Try This Nonsense Once (1)

<(Reminiscence)>

“Hey, did you hear about that?”

“What about?”

“You know, that crazy woman. The one neither the other gods nor their representatives can handle.”

“Oh, Violentia?”

“Yeah. Right, her! Apparently, she’s looking for that peculiar representative.”

“Huh? What do you mean by peculiar representative?”

“Oh, you know, the one who only trains their body, not divine power. What was the god they served… A minor god, right?”

“Oh… that, that…”

As the two struggled to recall, the answer that cleared their minds rang in their ears.

“Ludicer.”

“Yeah! Ludicer!”

“Yeah! Ludi– huh?”

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor was heard from a table behind the two men. As the person stood, a robe fell away, revealing hair as red as blood.

The figure had a typical female body shape but was unusually tall for a woman. Just by standing, silence fell over the entire tavern.

“Wh-who are you…?”

“The crazy woman you were talking about.”

“Eek!”

“Gasp!”

“Don’t worry. Inside Exorsus, I can’t do anything to you. But when the time comes, a year from now, when you must leave Exorsus, pray you don’t meet me then. I’ll make sure you neither live nor die at that time. I’ll remember your faces.”

“Please…”

“Forgive us…”

They were the kind of representatives who weren’t sought after. The type who, even without being gathered, would come groveling, perfect as meat shields.

There was no need to react to every insult from such scum, but Violentia wasn’t the type to overlook words that reached her ears, especially when she was present around.

As she glared at the two desperately begging for their lives with even more contempt and was about to cast a tracking spell, a feeble voice called out to her.

“Excuse me…”

Violentia’s body turned toward the direction of the voice.

The man who caught her gaze was muscular, with muscles that seemed to dance with even the slightest movement, quite contrary to his weak and unsure voice.

“It doesn’t seem like they did it on purpose. Could you forgive them?”

“Why should I do that?”

“You were looking for me, weren’t you?”

“What?”

“It seems like you have a request for me. I’ll fulfill that request, so please forgive them.”

“Who are you?”

“Aren’t you looking for me? The representative of Ludicer?”

The emotion of ‘interest’ flickered in Violentia’s eyes but quickly vanished.

The muscles protruding from his clothes were indeed impressive. However, the divine power felt from him was just average.

That’s why the feeling of interest disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

“Is that so? Hmm… well, alright.”

“Thank you!”

“Thank you!”

Clearly, it was Kim Han, the representative of Ludicer, who saved the people, but they expressed their gratitude to Violentia.

However, Kim Han himself didn’t seem particularly displeased by that act.

“Get lost!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Yes!”

Violentia’s expression, which had been looking at the disappearing people with disdain, turned toward Kim Han. Then she smiled sweetly.

“Shall we move to a quieter place for now?”

“What? Oh, yes.”

Was he scared when it actually came to it? Or was it that he stepped in for another random representative in this ‘Battlefield of the Gods’?

It felt both amazing and somewhat foolish at the same time.

In a truly quiet place, a secluded alley where no one was around, Violentia moved with Kim Han and started speaking cheerfully.

“You said you can see the quantified abilities of other representatives, right?”

“Pardon? Ah… yes. But, Violentia, I can’t verify yours.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“Because you’re far stronger than I am.”

“Oh! Is that so? It’s okay, I’ll take care of that.”

“What? H-how…?”

As soon as Violentia finished speaking, the faint aura of intimidation around her vanished. She seemed just like an ordinary person from the continent.

“I recently figured out how to do this. It really works. I’ve contained my power inside. Go ahead, quickly.”

“Ah, yes. V-Verify.”

Lee Hyo-ju placed the talent orb into the inventory and left the inn.

Upon arriving at the west gate of Exorsus with quick steps, a transparent barrier formed at the gate, hindering exit.

“Yes.”

As the outing pass disappeared from the inventory, the transparent barrier blocking the front of the gate vanished.

Despite entering Exorsus during the training period, I successfully faced the Monster Belt again by exiting through the west gate.

‘Was there such a privilege available?’

I tried to recall memories of my past life, but as expected, my early self was a pathetic pushover, so nothing came to my mind.

‘Anyway, I need to hurry if I don’t want to be late.’

Exorsus is located at the center of the continent, and surrounding Exorsus is a belt-shaped forest teeming with various monsters, known as the Monster Habitat. Therefore, this forest is called the ‘Monster Belt.’

And if you cross the Monster Belt connected to the western gate of Exorsus, the Empire of Darkness appears.

The distance is too great to be precise right now, but roughly at the boundary between the Monster Belt and the Empire of Darkness, the demon’s representative, Violentia, remains motionless.

For now, as soon as I entered the Monster Belt, I freely used my skills.

I circulated the Force along the intuitively emerging path of Force. It felt like my body, standing on the ground, was floating, becoming incredibly light.

With a light push off the ground, my body shot forward swiftly.

The speed was much faster than I thought. Since it was my first time using it, and my abilities had improved, I was moving much faster than I anticipated.

I planned for a day, including a short break in the middle, but at this rate, it seems I could travel comfortably without it taking a full day.

I pushed off the ground and headed towards the tallest tree I saw first. With just two steps, I reached the topmost branch.

Even though I was standing on a thin branch swaying in the wind, it didn’t break.

I felt like the protagonist of a martial arts novel, and the scenery below naturally filled me with a heroic spirit.

Light Body.

It seems to not only increase movement speed but also have the effect of making the body lighter, just as the skill’s name suggests.

With a slight exertion of force, the branch bent down with a scream. Propelled by the elasticity that sought to restore all objects to their original state, I moved higher, faster, and farther.

I became a streak of black as I traversed the Monster Belt.

I stopped running, exhilarated, only after the day had grown quite dark.

To have dinner and take a short break, I settled on the largest tree in the vicinity.

As before, I preferred resting atop trees rather than on the ground.

It was better for preparing against ambushes, and except for the northern part of the continent, monsters and beasts mostly walked on the ground beneath the trees, making it advantageous for surprise attacks.

Cautious of being spotted by anyone through the dense leaves, I took out the gift from Aetas that Lee Hyo-ju had passed on to me.

‘A talent orb… and it’s for ‘Flow Comprehension’? I have no idea what that means.’

I took out the talent orb and brought it to my mouth.

The concern about ‘how to chew it?’ was unfounded as the talent orb turned into a gulp of water and went down my throat.

After blinking a few times, the four great divine powers dormant in my Divine Power Core began to awaken and move.

Force came alive, and as Divinity ignited like a flame, mana swirled and accelerated the flow. Then the three energies permeated as if caressing the Spirit like the sun.

“This…! Was it like this?”

This wasn’t just a talent. It was a better ability than ordinary divine power affinity.

For example, it’s like ‘the ability to see mana + mana affinity + α’. It’s a talent of a very high rank to that extent.

Moreover, if one, like me, contains five types of divine power in their body, it is an ability that can amplify the power more than fivefold.

As one becomes accustomed to the talent, not only the five types of energy existing within the body but also the flow of energy that blends into the air and flows majestically can be felt.

Especially, the ‘chaos’ that was known to exist but couldn’t be felt until now was distinctly sensed, and I got a grasp of what it felt like.

I don’t know what results will be brought about if I engage in serious training, but it’s a talent that already makes me anticipate.

I vividly felt the flow of various energies as if I were seeing them with my eyes.

After enjoying the flood of new and fulfilling sensations for a while and standing up, I realized it was already dark.

‘I should hurry a bit.’

The Force, moving more clearly and concisely than before, followed the set path, making my body move lighter and faster.

Except for a brief rest and the time to eat the nourishing food stored in the inventory, everything was devoted to moving.

As a result, I reached my intended destination fifteen hours after leaving Exorsus.

Even in the dark night, using divine power to run, I departed Exorsus early in the evening, and now, facing a massive cave, it was morning.

‘Stealth.’

The one who brutally massacred the Rebound Legion, who were friends and family, in the last battle.

The mastermind who colluded with Unos.

And above all, just someone I simply despise.

As I used Stealth and simultaneously activated Acceleration, the scenery of the cave rapidly passed by.

The advantage of the Stealth skill is that it automatically blocks out smells and sounds.

Moreover, seeing that there were no traces of battle around, it meant there were no traps typically found in dungeons along this path.

As I emitted more Force, the surrounding scenery quickly retreated.

The deeper I went into the cave, the more I could distinctly sense Violentia’s presence, perhaps thanks to the power granted by the Creator.

A spacious cavity.

Not long after running through the cave’s passage, I encountered a cavity where Violentia was sitting down, practicing mana breathing.

An opportunity that seemed so defenseless. It felt as if I could easily take her head if I rushed in right now.

However, I didn’t.

Unlike the mad god she serves, Violentia is not just a madwoman. She is cunning and meticulous in her acts.

She is likely surrounded by basic defensive magic that is always active.

Perhaps it’s because I acquired the talent of ‘Flow Comprehension.’ As expected, the mana around her felt oddly refracted, as if the air itself were bending.

Above all, the mad god Serpens is probably watching her from my perspective right now.

No matter how much I might belittle her as a madwoman, she is a high-ranking god. The moment I approach within 1 meter of Violentia, she might immediately recognize who I am.

No, she will definitely recognize me.

As I shifted my gaze over her shoulder, I saw a fake dragon lying comfortably on the cave floor, its belly to its chin.

And the tremendous energy sensed through ‘Flow Comprehension.’

In the center of the chamber, I felt something at the altar located behind that fake dragon.

And that something was what this woman desired.

‘In that case… I don’t know what it is, but should I sneak a peek?’

In fact, before arriving here, the plan was to find something that would awaken a specific ability, like a weapon, defense, or perhaps a talent orb I had acquired.

I didn’t think the process of obtaining it would be difficult, so I hurried. The goal was to arrive quickly and destroy or sabotage it rather than steal it.

Since Violentia was infamous as a monster from the start, I didn’t expect an immediate, reckless battle.

I’m confident but not complacent.

But judging by the energy I’m sensing now, it’s definitely not that kind.

Before departing, what Arun received and consumed from his patron god at the inn can’t even compare to this elixir or core!

It’s tempting, but above all, I can’t let that monster possess something like this! Absolutely! Never!

As I reviewed the plan and contemplated, I saw Violentia getting up from her spot, apparently done with mana breathing.

If you only saw her back, you’d think she was a warrior, not a mage, as she’s tall, broad-shouldered, and her arm and leg muscles are bulging.

The first magic Violentia, who was muttering something in runes, manifested was, as expected, a defensive spell.

As the colorful defensive magic wrapped around Violentia’s body, she slowly walked into the wide chamber.

As soon as Violentia, who was blocking the narrow entrance, disappeared, I cautiously stepped into the chamber.

As soon as I entered the joint area, I pressed myself against the wall and maneuvered around Violentia and the fake dragon.

At that moment, a full-fledged battle began between the two fake dragons—the dragonian and the fake dragon.

Finally, the distance for the verification authority was secured, allowing me to check the information of the fake dragon, which was resisting Violentia’s magic with its massive body.

‘Wow. A typical anti-mage monster.’

No wonder that crazy monster woman stayed here for so long.

Now I see, she couldn’t claim that treasure because she lacked the ability.

Fire, lightning, ice, poison, wind, earth.

Despite the barrage of magic from all elements, the fake dragon, the Earth Dragon, roared as if it were a real dragon.

Its movements were slow, proving its low agility stat, but it stoically endured the magic, launching physical attacks with its large body and casting various earth-related spells.

There was no worry of being detected due to the Earth Dragon’s low agility, but, as is the nature of earth magic, there was a risk of exposure to area attacks, so I quickly headed to the back of the altar.

Only then was I completely free from any magical aftermath and could leisurely check the items placed on the altar.

‘Verify.’

‘What?’

I almost said it out loud.

As Fons evolved, all powers were prefixed with ‘True’, including the Verify power, which became ‘True Verify’. According to the description, it couldn’t be avoided unless it was a power equivalent to that of a god…

‘This crazy Serpens! Did they just set up a god-level barrier here?’

I hurriedly took two or three steps back while simultaneously assessing the flow of energy around the altar.

It was a remarkably useful ability, ‘Flow Comprehension,’ hard to believe it was a recently blossomed talent.

Something immensely spread around the altar was connected to the Earth Dragon. More precisely, it was linked near the Earth Dragon’s heart.

‘Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.’

It’s the work of the Demon God, a master of tricks. It wouldn’t be easy to take.

To summarize the situation:

First, Violentia is wasting several days here to obtain something massive arranged by the Demon God.

Second, to acquire that something, the gatekeeper Earth Dragon must be defeated.

Third, the Earth Dragon is a magic-resistant monster, a natural enemy of Violentia.

Fourth, ??

My thoughts ended there, as I stared blankly at the ongoing battle.

Violentia, realizing the difficulty with magic, repeatedly cloaked herself in defensive spells and attacked only the Earth Dragon’s eyes before retreating.

With quick agility and magically enhanced speed. The Earth Dragon countered with area magic, but the number of defensive spells surrounding Violentia was overwhelming.

‘If this goes well… it might be possible?’

Just the thought excited me, and a smile crept up.

I desperately held back the laughter threatening to escape, leisurely waiting for the battle between the two monsters to conclude.