Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 155

In Blue Paper Moon, there are three Beasts that must be defeated to take down Vile.

One of them, the Biting Jaberwock, is a black-scaled dragon with wings large enough to completely envelop its already massive 5-meter body.

As one of Vile’s most prominent subordinates, it would occasionally appear during other battles to demonstrate its presence.

While flying through the sky, it would sometimes breathe fire onto the ground to threaten players or restrict their movement space.

Of course, if you have equipment or buffs with fire resistance, you probably won’t die from just one blast of flames.

…That is, if you have equipment or buffs with fire resistance.

“A… a dragon?”

“Am I seeing things right now…”

“Come to your senses and get down!”

I shouted loudly while pressing myself flat against the ground.

Though I felt intense heat on my back and head, fortunately it seemed we weren’t directly hit as it ended at just that level.

After hearing the dragon’s breath end, I lifted my head to look around.

The Jaberwock’s flames had created a prison by burning in a circle around us.

“We’re completely trapped…”

Marcus got up like me after being pressed flat against the ground and looked around.

“This, this is really the end! It’s a dragon! A dragon! We’re all going to get eaten!”

One trainee shouted at the top of their lungs.

Blood vessels had burst in their eyes and foam was dripping from their mouth.

They’d completely lost it.

“I’m sorry.”

Auntie Beth who was nearby wrapped her arm around their neck and choked them unconscious.

Though being unconscious means they won’t be able to run away on their own, this isn’t the time to worry about such things.

We’re completely trapped and trying to break through the wall of flames would be suicide for us.

“We need a plan…”

Another instructor started to speak but trailed off, seemingly realizing how hopeless the reality was.

“…Let’s dig tunnels.”

I said the first thing that came to mind.

“Tunnels? Hmm… not escape tunnels, but hiding tunnels.”

Marcus immediately caught my intention.

Realistically, digging tunnels all the way outside from here would be impossible.

But tunnels to temporarily hide in might somehow work.

We have shovels in our bags too.

You should always bring such tools when climbing mountains.

“But that dragon… it’s probably a subordinate of that Vile fellow right? Looking at how it trapped us like this, it must have some nasty intentions…”

Auntie Beth said.

“That’s why we need to hide in spots that can’t be seen like caves. If we get discovered then… nothing we can do, but let’s do what we can first.”

At least for me, this is the best option.

“That’s right. Listen up trainees!”

Marcus raised his voice.

Though not loud enough to be called a shout, probably worried Vile might hear.

“From now on we’ll dig tunnels to hide in. Escaping from here is impossible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean death. If we hide well, there’s still a chance to return alive.”

“Tu-tunnels…?”

“Starting now?”

“Are you just going to sit there? Do whatever it takes to live! First find places to hide from that dragon’s eyes! Under trees, in caves! Split up and hide anywhere you can!”

At Marcus’s words, the trainees seemed to realize this was their best option as they wordlessly took out shovels from their bags and scattered.

Though not large shovels but forearm-length short ones, they’re better than nothing.

I had made everyone bring one as part of their training equipment and it’s helping in this unexpected way.

“Then we should also…”

“No.”

Marcus shook his head at Auntie Beth.

“Someone who would do this kind of thing must have sinister intentions like you said. To cause pain, or to play with us…”

“That’s why we need to hide even more!”

“No.”

I won’t run away either.

“What do you think a monster will do when its toys disappear?”

“…!”

If everyone hides, they’ll naturally search for us.

But if someone remains visible…

“I’ll be the bait.”

“No, go hide. I’ll do it.”

“Eugene.”

“Sir.”

Silence fell between me and Marcus.

“Then… then we’ll go help the trainees.”

“You must survive!”

The other two instructors left first.

They’re surely excellent hunters too so they probably went to help trainees who aren’t good at hiding like they said.

Now only me, Marcus, and a hesitant Auntie Beth remain here.

“…”

“…”

As a strange tension flowed between me and Marcus, someone walked toward us.

We simultaneously drew our guns and aimed that way.

“Just as I thought.”

Vile…

“Your resistance is so predictable, I can’t even call it a prediction.”

“What business do you have here?”

Really.

Why the hell did that guy come here?

“As expected, you remained.”

Vile pointed at me.

“To draw my attention or something like that. What a great hero.”

“Eugene isn’t alone.”

“That’s right! We’ve always been prepared for death!”

Both Marcus and Auntie Beth stood beside me and spoke up.

Though there’s no guarantee of returning alive, at least having someone beside me brought relief.

“Why would I kill you? That’s too boring.”

Vile shrugged.

Frustrating but not wrong.

“Rather the opposite. I came all this way to let you live.”

“What?”

“Just one person.”

Vile held up his index finger.

“I only plan to kill one person. Then I’ll let everyone else return.”

“…Who do you plan to kill?”

“Huhuhu…”

An unpleasant laugh.

Then he pointed his raised finger far away, at the mountain peak.

“If just one person reaches that mountain peak and dies, I’ll spare everyone else.”

“How can we trust your words!”

Auntie Beth shouted.

“Well, then burn to death like this?”

Vile gestured around.

The wall of flames began moving little by little.

“…”

“…”

My eyes met Marcus’s.

“Tch!”

“…!”

And we simultaneously ran toward the mountain peak.

“Give up!”

“You give up!”

It would take about 10 minutes for us to run to the peak.

But…

“Urgh!?”

Marcus threw a smoke grenade at me.

My vision instantly blurred and I tripped on a rock.

“You must live!”

“…Damn it!”

I jumped up and used [Acceleration].

As I instantly escaped the smoke, I saw Marcus’s back running ahead.

Then I threw the small rock I had picked up while getting up at Marcus.

“Argh!”

Marcus stumbled badly when the rock hit his back.

“You’re the one who should live!”

I said as I ran past Marcus.

“Urgh… The young should live and the old should die…! That’s how it should be!”

But Marcus threw himself at me.

We tumbled together and slid back down the slope a bit.

The places that hit rocks and trees while rolling hurt.

Still, I can move.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

I tried to get up but this time a rope bound my ankle.

Damn it, unnecessarily experienced…!

“You know! I’m the one who should die here!”

I quickly drew my dagger and cut the rope.

“…I know. But, you still need to live!”

As I tried to get up, an arm wrapped around my neck.

Even so, this is too much…

“Y-you…”

But before I lost consciousness, I shook him off with pure strength.

Then I threw my head back hard and hit Marcus’s chin.

“Ugh!?”

When Marcus stumbled back greatly, I seized that instant and rushed in to wrap his arms and waist tightly with rope.

“Hah, hah…”

Less than a minute.

But I’m out of breath and my heart is pounding.

“Hah… You… couldn’t possibly beat me…”

Marcus is experienced.

But he’s old.

Since our talents are probably similar, it’s natural that I would win being closer to my physical prime.

“Give up! This is my role!”

Finally.

Finally I can stand alongside my departed seniors.

Right here.

The best opportunity to end it with just my sacrifice.

Of course I don’t know if Vile will keep his promise.

But without trying there isn’t even a thread of possibility.

“…I know.”

Marcus said.

“You’ve always… wished for such a death…”

That’s right.

“But, from what I see… you need to live longer… For everyone’s sake.”

“Everyone?”

“Yes. Because you’re a more excellent hunter than anyone.”

“No. I’m… urgh!?”

A gunshot.

A burning sensation in my left calf.

“What… did you… do…”

“So, I’m sorry.”

Marcus got up brushing off the ropes as if they were never there.

A gun in his hand.

When did he get free and even get that…

“This is a bit… too much…”

I pulled out my dagger while sweating, trying to dig out the bullet.

Just need to cut open the flesh…

“I’m truly… sorry.”

Then Marcus picked up a tree branch and swung it like a club.

My vision flashed white, then fell into darkness…

*    *    *

“Huff, huff…”

Marcus quickly performed emergency treatment on Eugene’s leg after knocking him unconscious and ran toward the mountain peak again.

“Urgh…”

Marcus staggered and clutched his side.

“Huff… huff…”

Blood thoroughly soaked his hand.

Eugene is a hunter in his prime youth.

Normal means weren’t enough to defeat him.

To hide the gun until the end, he had no choice but to cover it with his own body.

It was a victory of experience, and ruthlessness.

Eugene was strong, but not ruthless.

No, he couldn’t be ruthless.

Marcus knew well that Eugene could have taken him down easily if he wanted to.

But he also knew Eugene would never use excessive violent means against him.

So you must live.

“Just a bit more…”

Marcus reached almost right in front of the mountain peak, practically crawling.

He had seen many people in his long work as a hunter.

There were excellent hunters, and hunters who could barely be called trash.

But either way, they would break down in the end.

Working as a hunter means seeing both good and bad things, and often risking your life.

How could anyone stay sane doing such terrible work.

…That’s what he had thought.

But Eugene was different.

He made it this far even after experiencing that incident 7 years ago.

Though carrying death on his back, he hadn’t lost his kind heart.

Like most other old people, or those who couldn’t let go of fighting even after going through hell, Marcus placed little value on his own life.

Plus he was old so it would be better for an excellent young person to live instead of such a worthless life.

“Huff… huff…”

I should have… thought about retiring now too.

I’ve done this for so long…

Like Beth… should have thought about retiring… at a good time…

Come to think of it… my son… told me to come see… my grandchild…

“So go see the kids’ faces.”

“…!”

“You have to be alive to see them, there’s no chance if you’re dead.”

“I’ve… grown quite old…”

“Yes.”

Eugene pulled Marcus down and stepped onto the mountain peak first.