Ch.42The Mage Milia (8)

# Mage Millia (8)

Eirene tried to help Lug.

That was until he appeared dragging a disgusting tentacle monster.

She had bad memories about tentacles.

A relatively recent memory. The obscene and childish fight she had with Esmeralda. Just thinking about the humiliation she suffered then still makes her teeth chatter.

Of course, it was Eirene’s own doing.

Even so, unlike her usual thorough handling of matters, things went terribly wrong then, becoming a trauma, and the tentacles that started it all couldn’t help but be frightening.

Moreover, she vividly remembered the sensation of the hero’s tentacles sensually wrapping around her body, and now an even more terrifying nightmare fusion appeared before her eyes.

“That way! Go that way!”

Eirene fell into such a confused state that she momentarily abandoned Lug.

What she and Esmeralda had back then was just play.

This was the real thing.

The madness Millia harbored inside. Eirene could newly realize that Millia wasn’t just sensual, but insanely sensual.

When the obscene content she had read in the book that day—content Eirene couldn’t even imagine—flashed through her mind, the terror was beyond description.

Whoosh!

But Lug, as if understanding Eirene’s feelings, sharply changed direction.

‘Ah, thank heavens…’

‘Yeah, I didn’t expect anything anyway.’

In that moment when their mutual likability crossed paths, rising and falling respectively.

The moved Eirene belatedly racked her brain to save Lug.

“Lug! Keep running straight ahead!”

It might have seemed like she was pushing him to sacrifice himself, but fortunately, Lug didn’t misunderstand.

Judging by the holy power forming in Eirene’s hands, if he acted as bait, she could deal with Millia’s tentacle monster chasing from behind.

Yes, he shouldn’t expect too much from a priest.

From the beginning, they were mere paper dolls without a vanguard.

Now it was right for Lug, trained by his long life as a porter, to take the vanguard role.

‘Good, right…’

‘Now!’

Finally, hearts connecting.

The two exchanged glances.

Eventually, the holy magic Eirene deployed gently wrapped around Lug’s body.

The most efficient speed-enhancing holy magic she could use.

[Whirlwind Shoes]

Pure white holy power formed around Lug’s ankles, summoning a storm.

“KIEEEEEEEK!”

Lug screamed at the sudden exposure to holy power. A situation where he was hit from behind by a trusted comrade.

Giving Eirene a zero in his real-time internal evaluation, Lug ran hard while suppressing the pain.

Unfairly, Eirene’s holy magic dealt considerable damage to Lug, but it also definitely provided a buff.

“Kiee… kugh!”

If he acted hurt here, the situation would become awkward. Lug gritted his teeth and ran to avoid the tentacle monster.

‘This is right.’

Surprisingly, it wasn’t a mistake.

From Eirene’s perspective, she couldn’t do anything about the tentacle monster magic Millia had deployed.

That was because it was a form created by magic, not a demon or monster.

Originally, holy power was only effective against demons; compared to magic of the same level, it was only about 1/3 as powerful.

It meant that even for Eirene, it would take considerable time to dismantle Millia’s magic, who had been trained as a battle mage.

She believed Lug would understand.

Of course, for Lug, who had to be exposed to holy power without any prior notice, Eirene was just an enemy.

Inside Lug, the evaluation of Saintess Eirene plummeted once again.

“Lug! Circle around once and come back to me! I’ll prepare a barrier now!”

Though she had pushed Lug away in panic during their first encounter, now she had regained her senses.

Of course, Eirene was confident she would foam at the mouth and faint if the tentacles came close, but she needed to stay calm for now. But just as she started preparing the barrier:

“…Eirene, don’t interfere with me.”

Millia, who had been silently chasing after Lug, suddenly stopped and warned Eirene.

Of course, an outsider had appeared to interfere with her hunt.

It was natural to feel annoyed.

Of course, to Eirene, it sounded ridiculous.

“Ha! Lady Millia.”

Eirene glared at Millia with an expression of disbelief.

This lustful girl. She hadn’t liked her from the beginning.

Eirene loaded her most powerful weapon—her tongue, capable of destroying an opponent’s mind.

But…

“Uh, Lady Millia?”

Eirene was speechless at the sight that just caught her eye.

However, Millia, unaware of this change, shook her head and warned the silent Eirene.

“Even if you try to stop me, you won’t succeed. I’m several times stronger than you.”

“No, rather, Lady Millia?”

Eirene looked at Millia with cold sweat. No, not at Millia, but above her head.

“…I think you’d better move from there.”

“Huh?”

Millia finally raised her head to the sky and could see what was happening.

“Oh? That’s…”

Eirene didn’t think the opponent would be easy even when the sun started falling on the magic tower’s airspace.

But the tower master is a monster.

Esmeralda, who chose to remain there, is still inexperienced but worthy of being called a hero.

Though dangerous, she thought they could endure. That’s what she had thought, but.

“What is that?”

Because she was at a distance, she could see clearly. A total of seven fireballs floating in the sky, excluding the real sun.

Could Eirene have been so confident even after seeing that?

No, now wasn’t the time to consider such things.

“Lady Millia!!”

Because two of those fireballs were falling right on top of Millia’s head.

***

“Kuk!”

Esmeralda had been consistently pushed back in her battle with the Legion Commander, Five.

There was that much of a gap between them from the start.

The only consolation was that her swordsmanship itself was superior.

Esmeralda was barely, but definitely, blocking Five’s flame-engulfed sword.

What would have happened if she wasn’t holding the holy sword?

Perhaps it would have melted away long ago from Five’s flame sword.

Even while thinking this, Esmeralda glared with wide eyes.

“You’re holding up well? A hero is a hero indeed.”

“Phew… You’re not as strong as I thought.”

Esmeralda wiped away flowing sweat and glared at her opponent.

Legion Commander Five indeed possessed power worthy of a Legion Commander.

From the overwhelming performance shown at first appearance to handling flames like her own limbs.

She was probably basically a rear artillery support like Millia or Eirene.

Yet, it was chilling that she wielded swordsmanship at a level similar to Esmeralda’s.

“It’s strange.”

But that’s just about it.

“What’s strange? Little hero.”

“Little… well, considering your age, I guess I am little.”

Esmeralda raised her sword with a sneer. Around her, swords imbued with cold energy floated up together. It was the ice enchantment of the mages.

This was the Glachies Magic Tower, so immediate support came in.

While Esmeralda thought this was fortunate, she couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at the current situation.

The opponent was too relaxed. Of course, she seemed to be half-playing, but…

‘Objectively speaking, if the Glisha Tower Master joins, we’d have the advantage.’

Even if the opponent properly used the power of fire, she felt they could win if she joined forces with Glisha.

But that’s what was strange.

“I’ve met other Legion Commanders, and you don’t seem as capable as that person.”

Five was clearly a monster with a comprehensive estimated value exceeding 1000, yet facing her, she was weaker than Eleven.

Eleven had overwhelmed Esmeralda with just a single sword.

Of course, there would be a difference in mindset. Eleven had given his all without underestimating Esmeralda, while Five was just playing around.

But even considering that, Five’s level was too high.

“That’s right. I’m a bit injured. The doctor told me not to exercise vigorously.”

“Ah? Then you should be crumpled up in a hospital room, why come all the way to this border?”

“Oh my, don’t say that. It’s a burn, so it’s good to come to a cool place.”

Legion Commander Five responded calmly to Esmeralda’s sneering.

Injured and unable to exert full power? Yes, that’s possible.

It’s a perfectly plausible story.

But there was a problem that couldn’t be explained by that alone.

“But how can you be so relaxed? What are you hiding?”

“Your intuition… no, I see. Is that the power you were granted?”

“…”

A sacred object of the Fire Spirit Cult, born from a hero’s corpse.

But the more Esmeralda talked with her, the more she clashed swords, the more she thought she might be the dead hero herself.

From the beginning, what bothered her wasn’t just her strength.

[Carbuncle Soul Lv. EX]

A characteristic as strange as the Blue Blood that Lug possessed.

But if we’re talking about suspiciousness, this one is unparalleled. After all, the level is displayed as EX.

What does that mean?

Should we say it’s reached the end of a characteristic?

‘No…’

Esmeralda didn’t think so. There shouldn’t be a realm called “the end” in this world.

While individuals may have limits, there is no end to learning or technique.

Then, what if the characteristic she possesses is a completed power granted without room for growth?

Yes, for example…

“Carbuncle Soul. That’s a power you awakened when you were a hero, right?”

“You can tell that much? Impressive. It’s an enviable power. Ah, I wish I had something like that too, it would have been convenient.”

Just like [Emerald Tablet] that Esmeralda gained upon becoming a hero, it’s something that could be said to have been granted rather than awakened by her.

“What kind of ability is it?”

“Do you think I’d tell you so easily?”

“Yes, you seem like you would. With your current composure, you could tell me and still have plenty to spare.”

“Ahahaha! You’re really bold. Hmm, I like you. If you die, I should make you my little sister.”

“My corpse already has a prior appointment. You’ll have to take a number and wait.”

“You’re quite popular.”

“Not at all.”

Esmeralda felt the trembling in her sword hand stop. She also felt her rough breathing calm down.

The conversation itself was to regain composure, even if just for a moment.

The opponent probably knew that too. Yet, she engaged in conversation because, as mentioned earlier, she was just playing around.

“Well, I’ll tell you. The power I was granted when I was a hero is…”

Five snaps her fingers with a sinister smile.

Esmeralda, seeing this action that appeared to be some kind of signal, quickly scanned her surroundings with heightened vigilance.

And thanks to that, should we say? Esmeralda could finally discover why the opponent had been so relaxed.

“Ah, before that. Tower Master, haven’t you thought it’s taking too long?”

Another fireball fell from the sky. That fireball was as massive as the one Five had been wrapped in when she appeared.

And the moment she realized it…

Esmeralda figured out the true nature of the ability called [Carbuncle Soul].

“”She’s fighting me in her own way. I specially sent three to her. Two should be enough for you, right?””

“…”

“”Aren’t you grateful for the special treatment?””

A red jewel shaped like an egg. A flame born from that jewel with a soul embedded in it.

[Carbuncle Soul]

Another self.

Seeing Legion Commander Five suddenly multiply into two, Esmeralda cried out as if wronged.

“Your ability seems a hundred times better than mine!”

It was an important issue for her.