IPSC 19

Chapter 19

I stared at the system window with a bewildered expression.

Mind Control?

There was a skill like that?

At that moment, Brokshgal turned around. Then it started trudging forward.

…No way.

With a sliver of hope, I shouted,

“Brokshgal, come here!”

The Brokshgal that had been leading the way stopped abruptly. It turned back toward me and lumbered over.

I swallowed hard as I looked up at the bear-like giant.

“Sit!”

At my command, Brokshgal plopped its heavy rear onto the ground.

“Stand!”

This time, it lifted itself back up.

“Bark!”

“Chik, chik!”

What the—?

It actually works?

Brokshgal moved exactly as I ordered, like a puppet on strings.

So this skill even works on monsters.

Just in case, I tried using the Charm skill on Brokshgal as well.

[Activating ‘Charm’ skill.]
[Skill activation failed.]
[Target is not compatible.]

Hmm.

Looks like Charm doesn’t work on monsters after all.

But that was fine.

Getting a new skill—and one I could use on monsters in a situation like this—was an unexpected windfall.

“Wait a second…”

Then, a brilliant idea struck me.

A way to get out of here with a lot less effort.

I immediately checked on Theodore’s condition.

“Theodore, are you okay?”

He didn’t respond.

My heart sank as I placed my fingers beneath his nose. I felt his breath—thank goodness, he was just unconscious.

“Brokshgal, come here.”

When I beckoned, it dragged its massive body toward me.

I secured Theodore’s armor to the spikes on Brokshgal’s back, reinforcing unstable parts by tying its fur and his armor together.

Alright. That should keep Theodore safely in place.

Grabbing onto Brokshgal’s stiff fur, I climbed onto its back. It reeked horribly, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.

After gripping the dorsal spikes tightly, I gave my command.

“Take me safely to the surface.”

“Chiiik.”

Brokshgal kicked off the ground with its hind legs and started running. I clung to its spikes as pungent wind blasted straight into my face.

This is actually amazing.

It’s a free ride!

On top of that, we didn’t encounter any dangerous monsters along the way. It must have been instinctively avoiding threats.

We ran into some Brokshes occasionally, but none of them even thought about approaching Brokshgal.

A faint light appeared ahead. The moment Brokshgal’s forepaw stepped onto a rocky ledge, brilliant light poured down, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

Fresh air and the scent of grass filled my lungs.

The surface!

I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes. Lush greenery, blue skies, and chirping birds greeted me.

How could something as ordinary as air and warm sunlight feel this moving? I could cry.

“Oh—right, Theodore.”

I’d gotten so caught up in nature that I’d forgotten about him. I walked over to Brokshgal and carefully lowered Theodore down.

“At least he’s still breathing.”

I patted Brokshgal’s massive body.

“Good work, Gal-Gal.”

Then Brokshgal started to tremble.

“Chiiik…”

“Huh?”

This feels dangerous.

Did the skill wear off?

They say bad premonitions always come true. The obedience in Brokshgal’s eyes vanished, replaced by hostility.

Was there a time limit on the skill? You could’ve warned me!

“Grrrk, grrk…”

“Damn it.”

Clutching my meat tenderizer hammer, I desperately activated the skill again.

[Activating ‘Mind Control’ skill.]
[Skill activation failed.]

It doesn’t work!

Looks like it has a once-per-day restriction, just like Charm.

But that wasn’t the immediate problem.

Swallowing hard, I raised the hammer.

“Grrrrr!”

“Aaaah!”

Just as I swung the hammer at Brokshgal—

“Chiiiiiiik—!”

A sharp whistling sound cut through the air, followed by Brokshgal’s scream. Its body shuddered violently before foam bubbled from its mouth.

What? What just happened?

Before I could even process it, Brokshgal collapsed forward.

Thud.

From beyond its fallen body, a familiar figure emerged.

I spoke in a daze.

“Duke…?”

Why are you here?

Jerome looked just as shocked, his eyes widening slightly as he asked,

“Miss Amberbier? What are you doing here?”

“I got stranded in the mountains… but why are you here, Your Grace?”

Weren’t you supposed to be in the north?

Jerome replied to my puzzled question.

“Due to personal matters, I came down south for a while. But more importantly…”

His gaze shifted to Theodore lying on the ground.

“That’s Sir Blair, Captain of the Holy Knights. Is he with you?”

“Yes, he is.”

“He looks in urgent need of treatment.”

He was breathing, but anyone could tell Theodore’s injuries were severe.

“He was badly hurt fighting a monster.”

“My party is nearby. There’s a healer as well—we should regroup.”

Jerome pulled out a small flare and fired it into the air. As white smoke rose into the sky, he turned to look at me.

His clear, sky-blue eyes scanned me cautiously—then stopped at the meat tenderizer in my hand.

“…Why are you holding a meat hammer?”

Good question.

Even to him, it probably didn’t look like a weapon suited for monsters.

“It’s the only weapon I had…”

Jerome frowned slightly.

But it really was the only thing I had. What was I supposed to do?

This is so unfair.

“Where is Lord Cyprian?”

“We got separated while we were stranded.”

“And you’re not injured?”

“Yes. I’m not hurt.”

Jerome let out a deep breath.

Was that a sigh?

Maybe I should’ve said I was injured to get some sympathy. He looked like he was judging me, and it made me uncomfortable.

But it didn’t take long to realize why he’d frowned.

“Duke Winston!”

Jerome’s party approached from afar—mercenaries, mages, and a healer among them.

One of them glanced at Brokshgal’s corpse and said,

“Your Grace, don’t Brokshgals live in caves? They wouldn’t come to the surface in broad daylight.”

“With the recent abnormal behavior among monsters, it’s not that strange. More importantly, there’s an injured man.”

Jerome nodded toward Theodore. The healer examined him.

“Isn’t this Sir Blair, Captain of the Holy Knights? His condition is critical. We need to move him to camp immediately.”

They brought a stretcher and carried Theodore away. Meanwhile, several members of the group turned their attention to me.

“Are you unharmed, my la—”

Then they abruptly stopped.

They stared at me with stiff expressions.

What? What’s wrong?

Under their blatantly strange gazes, I finally realized what I must look like.

I’d rolled around once in the forest and once more in the cave, completely covered in dirt. On top of that, blood from the Brokshes I’d smashed with the meat hammer was splattered all over me.

Worst of all, riding on Brokshgal meant its revolting stench had soaked into my clothes.

“…Now I get why Jerome frowned.”

A filthy woman swinging a meat hammer around, smelling like a monster.

It was a miracle his affection meter hadn’t dropped.

“I’m fine…”

I replied dejectedly and followed the others toward the tents. Then my eyes met Jerome’s.

He looked at me briefly—then turned away.

Well, it was our first meeting since the “zero confession, instant rejection” incident. Awkwardness was inevitable.

Still, running into Jerome here might be an opportunity given by the system.

This is my chance to win him over again!

Suddenly, the Mind Control skill I’d gained in the cave came to mind.

Could it be…?

With cautious hope, I called out to Jerome, who was walking ahead.

“Your Grace.”

“?”

The moment he turned around, I activated the skill.

[Activating ‘Mind Control’ skill.]