I Became a Raid Boss-Chapter 243: Wayfarer (4)

"Even if it’s filming, not everything I do is captured by the lens 24/7."

Moreover, even though "One Sip of a Pause" could be categorized as an observational variety show, it primarily revolves around the connection between the host and the MC, so not everything needed to be captured.

The crew had left only the minimum number of cameras and then exited for that very reason.

Left alone in the room the host had provided, Da-eun and I were finally able to rest, pulling the thick cotton blanket over us.

I hadn’t exactly spent the whole day in the company of many people.

However, it was the first time I had spent hours with someone keeping their eyes on me without blinking, and only once the people disappeared could I finally relax.

“Kana! Let’s go see the view!”

“I’m tired. I’m resting.”

Of course, it wasn’t that I was too exhausted to see the view.

But the feeling of annoyance washed over me, and I turned down Da-eun’s offer, diving into the blanket.

As I lay there, resting after sending Da-eun off alone...

“...!”

A sharp instinctive warning rang in my mind.

And at the same time, a sense of ominous energy washed over me.

As soon as I felt it, my half-drowsy mind snapped awake.

“I didn’t think something would actually happen.”

The reason I had stubbornly followed Da-eun was now a reality. “To protect Da-eun when something happens,” I had told myself, and though I was surprised by the outcome, my body naturally prepared for combat.

Without further hesitation, I rushed out of the house and ran toward the source of the ominous energy.

Soon, I found Da-eun on the peak of the island, her hand stretched out toward the dimensional creature. Without a second thought, I swung my sword and landed.

‘I was too shallow.’

I failed to kill it with a surprise attack, but I had achieved my primary goal of separating Da-eun from the dimensional creature, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

What was she thinking, reaching out like that?

I held back my urge to ask, and instead pointed my sword toward the creature.

“...What are you?”

Had there ever been a dimensional creature that looked so human-like?

Yet the sinister energy emanating from it told me clearly that it was indeed a dimensional creature.

When would it attack?

Or should I strike first?

But more importantly, what were Edel and the administrator doing, letting a dimensional creature walk in like this without any response?

As I stood, tense, staring at the creature, a confused voice came from behind me.

“Kana... two?”

“....”

Hearing Da-eun’s words, I frowned.

I was really relieved that Da-eun wasn’t hurt, but—

“...How does this look like me?”

“...Huh? But—”

Da-eun stammered, continuing her words.

“The cheeks I want to bite, the adorable features, the round face, the small, cuddly frame...”

Da-eun alternated between glancing at me and the dimensional creature, her voice full of certainty that didn’t match her confused expression.

“Everywhere I look, it’s just like Kana...?”

“....”

“....”

For a brief moment, it looked like the dimensional creature had a weary expression.

Of course, beings whose minds were consumed only by killing and destruction wouldn’t show such a look, so it was probably just my imagination.

But still, it felt so absurd that I could almost think that.

I held onto the fading tension and said,

“...Don’t focus on looks. Take another look.”

It was understandable if Da-eun couldn’t sense the ominous energy, since she had just awakened her mana.

But even without the energy, there are instinctive feelings that can’t be ignored.

Things like atmosphere, intuition...

“Hmm...?”

Da-eun tilted her head and glanced between me and the dimensional creature.

After a short moment, Da-eun spoke up.

“It’s a little different, but...”

“Different how?”

“It’s just as cute, so I can’t tell... Wait, is this some beauty trap...? Did you know I’m weak to Kana and used this trick on me?!”

“Ugh. Don’t even talk about it.”

Why couldn’t Da-eun’s good instincts kick in at a time like this?

I sighed and pushed her back slightly.

“That’s enough. Stay back.”

I’d like to tell her to hide somewhere safe or take her away, but I couldn’t do that in this situation.

“Ugh, okay. I understand.”

Though she nodded obediently, Da-eun must’ve sensed that things weren’t normal.

It was a small open space on the island, so even if she moved back, she didn’t get far.

‘Better than staying close, at least.’

After confirming Da-eun had stepped back, I gripped my sword.

Before charging into battle, I took a moment to look at the creature’s face, which was faintly visible under the starlight.

“...No matter how you look at it, I’m still better.”

How does it even resemble me?

Once this is over, I’ll give Da-eun a piece of my mind.

I made up my mind and moved my body.

“Tsk.”

I really should’ve brought my actual sword.

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It was a moment of regret since I had left it behind, not wanting to carry anything too ominous while on camera.

But what does it matter if I regret something that can’t be changed?

What I needed to do was already clear.

Swallowing my disappointment, I swung the mana-infused sword roughly across the ground.

Ka-ka-ka!

Crunch!

The broken gravel flew up.

Unlike the noblemen’s playful sword fighting, I had no intention of casually bonding over our weapons.

What I aimed for was the throat.

Even more «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» so, the creature’s life.

The sword, filled with cold determination, swung toward the creature’s neck.

However.

A moment before the blade reached its neck, the creature’s arm moved.

Thud!

The sword, flying with great force, was blocked by the creature’s arm, bouncing away with a dull, almost unbelievable sound.

“...Blocked?”

I hadn’t expected it to be blocked so easily, though I wasn’t hoping for an effortless parry either.

“Yeah. Usually, that works, doesn’t it?”

The creature had infiltrated this far without being noticed, avoiding our eyes.

As the sword was naturally recovered, I shifted my stance, stepping back just half a step.

Only half a step.

The small step I took wasn’t enough to turn around and flee or gain momentum, but—

It was enough to prepare my sword and adjust my stance.

Kanaria Style – Pecking Beak

My body, pulled tight, was propelled forward at a great speed.

Even though the creature had only moved its arm once, two thrusts came flying at it, like a bird’s beak attacking its prey.

The sword, like the sharp beak of a bird, struck the dimensional creature.

-!

The second strike, filled with a destructive force much greater than the first, cut through the air.

If the attack had been as light as my earlier swings, I wouldn’t have named it “Kanaria Style.”

The creature, realizing it couldn’t just ignore the attack, quickly withdrew from the sword’s path.

While the creature casually parried the strike, it was forced back.

That was an achievement in itself.

“....”

Crack.

I gritted my teeth and slammed my foot into the ground.

Rrraaak!

My body screeched to a halt, leaving a long mark on the ground.

Inadvertently, I had damaged the environment.

Ignoring the exposed ground, I immediately turned my body.

The creature I was facing didn’t seem like one I could easily kill with a single strike.

I missed those bulky, less agile ones now.

I had initially planned to end this quickly, but—

The creature had reacted to the pecking move, but its evasiveness was the real issue.

After dodging, it didn’t even lose its balance.

That incredible mobility made me feel like I was going to have a tough time if I didn’t deal with it.

I didn’t ignore that feeling.

For now, I need to deal with that mobility.

As I turned, I gently swept my sword.

Because I had turned from the thrusting position, the force wasn’t as strong, but I compensated by channeling mana into it.

The creature, retreating, avoided the blow with ease.

It didn’t matter.

If it had been that easy to take it down, I would have already secured its wrist in my first surprise attack.

I remained calm and followed the retreating creature.

Taking a bigger step than it did, I closed the gap easily.

I didn’t need to calculate the distance in my head.

Having swung my sword thousands, tens of thousands of times, my body naturally adapted to the narrowing gap.

Similarly, I didn’t need to rethink how to swing my sword.

The sword’s aura, like the color of spring flowers, floated in the air.

Like a gently swaying petal.

At times, cold and sharp like the last chill of spring.

A sword strike, unavoidable in its angle, aimed for the creature’s thigh.

Swish!

The strike didn’t leave a wound, dissipating into mana before disappearing.

The creature easily avoided most of my attacks, picking the ones it didn’t need to dodge.

...This one was definitely the strongest dimensional creature I’ve encountered.

Its destructive power may not be the greatest, but in terms of intelligence, I hadn’t seen one as clever as this.

No, I haven’t—

“....”

I stopped my sword mid-swing.

At the same time, the creature stopped its movements.

Unable to ignore the strong feeling of unease in my mind, I asked the creature.

“Why aren’t you attacking?”

It wasn’t that I had continuously pressed the attack, but there was definitely no shortage of openings for the creature.

At times, I had purposely given it chances to strike, and with its mobility and strength, it could have forced its way through my flurry of blows.

In other words, while I hadn’t landed a clean hit, I was able to corner the creature only because it hadn’t attacked.

The proof of that was the way it stopped moving the moment I did.

“...What’s your plan?”

I asked the creature.

Though I didn’t expect a response, something inside me urged me to ask.

-That’s why—

“...Ah.”

The creature’s mouth slowly opened.

“I wanted to meet you.”

“...!”

When the voice poured out of its mouth, I froze, my eyes widening.