NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 28
Upon hearing that I had never before come across the concept of a “monster,” Lady Agrippina genuinely looked astonished, muttering, “Eh, this countryside is really like that…?”
She then concisely explained to me that monsters are the end result of magical species accumulating an overabundance of “arcane essence.”
Arcane essence is much like mana but its precise nature, much like that of the Veiled Moon, is yet unknown. However, it is found within mana, and when its concentration becomes too high, it causes a form of madness, hence it’s both feared and given this name.
However, it seems we humans and the beastmen do not accumulate this arcane essence since we lack the organs necessary for such storage. Instead, our arcane essence is expelled from our bodies whenever we release mana. In a way, I suppose it does remind me a bit of how kidneys and urine function, which gives me a slightly strange feeling inside.
On the contrary, magical species possess the organs that store this arcane essence, which is why they are called such. They are blessed with superior physical abilities and magical aptitude even amongst humans. Indeed, should they evolve normally, they gain such formidable traits as alloy skeletons, metal-like skins, and the strength to rival adult men despite their dwarf-like builds.
As the arcane essence increases, magical species only grow stronger — larger, more resilient, and more powerful. In pursuit of greater strength, they continue to accumulate arcane essence until they reach a critical point.
The moment they pass this critical threshold, they become the ones I vanquished earlier, writhing semi-dead: not bandits anymore, but monsters.
“Generally speaking, arcane essence accumulates by overusing magic, by prolonged exposure to spiritually defiled lands, or by coming into contact with remnants of powerful spells. Under ordinary circumstances, though, it’s rare they’d reach the critical point. Most magical species stay as such throughout their lives,” she added.
This concept, she explained, is vaguely referred to in rural areas as “going mad.” This terminology allows even those who might defeat them to at least honor them as humans in their final send-off.
When a magical species transforms as a result of accumulated arcane essence into a monster, the process is irreversible. Once the transformation begins, there’s no turning back. Ethical values vanish, rationality crumbles, and they become creatures driven solely by the compulsion to attack, consume, and multiply. In many areas beyond the Threefold Empire, magical species are persecuted or simply not considered human because of this risk.
This is truly a cruel fate. Cruel… how cruel.
“Well, it would be best to put them out of their misery. There’s no point in keeping them this way, but there’s also no need to make them suffer needlessly,” she commented.
After these words, I looked down at the monster suffering while still brimming with murderous intent towards me. Even as it lost strength due to heavy blood loss, it continued to crawl towards us, teeth exposed, its mind clearly shattered.
At this point, if I were the protagonist of a typical story, I’d be caught in an internal conflict — questioning if killing was truly the right course of action or if it was truly inevitable.
However, I experienced no such dilemma and immediately drove my blade into the nearest ogre’s medulla.
The reason? Keeping these creatures alive would benefit no one—not me, not Lady Agrippina, not even the surrounding manor’s inhabitants, and certainly not the victims themselves caught between life and death.
Though Lady Agrippina is one to engage in unspeakable acts without hesitation due to her lazy nature, she is impeccably honest about her scholarship and knowledge. She had assured me that her studies at the Magic Academy had established that the transformation into a monster was indeed an irreversible phenomenon.
Thus, what would be the point of me, someone not well-versed in magical arts, making unnecessary excuses?
If they could be saved in this state, it would be a different story. However, they cannot. I could do nothing for them. Leaving them be would only result in them causing harm to others — one of the worst mistakes imaginable.
Considering my own philosophy, allowing harm to come to others through inaction is the most despicable of acts. If my strength fell short, or if unforeseen circumstances prevented me from acting, then I could accept it, but knowing the consequences and still choosing to ignore them is unforgivable. Regretting my actions would only be an avoidance tactic, a cowardice I refuse to partake in.
How could anyone feel justified being injured by a do-gooder lacking in action and power?
Therefore, I acted stoically, executing the task without hesitation. In fact, it might be more accurate to say I did what I truly believed needed doing, for there is no absolute truth in this world. Someday, someone might find a way to prevent or even treat the transformation into a monster.
But for now, that way does not exist, and I have no such abilities. Hence, minimizing the damage was my best course of action.
“Young and full of virtue, I expected hesitation from you, but I see you’re wise,” Lady Agrippina remarked.
“……Your praises are greatly appreciated,” I responded dryly.
Why does she insist on goading me like this? It’s questionable whether it’s intentional at all, but either way, it gets under my skin.
“Well, time to gather the harvest,” she chirped.
With a snap of her fingers, a horrific scene unfolded—quite contradictory to the pleasant sound it produced.
The bellies of the defeated monsters burst open.
“Giyaahhhh!?”
Even I couldn’t help but shout at this sight. Imagine this: I had just assisted in their merciful deaths, only for their abdomens to suddenly split open, revealing grotesque innards, all happening at once to six individuals.
The cracking sound of their chest bones and ribs wrenching open, disturbing to both my ears and brain, revealed their hearts. And nearby, the ominous dark crystals glowing with an inauspicious aura.
“Ah, this is what magical species use to store their arcane essence near their hearts,” she explained casually.
Then with that sickening sound, six stones were summoned to float before me, spinning almost whimsically. But knowing they had been stuck to hearts just moments ago made me incredibly uncomfortable.
“These are what we call ‘magic crystals,’ and they’re quite practical,” she added.
“Practical how?”
“They can be used as raw materials for magic-powered devices. Blending them with metals improves mana compatibility, and when combined with gems, they enhance their focus qualities. They can even be used as batteries by virtue of their mana-storing capabilities. Because of these myriad applications, they’re quite valuable on the market.”
“Valued at around… five Libra each, by my estimate,” she continued.
“Five Libra!?”
That means… thirty Libra? Thirty silver coins? Wait… WHAT?
That’s not some meager payout, given that monsters, while formidable, aren’t simple adversaries. They’re terrifying enough that they would attack without hesitation, but still… FIVE LIBRA!? That’s a better return than capturing bandits alive!
“And by the way, keep in mind, that’s just their market price—what merchants buy them for. Retail price is likely to be anywhere between double or triple that value,” she informed me.
That effectively doused my rising enthusiasm all at once.
Ah, right. That makes sense. If it was this profitable, surely everyone would be an adventurer then, wouldn’t they? Hardly a job anyone would look down on in that case.
Double to triple the cost places the price between one Libra and fifty As. Split the profits, and the pay’s only slightly better than day laborers… or so it seems?
Given the rarity of encounters with monsters and various other factors, this calculation proves it isn’t truly profitable. It’s a rather disheartening realization, weighing the value of life. Without a sense of romance or a strong sense of duty, such work is unsustainable.
“Besides, if the crystal suffers damage, its value drops drastically. And there are those where the secondary core takes over, so you end up having to destroy the crystal to ensure their defeat,” she mentioned.
“Ah…”
Too much in too many ways—really. High-quality crystals come from powerful monsters, but retrieving them often requires damaging the crystal, which defeats the purpose. Conversely, avoiding damage to the crystal might mean not defeating the monster, which is also problematic.
This is absurd. Whoever thought of the balancing needs a talk—I mean, who even are they?
As I lamented the world’s injustices, Lady Agrippina, who had been inspecting the crystals expertly, suddenly proposed:
“If you sell them to me, I’ll give you double retail.”
“Eh?”
What… Did she say… double retail? Fifty percent?
“Total of fifteen Libra!?”
“Ah, yes, you’re quick at math,” she said, impressed.
Although it might feel like profiteering for the buyer to get fifty percent off the market price, for me, compared to selling to merchants, it amounts to two and a half times the profit—or even more sometimes. This is a truly helpful and advantageous offer!
I jumped on it immediately. For the sake of Eliza’s tuition, I’m willing to do anything!
Moreover, if I can make money this fast, it could be a very favorable venture. If things go well, I might not have to be tied down for years, and could fully cover Eliza’s school fees and miscellaneous costs. Alright, my enthusiasm is really building up now…
“Okay, see you!”
“…Huh?”
Her sudden farewell left me stunned and with my mouth hanging open in confusion…
After around thirty minutes following that abrupt “see you,” I found myself deep in the woods, standing in front of an old mansion.
Apparently, monsters don’t wander aimlessly but are unconsciously drawn to places where arcane essence accumulates, subsequently gathering in groups.
These places can be anything from abandoned, hidden caves to forsaken castles and even desolate mansions abandoned after horrific tragedies, among other locations.
“Wow… It really exists.”
Currently, I’m fully armed and observing the manor from the main gate. This two-story building is decaying, exuding a grand yet melancholic presence, cloaked in a gloomy atmosphere even in broad daylight. It’s eerily dark.
I’m here entirely due to my Master’s direction.
Because of my unparalleled passion for making money, it was suggested that I earn a little more while I’m at it. If there were six monsters, a place rich in arcane essence must be nearby.
Pointing in a direction, I found myself here, as expected.
I was hesitating about purchasing the expensive “Mana Detection” skill, but perhaps I should consider it. It could come in handy during battles, and anything that aids instinctively is useful.
Sooner than later, let’s confront reality—I chose to come here.
Pulling out my beloved sword and readying myself to step onto the grounds, my “Presence Detection” skill alerted me. Someone—or something—was watching me.
This came from my belt, near the pouch attached alongside my sword.
I had a bad feeling. This pouch held the rose given to me by the girl who calls herself the “Night Fairy.”
This black rose was indeed peculiar. It neither withered nor decayed. Trying to pluck its petals didn’t work, and attempting to disassemble it proved futile. Even when left at the inn’s desk because I had grown suspicious, it somehow found its way back inside the pouch.
“Are you cursed, you little thing!”
Apparently, once a connection is formed, it cannot be severed.
From that rose, a gaze came my way, not a good sign. And facing a haunted mansion like this in front of me, my worries increased.
Deciding not to shy away from the ominous sign, I reluctantly picked up the rose. It had partially closed compared to the last time I saw it, yet it remained incredibly vibrant.
Right then, the rose began to bloom.
The shrunken petals stretched and unfolded like waking up from sleep in my palm.
And within its center nestled a minuscule girl.
The same girl I met that night.
“Hi there, dearest! Are you troubled?”
“Wait, what? Were you there all this time?”
The thumb-sized fairy stretched her back dramatically, wincing slightly at the bright sunlight.
“Not really. I was just waiting until you needed me.”
“I needed you…?”
“Of course! Humans have many troubles in such dark places, don’t they?”
She then opened her large wings and fluttered up into the air. Wings I had not noticed before due to her hair concealing them. They were reminiscent of the pale luminescent wings of great blue morpho butterflies.
“So, I thought I’d help you out!”
Fluttering up, the fairy approached my face and placed a kiss on my eyelid.
Suddenly, the forest, which had seemed so dark, lit up like a sunlit plain. Features obscured by shadows were now clearly visible through windows and foliage alike.
“This is…”
“I am a fairy of the night. The darkness of night suits me best. So, I’ve merely lent you some of my senses.”
The hovering fairy smiled, hinting at a protective sentiment—perhaps warning me against undue harm…
“And, I should assist those poor souls, as well,” she said cheerfully.
“Poor souls?”
“Sure! But the details are for later—treat if you do well!”
With a giggle, the fairy disappeared, leaving the rose behind, now quietly returning to its bud form.
Hmm… Does this mean I’ve accepted a quest? Coming from someone who tried to abduct me doesn’t exactly feel reassuring.
Still, since Master sent me here, and now I get to complete two objectives in one shot, it might work out well!
“Alright, let’s just see how things unfold!”
Realizing there was no use overthinking the situation, I resolutely decided to infiltrate the manor…
【Tips】 Magic crystals can also shoulder another’s magical load.
Some may have questions about the ideas presented here. I’ll do my best to answer them as they arise.
—
Various ideas sprang to mind. Should anyone inquire how things would proceed, I’d be more than happy to answer!