episode_0021

Let’s roughly summarize the Western episodes from the original work.

Engaging in battle with the sinister cult aiming to establish a stronghold in the west, the protagonist and their companions thwart the demon summoning by the fiends.

Despite failing to prevent the summoning, they engage in combat with the summoned demons, ultimately succeeding in counter-summoning the demons while undergoing significant growth during the battle.

As the defeated sinister cult flees to the west, peace finally descends upon the region.

At first glance, this seems like a simple and straightforward summary in just three lines. However, in reality, it was one of the most challenging episodes for the protagonist and their group in the novel.

It was an episode where readers shouted “cider” and “true education” the most.

The difficulty level can be confidently asserted as relatively low.

Facing beings who have lived for an immeasurable amount of time, bones adorned with the title “the strongest” since birth, and a race that tirelessly trains solely for reproduction, it should indeed be easier to handle them.

…But why was it so challenging if it was supposed to be easy?

Well, their actions were unbelievably dirty.

They would attempt assassinations at the drop of a hat, brainwash young children in the name of divine will, and even planned to devour the entire west as a finale.

The followers of the sinister cult were more repulsive than any villain, and their leader, the high priest, was an indescribably despicable figure.

Would you believe that the elves driven mad by their mating frenzy found the succubi to be angelic beings?

Even the summoned demons found the situation too chaotic, muttering, “This is progressing way too fast.”

I didn’t avoid getting involved in this episode for no reason, you know?

Having to face bastards worse than elves entangled in the incident, wouldn’t it be normal to want to avoid them?

However, it was already too late to escape being marked as an “enemy” by the sinister cult.

Even the hellish elf, Veldem, went as far as saying, “I will warmly welcome you in the west.”

“…Damn, everything’s gone to shit.”

I cursed under my breath, feeling helpless.

Originally, I had planned to arrive in the west to build strength, but now I needed a complete overhaul of my plans.

Before arriving, I must definitely enhance my strength.

Otherwise, I won’t be able to avoid annihilation.

“Strength.”

I quietly watched my companions battling up ahead.

Sturdy vanguards crushing the oncoming enemies, stalwart rear guards providing mighty firepower support, and excellent priests granting buffs to both vanguards and rear guards to maintain the front line.

Observing the flawless party composition effortlessly decimating the enemies, I shook my head in admiration.

It seems wielding a Chinese broadsword from the vanguard wasn’t the right move after all.

I made a mistake.

To what extent does a witch engage in combat using only physical strength?

She’s nothing more than a barbarian warrior dressed as a witch; she can’t be called a witch.

And if she were truly skilled like a real barbarian warrior, that would be another story, but alas, she’s quite incompetent.

“…Magic is indeed necessary.”

Muttering to myself, the battle neared its end.

The assailants seemed to give up, retreating back as if realizing it was futile, and upon confirming this, our group wiped the blood off their weapons and collapsed on the spot.

“That was tough… Why were those thugs so annoying?”

“They felt different from the usual guys we meet. Their pupils dilated, muscles bulging; it seems they were weaklings.”

“Indeed, they weren’t easily pierced by ordinary bullets. But against the custom-made iron armor-piercing rounds of our dwarf clan, they were useless.”

“…Meat tainted with poison is inedible. Playing pranks with food, I absolutely cannot forgive.”

After spouting various nonsense, the group began to take a break for maintenance.

In the meantime, the guy with the sword stood up and slowly approached me.

“Why have you been worrying so much since earlier? Your expression looks like you’re going to eat someone.”

He joked with a grin on his face.

I stiffened my face and growled at him.

“If you try to pet me again, should I cut off your hand?”

“…If obsession leads to kidnapping, confinement, and discipline, cutting might not be so bad after all.”

“If it’s not good, don’t pet. Who asked you to pet?”

Even now, recalling that night makes my mind foggy.

That damn female body is like a lump of flesh.

How can I feel comfort and relaxation from that bastard’s touch?

What’s even more infuriating is the fear of feeling that emotion when being petted again.

Becoming more feminine with each pet, what kind of ridiculous nonsense is this?

Glaring fiercely at the knife, the guy brightly smiled and handed me water.

“If you keep staring at me like that, I’ll catch fire too.”

“Shut up.”

“Calm your face down. Drink this to calm yourself.”

“Are you trying to indirectly kiss me?”

“Tsk.”

The guy with the sword clicked his tongue in disappointment, swiftly left his seat, and I chuckled as my heated emotions cooled down.

Thanks to him, my muddled thoughts were somewhat organized. It even gave me the courage to attempt magic…

“Sigh.”

Letting out a long sigh, I closed my eyes and focused on the energy I felt inside me.

The faint energy I sensed since possession.

It felt slow and lazy, like a subtle sense of sacredness described in ancient texts.

It almost felt sticky in a way.

So, would it be like seeing my past self before possession?

Anyway, as I slowly moved the energy, it lazily followed my will, gradually accumulating in my palm.

It was truly fascinating.

A sensation akin to becoming superhuman, coupled with the immense pleasure of something leaving my body from within…

“Hey!”

“Uh, yes?!”

As I opened my eyes in response to the urgent call, I immediately realized what I had been about to do.

A massive magical sphere fully charged in my palm.

Its black hue ominously devouring everything around it.

Rumbling… rumbling…

The ground crumbling along with the fierce sound.

Not knowing how I did it but fearing the consequences, I released it anyway.

Kwaaaaaaaah!!!!

With a tremendous roar, I watched as the lush forest vanished without a trace.

“Uh…”

How am I going to explain this to my companions?

While pondering, the priestess approached with a blank face and slowly spoke.

“Just stay still and please refrain from using magic.”

Ridiculous.

—–

Meanwhile, where the magical sphere flew.

In that place devoid of any grass, a black shadow appeared and slowly took shape.

Silently –

The shadow began to take on a human form.

Soon, a man dressed in a black priest’s robe emerged.

“I almost caused a disaster.”

The priest checked his body with a pale, nauseated face.

Realizing his right arm was missing, he forced a bitter smile.

“But if saving my life cost only one arm, it’s a cheap price, isn’t it?”

Watching the departing witch party in the distance, the priest muttered a question.

Then, taking out a notebook with his remaining arm, he started jotting down various information.

“…Thought she was an insignificant witch, but she’s much more formidable than I expected.”

To ignore her would be a lie.

After days of continuous battles, the witch never showed a good side even once.

Her supposed specialty in magic seemed to have gone to waste, as she struggled with wielding a large kitchen knife like a clumsy scene.

To the priest, it was nothing short of comedy.

There were doubts.

Why would such a proud being stand at the forefront swinging a kitchen knife?

Certainly, it must be to notice my presence and deceive me.

However, as days passed and the witch continued to show only a clueless demeanor, the priest changed his mind when he realized that she didn’t even notice his approach.

The witch, it seemed, was not a terrifying being at all.

So, she was ignored.

And the priest felt relieved.

Instead of facing six individuals, it would suffice to face only five.

Feeling that the danger had slightly decreased, he planned to deliver the good news to the high priest today.

But it seemed that he had to deliver some bad news after all.

“…Was she completely aware of my presence all along?”

The witch had completely fooled him.

Surely she wouldn’t aim for a fatal blow even if it made her look foolish.

Although he had wondered why she hadn’t killed him when they first met, that question didn’t linger for long.

Perhaps it was to extract some information from him.

Looking down at his right arm that couldn’t even regenerate, the priest let out a long sigh.

“A dreadful magic that even divine blessings can’t heal… Should I just retire after losing an arm?”

Muttering to himself, he soon took out a crystal ball to contact someone.

Chirp-chirp – chirp-chirp –

A moment of chirping sounds followed by a bright light emitting from the crystal ball.

With a bright smile, the priest directed a vulgar curse towards the crystal ball.

“High Priest? We’re screwed.”

No, scratch that.

“We’re fucked.”