I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 75

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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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[075] Leviathan’s Resurrection
“Are you… really sure about this?”
“Yes.”
After the dramatic conclusion, when I led the group to the Mermaid Temple, everyone’s jaws dropped in awe.
Radi and Karen were mesmerized watching whales and manta rays gliding gracefully overhead, while the Pirates trembled yet couldn’t tear their eyes away, scanning their surroundings frantically.
Radi suddenly came to her senses and whispered cautiously.
“You don’t think they’ll discover that we killed those mermaids, do you?”
“I already told them.”
“You already told them?!”
“Yes. They kept pressing me about how I managed to disguise myself as a fellow mermaid, so I had no choice.”
Fortunately, the mermaids brushed it aside coolly, saying ‘What’s past is past. What happens on the battlefield stays on the battlefield.’
Though I couldn’t escape their sharp glares.
I was grateful the mermaids were a warrior race that didn’t dwell on the past.
“You there, human! Come over here at once!”
“What is it?”
“I have questions about the troop movement route. Is it really possible to infiltrate through this path?”
When Marius urged me over, I approached a sand model—a miniature replica of the coastal city Liberta.
The crude model from my first viewing had transformed into something quite detailed after receiving my advice.
“…But how do you know the structure of Neptune’s Temple if you’re not one of their people?”
“I infiltrated it disguised as food supplies.”
“…What exactly are you? Do you serve some god obsessed with infiltration?”
“To be precise, I serve the god of thieves and jesters… but never mind the details. If we infiltrate through this route, we can reach the temple in one go without encountering guards.”
“Hmm… I wish we had more detailed topographical maps before executing the plan.”
“Really? Wait a moment. …Rabbit, Mouse! Would you come take a look?”
Karen and Radi, called by their codenames, approached with puzzlement.
“Remember when you rode the gondola and saw Liberta’s panorama?”
“Well… I kept my eyes closed the whole time because of my fear of heights…”
“Then Rabbit should remember, so Mouse, help me construct the model.”
As Karen recited the intricate building layouts and structures of Liberta using her mage’s exceptional memory, Radi skillfully began constructing a detailed city model with her dexterous hands.
“Hmm… There are humans with such remarkable talent among your kind. This will be quite helpful.”
While Marius marveled at Karen and Radi’s craftsmanship, I quietly withdrew from the spot.
The mermaids were absorbed in training for the imminent full-scale assault.
As I watched the warriors conducting mock battles in an environment as similar as possible to the surface, Malton approached my side.
“Thank goodness things worked out… When we were surrounded by them, I really thought we were done for.”
“Indeed…”
“What troubles you now?”
“Nothing, just feeling nostalgic.”
I deflected adequately while lost in thought.
Separate from how well things had gone, something about what the mermaids said didn’t sit right with me.
‘…I’m not the only transmigrator in this world.’
Among other transmigrators, there were surely those who knew that Leviathan would emerge in Liberta.
Had they warned us beforehand, the priests of Neptune’s Temple—corrupt as they were—would never have dismissed the Mermaids’ claims so lightly.
Which meant….
‘Could there be someone actively sabotaging our efforts?’
Just as I followed Quests to prevent calamities, it wasn’t inconceivable that others worked in opposition.
When I played the game, heretics who worshipped the Evil God and demons, conducting human sacrifices, roamed freely without restraint.
Perhaps they had already taken root deep within the Neptune Cult.
‘Could those bastards have been resurrected?’
As I pondered this, the Pirates approached.
“Captain… when exactly will we assault the Temple?”
“Soon. Very soon now….”
That was when it happened.
RUMMMMMBLE—!!
“Aaaah! The Sea is shaking!”
“An earthquake?! Everyone down!”
As the Seabed trembled, the terrified Pirates threw their arms over their heads and dropped flat.
But I sensed it immediately.
This was no ordinary earthquake.
｢The abyssal beast, Leviathan, has awakened from its long slumber!｣
｢A terrifying form tears through the veil of the Abyss, revealing itself! A roar of fury engulfs the Sea!｣
｢Enraged at the gods who sealed it away, the calamity incarnate shall destroy the Coastal Cities one by one!!｣
｢The overwhelming presence causes all creatures in nearby waters to suffer stat reductions!｣
｢In 17 hours and 12 minutes, Leviathan will reach the Coastal City of Liberta!｣
The Mermaid Marius cried out.
“All of you, listen well!! The beast Leviathan has awakened! While the humans are preoccupied with the monsters, we shall reclaim Neptune’s sacred relic!”
“Take your positions! The Water Dragon Unit leads the way to Liberta!!”
As I watched the Mermaids mobilize with perfect coordination, Radi approached and asked.
“So… the disaster we feared has finally come to pass. What should we do now?”
“We have to stop the calamity.”
But first, there were preparations to make.
I turned to my allies and the Pirates and declared.
“Everyone aboard! We’re heading to the Balearic Archipelago first!”
* * *
Upon arriving in Liberta after our voyage, the city was engulfed in tremendous chaos.
“Reinforce the barriers!! We cannot let those monsters break through!”
Even before Leviathan revealed itself, the coastline was a hellscape of rampaging monsters and humans desperately resisting them.
A shark the size of a house demolished the Dock, swallowing humans whole, sending panicked citizens and tourists fleeing in desperation.
“Don’t run! Grab any Adventurers you see and put them to work!”
“I-I’m just a chef! This is just a kitchen knife, I swear!”
｢A massive panic has erupted in the Coastal City of Liberta due to the calamity’s arrival!｣
｢Antagon’s Rune absorbs the emotion of wealth, causing all stats to surge dramatically!｣
｢The soldiers stationed in Liberta are indiscriminately conscripting anyone carrying weapons to use as meat shields! Be careful not to catch their attention and be dragged away!｣
Taking advantage of the chaos, I docked at the Harbor and headed toward the Temple with Radi.
Neptune’s Temple maintained strict security despite the turbulent atmosphere, and the densely arrayed Knights exuded a grim determination.
Before securing the remaining holy relics here, there was one thing I needed to confirm.
But as I drew closer, the Temple guard thrust a curved sword at me without hesitation.
｢Antagon’s Rune absorbs the fear, causing agility and intellect stats to skyrocket!｣
｢The opponent’s attacks feel sluggish!｣
I seized his wrist and twisted it, speaking in a low voice.
“…What is the meaning of this?”
“The High Priest ordered us to treat any creature lurking around the Temple as heretics and execute them without exception! If you don’t leave this instant, I’ll carve up your body and feed it to the fish!”
“Monsters are breathing down our necks, and you want to cross blades with fellow humans? We don’t even have time to complete the holy relic….”
“I won’t listen to the words of a heretic!”
As the surrounding Knights leveled their weapons and surrounded me without discussion, I had no choice but to retreat.
｢The Knights are watching you with hostile gazes!｣
｢Now that orders have been given, they will offer you no cooperation!｣
‘This reaction is far too sensitive to be mere caution toward outsiders.’
Radi also seemed to sense the discord in the Knights’ demeanor, her eyes narrowing.
“Why are they hostile toward fellow humans? We’re under attack from monsters right now! They dismissed the Mermaids’ warnings as nonsense before, but now they should be willing to cooperate….”
“Right. And those Knights—something’s off about them. The warriors here are usually sun-darkened from constant exposure to sea winds and sunlight, but those people are pale.”
“Exactly. And their weapons are all wrong too. Weren’t the standard-issue weapons for Neptune’s Temple Knights spears?”
Witnessing these incongruous Knights, the suspicions that had been simmering since I heard the truth from the Mermaids began to intensify.
“Perhaps… the people of Neptune’s Temple knew all along that catastrophe was approaching.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I’ll explain later.”
I dismissed the question.
The investigation could wait until everything was finished. Right now, securing the Holy Spear was the priority.
“…The barrier has been reinforced, so it will be difficult to infiltrate the Temple covertly. We don’t have the luxury of disguising ourselves as provisions like before.”
“Then we’ll have to force our way through.”
I shouted loudly enough for everyone around to hear.
“Negotiations have failed! We proceed with force as protocol dictates!!”
─I was waiting for those words, human!
In an instant, Marius’s voice echoed from beneath my feet, and the paving stones heaved like an earthquake as heavily armored Mermaid warriors erupted from below.
｢The Mermaids’ grand assault has begun!｣
｢Mermaid warriors are emerging from various points in Liberta’s Sewers! The guards are thrown into great confusion by this unexpected ambush!｣
｢You have successfully disrupted Neptune’s Temple’s Defense Line! Agility and strength increase by an additional 20 each!｣
“D-Damn it! Where did these fish bastards come from?!”
“Mermaids everywhere… Ahhhhh!!”
“Slaughter every last human!”
Responding to my signal, the Mermaids that had been flowing through the Sewers beneath the city erupted all at once, beginning to massacre the Knights.
With exquisite spearmanship, they pierced the gaps between armor, and the Mermaids mounted on their steeds ravaged the Temple Plaza with reckless abandon.
“Damn it! Mermaids move sluggishly out of water! Stay calm and break through without getting caught up!”
The Knights attempted to respond by exploiting their geographical advantage, but the intelligent Mermaids had anticipated even that.
“Deploy the barrier magic!”
Semi-transparent barriers materialized on all sides, and in an instant, water surging back from the Sewers combined with water-attribute magic to complete a makeshift pool.
As water filled the ground beneath their feet, the Mermaids began to rampage with even greater ferocity, like schools of fish finding their element.
As I watched the Mermaids fight with possessed fury, befitting their name as a warrior race, Marius approached my side.
“Hey, human! I’ll carve us a path! Can you slip into the Temple and retrieve the sacred relic?!”
“Of course!”
The moment I answered, Marius tucked me under his arm and cut swiftly through the water currents toward the Temple entrance.
Two Knights blocked our way midway, but they were pierced through by Radi’s poisoned dagger—manifested through a shadow leap—and Marius’s spear blade.
Then, the instant Marius hurled himself against the barrier─.
「Your ally Marius has used the ‘Coral Stone That Shatters Barriers’ artifact!」
「A portion of the barrier has been temporarily destroyed!」
“May fortune favor you.”
Hurled into the Temple’s interior by Marius, I tumbled ungracefully across the floor before coming to a stop.
As I lifted my head, my silhouette reflected in the marble tiles, and I saw Knights radiating murderous intent closing in on me from all sides.
“Intruder!!”
“Bold indeed, to penetrate this far alone!”
The Knights thrust their spears down without hesitation.
“Tsk, tsk… had I not broken through that barrier, I wouldn’t have met such an ignominious end.”
But that scorn transformed into shock in mere moments.
The form pierced by their spears rose smoothly to its feet.
Profound turmoil flickered across the Knights’ eyes.
「You have transformed into an Enhanced Skeleton! Your immunity to bladed weapons increases dramatically!」
「The sacred power permeating the Temple’s interior oppresses you!」
「You are a special undead enhanced by Andira’s Jewel! You negate the sacred power and suffer no debuff!」
「The approach of Leviathan and the emergence of marine abominations have brought great despair and chaos to the Surface!」
「Due to the massive torrent of terror, all your stats increase explosively, temporarily granting you access to powerful necromantic magic and additional monster abilities!!」
─Khahahaha! Exquisite…! Such tremendous power!
The Knights, witnessing the demonic wings and bone spears sprouting from my back, retreated in dread.

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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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