ocean-life Chapter 183 - Stepping Out into the World (5)
Chapter 183 - Stepping Out into the World (5)
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 183 - Stepping Out into the World (5)
How far did Ketal's strength go?
Where was his limit?
Ketal is strong.
Without wielding any mystical powers, he easily subdued formidable opponents with his sheer physical strength alone.
It was an established truth and common sense across the continent that one without mystic powers could never defeat one who possessed them.
Ketal was an existence shattering that common sense.
So, where was his limit?
Baker swallowed hard.
"...The monster we faced was strong."
The white beast is strong.
Baker, who had encountered numerous powerful beings at the Magic Tower, knew this.
It could easily be said that it was at the pinnacle of the superhuman class.
And yet, Ketal overwhelmed it.
No, he went beyond simply overwhelming it; he utterly crushed it.
The difference in power was so staggering that it was pitiful to witness.
What level of power does Ketal possess, to toy with a pinnacle-level superhuman as if twisting a child's wrist?
"The emperor... said that there is an existence more dangerous than the monsters of the White Snowfield. That existence is the Ashen Barbarian."
Some researchers thought it was the emperor's delusion. Even if a mere barbarian was strong, it was inconceivable that he could defeat a serpent connecting the sky and the earth.
There were quite a few who believed the emperor had gone mad from the dreadful environment of the White Snowfield, and this was considered a fairly plausible hypothesis.
But in front of their eyes stood the Ashen Barbarian.
They could find the answer.
Even Aquaz, curious about him, quietly waited for Ketal to speak.
"...As you guessed, I am not weak."
"...Compared to the legendary monsters?"
Ketal said he had occasionally clashed with them while holding his territory.
Ketal frowned.
"They're bothersome. They're big and strong, so when we clash, everything around gets devastated. They're not something I want to fight."
"...Huh."
Baker let out a deflated sound.
From Ketal's words, he realized.
This barbarian had fought and won against legendary monsters.
'What is he?'
He defeated a serpent connecting the sky and the earth with a mere human body?
Even for them, superhumans, it was incomprehensible.
Naturally, one possibility came to mind.Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com
"A hero class?"
"Even if you call me that, I wouldn't know. I've never seen the true power of those called heroes."
He had met the Master of the Magic Tower and witnessed his magic.
The magic the Master of the Magic Tower showed then was extraordinary.
With just a flick of his finger, he created a massive barrier encompassing the entire royal castle.
It didn't break even under his gust of power.
And he cast a spell to put everyone in the capital to sleep very easily.
From that alone, one could glimpse a fraction of his power, but since he hadn't actually fought him, he couldn't know his full strength.
"What if that white beast fought a hero class warrior?"
"It'd be similar to you."
Baker said calmly.
The white beast was undoubtedly strong.
But between the pinnacle of the superhuman class and a hero, there was an unbridgeable gap.
"Well, that's probably true."
Ketal agreed.
In the past, four pinnacle-level superhuman demons had descended.
And the Master of the Magic Tower, who happened to be passing by, dealt with all of them on the spot.
It meant there was a definite difference in level.
"Those called heroes can twist and utilize the laws of the world. It's not an exaggeration to say they've transcended the concept of life."
"...But in the past, hero-class warriors followed the emperor into the White Snowfield."
And none of them returned.
Of course, the heroes who followed the emperor were said to be, so to speak, of a lower tier among heroes.
A pinnacle-level superhuman could easily handle two or three ordinary superhumans.
As with superhumans, there were significant differences in power among heroes as well. The disparity was far greater.
Originally, heroes are the strongest beings.
Even the emperor who ruled the continent couldn't handle them easily.
Conversely, the heroes who followed the emperor were at a level he could control.
Though they were called heroes and possessed incomprehensible powers, there was a clear difference in level.
"Hmm."
Ketal stroked his chin after hearing the explanation.
"I don't know what happened to them either. I met someone who seemed to be the emperor, but he was alone."
He had met a deranged man in the snowfield a long time ago.
Whether that man was the emperor or not was unknown, but when Ketal met him, he was alone.
Its value was immeasurable.
Kukulitan’s hand, holding out the gemstone, was also trembling.
It was an extremely rare and treasured gem in the merfolk kingdom.
Selling this gemstone alone would be enough to rebuild the city and even expand it twice over.
Such a gemstone was now being given to their benefactors.
“There’s only one...”
“Then it’s simple.”
“Ketal, you should take it.”
Aquaz spoke calmly.
If any of the three were to receive the gemstone, it had to be Ketal.
Baker looked longingly at the gemstone but did not let his greed show.
“Thank you. I’ll accept it.”
Ketal smiled as he took the gemstone.
The intense mana it exuded was palpable even to him.
‘Could this allow me to wield mystic powers?’
Though Ketal had succeeded in acquiring mystic powers, he still couldn’t wield them due to the uniqueness of his body.
Arkamis had said that obtaining a large amount of mystic energy would solve the issue, so this gemstone might help.
He planned to use it later.
They had received their reward for saving the city.
As time passed and the city's restoration neared completion, Aquaz and Baker prepared to leave.
“Are you going back now?”
“It seems so. The pilgrimage ends here.”
“I should return to the Magic Tower too.”
The white snowfield monster was emerging outside.
It was necessary to convey this information to their group.
There was no time for a pilgrimage.
It was urgent to return even one day sooner.
Aquaz spoke carefully.
“Well... if you wish, I can keep Ketal a secret for you.”
“That would be best. I don’t want unnecessary attention.”
What he desired was a journey of fantasy.
If it got out, various interferences might occur.
That would certainly be an unpleasant experience for Ketal.
“Then what will you do now, Mr. Ketal?”
“I intend to stay here a bit longer.”
He had yet to fully enjoy the mermaid city.
He planned to roam freely under the sea and observe the life of mermaids.
“Then this is farewell. Mr. Baker, how about traveling together until our paths diverge?”
Aquaz said to Baker.
She had dedicated herself to the gods.
She didn’t desire worldly love or marriage.
But she could afford to be a little kinder to the person who risked his life to protect her.
“Huh, uh? I’m okay with that.”
Baker, surprised that Aquaz would say such a thing, nodded in surprise.
“It was a pleasant journey.”
“Yes. If we get the chance, let’s meet again.”
“Come find me if you ever visit the Magic Tower!”
The two left.
Ketal, left alone, stared blankly at the rippling waves.
‘Was it really a pleasant journey?’
It was ambiguous.
At the beginning, it was enjoyable.
He conversed with the magician of the Magic Tower, met pirates, sailed the fantasy seas, and even encountered mermaids.
It was certainly a journey he should have been satisfied with.
But Ketal was not entirely pleased.
“Disgusting.”
Ketal muttered.
The white one.
The white snowfield monster.
It appeared before him.
In that moment, Ketal felt intense disgust.
How dare it.
How dare a being from there set foot in the fantasy.
How dare it taint his world.
He couldn’t accept it.
This was his world.
The fact that the white one appeared meant that other monsters could also appear.
Although, for now, it seemed there was some restriction and not all monsters showed themselves, they could appear one by one.
“It’s best if you stay out of here.”
Ketal muttered softly.
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