Volume 3 Chapter 89 Surprise Attack Strategy (Rejected) I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Lady Ninini was moving through the trees, but with the body ability of a cat Beastmen, she should have been moving at quite a speed. Lord Rean’s tracks only went so far, as if he was just walking. If they were moving together, Lady Ninini would have been a bit too far ahead.”
”So this Ninini is a scout, right? Aren’t scouts supposed to be in front?”
Natra shook her head at Priscilla’s question.
”It’s not a reconnaissance mission, so there’s a limit to how far ahead she should go. If she’s jumping using the branches as springs, she’ll be much faster than if she were just running. It’ll also make a lot of noise, and considering the party, she should be running on the ground.”
”So, what exactly does that mean?”
”──. Serena, does the scent of juniper continue further in?”
Serena answered Kian’s question immediately.
”Yeah. But I feel a strong magic power coming from up ahead. We should be careful if we charge in.”
”I know that.”
”As for why ‘Lion’s Companion’ ran so far away from the street road to get here, we’ll find out when we meet up with them. The problem is that they might all be dead.”
”Ah, if they’re dead, leave it to me. I’m good at making people talk.”
”I don’t think there are any talkative types among the dead.”
”Are you planning to use Necromancy?”
Sarah, with a stern expression, spoke from Serena’s side.
Kian has heard that many magicians are repulsed by the act of forcibly bringing back the dead, and it seems she’s one of them.
Priscilla just smiled faintly and avoided the question.
Sarah seemed to understand that there was no other way if there were no other options, and after glancing around, she backed down without saying anything.
Kian clapped his hands.
”Ms. Priscilla, please stay back. If possible, let’s have your 2 familiars out and ready to react if necessary. Natra, Rufna. As we discussed earlier, if ‘Lion’s Companion’ turns out to be an enemy, Natra will take on Rean, and I’ll deal with Ms. Vestacia and Ms. Lyritisse. Rufna will handle the rest. Sarah and Serena will assist Rufna. Natra and I will not need any help.”
”Got it,” came the reply. “But are you sure you’re really okay handling 2 magicians?”
”I’m fine.”
He nodded back at the worried Sarah and glanced at Priscilla.
The white-haired witch had just summoned the ghost of a gentleman with that infamous mask and a lady ghost.
With her 2 familiars behind her, she placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the scene confidently.
”I really hope this battle preparation doesn’t end up being for nothing. I’m all set. I’m good to go anytime, Lord Kian.”
* * *
He moved forward alongside Natra into the open area.
Exiting from the courtyard encircled by crumbling stone walls──which were more like remnants of a castle──they were greeted by a vast expanse ahead.
If the square was the mouth of a jar, then as they progressed, the flat land opened up like the belly of the jar, fanning outwards.
The ground beyond the square turned into a worn cobblestone path.
It looked like they were indeed at the site of a temple, and about 50 meters ahead, a massive female statue atop a round pedestal came into view.
Kian had been observing from the square but was momentarily stunned by the statue’s silhouette emerging from the milky fog.
The 5-meter tall statue of the woman was incredibly intricate and appeared untouched by moss or rain, even in the forest.
Her image featured countless serpent-like tendrils for hair and magnificent eagle-like wings on her back, portraying a graceful young woman.
Kian didn’t know which religion or god this goddess──though “evil god” might be a better word──belonged to, but she gave off a strange, disgusting yet oddly seductive vibe that felt like it could corrupt his soul.
The round pedestal the goddess stood barefoot on was studded with Black Onyx, a symbol said to ward off evil.
(Looks like the perfect kind of pedestal to massage your feet.)
’I see. I guess I can’t expect you to have any sense of aesthetics.’
”That’s Erynys, daughter of the Abyss. Not really a god, more like a wicked monster. But myths say powerful monsters like her are basically indistinguishable from gods.”
Priscilla stepped forward, staring up at the grotesque statue with fascinated eyes.
Rufna tried to stop her from moving closer, but she ignored her and touched the pedestal with her fingers.
”The cult that worshipped Erynys was branded heretical and crushed by the Western Church, which destroys demons. It’s said no followers remain──it’s a dead religion now.”
”Those wings mimic God Azrael’s… but she looks like a freakish monster to me. I can’t believe any religion ever worshiped something so disgusting.”
”From Azrael’s devout followers’ view, that’s probably unbelievable──more like unforgivable.”
”────”
”Look, there are copper coins tossed at her feet. These are apostate coins. Seems devotees of Erynys still come here regularly.”
”Could that be the lich we’re hunting?”
At Natra’s question, Priscilla picked up a coin and replied.
”Likely. The lich summoned this demonic deity to trick the queen of the underworld. It’s a pact to hide its reincarnation. Using Erynys is brilliant, but a terrible way to get eternal life. The body ends up as filthy filth, just like this disgusting monster. Reaching out was wasted effort.”
”What are you talking about?”
Sarah gave Priscilla a suspicious look.
But neither she, Kian, nor anyone else there had time to dig deeper into Priscilla’s words.
Suddenly, a jet-black haze erupted from the broken stone, surrounding Kian and the others.
The mist surged up from between the broken cobblestones, eventually forming 5 large, humanoid figures, each as big as Kian.
”────”
Pale hands burst out from the 5 figures made of mist.
A low, eerie moan echoed, pressing down on them.
Soon, heavily armored giants emerged from the black haze, with bear pelts as decoration.
They were grizzled veterans with unshaven faces.
You could see how their shoulder muscles bulged even through their armor.
They quickly drew swords, spears, staffs, and crossbows, taking up battle stances.
A white-haired swordsman, who seemed to be the leader, swung his greatsword – a claymore – that was as tall as he was, and held it horizontally at his shoulder, pointing the tip at the rearguard magician (Priscilla).
Serena’s eyes widened.
”…! These guys!”
”It matches the characteristics of the ‘Gray Bear’s Group’. They seem to be unconscious.”
Priscilla said, waving her umbrella, but the leader of the ‘Gray Bear’s Group’ didn’t move.
His hawk-like eyes glowed with a dull red light.
”……”
Without panicking, Natra readied her ‘Thorn magic sword’ next to her.
Sarah and Rufna also took up their weapons, stepping in front of Priscilla.
”Protect the 5 quest targets. If possible, cut off their limbs. It would be a shame if they couldn’t do business.”
”Yes. …!? Sir Kian!”
Natra’s sharp voice.
A strong wave of magic power came from the mist beyond the statue.
Kian calmly turned to look.
In the next Leap, the cobblestones undulated like a living thing, becoming large stakes that shot out from the ground, trying to impale Kian.
In front of the frozen Kian, Natra shattered the rock stakes with her ‘Thorn magic sword’, blocking the attack.
It seems there are enemies other than ‘Gray Bear’s Group’ lurking in the fog.
Rean and the others’ magic power can’t be felt.
It’s probably Lich themselves, who’s eaten the soldiers’ innards.
’Kian!’
(Ah, I can already see them… There’s no escaping from me.)
Kian was casting a shadow in the fog as he turned his back and ran towards the rear of the square.
”Kian!””Kian, are you okay!?”
”I’m fine. More importantly, it looks like the group is making their entrance.”
On either side of the ‘Gray Bear’s Group’ members, who were taking a defensive stance, black clay figures were emerging from the ground, 2 on each side.
About 2 meters tall, they resemble the golems Christy handles, but from their chest area, reddish-purple bramble vines like veins pulsate with a “thud, thud” rhythm.
”Natra, Rufna. Leave this place to me. I’m going to kill the caster.”
”Ki, Kian!?””No, Sir Kian, acting alone is dangerous! I will chase the caster.”
”Only I can catch them. I’m counting on you.”
Sarah and Serena were too distracted, and Natra, who didn’t want to leave Kian alone, tensed her leg muscles with a “click” as she spoke.
Kian made a motion to crouch down, then with inhuman leg strength, he leaped over the head of a ‘Gray Bear’s Group’ member wielding a crossbow in an instant.
Like a well-trained advanced-rank adventurer, the crossbow wielder reacted swiftly, aiming at Kian’s landing point to loose an arrow, but unfortunately for him, the Windsong Blade has an arrow-deflecting ability.
A white whirlwind swirled, easily sweeping the crossbow’s arrow into the air and rendering it harmless.
Sarah slashes at the crossbow wielder as he turns to flee.
Further into the square from the statue of Erynys.
Kian’s vampire Magic Eye revealed a large cave resembling an underground monastery ahead.
* * *
The temple of Erynys was vast.
Perhaps at the time of its construction, it expanded its grounds against the backdrop of the ‘Snow Past of the Giant’ mountain range.
As you move deeper into the Giant Statue Plaza, you find stone paving, stone steps, then more stone paths, all designed kindly for pilgrims.
On either side, rows of decayed wooden huts stand where believers once lived, and at the far end, a sheer cliff looms, barely visible through the swirling mist.
A supernatural sense tells you that beyond that carved rock face lies the cave you’re searching for.
’Kian, watch out for the statue!’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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