Sousetsuka

Chapter 310 Strongest Sage, Suggests Advice

 

"That was a good practice. Is that illusion magic an original work?"

"It is, yes. At first we were using rocks and stuff as targets, but once we started training with discovering targets first... I thought that kind of magic would be nice, so I made it. What do you think?"

"Ah. It's pretty good... Is there any reason why the illusions are slower than demons though?"

"That one's... Because of our lack of expertise. We'd like it to be as fast as the real demons, but it's quite difficult to get right..."

Meirad showed me one of the magically augmented lumps of metal.
There are traces of trials and errors from attempts to raise its speed on it.

True, magic that enable high speed long distance, and complex movements are hard.
It's close to the territory of archers' 『Homing Wired Enchant』 even.

Demons aren't as fast as an arrow, so that much precise control is unneeded... but the ability to activate augment magic remotely means a pretty complex spell formula.
Not that you can't learn it from the Second Academy textbooks, but you need to be pretty skilled to construct one.

As I was thinking that, Ruli fetched a pen and a piece of paper before drawing a magic circle on it.

"Err... How about you do this part, like this? I'm sure it'd at least get as fast as flying demons!"

Ruli presented a revised version of the magic circle augmented on the lump of metal.
The part that governs motion has been rearranged, greatly raising its speed.
That'll afford a speed rivaling that of a demon's flight indeed.

"That's a good formula... You'd gain more speed with it yeah."

"Ah, creating a high speed motion spell formula on the spur of the moment just like that...  I've heard about how great Ruli-san is from augmenters... and it really shows..."

"It's Mathi-kun that's amazing! I was taught by Mathi-kun himself, so, you know!"

Ruli puffed out her chest.
...Magic circles aren't so simple that you could get to this point just from my teaching though.

Ruli uses any free time she has to think up ways to construct magic circles and carry out experiments.
Her efforts have paid off in the form of her ability to make magic circles like this.
But... It might be not be practical to employ this magic circle.

"How long should we maintain this magic circle?"

"Umm... Cast time is around 40 seconds at most, so 40 seconds it is!"

"I figured it would take that long."

You don't have to always beat the demon targets in a practice.
In the battle pattern written on the textbook, what's most important is to create a situation where you restrain the demon flying in the air where you can shoot at it all you want.
Nevertheless, 40 seconds are needed.

Ruli's magic circle consumes a lot of mana in exchange for speed.
It's an inescapable trade off if you want speed with augment magic... they'd need some pretty big magic stones to hold 40 seconds with that magic circle.

Even if they've been getting a lot of magic stones from dungeon after power up... Obtaining valuable large magic stones for training would be tough.
The magic stones embedded in lumps of metal for the illusion magic are quite big themselves... but even then, it would last less than 10 seconds at their size.

"Ah... Right there's not enough mana for 40 seconds... I guess bigger magic stones aren't really a feasible option?"

"Yes. We can get our hands on magic stones that are the size we have now from the school dungeon... But any bigger than these are strategic resources so..."

"Then how about you do it like... Let's add more mana sources!"

Ruli added a new magic circle.
A magic circle to draw power from three magic stones in addition to the main one where the spell formula is.

With this they can maintain 40 seconds operating time even without changing the quality of magic stones.
<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.>
"...This will work right?"

Ruli asked me after uniting the magic circles.
She's already confident enough when it involves normal magic circles... But we rarely ever use magic circles that need more than two magic stones in real combat after all.
Even Ruli isn't that experienced in that.

"I think it will work no problem. Nice formula."

Ruli's formula isn't that efficient in term of mana consumption.
It can probably be squeezed down a bit more by revising the formula.

But this formula has been made to be really easy to create in exchange for better efficiency.
It would turn out more complex otherwise.

Even Second Academy would have only been able to create and maintain one or two at most if that were the case.
That may be fine for real combat, but for training, magic circles that you can reliably construct are better than the more efficient ones.
I don't know if she had all those in mind when she made it though.

"Yay! I got Mathi-kun to praise me! ...Kind of feel like I could make it more efficient and decrease the magic stones though..."

"We can easily procure four magic stones no problem! Thank you very much!"

Meirad copied the magic circles as he said that.
After confirming that... The time for meeting drew near.

"That's all the advice I can give you for now. It's about time we head to the meeting place."

"Thank you very much!　...I'll pull all-nighters to quickly learn these magic circles and the [Spatial Mana Slow]!"

Meirad saluted me and Ruli.

"You better not, staying up all night isn't actually good efficiency-wise. Occasional sessions got its merits for practicing long expeditions, but it's gonna have the opposite effect if your goal is to learn new things."

"I understand!"

Afterward we headed to the meeting place to check the rest of the documents.

From what I've seen in their training, the Second Academy units are diverging from ordinary army in a good way.
Ordinary army would have uniform weapons and move in unison as determined by common tactics.
However, these Second Academy units achieve unity while employing their own unique tactics.

That's exactly what's written on my textbooks.
But executing it in reality is quite difficult.

Meirad and the students are growing at twice the rate I originally anticipated.
They will definitely become stronger if they just keep at it.





Previous Chapter

Chapter 79 Build Up! Silvery Piece

 

I went around dumping drop items into the dimensional storage. And now time to help fetching the girls' shares.


Tereretettette~♪ Fighter, Samurai, Genin leveled up.
Tettere~♪ Fighter reached max level.
Tettere~♪ Fourth Class liberated.
Tettere~♪ Katana Art leveled up.
Tettere~♪ Learned a new Weapon Skill.
Tereretettette~♪ Kagura leveled up.
Tereretettette~♪ Futsuno leveled up.
Tereretettette~♪ Mitama leveled up.
Trerete~te~tentettere♪ Tama-chan leveled up.

Funua!?
Fighter hit a level cap!? It's currently level 30. Do I just not have the aptitude or do I need to do something to break the limit. I'll ask everyone about it during dinner.
Even with the Fourth Class liberation, this level cap hurt...
As for weapon skill... Eeeeh. Can I even use this?

Here's what's become of Nobusada

Name: Nobusada Izumi - Age: 15 - Gender: Male - Race: General Human?
Class: Fighter Lv30 (max) - Samurai Lv16 - Genin Lv16 - None
State: Healthy
Title: 【True Moss Ball Killer】
HP：434/699 -　MP：4,194,515/4,194,575

【Class】
Otherworlder Lv23 - Fighter Lv30 (up!) - Fist Fighter Lv10 - Magic Swordsman Lv8 - Genin Lv16 (up!) - Samurai Lv16 (up!) - Monk Lv10 - Magician Lv10 - Conjurer Lv10 - Illusionist Lv12 - Alchemist Lv12 - Time Mage Lv5 - Thief Lv 10 - Hunter Lv10 - Beast Tamer Lv10 - Merchant Lv10 - Slave Trader Lv1 - Farmer Lv10 - Househusband Lv10 - Carpenter Lv1 - Mason Lv1

【Skill】
Ethania Common Language - Differing Soul Telepathy Lv3 - Magic Modification Lv3 - Composite Magic Lv3 - Parallel Cast Lv3 (up!) - Housework Lv5 - Farming Lv3 - Swordsmanship Lv3 - Katana Art Lv2 (up!) - Grappling Lv3 - Two-handed Spear Lv2 - Throwing Lv3 - Body Reinforcement Lv2 - Mana Clad Lv3 - Evasion Lv3 - Parry Lv3 - Intuition Lv2 - Robust Lv1 - Sacred Magic Lv4 - Dark Magic Lv2 - Gravity Magic Lv2 - Time Space Magic Lv2 - Elemental Magic Aptitude Lv5 - Buff Magic Lv1 - Life Magic - Disguise Lv3 - Alchemy Lv3 - Processing Techniques (Wood - Stone) - Resist Poison Lv1 - Resist Paralysis Lv1 - Resist Confusion Lv1 - Resist Instant-Death Lv2 (up!)

【Unique Skill】
Discerning Magic Eyes Lv5 - Levellit's Divine Protection (Mid)

【Class Skill】
Provocation - Treasure Hunter - Chakra - Treatment - Hawk Eye - Mind's Eye (new!) - Seclusion (new!)

【Contractor】
Mitama, Futsuno, Kagura, Sefirot

【Tamed Monster】
Tama-chan

For now let's set my main class as Samurai, then Fist Fighter, Monk and Otherworlder. Since I got weapon skills from it and all, surely I have the aptitude for the class. I do, right? I'll keep changing up second and third, trying out other classes. It's a beehive plan of collecting half-baked guns. The last one is for raising my maximum mana. Might as well aim high now that it's gotten this far.

I got Class Skills from Samurai and Genin. They're pretty good stuff methink.

『Mind's Eye』
Enhance concentration in extreme situations, enabling one to see all incoming blades and projectiles.

『Seclusion』
Erase presence to make it harder getting detected. Gives bonus improvements to tracking, stealth and disguise skills.

<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.>

And for weapon skill, I got myself some really problematic one.

Weapon Skill 『Vibration Blade - Silver Light』
Weapon skill said to have been coined by Gouemon, a member of a legendary group of thief from time long gone. Turn blade into a silvery slash that cuts target apart. Being a skill of a thief, it raises item drop rate for reason unknown.

...

.....

Wonder if this is from the 'cut something worthless' man, or the man in kabuki clothing.
Anyway, it's a weapon skill employed by a criminal, is that alright??
It sounds soo usable too, would be a waste to not use it in public. There's already a precedent with 『Vibration Blade - Destruction』, so this is confounding...

"...Nobu! You okay?"

"Nobu-kun, didcha hurt yourself anywhere!?"

"Milord, please do not push yourself too hard!"

Poyon! Poyon!

Ah, they thought I was hurt since I fell silent thinking about my weapon skills.

"Aa, I'm fine. I just hurt myself a bit due to too much enthusiasm. Since we're all drenched and all now, let's just hurry and set up camp. I saw something like a cave over there, let's use it."

"Fumu, that is fine. Milord, tonight will be a sermon time for you to reflect on your recklessness."

The girls nodded at Kagura-san's word. Huh? No one's on my side. Tohohon.



Afterward, everyone hurriedly gathered the soul stones from the frogs they beat.
I put Space Camouflage to smoothen the process cuz I don't wanna anymore fight in this state!

We arrived at a bona fide cave. Length until a dead end is about 30 meters. As a precaution to the possibility of enemy spawning, I put up stone walls around the entrance to segregate kitchen, living room and bathroom. Of course each has a gap to let one person pass. The me right now can't create doors unfortunately, but I will make it happen someday. My aim, instant single-family house!

And that me is currently at my wits' end dealing with rice grain.

The dropped one was unexpectedly in husked state. Not that it's a bad thing in itself, what's bad is me who didn't anticipate Mitama wanting to eat it tonight. She made that face when I told her that the rice needed to be cleaned up after getting milled.

"...Can't I?"

Her ears and tail flopped down. I will not stand to see Mitama looking so dejected. And thus here I am now after telling her that it can be done with some time.
At first I planned to ask a craftsman to make a large-scale rice milling machine based on one exhibited in a cultural historical museum I saw in my primary school days, but it seems I can't afford that now.

Which means, I just got to do something with my surplus mana.
I'm using wind magic. I'll try a super low powered version of Wind Storm. The image is that of a rice mill. First, I need to separate the husks. Of course, I'll pick up the fallen husks to be used as fertilizer. I've already collected the rice mould. Gonna experiments with stuff later.

Shuon, shuin shuin shuin

First I'll test out with about 10 grains to prevent it getting blown off. U, mu, this requires quite some mad concentration power. Mix of rice bran and rice husks make for good fertilizer. Rice bran pickle? That's granny's favorite, we're good for now.

"Nobu-kun. I'm gonna take a bath ahead."

"Ah, yes."

PAAAAAAAN

Earghh! It pop off, the rice pop and got blown off. Eye, my eyeeeeeeeeeee.

The bursting rice assaulted me. This is the result of losing focus for a bit. Umu, guess it's spinning too fast. Gotta make it slower, calmer... yeah. I'm groping in the dark while hoping to grasp the knack asap.






One hour of trials and errors later. Just as Futsuno-san was done with the bath and Mitama got in, I completed it.

I did it! I made it! This is it, magic revolution!!

Rice milling magic 『Rice Miller』 and rice cleaning magic 『Rice Branner』! No naming sense you say? Yeah I know.
It only takes 30 minutes to turn a whole sack into white rice. The mana poured into it reaches surprising 30,000!! What a wasteful amount. If people from Mage Guild were to hear this, they would fall down in shock for sure. Well, it's a prototype magic after all, I plan to keep revising it.


And! I also have this!!
It's finally time for introduction. I went to Boss-san place to order it right after I ate paella at Donur-san's inn, and now it's time for it to shine.

Behold! This lustrous black lump of iron! The great iron pot-chan is here to stay!!

The wood lid is my creation, yes.
I dump rice and water inside and then let it to soak in for 30 minutes.

Thud, thud, I took out and set up a simple stove, [Magic Soul Stove] along with two Soul Stones. I believe it's the most widespread magic tool for cooking there is. The best item to get for housewives and your house adventurers. And what's more, this 『Magic Soul Stove』 goes for only 980 mani!! Buy it now and get a set of 10 Soul Stones free. Grab your phone now! And please make sure to not call the wrong number in the middle of the night.

Whoops, 30 minutes have passed while I'm playing midnight tv shopping channel.

Well then, let's ignite the 『Magic Soul Stove』.

And now for the side dishes. That said I've decided on our side dishes already, no preparation needed. Our menu today is grilled meat. The charcoal grilled one complete with earthen brazier and wire mesh. I can never forget the taste of cooked white rice wrapped in grilled meat. I still don't have soy sauce, but I've made my special flavoring made from a mix of salt and meat soup from stuff I've made so far. I'll be sure to make soy sauce and miso eventually.

Okay, what to do now that I'm done preparing.
Ah, yeah I need to do additional testing with dimensional storage. Time delay, stop, and acceleration, need those, urgently. Done right, I could show off my specialty like fermentations and stuff.

After repeatedly creating and disposing those spaces, I managed to create an additional space and slightly increased the capacity. Let's do some experiments on that new one.
The opposite of delay. Like, aging... I fetched a flask (made of stone with a cork) with peach juice inside, then apple, and grape. Then I put the three in the experimental space. One year would have elapsed inside in one hour outside if it's a success. Let's see how it goes. I'm really looking forward to it.

Ooh, the pot is looking good.


Bubbling on and on. I ain't gonna stop hitting even with those tears. I mean, don't take off the lid even if the baby cries.
<TLN: Apparently an old idiom about cooking rice?>

It's turning out into splendid silvery white rice!!




Previous Chapter

11



"What'd you say!"

"Such foolishness."

"Why would you do such a sacrilegious act!"

"Adventurer Lecan, on what authority do you dare to forbid god's grace that is the sacred act of <Recovery>."

"Because I taught Eda her <Recovery>, she's still inexperienced at it."

"Eh"

"Wha"

The room immediately fell silent.

"Adventurer Lecan. Do you mean to say that you, an adventurer, has taught adventurer Eda, the god-given art of <Recovery>?"

"That's right."

Priest Casis is glaring at Lecan with a look of contempt, priest Pajill is still shutting his eyes like usual. The other three started to discuss among themselves noisily.

The wrinkles on priest Casis's face gradually deepened before he eventually exploded.

"I've had enough with all these farces! We have identified that the young girl, Eda, may have been graciously blessed with the extreme privilege of bearing the art of <Recovery> by the great god Ceres. Prove us that, right away! That's the only thing needed done!"

Lecan responded with a quiet voice.

"Priest Casis."

"What!"

"We don't mind proving Eda's <Recovery>. But can you prove that her <Recovery> is a blessing from god Ceres?"

"W-what!"

"Eda."

"Yes."

"Have you ever visited Ceres Temple?"

"Nope, never."

"Have you ever prayed to god Ceres?"

"Nope, never."

"Did you feel the presence of god Ceres when you acquired <Recovery>?"

"Nah. Not really."

"Do you call for god Ceres's name when you cast <Recovery>?"

"I don't."

They practiced this exchange many times over before coming here.

"Did you hear that, priest Casis. God Ceres has nothing to do with Eda usage and attainment of <Recovery>."

"Fu, fufu, fufufufuu. And here I was wondering what you are going to say. God's graces are vast. Doesn't matter whether you lowly people realize it or not, the great divine spirit of great god Ceres permeates in all creations. Even if Eda herself isn't aware, the dwelling of <Recovery> in her is surely an act of god Ceres."

"I don't know what you're going on about, so let me get this straight. You're saying that all <Recovery> in this world is the blessing of god Ceres, are you not."

"Wha"

"All <Recovery> employed by every spellcasters out there is the blessing of god Ceres, <Recovery> by way of other gods' blessings do not exist in this world, is that the opinion held by Ceres Temple of Vouka Town then."

"N-nonsense. I never said that!"

"Then priest Casis, you're saying that mages who learned the use of <Recovery> without gods' blessings do not exist in this world, correct?"

"I don't want to talk about that."

"Then you admit that there exist <Recovery> that does not come from god Ceres' blessing."

Sounds of clenching teeth could be heard.
<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.>
"I do."

"Well then, let's get back to about whether Eda can use <Recovery> or not. This has to be shown to be believed."

"Oh, that's it."

"We just have to see it."

"I can't believe that it could heal grave injuries instantaneously like that man said."

"But the blood sticking to his clothes didn't match the scar at all."

"It reeks of fraud, in my opinion."

"I mean, doing that without preliminary casting. There's no way that could have healed serious injuries."

"Quiet!"

Priest Casis silenced the three priests who suddenly got all excited.

"Adventurer Eda. You will show us <Recovery> now, won't you?"

"Lecan will answer that."

"Oh we'll show you, mine that is."

"What. Don't mess with me you!"

"Priest Casis. Weren't you listening to what I said?"

"W-what?"

"I taught Eda <Recovery>. She's still inexperienced. Hence I have prohibited her from using it in front of others. Of course I wouldn't let her do the thing I forbade her here."

"What. Say that again you!"

This was when Priest Pajill threw a question for the first time.

"Adventurer Lecan. Tell us. Why would you prohibit <Recovery> an art of virtue that heals people wounds, under the pretext of inexperience."

"It's for the sake of those injured and for Eda herself. She hasn't mastered the spell enough nor has her mind matured enough. She would be stunned to see blood and may even fail the casting. Were that happen, the wounded would be dispirited, it would waste time that could be used to treat the wound instead. Eda would get discouraged by that, turning it into an obstacle in her path to master <Recovery>. Hence the prohibition."

"Fumu."

After reacting ambiguously to it, priest Pajill shut his eyes once again.

"What quibbles! Whatever, just have Eda use <Recovery>!"

"And what are you gonna do if she failed?"

"Whaaat"

"By pressing her to use it here, she may fail at it due to the pressure. And then she may lose the ability to ever cast it again. Do you intend to erase one <Recovery> user off this world, priest Casis."

"W-wha"

"Also think this. What if I make her fail at it on purpose, what then?"

This time, all other priests were at a loss for word, not only priest Casis.

After a while, priest Casis spoke in an awfully low voice.

"What do you mean by that, Lecan."

"It's a common knowledge that every temple is racing to secure even one additional mid-rank or higher <Recovery> user to further authority amongst themselves. If I don't like the idea of having my pupil shackled, I could order Eda to fail. And that would be the end of it being god's blessing or something."

The priests were furious when they heard Lecan. Every one of them are looking at him like he murdered their parents.

"Lecan, just how far are you planning to vilify our great god."

"It's the other way around, priest Casis. We're here because we respect great god Ceres. I'm offering to show my <Recovery> as a master of an inexperienced pupil precisely because I don't want to disrespect great god Ceres."

Priest Casis is glaring really hard at Lecan.

"Priest Casis."

"What."

A young priest called out to him, yet priest Casis replied back with his eyes still glaring at Lecan.

"Let's let adventurer Lecan demonstrate for us for now. We can just proceed with what we have then."

Priest Casis fell silent. Then after quite some time, he squeezed out a low raspy voice.

"Do it then."

(We finally got to this point.)






Previous Chapter

Chapter 309 Strongest Sage, Observes Combat Training

 

"Can you show me how you guys usually go about your training?"

"Yes! ...We have more than 10 kinds of training regimes, which one do you like to see?"

"The closest one to the real combat."

I'd have liked to check out all their training regimes, but we don't have that much time.
Which means, first I need to see their practical training.

As results from basic training and stuff can be seen in practical training.

"Understood!　...Prepare the anti-demon training regime! Assume Type-A, take up the fourth mobile formation! Spread out!"

""""YES SIR!""""

Right as Meirad gave the order, the Second Academy students nearby immediately move out and took up a formation.
It only took them less than five seconds to form up the formation.

"Wonderful coordination."

"Yes. After all, this unit is the elite of the elite even in Second Academy."

Meirad checked up the formation as he said that.

The formation is merely them forming four lines.
Mobile formation isn't really suited for combat.

This is... I see they're working under the assumption that they would encounter demons while on the move.
As it's not a guarantee that they will always be in battle formation when a demon appears.
From mobile formation, to swiftly switching into combat formation, this training probably covers those.
<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.>
"Begin the practice!"

With that, Second Academy Students run off all at once.
Their speed is around 25 km/h... The speed Second Academy students can maintain while using the lowest amount of mana possible.
Meanwhile... Students who didn't get in the formation fetched lumps of metal embedded with magic stones, and augmented those with unfamiliar magic.

"...Illusion magic huh."

That spell formula is a type of illusion magic.
It's probably an original magic intended for training.

Though their augmenting speed isn't that fast, they're also including movement magic in it.
It's of a moderate quality as a moving target for practice.
To think they would come up with such usage... Writing ways to create original magic in Second Academy textbooks was worth the effort.

As I thought that... The students threw the illusion-augmented lumps of metal high above.
The thrown metal flew far away with the movement magic.

...A few seconds later.
When a lump of metal that had flown off came back, one of the students who had been running around the schoolyard in circle shouted sharply.

"Demon sighted! At 7 o'clock, distance 500 meters."

"Affirmative! All hands, get into combat formation and begin suppression!"

Meirad pointed at the lump of metal as he said that.
The magic augmented on the lump of metal was already active, showing an illusion of demon.

Volleys of arrows augmented with restraining magic shot off toward that illusions.
All of them have been augmented with abnormal status magic.

"7 abnormal status magic arrows, direct hit! Begin restraining!"

Meirad shouted that, confirming the hit.

"Unit 2 and unit 3, switch to attack magic!"

"Affirmative!"

Following Meirad's command, part of the students switched from augmenting restraining magic to attack magic.
Some students also started unleashing attack magic besides shooting arrows.

...What a neat cooperation.
Swiftly taking attack formation after discovering an enemy, shooting restraining magic, then putting in damaging magic once the enemy stopped moving.
Sounds easy, but pulling off this tactics perfectly is actually really hard.

A lesser demon would have long been dead with this.

"Suppressed the virtual enemy! Give me status report on our current forces!"

Meirad declared that when the suppression practice was over.
Then the students started giving him a lowdown on the number of arrows shot, remaining mana and such.
This training must also cover how to stay on top form for the next encounter with demons.

Meirad asked me once they were done reporting.

"The one set just now... is the training to deal with demons when our whole units are present. Since in reality, all members won't necessarily be present always, we've also been doing training to buy time with fewer people."

I see.
How do I say it... It's quite wholesome.
They got this far in that short amount of time huh.




Previous Chapter

17-29. Purple Hell

 

※ Arisa's point of view


"Welcome back."

I turned around as Mia said that and saw Master there.

"Huh? Welcome back, Master."

Master who had gone to where god Tenion was together with some pompous nymph this morning has returned it seems.
I was gonna check on documents for pressing matters in Master's workroom, but that seems unnecessary now.

"That was fast."
"Yeah, they only needed me for model making today."

Guhehe, Master's model making. I'm intrigued.
Wonder if god Tenion would give me Master's 3D model data if I asked through Sera?
I'm super sure there's a huge demand for Master's life-sized figures.



Pochi came out of the mirror gate in the capital mansion's office room connected to the Solitary Island Palace.

"Welcome back, nanodesu."

Whoa, Tama and Pochi also got back early--huh wait? Pochi was faster than Tama today eh.

Looking at Tama, she's bending over, ruminating over something, "Nyu nyu nyu?"

That girl does that either when she's wondering what today's lunch and dinner will be or coming up with a new idea for her painting, or when she's detecting an omen of incoming powerful enemies or disasters, so it's hard to say which one.
Maybe I should check around with space magic a bit.

"Here."

As Mia murmured, an area in the capital flashed on my mind, informing me of a fiendish being present there.
This must be the effect of Unique Skill [Sanctuary Guard] loaned to Mia from god Urion.

I connect everyone through space magic [Tactical Talk]

『This is bad!』

Lulu's voice could be heard across Tactical Talk.
She's supposed to be shopping in the marketplace along with Nana and Zena-tan today.

『Emergency so I report.』
『Demon god showed up!』

It's Nana and Zena-tan who were escorting her.
Looks like Mia detected Demon God.

So it seems like Demon God has gotten ahead of the pantheon.



◇



"Gegeh, it's the real thing."

At an open terrace of a coffee shop at the main street, there Demon God was gracefully sipping a cup of blue tea.
None of the purple little girls is in sight.

"Arisa, you girls take shelter at Solitary Island Palace."

Master stepped toward Demon God as he said that.

『Wait, Master!』

I called out to Master through Familiar Link but I couldn't get any response.
Looks like he's fully concentrating on Demon God.

I ask Tina-sama and the girls to help capital populace evacuate through Tactical Talk.

The usual Master would have taken people to sub-space capital himself even if we didn't do all that, but I don't want to put more burden on Master when he's up against an opponent of equal or possibly stronger than him, Demon God.

We've got to support him in any way we can.

"So quick of you. Have you made up your mind to become a part of me then?"
"That's not gonna happen. I'm here to ask you one thing."

Demon God puts the cup away and looks at Master.

"What do you plan on doing by assimilating me?"
"That huh. Lesser goods you may be, you're still me from a parallel world. My Soul Vessel should grow bigger by taking you in."

--Should?

He's trying to absorb Master for such a dubious reason?

I hold down my welling up anger and open gates to proceed with the evacuation.

"Once my Vessel gets bigger, it should then cover the last step I needed to arrive at true godhood."
"I've heard of that already. What I wanted to know is what you would do once you became a true god."

Demon God had a look like he didn't expect it when Master asked him that.

"Obviously. I shall liberate people of this planet from the rule of those foolish gods, to grant them freedom."

--Freedom?

So I guess the phrase [Liberty~] those demon lord adherents love to use originated from Demon God's ideology?

"I see, I understand your goal now. And, once you've abolished the seven pillar gods, what then? Would you go and eliminate the [Outsiders] threatening the people of this planet?"

Outsiders--The Endless, Invaders from a foreign world, World-Eroding Monsters.

According to what Master heard from gods, Demon God once went to challenge these [Outsiders] and came back in tatter.
Afterward, Dragon God destroyed the ringleaders, but the survivors took in the power of dragons and grew even stronger, they even managed to destroy the world once.

"Exactly. I shan't let them stage another come back. With me as a true god and my familiars furnished with true divine protections, we will exterminate those pest prowling in space."

Demon God announced in contempt.

A wave of anger leaking out of him manifested physically and created gust of winds, seizing me and the golden and silver members around in dread.

But that immediately receded.

Must be the effect of Liza-san's Unique Skill [Hero Heart].

"Now then, if you have no more regret, come to me. I loathe to mingle with lesser goods, but I cannot be picky here."

Demon God put back the cup on saucer.

That he's not even standing up is probably to flaunt just how above Master he is, but that carelessness will be his undoing.

Demon God's shadow wavered slightly, then a moment later, Master had been bound by that shadow.

Geez, did he really believe Master would get done in by the same attack twice?
He'd tear that shadow apart with his bare hands--huh?

"As expected of Demon God. Don't think you can assimilate me so easily though."

Wait hey, this isn't the time for bravado!
This should be the scene where you'd completely turn the table on Demon God and make him go all, "T-This can't be", in shock, shouldn't it?!

"Resist all you want. The moment you run away with that teleportation of yours, I shall annihilate this capital and along with it, your companions."
"Will it be that easy?"
"It will be. I see that you managed to swindle Authorities off those gods and gave those to your subordinates, but those are ultimately mere stopgaps. No matter how hastily you attempt to master those, those uncultivated Authorities only posses little power."

--Uncultivated?

Don't tell me, the reason why Demon God has been giving Authorities to reincarnated people is--.

"Ah well, guess I don't have many choices then, do I"
"Indeed. If you truly believe in your power, try to wrestle control from me inside."

"Wa-you can't! Master! Forget us and the capital, you--"
"<<SILENCE>>"

Demon God silenced me from giving advices to Master as I reflexively jumped out.

"Young girl who bears my Authorities. Companions who serve upon my otherworld self. I order you to stay silent until I have assimilated this man. I shall add you to my feuille one day."

A chill runs down my spine when I sense lust mixed in Demon God's glances.
Something that I have never felt from Master.

Apparently Demon God loves young girls.
That reminds me, he proclaimed himself as [Guardian of Little Girls] when we encountered him at Saga Empire.

But rather than a guardian, he feels more like an [Enemy of Little Girls.]



◇



『Arisa, we've finished taking capital populace to the shelter.』

Tina-sama's voice could be heard from Tactical Talk.

『Ooh, that was quick.』
『Sete used the City Core power to help with the evacuation.』
『Pretty good that king is.』
『It's also thanks to Hikaru-sama's persuasions.』

I see, Ancestor King's persuasive power huh.

『Arisa, we've taken up position. Black Dragon and Heavenly Dragon are coming soon as well.』

It's Liza-san this time.

Not sure if it's thanks to [Hermit Hide] Unique Skill loaned by god Tenion to Sera, or simply because Demon God does not perceive us as threats, Liza-san and the girls have successfully encircled him.

『OK! Operation Recapture Master, begin!』

We don't have much time left in reality.

Master is putting up some resistances himself, but he's just about to get sucked into a purple black hole-like thingy opened on Demon God's chest.

--[Never Give Up]
--[Never Give Up]
--[Never Give Up]
--[Never Give Up]

Four purple lights run over my body.

I don't know if Authorities loaned from Demon God could even be used to harm him.
It's an often used cliche.

--But!

I will take Master back!

"Aport Plunder"

Not sealing space magic off just because Master has teleport-type Unique Skill is a big mistake.
Taking advantage of Demon God's negligence, Master showed up next to me.

『Saint Prey』
『Aim and shoot!』

Bathed in Zena-tan's Unique Skill [Saint Prey], Demon God frowned unpleasantly, then right at the same time, a blue light blew away the spot where Demon God was, ground and building, into smithereens. It's Lulu's accelerated cannon.

I swallowed mana recovery potion and teleported away to a safety zone with Master and the girls.

A purple light that seemed to be Demon God's counterattack assaulted Lulu, but it got blocked by Nana's [Paladin Castle].

"Master, we're going on the offensive too!"

As I checked for my remaining mana, Master never answered me back.

I turned around in confusion and saw Master looking at me with a slightly melancholic look on his face.

Master thrust me away with his hand.

"--Master?"

Master opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, space was torn apart, a purple hand grabbed him and dragged him to the other side of the rift.

I tried to reopen the closed space with chantless magic to take Master back, but I could do nothing at all on Demon God's spell.
Moreover, even though I had been trying to activate Unique Skill without caring about getting turned into demon lord as a consequence, nothing happened.

The owner of those Authorities, Demon God, must have locked them.

Master disappeared into Demon God's body.

"Mazteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!"


<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.>
◇



Master was swallowed up.

My hands could never reach no matter how hard I struggled.

--This is a punishment.

A punishment to me who made the same mistake I laughed Demon God for.

"Danger!"

Tama shouted.

"Paladin Castle. Paladin Castle. Paladin Castle."
"Armor-san, please nanodesu!"
"""Phalanx System emergency activation!"""

Nana cast Unique Skills multiple times, Pochi and the girls activated the disposable defensive system, Phalanx, together.

A moment later, Demon God burst open from the inside.
The majority of rainbow colored lights headed toward the sky, but the shockwave produced by it blew away capital buildings, turning the royal castle into piles of rubbles.

Even triple Paladin Castles and multiple Phalanxes failed to block the shockwave.

I wipe away my tears with my hand and help defending with Hyper Deracinator.

This isn't time for self-deprecation.

I gotta do what I gotta do now!

"I will absolutely protect everyone Master hold dear."
"Yes Arisa. Combination is justice so I inform."

Nana emits a vermilion-colored light.

It's the light from [Paladin Castle] Unique Skill loaned to her by god Karion.
That light permeated into the multiple layers of defensive barrier and my Hyper Deracinator, combining them into one barrier.

"Combination complete--new defensive system Paladin Kingdom so I denominate."

The combined defensive barrier clad in a vermilion-colored light managed to defend against shockwave from the rainbow.
Geez, Nana, you're looking like a protagonist of some light novel there.

Now then, it's my turn next.

I fell into panic earlier, but my link to Master hasn't been severed.
I will definitely take Master back.

I'm gonna show you the power of his sole familiar, Hyper Arisa-chan!



◇



A shadow wavered at the impact point.

"Suicide bombing is it... I see that those gods too have stopped caring about putting on airs."

Demon God was in tatter.

Most of his body has been carbonized, purple particles are leaking out of the tips of his fingers and hair.

"Give Master baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"

Master's presence is so far away.

I somehow managed to catch Familiar Link on the tip of my finger by earnestly extending out my heart thread.

But the link is so weak.
It would likely snap if I tried to pull it unless I widen the gap a bit more.

"Futile. I have assimilated the last of his vestiges. It's futile no matter what you do. Simply put, in human term, Suzuki Ichirou--Nay, Satou is dead."
"No! He is not!"

Liza-san who rushed in at Master's Ground Shrink speed toward Demon God pierced Demon God's chest with her dragon spear.

"Ofcour~se~?"
"Master is definitely definitely alive nodesu!"

Tama and Pochi slashed Demon God with their dragon fang swords from both sides.
Demon God swung his arm, blowing the three away.

"Nn, definitely."

Using that opportunity, Mia's Fenrir cut open the wound Tama and Pochi left behind, top and bottom.

A purple core-like thing gets exposed.
The core is protected by three dark purple rings.

That must be Demon God's real body.

I just know somehow.

The hole that sucked Master in must be there.

"We're taking Master back!"

Lulu's accelerated cannon's bullet brought one ring protecting the core down.

"Dragon Rending Sword!"

The magic Hikaru unleashed after chanting cut apart the second ring.

"...■ Sacred Impact"
"...■ Divine Thunder Field."
"...■ Divine Diamond Stratos."

Three magic from Sera, Zena-tan, and Tina-sama struck the third ring, but it fell one step short from breaking it.

"KUNGFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU, KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!"

Karina-tan's fighting game character-like flying deathblow shattered the last ring.

A dazzling light fills the surroundings.



◇



"We did it desuwa!"
『Not yet, Karina-dono!』

His core has been left bare open but he's still unharmed.
This isn't my turn yet. That will come once the core is destroyed.

"Liza-san!"
"Affirmative!"

Liza-san rushed back in, her dragon spear was thrust at the cor--

"Impudent little!"

Purple gust blew over, smashing Liza-san's dragon spear into pieces.

"Notyeeeeeeeeeeeet!"

She threw away the broken dragon spear and switched to her trusty magic spear Douma, aiming at Demon God's core.

But an invisible wall manifested before Demon God's core, blocking the spear. It's Demon God's Divine Dancing Armor.

"Weak."

Demon God instantly reverted back to his original state.

"Mere mortals cannot possibly hope to go against me now that I have ascended to true god."

Demon God floated in the air, looking down on us.

"However, lesser goods he might be, he did gave me the impetus toward true godhood. In honor of Satou's will, I shall leave you be. Go guard your master's grave in the world of men."

No. I don't care if it fails, but if I don't do it now, he'll go away to some unreachable place.

"WORYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! GIVE MASTER BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"

I stretch my hand toward the departing Demon God, frantically trying to pull Master back through Familiar Link.

"Futile. My dear fragment girl."

The instance Demon God said that, I could feel the connection to Master I had getting torn apart, falling off my fingertip.

"Farewell. If you wish to avenge yourselves, you are free to proceed to Netherworld through the highest floor of [Purple Tower]. If you manage to reach Purple Shadow Tower in the deep end of Netherworld, I shall play along with you."

Despite attacks from the girls, Demon God's figure wavered and vanished.
He did in the face of the space magic teleport inhibition I had deployed, no resistance no nothing.

We were made to taste the absolute gap between us and Demon God once again.



◇



"Arisa."
"I know. We're absolutely going to save Master."

The girls nodded at my word.

"Wait for us. Master."

--We're gonna rescue you for sure.

I made my vow for our reunion toward the spot where Demon God disappeared.

"You called?"

--Eh?

I turned around to see Master and his ever the nonchalant face.
He's also with Aze-tan.

"It kind of felt like Arisa was calling for me or something, so I made my way back from Realm of Gods."
"Master!"

Liza-san swiftly hugged Master, then everyone including me did as well.

Geez, oh you Master!
I looked like a fool with that vow, didn't I.

Even while complaining in my mind, I was grateful to Master's cheatness.




※ Next update is planned for 9/1


【Remarks】
Satou in the first half was the duplicate body prepared by gods. Satou is going to tell the story about that himself in the next chapter.




Previous Chapter

Chapter 78 Flying in the Sky

 

The girls retreated back a tiny bit to see me grinning at the rice bags.

Now then what to do now. Right when I thought that.


ZU ZU ZU ZU ZU ZU ZU

What!? It's shaking? Looking around, I realized that only the area around the marsh was shaking.

BWOOOOOOOOSH

A wave of mud suddenly gushed out of the marsh. The mud caught my legs, washing me away. Yes, I had relaxed my guard after getting the rice, loosening my focus on the high mobility magic.

"NUOAAAAA" "YAAAAAAN" "GINYAAAAAAA" "HIAAAAAAA"

The four of us screamed as our whole bodies got washed off and covered in mud. It's making it hard to move, and worse of all, the mud drenched the inside of my pants, it feels so gross. I'd love to get in bath as soon as possible if I could, but the thing in front of us doesn't seem like it'll let us.


A gigantic monster that's taken position in front of us are staring at us with dead-fish-like eyes.

It's what looked like a small island in the center of marsh. I didn't think twice about it since I thought it was just a geographical feature, turned out it was a monster. Its whole body looks to be around five meter long. A tadpole gigantic enough to necessitate looking up is towering over us.

Uwaah, it's using its two legs to forcefully support itself and stand up, but that should be physically impossible. More importantly, its muscly legs look so raw it's disgusting. Mitama and the girls behind me are looking at it like it's a filth.
Its gleaming slippery looking lustrous dark body is making it worse. Its puckered-up mouth and rotund eyes are specially of note, but as mentioned above, those eyes look like that of a dead fish.


Evil Tadpole Lv32
HP: 245/245 - MP: 23/42
A gigantic tadpole monster. Produce Shut-in Frogs and Shut-in Venom Frogs by consuming mana. Its skin is covered in mucus that halves physical damages.


I think after seeing Discerning-sensei's appraisal results. This is not about chicken or egg problem. Why is a tadpole producing frogs. What the heck.
What I understand is how absurd so many things are in this world.


Looks like that's it for pondering time. The other side has no intention to let us escape it seems.

First, I'll use stone wall to stop its track, though I'm not sure how long it'll last.

"Stone Wall!!"

BOOM, I constructed a stone wall that covered us completely. Alright alright, we're under construction here, this place is off-limit to non-authorized personnel.
I also produce plenty of warm water that I pour into everyone from head down. Should be better than being all muddy.

"...Thanks, Nobu."

"Yeap, but err, what're we gonna do with that thingy? Don't think we can fight well on these footholds."

"Futsuno-san, shoot fire magic around to dampen the moisture and stabilize our footing. Kagura-san, Mitama, you two are Futsuno-san's bodyguards. Once the area around here has dried up, join in the fray. I'll buy us some time until then."

Tama-chan, you're with them. As I think that, she nodded (?) by shaking her body, scattering water everywhere.

I focus back on high mobility magic and run on top of the mud like sliding. I'm panicking after confirming the situation over there.
Yup, the stone wall is about to be broken down. Cracks are running on it. That wall is one meter thick though.

BAAAAAAAM

The stone wall was destroyed by its ramming attack, splinters that got scattered about in the surroundings turned back into mana element.

My current capability allows me to only cast one simple type of magic while I'm focusing on high mobility magic. I thought of shooting a huge one from afar, but using stuff like electricity would result in disastrous collateral damage, what's with mud all around us.
I've got to turn the monster's attention to me away from the girls.
I construct a magic while going around it and activating Provocation.

"<<Flame Bullet>>!"

I shot out a compressed spinning flame bullet toward Evil Tadpole.

Skid
Juwa

OMG. The flame bullet was easily extinguished the moment it touched its lustrous slippery skin. Oy oy, just how thick that layer of mucus is. That magic is strong enough to pierce through an iron plate and melt it down in the process though.

I observed the Evil Tadpole's movement while circling around it. Then as it began putting strength into those already thick legs, blue vein-like things surfaced on them before those legs turned twice as thick. It then stares at me in a forward-bent posture. A moment later, Evil Tadpole was already up in the air, aiming to land right on me.

"Uwawawawawawawa"

I accelerated myself with 『<<Air Thruster>>』 at once, getting away from the spot.
The gigantic figure made an impact on that spot, BOOM. With such a huge mass landing, the surrounding area wasn't left unscathed. To the point that the girls couldn't stand.
Half of the Evil Tadpole body has been sunk into the ground, I felt a chill thinking what'd happen if I hadn't got away from that spot.

Now then, what should I do. Normally speaking, you'd want to target those legs. If I just cut either of the legs supporting that body, it would surely lose its balance rendering it immobile.

I took a deep breath, opened my eyes wide and concentrated. Fortunately, my opponent is still half embedded in the ground, unmoving. I decided to deploy high output Mana Clad.

With a loud booming sound, my body turned into a bullet, charging at high speed toward Evil Tadpole. Using the momentum, I swing Lunar Cat horizontally level to cut its leg... not!?
I almost dropped Lunar Cat but regained myself and ended up circling to behind the monster.
It did suffer a wound on the cut part, but the cut didn't even reach its bone. What sturdiness, it stopped my slash not with bone but sheer muscles.

Evil Tadpole turned around to face me.
It seems to have been enraged by the cut, dull lights dwell in its dead fish eyes. It was trying to do something, then from its rear, balls of light came out en masse like popopopopo. Those balls popped open as they touched the ground, with frogs jumping out of them.

20 of them frogs. Oy oy, so this guy really is the source then.
Those frogs all went after me... not, they all rushed toward the girls.

It kinds of feel like Evil Tadpole's puckered-up mouth grinned, looks like it's trying to strand me here alone. It's intelligent enough to do harassments huh. I don't believe those girls would fall behind mere frogs. So I can just fully focus on bringing this thing down.

I'm groping for the one card among my repository to accomplish that.
That Weapon Skill would be best if I want to finish it off. However, I'm not sure if it can pierce through that slippery mucus. I've only wielded that skill a few times too. Gotta somehow stop it on its track and pierce through that mucus... huh.


Evil Tadpole looked puzzled to see me stop moving. This monster is pretty expressive.
It's putting strength into its legs like before, seemingly thinking that I've given up. The spot where I cut at isn't even bleeding, it must be forcefully closing down the wound with its muscles.

BOOOOOOOOM

Evil Tadpole pressed the ground with its legs, lifting its body up in the air.



<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.>




And that's exactly what I'm waiting for.

"『<<Air Thruster>>』!!"

I turn all four thrusters toward the ground, sending me flying high above. I release the magic I've put on the spot where I was just as that thing lands.

(『<<Air Hover>>』, 『<<Anti-Graviton>>』 release)

Evil Tadpole fell down on the spot just as I left it. I'll make it your grave, right under me.

"Graviton!!"

I reduce the area of effect and put on several times gravity on Evil Tadpole. It managed to endure this one as expected, but its legs gave in and knelt down.

Next I turn <<Air Thruster>> to face up above, sending me diving down immediately.

"Funnununununu"

The air resistance is warping my face, but this is just the beginning.
I control Graviton to make it also affect me. Then I fell down even faster, at a speed incomparable to roller coaster.
Then I knead my mana and cast that one spell I had prepared beforehand.

"Dry!"

Right at that instant, the slippery mucus sticking on top of Evil Tadpole evaporated all at once. A spell of life magic, Dry. As I've modified this particular one into Freeze Dry among all other already easy to use life magic, this is far and away the most frequent magic I've used. Never would have thought that I would use it in the heat of battle though.
Now I just need to pierce through it!

"Vibrating Blade - Destruction!"

saku
meghosaaaa

Lunar Cat silently pierced through the exposed black epithelium. My legs also landed with the added gravity + acceleration, or to be more precise, made an impact. Eyeballs flew off its cranium. Whoops, obviously an  overkill...

Adadadadada

Uwaoo, I could feel shocks running down my legs. My bones have surely at least cracked. This is some crazy recoil despite the Mana Clad. These bones have been broken so many times during my training with master, and healed back to get even sturdier, and yet that impact still proved too much.

The gigantic body of the blown Evil Tadpole vanished into mana element.
Geez, I managed somehow.

I was gonna head to the girls, but they seemingly were about done themselves. Mitama was waving at me.
Guess I'll go collect the drop items while putting high heals on my legs.


Tendon of Evil Tadpole x 2
Quality: Good - Enclosed Mana: 13/13
Tendon obtained from Evil Tadpole's legs. Turns into a very high quality bowstring after getting processed.

Mucus of Evil Tadpole
Quality: High - Enclosed Mana: 8/8
Mucus generated by Evil Tapdole. Will turn into fine face lotion when diluted with Dense Mana Water.


The soul gem was green colored and quite large of pretty high quality.
I'll put the tendon aside for Mitama, but really, that thing's mucus for face lotion huh. Could this be a good source of income if I play this right and sell to noblewomen? After all, it's huge so we've got a lot of mucus here. Enough to completely fill a whole big garbage bucket. Stone buckets I made to collect garbage in dungeon proved its use here.

Since everyone is covered in dirt and all, think we're finished for today.






Previous Chapter

9



They camped out that night, then the next morning, Lecan and Eda visited the temple.

It's because Nike suggested that they could go out of town at noon once they were done having the talk if they visited the temple in the morning. Nike herself had gone back ahead to the town to take care of her business.

The temple's gate is made of stones, with two huge statues installed on both sides.

The statue on the right is in the shape of a human with a wand on its right hand and a wheat head on its left.

The left statue is that of an ominous looking magic beast. Must be for warding off evils.

Both statues have magic put under them. Probably for protection.

They climbed up stone steps and reached an entrance at the end.

There's a huge sturdy hinged door installed, both sides wide open.

There are more smaller hinged doors inside, all of them are also opened wide.

Lecan and Eda climbed up the stone steps passing through two doors.

They reached an open space with an altar and people offering their prayers on their own.

A man who seemed to be a temple staff member stood.

"I'm Lecan. Heard that the temple is calling for my pupil, Eda, so here we are. We want an audience with third-rank priest, Casis."

A young priest was called to guide them to a room where they waited before a plump priest soon came. His chubby face is all smiles.

"Well, well. You must be Eda-san then?"

"Please ask that to Lecan."

"Haa?"

"You can give your name."

"Un, I got it. Yes, I am Eda."

"Is that right. I'm glad to meet you. And you must be her escort, Lecan-san. Good work. You can go back now."

"Very well, I'll take Eda back with me. Farewell."

"W-wait a minute. Where do you think you're going. Eda-san will have to stay here."

"Eda is a pupil of mine, also a party member. I'll be in her company if you have a business with her."

"This is our temple's problem. It's not something the likes of mere adventurers should concern themselves with."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"Haa?"

"I'm asking if your business with Eda is done."

Smiles immediately disappeared from priest Casis's face. The smile soon resurfaced, but his squinted eyes had a callous glint on them.

"Haha. Oh I see now, that's how it is. What a blunder on my side, please excuse me. Oy."

A boy who was standing by behind priest Casis presented a small pouch to him. Priest Casis dangled that small pouch with the tips of his fingers before Lecan.

"Take it and off you go now. May god Ceres protection be with you."

Priest Casis haphazardly drew some sort of holy mark in the air with his left finger to bless Lecan.

"Really. Okay, we're heading back, Eda."

"Un."

"Hold it right there. You really don't get it do you. This pouch contains the blessing of god, see. It's worth several days of your labor. You get this pouch in exchange for Eda-san."

"<Appraisal>"

"Eh?"

Lecan was hit by a sudden curiosity if he could <Appraisal> the pouch, thus he did.

"Hou. One big silver coin huh. Well then, here's one big silver coin for you priest Casis. I'll take Eda with me."

They were already standing so he took Eda's hand toward the door.

Priest Casis was in the way, so Lecan shoved him aside. Priest Casis got taken aback before his face was dyed red.

"I take it this means you're obstructing the temple's responsibility, do you."

"What's your business with Eda."

Priest Casis's face went over the color red to darkish. But he took some deep breaths and slightly regained his complexion back.

"There's a possibility that Eda-san has been bestowed with god Ceres' blessing. We shall examine whether that is true or not, and if it is, we shall provide Eda-san with the appropriate treatment, training and service."

"Is that examination be done by yourself here."

"You savages really have no idea how to revere a respectable priest, do you.  Though I see little point in teaching the way of temple to you and your ilk, the verdict to ascertain blessings is made by more than three priests."

"In accordance to Article 35 of Ceres Temple Law, I demand the attendance of two or more third-rank priests in the hearing."

Priest Casis looked up at Lecan with a loathful look on his face without answering back to him for a while, but he eventually turned around toward the door.

"We'll send a messenger to inform you when it's ready. Wait here until then. Don't go wandering around anywhere."

"Priest Casis."

Called out by Lecan, priest Casis who was walking toward the door halted.

"There's this terrible noise whenever your breath passes through your throat. Your fat may be clogging it up. Might be a good idea to slim down a bit."

The door was shut furiously, scattering some splinters in the air.


<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.>
10



Five priests are sitting behind luxurious desks.

All of them possess mana. If they all can use combat magic, even Lecan won't be able to go back unharmed. But that can't possibly be the case.

In the center is the conspicuously large, priest Casis. He's got the biggest mana pool among the five.

Lecan and Eda are standing about five steps away in front the desks.

Having five priests when three should be enough may have been intended as some form of intimidation, but Lecan's stature, build and face are far more intimidating. All the more with him standing.

"We will now begin the ceremony to hand out a priest verdict over god Ceres's blessings."

"Hold it. I had demanded the attendance of two or more third-rank priests in the hearing in accordance to Article 35 of Ceres Temple Law. I want to confirm whether that demand has been met or not."

The four priests are looking at each others.

"Priest Casis. What is the meaning of this?"

"...Call priest Pajill."

One of the priests went out of the room, then after a while, a stern looking priest came over and took a seat at the right end. This elderly man must be priest Pajill. His mana pool is a bit higher than priest Casis.

"We will now begin the ceremony to hand out a priest verdict over god Ceres's blessings."

"Of truth."

"Of blessing."

"Of mercy."

"In the name of tranquil god."

The five priests recited a passage from scripture and drew a holy mark by putting their hand on shoulder, eye, nose and mouth.

A young priest at the left end spoke.

"Now then, you two would be adventurer Eda and her guardian, adventurer Lecan, correct?"

"Guardian is not exactly right. I'm Eda's mentor, and a party member."

"Then, you two would be adventurer Eda, and her mentor as well as guardian, and also a party member, adventurer Lecan, correct?"

"Yeah."

"Adventurer Eda, what about your answer."

"Lecan will answer that."

"This girl is indeed adventurer Eda."

"Make her answer for herself!"

"Priest Casis, please calm down. Adventurer Eda, why don't you answer yourself?"

"Lecan will answer that."

"Eda is my pupil, which means she's under my protection, as such I will answer in her stead in this hearing."

"But there could be things that can only be answered by the person in question herself."

"In that case, I'll ask for Eda's confirmation before giving answers."

Four priests began consulting together noisily.

Priest Casis let out a loud shout once again.

"No need for this farce! By the authority of Ceres Temple, I order Eda herself to respond!"

"We've dragged our weary bodies here after a long journey for work to respond to the sudden summon from the temple. We're also replying back with the utmost sincerity. The reason why Eda won't answer is to prevent her from giving immature responses that could invite confusion here and bring disrespects toward god Ceres. If you won't admit that, we're going back."

"Priest Casis. Why don't we let adventurer Lecan answer for her for now."

"That's right. We can simply have Eda herself speak if any complication arise."

"After all, god's verdict won't be overturned regardless of who gives the answer."

Three of the four said thus, priest Casis reluctantly nodded.

Priest Pajill kept silent with eyes closed, arms folded.

"Well then, adventurer Eda. Is it the truth that <Recovery> has manifested in you?"

"Lecan will answer that."

"It's true."

"Adventurer Eda. Under what kind of situation, and how did it manifest, your answer."

"Lecan will answer that."

"On the 18th, Eda had gone to Adventurer Association. On her way back, she witnessed adventurer Gyom bleeding in agony. Gyom was a man with a bad womanizing habit, he had an affair with multiple women, got found out by his wife and stabbed. Gyom was going to borrow a red potion from adventurer association, but used up his strength on the way there. By Eda's <Recovery>, Gyom recovered enough to walking conditions. Afterward, Gyom went to this temple to report on Eda and got his rewards. Hence, the temple should know more in detail about Gyom's wound and how he got treated."

"You said that you just got back from a journey for work. And yet you're quite informed on things that occurred on the 18th."

"We departed to Kogurus on the 19th. Also, adventurers are people who have all kinds of ways to obtain information."

"I see. Then, adventurer Eda. How was the wound suffered by adventurer Gyom like, and to what degree was it healed, answer these questions as seen by your own eyes."

"Lecan will answer that."

"This question has to be answered by you yourself."

"No, I should be answering that. That is because Eda herself possesses no knowledge that will enable her to describe human wounds in detail. Secondly, after putting <Recovery> on Gyom, she just up and left the place without confirming its efficacy. Thirdly, Eda wasn't in a state that would allow her to observe and make decisions normally, she was in shock after breaking the ban imposed on her."

"Breaking the ban? The ban on what."

"I have forbidden Eda from using <Recovery> on other individual."






Previous Chapter

Chapter 308 Strongest Sage, Hears About Tactics

 

"Oh I'm nothing compared to Mathias-sensei... We've been hearing rumors about sensei's exploits all the way to the capital."

"I'm officially a student though, not a teacher... I could say the same, Second Academy students have been doing great too lately."

Before, whenever we were working on quests at new towns, we often got the [Can these children even fight?] reaction.
But now, we got more of [Ah. Second Academy students huh] reaction.

It's probably a result of these students demonstrating their powers all over the places.
And it looks like there are more and more Second Academy students setting new records for the deepest conquered dungeon floors too.

"Second Acadey has turned into something amazing, and it's all thanks to Mathias-sensei... Apparently the number of examinees this year has jumped to 10 times the usual. Our teachers were complaining about the lack of classrooms for the entrance exams."

"10 times... That much?"

"After all, what was once regarded as a second rate academy has turned into the world's best combat institution! I'm proud of it myself!"

Oh right, back then First Academy was the top academy while the Second Academy was treated like an extra...
They denied of any difference in treatment officially, but the segregation was quite severe in reality.

...Though now that it's been known demons were behind that reputation, and that the Glory Crest all the First Academy students bear are not suited for battle, First Academy has now turned into some sort of augmenter school instead.

"So uh, we would like to ask for your advice, but..."

Meirad looks at the direction we're going.
He must be feeling bad to have called us out on our way.

"Ah, no problem. We still got time."

The agreed time to meet principal Edward won't be for a while.
A little distraction won't hurt.

"So what kind of advice do you need?"

"It's about ways to fight demons. We're currently training with the goal of defeating demons some day... I'm not sure if our methods are correct or not."

I see.
The ways to defeat demons are indeed different than to defeat monsters.

As such, you've got to take a different kind of combat training than the usual ones... Since unlike monsters, demons are not like your ordinary living creatures.
I can't blame him for worrying about the training when they've never fought the real thing.

"What kind of methods are you guys practicing?"

"We're trying to learn the [Basic Tactics] written on page 129 of [Second Academy - Anti-Demon Combat Textbook]. It describes a method where you incessantly shoot jamming magic at demons, sealing their movements as you gradually cripple them down."

I see.
Exactly according to the textbook I wrote huh.
<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.>
That's a nice choice.
Textbooks found in ordinary schools are too rudimentary, unfit for real combat... That particular textbook was written to efficiently turn Second Academy students capable of combating demons.

Its content is wholly oriented towards real combats.
Minute details ranging from effective jamming methods, coordination means, and even ways to damage those sturdy demons are written in it.

The textbook itself doesn't have too many pages, but one cannot grasp that [Basic Tactics] unless they have full understandings of knowledge found in other textbooks.
As such, it should have taken some time to master that... But once you do, you'll be able to easily defeat a lesser demon at least.

"Once you've mastered that [Basic Tactics], you can defeat the kinds of demons that have been invading Second Academy easily."

"Thank you very much! ...Some students have proposed to make arrangements to the tactics, but first we must aim to completely master what's written on the textbook... is what I'm thinking!"

Meirad looked happy as he said that.
He really is an excellent leader.

You've got to solidify your base first before trying to be creative.
Sounds easy, but putting that into practice is unexpectedly hard.

However... If Second Academy students ever had to fight a demon, there's a high chance that demon would be a mid-class demon.
After all, all lesser demons have been eliminated by the [Eyes of Heavens].
So long as there's no lesser demons being sealed somewhere in the world and getting out of that seal... These students won't get a chance to fight lesser demons anymore.

When I think about that, it seems that textbook will need a few revisions.

"The textbook says that you need to rely on jamming and abnormal status attacks right?"

"Yes. Paralyze and mana jamming... Just about all kinds of abnormal status magic to restrain the demon."

"That's a good strategy in itself... But magic that directly interfere the inside of their body don't work well on strong demons. In that situation, you can use a magic that dull the flow of mana in the airspace... 『Spatial Mana Slow』."

"『Spatial Mana Slow』... You must mean the magic written on page number 612 of magic textbook right?"

He even remembers page numbers huh.
So studious.

"Yeah. That magic does not directly interfere with the inside of demon's body, so it's not very effective by itself... But you have strength in numbers. The spell formula is quite complex though, so you'd probably need to train hard for it."

"We'll get to that with training!"

The Glory Crest mages nearby nodded at Meirad's words.
They must be the ones in charge of augment.

...Even with their numbers, it will be difficult for Second Academy students to fight a mid-class demon at their current strength.
There's a world of difference in strength between lesser and mid-class demons.

They will eventually prevail if they keep it up with their training.
Although there's absolutely nothing you can do against greater demons with just training and team work... They've got a pretty good chance against mid-class demons as long as they follow that training manual correctly.
Whether they can actually reach that point depends on their training though.

Afterward, they just have to make sure they're training in the right direction.
Doing training the wrong way will instill bad habits on you, resulting in the exact opposite of what you want to achieve.

It would be faster to confirm that part with my own eyes.





Previous Chapter

Chapter 77 Apparition Badppearance?

 

We got hit by two more waves of frogs after the first.
Their numbers are decreasing with every wave we overcame, but really, just where'd all these frogs come out of from?

I scouted around by myself using Space Camouflage, and couldn't find neither clusters of Mana Essence nor enemy spawns.
There seems to be a huge marsh in the center of this hall, wonder if that the spawn spot is? It's still some way ahead, but there's no harm in being cautious.

Anyway, we should take a break after that series of battles. I thought that on my way back from scouting.


BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

I made a quasi rest area with multiple stone walls. The three have resigned from trying to think too hard about my magic, so this much is nothing now.
I lined up our pre-made lunch on the table. Let's start putting out the food I made in advance for tonight from noon to make it easier.
Here's the menu.

・ Charcoal-grilled Chicken Thigh
・ Egg Sandwich, Chicken Cutlet Sandwich, Lettuce Ham Sandwich, and Fruit Sandwich
・ Lipovitama DX (Trial)

Lipovitama DX is a refreshing drink that one gets by mixing Tama Soup, herb and tangerine-kind of fruit together. I'm currently in taste adjusting phase right about now. So these three can conveniently be my taste testers.

"Nnn, traveling with Nobusada really does greatly improve our food situation. I'm never coming back to those tasteless preserved food days anymore."

"I have to agree to that. This trial beverage has a nicely different flavor to it compared to fruit juice."

"...Munch munch munch."

Mitama has entered the cat trance state. These three don't look too tired from the series of battles. How about Tama-chan?

Funyuuuun

She's enjoying herself fully in Dense Mana Water.
Her fission body generation gets my mana supply so she can apparently use that without using her own mana. As for me, even if my mana gets consumed, it just feels like, 'Oh OK', before it regenerates itself. Looks like my mana recovery rate has also risen following maximum amount.

"Pray tell, what does milord seek on this floor noja? Indeed, this rapid rate of level up surprised me, but milord must have another objective in his mind, no?"

Fumu, Kagura-san's sharp. It's true that this floor is not popular among other adventurers, but after obtaining a certain piece of information from Donur-san, I'm fully prepared to spend several days if I must.
Yep, apparently certain monsters that spawn on this floor drop that. That, the one thing I have been looking for all this time!!

"Actually, I'm planning to secure a healthy amount of a certain ingredient. Apparently there's this monster that drops a staple food of my homeland, [Rice]. If I had that, I would be able to create a lot more dishes so I really need it..."

"...Let's go. We absolutely must get our hands on that."

Ah, yep. Mitama is reacting very positively. Her unbridled enthusiasms surprised me.
The other two are thankfully eager too though not as much as Mitama.

Apparently the monster that drops Rice is a variant of Alraune. So first we gotta look for Alraune.
Maybe these plant monsters congregate around the marsh area, for now let's head toward the marsh.

<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.>
Afterward we managed to get close enough to see the marsh without encountering any monster.

"...There's something around the marsh."

Just as Mitama said, there are something wriggling around the marsh. They're barely visible since they're still quite far away, wonder if they're Discernible?

Alraune Lv19
HP: 48/48 - MP: 30/30
A monster that lures people with sweet fragrance to then devour their energy. Its upper-half has the appearance of a girl, while the lower half that of a flower. Moves by bouncing around with its spring-like vine.

There stood green skinned girls. Yup, they're baring it all. Uwaah, not sure if I can defeat them.
Around 10 of these Alraune are bouncing around the marsh, like kyakya ufufu. A few of those look different than the rest.

Alraine Lv22
HP: 52/52 - MP: 40/40
Variant of a monster that lures people with sweet fragrance to then devour their energy. Its upper-half has the appearance of a girl, while the lower half is like that of a rice plant. Moves by bouncing around with its spring-like vine.

There it is--!
That must be it---!
Drop your rice! Drop your damn rice!!

Whoops, no no. The excitement turned me into [Drop Dang Rice] apparition for a sec there.

"Everyone, our target ahead, Alraune. I'll take care of the variants with the golden-colored lower half myself."

"""YES"""

"I'm gonna stop their movement with gravity magic. Careful now, I'll undo it when you get close enough."

Target, group of Alraune. Range, a section of the marsh. Power, four times the gravity.
En... Garde!!

"Graviton!!"

The Alraunes took a dive down the ground with pained looks as the gravity around them suddenly rose. They can't even scream due to the pressure.
Right as I cast the spell, I immediately rushed out toward the Alraunes. The fact that I'm the only one capable of moving around inside the sphere of gravity's influence is seriously unfair. I measure the distance between the Alraunes and the girls who are coming before canceling [Graviton].
Woosh, the moment the pressure was released, I swung Lunar Cat, reaping the monster's life. Yup, this is cruel. Sad it may be, this is a battle though. Lord have mercy. Sniping them down would have been so much easier, but I've decided to fight with katana for this campaign.

I confirmed three Alraines. Their ratio to the number of Alraunes is on the bigger side.
As I lop off their heads with each swing, bags of rice wrapped in mana husks dropped. Drop items in dungeons. No matter if it's meat or mushrooms, once the dead monsters vanished, their drop items would fall on the ground wrapped in mana husks. Otherwise, they'd fall on bare ground. These mana husks won't last forever. It would crack and break if it got hit, left alone it would disappear. You need to swiftly collect these drop items.
After eliminating all the Alraine, and putting the bags of rice in Dimensional Storage, I looked around. Everyone has arrived and are now engaging in a slaughter. Rather, I seem to have overdone it with [Graviton]. In the first place, Alraunes aren't made for battle. Of course they'd be gasping for breath exposed to four times the gravity.

Kagura-san crushes with her metal bar, Mitama stabs the neck areas with a dagger. Futsuno-san deals the blow with staff martial art, Tama-chan chews on their bodies.
The group of monsters were annihilated in about 10 minutes.
Hahahaha, guess we overdid it.

These Alraunes also drop other stuff besides magic gems. Let's check them out with the rice bag.

Satan Brocade
Quality: High - Enclosed Mana: 5/5
Grain considered to be brought here by a demon king from another world. Has a weak resistance thus requires high technological strength to grow, not available on the market. The more you chew the more its UMAmi brims over.

Vanilla Essence
Quality: Good - Enclosed Mana: 1/1
Element extracted from vanilla seeds.

Alraune's Honey
Quality: Good - Enclosed Mana: 3/3
Honey extracted from Alraune's petals. Used as an ingredient in aphrodisiac rather than for seasoning.

Oh crap, oh crap. Why am I panicking you ask, cause there's liquid inside the mana husks. I gave some containers to everyone and had them collect it.

We got two bags of rice. Peeking inside, the rice hasn't been threshed, meaning they still have husks.
And worth to mention is that some of these husked rice has [Rice Mould] on them. I fist-pumped reflexively. With this I can make malt-rice, and from it, miso and shoyu!! By the way, I had been making my own miso at my family house so I should manage here. But I've never made shoyu before even though I know how. No choice but to trial and error on this one. At worst, I'd just make something akin to miso-on-top liquid. The chef of a certain dairokuten demon king did that. Chef Nobusada would gladly entertain this challenge.

Everyone retreated back when I snickered gleefully 'mufufufufufuu'. I hurriedly varnished over it. Not good, I let myself loose whenever I got my hands on the things I coveted.

That's right, I had let my guard down at this point.






Previous Chapter

17-28. Authorities Demonstrations

 

Satou here. There are so many words that become common unnoticed, but I don't think there's a lot of people who know the origins of those words. You can look it up to a certain point on internet search engines these days though.



◇



"It should be fine here. Anyone wanna have a go?"

We've come to a copy sub-space of the great desert to test out the Unique Skills the gods loaned.
This particular sub-space has been reinforced multiple times over to prevent it from breaking down when testing anti-god magic, fit as a proving ground.

It's still hot though, so we're all on board of the fully air conditioned big airship.
Aze-san is with us today. I can't just nonchalantly send her back while knowing that she's being targeted by both Demon God and god Zaikuon.

"Master, I shall volunteer myself, so I report."

Nana came forward as the first player.

"Then, I'll be your test partner. Are you fine with Inferno then anti-demon lord [Lesser Mythology Down]?"

Pretty extreme suggestion from Arisa.

"You should start with a watered down advanced fire magic before you go with inferno."
"I mean it's god's Authority and all, it should be fine, no? Nana's [Castle] can block Inferno already, if you're still worried Master, how about putting up Castle inside the god's barrier?"
"Master, there is no point if it cannot block Demon God's attack so I insist."

I suppose they're right--.

"I get it. Let me stand by next to Nana then."

This way, everything should be fine in case something goes wrong.

Arisa sighed, "You're as big a worrywart as ever aren't you, Master", but it's better than risk injuring Nana, so ignore that.

I take Nana with me to the center of the great desert.

『Are you ready?』
『Hold on a bit.』

I called for time through Tactical Talk.

"Nana, Unique Skill."
"Yes, Master. Activating Unique Skill, 『Paladin Shield』 so I announce."

Vermilion light blinked on Nana's body, then a 100 meter wide dome enshrouded us.

"Can you change its size?"
"Yes, Master. It is possible to alter the dome's size from 1/10th to 10 times the current size, so I report. The smaller it is the better its defensive power maxing out at three times the power, while at the biggest size its defensive power will fall to less than half, so I report."

Apparently she just somehow gets all those details.

Once Nana had activated her golden armor's [Castle] inside the dome, I gave the GO signal to Arisa.

『Here I go, Inferno.』

A crimson conflagration flared up in the desert, swallowing us whole in an instant.

Just as Inferno came into contact with the Paladin Shield's dome, a half-transparent shield with god Karion's holy mark embellished on the center part manifested over the dome's surface.

"Master, its frontal defensive power has soared up, so I report."

Just as its appearance suggests, the shield part seems to specialize in blocking.
Arisa's inferno eventually dispersed.

『Arisa, try shooting intermediate level fire balls from three directions.』
『OK, Blast Shots.』

Powerful fire balls coming from three directions blazed at the Paladin Shield dome.

"Master, the shields won't appear, so I report."
"Seems like it'd only show up if the attack is at least at a certain destructive level huh."

Then when Arisa shot advanced level fire magic from two directions, the shields manifested on both.

"Its defensive power gets lowered with two shields, so I report."

I see, these shields are like a manifestation of the dome's defensive power density.

"It blocks melee weapons too, even the dragon fang sword."

Stabbing a dragon fang sword at it peels off the shield-shaped surface, but new shields get produced anew from inside every time.

It's similar in mechanism to the Divine Dancing Armor the Demon God used.
He might have created that magic in the image of god Karion's [Paladin Shield].

"Master, it is not possible to maintain the defensive function for an extended period of time, so I report."

Nana is correct, it can only defend itself against dragon fang weapons for 10 seconds at most.
One it passed the time limit, the Paladin Shield dome began to oscillate and eventually crumble down.
But managing to defend against the fang that [Pierces All] for 10 seconds is still quite a feat.

"Nana, is it possible to overlap this Paladin Shield?"
"Yes, Master."

Looks like three of it can be overlapped at the same time.

『Arisa, do it!』

Now that we've got a grasp on its general characteristics, time for the final check.
I also prepared myself to deploy [Castle] and disposable Phalanx installed in my own golden armor anytime.

『Make sure to block this one, okay! <<Lesser Mythology Down>>』

Anti-demon lord type [Mythology Down] exploded out.

The first layer of Paladin Shield blocked against [Mythology Down] only for an instant before it crumbled into pieces, the second one cracked, while the the third one was hit by the shockwave.

This [Unique Skill] appears to be a severely weakened version of god Karion's Godly Shield, that one managed to withstood against my [Mythology Down] before breaking.
Well, I don't suppose they'd lend their strongest cards.

"Master, there is something I would like to try so I report. Requesting permission."
"Any problem with usage limits of Paladin Shield?"
"Detecting no foreseeable problem for two more use, so I report."

After some more checking, we found out that she could safely use Paladin Shield for six times, afterward, one use gets restored with each full hour.

"Starting experiment so I report."

Nana activated [Castle]--.

--Ooh.

The multi-layered barrier of Castle shined red before turning vermilion all at once.

"Experiment success. Reporting the successful combination of 『Castle』 and 『Paladin Shield』, the creation of 『Paladin Castle』 so I report."
"That's incredible..."

Never would have thought you could do that.

These stuff exist everywhere in manga and light novels, but to actually make it works on it in reality must be thanks to Nana's flexible thought process. Common sense would have blocked it if it were me.

"Master, requesting Arisa to attack for evaluation purpose so I entreat. "
"Alright then. Should we try Inferno?"
"Mythology Down if you would please."

Nana said that with a look of confidence.

"Got it. 『--Arisa, please.』"

The latter half was with Tactical Talk while I gave the GO sign to Arisa at the former.

I wait for Arisa's [Mythology Down] to land while making the same preparations as before.
Roaring sounds and tremors shook the surrounding area.

However, even though the Mythology Down managed to peel off several layers of Paladin Castle, it failed to pierce through the vermilion-colored protective barrier before running out of fume.

『Ouh, gureato~?』
『Amazingly awesome nodesu!』
『Nn, sturdy.』

The girls raised a shout of joy.

『Whoa that's awesome. Maybe it could even defend against the real [Mythology Down] if Nana used her Warship Wand?』

Hm, I'm not sure about that.

As the non-lesser variant breaks down multiple adjacent dimensions along, I don't think even Paladin Castle can defend against that.
At most both would counterbalance each other, I think?

"Master, should we give it a try so I inquire."

Nana's expressionless face had this excited air around her, but since it's too dangerous, I don't think we should, not until she's capable of deploying multiple Paladin Castle or escaping out it herself once the barrier is deployed.

"No, let's not. See if you can combine with the mobile [<<Absolute Throne>>] or the [Castle] deployed by the large airship later."
"Yes, Master."

For now, this should suffice as a proving test for the Unique Skill loaned to Nana.
Even though it can't be used in a frontal battle against Demon God, it should be good enough to block the first strike at least.



◇



"Sera's disappeared nodesu!"
"Mwu."

Sera was wrapped in an emerald green light once she activated the Unique Skill god Tenion loaned to her, [Hermit Hide], and apparently, that was when she was gone from the other girls' view.

Sera's dot has also disappeared from my Radar and Map.
According to her Marker, she's in a [Mapless Area].

"Wonder where has she gone off to?"
"Zena, can't you find her with your wind magic?"
"I will give it a try. ■■■...."
"I'll check with Space Magic too."
"Spirit Magic."
"Guess I'll give it a shot too then?"

Zena-san's wind magic, Arisa's space magic, Mia's spirit magic and Hikaru's force magic got deployed but none managed to find Sera.
Princess Sistina who blurted the idea first also tried to look with earth magic, but she came away empty handed as well.

"Tama, can you tell?"
"Nyu~? Here, but not here~?"

Asked by Liza, Tama tilted her head along with her entire body, her eyebrows looked like they were about to loop.
It's like, she knows that Sera is present but not her exact location I guess?

For it to not only elude the girls, but even Tama's detection, this [Hermit Hide] is pretty high performance.

--Oh?

The half-transparent Sera tiptoed toward me while holding back her laughter.
She was going to kiss me, but I stopped her attempt by putting my finger on her lips.

No pranks that could invite misunderstandings while Aze-san is here if you'd please.

"Over there nodesu!"

Looks like Sera's Recognition Inhibition has elapsed.

Not certain whether it's because I toucher her or because Sera broke off her concentration.

"Mwu, guilty!"
"Hey! I'm gonna give you snacks if you're pranking!"

Calm down, Arisa.

"How were you able to see through it?"
"Apparently my constitution is such that illusions and the likes don't work on me."

I replied to Sera.

Sera looked half-transparent to me from the very beginning when she activated the Unique Skill.
But the fact that I would lose sight of her if I averted my eyes for a while is a testament to its higher performance compared to ordinary illusions.

It's more than high performance enough.
Doesn't seem like it consumes a stupid amount of mana like Mana Camouflage nor needs super tightrope walking control either.

"Any idea how many times you can use it?"
"I believe about five times a day. Once it's active, I think I can keep it up for about one bell long as long as I don't lose focus."

Sera replied to Arisa's question.

After more checking, we found out that the effect could also be extended to other people if she focused on them during activation. In that case, those who are under the same Recognition Inhibition effect could see each other.



◇



"This is the power of god..."

Murmured Liza as she was wrapped in a green colored light with a gallant look on her face.
It's the Authority god Garleon loaned to her, [Hero Heart].

"Well then, let's give it a whirl."

Liza doesn't flinch even with my [Intimidation] skill.

"It's pretty amazing."

This time I use Intimidation loaded with bloodlust.

--Ooh, I could see a wavering on Liza's expression.

Let's try adding mind magic [Cowardice] and [Fear].

"A-as expected of Master."

Liza is breathing roughly while sweating profusely.
But enduring this much should be good enough.

"Kyuu"
"Pochi~?"
"Po-Pochi-chan!"

When I turned around toward the voice, Pochi who was peeking out of curiosity had been knocked out.
I hurriedly undo Intimidation and the magic.

They say curiosity killed the cat, but as it turned out, it was the dogkin Pochi who got done in by it, not the catkin Tama.

Additionally, Liza's Unique Skill seems to also work on ally that are within a certain range.
The passed out Pochi is evidence that such ally must be within that range during activation time.

The skill is an active one, but it seems she doesn't feel any limit to usage at the time being.
It's also effective against Geass and mind control type magic, they should manage to avoid getting frozen stiff from Demon God's glare now.


<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.>
◇



"This cave is kind of, eerie."
"This here is a dungeon, you see."

I replied back to the uneasy Aze-san.

We're now at Dejima Island's Phantasmal Labyrinth to test out [Sanctuary Guard], the Unique Skill god Urion loaned to Mia, and [Saint Prey], the Unique Skill god Heraruon loaned to Zena-san.

Apparently Aze-san is afraid of the dark, how she's grabbing my arm is wonderful.
Improper conducts--turning off the light, producing ghastly sounds, flashing suspicious shadows all over to scare her, I banished them all from my mind somehow.

Also, Arisa and Mia are competing for my other free side, Pochi has climbed on my shoulders while she herself is piggybacking Tama forming a totem pole, it's a chaos.

"Zena-tan, a gobu is coming from ahead."
"Activating Saint Prey!"

Zena-san closed her eyes and prayed, then an orange-colored light streamed down her body.
A moment later, gods' divine light overflowed out of Zena-san, filling the surrounding area with dazzling lights.

"Lost~?"
"Goblin-san went away nodesu."

Tama and Pochi poked on the ground where a demi goblin was.
Looks like weak monsters will simply get evaporated away.

『Master! Dungeon monsters are running away heading toward underground. A dangerous being might have showed up above ground where Master is.』

Dungeon Core who's managing the labyrinth contacted me.

We made her panic it looks like.
I apologized to Core and got her permission to wreak some havoc here for the test sake.

"Me next."

Indigo lights flow on Mia's body, then the same colored lights dwell in her eyes.

"Evils in all directions."

Mia muttered that as she shook her head left and right, swaying her twintail.

Mia's [Sanctuary Guard] detects evil existence, that's a common knowledge among us.
And it seems the very existence of this labyrinth is evil.

We continue the test while moving out.

"Nyu!"
"Behind that rock."

"Crevice in the ceiling."
"Nyunyu!"

We went around places where Scout Plumed Snakes and Camouflage Lizards were lurking as a further test, and Mia demonstrated a detection capability not inferior to Tama and my Radar.

Rivaling even Tama, that's pretty high spec.

"Wonder if you can tell Sera-tan's Recognition Inhibition?"
"Mwu, evils only."

She can't it seems.

"Sera-tan, c'mere."

Arisa whispered something in Sera's ears, then Sera re-activated her [Hermit Hide] and walked toward me with smiles on her face.

"Evil!"

Mia's wand whacked Sera's head.

"You found me out."
"So it seems like [Sanctuary Guard] will find those with immoral thoughts."
"Please don't call it immoral. My pure love is--"
"Sorry, sorry. Pure, Got it."

Arisa brushed off Sera's protest with Mia-like short curt sentences.

"Even golems are frightened."

Zena-san's [Saint Prey] appear to even works on golems that are supposed to be immune to mind attack.
Imitating Nana, she tried to ride [Saint Prey] on wind magic, but unfortunately, she didn't succeed even once.
Those really do seem to need an exceedingly flexible line of thinking.

"Zena-san, aren't you tired?"
"Yes, I am fine!"

Zena-san flexed her arms to show her liveliness.
It seems like her Unique Skill has no usage limit similar to Liza's.

We went to Selbira's labyrinth to test it out on a level 50 Area Master, and it got frightened no problem.
The skill didn't stop it from moving, but it clearly created more openings, this skill would definitely see many use.



◇



"Is it really all right for us to be this carefree?"

Aze-san murmured anxiously in the garden of Solitary Island Palace.

I thought of using other temporary bases as a precaution to gods' backdoors, but it felt way too late to care about that considering our party has Hikaru with god Parion's fragments, Arisa with Demon God's fragments and Sera, a miko of god Tenion.

I can quickly whip out a new base if problem arise anyway.

"It's going to be all right. And there are others looking after Boruenan Forest now right?"
"That may be the case, but..."

With god Tenion's authority, the other sleeping high elves were roused out of bed, so the world tree is getting the management it needs even with Aze-san here.
Miko Rua-san is coming over several times a day to see how Aze-san is doing too.

"But it's been 10 days since then. Is there really zero reaction from both gods and Demon God?"

I affirmed Arisa's question.

I've been coming over to the capital's mansion every day so they can contact me easier, but I've got none so far.
Though confusions in the world of men have elapsed, arguments as to whether they should keep believing in the seven pillar gods or not have not died out. A few have even converted to believing Demon God.

"Let's just wait patiently."

At noon I'm keeping the girls company in their training and Unique Skill mastering, at night I worked toward ways to counter Demon God after putting them to sleep.

Reinforcing [Dragon Rending Sword (Dragon Slayer)] which didn't work on Demon God by reusing the code in Anti-god magic, and developing an imitation of Divine Dancing Armor by referencing Nana's [Paladin Shield].
I could not get any good idea on the black spear and divine sword imitation from back then, so the development on those isn't progressing.

"Master, Tifa-san is here."
"Kuro-sama."

Echigoya Firm's Tifaliza's expression stiffened up when she saw Aze-san sitting next to me.
Even though I've introduced her before, looks like she still hasn't gotten used to a high elf.

"I have brought platinum and all other materials you requested me to collect."
"Thank you. I'm always grateful for your quick work."

I didn't think she would get all those rare materials in just two days.

"Please don't mention it, it's my job after all."

Tifaliza had a stiff expression somehow.
I'd like to hear her out if she has any worry, but since I don't have the time presently, I'll ask Arisa to handle it.

"Satou, what are those for?"
"They're raw materials of manufacturer golems and control units."

They're to be used at the shipbuilding dock in the void sky.

"Transport~?"
"Pochi is a pro transporter nodesuyo."

Tama and Pochi carried the load into the gate that connects to the void sky.

"Still no huge combination robots yet?"
"Arisa, that's way old. Real robot is all the rage today."
"What are you talking about, super robot and combination are where the romance at!"

Arisa and Hikaru argued about some stupid stuff.
Sorry but I don't plan to build a robot. Not until I'm done with my current work at least.

"Nyu!"
"Satou-san!"

Tama and Zena-san who had gone to the capital for a check came back.
Looks like they found something.

Led by the two, I head to the capital's mansion.

"Don't worry. This is not Demon God."

I signaled Tama and Zena-san to get back while looking up at an orb of light floating in front of the mansion's entrance--nymph.

It appears that they've completed the preparations for my duplicate body before Demon God comes attacking again.

『My lord, Goddess Tenion has summoned you. Hang down your head and present yourself at once.』

These nymphs are as haughty as ever.

I waved at the girls who had gathered from gates, and jumped into the gate the nymph created.





※ Next update is planned for 8/25.




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