The Villain Wants to Change Genres

Chapter 51

There was no way out now. My whole body ached. My eyes stung, perhaps from dust getting in them, and the nauseating smell of blood rising from my throat made me feel sick.

Still, my mind was at ease. It seemed Luwen would be able to return safely.

In my blurry vision, I could see a faint light emanating from Luwen’s sword. It was sword aura. Luwen had reached a new level.

To draw out sword aura at just fifteen years old. He might be the youngest ever. If he masters that sense well, couldn’t he become the youngest Sword Master? I really want to see that magnificent sight.

By the way, Luwen’s face was a mess. Was he crying? I should wipe the blood and dust off his face… I’m so out of breath. No, am I about to die? They say when a person is in an extreme situation, their brain works at super-high speed and can think many thoughts in an instant – it was true. Though I didn’t want to know.

The black claws drew closer. From what I could see, it looked like my stomach would be pierced. Resigned, I gritted my teeth in preparation for the imminent pain.

Roar-!

The Honey Grive writhed. Because of this, the direction of its front paw falling towards me changed. The paw that narrowly missed me hit the ground.

“Lu, wen…”

“Get up! Don’t just lie there, run away quickly!”

Luwen shouted, filled with anger. Only then did I snap to my senses. I shouldn’t die in front of the child. Especially not like this.

I put strength into my trembling arms and raised my upper body. However, I couldn’t stand up straight, so I crawled away as best I could.

While I leaned against a tree that was still intact, the Honey Grive didn’t chase me. It seemed Luwen’s attacks were coming in succession. Perhaps the child felt threatening. The Honey Grive was looking at Luwen.

I quickly checked Luwen’s condition. His breathing was rougher than usual. Drawing out the sword aura was good, but it seemed to be quite a burden on his body still.

The difference in the speed of its swinging front paws was significant compared to when it had attacked me earlier – as if that had been just play. Right paw, then left paw. Then right paw again. The attack pattern was simple, but it relentlessly pressed on with agility and strength.

Still, Luwen was fighting quite intelligently. He deflected the strong force to conserve energy and retreated to create distance from me.

But it would be difficult to hold out for long. While Luwen’s stamina was rapidly depleting due to the sword aura, the Honey Grive was still fine. It should need to use its hind legs as support to maintain that destructive power and agility, but it seemed Luwen’s attacks hadn’t gone deep enough.

‘To finish this, we need to create an opening.’

The problem was that we could no longer lure it with the smell of blood because of the blood the Honey Grive itself was shedding. It was ignoring the smell of blood coming from me.

But thanks to that, a new method occurred to me. Using a broken rock, I carefully crushed Rumolica leaves, avoiding direct contact with my bare skin. It’s most effective when the leaves are steeped in water, but this would have to do for now.

This amount wouldn’t be enough to knock out something that big, but it should be able to dull its senses. Has that stupid monster ever experienced being anesthetized? It would be good if an opening was created due to its confusion from dulled senses, or even if not, if we could just take away its agility, Luwen would have a chance.

I smeared the crushed Rumolica leaves on a sharp-ended broken branch. Even if it couldn’t cut through the thick skin, this should be enough to penetrate already cut skin.

‘If it forgets we’re two people, it’s bound to get caught.’

The preparations were complete. I struggled to move my uncooperative body and walked slowly.

Even as I approached, the Honey Grive was still focused on Luwen. Maybe it didn’t feel threatened because of my slow speed. Just as one doesn’t bother to step on and kill an ant crawling at their feet.

An ant that could be crushed by claws at any time if it became annoying – that was me right now.

The moment Luwen looked at me, I put my index finger to my lips. Don’t pay attention to me, just keep doing what you’re doing. As if understanding my intention, he clenched his mouth shut and glared at the Honey Grive.

He looks very angry. And a bit indignant too.

I’m not sure if I’m walking properly, but the distance was closing anyway. Perhaps because of the belief that I wouldn’t approach without any thought, Luwen changed his fighting style. Instead of retreating, he stood firmly in place and started deflecting attacks.

“Ugh.”

Of course, the recoil from deflecting is greater than from deflecting. Luwen’s trembling arms were signaling their limit.

‘Let’s hurry.’

Approaching right behind the Honey Grive, I checked the wounds Luwen had created. Blood was flowing from a long horizontal gash on its heel. I aimed for that spot and thrust the branch with all my might.

Thwack!

I felt the resistance of thick muscle at my fingertips. It hadn’t pierced properly. A little more, deeper. Thanks to concentrating force on one point, the branch pierced through the muscle with a crunch.

Roar-!

The Honey Grive swung its front paw towards its back. Dodging was impossible. But it seems it hurt quite a bit. It was paying attention to me now.

“Young master!”

My body floated. I thought I was flying from being hit by the Honey Grive, but suddenly I was in Luwen’s arms.

“…What if you drop your sword?”

“You used Rumolica leaves, didn’t you? We’ll run away until it takes effect. When its senses are dulled, I can retrieve the sword and finish it off.”

How smart. He understood the whole situation without me saying anything.

“Its whole body won’t be anesthetized. It might wear off quickly.”

“Yes. I’ll end this as quickly as possible.”

Luwen, carrying me in his arms, used trees as shields to run away, just as I had done earlier.

Before long, the Honey Grive started dragging one of its legs. It seemed to sense something was wrong with its leg and tried to lick it, but there was no way it could reach its heel.

“It’s gotten stupid.”

“I’ll finish it off and be right back.”

Luwen set me down at the base of the thickest tree.

“Be careful.”

Luwen nodded slightly and dashed off. The Honey Grive noticed Luwen’s presence and swung its front paw, but its accuracy and speed had dropped significantly because its hind leg wasn’t supporting it properly.

Easily dodging the attack, Luwen slid along the ground, picked up his sword, and used it to prop himself up. Then he immediately lowered his upper body and shot forward.

The Honey Grive attacked consecutively, but Luwen had blocked its attacks even when it was in good condition. There was no way he couldn’t dodge a monster that was having trouble moving. Deflecting the attacks with minimal movement, Luwen passed between the Honey Grive’s legs.

Slash!

The sword, wrapped in sword aura, swung not at the hind leg I had anesthetized, but at the opposite one.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

He attacked rapidly in succession to sever the Achilles tendon. The Honey Grive didn’t just stand still, but it couldn’t counter with its dragging hind leg.

Thud- Finally, the Honey Grive collapsed. Then Luwen leaped up, aiming for its honey sac.

I wanted to keep watching… but even lifting my head was difficult.

‘I feel like I’m going to die of exhaustion.’

I don’t know how long it’s been since I moved this recklessly. My vision kept drooping to the floor. When I managed to lift my head, I could see Luwen engaged in a fierce battle. There were several stab wounds on the honey sac. It seemed he hadn’t landed a proper effective hit yet.

Has it taken too long? Luwen’s breathing was rough, perhaps from lack of stamina. The tip of his sword was wavering, reducing accuracy.

What should I do? What more can be done to defeat that thing? My resentful body wouldn’t move an inch…

“Kid!”

“What the hell! Why is there a Honey Grive here?”

At that moment, the Kans arrived.

Taran had done it. They came just in time.

“Hey! Young master, snap out of it!”

“…You’re late. Luwen alone… almost got it…”

Is Luwen alright? I hope he’s not badly hurt. What if he sustained a fatal injury while I wasn’t looking? Then I’d have to treat him.

“Lu, wen…”

I wanted to ask if he was okay, if he was safe, but my voice wouldn’t come out properly. I had to hold onto my consciousness tightly, but it kept slipping away.

* * *

Luwen focused all his attention on the enemy before him. His breathing was already too rough to control, and his arms and legs were trembling. His physical condition was so poor that it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed on the spot.

Yet he could endure and continue the fight, all because of his precious young master. If he fell, that person would die. He would lose that person’s smile forever. The gentle touch, the kind warmth, the loving gaze, all of it.

‘I’ve already pushed too hard.’

Fei, who was always neat, had become a mess. The image of him covered in dust, rolling on the rough ground, staggering with a pale face, was etched in a corner of his mind and wouldn’t disappear.

‘Even in that state, to help me.’

He didn’t eat the flower petals alone either. Luwen thought Fei had thrown himself as bait because he didn’t trust him.

‘Because I’m weak. It’s all because I’m weak.’