The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills ,Volume 2 - Chapter 41

Chapter : Battle in the Hidden Village

“Almine, what happened?” I asked as soon as I got back.

“I’m guessing… another adventurer party got spotted,” she replied calmly.

“Figures,” Kinako exhaled sharply. “We’re not the only fools chasing after Zeldia.”

“True,” Almine said with a shrug. “Anyone who knows Zeldia’s in the Eknis Highlands is bound to try their luck.”

Kinako’s whiskers twitched. “Still, this works in our favor. The cult’s numbers have thinned out. Easier for us to slip in.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, glancing west. Through the trees, the sun was sinking in a wash of amber.

“Zeldia’s probably in that pit,” I said.

“What makes you think that?” Kinako asked.

“The numbers. Only one dark elf left with the cultists earlier. I saw five others outside. That leaves four—and Zeldia. My bet? They’re down there.”

“…Makes sense.”
Kinako’s sharp gaze settled on the massive pit at the village’s center.

“So the problem is getting inside,” he muttered. “There’s a dark elf guarding the stairs.”

“No need to use the stairs,” I said. “I can make paper footholds.”

“But they’ll see us,” Pirn cut in, his ears flicking nervously. “Dark elves have night vision. Dangerous enemies, very dangerous!”

“Then… I might have a plan,” I said, brushing my fingers against the inside pocket of my coat—where the special paper waited.

After explaining the strategy, we crept to a house on the village’s edge.

“Ready, everyone?” I asked.

Almine, Pirn, and Kinako nodded without hesitation.

I reached into the magic pocket, drawing out sheets of paper as I focused on a new formula in my mind.

Thousands of pages overlapped, folding and twisting until they formed a colossal dragon—its body coiling like a storm, three paper heads snapping in the wind.

“Go! Paper Dragon!”

“GROOOOAAAH!”

The Paper Dragon roared, fueled by the enchanted paper bound to my thoughts, and surged into the village like a living avalanche.

Wooden houses shattered as the massive body crashed through. Cultists were flung aside like rag dolls.

“Wh-What the hell?! A dragon?! There’s a dragon in the village!”

“Why here?! Who cares! Kill it! Take it down!”

The cultists swarmed, circling the rampaging dragon as it tore through the square.

“GRAAAAAH!”
The Paper Dragon opened all three mouths wide, spewing a storm of paper needles. Dozens of cultists screamed as the barrage tore into their flesh.

“Aaaghhh!”

Their cries echoed through the chaos.

Then, four dark elves appeared, their spells blazing to life.

A massive fireball slammed into the dragon’s foreleg, flames curling upward.

“It’s paper! Fire magic works! Burn it down!” a tall dark elf barked. The others unleashed a storm of fireballs, each blast igniting the dragon further.

Flames spread across its paper body, crackling as it writhed in agony.

“Keep burning it! Finish it off!”

The cultists cheered—just as the Paper Dragon exploded.

“Wha—?!”

The blast ripped through the square, hurling bodies like leaves in a storm. Burning scraps rained down, setting rooftops ablaze.

“Put out the fire! Hurry!”

Panicked shouts filled the air. Perfect.

Paper burns easily—that’s its weakness. But I’d planned for that, turning it into a weapon. The self-detonation worked like a charm.

“Move!” I hissed.

We ducked low and sprinted, slipping into the chaos. Without making a sound, we reached the pit and began forming paper platforms.

I risked a glance toward the stairs—just in time to see the dark elf barking orders at the cultists.

Now’s our chance.

One by one, we descended into the pit on paper footholds.

The shaft plunged more than twenty meters deep, its stone walls lined with a winding passage. We landed and moved swiftly through the corridor—until a shadow loomed ahead.

A dark elf. He’d spotted us.

“Intruders!”

His black dagger flashed as he drew it, but Kinako was faster.

In a blur of white, he lunged straight at the dark elf, claws gleaming. A slash to the thigh—blood sprayed.

“Ghhk!”

The dark elf grimaced, stabbing back in a vicious thrust. Kinako ducked low, the blade cutting air. Then the elf raised his left hand, crimson flames blooming in his palm.

But before the fireball could fly, Kinako sprang. He kicked off the wall, twisting midair to land behind the elf.

“Kaah!”

The elf spun, lashing out with a kick—

“Too slow!”
Kinako slammed his paw into the elf’s ribs. BAM! The force hurled him into the stone wall.

“Ghh—grhh…”

He staggered, coughed blood, and collapsed face-first.

“Haa…”
Kinako exhaled, steadying himself.

“That was close… but fast enough.”

“As expected of Kinako!” Pirn scampered over, tail flicking. “Even strong dark elves are no match for you!”

“Not… that easy,” Kinako muttered, pointing at his shoulder. A patch of orange fur was soaked red.

“This one wasn’t much of a mage, but his sword skills were sharp.”

“Hold still!” Almine said, already weaving healing magic.

I tightened my grip on the paper charms, scanning the shadows ahead.

This isn’t going to be easy.

Still… we’ve taken one dark elf out. That’s something.

Now, before the Paper Dragon’s chaos above dies down… we have to kill Zeldia

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