Chapter 40 - A Fragment of the Desire of the Third Son of a Knightly House
Considering the current state of the soldiers' equipment, subjugating this one would be too much of a burden.
Their main weapons were the standard swords and spears used by the kingdom’s army. They were made of steel, but they couldn’t pierce or cut through its hard outer shell. The enemy was sleeping, but if the soldiers attacked, it would wake up instantly.
If it came to a fight, the records indicated that its unique magic, Cursed Poison, would be its primary means of attack. This wasn’t just any deadly poison—it could be dispersed over a wide area or targeted with precision. What made things even more troublesome was its spider-like nature, which allowed it to wield spider threads.
--- It used Magic Threads not only for offense and defense but also for mobility.
In this shallow-level forest filled with trees, it would display unmatched mobility. Without a one-hit kill attack, defeating it would be difficult. Although I possessed the internal mana of a "count-class," no amount of training had allowed me to advance beyond basic-level offensive magic.
In other words, I wouldn’t be able to kill it with my offensive magic. I couldn’t order the soldiers to charge recklessly either—their attack options were far too weak. They would follow my orders faithfully, and their love for our homeland was unparalleled. I was certain they would fight to the death. But doing so would waste the soldiers I had painstakingly trained. That would only reflect the negligence of the commander.
Because I had grown close to them, I knew they would risk their lives when the time came. But surely, surely there had to be another way. Surely...
I became keenly aware of the gun I had brought along with my pack.
Perhaps, just maybe... this could work. I had brought armor-piercing ammunition designed to penetrate the tough skulls of monsters. These heavy-duty rounds contained a 20% increase of magic powder. With these... I might be able to pierce the extraordinarily hard exoskeleton of the "Elad Arachne." I had no choice but to try...
"Spotter, ready. Can you do this?"
"Understood. I’m moving out."
I called out to the fifth-year soldier leader, switched to the gun, and moved to the sniping position. I knew Old Man behind me was watching with concern. Even so, I had no choice but to do it. I couldn’t order the soldiers to hunt down a mid-sized monster with their fragile gear.
That was why "I" had to do it. And I was carrying the weapon that could make it possible.
If it woke up, we would soon find ourselves in a deadly struggle. I understood that. Its perception range was vast. Right now, it was just sleeping defenselessly because its stomach was full. If we left it alone and escaped, we would be safe. But doing that would mean abandoning the safety of the people who depended on this forest for their lives. Neither I nor the soldiers...
--- could possibly overlook this.
Walking silently behind me, without a word or sound, was the Old Man. He knew everything: the current proficiency of the guerilla unit, the dangers of leaving the Elad Arachne unchecked, the impossibility of waiting for reinforcements from the main force led by Second Brother, and the unwavering resolve I had already made. That was why Old Man said nothing. He, too, had been a seasoned warrior—a man of the frontier.
I silently offered my thanks to Old Man, who was silently accompanying me. "Thank you for watching over me..."
We arrived at the position directly opposite the Elad Arachne. Its two pairs of eyes were blue. The human-shaped bait, a female figure, languidly draped herself over the Elad Arachne's head, exuding a seductive and bewitching aura.
Scholars from the capital said that this was proof that humans were recognized as prey by monsters and magical beasts. A defenseless human, standing in the forest without any clothing. How easy would they be prey for other monsters and magical beasts? Standing from the monsters and magical beasts' perspective, this was easy to imagine.
However, just as they would attempt to devour, they would become entangled in the mandibles of the Elad Arachne. It was common in the Demonic Forest for predators to become prey. Was it the result of natural threats? Or should we consider it a special evolution? How had it come to obtain such bait in the first place?
As I started to think about the evolutionary path, I realized I was falling into a deep thought. Elad Arachne was a monster that lived in the mid-level forest. It would rarely encounter humans... let alone women, so how...
No, now was not the time for such distractions. We had to defeat it with a "one-hit kill attack", or the lives of the soldiers with me would be in danger. I couldn’t let my concentration slip. The fifth-year soldier leader had taken his position as the spotter. His voice echoed in my mind.
"Target directly ahead. The critical headshot area is exposed. Measured distance: 352.6 yalds. Wind direction: true bearing 160, wind strength 1. It is positioned upwind."
"Target confirmed. For a long-range shot, this is quite close. Taking the prone position."
I settled between moss-covered fallen trees and took the prone position. I braced the gun barrel against a fallen log to steady it. The barrel felt uncomfortably unstable. A flash of memory from my previous life resurfaced. Oh... I had forgotten to make a "bipod." I had been so focused on holding the gun and shooting that I neglected the crucial need for stability when shooting in this manner... It was always like this... no matter how much I thought things through, something was always missing.
--- That's why I'm no good.
I couldn't suppress my frustration with my own incompetence. But now, I had to focus only on what I could do. I gripped the gun's handle, placed my index finger on the trigger, and pressed the gun stock firmly against my shoulder to provide more stability to the barrel. Adjusting the angle to account for the distance, I lined up the sights, carefully positioning the crosshairs on the Elad Arachne's head.
--- Right in the center of those two pairs of eyes.
I pushed down my increasingly frantic heartbeat and controlled my breath. This was my only chance. A second shot would be impossible. Even if I missed slightly, I had to hit it. If I didn't, the lives of the soldiers here would be in danger. I had heard that the creature's detection range through its webs was incredibly wide. There was no way I could escape. Especially when I was the one trying to kill it. There was no way I was going to give up.
I slowly took a breath and held it.
I forced my trembling finger to steady and slowly squeezed the trigger.
Aligning perfectly with the gun's front sight, I focused on the Elad Arachne's head while silently praying to God.
"May this creature be granted the grace of reincarnation. I pray its next life may be peaceful."
All living beings in this world were endowed with life (soul). And the depth of the sin in extinguishing that life’s flame made my heart tremble. However, if I didn't do it, people would lose their place to live. The peace of the common folk would be shattered, and their path would be filled only with anxiety, hatred, and regret.
That...
cannot be allowed.
In the frontier, within the pride of being the third son of a knightly family.
I stand on the side of humanity...
I am a "killer."
The trigger was pulled, and the bullet flew straight toward the head of the Elad Arachne. It hit the center between its two pairs of eyes, piercing its tough exoskeleton and reaching its soft brain. The rune of Holy Water Summon activated, and the holy water exploded inside the skull.
A report from an external observer rang out in my mind via Telepathy.
"Head of the Elad Arachne confirmed to be destroyed. Spasms and relaxation of its body confirmed. Approaching to confirm death."
"Maintain maximum caution."
"Close contact. Four legs relaxed. No pulse. No signs of life. Based on my Inspection Skill, the creature's internal mana storage organs are rapidly solidifying. Therefore... I confirm the Elad Arachne has been defeated."
"Good. Moving toward you. Engineers, prepare for dissection."
The appearance of such a dangerous mid-sized monster in the shallow forest was noteworthy. Fortunately, all of the soldiers' lives were saved. The safety of the nearby villagers was also protected. I was genuinely happy about that. But I also found many problems that needed addressing.
There was much room for improvement.
Training, practice, and refinement alone were insufficient to deal with the threats of nature.
The usefulness of the gun had been confirmed. Now I had to decide who would use them. I currently have ten guns on hand. I needed to start producing more. Oh, and I mustn't forget to make bipods. Also... I needed to consider the weapons for soldiers who would engage in close combat.
If I were to dedicate my life and wish for the peace of the people, at the very least, I had to ensure that the equipment was sufficient. I racked my brain for any good ideas, but none came to mind.
--- In the end, I only amounted to this much.
But to grasp a better future, I could struggle, struggle, and struggle some more. I know that human connections could also become strength. So, I would not give up hope. I would do anything to ensure the men I lead could return home safely.
That was my pride and my honor.
--- That was the desire of the third son of a knightly house.
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