Sousetsuka

16-57. Sage's Tower (6)

 

Satou here. We exterminate pest with fumigants in my grandfather's house back in the countryside, but doing that carelessly in a leased apartment in big cities could lead to fire, and in the first place, I feel like most of them don't even allow you to light one. Even though it's highly effective, rounding up everything in one go and all.



◇



"Oh good, looks like Kariswolk City was the first."

I muttered so in relief.

I had returned all the captured miko and priests back to their home with Unit Arrangement and space magic teleport one by one, and found out that none of the countries had suffered a terror attack by the [Vampire Mosquito: Mutant] in the process.

Instead, I was able to capture members of the organization the old man in white who kidnapped those miko belong to, [Heart of Gold], several pots they had, and activated eggs of vampire mosquitoes.

I've prepared documents about these pots and vampire mosquitoes with photos, but I'm not sure if I want to distribute them to the top brass of each countries.
Because I'm afraid they would not only move behind the scene to obtain these mosquitoes, but they would also possibly use it to sow the seeds of disturbance during wars and such.

『Aah yeah, it's the norm for organizations who confiscated biological weapons to make use of it themselves in the past cold war too~』
『But, Ichirou-nii. If you didn't inform those countries, wouldn't their people get in a huge trouble later on?』
『Well yeah, guess so. How about hiding the information about Vampire Mosquitoes, and just tell them that the pots are the source of the curse? Tell 'em, like, "Demon lords are using this thing to curse the world!", and that the populace would be cursed unless the priests purify them with ritual magic.』

I got those answers in the space magic [Tactical Talk] held between me, Arisa and Hikaru.
I've decided to adopt Arisa's idea, after destroying all the pots in every country, I'll send letters as Hero Nanashi of Shiga Kingdom to warn those countries about the pots and the possibility of the remnants scheming to terrorize their countries still at large.

『But really, Ichirou-nii, your Unique Skill is really a cheat.』

Hikaru said that jokingly, however, I could hear her faintly muttering, "If only I had a power like that back then...", when I was cutting the connection.
Not sure if it was during her hero or king days, Hikaru had her fair shares of hardships too it seems.

One of these days, I'll accompany her to talk about her past with some good booze and snacks for a night.



◇



"Oy, oy, you've gotta be kidding me..."

[Heart of Gold] that kidnapped miko wasn't the only organization conspiring to carry out vampire mosquito terror attacks.

After a close investigation in the first area, I went around and teleported to each Maps on the continent while searching for vampire mosquitoes and [Heart of Gold] members, destroying their vampire mosquito terror plans, but in the midst of it, I started to find other secret societies like [Thorn of Truth], [Eye of Mercury] and [Benefit Society].

Every one of them aren't connected in a terrorist network, most are acting as an independent organization.

However, all of them share one similarity.
The person who brought the vampire mosquitoes to these organizations had different names like [Comrae Don], [Member Nanya], [Seya the 『Shadow Walker』], or [Hunt Master], but besides the fact that they had a foreign accent, no one even knew their face.
I have no clue if they're the same person or not, but it's pretty much confirmed that there's a mastermind who's pulling the strings behind all these terrorist organizations.

And if there's anyone who's capable of doing a villainous act as large scale as this--

"Well, it's those guys..."

The mastermind leader and tactician Touya who are lurking in the shadow of Saga Empire crossed my mind.
I know Touya and his cohorts' location and I've put markers on them so I won't lose sight of them, but I still haven't got a single lead on their leader.

Every one of these organizations has a regular meeting with the mastermind, a small man, and the closest one is [Heart of Gold]'s meeting in three days from now.

According to the documented plan I seized from them, the terror attack was planned to be done two days later at the [The Day before New Moon], apparently the incident at Kariswolk City happened earlier than planned due to an accident.

Either way, since the small mastermind might run away when he gets to Kariswolk city where [Heart of Gold] headquarters lie, I'll put up a barrier that can detect a rift in space at Kariswolk City.

I'll catch the tail of this stealthy mastermind this time.



◇



"I'm back, sorry I'm late."

It was already late in the day when I got back to the Solitary Island Palace to pick Hikaru up.
I feel a bit bad since I had promised to meet her in the noon.

"Good work out there, Ichirou-nii. No one but Ichirou-nii is capable of sensing and taking care of terrorist attacks in the entire world, all in a day work you know?"

You should be proud of yourself, says Hikaru.
While feeling slightly embarrassed to be watched by her admiring eyes, I took Hikaru along to Kariswolk City.

"Wlcome~"
"Satou."

Tama and Mia went and hugged me when I opened the diner's door.
I went inside while the two were coiling around me, and caught a sight of Liza bringing water to Pochi who had her mouth jammed with food.
She must have tried to gulp down the food she was having so she could run out together with the two.

Looks like they went ahead and started the meal already since it was late already.

"Oooh, young master! Third's time the charm ssu!"

When I took an empty seat next to Lulu, the underling-sounding beauty--[Witch of Icy Field]-san hugged me from behind, forced me to hold a liquor cup, and poured it full of booze.
Even though she drank herself to sleep this noon, she's started drinking again, enough to get her face red.

Well, guess it's fine.
Since I'm starving myself, I'll join in the feast.

The impregnable fortress pair, Mia and Arisa peeled the clinging Witch-san away from me.

"But seriously, you really saved us ssuyo. It was young master who dispatched Tama-sensei and the others right?"

--Sensei?

"They were super awesome ssuyo. They went and beat the men in white and the wrights, skeleton knights they controlled, like chop chop whoa."

Tama and Pochi who're getting high praises from Witch-san wriggle around, looking bashful.
Since Lady Karina had [Praise me!] written all over her face while looking at me, I also gave her some praises along with Tama and Pochi. I'm a bit afraid that it'll drive her out of control, but I'm sure Raka will do something about it. Surely.

In addition, even though Witch-san knew about [Heart of Gold] the secret society the men in white belonged to, she was not familiar with the old man in white according to her.
I asked if she had an idea as to why she was getting targeted, but she replied with, [Only bars where I put too much tabs on, and men I dumped would go after me ssune], I wasn't sure if she was joking or if she really had no idea.

"Good grief, what a disappointment of a Witch of Source you are."
"What are you saying ssuka. I'm nothing but a beauty when I'm away from the Source, you know."
"Who are you talking about! If you can't fight, then don't, could you stop exposing yourself to danger then? You can go back to the Source anytime you want anyway!"

The drunken Rakel-kun, pupil of the [Witch of Frost Covered Forest], picked a quarrel with the [Witch of Icy Field]-san.

"But, I'm the only one who can go back y'know? I won't do that and leave Rakel-kun alone ssuyo."

Rakel-kun whose face was already red turned even redder.
The love-minded Arisa and Sera who are watching from the sidelines are getting fired up, "Love? Is this love?", "It must be!". Zena-san seems to be a good talker, she's naturally put herself among them.

"Witch--"
"I mean, the weak Rakel-kun would get done in real quick if he were alone ssuyo. Like, phoew."
"--Wha"
"Whaddya think Juhyou-chan (frost covered tree) would say to me then. That obstinate Juhyou-chan would keep grumbling about it for like a decade ssuyo."

Next to Witch-san who's shaking her head exaggeratedly, Rakel-kun's face is turning red and blue in rapid successions, all the while Arisa and the girls watch him with a pitying look.

Well, uh. Keep at it.


<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
◇



"Good morning, Master."

When I came to, Lulu's upper half came into view as she was looking over me.
Judging from the sensation on the back of my head, it looks like I'm currently getting Lulu's lap pillow.

"Ah, good morning."

Looks like I was tired, I apparently went asleep in the middle of the feast, unusually enough. Zena-san and liza apparently carried me to the bed.
I'm loath to part with the soft pillow, but since there's a lot of things need to be done today, I muster the strength to get up.

Then it hits me that I forgot to ask Witch-san, about the [Location where the Demon God is sealed at], but it's not really a critical information to have in a hurry, so there's no problem.
I can ask about it before we leave this city anyway.

From what she told me during the feast, she's having a business talk with her big investor today, she might turn me away if I go to her now, and most importantly, I'd just get in her way.

"Thanks for waiting."
"The dining room is over here."

After grooming myself, I went to the dining room with Lulu.

Since we still have two days before the small mastermind behind the vampire mosquito comes here, we plan to continue our research as originally planned in the meantime.
I ask Arisa and the girls' progress yesterday while enjoying our meal in the dining room.

"--So you see, our research isn't going too well."

I'm told that they're having a trouble deciphering the scribbles of research materials.
I put the document I got from Arisa into Storage, tried to OCR it and it spat out normal character data, then I copied it onto Memo Pad, and printed out the copy into the Storage with Menu plug-in magic [Print Out].

Un, it's readable.

I hand it over to Arisa.

"--Are you a PC!"

I thought she would be ecstatic, so cruel.

"W-what about our hardships yesterdayyyyyy"
"Arisa, just consider that we will have it easy from now on."
"That's right, Arisa-chan. Look at this here. The incomprehensible part yesterday makes sense now."
"Nn, nicely readable."

Princess Sistina and Zena-san soothed the screaming Arisa.
Arisa and Zena-san's teams should have worked on different materials, but apparently they were working together to decipher their documents yesterday.

"I plan to investigate on the [Denying the irreversibility of the transformation from living being into undead] subject together with Sera today, but talk to me anytime if you have a document you need to decipher."

We'll be constantly connected with space magic [Tactical Talk] in order to exchange ideas.
I don't think there will be an incident like yesterday, I'm trying this method to see if having a way to have discussions like in SNS would be beneficial in our research.

"Where should we go?"
"Mia-sama, what do you think?"
"Nn, library."

Mia, Princess Sistina, and Zena-san are heading to the library to continue their research on [How to achieve chantless magic?].

"What about us, what should we do?"

Hikaru asked Arisa.
The two are researching on [The transition of primeval magic to modern magic and variations].

"I've taken a quick look at the print outs Master gave, and there's some parts I still don't really get, so I'd like to meet the scholar who wrote this document here. Master, do you know where they are?"
"I do."

I draw a route from the inn to the scholar's house on a paper.
Since Arisa can check the city's geography with space magic [Clairvoyance] from high grounds, I'm sure they won't get lost.

"Master, hoping for a mission."
"We'll accomplish any mission, no matter how hard! Right, Pochi, Tama?"
"Ofcour~se~"
"But of course nodesu! Nothing is impossible with Pochi and us together nodesuyo!"

Liza is watching over Lady Karina and the girls talking big while looking slightly troubled.

I've decided that Liza and the girls will go on a patrol around Kariswolk City while pretending to be on a pleasure trip.
Even though it's still two days away before the small mastermind comes, there's no guarantee he absolutely won't come here with space magic after all, and I plan to notify the girls about any other accident happening in the city and have them investigate it.

"Shall we be off then Satou-san."

Having my hand pulled by the all-smiles Sera, I stood up.
With a flustered look, Arisa frantically made a plea to Sera, "Just because you're two alone together, you can't push him down okay? You just can't okay."
Sera told her, "I know already" with a refreshing look on her face, but since Arisa still looked worried, I persuaded her by saying, 『We're all connected through Tactical Talk, so you'll know if anything happens right?』.

I put everything that was in the reference room at the top of Sage's Tower, and copied the content into Memo Pad.
I'm afraid of getting typo and stuff when transcribing if I use written copies so I've decided to use the original copy.

I print documents related to our research subject and ask Sera to closely examine them.

"Are you going to be okay with this many documents?"
"Yes, I will be fine."

Even though there's a scarily huge pile of papers in front of her, Sera replied while an oddly cheerful tone.

"We're going to work together, just the two of us."

I feel bad to say something like I would to Arisa to the gleeful sounding Sera, but I plan to go to Karion Main Temple to look for other documents.
After I told her that, the face Sera made, "Eh? Why?", stung my heart, but looking on Map, the main temple has some documents that don't exist here, so I absolutely need to go there.

I don't mind going with Sera but as a former God Tenion's miko, she'll probably find it uncomfortable there, so I'm going alone.

"Welcome to Karion Temple, your excellency."

Miko Maiya greeted me as I arrived at the main temple.

She's already working even though she just got abducted and was on the verge of death yesterday.
Looks like main temples have quite the black company environment.

"Could you let me see documents pertaining my research subject for the trial?"
"That would be fine. Your excellency are not only allowed to access the library restricted to scholars, but also the Sanctuary Library that are normally restricted to archbishops and high-ranking priests, where would you like me to guide you to?"
"First, to the library. If I can't find the document I need there, please take me to the Sanctuary Library."

I dunno if an outsider like me should be allowed to enter a library for high-ranking priests, but according Miko Maiya, it's customary for those who take on God Karion's trial to be given access to the Sanctuary Library, so it's fine.

The main temple shared a lot of documents with the ones in [Sage's Tower], but there were also a lot more documents peculiar to the temple pertaining undead and demons.

Especially about undead, when other temples stop at [Undeads are impure beings], here, some documents hypothesized that they might be flesh that contain highly concentrated miasma and negative feelings--or dead bodies that have undergone mutations.
Among the banned books and documents, there were results of experiments that tried to turn small animals into undead, but it's hard to say for sure whether the hypothesis earlier was correct or not from the results.

I bring all of those documents to check with Sera together.

"What's the difference between undead and monsters I wonder..."

Monsters are also plants and animals that have turned into monsters due to concentration of miasma and mana.

"Is it the magic cores?"
"Undeads have those too."

Undeads have magic cores too.
Even those without physical body have them.

There exist pseudo-undead called [Accursed], and [Coreless] that can get generated when dead bodies are left in a dungeon, but they're not true undead, and more like beings of magical phenomena instead.

"--Ah."

Sera seemed to have hit on something.

"Perhaps, they're one and the same?"
"One and the same?"
"Yes, the only difference is whether the base that undergoes the mutation is the living or the un-living..."

The component needed for the transformation and the transformation process are the same huh....

"But then, that means..."

If those who have been vampirized--turned into undead are restored to their original state with the same process as [Hisui who has been turned into a monster], they will be turned back into their un-living bodies.

"Yes, we can't save anyone."

Sera who's seemingly come to the same conclusion bites her lips in frustration.

『Sorry to intrude in. Master, can I have a bit?』
『Sure.』

Arisa who heard my discussions with Sera through Tactical Talk called in.

『Looks like it's heading to a negative conclusion, but can't you first verify whether it's possible or not? There are items that can bring the dead back to life like the [Artifact of Revival] at the duchy capital's Tenion Temple after all.』
『It's not an item! It's a Sacred Treasure.』

It seems Sera won't bend down on this, she cut in with a serious look.

『Sorry sorry. There's those kinds of Sacred Treasure around after all, so it might be possible to bring the dead back to the world the living too.』
『Yeah, you're exactly right.』

It's not like me at all to give up before trying.

『Thank you Arisa. I'll give it a try.』
『Ehehe~, that's my Master!!』

I thanked Arisa for her advices.

『Oh, and, it's fine if you go ahead and conjure up revival magic too you know?』

It's really like Arisa to joke around at the end.

Now then, shall we begin the experiment to make the impossible possible then?



※ Next update is planned for 8/5





Previous Chapter

Chapter 198 Strongest Sage, Discerns

 

"Iris, wanna give this spear a try?"

"Sure, I'll do it!"

Iris began to swing her new spear afterward.
...and by new, I mean thousands of years old new.

"Un... It feels a bit heavier than my spear before, but I'm not sure about strength and stuff without any enemy..."

"Then, I'll act as one using this spear here."

I pick up the spear Iris was carrying earlier.
I'm done with the adjustment, we just need to wait for the magic device's mana to stabilize now.

It'll take about 30 minutes, I'll play along with Iris in the meantime.

"I understand! ...Should I go all out?"

"I don't want to use too much mana on defensive magic, so stop at about half of your full power. It should be still enough to demonstrate that spear's strength."

I took a stance with Iris's former spear.
...It really is heavy.

"Got it, about half then! ...Here I go!"

Iris swung down her spear.
I tried to block that while using Physical Reinforcement and defensive magic, but... The spear in my hand broke apart the moment they hit each other, scattering its splinters everywhere.
...This is the difference in strength between these spears.

"T-that lump of iron, so easily..."

Ruli looked at the cross section of the broken spear as she said that.
The spear Iris used before (or rather, the lump of iron) broke into pieces starting from the section where the new spear hit it.

"This is what happens when two weapons with an extremely huge gap in toughness clash. And your last spear didn't even have a blade since it prioritized toughness."

"A-amazing... Just how tough is this spear?"

"In term of material used, it's tougher than the walls here. You can fight worry free about it breaking."

While we were talking about that... Alma picked up something on the ground.

"Found me an arrow! I can use this one, can't I?"

It's a longish arrow made of metal.
...That one was lying around here huh. We might've hit a jackpot here.

Unfortunately that arrow seems to be badly preserved, it's lost its function as a magic item... But it's made of an excellent material.
It's got firepower, but better yet, this material has a high affinity as a magic item.

"Umm... Isn't the magic stone installed in it, broken?"

"Yeah. It's not usable as a magic tool anymore. But, you'd be hard pressed to find another arrow with better mana transmission. It should transform into a powerful arrow if we just replace the magic stone and have Ruli augment it... And we should probably sharpen the tip too."

I made this arrow to excel in mana transmission rather than toughness, so it's only a bit tougher than an arrow created with the current technological level.
That's exactly why it's easy to sharpen and process it.
...I'd love to use this arrow not as disposable, we should collect it once a battle is over.

"I'm in charge of augmenting it! ...I've got to find a magic stone that's just the right size!"

Afterward, we went looking around but in the end, the spear and the arrow we found at the start were the only usable items we could find.
We also found some usable looking materials like orichalcum and stuff, of course we collected them.

Result-wise, I guess it's so-so.
I couldn't find the weapon I wanted the most, but since I'm sure I didn't make that many of that thing, I wasn't really excepting much.

In the meantime, the detector device's mana has stabilized.
...It'll still take about 5 minutes more before the wide-area search is usable, but it should be able to do some simple operation.

"Guess I'll try analyzing this as a test."

I took out a tiny piece of metal from Storage magic.
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"What's that?"

"It's a fragment of the Rankine magic ore refinery machine that was in Folkia. We might be able to find out the culprit who gave the machine to Folkia sub-demons if this could be analyzed."

I explained to the girls while putting the piece of metal on the mana detector and operating the panel.
This magic device here is used for wide-area mana search, however, as it's loaded with highly advanced mana detection device, it should be capable of detecting trace amount of mana.

Ordinarily there's no way to detect the mana left in this piece of metal as it's too minuscule, , but with this magic device, it shouldn't be difficult to reveal the mana reaction of everyone who had ever touched this piece of metal.
It won't take long at all to infer mana reaction of those who remodeled the machine.
And if there's one from a demon amongst them, that must be the one who supplied the refinery machine.

"Now then... Let's see if it still works."

I put a small magic stone on the mana detector, and activate it.
Then, a huge amount of mana gets discharged from the magic device, the whole ruin begins to shake.

It's just how this mana detector works.
It's the reason why I made this ruin so sturdy, to minimize the influence this shockwave gives to its surroundings.

...A few seconds later.
The magic stone I put on top of the detector is emitting a faint light as the vibration stops.

"It stopped..."

"Yea. Looks like it went well."

I take the small magic stone in my hand.
The magic stone contains the mana of everyone who has ever touched that piece of metal.

I looked for a reaction originating from a demon... and immediately found a hit.
Rather--.

"This is the same demon who was giving orders in the dungeon city back then."

"The same... You mean the demon we're pursuing made that machine?"

"Not made, the demon only remodeled it... an incomplete remodel that caused the machine to regularly explode at that, but you still need a considerable amount of knowledge to even remodel that machine while still keeping it usable."

Of course, creating one from scratch is a whole different level of difficult.

"From dungeon city to mana bomb... And probably many more things..."

"Yea. The demon who was at the dungeon city and the sub-demons should have a few points of contact. A demon capable of controlling both must mean it's an incredibly powerful and well-known one... It might even be plotting to destroy every country in the world as we speak."

The demon who was acting as the mastermind in the dungeon city didn't strike me as a strong one. Its mana quality wasn't that big of a deal.
However, there are many ways to disguise mana quality.

Outside disguise, it's also possible to have your mana quality degraded from sickness or seals.
That's just how it is with mana reaction, so I never put too much trust in it in the first place... This might turn into a hard fight.

While thinking that, I put the magic stone we brought here on the mana detector device.
It's the magic stone where we put mana of the demon back then.

"...Okay then, time for the real thing."









Previous Chapter

Chapter 197 Strongest Sage, Adjusts

 

"Here huh... Looks like it's still in one piece."

A few hours after we obtained the permit from Giruas.
We arrived at around the vicinity of an ancient ruin in the center of the restricted area.
...It feels a bit weird calling something I made with my own hand a ruin though.

"It's bigger than I thought..."

"Th...this wall is amazing! Just what kind of technology could have made this..."

Alma and Ruli spoke out when they saw the ruin.
The ruin that's about 20 meter high has half of its structure buried underground, while the rest is above the ground.

It should have all been buried below the ground when I was reincarnating back then, the surrounding rocks must have been weathered down during the period.
I've put many kinds of anti-break magic on the ruin's walls, so they're fine even several thousands years later.

"So how do we get inside? It's buried in the ground and I don't see any door... Should I break it?"

Iris lowered her spear as she said that.

"...Sure go ahead and see if you could, I think it's impossible though. Actually, don't, you'd break your spear."

The walls here are made from extremely hard materials to prevent breakage.
The base material was orichalcum, but I had magically changed its structure and mixed it with rare metal into an alloy, making it hundreds times harder than pure orichalcum.

Of course, Iris's spear is no match for it.
It might manage to deal a scratch if it hit these walls at 300 times the speed of sound though.

We could make some nice weapons if we scrape some of this material and turn it into weapons... but unfortunately, we currently have no way to process this.
Too potent a material makes it all the more difficult to manage.

"If we can't break it... Should we dig up the entrance?"

"Even if we did, this entrance never existed to begin with... There's no single place for the door after all."

I put my hand on a nearby wall and pour it with mana of a specific wavelength.
And then, the wall moved soundlessly and turned into a door.

"Waa, it moved!"

"Wow! It turned into a door in an instant..."

"Good, it's working."

This mechanism from thousand years ago seems to be still working fine even now, sure worth the trouble of making it then.
We wouldn't be able to enter the ruin if it didn't move.

"Whoa wha, I almost fell!"

"There's no footholds... What should we do about this?"

Ruli said that while looking around inside the ruin.

The inside is a simple cube-shaped room with around 20 meters in length.
The device we're looking for is at the center of the ground below.
Since we came from above the ruin, it's 20 meter long down below.

"Unfortunately, there's no stairs here. We have to jump down while using defensive magic each."

The past me didn't make an apparatus to go up and down, so we've got to manage falling down 20 meters below ourselves.
A mere 20 meter fall was nothing for me when I created this ruin, so the thought of making stairs didn't even cross my mind.
Fortunately, Ruli and Alma have mastered magic enough that they should easily manage mere falls.

"Got it!"
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
Iris who could handle a fall without magic jumped out ahead.
We followed afterward and landed on the ground 20 meter down.

"All right, I'm gonna start preparing the activation, so Ruli and Alma, you girls should search around for stuff that looks usable."

I head to the facility in the center of the room and begin the work.
I need to adjust things since it's been quite a while since its last activation.
It should take about an hour at this rate.

"Usable stuff?"

"Yeah. There should be swords and stuff lying around in the corner of the room, I think... I have no clue what kind are there though."

For a period of time, I made these ruins as a room to do blacksmithing.
Afterward, I only brought with me things that came out well, and left the rest scattered around randomly.
Thus, those weapons should still remain in these ruins.

"Weapons from ancient ruins... That kinda pumps you up, doesn't it!"

"I feel like we'll get to see something amazing..."

I don't remember what kind of weapons I left here, but there should be some usable ones.
That said, since those weapons were originally intended to be used by the past me, most of those are probably unusable to us due to our current amount of mana or lack thereof.

As I continue the work while thinking such... Ruli ran up to me with a sword in hand and an excited look on her face.
...She went and brought an unusable one right from the get go.

"I don't really get it, but this sword feels amazing somehow! There's a really complex magic formula in..."

"It's a sword that disintegrates everything in its path if you provide it with mana as you swing it."

"Disintegrate, everything...?"

"Yeah. This sword can turn the royal capital into a wasteland with a single swing. We don't have enough mana to use it though."

"...Rather, I'm glad we can't..."

Ruli put away the sword afterward.
Well, these kinds of swords should be usable as a 『stupidly sturdy lump of metal』 at least though.

"How about this one for Iris? It's way heavy, I can't even lift it though..."

This time Alma dragged back a huge spear.
As a magic item... It's a spear that can evaporate everything it touches by generating super high temperature on its tip.

It consumes quite a bit less mana than the sword earlier, so Iris's mana should be enough.
But the mana control needed to operate this spear is extremely complex, it's ultimately unusable.

However... We can use it.
As this spear was designed to endure collisions while generating super high temperature, it's infinitely sturdier than Iris's current spear.







Previous Chapter

Chapter 65 Everyone Going Back Home to Gramada

 

Now that I'm done with the seizure, let's free all the captured people in the basement.
Having come into the basement, there's barely any light, and the air kinda feels stagnated.
Light, Light, Liiiiiiiiiight!
As well as a light Wind Storm to replace the air!
I could hear confused voices of people, like "W-what!?", "Hiiii" in the jail that's probably ahead. Ah, sorry 'bout that.

A pair who seems to be a married couple, two general human women, and a parent and a child elves are held inside jail.

"I'm sorry if I surprised you. I'm not an enemy so please calm down. Could you tell me how you all ended up getting imprisoned here in turns?"

"W-we were held here because of our debts. But, I had paid it back. But then, the amount suddenly swelled up dozens of times higher because of interests... And then they dragged us here in the end."

"I was looking for work  away from home at Gramada. The job office offered me a place of work that seemed nice but then they carried me off when I got there..."

"Me was in similar circumstances myself. A trader-san who came by my village introduced me to this place for work, I was afraid I'd get sold off one of these days."

"...."

The parent and child elves keep their mouth shut. Well, guess it's understandable. You shouldn't take what someone said out of nowhere at face value.

"I'll take you back to Gramada if you're going back there. Would you like to come with me?"

After I said that, they were yelling in happiness, "Ooh finally, finally", or, "We're saved now". Yet, the elves duo are still keeping silent. For now, I should get the four to the room where the girls are resting and then talk to these two elves.

"Okay then, everyone, please get away from the iron bars. I'll break it with my magic."

I broke down the bars with pinpoint Flare Bombs one by one.

"I'm sorry, but please wait until I've recovered my mana. The people resting above are my friends, you can wait there with them."

After taking the four there, I went back to the basement.

"Thank you for waiting. I'd like to hear your wish, either going back to your hometown or something else, so it'd really help if you could talk, no?"

"...The looks in your eyes haven't changed even though we're elves."

They finally talked.

"No no, they did for sure. Though I've met a Half-elf before, this is my first meeting real elves, I'm pretty nervous here you see."

"*Giggle*, I've never seen someone this frank either. I understand, we will believe you. Either way, we don't have any way to go back home without relying on your kindness."

The elf mother is called Dilitt, while the daughter is Tino. Apparently, a few years ago they were ousted from their village deep in a forest due to a certain reason. While they were just getting by living a simple life outside the forest, they were attacked and kidnapped by those guys. Normally, you'd think outward appearance doesn't represent an elf's actual age, but that's not the case for the daughter. Tino-chan is truly as young as she looks at 10. Dilitt-san being 120 year old surprised me though!

Both of them are beautiful. Elf ears, blond hair, jade-like deep green eyes that feel like sucking me in. She's quite well endowed too, you wouldn't have thought she's given a birth. It's just, ah yep, let's just say that a certain part is very similar to Eleanor-san's. And just like her mother, Tino-chan is very lovely too.

"What would you like to do. I've heard that elves hate hustle bustle, but how about going to Gramada for now? I know a fair share of trustworthy people I could introduce you to work at. Ah, and don't worry, none of them runs shady places."

"Yes please, we'll be in your care. I will definitely repay your kindness."

"Haha, don't worry about it. I was here mainly to save my important person myself, it was by chance I saved you guys."

"Thank you" "Onii-chan, thank you~"

OH, as expected of elves. Their smiling faces have quite the destructive force. Now then, let's get away from here.


In the end, everyone ended up heading to Gramada. Fortunately, there's a carriage here, so we'll be using it until the cave. We'll be staying there tonight. Gotta raise their spirits even a bit with a warm meal. The enslaved people also had similar circumstances when I asked them about it. Nothing I can do if they lied though. Apparently Mitama and Futsuno-san know someone who runs slave trading company, I'll ask them how to free these people once we get back.



<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>



At the dead of night. I quietly slipped out and went back to the hill mansion.

Right after we arrived at the cave, I immediately prepared our meal. Everyone's wariness had slightly waned while they were sitting around the hot pot. Especially the people who had been confined underground, they seemed really happy to finally have a warm meal after a long time. Afterward, everyone went to bed with blanket and stuff procured from the mansion. I've put up a wall at the entrance of the cave, so they can rest easy without a lookout.

And now here I am standing after slipping out when everyone was fast asleep.

"Well then, time for the final clean up. 『Earth Excavation (Dig)』!"

A hole opened diagonally. While reinforcing that hole with 『Earth Wall Reinforcement <<Dag>>』 I continue to push deeper underground.

"『Earth Excavation <<Dig>>』, 『Earth Wall Reinforcement <<Dag>>』, Dig Dag, Dig Dag, Digdag..."

I'm focusing everything into burrowing through the mansion's ground. Since I've gotten used to it, my digging pace has increased as well.
Before long, a huge hole the size of the mansion has opened below the ground. I've also installed dozens of 『<<Bombermine>>』 on the huge hole's ceiling.
Preparation complete.

And also, gotta take care of that one too.








The next morning, everyone were forced awake by some kind of tremor.
Having no idea what it was about, everyone was panicking but I appeased them and urged to continue our journey. It must have been a quake or something. Let's hasten our departure just to be safe.

By the way, the idiotic brat seemed to have died, as the slave crests on the five slaves including Kurei-san have turned gray. Since no one here is detailed about slaves, we're leaving it alone as it does no harm anyway. Kurei-san herself earnestly apologized to Futsuno-san and Mitam to the point of spilling blood from her forehead. The two told Kurei not to mind it since she was a victim herself, but since she seems to have a strong sense of responsibility, it's weighting her mind very much. Hope she doesn't torment herself over it.

With Kurei-san as a coachman, the carriage is running towards Gramada. Apparently, the figure of me pulling the carriage looked silly after all. Tino-chan and Futsuno-san laughed their head off. Are they fine after laughing that much I wonder. I've told Futsuno-san and the others that I would tell them in details after we got back to Gramada. I didn't want to talk about it on the carriage with other people around.

It took two days to arrive at Gramada since the carriage was pulled by horses. Considering the situation we were in, lining up here could turn out bad, so I went to the guard station to ask about it.

"Excuse me, could I have a bit of your time?"

"Yes yes, please wait a mo... Oh, is that you Nobusada-kun."

Oh? He's Master's subordinate! Glad there's someone who can be reasoned with. Err, the name was...

"...That's right, it's Yukito-san!"

"So you forgot my name..."

Yukito-san muttered while looking a bit dejected.
Sorry, it was completely blank. I called you the Suffering Subordinate in my head.

"So you see, a friend of mine was kidnapped so I went out to save them, and apparently it was by a bandit gang."

"You just casually brushed that off, wait, bandit gang!? Wh-where is it!? How many of them!?"

"P-please calm yourself. We were able to escape with the help of my companions and the captured people. After our escape, the mansion we were in collapsed somehow. My guess is that the people inside are probably beyond help. Among the people who were captured, there were some who were abducted and forced into slavery, so I'd like to tell the situation to someone trustworthy if possible."

"And so you came here..."

"Quite, I figured Master's subordinate would be trustworthy, so I came to talk about it. Apparently, that bandit gang had various connections, thus I had to pick whom I'm telling this to."

Yukito-san is lost in thought with a doubtful look. I guess so, anyone would wonder if they could believe someone who brought this kind of story out of nowhere.

"I'd have to check with Captain Matuda just in case. Well, that person would probably just spout, 『Don't worry about trivial stuff』. So then, could you take me to the people who were captured? I'll send a messenger to call Captain here."

"If you'd please. They're waiting on the carriage over there."

Yukito-san smoothly handled all the procedures. He did question everyone but only as a formality and quickly released them. The guards will take care of everyone who was captured except the elven mother and child. I would like nothing more since I could not possibly care for all of them.

I contemplated hard what to do about Dilitt-san and Tino-chan, but it's for them to ultimately decide. Since she apparently can prescribe medical herbs and stuff, I wouldn't mind them helping out the store too.

Unless there is a will, apparently when an owner died, the right to their slaves would be transferred over to the one who, excuse the wording, picked them up. In other words, me. I'm allowed to go back home for today, and to come back tomorrow to proceed with the procedure to free them. I've left some funds there, it should be enough to cover their daily expenses.

Afterwards, the guards launched an investigation on the matter.
They stopped by Pezun village once, and mysteriously the innkeeper there confessed himself that he had been assisting the bandit to trap adventurers and innocent people alike. Following his confession, the guards went to the mansion on the hill, but what left there was only a huge pitfall buried under rubbles and soil. The investigators could do nothing about it, thus they only took the innkeeper with them. Due to the many crimes the innkeeper had committed, he was to perform forced labor at the mine.
Man, that's some real scary stuff.





Previous Chapter

Chapter 196 Strongest Sage, Breaks Through Siege

 

『Everyone, are you ready?』

『Yes!』

『Ready when you are!』

After confirming their responds, I slightly loosen up the mana control spell I put on Iris.

『Got it. I've loosened up Iris's mana bind, so the demons should be coming here soon... Our comm magic may get disconnected in the middle of combat if we get separated, when that happens, move at your own discretions while making sure to stay hidden from the demons.』

Even though my comm magic's range is wider than ever before, I'm still a Disqualified Crest after all. It cannot reach that far.
If Ruli were in the charge of comm magic, she could likely cover the entire area, but then the demons might find out.

『Yes!』

『Gotcha!』

And while we were discussing with comm magic--the demons made their move.
Looks like they're coming here to check things up.

The sub-demons don't seem to deem Iris to be a threat for the time being, they've only dispatched two.
...Of course, I've adjusted the released mana to make this happen.

『Only two of them are coming here...』

『Yeah... Though it seems around five of them are observing the situation, they'll rush here if anything happens.』

I move to the demons' blind spot while hiding my mana.
Camouflaging here is easy thanks to Iris's flashy mana.

And then... The instant Iris came into the demons' view, I swung my sword.

"Wha?"

One of the demons' head flew off along with a confused voice.
The one saying that was the still living demon.

Sub-demon is quick to grasp the situation they're in.
Even while the demon was taken aback, it immediately understood what it needed to do and deployed defensive magic around itself

But--too late.
My sword was already inching closer to the demon's neck while it was developing the barrier.
The sword that slipped through the deployed barrier decapitated the demon like a butter.

『Now then... How much did they find out I wonder.』

Besides visions, these demons share various other senses.
With the speed just now, they shouldn't be able to specify my mana, but it's possible they have found out my magic sword's.
...Though they probably think the magic sword's mana reaction to be that of Iris.

The sub-demons began to move in fluster while I was thinking.
They sure move fast, not surprising considering their joint-senses.

『Wha... Aren't we getting surrounded?』

『Yeah. It's the basic tactic of sub-demons.』

Fundamentally, sub-demons prefer to encircle their enemies rather than waiting for them to move.
Because sub-demons are good at attacking from blind spots by working in group, yet it'll be hard to aim for blind spots if they're the ones getting attacked.

Their extermination encirclement should be complete in 20 seconds if this keeps up.
However, I'm not going to let it happen.

I continue to observe the mana reaction, unmoving.
And then--just as I've guessed, one sub-demon is going to take the path visible from Alma's location.

--Just as planned.

『Alma, throw the magic stone! Toward the feet of the passing demon!』

『Okay!』

The magic stone Alma threw fell unnaturally due to the effect of Guided Homing Enchant.
A moment later, the demon passed by the magic stone--as it exploded.

Of course, sub-demons aren't weak enough to be defeated by an explosion from such a small magic stone.
However, this is good.
That magic stone is something to make the demons think that they have been 『caught in a trap』.

While looking at the demon's reaction, I enter its blind spot and cut it in half.
Now the demons must think that 『Our cohort died after getting caught in an unusual trap』.
As a proof--.

『The demons are running away!』

Immediately after the third demon died, the sub-demons began to take a distance away from us all at once.
They must have thought that we knew about their encirclement.

That was my goal with giving Alma the order.
Were Alma and Ruli's position off by a meter, or it was late by three seconds, they would have seen through our tricks.

The demons have begun to move as predicted while I'm thinking that.
They're running away from us and joining up with other demons.

--This is how you do it.
No matter how good we're hiding and slipping into blind spots, there's no way to go around them when a bunch of 10 sub-demons crowd together.
And there's still 17 of them left.

We may have managed to kill three at the outset, but us four would have a hard time fighting against 14 sub-demons.
They'd easily kill us three, and Iris who survived thanks to her sturdiness would be gradually shaved down until they took her down.
We have no chance of winning if these demons group together.
--That's why I'll stop them from meeting up with each others.

『You three, stay where you are!』

After saying that, I accelerated up while squeezing my mana from leaking out, and went for the farthest demon from us.
And then, I made a fake explosion that used magic stone like earlier myself and severed the demon's head at the same time.
The disguise was far sloppier than when it used magic stone. They would instantly knew that this was a trap if they just think it through calmly.

However, I should be able to deceive them right now.
Since I'm away from Iris, her mana has been completely released to her normal level... in other words, a level of mana reaction that's far incomparable to an average human.

During such a turmoil, they should have no idea that the imperfect disguise earlier was a trap.
Or so I thought--but it appears that the demons are moving outside of my expectations.

『They found out huh.』

I muttered so while hurrying back to the girls' location.
Looks like they noticed that it was an assailant that had been killing their comrades, not the explosion.

The sub-demons had stopped moving, and begun to cast detection magic to cover each other's blind spots.
And now they're completely on alert for the assailant.

However, they don't seem to know that it's me judging from their movements.
The disguised attacks were probably effective, but a comparatively clever sub-demon probably told them, 『There's an assailant who disguised themselves behind the trap』.

--It'd be bad if they come together. Let's settle this quick.

"Ga..."

I'm hurrying up while cutting up a nearby sub-demon with my magic sword.
I'm heading to a certain junction.

I've already mastered this town's geography.
There are key points in the demons' paths to meet together.
If they can't get through those points, the routes these demons have to take will be limited.

So I'm going to camp there.
...By the way, Iris is currently standing at one of those points.
I thought this could happen, so I had Iris to stay there to slow down the demons as much as possible.

"Gaa!"

"W-where's the enemy... Guaaaaa!"

"Invisible enemy, that's just impossible... Gaha!"

Thanks to taking controls of the key points, the elimination is going well.
However... Hiding my presence is probably nearing the limit.

Even with these key points, there are other routes for demons to take.
I've cut down the demons to only 10, but those 10 have formed a group, eliminating the gaps in their formation.

Continuing my offense here would expose my location, turning it into a frontal assault.
Fighting against a group of 10 sub-demons is a dead wish.

...I could win if Ruli and Alma showed themselves and used that instant to kill several of those demons, but it's too risky.
Even if I'm attacking the demons, letting Ruli and Alma to face off against 10 demons is a bit too much.

If Iris and I immediately join the fray, there's a 80% chance Ruli and Alma to come out safe.
However, I can't bring myself to execute that plan with that 20% possibility up in the air.

We should meet up for now. Since our enemy has grouped together already, there's no point in blocking the key points.

『Are you three all right?』

『I'm fine!』

『We're unhurt too! I mean, they don't even know we're here!』

I had Iris acting as a decoy but as expected, one or two sub-demons are incapable of harming her defense, she's unscathed.
Ruli and Alma have successfully kept their presence hidden as well.

The problem is our move from here on.
Since we've cut down their numbers to around half the original, it might be a good idea to retreat here for the time being and wait for our chance.
However, giving them time here could make them high on alert for several days, so I'd like to finish it here.

While I was thinking that--the demons suddenly made a weird move.
They suddenly turned their alertness to a different direction, moving away from us.

It's as if a new enemy of these demons has appeared.
It would have been about how they would move were I used a decoy here.

I'm completely clueless as to what's going on.
However, this is exactly the situation I wanted.

『Here's our chance! Let's attack now!』

I overlook not this chance and close our distance to the demons.

Of course, there's a chance these demons purposely created this situation to entrap me.
However, my instinct as a battle hardened combatant forged in my past life tells me that's not the case.

--The demons are focusing their detection to a completely different direction so they won't miss the enemy they finally found.
Probably as a countermeasure if this 『Someone』 could use stealth magic.

Thanks to it, it's really easy to attack their back.
Concealing my presence and instilling the belief that 『The enemy is good at stealth』 on these demons finally bore fruits.

And then--I caught up with the demons just when they had started their assault on this 『Someone』.

"Guh!"

"Gaa!"

"A counterattack!?"

I cut down the wide open demons in an instant.
It's very easy since they're crowding together for the sake of doing union attacks.

The demons immediately attempted to fix their formation, but they had no chance for that.

"Sooi!"

Iris threw a huge spear at the center of the crowd of demons--or rather, it's coming straight at me.
The spear that struck the ground at an astounding speed blew away the area around its impact point.

Of course, the sub-demons who were dragged into it had their formation broken in pieces.
...I would have died if I didn't dodge that.

『Oy, Iris, watch it.』

『I thought Mathias-san would dodge even if one came flying at you, so I threw it without aiming! I'm sorry!』

...Yeah. I knew that was the case judging from her random way of throwing the spear.
To begin with, Iris is not delicate enough to precisely hit something with her spear.

I continue to beat the disordered demons one after another while thinking that.
The lower their numbers the easier it is to beat sub-demons, and once it's been lowered this much, this is now nothing but a routine work.

I annihilated all but one demon, and imprison it in a barrier.
There's a reason why I didn't exterminate them all.

Then, I head toward 『Someone』 who had become the demons' target.
...Well, I've had a rough idea of who that 『Someone』 is though.

"Oy, you okay."

I kicked the ground and got to where the demons' decoy is.
The person lying there is, as expected--Giruas.

Even though my interruption came quick, Giruas still ended up taking hits from 10 demons, he's been seriously wounded.
Yet is the fact that he didn't get hit on his vitals or hard-to-heal parts because of his genius sense of battle, I wonder.

He should get patched up quick with healing magic.
To the point that I'm wondering if he purposely took only hits that would make it easier to heal with magic later.

"You sure know how to get hit."

I healed Giruas with magic as I said that.
There's only one sub-demon left.
This demon has been confined inside a barrier I made.

I didn't kill this demon because I thought Giruas would be disappointed if I left no demon alive.
He's probably itching for a fight anyway, I'll let him have the last one if he wishes for it.
It's thanks to him that we were able to easily beat these demons after all.

While thinking that... Giruas stood up.

"Ow oww.. Hm? Didn't some buncha' weird demons kill me or something?"

"Nope, you're not dead yet. Even healing magic can't revive the dead."

"...Mathias eh. Looks like you saved my ass... I owe you one."

Afterward, Giruas looks around.
And then--.

"...No more demons here?"

Giruas asked me with a disappointed look on his face.
It's just as expected and all, but he's already looking for more fight right after dying huh.
This guy is a honest-to-goodness battle junkie.

"I've left one for you since I knew you'd say that."

I point at the barrier where the sub-demon is confined.
The sub-demon is apparently trying to get away, but it's failing at it because Alma has been stopping it.

"...Man you're real prepared... Since it's you Mathias, you must have purposely left one for me, yeah?"

"Was it an unnecessary gesture?"

"Naw. True that I don't like fighting pre-arranged enemy, but it's thousands times better than not fighting a powerful one that's right in front of me."

Giruas immediately gave his reply and headed for the demon.
And then he slashed at the barrier with his sword... which bounced off.

"...That's a tough one."

Then Giruas enchanted his sword with reinforcement magic and hit the barrier again.
--His enchant level has gone up compared to our fight before.
It hasn't been yet a week since then.

Though even after his enchant has leveled up, his sword can't cut the barrier.
Of course, a low level barrier wouldn't have been enough to confine a demon, even if it's a sub-demon.

"...Oy, this thing ain't budging."

"Cause I made it like that. I'm opening it."

I release the barrier.

Normally speaking, he shouldn't have been fighting after suffering that much wounds, but it should be fine if he's this energetic.
Giruas is sturdy after all.

"Eat this!"

The sub-demon immediately slashed at Giruas when the barrier went down.
Though it's not like I did it on purpose, the surviving sub-demon seems to be good at swords.

"Come at me!"

Giruas blocked the demon's sword, flipped it back and counterattacked.
The sub-demon parried his attack with its sword.

Current prospects--they're almost even.
The sub-demon is clearly superior in both strength and techniques.

However, Giruas has this mysterious sense in his moves.
He's moving like a veteran swordsman at times, though it's probably in reflex.
Due to that, none is holding the advantage, it's a draw that could tip to one side at anytime.

However, that balance didn't last long.
Giruas's movements suddenly became faster in the middle of combat.

--『Body Reinforcement』.
It's the most fundamental most effective magic for a swordsman.
Especially during a stalemate, suddenly moving quicker when the enemy has gotten used to your speed, delaying their response, could prove fatal.

It was written in the very first chapter of the text book I gave him--so he did read it huh.

"Wha..."

The sub-demon couldn't cope with Giruas's sudden acceleration.
Giruas's swords is going straight at the demon's shoulder.

And when the sword was about to hit the demon--Giruas enchanted his sword without chanting.
I know this magic--I didn't expect him to use it.

"--Recoil Steel Slash!"

Giruas continues to slash at the demon while shouting.
『Recoil Steel Slash』 is a derivative magic of 『Steel Slash』 that raises your sword's sharpness.

It's more powerful than 『Steel Slash』 but in exchange, it gives back not insignificant damage to yourself.
That recoil runs through your entire body, even those who are used to fighting won't be able to move after three consecutive usages.

Not only that, your sword moves also get duller due to the recoil.
That's why, I hardly ever used this magic.
It's only mentioned very little at the text book I gave him.

...So despite saying he's bad at reading, he went and found this magic.
However, 『Recoil Steel Slash』 might be the best magic with the highest firepower for Giruas who's originally not that precise with a sword.
Assuming he can bear the recoil though.

"GAAAAAAA!"
<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
"Guh... That really stings."

The slashed demon screamed in agony, Giruas too looked at his arm with a look of agony.
And yet, he's not stopping.

Giruas swings his sword again without any hesitation, enchanted with Recoil Steel Slash.
And another Recoil Steel Slash when he's slashing back.

...That's the third.
It should be about time for an ordinary human to stop moving, yet Giruas isn't letting up.
Continuing to swing his sword even now.

Backlash from 『Recoil Steel Slash』 is not something that can be overcome with spirits or sense.
Enduring consecutive usages like this--don't tell me, he's had 『Recoil Steel Slash』 practices already.
That sure is reckless.

After three consecutive 『Recoil Steel Slash』 even the sub-demon is at its deathbed.

And, though it's not limited to demons--the most critical point in a combat is when the enemy is cornered.
Letting your guard down even a bit risks you getting killed by their do-or-die desperation attacks.

Giruas is too valuable to be lost here.
He will surely become a terrific war potential if he survives this and continues his training.

I planned to butt in before he got himself killed--but let's trust his battle sense here.

"You bastard--I'll kill you!"

The sub-demon unleashed the last of its strength, going all out to attack Giruas.

『Mana Strike』.
One of special magic that can only be used by demons.

It's a magic that grants tremendous strength and speed to your sword at the risk of one's life.
It's practically the upgraded version of 『Recoil Steel Slash』.

A sword buffed by such magic is coming at Giruas.
The accelerated sword infused with a vast amount of mana could shred humans to piece just by touching.

Right dead at the center, unavoidable track.
At least, with Giruas's speed, it should be impossible for him to dodge that.

However, Giruas evaded it.
It's as if, he had foreseen the attack before the demon used 『Mana Strike』.
And then he counterattacked like flowing.

"--Recoil Steel Slash."

The demon who had exhausted the last of its strength was pierced by Giruas's finishing sword.
Flawless moves without any waste.

--Giruas fell down just as the demon died.
His live is not in danger, but it doesn't seem like he can get up.
His body probably can't endure it after using 『Recoil Steel Slash』 four times.

"You've gotten quite strong in just a few days."

Even two Giruas from back then probably can't win against this current Giruas.
He's gotten that much stronger in just a few days.

"Well yeah... Yet look at me, turned into this just by beating one demon when you beat like ten of them alone. I gotta train more."

Giruas moved his head to look at the dead demon.
Looks like he doesn't have the energy to even stand up.

"Was that book proven useful?"

"Yeah. I asked an acquaintance, a guild staff to read it fer' me coz I can't read."

He got it read for him huh...
I can't imagine a scene where this guy is having someone read to him.

That aside.

"Hey... What do you think we should do here?"

Right now we're in the center of the town.
Of course, people would gather around after that flashy battle.
Furthermore...

"Oy, landlord-sama has fallen over there!"

"Something's wrong with landlord-sama! What's with those demon horns!"

This town was ruled by demons.
In other words, the populace think the demons we defeated was the landlord and the higher ups of this town.

With all of them lost, this town will fall into chaos.
Thanks to the demon's horns, we might be able to explain that they were demons to them at least.

However, the problem is the aftermath.
There might be some human higher ups surviving, but there's a chance that they have been corrupted by the demons after all this time.
This town has no one who could act as its leader.

Even now, this town has a lot of ruffians like the bandits we fought.
The town would be in chaos without a leader.

No, you can say it's already starting.
And there's no one who could stop it in this town.

"...Isn't this bad?"

"Yeah. This is bad... We need someone who can rally them together, but this town doesn't have someone like that right now... And asking helps from other landlords would take time."

"Why not ask higher-ups from the guild... Ah, the guild was overran by demons wasn't it, guess not then..."

As a matter of fact, personally there's no problem for us even if this town falls into chaos now that the demons are no more.
As there's nothing that could obstruct us from accomplishing our goal here anymore.

The reason why we came here was because the demons who were in this town could pose a problem when we're using the magic tool to look for demons.
And we'll be done with it if we just leave Folkia and activate the magic tool.

However... Since we're under the backing of Eis Kingdom to move in a foreign country, leaving Folkia here may turn into problems later on.
While I was thinking that...  Giruas opened his mouth.

"...Hey. I don't really get it, but in short, this Folkia's ruler or something was a demon, and there's no one governing this town now that we beat 'em, that right?"

"That's right."

After hearing that Giruas tried to stand up.
And then he frowned.

"Hey. Can't ya make this body move with yer' magic?"

"Backlash from 『Recoil Steel Slash』 cannot be erased with healing magic... But I know a magic that 『Spread』 the backlash thin over a long time, is that okay?"

"Yea. That good."

Hearing that, I cast a magic called 『Recoil Dilution』 on Giruas.
This magic spreads what originally should take three days to six days and dilutes the recoil.
On someone who used 『Recoil Steel Slash』 four times, it won't be enough to make them good for battle.

"You've got my thanks... Leave the rest to me. I can't win against you in combat, but this sorta situation calls for me--a Rank S adventurer."

Giruas who received 『Recoil Dilution』 said that as he stood up.
And then he holds his guild card high up, and declares to the surrounding people.

"I'm Giruas, Rank S adventurer of Ristia Guild. In accordance to Raginia Fedeal Law of State of Emergency Command, I shall now take command of Folkia."

"...State of Emergency Command?"

"Yeah. When there's no one that can take the command during a situation related to monsters and stuff, we have a system where Rank S adventurer assume the position. Since demons are treated as monsters, now's exactly that situation."

Alma and Ruli looked at each other with worried looks after hearing that.
It's probably 『...Can someone who can't even read take the lord's place?』.
...I'm worried about that too.

"Giruas you say?"

"Giruas... That Giruas?"

"Judging from his guild card... He's the real one."

The people around are buzzing after hearing Giruas's name.
Giruas throws a question to those people.

"Oy, any guild folks here? I gotta ask something."

"I'm a guild staff member... What would it be?"

"Take me to the higher ups of this town's guild. I want personnels."

"I-I understand!"

The guild staff member guided Giruas to the guild.
Looks like this 『Emergency Command』 has the binding powers to make guild staff obey.

--About 10 minutes later.
Giruas got out of the guild along with a man.
Judging from his outfits, he looks to be a big-wig in the guild.

"This guy will give you orders in my stead. The citizens must obey this guy until the replacement lord comes. Imma knock the crap of those who disobey."

Hearing that, Alma speaks in doubt.

"...Passing the buck?"

"Yea. I dunno no politics. Best to pick someone's trustworthy, that is this guy."

Giruas replied to Alma's question.

"By the way, how did you know someone was trustworthy or not?"

"By instinct."

Giruas only lends his name as a Rank S, and leaves the politics to those who can do it.
I see, that's logical.
Now we can leave Folkia worry-free.

...Oh right, before that.

"Giruas, we'd like to enter the First Type Restricted Area nearby, can you give us the permit? The area's name should be 『Folkia Territory Restricted Area』."

"You got a business at restricted area?"

"Yeah. We need to use something there."

"Got it. Hang on a bit."

Giruas took a paper nearby.
Then he wrote something on it and put his sign.

This is what's written there.

――――――――――――――――
Permit

In order to deal with a state of emergency, the four people below have been given entry permit to 『Folkia Territory Restricted Area』.
Permit Holders: Mathias, Iris, Ruli, Alma

Publisher: State of Emergency Commander Giruas
――――――――――――――――

Giruas he, he wrote something formal.
Well, guess he wouldn't be a rank S adventurer if he couldn't write.

"Thanks."

"No need to thank me."

Giruas went inside the guild afterward.
Now then... preparation complete with this.

Now we just need to enter the restricted area and activate the magic tool.
...The real troublesome part comes after the machine has been activated.









Previous Chapter

Chapter 64 Futsuno's Rescue Mission - Part Five

 

I hold Lunar Cat's blade right in front of the idiotic brat and release his Air Bind.

"Hii..."

"Now then, spit it all out. Is there anyone else besides these guys in your organization?"

The idiotic brat cannot hide his fear at the drawn blade before him. He must be used to leaving all the fighting to his underlings while he himself watched from higher grounds. I'll use this chance to thoroughly uproot his organization.

"I-I'll talk. So get that thing away from me. The people that were here were our entire forces. The rest are the slave employees in this mansion and slaves that are going to be sold underground."

There's five enslaved employees. All of them are women who were abducted or forced to carry a debt and got called here. As for the captured people, there are several of them of which are all good looking. Apparently, he was going to sell them to the neighboring countries and nobles once he had enough. I thought these guys were operating like yakuza, but no, they're more like a band of bandits.

"Well then, where would those bonds of debt be?"

"Aa, they're in the hidden shelves inside my room. I've told you everything. You're going to let me go now, aren't you?"

Where'd the sheepish attitudes gone to, this guy is really shameless. After doing all those stuff to Futsuno-san, and Kurei-san, he wants to get off home free himself? To begin with, his backing, Jamito is not of this world anymore anyway.

"Let you go, sure, straight to jail though?"

"Wha!? Me, a son of noble, in jail!? That's absurd, my backing and connection will get me out."

Is that something he should be saying. Welp, might as well drive this guy to the depth of despair.

"Your backing, Jamito, had died the other days. Oh right, I heard that there's going to be a large scale investigation soon. Now then, wonder if your connections are gonna work."

I laid bare the news to the idiotic brat. As expected, he's making a 'I don't believe it' face. The stuff about investigation is a lie but it's not like he knows the truth here, it's good enough as a threat.

"That's a lie, lie, lieee...."

The idiotic brat keeps repeating 『It's a lie』 over and over again like a broken record. Unexpectedly enough, this guy's mental is about as strong as an earthenware pot. For now I'm done with cornering this idiotic brat, time to make a progress on freeing the captured people, collecting bonds and seizing the fortune here. Ah, I've got Living Armor's sword and shield with me already of course.

I sheathe Lunar Cat back and turn to Mitama and the girls. Futsuno-san still hasn't come to, Mitama is holding her. Kagura has shrunk back into her little girl form, she's changed into kid's clothing she had prepared beforehand. Huh? Come to think of it, her curse is still in effect even though she's killed Dave?
For the time being, we should get away from here and finish what we need to do. These girls should get some rest until Futsuno-san wakes up. I'll ask Kagura-san to look after Kurei-san after binding her.

"You! It's all your fauuuuuuuuuuuuult"

The idiotic brat charged at me while screaming out loud. Holding his right hand high up... There's something in those nails? I calmly turn around.
I cut the idiotic brat's right hand with an Iai slash as I turn around.

"GYAAAAAAAAAA, m-my right haaaaaaaaaaand"

There was probably cursed poison or something hidden. It doesn't matter now though.
Though I'm not sure how effective it is due to level differences, I'll give him a little present. Let's see if putting in more mana could cover the level gap. I don't think he could resist when he's hemorrhaging so much anyway though.

"I won't let it end in an instant. Savor it slowly as you lament all the misdeeds you have done. Pain!"

I press my fingertip on the struggling idiotic brat's forehead and cast a spell. Pain is a magic that amplifies sense of pain of limbs, but by putting lots of mana into it, even a simple touch would be enough to make the target faint.
When I tried it on a monster, it quickly fell down after taking a single step. And every time it rolled and writhed around, it damaged itself more. Eventually it went mad and stopped moving altogether.
And now I'm using such magic, powers increased. The idiotic brat couldn't even make a sound anymore as he continued to twitch. Since he's also hemorrhaging blood, he'll probably breathe his last sooner or later. But I shall give no mercy. None.

I went out of the hall with Futsuno-san in my arms. I had actually wanted to carry Kagura-san's mother, but Kagura-san insisted that she wanted to do it herself. Since the scene has turned pretty grotesque in a lot of ways, I'm closing the entrance with Stone Wall. Then suddenly, I got a message from Tama-chan who was keeping watch outside the mansion.

<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>

◇◇◇

<TLN: POV change>

Phew, I managed to get out without being found out. To think that that little oni had become that strong. But, my curse is still in effect. For now I've got to get away from here, that body will be mine one of these days.
However, as I am right now, even just moving about is hard. I've got to latch on something, anything, doesn't matter even if it's a corpse of some animal in the forest...

After getting out of the gate, I'm swaying and moving toward the forest. I'm not getting anywhere at this rate, curse this body. Those brats should be busy dealing with the spoiled kid right about now, they won't turn their attention on me.
Besides, this body can't be hurt by anything but magic. That little oni's weapon skill was shocking, but that little flame isn't enough to finish me off.


BOOOM

What!? The ground behind me burst out all of a sudden!
Just what's going on! This place is dangerous. Hurry up, hurry up me.
The explosion continues as if going after me. Stop! Don't come! Don't coooooooooome!



◆◆◆



"Ta~ma~ya~" <TLN: Said when watching fireworks>

I'm looking at an explosion that can be seen from the mansion. Dave's body that looked like a haze was swallowed up in the explosion and dispersed into nothingness. Tama-chan, nice search. Good work out there.
I had prepared about a dozen of 『Wood Man-shaped Depth Charge <<Bombermine>>』 as a precaution to prevent the idiotic brat from escaping. The once leveled road burst open, turning completely bumpy. No, I didn't ignite all of them.

With that one, it should be every good-for-nothing now. Now then, all that's left is cleaning up.


The girls are all currently resting. Together with the  people who were forced to work as slaves. Taking into account that there might be remnants left. I'd feel bad interrogating them here, so I asked an elderly employee about the mansion's structure and went by myself to free the slaves.

I found the hidden shelves in the idiotic brat's room and collected bonds and transaction records there. There are documents pertaining bribery and slave trafficking that involve top people of guilds including Alchemy and Adventurer Guilds. We can probably use these to banish the corrupt bunch if we put them together with the documents Jamito had. Once we get back I'll ask Master or Eleanor-san to introduce me to guild personnels that can be trusted.

Also, asset forfeiture. To look for hidden safe boxes and stuff, I cast 『Search Metal』 in the entire mansion. This magic is a favorite of mine since it's so useful. On top of being able to increase its range and depth by putting in more mana, it can find every mineral, from iron, silver, gold and even mithril, it's bonkers. I still can't distinguish gems and minerals I'm not familiar with, however, it should be doable once I've learned more about it.

Oops, I digress. After a thorough search, I found two places with concentrations of gold and silver. They're probably the ordinary storehouse and the hidden storehouse. Okay, gotta get them all.

I found quite a lot of silver and gold coins in the ordinary storehouse, and stuffed them into my rucksacks. The problem is the hidden one. What the heck is this, that idiotic brat's hobby?
Gold (plated) skulls, gold (plated) bats, stuff of bad taste are lined up there. Fortunately, there's no cursed item among them, but I don't know if I want to take them back with me. Can't be helped, I'll just take the jewelry and nothing else. Selling those things would make people question their origin after all. But really, I don't get that brat's taste.









TLN: Other series' translation will resume this week

Previous Chapter

16-56. Sage's Tower (5)

 

Satou here. It's said that if you find one cockroach, there's 30 more in hiding, the worst part about roaches is that even after exterminating them with spray-type insecticide, their eggs will simply incubate and multiply once again, don't you think?
Looks like there's an even more annoying creature in another world though...



◇



『Private Pochi, Private Tama, I've got an emergency mission for you! Immediately go to the diner where we had our meal earlier and guard the drunk witch and apprentice who are fast asleep!』
『Aye aye sir~』
『Roger nanodesu!』

I used space magic [Tactic Talk] to ask Pochi and Tama to protect them from the bunch who were using [Vampire Mosquito] to spread curse.

I thought of sending Tama and Pochi to guard Miko Maiya at the temple since that one seems safer, but considering the place, they'd likely get treated as trespassers, so I had them go to the diner instead.
Well, the two shouldn't get in danger unless a demon lord class foe appeared, it should be fine.

『Master, Karina said she wants to come along too nodesu.』
『Got it. She can come with you, but tell her not to overdo it okay.』
『Yes nanodesu.』
『Gotcha~』

After confirming on the Map that their luminous dots were heading to the diner, I rushed to Karion Main Temple with Liza.
The miko's dot that was displayed on the Radar disappeared just now.

"Y-you're the person who came for the trial--"
"Where's Miko Maiya?"

I met with a familiar looking priest and immediately threw him a question, omitting greeting.

"Miko Maiya? She went out on a carriage to pay a visit to the nursing home just now."

Map Search--there's only four carriages that belong to Karion Main Temple, one of them has stopped at the temple's side gate.
All other carriages are located quite far from here, probably unrelated.

"Let's go Liza."
"Yes, Master!"

I thanked the priest for telling us with a gesture and headed to the side gate.
Looking at the situation there with space magic [Clairvoyance], the coachman and the horse have lost their heads, with blood gushing out.
Looking inside the carriage, although therea are traces of it having been roughed up, Miko Maiya's body isn't anywhere to be found.

A dozen of seconds later, we arrived at the location ourselves.

"Master, I shall keep a look out on the surroundings."
"Thanks."

The seat still feels a bit warm.

Triangular glasses that Miko Maiya used in her cosplay earlier are lying inside the carriage.
She must have been taken away with teleportation magic.

However, Miko Maiya is not present in the surrounding maps.

Your average space magicians shouldn't be able to teleport too far.
The plain-faced reincarnated person who teleported Pochi from Seryuu city to Weasel Empire back then is currently enjoying her fake married life with tactician Touya in their house at Sage Empire, at least that's what my Map says.

Suddenly, two red dots appeared on Map.

"Master, the coachman and his horse have got up."

Liza who was standing watch outside the carriage reported.

They turned into undead even though there's no Soul Magic practitioner here?
And it's too quick for it to be a natural occurrence.

According to Map info, they've turned into Zombies.
Confirming their details, there's nothing especially of note about them.

"You can beat them."
"Acknowledged."

Taking a side glance as Liza skillfully dealt with them, I resumed my investigation inside the carriage.

--There's something odd.

After changing my vision to Miasma Sight, miasma that's far thicker than normal comes into view.
Miasma that's usually only drifting around like thick fog and haze is weirdly wriggling about. Like a whirlpool.

The center of the whirlpool appears to be the carriage.

Nothing.

There's nothing in both my normal vision and Miasma Sight's vision.

However--.

"--Too fishy."

I abruptly reach out to the empty space--the center of the whirlpool.
I could feel something on my fingertips.

It's the same sensation like when I'm breaking walls of sub-space created with barrier and space magic.

And with the same knack I used to break barrier--I tore it open.

A suspicious space of jet black whirlpool of darkness unfolded beyond a crack in front of my eyes.
At times, dark red lights and lightnings run through it.

Agonized faces of people submerge and resurface on the whirlpools.
Feel like I'd get cursed just by looking at them.

I'd prefer not to go into this if possible.

"I shall accompany you master."

Liza showed up next to me and declared so with a gallant look on her face.
Un, looks like I've got no choice but to go here.

"--Let's go Liza."
"Acknowledged."

I steeled myself and jumped into the sub-space with Liza.

I'm not good with... horror, you know.


<TLN: If you're reading this novel at any other site than Sousetsuka .com you might be reading an unedited, uncorrected version of the novel.>
◇



"--Realm of the Dead?"

The Map's name here is displayed as [Realm of the Dead].
If memories serve me right, it's a place where intangible-types like Ghosts and Wraiths hide themselves during daylight, there should be research about it written somewhere.

I execute [All Map Exploration] from the magic list.

No change on the Map.

[This space has no Map] is displayed on my Log.
This looks to be the same as the space created with shadow magic [Shadow Portal] and [Shadow Jail].

"Master, it seems being in this place constantly gnaws into your body. Please take care."

Liza whose body was glowing red gave me a warning.
Looks like she's covered herself in Mana Armor.

"Liza, if it's too hard on your body, you can use the life-support system of the Golden Armor, okay."
"Thank you very much. However, this much is of no problem."

Liza, so valiant.

"Then, let's go--"

This place has no Map, however [All Map Exploration] managed to locate monsters and people here.
We're heading toward the location where Miko Maiya who has [Curse] and [Fainted] conditions on her is at.



◇



"They were not really that strong."
"You're right."

We encountered some Ghost Ships and Wraiths along the way, but Liza beat them all in one hit without even going all out.

"--Whoa, Liza, stop. The place changed again. Let's go over there."
"Understood. This Realm of the Dead does not seem to be a straightforward place, does it."

Location information in this space seems to be unstable, we could suddenly get whisked away to separate places were we moving separately, thus in order to move in Realm of the Dead, Liza's Powered Exoskeleton unit finally gets its chance to shine.
It's an equipment I developed along with Arisa's Wand Warship, but it hasn't seen much use outside her sparring bouts with the black dragon, so we're putting it to use here with no people around.

It can fly with the gravity control mechanism of Darkness Crystal, and it seems usable in this place no problem.
Well, I could have just created a short cut with space magic, but since there's no particularly dangerous enemies around, we're heading there by flying for Liza's exosuit flight test.

"Master, please take a look at that."

After advancing for a while, we come across a tree with lots of dark red cocoons stuck on it.
Its branches and trunks have so many bends and twists, feels like your mind would destabilize just by looking at it.

"Looks like we've arrived at our destination."
"There is a lot of cocoon-like things, is Miko Maiya confined in one of them?"
"Yep, it seems so."

I light Miko Maiya's pseudo-cocoon with light magic, and  pluck it with [Magic Hand].
When the dark red fibers got torn off, a face appeared on the twisted tree, then it screamed out loud.

According to AR readings, it's an undead monster called [Wailing Tree (Banshee Wood)].
I knew that it was a monster from the Radar's red dot though.

"Is it all right if we kill it?"
"Yea, no problem, but let's pluck out all the cocoons first."

There are other captured people inside those cocoons too.
I pluck all the pseudo-cocoons with [Magic Hand] from the tree, and let Liza handle the Banshee Wood.

All the people captured inside the pseudo-cocoons have the [Oracle] skill.
Half of them have [Cursed] state, while the other half are [Vampires], of which two are [Vampire Lords].
Moreover, these vampires' Occupations are that which should have been their natural enemy--Miko and Priests.

--Don't tell me.

No, there's no need to guess, they must be Miko and Priests that have been turned into Vampires.

I put all the people who have been turned into vampires in a locked sub-space I own, and cleanse the rest off their Curse with advanced spell of light magic [Divine Brilliant Purification].
It'd be bad if the unstable ground broke off, so I narrowed down the purification range as much as possible.

For now, I'll shelter these purified people in another sub-space separate from the vampires'.

"Master, would you like to collect Banshee Wood's materials in addition to the magic core?"

Liza asked me while presenting a huge magic core.

"Right then--Let's put a booby trap in it."

Whether they get caught in the trap or not, finding out the people who come here to collect the tree would be a good harvest.



◇



"--What, someone beat the Banshee Wood!"

Right when I was going to leave Realm of the Dead with Liza, I could hear the begrudging voice of an old man at the opposite side of the floating Banshee Wood behind us.

...He got here quick.

The booby trap I've set up with great pains is rendered meaningless now.
The old man screamed while I was wallowing in the feeling of wasted effort for a bit.

"Uoo, wha--what is this black mucus?"

I thought he was caught in the booby trap, but it's not that.
Black slime-like string-shaped stuff coiled around the bald old man.

"You can't escape from Tama~?"

A familiar face showed up from below the old man's feet.

"Tama."
"Master~? And Liza, halo halo~?"

Tama waved at us energetically.
Looks like she was chasing the old man here.
Pochi and Lady Karina are currently standing watch around the witch and the apprentice.

That means this old man is one of the ringleaders behind the [Vampirification] curse terror?

"Daaaamn you! Are you guys Saga Empire bunch who came here to foil our plan? Or are you destruction-inclined demon lord believers, here to snatch the plan off our hands?"

--Huh?

I thought he was related to the dark side of Saga Empire, not the case it seems.
According to AR readings, he belongs to an unfamiliar organization called [Heart of Gold].

There sure is a lot more suspicious secret societies than I thought in this world.

"Now that it's come to this--Open!"

The old man shouted then a black hole appeared beside him. It's Item Box.
The old man thrust his hand inside and take out a purple sphere from inside it.

--Crisis Perception.

I moved next to the old man with Flash Drive and snatched away that sphere.
Since the Crisis Perception rang even louder then, I stored the sphere into my Storage.

"O summoning gem! I offer you my life to bring a demon that symbolizes ruin to this land! Destroy my enemies in exchange of my soul!"

The old man tried to throw the sphere down, but he realized that the [Purple Sphere] on his hand was absent, and looked around at the surroundings in panic.

"Give it back! That's my treasure comrade Don-dono stole along with the egg of 『Vampirification』 from a research institute abroad!"

--So it's a stolen good.

I'll use the mind magic [Detect Lie] that I used to interrogate the jar man back then and interrogate this old man.

"Which research institute did you steal it from?"
"...Dunno."

--Truth.

"Where is this Don person?"
"Dunno."

--Truth.

Present location, unknown.

"Then how do you meet this Don person?"
"Dunno."

--Lie.

He knows how to meet the guy huh.

"Do you want me to hand you over to the temple for abducting 『Oracle Miko』 as well as attempted murder?"

I asked him while using a bit of Pressure.
He looks like he's about to faint, but it doesn't look like he's going to answer.

"Torture~?"

With a paint brush in one hand, Tama is making a wriggling hand gesture.

"Hmph, I wouldn't be a leader of the 『Heart of Gold』 who seeks eternal life if mere tortures would break me!"

--Oh ho?

"By eternal life, you mean like elves?"
"Like men could become fairies! Our goal is the evolution to a being of eternal life such as 『Undead Magic King (Lich)』 and 『No Life King』!"

Is that even an evolution?

Well whatever--.

"Tama, do it."
"Aye aye sir~"

I don't feel like listening to eerie laughs and screams of an old man anymore, so I leave the torture to Tama and head back to give treatment to Miko Maiya.



◇



"--You're?"
"Hero Nanashi of Shiga Kingdom."

While giving nutritious drinks to the debilitated Miko Maiya and the others, I asked her how they got kidnapped.

Every one of them was attacked and abducted by undead when they went outside their respective temple.
Since the old man Tama caught earlier could use Soul Magic, it must be his doings.

They were confined inside those cocoon-like things immediately after, so none even knew that they were being held in Realm of the Dead.

Ordinarily, these miko and priests shouldn't get attacked by undead because they had holy marks, so they told me while sounding frustrated.
Miko besides Miko Maiya and Heraruon Temple's miko were all captured from the neighboring countries.

Since I had every one of those countries' Map already, I sent each of them back to theirs with Unit Arrangement and space magic.
I've put markers on them and put them together in the same group beforehand.

Next, the former miko and former priests who have turned into vampires were also attacked and abducted by undead when they went out of their respective temple.
Additionally, since the number of people who tried to commit suicide kept increasing among them, they have been restrained.

About half of them gave up trying to commit suicide after I told them that there might be a way to turn them back thanks to the research on [Denying the irreversibility of the transformation from living being into undead] at the Sage's Tower.
I should investigate whether the possibility is truly there at least, before a victim appeared among them.
Once we know that it's possible, it might be a good idea to let them handle the rest of investigation to turn them back.

--Oh right.

I should check on the Vampire Mosquito and the cursed rat I caught along with those mosquito before going back.

The Vampire Mosquito have all died out, while the rat has turned into Vampire Rat.
There's no mistaking it, you turn into vampire after the curse has progressed enough.

--This is bad.

I should exterminate them ahead of time.







Previous Chapter