I recalled the conversation from last night.
After I said we should erase the mountain, the party had fallen silent.
That was when Trail told us that Idria had stopped watching us.
I spoke out loud, now feeling comfortable.
“If you have got something to say, go ahead. You can speak freely now. Looks like Idria stopped monitoring us.”
Neril was the first to ask.
“Ha. Are you seriously saying we should erase a mountain just to break the shadow sorcery?”
“That’s right.”
“Do you hear yourself? That’s like declaring a national emergency to catch a petty thief.”
“It may sound extreme, but given the circumstances, it’s the most efficient solution. Better than cutting down every tree and smashing every boulder on the mountain.”Neril stayed silent, she seemed to agree on that point at least.
Then Xenia spoke up.
“The problem is, how are we supposed to erase a mountain?”
“Neril’s going to use her disintegration spell.”
Neril’s brow twitched.
“Even disintegration spell has its limits. Erasing an entire mountain is impossible. The spell will run out halfway.”
“Adwin, summon Beyond’s Soul. He’s the one who taught you the hand sign for layering disintegration magic on objects. He might be able to show us how to amplify the spell too.”
“…Even then, there’s still a problem.”
“Let me finish explaining the plan first.”
I continued to explain to the party.
“When the mountain disappears, no matter which tree or rock’s shadow he’s hiding in, the sorcery will be broken. He will probably panic and turn into green smoke. If not, we will just kill him on the spot.”
“Hm.”
“Then, as planned, Lisel will gather his smoke into one place. And finally, Offense will…”
“Scatter poison powder. Got it.”
Serein asked with anticipation.
“What about me? What do I do?”
“Cheer us on?”
“…”
“Just kidding. Actually, you are the most important.”
I turned to Neril.
“The problem you mentioned earlier, it’s that the vitality in the Gem of Desolation isn’t enough to erase the mountain, right?”
Neril looked slightly surprised.
“You knew?”
“It’s been a while since we got the gem from Lior territory. We have used it a lot since then. I figured it was about time it needed a recharge.”
“You really are amazing.”
“Don’t worry. We can recharge it using Serein’s divine power.”
Serein gave me a dumbfounded look.
“Wait. You’re not saying that’s my role, are you?”
“Ah, right. You have got that monstrous divine power.”
“Excuse me?”
“So, can you do it?”
“Hey!”
Neril turned to us and spoke,
“But divine power and vitality are pretty different. I’m not really used to converting attributes like that.”
I thought for a moment, then looked at Adwin.
“Then we will need someone who is used to it.”
“You mean Iori Ortix? He did convert the lifespans of villagers into mana back in my homeland.”
“Yep. And by the way, no need to say ‘sir’ or ‘lord’ with him.”
“You really don’t like him, huh.”
Adwin chanted the summoning spell.
Soon, Iori’s voice came through Adwin’s mouth.
Instead of a greeting, he said:
“Hmph. Still the same bunch of dazed-looking fools.”
“Oh, and you still have that arrogant face.”
“Watch your mouth, never mind. Anyway, stop calling Lady Lepia. She’s extremely busy.”
“Funny, she’s the one who usually comes on her own. But whatever, let’s move on. I need you to convert Serein’s divine power into mana.”
Serein shouted.
“What am I, Xenia’s meat stash or something?!”
“Hm. That is quite a formidable divine power.”
“Haa…”
“But it still won’t be enough.”
That caught me off guard.
“Really? I thought it would be sufficient.”
“There’s always a loss when converting one type of energy into another. Can’t believe a so-called hero doesn’t know that.”
“I don’t need to know everything just because I’m a hero.”
“Still good at backtalk, I see. Anyway, you will be about 20% short. Even with the remaining energy in that so-called Gem of Desolation.”
I scratched my head.
Should I borrow some of Xenia’s divine power too?
That’s when Iori continued.
“How many people live in this territory?”
“Hmm? About three million, I think.”
“Then if you take a bit of their lifespans, you should be able to make up the missing 20%.”
Oh.
That’s a good…wait, no. That’s definitely not okay.
“Not their lifespans. Just use their vitality. I don’t want to get cursed out like you.”
“Sorry, but I don’t know how to extract vitality directly. Only divine power or lifespans.”
“That’s fine. The Gem of Desolation can do it. I will gather as many people as I can tomorrow, then use the gem to absorb their energy. Just stop when we have enough.”
Iori grumbled.
“If Lady Lepia hadn’t ordered me to cooperate no matter what…”
“Perfect. If you don’t do it right, I will tattle on you to Lady Lepia next time.”
“…”
“Well then, no problems with the plan, right? Let’s get some rest.”
Serein muttered that there was a big problem, but nobody listened.
It breaks my heart to see how Serein was starting to get treated like Offense these days.
Then again, she is getting back exactly what she used to give him, so maybe it’s just karma.
That’s when Neril spoke.
“No, there’s a flaw in this plan.”
“What is it?”
“You’re planning to absorb the villagers’ energy? That’s exactly what the Martial King did.”
“…”
“Even if everything works out, won’t that damage your reputation?”
A sharp observation.
But did she really think I hadn’t considered that?
I smiled and replied.
“You are right. That’s why I plan to ask for their consent first.”
“Hmm. Will they really agree so easily?”
“They will. I’m sure of it.”
I continued calmly.
“Don’t you think they want revenge too?”
And so now, I was asking the villagers for their consent.
“You all were probably living peaceful lives. Maybe not wealthy, but at least you weren’t waking up every morning wishing tomorrow wouldn’t come.”
“…”
“The smoke that bound you in invisible chains and tormented you, it’s hidden deep in that mountain.”
Their expressions began to change.
I shouted with all my might.
“That smoke is hiding deep within the mountain. To get rid of it, we must erase the entire mountain!”
“H-How is that even possible?”
“We can’t do it alone. As I said, we need your help.”
“We will do anything!”
Good.
The villagers had once tried to hold us back out of fear of their withdrawal symptoms.
But it wasn’t because they thought that was the real solution.
The true solution is to eliminate the smoke.
They just hadn’t known how and now that I’d told them, it was only natural that life returned to their eyes.
“From now on, we would like to borrow your strength.”
“…”
“You will probably feel exhausted afterward. Completely drained. But is that all right with you?”
A moment of silence passed.
Then…
“WOOOOAH!”
“Use our power as much as you need!”
“If it will get rid of that damned smoke, we will give you anything!”
“Sniff… thank you. Thank you for giving us this chance!”
Now, everything was ready.
Offense clicked his tongue.
“Come to think of it, we are doing the exact same thing that so-called Martial King did. But the reactions couldn’t be more different.”
“This is the difference between getting consent and not getting it.”
“Your scheming is as refined as ever. I always think that.”
“I will take that as a compliment. Anyway, shall we get started?”
Neril swiftly formed a hand sign.
Last night, she had stayed up studying disintegration magic with Beyond, whom Adwin had summoned.
And finally, they had succeeded in dramatically improving the already terrifying disintegration spell.
“I’m ready, Mide.”
“Great. Serein.”
“Uuugh.”
Serein made a miserable face and placed her hand over Neril’s.
More precisely, over the Gem of Desolation resting on her hand.
Neril spoke.
“Just so you know, this won’t feel good.”
“I have been feeling awful ever since I got treated like Xenia’s meat. So it’s fine.”
“That’s a relief. Thanks.”
“That was sarcasm, you know?”
“Let’s begin, Iori.”
“I just need to convert this priestess’s divine power into mana, right? How much divine power should I leave behind?”
“Scrape up everything you can. Serein will be thrilled.”
“Hey.”
“Let’s do it. Honestly, it looks like she’s blessed by the Celestial God. She will probably be fine after a good night’s sleep.”
“Blessing, my frozen foot.”
With that, Iori began converting Serein’s divine power into mana.
Serein’s face grew pale.
Xenia with her eyes glistening, spoke.
“I will share my lunch with you later, Serein.”
“Shuuuuut uuup.”
“To still have the energy to speak… You really are amazing.”
Xenia is definitely the scariest one.
I turned to Neril and said:
“Alright, now let’s absorb vitality to make up the shortfall.”
“Yeah.”
Tap tap.
Neril tapped the Gem with her finger.
And then, a flickering haze began to rise among the villagers.
It was the Gem’s function that we had seen before when we uncovered the Martial King’s secret, the ability to absorb vitality.
“Uugh.”
“I feel dizzy.”
“My stomach’s churning. Gasp…”
“Come on, everyone, just hang in there a little longer.”
“Yeah. The Hero is using our power. It’s an honor, really!”
Thankfully, because we had gotten their consent in advance, there was no backlash among the villagers.
About ten minutes later…
The divine power converted from Serein, and the life force extracted from the villagers, had all gathered within the Gem of Desolation.
Iori withdrew the spell and said:
“Hmm. This should be enough.”
Serein collapsed like seaweed soaked in water.
“Huff… I think I’m going to die…”
“That was some fine-quality divine power. Not bad for someone who’s not even a noble.”
“I’m too drained to even curse you.”
Serein dropped heavily to the ground.
I smiled and gave her shoulder a pat in appreciation for her effort.
“I will be counting on you again next time.”
“Next time? There’s a next time?”
“Anyway, Neril, how’s the people’s vitality?”
“All set. Should I activate it now?”
“Hold on. Since we have gathered this much…”
I pointed toward the mountain with my index finger.
Then I shouted, loud and proud:
“Idria, Demon King of Lies and Deception!”
“Gasp.”
“The vile deeds committed by your underlings end today. Watch with gritted teeth as another one of your fingers is severed!”
The villagers murmured and crouched down.
“W-What was that sound?”
“Did he say Demon King?”
“So that smoke really was…”
“Is the Demon King nearby?”
I thought they were reacting well and glanced at my party members.
“Neril. Go ahead.”
“…”
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“You are just so consistent, that’s all.”
Neril, already mid-chant, was weaving her disintegration spell.
Soon, she cast her magic.
“Transcendent Disintegration!”
Looks like she gave it a new name to distinguish it from regular disintegration.
Still, “Transcendent Disintegration”?
Neril’s naming sense is a little worrying.
[Agreed, but you’re not one to talk.]
I ignored the voice and watched the spectacle unfold.
The disintegration spells Neril used in the capital or before the regression were spear like in form.
This time was very different.
No, technically, they were still spears, but…
‘There’s… way too many.’
Thousands of disintegration spears floated in the sky.
If they could block out light, it would have looked like the sun had been covered out and darkness had fallen.
Neril gave a powerful command.
“Fly!”
Thousands of spears surged across the sky all at once.
They flew straight toward the mountain behind us and pierced into it.
And then…
K-KKAAANG!
The mountains began to erode.
Every place a spear struck vanished within a radius of several dozen meters.
Thousands of such spears.
It was like watching a giant block of cheese being riddled with holes.
“Am… Am I dreaming?”
“I never thought I would witness something like this.”
“The mountain’s really disappearing!”
“This happened because the Hero used our strength, right?”
“Aaah. To think we could actually help the Hero…”
It was then…
When about two-thirds of the mountain had been erased, something changed.
“KRAAAAGH!”
A tortured shriek rang out from midair.
From the vanishing mountain, something began to rise.
Green smoke.
It dodged the falling spears and shot high into the distant sky.
Offense shouted:
“The sorcery is broken! The shadow he was hiding in was disintegrated too!”
I clenched my fist and called out:
“Xenia!”
“Yes. Agril, come!”
Agril dove from the sky at blinding speed.
We all climbed onto his back.
Neril, placing her hand on his back, was breathing heavily.
“Haah, haah… Just leave me behind. I don’t think I will be much help now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I spent too much focus on that Transcendent Disintegration spell…”
“But you used the vitality from the Gem of Desolation, didn’t you?”
“You think spells activate with just mana?”
Iori added to her explanation.
“Indeed. She’s right. A spell of that magnitude would have drained her mental strength. She needs rest. Honestly, I’m amazed she’s even conscious.”
“Alright, old man, your job’s done. Time to go.”
“W-What? Wait…”
Swoosh.
Adwin forcibly extracted Iori’s soul.
When that happened to Beyond, I felt a bit bad. But with Iori, it just felt refreshing.
Adwin returned Iori to the underworld and turned to Neril.
“I will help you recover your mental strength.”
“It’s times like this that having a necromancer around is great. Healing spells can’t fix this kind of exhaustion.”
“Kuahaha. So you finally realized the value of this great me! But regret always comes too late.”
“You sure pop up with the weirdest lines.”
Serein rolled across Agril’s back and crawled toward Adwin.
“Me too…”
“Foolish one. Even I, friend of the dead, cannot restore divine power.”
“Ugh. Your way of speaking makes it even more annoying.”
So to summarize: Neril, Serein, and Adwin were effectively out of commission.
Well, that was already accounted for in the plan, so it didn’t matter.
That’s when Xenia spoke.
“We are here. The green smoke.”
Just as she said, it was writhing right before our eyes.
It looked as if it were struggling to remember its original form.
Lisel commented:
“It looks like it’s in pain.”
“Maybe one of the disintegration spears hit it. It’s definitely smaller than it was the other day.”
Disintegration magic erases even gases, all the way down to their final link.
But that green smoke had a will, it was alive.
It had likely severed parts of its own body that were about to be disintegrated.
“In that case, this is perfect. I will begin.”
“Go ahead.”
Lisel brought the trumpet to her lips and called the spirits.
BWOOOOOM.
A powerful wind blew through.
The wind passed over us and swept toward the green smoke.
“Graaagh…”
Hyran screamed in agony.
The wind spirits pressed and gathered the smoke from all directions, shrinking it bit by bit.
“Offense.”
By the time I said his name, Offense had already untied the pouch.
He flung the powder into the air.
Then he shouted harshly,
“I don’t feel the slightest bit sorry for killing you twice!”
TL: Bro, Serein is a monster. She single-handedly recharged a Demon King’s core to full, considering the vitality of 3 million residents only makes up about twenty percent. The Fourth Demon King would have had a field day if she had been part of the Fourth Generation.