Ch.281Grown NPC. (7)

“First, you and the kids.”

[!!]

“Gor?!!!”

The priest suddenly appears right in front of me, pushing past Ray and reaching out his arm. If he can use that demon’s ability from earlier, just touching his body would definitely tear us apart. And his movements are too fast for me to react properly now…!!!

[Giant Form!!!]

-CRACKLE!!!

[AAAGH?!!!]

-BOOM!!!

Unlike before, my hastily used Giant Form couldn’t exceed 5 meters, and as his hand touched my regenerated leg, my thigh was torn away as if it had been ripped off, causing me to fall backward.

[Sla Mime Golem: Level 403]

[HP: 62,351]

[MP: 96]

[Ugh… damn it, does both the demon and this man have some grudge against my legs?! Is it my leg line? Is my leg line the problem? Are you telling me to make my legs prettier?!]

“Gor!! This is no time for jokes…!!”

“Puhh! That’s right, Golem. If that size is your maximum, then two more touches and you’re all dead, understand?”

The man closes the distance created by our size difference in an instant and reaches out his arm again. I properly protect Lady Ira and Miss Grace with one hand while swinging the other.

[Why don’t YOU die like a fly. Baldy.]

“Huh?!”

-CRASH!!!

[Skill: [Absorption] additional effect activated.]

[Absorption Effect: Eat to become stronger. Absorb lesser spirits to gain their attributes. Attributes disappear after 2 attacks. The power of attribute attacks is proportional to the absorbed lesser spirit’s stats + MP usage.]

Using the ability of the intermediate rock spirit I had eaten earlier, I strike him with my gauntlet and send him flying, but as expected, my gauntlet gets torn apart as if gnawed by mice.

Indeed. If I hadn’t had this, my arm would have been ripped off.

[Ray, I…]

“I know!! Don’t worry and escape with the children!!!”

[Holy Empire High Priest (Superior Demon of Greed absorbed): Level 495]

[HP: 198,642]

Unlike the demon from earlier, his HP is properly depleted, but there’s no way to win with this unreasonable war of attrition. I start fleeing like a dog with one leg cut off, using my remaining leg and arm, while Ray begins launching Elven Arcane Sword slashes at him to protect our retreat.

[If only I could put Lady Ira down and fight properly…!!!]

As I flee with thundering steps from my enlarged body, I can hear Ray desperately fighting him behind me. I understand his level has risen considerably based on his status window, but that abnormal strength and speed is incomprehensible. No, wait.

[So he absorbed all the holy power from the other combat priests to increase his defense and physical abilities? He’s truly insane.]

The missing priests, the suddenly appearing burned High Priest, and the way he absorbed the demon earlier. Clearly, he devoured the other priests just like he ate that demon.

Honestly, I can’t tell who’s the Demon of Greed and who’s the human anymore.

“Argh!! Seriously!!! What’s with everyone today?! Both this guy and that guy completely absorbing my slashes!!! This is cheating! Cheating!!!”

“Tch, attacks without mana infusion? My mistake, I should have killed you first.”

[-Profession: Given Swordsman- Level: 432 Name: Ray Sol. Age: 21.]

[Strength: 296]

[Agility: 561]

[Intelligence: 56]

[Luck: 109]

[HP: 4,191]

[MP: 161]

Though she allowed a surprise attack due to his unexpectedly fast movement, Ray has now properly activated her skills and begun to seriously block him with agility that has already surpassed Master’s level, perfectly keeping him at bay. However, the unfortunate thing is that she’s an agility-based dealer. A swordsman whose strength lies in multiple attacks.

She could literally massacre enemies who are at her level or slightly weaker, but if they’re a bit tougher or stronger than her, her attacks won’t be very effective. After all, her strength is only half of mine, despite my lower level.

[Later, I should tell Master that Ray’s weapon needs to be enhanced.]

Her sword is durable, but not enough to double her attack power. Moreover, the opponent is a monster who devours even swords when attacked directly. If more monsters like this appear in the future, our coordination alone would be truly insufficient. After finishing that thought, I put all my effort into creating distance…

-SLASH!!!

“Huh?”

“Die.”

[Holy Empire High Priest (Superior Demon of Greed absorbed): Level 495]

[HP: 179,962]

[Eh?]

The moment blood appeared on his body for the first time, Ray completely gave up her spacing. Yes. He couldn’t approach because of the delay from eating Ray’s slashes, but conversely, if he was willing to take the slashes head-on to reach her, it was possible. Oh, no!!!

-WHOOSH!!

“Ugh!!!”

Ray jumped backward without even properly assuming a stance, but his movements are faster. His hand is about to touch her chest…!!!

“PIYAAAH!!!”

-BOOOM!!!

“KYAAAH!!!”

“GUGH?!!”

[URGH…!!!]

Just before the priest’s hand touched Ray’s chest, Piyaki, who had been sitting on Grace’s shoulder all this time, let out a loud cry, causing a massive explosion between them. And as Ray flew backward defenseless, unable to properly defend against the explosion, I threw myself with all my might to catch her with my body, and my large form collapsed sideways with a loud thud.

“Piit! Piyak!!”

[Ah, I see. Even though Lady Ira is asleep, you can still use spirit magic with your own mana thanks to her skill, right?]

“Pit, piyak!!”

I sigh with relief looking at the small chick (according to Lady Ira) proudly puffing out its chest. At least Ray doesn’t have any major injuries, and her HP hasn’t decreased much. Only…

[She’s unconscious, isn’t she?]

“Piiit…”

Despite being caught in the tremendous explosion, Ray never let go of her sword and is now collapsed with disheveled hair on my slime liquid, unable to open her eyes. I understand that Piyaki saved Ray, but at this rate…

“Fuck. I’m absolutely going to kill that spirit bastard. Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill KILL!!!”

[We’re screwed.]

“Piit.”

I’m in a state with one leg cut off. Ray, our only hope, is unconscious from the rescue explosion. Moreover, if I get separated from Lady Ira, I’ll just become a pretty stone. Furthermore.

[Piyaki. Can’t you do something about this? You’re a Phoenix over level 600, aren’t you?]

“Pi, piii…”

The spirit pecks at Lady Ira’s hair with its beak, seemingly saying it can’t use its full power while she’s asleep. We really are screwed. But wait, didn’t you burn that baldy? You should have finished him perfectly. What good is just burning his hair roots?

“Piiiii….”

[…Fine. No choice then. [Giant Form]]

-BOOM!!!

[Sla Mime Golem: Level 403]

[HP: 62,351]

[MP: 46]

Growing to maximum size, I immediately sit down due to my severed leg. To think I’d have to do something I usually only do with Master at a time like this.

[Piyaki, please. I’ll wrap everyone in my slime liquid, but that alone won’t be enough. You need to somehow manage everyone’s landing. Can you do it?]

“Piit! Piiit!!”

[That means you can, right?]

“Piit!”

I smile slightly at the spirit vigorously flapping its wings in affirmation. With no way to counter that monster, I have no other option. After all, I’m not Master.

[I’m going to throw you toward Grace’s mansion. Please wake everyone up and escape when you arrive.]

“Pit!!”

[Heh. You listen well. Then…]

-Slurp.

I wrap everyone in slime liquid from my body, and create another soft sphere on top to make multiple layers of sturdy, soft protection. With this, even if Piyaki fails the landing, at least they won’t all die by my hand in some absurd outcome.

[Tell Lady Ira I’ll return to her soon.]

“……”

Piyaki doesn’t answer my final words. But I immediately lift them high and then…

-WHOOSH!!!

I throw them away, just like when I threw Master.

*

-BOOM!!!

“…What now.”

Just when I thought the spirit that burned me was interfering again and I was shouting in rage, this time the giant golem threw something and then collapsed sideways. And then.

-THUD!

Not long after, the leg-severed golem returned to the size of an ordinary woman and fell to the ground. But where did all those women go? Wait, could it be.

“…Did it throw them? With that body? Was it suicide? No. Did it kill its companions?”

I shake my head as I imagine the worst outcome for me. This is just ‘my worst outcome.’ Probably, they had a way to survive even after being thrown like that, so they escaped that way.

“Damn it, you think I’ll let you get away?”

First, I decide to absorb the mana from the collapsed golem in front of me. And the direction they flew in. I only saw it roughly, but it’s probably toward Count Mueller’s mansion. And with my current state, after absorbing 60 priests I brought and even a superior demon, I can definitely chase them with these legs. After finishing my calculations, I immediately approached the golem, whose pupils had lost their light like a dead body.

No, since it’s a golem, I can’t say it was alive in the first place.

“I wanted to make you beg for your life, to beg me not to kill your masters. What a shame. Well, it seems you still have some mana left. Watch your master die from within that mana.”

A golem that speaks and thinks was quite rare, but that has nothing to do with our empire’s purpose. I’ll gather all their mana, go to the empire, and offer my body to contribute the mana. For that purpose, I placed my hand on the golem’s body…

-CRACK!!!

[How absurd. Of all places, you try to put your hand on my chest. Well, my figure is quite voluptuous, isn’t it?]

“?!!”

The golem’s arm, which had been lying limp like a corpse until just now, suddenly moved to grab my arm, and I stepped back in surprise…

-CRASH!!!

“URGH?!!!”

With a speed more ridiculous than any attack I’d suffered so far, a fist flew at me, making me feel as if my nose and facial bones were all being crushed. This bastard, was it pretending…!!!

[Geez. Master is really too much. Seriously, couldn’t you have returned a little sooner? I made such a big show about sacrificing this body, and only now I can move again?]

“Y-You bastard…!!!”

I immediately try to devour the golem that grabbed my arm using the demon’s ability. No, I tried to devour it, but…

[Pfft. Is the stat difference too great? Well, I’m surprised too. What on earth is happening over there to make things turn out like this? Anyway, it’s time for your punishment. Baldy.]

The golem, immune to my enhanced strength and newly acquired demonic powers, curls its lips into a sinister smile and aims its fist at my face.

[Sla Mime Golem Tamer Effect: When directly instructing a golem, grants additional stats proportional to own stats to strength and agility. [Target has awakened and receives 40 percent of the instructor’s abilities.](Command: Protect sister Ira. Instructor: -Ira’s brother- Level: 183 [Strength: 1002] [Agility: 1360]]

[Sla Mime Golem: Level 403] Gor.

[Strength: 503] + [401]

[Agility: 388] + [544]

[Luck: 0+??]

[Intelligence: [112]

[HP: 59,993]

[MP: 11]

[Skill: Mimicry.]

[Mimicry Effect: Absorb and 100% copy the opponent’s actions. Luck is proportional to the opponent’s luck. (Target: Power of [Holy Empire High Priest (Superior Demon of Greed absorbed)].)