I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[017] Resonance Stone Mining #2
“Everyone, retreat to the far corner of the cave and keep your mouths shut. Do not make a sound under any circumstances.”
I issued the command with unwavering resolve, then snatched the torches from the Adventurers’ hands and hurled them to the center of the cavern.
With my back to the desolate shadows dancing across the cave walls, I gripped my sword hilt as the log window continued to bombard me with warnings.
｢All equipment has been removed! You are now extremely vulnerable to monster attacks!｣
｢Your entire body is covered in cold mud. If left untreated, the probability of catching a cold and status abnormalities increases significantly!｣
｢A monster group is approaching! Be alert for an ambush!｣
As the footsteps drew closer, despair shadowed the Adventurers’ faces, yet I sharpened my gaze and peered into the Darkness beyond.
‘I cannot die pathetically in a place like this…!’
I had survived the Ghost Ship teeming with high-tier undead—I would not fall to these common rabble.
Once was enough to experience death.
Ding—!
｢The Radgit Group has revealed itself!｣
—Kaaaaaaack!!!
Radgit burst from the Darkness with a piercing shriek, charging straight at me.
Yet I stood motionless, as though fear had frozen my body solid, even as the creatures closed the distance to arm’s length.
Razvel and her companions, who had watched from beginning to end, could not suppress their shock.
‘What on earth is he thinking?!’
Moments ago he was stripping off his clothes and hurling filth about in a rampage, and now suddenly he had grown calm and made no preparations for combat.
Even if defeating a single monster could be attributed to luck, there was no way a novice could stand alone against those numbers and prevail.
It was like a moth hurling itself into flame.
In the instant when Radgit’s form and my helpless silhouette overlapped, silent screams erupted from the Adventurers’ mouths—
“Huh…?”
The Radgit Group simply passed right through me.
They swarmed toward the torches, tilted their heads in confusion, and began poking the torch handles with their claws while emitting bizarre cries.
—Grrrrgh… Kik?
—Grek?
Razvel stared at me with profound bewilderment, while I suppressed my thundering heart and offered a faint smile.
‘Fortunate that I had studied their habits beforehand.’
Radgit dwelling in these dark caves possessed keen hearing, but their vision had degenerated to the point of barely distinguishing light.
Therefore, before bright light like torches that seized their attention, they could not properly perceive surrounding objects.
Above all…
Drip… drip…
The mud clinging to my hair’s ends flowed silently downward.
With my scent masked by mud, I could deceive their senses—at least for a moment.
As I slowly turned my body, the exposed backs of the Radgit Group came into view.
‘I must maximize my agility stat…!’
Most of the stats I had raised with [Chaos] were concentrated in agility.
Whoosh—!
In a flash, I moved my feet to approach from behind Radgit and swung my blade, severing nearly half its neck.
Like a puppet with severed strings, Radgit tumbled precariously to the ground.
I quickly caught the collapsing figure and dragged him silently to the floor.
‘…I can definitely feel the increase in speed!’
「You have defeated Radgit!」
I immediately shifted my target to the next enemy.
In an instant, I closed in from behind, clamped his mouth shut with my palm, and slashed his carotid artery with my blade—Radgit collapsed without even a scream.
As I slowly withdrew the cutlass to avoid making noise, blood spurted from the corpse and drenched my chest, while the sensation of the blade scraping against his vertebrae like a stringed instrument sent a chilling tremor through my grip.
I severed the next life cleanly in the darkness, my cold eyes already searching for the next target.
‘Next.’
「You have defeated Radgit!」
I caught the falling corpse with my foot and immediately lunged at the next target.
Relying on the flickering torchlight, I swung my blade in one fluid motion—a silent slash that cleaved through the darkness.
The only problem was that my strength fell short; I failed to sever the neck in a single stroke.
—Kiiaaak!!
I quickly swung again to claim the life, but the other Radgits suddenly spun around toward me.
They were about to attack in panic, but this was already part of my plan.
I cleared my throat and let out a roar that shook the entire Cave.
“Garrrrr!! Kiiik!”
「All attention is focused on you!」
「The Radgit Group has fallen into chaos!」
「The Adventurers are convinced you are insane!」
「Due to [Chaos], your agility stat has increased dramatically!」
‘Insane, they say….’
I’ve never been more serious in my life!
I’ve hunted Radgits so many times in the past that mimicking their cries is child’s play.
Stripping off my clothes and causing a commotion served not only to draw attention but also to match my appearance more closely to theirs.
Despite the piercing stares, I shamelessly continued mimicking their cries, and the Radgit Group stupidly tilted their heads, studying me.
‘The scent… isn’t there.’
‘The movements and cries are… identical.’
‘The hair is thick, but seeing him completely naked without a shred of cloth….’
He must be one of us?
The uncertain Radgit Group exchanged bewildered glances with one another.
—Kiiiiik?
—Garruk…! Kaaak!
—Kakakak!
“Urrrrr… Kaaak!!”
Shing!
While they hesitated, I swiftly swung my cutlass, and one Radgit fell with its neck severed.
Only three enemies remained.
Realizing they had been deceived, the Radgits charged simultaneously, but I retreated using my enhanced agility stat.
‘At this level, I can definitely hold my own in a direct confrontation…!’
I dove into the clumsy charge of a Radgit member and thrust my blade upward, sending a severed arm spinning through the air.
The creature, true to its aggressive nature, attacked with its remaining arm—but.
“Too slow.”
—Kwack?!
I immediately twisted my trajectory, slashing across its waist while simultaneously driving my heel into its abdomen.
After slamming it against the cave wall and resetting my stance, another Radgit member nimbly lashed out with its claws—but.
‘Upper left…!’
Having already deciphered the Radgit’s attack patterns, I evaded with fluid grace and drove my cutlass through its shoulder.
The Radgit shrieked in agony and retreated, but I pressed the assault without hesitation, cleaving through its thigh.
A flawless barrage of strikes, far exceeding what my level should allow.
Even with its mangled thigh, the creature staggered forward and extended its claws—but I had already anticipated this.
“Here, have a taste of this.”
I kicked the filth from the ground into its face, and it flailed helplessly.
As I pierced its throat with the curved blade to silence it, the final Radgit member lunged ferociously—but the outcome was the same.
Squelch—!
I slid across the mud to evade, then slashed its hamstring, and the Radgit crashed heavily to the ground.
I stomped on its neck and drove my blade through its heart from behind, and silence finally descended upon the cave.
｢You have successfully defeated the Radgit Group!｣
｢Remarkable achievement!｣
｢Your level has increased!｣
｢You have mastered the method of disguising yourself as a cave ape, a Radgit! Once you become accustomed to their body, you will be able to move with considerable efficiency in confined spaces!｣
“Phew….”
Transformation into a Radgit, then….
‘I’m not sure where I’d use it, but it’s certainly good news.’
I could test it later when I’m alone.
As I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, the stench of blood and filth coating my entire body washed over me, and sudden exhaustion and self-disgust surged through my chest.
On the cave walls and ceiling where the dim torchlight touched, viscous masses hung suspended.
‘…Absolutely vile.’
It’s too dark to see clearly, but my own appearance must be far more pathetic.
The sad truth is, even if I could return to the past, I would make the same choice to survive.
When I lifted my head to look at them, Razvel and her companions flinched and took a step back.
Swallowing tears at my shattered dignity, I wiped myself down and hastily gathered my clothes to dress. Only then did Razvel’s group hesitantly approach.
“Um, um… how exactly… why did the monsters just ignore you and pass by?”
“These creatures have degenerated eyesight. If I mask my scent and hold perfectly still, I can conceal my presence for a time.”
“Ah… so rolling around in the mud was also….”
“Yes, of course to mask my scent! I had to become completely one with the surrounding environment to deceive them!”
“Then… why were you shouting at us to look at you properly while you were undressed, throwing filth everywhere…!”
“Ah, that was….”
I looked up at the ceiling, my words failing me.
The reason was to secure stats through the [Chaos] skill, but if I admitted the truth, the Evil God’s power would be completely exposed.
Either I’d bear the weight of misunderstanding, or I’d accept the label of being the Evil God’s minion.
There was no point in deliberating.
“I’m simply… curious by nature.”
“Pardon?”
I wanted to end this conversation. The more I spoke, the more suffocating it became.
“…Rather than that, could you cut off the monsters’ ears for us? We need to bring them to the Guild, report our findings, and claim the reward.”
“Ah… yes, of course! What was I thinking…!”
The mission wasn’t over yet.
After hastily redirecting the conversation, I glanced around cautiously while the Adventurers worked to manage the situation.
It should have been around here somewhere….
“…Found it.”
In a corner of the Cave where sight barely reached, I grunted and shoved the rocks aside, revealing a hidden passage.
The Adventurers who had come after cutting off Radgit’s ear gasped at the exposed passage.
“W-what is this? A s-secret passage…?!”
“It’s not as grand as a secret passage—just a shortcut. Using this route, we should be able to reach the Mining Area safely without encountering Radgit.”
“Ah, but… you’ve just discovered a new route that isn’t even on the maps, yet you’re so calm about it! And with a monster appearing, shouldn’t we escape right now…?!”
“…Is that a problem?”
“Ah, no, it isn’t.”
After feigning a puzzled expression and turning back, Razvel and her companions exchanged glances as if asking, “Are we the strange ones here?”
Regardless of the circumstances, I absolutely need resonance stones to grow stronger.
As I squeezed into the Cave, Razvel and her group followed without hesitation.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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