Chapter 41: A Mountain Escapade of Misadventure
by xennovelDiches sported a pair of red-coated, mountain club-style sunglasses and wore the kind of sporty gear favored by hiking enthusiasts. He soon opened his hiking bag and pulled out a sealed container filled with sliced cucumbers.
Distributing the square-cut cucumber slices among everyone, he bit into one with his neat, attractive white teeth.
“Alright, let’s share these before we set off,” he declared.
“Hey, what kind of date is this?”
“I believe a date is a process where hearts become one. It isn’t reserved only for lovers. When subordinates climb a mountain in unison, a fierce camaraderie rises within—a steadfast bond among the team! This is what…”
Lara wasn’t interested in listening to the long-winded spiel that followed.
“Anyway, thank goodness Raan is here. I ordered everyone to join this outing, and only two are missing. It’s fine; they’re probably too busy. I heard that Kyung can’t make it today due to his sister’s wedding. That’s already the thirteenth no-show because of a wedding—can you imagine having thirteen sisters?”
‘That’s just because you’re a sucker,’
Lara thought, but she kept her opinion to herself. Instead, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being duped, realizing they were talking about the weekend Knight Order hiking retreat rather than a real date.
Before Lara could shake them off, a firm grip seized her arm. The carriage carrying the three of them headed toward a nearby mountain on the outskirts of the capital.
“Um… wh-where are we climbing to?”
“Only 1.5 km to the summit. Keep your spirits up.”
Glancing at her superior who reached out a helping hand, Lara scanned the trail behind her. She longed to go back. She couldn’t understand why she was doing this in the first place on a weekend.
Lady Elina I blushed with joy merely from Diches’s extended hand.
‘Ah… I just want to go home.’
When Lara, panting heavily, reached the mid-mountain area, the Female Lead and Male Lead were already seated on a mat beneath a pine tree. The previously frozen water had partially thawed, and Lady Elina I had wrapped it in a handkerchief and handed it to Diches so it wouldn’t be too cold.
“The water feels warmer now, thanks to you, Elina I.”
“…”
With her cheeks flushed scarlet, Lady Elina I began crunching on a cucumber. Lara slumped against a nearby boulder to catch her breath, though she couldn’t avoid overhearing their conversation.
“They say the view from the peak is breathtaking—so beautiful it takes your breath away. You won’t regret it.”
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Elina I, nothing can be as beautiful as you.”
“P-please, don’t say that. I’m embarrassed.”
‘…I seriously want to quit and head back down.’
As Lara’s eyes wandered emptily across the world, the Demon Sword strapped to her waist began to vibrate unexpectedly.
“Ma!! I can sense an enormous presence approaching, kid!”
“W-what is it?”
The sudden noise was disconcerting, yet looking at the Female and Male Leads, it hardly seemed out of place. In situations like these, it was almost uncanny that nothing happened when trouble-makers actually set foot on the mountain.
Even though he was in an administrative role, Diches—fitting his position as the Knight Order leader—had already drawn his sword upon sensing the disturbance. He eyed the trembling Lady Elina I hidden behind his back.
‘Can you please just shut it?’
Hiding behind a large tree trunk, Lara stealthily gripped a rock from her handbag. Although the Demon Sword complained in its own way about not choosing her, the rock felt more reliable than an untested weapon.
“Kkwaaah!”
Suddenly, a yellow boar with lightning-like patterns on its back burst from the bushes. Electricity crackled from its zigzagging tail, and Diches, caught off guard, couldn’t quite swing his sword as he bit his lower lip in concentration.
As Diches and Lady Elina I hesitated and stepped back, Lara couldn’t help but smile broadly on her own.
‘See? Trees don’t conduct electricity. Hmph.’
Lara chuckled to herself, mentally chanting ‘Solo paradise, couple’s hell’, when suddenly the yellow boar leaped up, prompting Diches and Lady Elina I to rush from behind the tree where Lara was hidden.
“Ah… why are you coming here!”
“In our organization, one death equals total annihilation.”
“What Diches is doing now is nothing less than annihilation! And it’s suffocating—don’t stick so close… Lady Elina I, you too!”
They bickered like noisy cicadas as the yellow boar, now charging furiously toward the tree, changed direction.
“Ma!! Now’s the time! Attack me, Master!”
At that moment, spurred on by the commanding voice, Lara mustered all her strength behind the rock in her hand and hurled it. The rock flew swiftly and struck the yellow boar’s head as it charged.
“Kkwaaah!”
The yellow boar collapsed instantly.
“Phew…”
Just as Lara was about to relax, a bizarre clattering sound erupted from behind. Moments later, a herd of yellow boars emerged from the bushes.
Hearing the leisurely tone of God’s voice, Lara let out a horrified scream.
“Run!!”
Determined to stay alongside the leads, Lara ran forward. By now, one would expect the Male Lead to hold his ground and fend off the monsters, yet here she was, charging ahead.
If you’re going to lead, do it properly. Suddenly, a massive cliff appeared before Diches. Fortunately, a long river flowed below. Leaping off wasn’t an option given the sheer height, when suddenly he grabbed the wrists of Lara and Lady Elina I.
“Hold your breath.”
“W-what are you planning? I’d rather die than jump!”
While Lara protested wildly, Lady Elina I calmly closed her eyes and leaned into his grasp. It was better for them to jump together than for her to be left behind to face the plunge alone, the thought of plunging naked into that roaring river sending chills down her spine.
“I’d rather die right here than let go of these hands!!”
“Are you out of your mind?”
“The only one who’s crazy is our leader! If we jump, the Female and Male Leads might somehow survive—but not me!”
Assuming no clichés had intruded, Lara feared that if she tried a bungee jump without a cord, her heart might just stop.
She could see the yellow boars closing in. Even if it meant crashing head-first, she absolutely refused to jump.
“…Enough fuss, now trust me. Go on!”
“Let’s jump together! I refuse to do it alone!!”
In staunch defiance, Lara broke free and turned away. Seizing the opportunity, the yellow boars snorted and charged at her aggressively.
“Aaah! I need to grab that rock… quickly!”
“Ma!! I’ve got it, haven’t I?”
“Lara, it’s dangerous! Someone, help us―!”
At the desperate cry of Lady Elina I, a strong gust of wind swirled, and suddenly a broad back appeared right before her.
The wild black hair, which had been thrashing about fiercely, settled softly as the man turned around. His eyes flashed a blood-red glare in Lady Elina I’s direction.
“…Ah, could you be the Male Lead…?”
At the appearance of Demon King Male Lead Pereus, Lady Elina I blinked in surprise. It had become a cliché that the Male Lead always appeared in the nick of time when the Female Lead was in danger—even if they barely knew each other.
“Ah… I’m sorry, but you’re one of the Male Leads, aren’t you?”
“Ah, yes, yes… You must be the Female Lead. Pleased to meet you.”
“Then, could you possibly help us? I’m sorry to trouble you on our first meeting.”
“Ah, help? Aha, of course.”
The awkward tension dissipated as Pereus turned back to face forward. Startled, the yellow boars hesitated for a moment before one bolted, prompting the others to follow in a tumultuous herd.
“Oh Darkness, lend me your might! May all the shadows of the world — my mother, father, brothers, sisters, and even my uncles — fall under my command!”
Gradually, the twilight aura in the forest began to gather around him. His slowly billowing black hair and ominous presence were enough to instill a sense of overwhelming dread in the yellow boars.
“Great-Grandmother, Great-Grandfather, my Great-Grandmother’s younger sister, her elder sister, my Great-Grandmother’s mother, and…”
‘This is endless! Can’t these boars wait?!’
Lara thought it was a stroke of luck that the cliché was in effect. Had they attacked then, they might have secured a total victory; some monsters, after all, showed a surprising sense of compassion.
Even as the dark aura, moving as slowly as marching ants, began to coil around Pereus’s feet, signaling the start of his transformation,
“Awaken the dark power inherited from my Great-Grandfather—the first Demon King Kronosmulcusriodionparamalexarito! I call upon the strength of my entire lineage…”
Pereus pressed his fingertips. A thin, thread-like darkness crept slowly up his little finger, covering his ring, middle, and index fingers, and eventually shrouded his palm. This was just his left hand.
“Awaken the dark power passed down from my Great-Grandmother—the first Demon Queen Pirelleakonombangumigo! I call upon the strength of all my kin…”
At last, it was his right hand’s turn. A slender thread of darkness slowly wound its way from his little finger, across his ring, middle, and index, eventually enveloping his palm.