episode_0039

A couple of hours later.

The warrior party arrived at their destination, Mirror Lake.

The water is so clear that the bottom of the lake is clearly visible.

Flowers and trees blooming all around the lake, and the fresh air that seems to purify your mind just by breathing it in.

It is indeed a fantastic sight, worthy of being called the sanctuary of the elves…

A vicious swarm of black lizards scurrying across the lake, tearing at their prey, wreaking havoc on everything.

Could it be because they live in a living environment with no natural enemies and an abundance of prey?

They were growing fat and increasing their numbers, engulfing the entire lake in their sphere of influence.

— Jieeeeing….

After determining the number and distribution of basilisks using color magic.

I explained the plan to the party members and cast a waterwalking spell on everyone.

“Then…. Stay on standby until I give the signal. Zion, let’s go.”

“……Yeah!”

After answering in an unprecedentedly strong tone.

Zion ran across the lake with unstoppable momentum.

After that.

The that I planned unfolded in the following order.

First, Zion and I quickly move around and attack the basilisks on the outskirts of the lake.

The important thing here is not to inflict damage that would make them wary, but to only inflict scratches to provoke their anger and sense of territory.

No matter how intelligent you are, your true nature is that of a monster.

They simply fell for our provocations….

Zion and I split up to the east and west, maintaining a close distance and gradually gathering aggro.

And after attracting as many Basilisks as possible, contact Zion and the Flame to check the situation.

We led them towards the center of the lake where Julia and Krimhilt were waiting.

And the moment they all entered the area–

Krimhilt creates a sacred realm as Sanctuary and imprisons them.

I use great magic that I have invested enough time and mana to deal with as many enemies as possible in one hit.

“– .”

— Kwaaah….!!

“Keeek…!!”

“Gyaaa …

“Kirruk, kick, kirick….!!”

Basilisks that glow and spew venom like crazy.

But it is impossible to leave the sacred realm of Sanctuary….

They were swallowed by the exploding flames and turned into piles of ash one after another.

After wiping out about 80% of the basilisks.

After removing the leaked poison with the purification crystals, we moved again and dealt with the remaining basilisks one by one.

It took a considerable amount of time to thoroughly and meticulously dispose of them without leaving behind any chicks or eggs to prevent them from reproducing again….

By the time the last basilisk was dealt with, it was already midnight.

“Whaaa…. I’m tired…..”

Krimhilt, lying face down on the lake, complaining in a listless voice.

This girl’s passive skill is that she can just lie down anywhere when she’s a little tired…

— Sreung….

After carefully wiping the blade, which was stained with the blood and venom of the basilisks, with a cloth, he sharpened it.

Julia looked around and spoke.

“I guess there aren’t any left.”

“Yes. There is no longer any response to the color spell, and I have searched all the shallow areas of the bushes and lakesides where the eggs might be hidden… I think it is safe to say that it has been completely taken care of. It would be enough to contact the Yggdra Forest and ask the elves to take another look.”

“Yes. I think this is enough. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you all for your hard work~”

“…If you’re going to say something like that, at least stand up and say it.”

at that time.

“Over there, over there…..”

Zion spoke with an expression of unprecedented embarrassment.

“………?”

“Why are you like that, Sister Zion?”

“………….”

“This time…. I’m really grateful. On behalf of the elf clan of Yggdra Forest, I’d like to express my gratitude to the three of you. ”

“………”

“You’ve worked so hard for our hometown…. I feel like no amount of words can express my gratitude enough.”

“………..”

“I will repay this debt by any means necessary. And I swear that until the day I die, I will never betray you three.”

“……….”

After a moment of silence.

Julia shook her head with a small smile.

“Hehehe….. Mr. Zion, you know how to make that kind of expression. You always have that cold, expressionless face… Honestly, it was a bit refreshing.”

“Ugh…..”

“There’s no need to be so serious. We’re all in the same party. We should help each other and lend each other our strength when needed.”

“That’s right~. Last time when Luna was captured, didn’t you help Zion unnie so hard? If you keep worrying about every little thing like that, it’ll be so tiring that it’ll be hard to live~.”

“……….”

No, you need to pay more attention.

“Yeah…. Thank you…..”

Three people sharing a friendship in an unprecedentedly warm atmosphere.

As for me, I couldn’t help but feel complicated emotions that are hard to explain….

While taking a step back and observing the situation.

–Thud…thud, thud…thud….

The sound of creepy footsteps echoed across the lakeside.

…..you’re here.

“That…. Hehehehehe…. Hehe…..”

A malicious laugh.

What came into the sight of the party members who were flinching and looking towards each other was…..

It was the short-haired elf, Agnes, who led the Elven Forest Rangers.

Even though my ribs were broken by Zion’s arrows and I was blackened by my lightning magic.

She has been chasing us here with a terrible obsession.

— Paaat….

Did he sense her ominous malice?

This time, aiming an arrow without removing the tip, Zion asked in a cold tone.

“Why did you follow me here? As you can see, the Basilisk rescue is already complete.”

“Huh, huhuhuhuhuhu…. Hehe…..”

“……….?”

“That’s right….. Well done, you did it…. Hehehe….. So cleanly…. All of the basilisks…..”

The next moment.

— Phew….!!

With the dagger she was hiding in her bosom–

He stabbed himself in the chest.

“Huh…?”

“Ah, no… Mr. Anies? What are you doing now…..”

— Gulp….

Black blood bursting out and flowing out.

“Do you know? Zion. I… have hated you so much since long ago…..”

“………..!”

“That arrogant attitude, that cold gaze, that look of contempt as if I were trash… Everything… was so hateful…”

“……..”

“So…. In order to surpass you…. I’ve been putting my all into it…. And now here, once again…. I want to see, endure, and tolerate you being praised as the hero of the clan…? Hehehe…. It’d be better to just die….”

“You…. No way…. ….!!”

“Yes…. Hehe…. I thought I’d stab you in the heart someday… but I never thought… that I’d write it to myself…”

A magical sword containing the curse of a dark elf who died four hundred years ago, cursing the elf clan.

The curse resonates with Agnes’s hatred, mutating her blood into a poison that cannot even be purified.

“If my cursed blood flows through the lake’s waters…. it will cause pollution that is incomparable to the venom of the Basilisk…? Maybe the entire World Tree will rot in an instant….”

“You bastard…..!!”

“Would you like to shoot? Hehe… I’d definitely welcome it…? If your arrow filled with hatred pierces the heart, Sargas’s toxicity might be amplified several times, dozens of times…?”

“Ugh…..!!”

“Hehehehehehe…. I, really… feel good…. How I’ve missed seeing that expression on your face….. huh, huhhehehehe… huhhe….”

“………..”

“Live the rest of your life…. in regret and despair….. Keuhehehe…. In regret that your entire clan…. was destroyed because of your mistake…..!!”

Is it possible that he no longer has the strength to stand?

Agnes, sitting on the lakebed, writhing and spitting out madness.

After admiring her madness for a moment.

I started talking while walking leisurely.

“Are you an idiot?”

“……What?”

“If you wanted to do something like that, you should have just quietly hidden away and done it. What’s so great about coming out in front of me like this and talking nonsense? ”

“Ugh…. What are you…. A lowly race…. Phew….. Don’t, meddle….!!”

Agnes is wary of me, spewing out harsh insults.

Ignoring her, he dipped his hand into the lake water.

I called her name in my mind.

‘Luagard.’

— Guuu…..

In the original, the story was about the warrior being purified by the power of the holy sword…

Using Luagat’s power, I swallowed up all the poison and resentment contained in the blood.

“………..”

The lake water, which had been polluted by poison, was purified in an instant.

Agnes trembled with shock, unable to close her mouth.

“Everyone, everyone…. You…. Uh, how….. This……”

“I’m the type of wizard who feeds on resentment and hatred to increase my magical power. Sorry, but the vomit you threw up was the best food for me.”

“That, that extreme…. ughhh……”

“That’s too bad, you piece of trash. All the stupid things you did, risking your life, were in vain.”

“That, ah…. Aaaah …

Howling and crying like a tantrum.

Agnes tried to thrust Sargas’ dagger at my chest, but–

— Paaang….!!

Zion’s arrows flying across the atmosphere.

It pierced through her forehead… Agnes died in an instant without even being able to scream.

After that.

After we collected Agnes’ body, we led the carriage away from Mirror Lake.

Julia asked Zion, “Shouldn’t we stop by the forest and report?”

Zion refused the visit, citing the following reason: ‘In the current situation, various misunderstandings are piling up, making proper dialogue impossible. In the worst case, there is a possibility that they will punish us or declare war on humans using our actions as an excuse.’

Since I also agreed with Zion’s opinion, we decided to return to the Labyrinth City without stopping by the forest.

Hand over Agnes’ body to the remnants of the Elven Forest Rangers we encountered along the way.

After roughly telling them what had happened, he left a message telling them to stop by Mirror Lake in the near future to check if there were any basilisk eggs or larvae left.

For reference, this is something you can find out if you visit the forest in the original.

In fact, not all of the elven tribes of the Yggdra Forest agreed to the Basilisk subjugation.

The elders’ council was fiercely divided in opinion, and the general public was said to be leaning toward waiting and watching the situation.

In that situation, radical youths, including Agnes, persuaded several elders and received permission to enter and exit the barrier, and then moved unilaterally.

Therefore, even if you visit the forest now, there is a high probability that no major problems will occur…

Because there is a corruption event that can only be progressed by setting up this ‘Isolation from Clan’ flag.

I pretended to respect Zion’s wishes and adjusted my opinion to not visit the Yggdra Forest.

like that.

We loaded our tired bodies onto the carriage and headed back to the labyrinth city.