…Really?!”

 

“Really. I promise.”

 

Miya held Mark’s hand tightly.

 

*

 

I realized it again.

 

‘Shadow Mercenary Corps.’

 

Their skills.

 

There was a pecking order between them, with Kitch at the forefront.

 

But that pecking order was blurry.

 

Even the lowest seat, Lakid, had tremendous fighting power.

 

Look at him now.

 

“Come at me all at once. You little turds.”

 

Every time Lakid swung his iron bar, the demon army was swept away like autumn leaves.

 

To think he slaughtered a monster over level 400 like that.

 

‘The fact that he’s not a swordsman is more surprising.’

 

Lakid didn’t have an aura, the unique light.

 

He was overwhelming the demons with pure strength alone.

 

I felt like my liver was sticking out of my stomach.

 

‘…Those Shadow Mercenaries.’

 

I had semi-forced them and dragged them here to this place, Frost, after abusing my power.

 

But fortunately, apart from those strengths, they were favorable toward me.

 

“We’re doing our best, too. Are you watching?”

 

“I am watching. Looks like you still have room to relax.”

 

“…R-Room to relax?! Ah. I’ll work harder!”

 

“?”

 

I was just complimenting her skills.

 

What’s with that reaction?

 

Anyway, apart from looking at me like I was a monster.

 

Kitch did her best.

 

“If it’s okay with you.”

 

Not only Kitch but the old man called Alkali also spoke to me politely.

 

He even offered potions.

 

“Making drugs is my specialty.”

 

But this noble Grandfel.

 

There was no way he would rely on potions given by other people.

 

Naturally, I replied.

 

“I understand your kindness, but I’m fine.”

 

“Oh…! I didn’t mean to doubt you, my lord. Please forgive this lowly old man for his old age.”

 

“?”

 

What’s with that reaction?

 

It seemed there was a misunderstanding in communication.

 

This wasn’t the right situation to correct it.

 

My magic.

 

The collaboration between the Knights of Lion and the Shadow Mercenary Corps.

 

Thanks to all of that, the demon king’s army retreated after suffering a crushing defeat and near annihilation.

 

There was no need to chase them. As long as our goal was to subdue the demon king, we would meet again.

 

And now we had work to do.

 

Harkon shouted.

 

“Collect the bodies!”

 

There were always dead bodies on the way.

 

Harkon said to me, closing a guard’s eyes.

 

“Sir Hoyeol. I firmly believed that there would be survivors.”

 

Shake–

 

“But…!”

 

Harkon’s shoulders were shaking with anger.

 

I didn’t know about anything else, but I was sure of one thing.

 

To incur such a grudge against Harkon.

 

‘I don’t know who it is, but you’re in real trouble, commander of the demon army.’

 

At that moment.

 

“…!”

 

The quest window flashed.

 

Thanks to that, I had something to say to Harkon.

 

“Don’t blame yourself, Harkon.”

 

“…?”

 

[Class quest: Demon King Subjugation]

 

The king of demons.

 

His magical powers begin to reach out.

 

The last demon hunter.

 

Overthrow the throne of evil.

 

– Train your weakened body. (Repeat)

 

– Investigate the Northern city of Frost. (Succesful)

 

At the end of the class quest.

 

A new goal was added.

 

– Save the survivors. (In progress)

 

I said calmly.

 

“It seems your belief is not wrong.”

 

At that moment.

 

Woosh–!

 

Drawn curtains were opened.

 

“S-Survivors…!”

 

But it was too early to be happy.

 

– Stop the demon king summoning ceremony. (In progress)

 

It seemed that the subjugation of the demon king had just begun.