Free Web NovelAt first glance, there seemed to be nothing wrong with the coastline they had reached. freewebnoveℓ.com
But unlike Ian, whose senses were confined to ordinary human limits, the other two possessed superhuman vision.
“I see the rabbit monster,” Keith reported.
In the mist, a giant rabbit stood motionless as a statue.
Keith did not care why there was a rabbit by the sea. Judging by its enormous size and the fact that it stood alone, he simply assumed it was a powerful monster.
For a creature that large to survive without a pack, it had to be exceptionally strong.
Ian knew the rabbit monster’s backstory, but he had no intention of explaining it. Why would Keith need to know the comedic twist behind a game adaptation of an old folktale?
The poor rabbit monster had fallen ill and needed a turtle’s liver to survive. Once, a captured turtle had wept and lied, “I left my liver at home. I want to give it to you, but I can’t,” and had successfully deceived the rabbit.
None of that mattered here.
The only relevant fact was that the rabbit monster was stupid and easy to trick. freewebnovel.cσ๓
In other words, it was highly susceptible to aggro.
“Dorian,” Ian called.
He intended to micromanage the fight by severing the elf merchant’s involvement first. Keeping the elf far away would prevent the worst-case scenario: shared experience points.
But the elf had already waded into the water.
“...?”
“Hey, Rabbit, we need to pass through here. Could you move aside for us?” the elf asked cheerfully.
“...?”
Keith stared at the elf merchant in disbelief.
Ian covered his face with one hand.
*Useless idiot...*
Yes, there were monsters capable of understanding speech. And elves, with their high charisma, were skilled at communicating with all manner of races.
But this rabbit was too stupid for conversation.
The rabbit answered with a deafening screech.
Keeeeek!
“I guess that’s a no,” the elf said, shoulders drooping as he turned back toward Ian.
*I know, you idiot.*
Ian’s expression darkened. As if he had not seen and heard that for himself.
“Behind you!”
*Look behind you, damn it!*
The rabbit swung a front paw.
With its snow-white fur and red eyes, it looked almost adorable from a distance. But the speed of that paw strike was terrifying. Even from where he stood, Ian heard it tear through the air.
“Oh.”
The elf staggered as if he had been blown aside by the wind and narrowly avoided the blow. Whether he had dodged on purpose or merely fallen over by chance was impossible to tell.
“Get out of there already! What are you doing?!” Ian shouted.
He could not let a valuable five-star unit die here. Not before he had figured out what the elf was actually capable of.
At the very least, Ian needed to identify the elf’s role before he considered letting him die.
Ian raised his bow.
“Keith. When I shoot, the aggro will shift to me. Distract it.”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
Keith’s reply was infinitely more reliable than the elf currently shrieking nonsense in the water.
*Be grateful for what you have,* Ian thought as he set an arrow to the string.
He activated his skill by instinct. Radiant light gathered around the arrowhead, drinking in the glow around it.
Keeeeeeek?
Sensing the threat, the rabbit turned its gaze toward Ian.
Ian released the arrow.
The Purification Arrow, equipped with automatic targeting against monsters, struck the rabbit directly in the eye.
Keeeeeeeeeek!
The rabbit thrashed its front paws in agony and let out a piercing wail.
Meanwhile, the elf, who should have been running away, was floundering in place and being battered over and over by the water the rabbit’s movements kicked up.
“Huh? Oh? Oh no? Ohhh?”
Splash!
The elf fell into the sea.
“......”
Ian was at a loss for words.
“I’ll attack,” Keith said calmly.
“Do it,” Ian replied.
*Let’s just abandon him.*
Ian decided the five-star elf merchant was probably a joke character with all his stats ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) dumped into trade skills.
A mystery-filled status window might have stirred a gamer’s curiosity, but Ian had no time to gamble on it. He had a game to clear.
The rabbit, now blinded in one eye and bleeding heavily, charged straight at Ian, its remaining eye glaring with fury.
Before it could close the distance completely, Keith intercepted it.
Bang!
Keith’s sword collided with the rabbit’s paw in a metallic crash. Enraged, the rabbit began flailing both front paws like windmills, trying to smash Keith into the sea.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
Keith deftly deflected, dodged, and parried the blows, keeping the rabbit’s attention fixed on him.
The constant movement made aiming difficult for Ian, even with auto-aim assistance. The rabbit’s fur was as tough as steel, and unless he struck a weak point—an eye, its nose, its mouth—he could not deal proper damage.
A true endgame-level monster.
Then, suddenly, the rabbit stumbled.
“...?”
“Argh! Help! Save the elf!”
“......”
Apparently, the elf, still thrashing about in the sea, had gotten tangled in the rabbit’s hind legs and tripped it.
*How is that guy so durable?*
Ian was genuinely impressed. The elf had been struck more than once, but he seemed completely unharmed and was still screaming at the top of his lungs.
*So he’s not just a joke character, huh?*
Ian set the thought aside and fired another arrow.
The glowing projectile pierced the rabbit’s remaining eye.
Keeeeeeeeek!
The rabbit let out a despairing wail.
Ian did not let the opportunity pass.
“Keith!”
The moment Ian called out, he ran toward Keith.
Keith did not understand what Ian intended, but he still caught him mid-stride. With one arm under Ian’s back and the other beneath his thighs, Keith lifted him into a strangely intimate carry.
Ian did not have time to care.
“Jump!”
At Ian’s command, Keith leaped toward the rabbit. His body blurred, and in an instant they had reached the monster’s head.
“What now?” Keith asked in midair.
“That’s enough!”
Exhilaration surged through Ian as he placed his hand on the rabbit’s head and sent it into the dungeon.
Ding!
[Pale Rabbit x1 has been added to the standby list.]
*Unbelievable!*
Ian could hardly believe he had succeeded on the first try.
“The rabbit disappeared...?”
“Well done!”
Ian shouted, hugged Keith, and then leaped into the sea. He ran to the coughing elf merchant, grabbed him, and spun him around in sheer joy.
“You’re actually useful! I was thinking of throwing you away, but you’re the best elf ever!”
“Huh? Thanks? I feel like you insulted me just now, though...”
The elf sniffled, his nose red.
*The power of God...*
Keith understood what Ian had done.
He had subdued an evil monster and bound it to serve righteousness.
A miracle.
It was not the first time Keith had witnessed such wonders inside Ian’s dungeon. But now, Ian had accomplished it outside the dungeon as well.
Truly, he was a remarkable person.
The thought filled Keith with pride.
And yet, a small, uncomfortable feeling tugged at him.
He chose to ignore it and focused on the task at hand.
Approaching Ian, Keith spoke firmly.
“Lord Ian, may I offer a word of advice?”
“What is it?”
Ian startled slightly at Keith’s serious tone.
Keith drew Ian aside and said solemnly, “You should not embrace others so intimately unless they are your lover.”
“...?”
“I will not comment on your past. I understand that, at the time, you had not yet found God. But now you bear a glorious duty. You must act with proper consideration for your position.”
“...?”
“Especially someone as beautiful as you, Lord Ian. Others may easily misunderstand your intentions. What you consider a gesture of friendship could be interpreted quite differently. You must be cautious.”
“No, wait...”
*Am I seriously being lectured on propriety by this guy?*
Ian was dumbfounded.
Which one of them was licking people in the middle of the night? Ian had never done anything like that.
“And what about you?! Sucking on someone’s tongue at night isn’t improper by your standards?!”
“That was a sacred act! Please do not describe it that way.”
Keith’s face reddened slightly as he answered.
“You started it!”
Somehow, the argument only made the atmosphere more awkward.
“What are you two doing? A lovers’ quarrel? Should I leave?” the elf merchant asked innocently.
