Ch.96Field Trip (3)

Thud-thud-thud.

In the distance, I could see hordes of monsters kicking up dust as they rushed toward me, drawn by my True Word.

Simultaneously, I sensed several monsters approaching rapidly through underground tunnels rather than across the surface.

In addition, I could feel a group of Wyverns flying toward us from the sky.

Since monsters were naturally diverse creatures, there was nothing unusual about their various approaches—unless they suddenly teleported.

If there was a problem, it wasn’t their method of approach but rather their numbers.

“Hmm… there are more monsters than I expected…?”

Counting all the monsters currently within my sensory range, there were approximately 100 creatures.

I had expected around 30, so this was more than triple my initial estimate.

I felt the same overwhelming sensation as when facing Kitsune’s lunchbox, wondering how to deal with such a large number.

Seeing my expression, Lumia questioned me with a puzzled look.

[Why are you exaggerating when none of them pose any real threat?]

‘Well, being able to win and handling them quickly are two different matters.’

As Lumia said, none of the hundred or so monsters approaching posed any threat to me.

Even with their numbers, there remained an unbridgeable gap between me and these monsters.

However, the sheer quantity created a problem—while they weren’t threatening, dealing with all of them would take time.

“If this weren’t a picnic, it would have been perfect rehabilitation exercise…”

Though I’d escaped Kitsune’s food barrage, staying away too long wasn’t ideal either.

After contemplating briefly, I slowly opened my mouth. I hadn’t found a definitive solution, but with no better options, it felt like I was just winging it.

I was simply trying to satisfy a curiosity I hadn’t been able to explore before for various reasons.

“Everyone…”

Die.

For a moment, tremendous pressure filled the area, but I had to close my mouth as I tasted blood rising in my throat.

On the surface, it seemed like I was merely trying to speak two words. Yet I couldn’t complete the True Word.

I had the intuition that if I uttered this True Word completely, the consequences wouldn’t end with just magical exhaustion and coughing blood.

“I guess such a brute force approach is too difficult…”

[It’s probably too much to affect all those monsters at once.]

[After all, you merely lured them with bait rather than giving them a direct command.]

[That True Word has become very different from Charm now.]

“That’s true. It’s more about commanding the world rather than living beings.”

It would be convenient if I could control all those monsters, but that was nearly impossible.

The True Word had diverged too far from the original Charm ability.

Overall, True Word was better than Charm, but I couldn’t help feeling some regret at not being able to use Charm anymore.

[You got something better, so that should be enough. You’re too greedy~]

“It’s always better to have more options available. I know how impressive a fully developed Charm can be.”

The Charm abilities of my best-trained Succubus or Succubus Queen had been beyond imagination.

With Charm alone, they could apply all sorts of debuffs to targets and even tame various species.

“Well, even if I could use Charm, it probably wouldn’t have been enough in this situation.”

[I guess your charm stat has shifted more toward charisma?]

“I think so. I’ve noticed people looking at me with admiration and longing rather than lust.”

This change in perception had begun gradually when I first gained the ability to use True Word.

The change just became more dramatic after I returned from the depths and underwent rebirth.

“Though Lilly and Kitsune haven’t changed much since they’re already smitten with me~”

[Pfft, once you’re in love, it doesn’t matter if the person looks sexy or cool—it’s all the same.]

Lumia and I shared a brief laugh as we recalled their adorable expressions after my rebirth.

[Why don’t you just confess to them?]

[I’m sure neither would reject you.]

“Probably not, and that’s exactly why I shouldn’t. I don’t have the luxury for love until we defeat the Evil God.”

I wanted to return to others exactly what I received from them, if not more.

This principle wasn’t limited to revenge—it applied to love as well.

But until I could drive the Evil God into the ground and display its severed head, I wouldn’t be able to return as much as I’d received, or more.

[I think those two would be fine with receiving less in return.]

“And that’s exactly why I can’t do it.”

With those words, I pointed my sword toward the approaching monsters.

This wasn’t meant to end our conversation here.

Thud-thud-thud—

“Well, let’s put our chat on hold and work off some of that food.”

The monsters had simply approached close enough for me to swing my sword while we were talking.

* * *

The battle began with a monster approaching from underground.

CRASH!!

A mole-like monster revealed itself by destroying the ground beneath my feet.

“It’s a Lava Krote. They have a habit of dragging prey underground and cooking them with geothermal heat before eating.”

Given my flame resistance, I could easily kill the Krote rather than being cooked by geothermal heat.

But that didn’t mean I would let myself be dragged underground.

I avoided its mouth with a short jump, then landed and pierced its skull with my sword.

SQUELCH—

My sword killed it without any resistance, splattering its blood on the ground.

“That’s one…”

Though it was a clean kill, I had no time to feel satisfied.

A flaming bull had already approached and was charging at me while spewing intense flames.

Even I might break a bone or two if hit directly by something like that.

Yes, if hit directly.

[The timing was good, but the opponent was outmatched.]

I twisted my body sideways and, using the bull’s own charging momentum, completely sliced through its flank.

SLASH—!

That was enough to take it down.

More precisely, if that hadn’t been enough, I would have struggled to deal with the continuing attacks.

‘If I let monsters pile up around me, things will get more complicated.’

Considering their numbers and speed, I needed to dispatch one monster per engagement.

“Well, they’re not that strong, so that pace should be manageable.”

Another one down.

As I cut down the monster charging at me, I turned my gaze upward.

“GRAAAH—!!!”

In the sky, five or six Wyverns were circling around me at a safe distance, waiting for the right moment to attack.

It was obvious they would pounce at the first sign of an opening.

So I moved one step ahead of them.

TAP—

I stepped on an approaching monster to launch myself upward, landing directly on the head of the nearest Wyvern.

“The solution to this problem is to attack before being attacked.”

Before they could react, I used them as stepping stones to walk across the sky.

Simultaneously, I moved quickly between the Wyverns, cutting their wings and necks.

“SCREECH—!!!”

In the end, between me without wings and the Wyverns with wings, it was the Wyverns who fell from the sky first.

[You do have wings though.]

“Shut up.”

My wings weren’t suitable for flying, so they might as well not exist.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

* * *

“Phew, looks like I’ve cleaned up most of them.”

[For someone who was complaining about their numbers, you finished pretty quickly.]

“That was largely thanks to the True Word.”

Even monsters have brains and can think.

At first, they attacked in groups, but once I started cutting them down, some would try to slink away.

That would have dragged things out, but by maintaining a taunt effect with the True Word, that problem was eliminated.

“Well, now that the cleanup is done, I should head back.”

[You know your legs are shaking, right?]

“I know, so please be quiet…”

I must have cut down over a hundred monsters, yet why was I so terrified?

I desperately hoped that Lilly, whom I had sacrificed, had eaten plenty of food.

Of course, that hope was quickly shattered.

“Hehehe… I was waiting to eat with you, Frey. Welcome back.”

“You really didn’t need to be so considerate…”

“We couldn’t possibly do otherwise~ Now, since you must be hungry after your walk… shall we eat?”

And so I found myself in Lilly’s clutches, who had avoided the food torture by insisting on waiting for me.