Ch.340340. Extermination

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“It’s a mess out there.”

That was the natural impression that came to mind as soon as I took the portal from the Otherworld back to the material world.

While I’ve blocked interference from this side for now, the forces that the Pope has been stockpiling within the Holy Empire still remain intact.

“…That would seriously cover the entire continent and then some, wouldn’t it?”

I say this while scanning the ‘synthetic organisms’ that are visible even from here, swarming in numbers so vast they darkly blanket the horizon.

“Wow, those are chimeras, right?”

[…Those are chimeras?]

Calivan’s voice came through, sounding dumbfounded.

Chimeras are typically synthetic lifeforms created through alchemy, and their lifespans can’t even jokingly be called long.

But it’s hard to believe someone could create creatures that can self-replicate while maintaining catastrophic combat capabilities.

“You can make something like that if you grind up enough high-level personnel.”

I say this with a voice full of contempt, and Calivan seems to understand what I mean.

“Grinding up” has a dual meaning.

Whether they ground up researchers, or ground up someone as “material.”

[Wait, wait a moment, Mr. Darwood. This movement—is this your doing?]

Just then, I heard Bogart Marquis’s voice from the magic stone embedded in my chest.

[I was wondering how to deal with this mess when I noticed two strange… ‘deployments’ that I didn’t order. This is your instruction, isn’t it?]

He’s quite perceptive. I let out a small laugh before answering.

“Yes.”

[…May I ask what your intention is?]

Bogart Marquis asked with a slightly more serious voice.

[It’s not that I don’t trust you, but this ‘combination’ is rather… unfamiliar to me.]

“I actually put them together specifically to move at times like this.”

I say this while looking at the swarm of chimeras that continue to blacken the horizon as they move.

To describe it more precisely.

It’s like a mass of cockroaches crawling all over the ground.

Similar in both their tenacious vitality and their overwhelming numbers.

If that’s the case.

“Leave dealing with them to me. Please focus on the other areas.”

For exterminating ‘insect swarms.’

There’s a weapon with historically proven efficiency.

●

“…”

“…”

“…”

A strange silence surrounded the area.

That’s to be expected when Faynol Leiphec, Serath & Victoria Evatrice, and Riru Garda are standing there with blank expressions.

“…No, this is definitely not just standing around no matter how you look at it.”

Riru, who was sandwiched in the middle, complained with a disgruntled voice.

Indeed, anyone who saw this would wonder what on earth they were doing.

Behind Riru, Serath and Victoria were pressed against him with their hands clasped together and blank expressions, while in front, Riru had both arms wrapped around the waist of Faynol, who wore an expression of complete resignation.

Hmm.

It reminds me of the train game we used to play as children.

“…So.”

Faynol, who had a particularly ‘whatever happens, happens’ expression, spoke with a transparent smile.

“With just these people, in this state, without any… additional support. We’re going to suppress the chimera crisis threatening the continent?”

“No. What nonsense are you talking about?”

I scratch my head as I answer.

“We’re not going to suppress them—we’re going to kill every last one.”

“…Of course. Shall we go?”

“…”

How should I put this?

Watching Faynol start moving with an air of complete acceptance, without raising any further questions, gives me a strange feeling.

Well, it’s convenient, but somehow empty.

It seems the others are thinking similarly, as they all move with lifeless faces, with Faynol just asking on everyone’s behalf.

The three of them move together with coordinated steps, like they’re in a three-legged race at a sports festival.

“Hey, wait a minute! Human, you’re going too fast…!”

“Don’t push from behind, whoa! I’m falling!”

“…If you lose your balance like that from behind, I can’t properly take steps…!”

“…”

There seem to be some serious troubles occurring intermittently, but that doesn’t matter.

Somehow I manage to lead the stumbling Demonic Vessels forward, and we succeed in arriving at the chimeras’ path before they do.

“Phew.”

Seeing them up close makes them even more brutal.

Blade-like claws attached to artificially created bodies, thick outer skin, multiple eyes and limbs.

The sight of these grotesquely shaped creatures dripping yellowish saliva and rushing forward as if to cover the entire ground is like an abstract painting of a nightmare.

It’s immediately clear why the Pope spent all that time holed up creating this ‘legion.’

But.

“Hey.”

I tap Faynol’s arm, which had been gripping my shoulder to maintain balance as we walked.

“…Yes?”

“Spew it.”

“…”

I’ve already explained more than enough on the way here about what exactly he needs to spew.

Seeing Faynol channel his red demonic energy despite feeling intense self-loathing about his current state, it’s clear he understood properly.

The Infernal Flame, the power of the Red Demon, instantly scorches everything around.

Simultaneously.

“…Just my luck.”

“…I couldn’t agree more.”

Along with the deflated voices of Riru and the Victoria sisters, purple and blue demonic energy also rose up at the same time.

‘I’ve experimented extensively with combining demonic powers back at the Demonic Spire.’

In particular, I’ve obtained solid data showing that the demonic energy of the bickering Riru and Victoria sisters has good compatibility.

So, what if we add a little… ‘seasoning’ to that?

-….

Black demonic energy flows from my Fallen Angel’s seal, ‘binding’ all their energies together.

The simultaneous synthesis of three demonic energies.

Purple energy that amplifies abilities, blue energy that reduces everything it touches to dust, and then.

Red energy—Infernal Flame—which is particularly excellent at striking ‘wide areas.’

-…

A massive pillar of fire, like the one Faynol raised during the Red Night incident.

But several times larger, it was launched forward from the magic circle Faynol had extended.

-!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flames bright enough to blind extend forward, transforming the entire landscape ahead.

They instantly reduce all chimeras in sight to ashes.

“…”

“…”

“…Huh?”

Even the perpetrators themselves can only turn to me with dumbfounded faces at this level of power.

Well, it’s understandable to be surprised when such power comes from just a small amount of energy that I merely mixed together, rather than a violent outpouring.

“No, no.”

“…What do you mean ‘no’?”

When I ask that to Riru, who’s slapping his own cheeks, he replies with a resigned look.

“When you’re involved, this level of thing is normal.”

“…”

“I almost stupidly got surprised again, geez.”

“…”

“Were you guys surprised? When this guy gets involved, things always get resolved in this ridiculous—”

Anyway.

‘Bug spray effect confirmed.’

As they say.

Since ancient times, fire spray has been the best for killing bugs.

●

“Didn’t someone just scream ‘What on earth are those people going to accomplish?!’ earlier?”

“…”

“Whoever it was, raise your hand. Don’t worry, I won’t scold you. Honestly, I thought the same thing.”

“…”

Hmm.

Still no takers. Can’t be helped.

Bogart thought this as he stared at the screen before him through narrowed eyes.

Watching those chimeras being erased en masse by a single blast of flame produced by combining demonic energies, he was beyond feeling astonishment at this point.

Perhaps it was because the man handling such ‘work’ was proceeding without showing any particular reaction.

“Come on, come on, let’s move with good coordination. One, two. One, two.”

“…Do we look like children to you?”

He seemed completely uninterested in the ‘battle’ itself.

Rather, he appeared more focused on leading the three women who were waddling along with synchronized steps. Probably because that took more time.

He was simply following a routine of checking his watch, spewing fire, and proceeding to the next location.

“…How much has been cleared?”

In response to Bogart’s incredulous question, a staff member who seemed to be experiencing a profound moment of clarity scanned the screen with a gloomy face.

“…About 70% incinerated in 10 minutes.”

“…”

Well.

They’re the enemy, but still.

The Pope must have invested at least several years, maybe up to a decade, grinding away all his manpower and budget to create those things.

It’s almost pitiful at this point…

[Ah, hello. Can you hear me?]

“Yes. I hear you clearly.”

Of course, the man who created such a spectacle still seemed completely indifferent to all that.

His merciless demeanor was evident in how he was already demanding information about the ‘next target.’

[The Pope’s location—I assume you’ve figured it out by now. Where is he?]

“…”

Anyway.

When he first told us to use all available search resources to locate the Pope while he cleaned up the chimeras, I thought he had lost his mind.

But after seeing that display, I’m glad I complied without question.

“He’s not far. Would you like me to send support?”

There are still several cards we haven’t played.

Like the Demonic Spire, or the Saints.

[No. Save those until the very end. There will definitely be a use for them.]

Yet this man still seems to be wary of something.

“…Then how do you plan to deal with the Pope?”

To Bogart Marquis’s question, Darwood was silent for a moment before answering with a slight smile.

[He’s just a mid-boss anyway, that bastard.]

Before I could ask what a “mid-boss” was, Darwood continued in a nonchalant voice.

[You must have been working hard since morning, so please have a meal.]

“…Pardon?”

[I’ll kill him and be back before you finish.]

“…”

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