Why Is Everyone in This Dating Sim Trying to Kill Me?!

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Apostle of the Dream Demon (4)

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ROOOOOOOAR—

As the creature let out a monstrous shriek, a surge of demonic energy, far vaster than before, violently swirled around it.

'One-Strike Severance'

Whoosh—

Crackling!

I hastily pulled back and unleashed my sword energy, but the storm of demonic energy was impenetrable.

'Hmm, I'm screwed, aren't I?'

No matter how I thought about it, the situation was so absurd it made me let out a hollow laugh.

I knew this scene. It was the cutscene where the Jukai Forest boss transitions to Phase 2.

'It's suddenly awakening like this?'

What's more, the intense surge of energy was nothing like the pathetic creature from moments ago. This was the true boss's might, the one I'd seen in the game.

'Unlike the original story, I saved the client, and thanks to that, I thought it would appear weak and make things easy… but the situation has gotten even more complicated instead.'

Originally, the plan was to prolong Phase 1 for as long as possible until the party members arrived.

However, the creature turned out to be much weaker than expected, so I changed course to handle it alone.

'But now I'm stuck dealing with the original Phase 2 by myself. Is this even right…?'

And the one who instantly made the creature like this was undoubtedly the blue-haired woman with the expressionless face, still clinging to my back.

"ICHIKAAAAAAA!!!! I'll have my revenge!!!!!! ROOOOAR!!!"

See?

He's screaming her name so desperately.

I turned to glare at her with a reproaching look.

But Ichika still clung to my back like a cicada, showing no intention of letting go. Yet, as if she had some self-awareness that the current situation was her fault, she subtly averted her gaze and spoke.

"This is all because that incubus made me fall into carnal desire."

"..."

"It's an irresistible force. Nothing I could do. Mm-hmm."

What's there to nod about as if you did well?

Her words, coupled with her characteristic blank expression and monotone voice, made her sound even more shameless.

"...So, you can't get off by yourself?"

"That's right, this isn't my will. It's because you're handsome."

Rubbing—

As if she had finished rationalizing it in her head, Ichika became even more brazen, kneading my chest.

'Even if I force her off, she'll just cling back on, won't she?'

There's nothing more of a nuisance than someone suddenly interfering and disrupting a fight in full swing.

'Should I just knock her out like before?'

I considered knocking her out again and luring the creature away by myself, but I quickly shook my head.

Before, I was confident I could block attacks heading her way while fighting the creature.

But against a creature that had properly awakened its power, I couldn't be sure. What's more, this creature showed an immense obsession with Ichika. Even if I forced her away, there was a high possibility it would rush towards her.

So, that method was also rejected.

'Hmph… Is there no other way but to fight with this dead weight on my back?'

In the end, it seemed I had no choice but to endure the worst battle while carrying this burden on my back.

* * *

CLANGGGGGG—!!

"Kang Dohee, now's your chance!!!"

Lee Yuri's voice burst out.

CRUNCH!

CRUNCH!

CRUNCHHHH!!!

Thud.

"Hmph…"

Kang Dohee, who had decimated the monsters Lee Yuri had held in her gaze, cracked her neck left and right, letting out a rough breath.

This was already the umpteenth battle. The Utopia party hadn't taken any damage from the combat itself.

However, the problem was their speed.

'It took over 30 minutes to clear one battle… I didn't realize. Jin Yuha's absence is this significant…'

Lee Yuri bit her lip tightly.

Monsters that should have been dealt with in under 10 minutes were taking more than double that time.

Jin Yuha was Utopia's sub-dealer.

One might say he was merely a supplementary dealer. But the void they felt was beyond imagination.

Utopia's combat style was based on Lee Yuri drawing the monsters' attention at the front, while Kang Dohee, boosted by Im Gaeul's acceleration, broke deep into the enemy lines.

And in Jin Yuha's case.

He maintained the party's center, cleaning up leftovers by finishing off monsters Kang Dohee missed. He prepared for surprise attacks by dealing with enemies ambushing the supporters and healers from the rear. On top of that, he read the overall flow of the party and gave directions.

In other words, he served as an organic link, active between the front and rear lines.

Without Jin Yuha.

Kang Dohee, who always crushed enemies with gusto, had to spend a considerable amount of time meticulously finishing each one, which led to a decrease in speed.

Sophia and Im Gaeul, who usually focused only on healing and supporting party members from the rear, were in the same boat.

Without the sub-dealer who always protected them, they ultimately had to protect themselves, and having to defend while simultaneously using skills appropriately meant they needed more than two bodies.

However, the person who most keenly felt her own inadequacy here was none other than Lee Yuri.

'What kind of vice-captain am I…?'

When Jin Yuha chose her as vice-party leader, bypassing the more renowned Kang Dohee, she had puffed out her chest with a sense of satisfaction, feeling acknowledged by him.

However.

Her pride, which had once led her to clear various dungeons as a party leader, shattered after just one battle.

'…How on earth does Jin Yuha lead Utopia?'

Each member of the Utopia party possessed rare and powerful destructive capabilities.

However, knowing how to 'properly' utilize them was an entirely different matter.

This was because each had distinct personalities and equally clear weaknesses.

'I didn't even know Utopia had such weaknesses until now…'

Kang Dohee shatters enemies in an instant with her compact and stylish martial arts.

But she often failed to notice her surroundings and would easily get separated from the party if her eyes wandered for just a moment.

Im Gaeul's acceleration and deceleration durations weren't very long, and her skills had cooldowns, so she needed to be given precise timings.

And in Sophia's case, her arrow accuracy significantly dropped while moving, so she needed to be given a designated location where safety was first secured and where her arrows could reach their range.

Having to do all of this while simultaneously fulfilling her original role as a tank.

It was a natural outcome that the subjugation was making slow progress.

"It's not even that many monsters… If only our junior were here…"

"…Still, it seems like the mental attacks aren't coming anymore…"

"Are there still no traces of Jin Yuha?"

"Senior, acceleration wore off."

"Ah, m-my bad! Acceleration!"

The atmosphere of the Utopia party grew heavier due to the increasing frustration from Jin Yuha's absence and the impatience from failing to find him.

Stomp.

Stomp.

It was then.

"…Huh? Wait. Everyone! Pay attention!!"

Lee Yuri, who had been walking ahead, tilted her head, looking at one spot.

"…Hmm? Is this a trace from the battle just now? No, it looks a bit different."

The Utopia party members turned their heads towards Lee Yuri. The spot Lee Yuri pointed to was a tree trunk.

There were marks on it, as if scratched by something sharp.

"…This isn't a monster's trace. Monster claws and talons can't leave such narrow and sharp marks. …This looks like it was cut by a sword."

Kang Dohee, who possessed the most extensive knowledge regarding combat, spoke.

"!"

"!"

"!"

The party members looked at each other, their eyes widening.

"Oh, t-there's a similar trace over there too! On the path we just took!"

"…There's another one a little further ahead. Sword marks at regular intervals…"

"These are our Brownie's traces."

Kang Dohee said, her voice bright for the first time since entering the forest.

"That's a relief. It seems we haven't taken the wrong path. So, Yuha junior is waiting for us over there, right?"

The drooping atmosphere instantly lifted with the anticipation of finally being able to find Jin Yuha.

"All party members. Attention."

Lee Yuri, gripping her shield tighter, turned to her party members and spoke.

"From now on, we're changing formation. Kang Dohee at the front, followed by Sophia, then Senior Gaeul."

Lee Yuri's voice carried a firm resolve.

"Kang Dohee will break through the front line, and Sophia will focus healing on Kang Dohee. And Senior Gaeul, cast acceleration on everyone except me."

"W-What about you, Junior Yuri…?"

Im Gaeul asked in a flustered voice at the sudden formation change.

"I'll draw the monsters' attention from the very back. From now on, you all only focus on moving straight towards Jin Yuha as fast as possible. I'll hold all the surrounding monsters off."

To them, rescuing Jin Yuha was the top priority above all else, so no one objected to Lee Yuri's words.

"Then, let's rescue Jin Yuha! Move out!!!"