Only My Magic Levels Up - Chapter 157
Only Noblemtl
Episode 157: The Shadow of the Great Mountain Range (6)
“… Well, that wasn’t something I should have said to the Gem Wizard.”
Damus shook his head slightly. Damus was so entangled in the big cases that Galen had solved when he was golden that he often forgot that Galen had become a jewel.
“Then I will leave the pioneering area to you two. I will go over the Great Mountain Range again. It is important to convey the news to His Majesty quickly.”
“For now, you should go back with Bishop Myra. Wyverns don’t fly at night. You should also watch over the group.”
“Well, that’s true. Then let’s leave Abaca tomorrow morning… … .”
“We’ll go right now, if it’s okay with you, Lillia.”
“That’s what I should say to you, brother?!”
Lilia’s eyes widened.
“Brother, aren’t you tired? You rode a wyvern and a horse all day, and now you’re staying up all night?”
“You’re going to give me energy anyway.”
“That’s true, though.”
“There’s no need to overdo it. Even if you’re physically full, your mental fatigue won’t go away.”
“There must have been something that was particularly mentally tiring.”
Galen said casually. Normally, I would get tired after using a lot of magic, but I didn’t use much today, so I felt refreshed.
“Since the other side probably didn’t expect Siren to die, now is the time to be least disturbed. If the pioneering area is intact, it’s fine. If something happens, it’s better to check it out quickly and rest.”
“Okay, do as you wish.”
Damus agreed, as it made sense. He was grateful for the cooperation he received from those who said they would do their best.
“But be very careful. Demons are created directly by the devil, so they cannot be in large numbers, but they do not exist in just one or two. There must be at least a few more Sirens, and there may be other demons. Keep all possibilities open.”
“Yes. I will be careful.”
“And… if by any chance, there are demons as well as evil spirits.”
After a moment of silence, Damus spoke with a stern expression and a strong tone.
“Never engage, but retreat. Even if it means giving up your frontier territory.”
“Is the devil that strong?”
“I’m telling you not to fight because you don’t know.”
Galen tilted his head, not immediately understanding. Damus added an explanation.
“The strength of a demon varies greatly depending on how much power of hell it has. At the very least, it is difficult for a jewel to fight one-on-one, and at the very worst, several jewels would have to be attached to it.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Isn’t our goal to ‘coexist’ with the demons? We need to ‘hunt’ the demons by hitting them with our ample power. Two jewels are not enough to fight the demons. That’s why I’m telling you not to engage.”
“I understand.”
“Archbishop Lilia, keep this in mind. I don’t want to lose promising talents like you two in vain. Never push yourself too hard. Do you understand?”
“yes!”
Damus emphasized this several times, indicating that he was very worried.
Galen had no intention of attempting such an adventure anyway.
Of course, if the demon is that strong, the experience points will be enormous, but if you just let go of your greed a little, you can level up safely, so why risk your life and gamble?
“Okay, I’ll be back.”
“Please.”
“Be careful, Lilia.”
“Bishop, you too, take care!”
Galen and Damus exchanged a quick handshake, and Myra gave Lilia a big hug.
Soon the group split into two.
Damus and Myra loaded the priests and warriors onto their chariots and headed south to Abaca.
Galen and Lilia rode their horses up to the northern frontier.
* * *
Regular flights between Abaca and the first villages of the frontier zone take a generous five days.
But that was because the regular flights were so big and slow.
If it were just people moving, it would be much faster, but since the merchants had to pull all sorts of carts carrying everything they had, it would naturally take a long time to get through the mountain path.
In other words, a short procession of two people and two horses had little reason to slow down.
Of course, the attack of the evil species itself was the default, so I had to accept it.
Puppup …
It meant nothing in front of the Gem Wizard.
A light swing of the water hammer swept away the evil spirits rushing from the right in one blow. There was no need to slow down the horse.
“There are a few in the back too!”
“I figured it out.”
If there is a bad thing that breaks through the dual sense of water flow manipulation and spiral circulation, I would like to see it. It means that it is not an ordinary one.
Whoosh whoosh!
Sometimes by water, sometimes by fire, sometimes by wind.
Even the magic that was used depending on the mood at the time was like autumn leaves falling in the wind to the evil spirits.
I didn’t even draw my weapon because I didn’t have to break through the magic net to reach Lilia. I just used miracles every so often during breaks.
Of course, that was the help Galen needed the most. No matter how healthy he was, horseback riding was still hard for an ordinary person.
“It’s true that the frequency of raids has increased compared to before… … .”
“I don’t think it’s that serious. Bishop Myra said it was very serious.”
“Could it be because Siren died? Or because this was her area of responsibility?”
“Maybe so.”
After moving all night, the sun finally rose after quite some time.
The horses might have been a little tired, but Lilia and Galen were in good spirits. It didn’t really feel like they had made it through the interference of the evil spirits.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the reason could be guessed quickly.
“oh…….”
Of course, the mountain path was not a flat, straight road, and had some slight curves.
When I climbed up the shallow hill, I saw a scene in the distance where the evil spirits were in a dense formation and completely blocking the road.
“I guess there’s a siren there too.”
Lilia said, looking over the area with her eyes wide open.
There were some evil species that would form groups of more than a hundred.
The evil spirits gathered in front of me seemed to number in the thousands and were of various types.
The fact that they are still gathered quietly means that some kind of control force is at work.
Since I had encountered the case last night, the answer was easy to come up with.
“If I remember correctly, if you go a little further from here, you’ll come to the first village as you enter the basin?”
“Then it looks like those guys are blocking the front gate. It must be because of them that the regular flight couldn’t arrive.”
“Judging from the fact that there were no signs of a major fight on the way here, fortunately, the regular flight from Abaca must have arrived in the village safely. It just didn’t come out again.”
“I don’t know if it’s because the first village is still holding out, or if the road itself is just blocked regardless. Well, we’ll find out once we get through.”
“Are you going right away?”
“I think it’ll be just the right time to get to town and eat breakfast. Is that okay, Lilia?”
“Of course!”
As always, the two men, who had come to an agreement amicably, rode side by side and rode leisurely.
The well-trained steed bravely advanced against the great army of evil spirits. Perhaps its liver was swollen from seeing so many evil spirits dying last night.
The distance had gradually narrowed to the point where even Galen’s eyesight could clearly distinguish the shape of the evil spirit.
Of course, the evil spirits also discovered this side. Either with their eyes or their nose.
Still, it just grumbled and didn’t rush at me.
It may be evidence that control is working well, but whether it is or not, it is over if we strike first.
While Galen was lightly contemplating what magic to use to open the gate.
“Oh, come on.”
Lilia said briefly.
Immediately afterwards, the group of evil spirits that had formed a large formation split to the left and right and something walked out.
The first thing that caught my eye was a monster called Tauros.
In terms of height, not size, it was nearly twice the size of an adult male, had a head like that of a cow, and walked on two legs with a slightly stooped posture. It was a powerful entity, almost as strong as gold, if not stronger than an ogre.
But now, he was just a servant being called by someone.
Because there was a demon riding quietly with one leg crossed over Taurus’ shoulder.
The skin was gray. There were round, sheep-like horns on both sides of the head, and the whites of the eyes that looked this way were tinged with gray.
Apart from the color, her features resembled those of a beautiful human woman. She wore no clothes, and her long, curly, voluminous hair hung down to cover her chest.
However, both arms and the lower body were covered with unidentifiable scales. It felt more like armor modeled after real fish scales than scales of real fish.
“Siren.”
“Oh my, you recognized me at a glance?”
The demon, the siren, laughed out loud.
It wasn’t something you could have a normal conversation about, but he seemed to have good hearing to the point where he could hear Galen’s monologue.
On the other hand, Galen’s hearing was not that good, so it would have been normal for him not to have heard the answer, but he could hear the Siren’s voice clearly even from a great distance.
It was because of its unique tone.
Should I really say that it was half air and half sound? It also seemed like a lot of effects had been applied using an editing program.
The siren continued, her voice almost like singing… no, playing an instrument.
“Well, I guess you wouldn’t not recognize me since I’m supposedly a servant of God. But, what’s strange? How did humans end up here?”
“I came on a horse.”
“No, no. That’s not it. The seventh one must have been blocking the road. My younger brother never slacks off on his work, does he?”
“Oh. You worked really hard.”
“You’ve already met? How did it go?”
“What could have happened?”
“He must be dead. Sadly.”
Siren showed a sad expression. Her face resembled a human’s, so her expression was quite rich for a demon.
“So, are you going to kill me too?”
“It seems like you and your younger sibling were close. Let’s go together.”
“We’re not that close.”
Siren, who had refused with a sharp expression on her face, soon smiled. Her gaze was directed at Galen.
“But, the other half.”
“Are you talking about me?”
“Yeah, you. You have something funny on your wrist.”
“hmm?”
“I can feel it. What you humans call a spirit. Then you must be a spirit master.”
I wondered how he noticed the star crumb bracelet, but it must have been my other wrist.
Of course, it was a remarkable feat to be able to recognize the existence of spirits without even seeing them.
“so?”
“You don’t think the servant next to you knew? Bringing a spirit master when dealing with us is a taboo among taboos.”
“…what?”
“If you didn’t know, you should know, you idiot.”
The Siren’s voice, which spread strangely far and wide, was already faintly imbued with magic.
Even if you can’t detect sound waves, you can detect magical power, and since the Earth’s bindings are protecting your body anyway, trickery won’t work.
Galen was watching for a moment to see what he was going to do.
Boom!
The spirit that was wrapping around my wrist twisted its body as if in a seizure.
“no?”
Galen reflexively suppressed the spirit’s writhing and quickly rolled up his sleeves.
The bracelet made of water was rippling uneasily like waves.
The spirit, whose channel is always connected to one side of his consciousness, responds immediately to Galen’s commands at any time, but is currently out of control.
To be exact, it didn’t not work at all, but it was extremely unstable. It was like using a remote control with dead batteries, and the buttons would work and then not work.
“Tongue, brother? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine… … .”
“No matter what you call it, its essence is a life form born of magic. It is more appropriate to call it a demon spirit than a spirit.”
Siren said as if mocking the startled Lilia.
“And the beings that came from the devil cannot reject our voices, for that is the power that the master has given us.”
“For something like that, it doesn’t seem like he’s listening to you very well.”
“With two people in command, it’s only natural that there will be confusion. But who cares? They won’t listen to me, and they won’t listen to you either.”
Siren lightly clapped her hands together. As if that was a signal, the aggro of the demons lined up on either side of her changed dramatically. The pure murderous intent of a beast seeking prey gushed out.
“Fight while diligently protecting the spiritless spirit master, servant. Show me how skilled you are at killing your own brother.”
Siren’s hand waved elegantly and sentenced the two to death.
The army of evil spirits advanced simultaneously.
Lilia asked, glancing at the spirit who was still causing trouble.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sorry. Could you give me just a little more time?”
“yes?”
“You fool. Do you think my voice will be released so easily?”
Siren snorted as she overheard the conversation, but neither Galen nor Lilia paid any attention.
And the two of them have a relationship where they can communicate so much without having to say anything.
“Is it because of what I think it is?”
“I think so.”
“Wow, seriously! You’re going too far!”
“sorry.”
“… If you’re really sorry, I’ll feel even more embarrassed. Until when?”
“I will let you know when it is done.”
“Well, then you have to control it well… … .”
After a conversation that Siren would never understand, Lilia lightly jumped down from her horse.
She took out the hammer she had been carrying on her back and strode forward.
Boom!
The first horse to break free and charge forward was struck by a hammer. Its head was shattered to pieces with a loud noise.
Crunch! Crunch!
The other evil spirits that were running after him were also instantly struck down and knocked out.
Although the light-bodied and fast-footed champion took the lead, dozens of weaker champions were wiped out in an instant.
“Yeah, that should be about it.”
Siren said calmly. It was just a taste anyway.
“Then what about this?”
The annoying evil species that even bronze can deal with were completely omitted, and evil species that should be at least as good as silver were put in.
Judging from the way they surrounded from the left and right, it seemed like they were blatantly going after Galen from the left and right while the evil spirits in front held off Lilia.
Lilia responded by moving several times more diligently.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Rather than being obsessed with killing them, they save time by roughly hitting them once, then quickly rush to another evil species and repeat the same process.
Even if you roughly hit them, they won’t die, but the damage is not ordinary, so the evil spirits will groan and be unable to fight for a while, and when they are tied up like that, a front line is naturally formed.
To put it simply, it feels like Lilia is spinning around in a circle centered around Galen, blocking the approach of evil spirits.
However, there was a limit. The size of the safe zone protecting Galen gradually decreased.
“Ahahaha! It won’t be long now, will it?”
Siren, who was still watching leisurely, giggled.
“You’re working hard to protect a colleague who isn’t even half-assed. Try a little harder!”
“That’s real!”
“Hold on, Lilia.”
Galen calmed down the angry Lilia.
“They are thankfully showing mercy. They are regulating the speed at which the siege is closing in.”
“Well, well. It’s not because you guys are good. You know your stuff.”
The siren hissed.
If you really had the will to attack all the evils at once, Lilia’s defenses would have been broken through long ago. Unless you can use the clone technique, you can’t physically block all of them on your own.
Lilia whined with an uncomfortable expression at the sight.
“Can’t you just go and hit him once? He’s so ugly.”
“Yes. I will send it to you.”
“Huh? Really?”
“I just finished translating it. Let’s see, is this the right way to do it?”
Galen stared at the troll as it closed the distance between them while he took a moment to talk to Lilia.
The troll raised his club. Galen, who was about to smash the pot, stopped Lilia and spoke softly.
“Stop.”
A wave of magical power mixed with the voice passed through the troll.
The movements of the evil spirits were distorted.