episode_0099

The power of the slime, which makes a wall of earth raised moderately simply insignificant.

However, unlike slashes that unleash powerful shockwaves or cut through everything, due to the slime’s characteristic of slowly eroding. It breaks through easily but cannot rapidly break through and enter.

Like countering an enemy using poison with candle wax in a certain manga.

I also face them with a similar feeling.

Even if there is a difference in skill, and I might lose with 100% probability if I fight, I could at least manage to move a group of people to their desired location.

If the wall of earth collapses, the next wall. If that collapses, yet another.

The more I use it, the more mana inside me is depleted, but because it’s terrain manipulation strengthened thanks to the cat’s paw, the consumption is reduced and it’s bearable.

“Wow, if it wasn’t for Mr. Ivan, everyone would have died, right?”

“It’s not that much.”

Grace praised, but it just passed comfortably because I was there. The explorers advancing ahead would have somehow managed to break through.

However, if you consider even that a cost, my presence resulted in the cost being minimized.

“Thi, damn, it…”

The voice of the 7th Captain could be heard from the mouth of one slime.

It seems the situation is flowing in a difficult direction.

If he were chasing us with his full force, it would be another matter.

Since he’s currently clashing with the Lionheart Clan with full force, there would be no remaining power.

And calling for allies wouldn’t be easy either, as the Magic Tower is bombing the entire 11th district.

As expected.

From a certain moment, the wall of earth stopped melting.

“That’s a relief. I was worried about them following us all the way.”

“Right. Originally, wasn’t Mr. Noah the black mages’ target?”

I thought black mages were people who acted to achieve a great cause, even if it meant sacrificing their lives.

[Not all priests are incorruptible, are they? The 7th Captain probably considers his research the most important thing in the world?]

Hearing Noah’s explanation which said that, I followed the people ahead.

***

After that, there were no hardships.

From the start, behind the 7th Captain, there were only ordinary black mages and monsters.

Of course, many of them were difficult opponents for our party individually.

We broke through smoothly.

“Isn’t it too easy to break through? It makes me uneasy.”

Rather, as things went too well, only anxiety accumulated.

In fact, inside the 11th district, magic is clashing and exploding, and the Magic Tower is currently engaged in a transcendent battle with the black mages in real-time.

“There’s no harm in being careful.”

We immediately reached the place where I had spoken with the Guildmaster.

A few mages from the Magic Tower included in the procession immediately created mist and sent out writing.

Soon, a reply.

Saying that a large force was waiting right ahead.

Immediately, mages began drawing magic circles on the wall to open a hole.

And the rest escorted the surroundings.

For a while, there was really nothing else besides the remnants of monsters attacking.

But despite that, no one let down their guard.

All the guides pricked up their ears, and sniffed their noses.

There was no sign whatsoever.

Therefore, just as the magic circle to quickly make a hole was being built stitch by stitch.

“……?!!”

The gaze of all the guides turned towards one place.

Suddenly, space tore open in the sky, and black mages poured out.

Moreover, from their attire, not even a single subordinate could be seen among them.

As soon as we saw that, we could quickly make a judgment.

This is a trap.

But it was something we had anticipated to some extent.

That’s also why we poured all our forces here, except for the Magic Tower.

But since the Lionheart Clan, which comprised most of that force, was tied down by the 7th Captain.

Was that their aim?

But.

They likely also took on a risk.

Because if we had broken through this place at once, that would have truly been the worst move for them.

If everyone roughly anticipated each other’s plans and made their moves, the next difference is in how much force is poured in.

“Remaining time?”

“It seems we can open a hole in about 2 minutes.”

Just 2 minutes.

This is the time we must defend against the attacks pouring down from the black mages from now on.

First, the wave of monsters rushing in.

Those who block that are primarily mages and archers, those capable of ranged attacks.

I also used a card that I thought I was completely screwed, gathering up all the mana in my body from the bottom and pouring it in.

[Ifrit]

Immediately, a small flame spirit appeared.

As it was filled with mana, it grew in size and headed towards the front, spewing flames furiously.

And other magic flew out, obstructing the monsters’ path, but.

Unfortunately, there were not just a few monsters.

The weapons of high-level black mages include not only monsters but also other means of attack.

Attacks poured in densely in ways such as rotten corpse arms tearing through space and popping out, or a dragon made of bones charging with its body to collapse everything around it.

I cast magic wildly in the air to try and shoot them down before they approached, to the extent that I didn’t know if I was blocking attacks or if attacks were blocking me, but there’s a limit to everything.

Before long, something unpleasant plopped down among the explorers.

Like the corpse of a single human falling from the ceiling, it burst with a pop, and corpse-shaped monsters emerged from inside.

Everyone’s expressions turned rotten.

Moreover, similar chunks of flesh poured down from the sky.

Kailak shot arrows to block that, but while he blocked it, the rotten corpse monsters inside fell down.

Seeing that, I even wondered if it was really necessary to block it.

The explorers continued the bloody battle, constantly swinging swords and smashing down with hammers.

However, the defensive line was gradually being pushed back, and casualties began to accumulate.

But despite that, the fighting explorers.

What they believed in were the mages who would break through that shield and bring reinforcements.

The 10 mages drawing magic circles on the black wall.

Among them was the familiar face of the Blue Faction Leader.

Even the White Faction Leader was next to him.

Seeing them steadfastly doing their job even on the battlefield, I put my whole body on the line to somehow protect them.

But the front line is gradually being pushed back.

“At this rate, it seems like it will end before we break through the hole?”

“……”

Ultimately, the time to hide behind and do something was over.

To buy time, someone needs to draw aggro.

Because combat is impossible strength-to-strength.

And their objective, their goal. That is the recovery of Noah.

As much force as they poured out, we also have to bear a certain degree of risk.

“Everyone, fall back!!”

As soon as I shouted, all the explorers fell back and I ran forward.

It was already a situation agreed upon to some extent.

If I didn’t have the power to draw such strong aggro, I would have just remained in the center.

“……!!”

Of course, only a few of the explorer leaders knew this.

A momentary look of surprise appeared on the faces of my party members who knew nothing.

…I paid it no mind and moved on.

“Come out!!”

Noah emerged from within my shadow.

As her presence was revealed, countless monsters flinched.

The movements of the people attacking the explorers stopped.

Of course, I know that stopping the opening of the hole is a higher priority than recovering Noah.

Noah is, after all, the Apostle of the Evil God.

All monsters change their target according to her will.

The targets are me and Noah.

It’s said that perfectly controlling monsters under the domination of other black mages is impossible, but changing the target of attack is easy.

After roughly hearing about it, it’s like changing a few lines of text in coding.

From this, I could tell that she had attended a programming department.

Something utterly useless in the Middle Ages, though.

Anyway, the performance is incomparable to Luca’s provocation.

Immediately, a sand giant’s hand fell towards me, and a Goblin Hero’s spear flew.

I threw one card I had carefully saved.

[Electrocution Zone]

Pzizzzz!

Instantly, electricity spewed out from under my feet and spread outwards, forming a giant circular shape.

Truly, it’s an area-of-effect crowd control skill.

All monsters trying to enter this area are electrocuted and their bodies slow down.

That’s not the end of it.

Monsters whose eyes have rolled back and are rushing towards this side push the electrocuted monsters in front of them, fall over, and start crushing each other.

And then, crushed to death.

Smaller monsters are crushed under larger monsters and perish.

However, it would be great if everything was solved just by this.

Among the monsters, there are also gigantic ones.

For example, the hand of a sand giant falls towards us.

Noah immediately countered that.

Noah’s avatar strongly hit the giant’s hand and pushed it back.

The small fry are bound by the electrocution zone, and the giant monsters are handled by Noah.

Like generals who have coordinated countless times, Noah and I continued to just defend without speaking.

Like that, 10 seconds.

By the time we had bought quite a bit of time, the black mages also rushed in.

The electrocuted monsters blocking the path in the electrocution zone disappeared, and the black mages entered through that gap.

First, the first one. The guy who created and launched 20 bone spears simultaneously.

The defensive golem I had saved jumped out and exploded, shattering the bone spears.

Flinch!

I staggered momentarily from the curses poured out.

However, Noah, who is immune to the curses of black mages, struck away the flying bone arrow.

“Something’s coming from below?!”

As soon as Noah’s voice was heard, the floor collapsed and a small sand worm-like monster popped out from within.

The electrocution zone is magic activated using the ground as a medium. As it broke through and entered, the electrocution zone was canceled.

And so, the guy chomped on my left ankle.

Fortunately, Noah tore apart the small sand worm before my ankle was ripped off, but sharp teeth were already embedded in my ankle.

Seeing that, Noah tightly grabbed my waist.

“…Hold on tight.”

Immediately, Noah moved with swift movements, dodging the monsters’ attacks.

“So many have gathered…!!”

However, while all attacks were concentrated on this side, dodging everything was extremely difficult because she was moving with someone by her side. A bone spear grazed across Noah’s back as she dodged.

“Ugh…”

“Just hold on a little longer. 7…”

I started a count.

Noah, knowing what that meant, gritted her teeth and dodged and countered the attacks.

『Until the next draw: 6』

Thwack!!

Bone spears simultaneously piercing my body.

I almost lost consciousness for a moment, but I don’t collapse from this much anymore.

Shaking off the foreign sensation felt in my side.

I continue to gaze.

『Until the next draw: 3』

This time, a strong impact struck my body, and it felt like I was flying far away.

Struck by something, my vision shook rapidly, and my stomach turned as if I was going to vomit.

And then, Kwagagwang!!

I collided with several monsters, collided, and then hit the floor hard.

It was difficult to regain consciousness from the shock vibrating throughout my body, but.

『Until the next draw: 0』

For now, I quickly pass the turn.

『It’s your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

『White Storage Box – Preserve 1 card at the end of your turn.』

Since it was an urgent situation, I roughly chose the card to preserve.

First, I check my hand.

[Mud Wall (1)] + [Charge (1)] [Hail (3)] [Darkness (1)] [Immolation (3)] [Shield (1)]

Rapidly whirling judgment.

I immediately threw 2 cards.

[Charge]

[Darkness]

Darkness spreading in all directions obscured my vision.

However, this was not a good choice.

Because as if to say they would just crush us if they couldn’t see, giant hands began to fall towards this side.

[Immolation]

5 spears of flame pulled from the ground were impaled into the falling hands.

And then, spewing flames, they repelled the hands.

A short opening created thanks to that.

Noah and I could quickly escape to the side.

While being held in one of Noah’s arms, of course.

While using the darkness I emitted, I tried my best to escape, but.

It was impossible to break through the monsters accumulated all around.

Noah was quickly overwhelmed.

She tried to shake them off somehow, but.

As the monsters’ attacks rushed towards me, she pulled me into an embrace and shielded me.

Then, as if they dared not finish off Noah, the monsters’ movements stopped.

The explorers faintly visible far away were also in a bad situation.

Monsters whose domination by Noah was released began pouring towards the explorers again.

Did we fail to buy time?

Just as that thought occurred.

Suddenly, the shield blocking the 11th district began to tremble.

And then, a large crack appeared in the shield.

It seems they opened a hole in the shield much faster than expected.

The fact that we bought even a little time was helpful.

“Damn! At least recover the Apostle!!!”

Black mages who immediately sensed failure gave orders and tried to take Noah away.

All the monsters rushed forward and tried to pick up Noah’s body, but.

Quickly, Noah picked me up in her arms and ran, stopping monsters as she went.

As all the monsters her gaze reached froze like puppets who had lost their master, a black mage descended himself.

And not missing that opportunity.

Someone arrived beside me and Noah.

“…You’re the one who contacted me using this darkness, aren’t you?”

A man picking up and observing the darkness around me and Noah as if it were an object with form.

His face looked older than my master’s, and he had a cleanly shaven bald head and a long white beard.

However, unlike his old appearance, his body was vigorous enough to be comparable to Kailak’s.

A person truly fitting the phrase “kind-hearted powerhouse.”

The Guildmaster, Razan, was looking down at me and Noah.