Chapter 0373 Ballast
-x-X-x-
Single-minded.
There could be no more appropriate word to describe Ryo for the past few days.
Of course, he had his meals.
And also got a decent amount of sleep.
Even while eating, all he thought about was the ship.
Even when sleeping, he dreamt about nothing but the ship.
On the fourth day into it.
Ryo finally had a breakthrough.
"Hehehe… Mr. Neil, now I get what you were trying to do. To think you were trying to load ballast water, that's nothing short of amazing. That's how you intend to fix the balance problem… It's a wooden ship, but it's certainly possible on 'Phi' where magic and alchemy are prominent. What's even more frightening is Mr. Neil who came up with that idea…"
Ballast water is the water that is taken into the ship, depending on the amount of cargo, to stabilize the ship.
The method of stabilizing ships by loading stones and other materials has been a common practice on Earth since ancient times.
In recent years, that had been replaced by water, which is easier to adjust than stones, but what Neil Andersen was trying to do was to use alchemy to control where the loaded water was placed, and even the shape itself.
Certainly, the loading of ballast water was understandable if it were a submarine, for example, but… his way of thinking is astonishing to arrive at this idea from that knowledge.
Ryo had finally solved the mystery, and everything else thereafter didn't take much time.
He instructed the engineers to complete the blueprints and, through the first-class inn, arranged for the necessary materials, including the magic stones.
And when everything was in place… he finally made a proposal to Chairman Girolamo.
"Please sell me that ship."
Chairman Girolamo took a breath before answering.
"Okay. But I have a condition."
"Condition?"
"Please hand over the modified blueprints, the alchemy formula, and so on. The ship was originally supposed to be our trading company's latest invention. But with the departure of Sir Andersen, the construction stopped… so we don't mind selling the ship. But later, when we restart the project, we would like to take advantage of the new path that the Duke pioneered. How about it?"
Girolamo's eyes were determined.
And as far as Ryo was concerned, it wasn't a big deal.
"Sure."
"Ohh."
"So, how much do you have in mind for the ship?"
"The cost of materials, labor, etc., up to this point is quite enormous. But if we deduct the cost of the blueprints, etc., from that, how about 100 billion Ducats, or 100 billion Florins in the Central Countries' currency?"
"We have a deal."
It was a quick decision.
Since a clipper ship of that size was a bargain even at 100 billion Florins.
…Probably.
"I heard that the ship will be used for maritime research with other Western Countries, especially the Theocracy. So, I assume you'd prefer if the crew were not from the Republic?"
"Oh, right."
Ryo nodded to Girolamo's words.
A clipper ship of that size requires a decent crew to operate it.
Both in numbers and in skill.
"It would be better to recruit sailors from the neighboring Goslon Duchy, who learned their craft in the Republic. The Goslon Duchy has produced many popes in the past, so it has a very good relationship with the Western Church. It is also a unique country that has never been at war with us, their neighbor. So, their citizens are well received both in the Republic and the Theocracy and yet possess solid seafaring skills. If you wish, our company can make the arrangements for you."
"Oh! Sure, that would be great."
It was a godsend.
"Once she is ready, we will sail her to Goslon Harbor and rig her up there. That will also allow the sailors of the Duchy to get accustomed to the ship. Your Excellency might also want to stop by Goslon Duchy before returning to the Holy Capital. Since the perks of possessing the Holy Seal issued by the Church in that country is quite fantastic."
"I see. I like the sound of that. Thank you."
Thus, all the problems were cleared up.
Finally, the launching ceremony.
The name of the ship, Ryo came up with, was 'Skidbladnir'.
It was taken from the name of a magical sailing ship that appears in the mythology of Earth.
Ryo's expression as he watched the launching ceremony was full of satisfaction.
Indeed, it was not Ryo's personal ship, but that of the Kingdom of Knightley.
The Kingdom government paid for it.
However, since he was involved in the design changes and alchemy, his satisfaction was almost like he owned it.
It was only natural for him to grin.
((Didn't think you had it in you, Ryo.))
((I'm in a good mood today Abel, so I'll let that condescending attitude pass.))
((Hey, you should listen to yourself just now… that was super condescending of you, Ryo…))
That night, Ryo slept over at Doge Pietro, of course.
The next day.
Appetizing dinner, comfortable sleep, delicious breakfast.
As he had experienced many times, it was simply perfect.
After breakfast, Ryo did some light stretching and then headed for the reception.
He would be checking out of the inn and then leaving the Republic, stopping at Goslon Duchy on the way, and then returning to the Holy Capital.
Checking out was no stress whatsoever.
It was flawless.
"Yet again, I had a wonderful stay. If I ever find myself in the Republic, I will be in your care again."
"We look forward to seeing you again sir."
It took three days to reach Goslon, the capital of Goslon Duchy.
At the border security checkpoint, he intentionally presented both the Holy Seal and the plate of the Duke of Rondo.
Thinking that doing so would surely get the Goslon government's attention.
And sure enough….
As he passed through the gates of the capital, Goslon, a certain personage welcomed him.
It was Genesio, the crown prince of Goslon Duchy.
The heir apparent of Goslon Duchy, the next lord of the country.
He still looked young… maybe fifteen or six years old.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, thank you for coming all this way to receive me."
"Of course…. The Kingdom of Knightley is a major power in the Central Countries. With their premier duke visiting, it's only natural that he should be received by someone of high status. Normally, my father, Duke Goslon, should have been the one fulfilling this role, but he is not around. So, I am stepping in, in his absence."
Prince Genesio replied politely to Ryo's words of gratitude.
Even so, it's not very common to hear that the Prince was waiting at the gates of the capital instead of the castle….
"I understand that Your Excellency also has a Holy Seal."
The mystery was soon solved.
As Chairman Girolamo had said, the effect of the holy seal there in Goslon Duchy seemed to be quite significant.
They went straight to the government office to discuss the handling of Skidbladnir and its crew.
The basic arrangements, however, had already been discussed by the Franzoni Shipping Company of the Republic, so all that was required was confirmation and signature from Ryo.
The ship, Skidbladnir, was registered in the Kingdom of Knightley.
Owned by the Kingdom of Knightley and King Abel I. The agent was the Duke of Rondo.
Moored at the port of Goslon.
Maintenance and crew members were citizens of Goslon Duchy.
Since it was a ship owned by the Kingdom, a memorandum of understanding was also exchanged between the two countries regarding its maintenance and safekeeping.
The Goslon Duchy itself was responsible for the maintenance and storage of the ship.
And the Kingdom paid for the services….
Ryo deposited 10 billion Florins from the letter of credit to Goslon Duchy.
That was the cost of maintenance and storage of Skidbladnir for the next twenty years.
Maintenance costs of 500 million Florins per year… converted to Japanese yen, is a billion yen per year… which is quite cheap.
On modern Earth, it is said that the annual maintenance cost of a super luxury ship is about 10% of the value of the ship.
In other words, a 200 billion yen ship would cost 20 billion yen a year.
But here, it's only a billion yen!
Wow, that's one-twentieth!
Ryo signed off with such thoughts in mind.
Also, as the designer, he informed them of some of the features of Skidbladnir as well as things to watch out for when handling it.
Well, even though he was the designer, he didn't tinker so much with the structure of the ship itself, but basically just tweaked the parts where alchemy was involved….
Anyway, the whole procedure was completed in one day.
All the documents were made in four copies, one to the Goslon government, one to Ryo, one to the Franzoni Shipping Company of the Republic, and the last one to the Kingdom Delegation in the Holy Capital, separately from Ryo.
The last part was a measure in case something happened to Ryo, which Ryo himself pushed for.
Because he would sometimes feel prying eyes on him.
((If they don't make a move, then it's all good. But if they do, then I just have to retaliate.))
((Well, at any rate, you did a good job securing the ship. I honestly commend you for that.))
Abel praised Ryo candidly.
((Nah. I did what I had to do as the premier duke.))
Ryo was also satisfied with the result of this matter, so he answered gleefully.
((Apparently, clipper ships are not at all common, so the crew needs some drilling to get used to them. Sounds like a lot of work.))
((Yeah… I've never heard of a clipper before either…. Are they common in Ryo's hometown or something?))
((Nah… they're not exactly common in my hometown either. I just knew of them because of their beautiful appearance.))
In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that clipper ships on Earth came out in the last days of the Age of Sailing era.
The era of steamboats was just around the corner.
However, it was precisely in that era that the masterpieces of sailing ships were invented.
The very masterpieces of ships.
The famous Cutty Sark, for example, can be said to be one of the finest masterpieces of the final years of sailing ships.
At the moment, the crew were still lacking in proficiency, but one day, when Skidbladnir reached the Central Countries… he would definitely love to sail on it… Ryo vowed firmly to himself.
Skidbladnir left a strong impression on Ryo in a different way from the Rain Shooter he saw in Whitnash.
-x-X-x-
After spending the night in the capital city of Goslon, Ryo left the duchy in a carriage prepared by Goslon Duchy.
All that remained was to return to the Holy Capital Marlomar.
From Goslon to the Holy Capital was three days by carriage.
…If nothing happened.
It was only about twenty kilometers to the border of Goslon Duchy.
On the road between towns.
A sudden impact struck the carriage.
The carriage was sent flying. The horses. And coachman altogether.
The carriage's wheels were shattered and the carriage was crushed.
"Come on out. You surely won't die from such a measly accident, will you?"
The voice was very calm for someone who had done something so flashy.
In response to that voice, a huge hole opened in the collapsed carriage, and Ryo in a robe appeared from inside.
"That's one remarkably flashy attack. Bishop Abelardo, Bishop Brigitta, and Bishop Dionisi."
Ryo was attacked by three of the 'Four Bishops of the Pope'.
"Sir Ryo of the Kingdom Delegation. Or should I call you Duke Rondo? I warned you before. If you're deemed to be a threat to the Church, we'll eliminate you."
Bishop Abelardo at the front declared.
His tone was as normal as before, but Ryo could sense a slight hint of irritation mixed in.
"Sure, I remember…. But I haven't done anything that should be seen as a threat by the Church, have I?"
Ryo answered, tilting his head.
He, in fact, believed so… but?
"Bullshit! After purchasing a ship from the Republic, an enemy of the Church. How much money did you give to the Republic? What would you call that if not an act of hostility?"
"Oh, now I understand."
Bishop Dionisi pointed out in a rough tone, and Ryo finally understood somewhat.
Thinking about it, they were right in a way.
"That's why the Church has decided to get rid of you."
Bishop Abelardo announced in a calm voice.
"The Church did…. Pardon me, but can you tell me who gave the order to the three of you?"
"His Holiness the Pope, of course."
"The Pope… with his own mouth?"
"Of course. His Holiness the Pope always gives us our orders himself."
Abelardo replied, bowing his head reverently.
At the same time, Brigitta and Dionisi also bowed.
The loyalty of the three to the Pope seemed to be absolute.
If the Pope had decided to eliminate Ryo, even if he were able to defeat the three and return to the Holy Capital, things would certainly become more troublesome….
However, it wasn't the time to think about that.
With the crisis looming in front of him, he would have to deal with it first before leisurely thinking about it!
Ryo thought so, and the moment he switched his gaze… a strange feeling came over him.
A strange feeling that he had felt before.
One that he had felt many times before.
The first time was when he encountered the one-eyed Assassin Hawk in the Rondo Forest….
"No way… magic nullification in a place like this?"
Ryo muttered, and the three bishops were in turn surprised.
Abelardo seemed to have restrained his surprise quite well, but not perfectly.
Even Brigitta's expression changed slightly.
Dionisi's expression was practically conveying, 'How did you know?'.
The three of them were surprised, and so was Ryo.
Indeed, Ryo was surprised, too.
But Ryo couldn't help but smile… though he was not aware of it.
"Why are you smiling? For a magician, magic nullification is tantamount to a death sentence…. Have you resigned yourself to your fate?"
Abelardo asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
He didn't know why Ryo was smiling.
"I didn't mean to smile. Just that, with the magic nullification, it means that one of you has some kind of device that causes magic nullification… perhaps an alchemy tool, right? And that's just something I'd very much love to see."
Ryo was still smiling.
"Fool! For someone that's about to die. You can forget about it!"
Dionisi yelled.
"I see, so you do have one, a magic nullifying alchemy tool. Well, you said it, I can see it if I survive."
Ryo nodded twice, pulled Murasame from its sheath, and produced a blade of ice.
Then he said.
"In the Central Countries, it's normal for magicians to be able to fight in close quarters."
"Bullshit!"
Shouting so, Dionisi's hand flashed and he leaped into the air.
Three daggers shot out from his hands, and at the same time, Dionisi also jumped toward Ryo with daggers in both hands.
He parried the three daggers and received the dagger in Dionisi's right hand with Murasame.
At that moment, Dionisi slashed at Ryo with the dagger in his left hand.
He knocked it down with the hilt of Murasame and then thrust at him using the recoil.
"Tsk."
Dionisi clicked his tongue and stepped backward to put some distance between them.
As Dionisi stepped out of Ryo's range, something shiny approached from Ryo's right!
The moment he caught it at the corner of his vision, he tilted his head and dodged by a hair's breadth.
However, he soon realized that was a mistake.
It wasn't a thrown dagger.
He hurriedly hunkered down and ducked.
A stick swung through the air 'from behind' where Ryo's lowered head previously was….
"Three-section staff?"
A weapon consisting of three sticks about sixty centimeters long and four centimeters thick, chained together to form a single staff… though he had only seen it in kung-fu movies, even Ryo knew about it.
And even though he knew about it, he'd never seen the weapon in use outside of the movies.
Yet Brigitta was wielding it….
Brigitta is a woman, but she is about a hundred and sixty centimeters tall.
So, she seemed to be able to spin the three-section staff around her body without any particular difficulty.
On the left was Dionisi dual-wielding daggers.
On the right, Brigitta with a three-section staff.
Naturally, he was concerned about Abelardo in the center, but… he just stood stationary and simply watched Ryo.
(His type is the most difficult to deal with.)
Ryo sighed softly.
(Brigitta can simulate and make amazing predictions. The best way to defeat someone like her is… to outperform her in speed, I guess? And the iron rule of one-to-many. Line the enemies up in one direction.)
Ryo took the initiative and launched at Brigitta.
Brigitta's three-section staff seemed to be impervious to Ryo's Murasame.
With calculated exchanges, Ryo switched positions with Brigitta.
In this direction, all three enemies were within in sight.
Occasionally, Dionisi would throw daggers at him, but since he could see them, they didn't really pose a threat.
He continued to fight, moving little by little.
In that way, he secured a position with the wreckage of the carriage behind him.
Gaining a safe spot behind him.
(Now, I just need to go with the usual! )
Ryo's ironclad defense.
Even with one against two, Ryo's defense was unbreachable.
And so, while Ryo was defending against their attacks, he noticed something.
It was the expression on Abelardo's face, the only one not taking part in the battle.
He was dripping with cold sweat and sometimes even twisting his face in pain.
Abelardo, who had always been so calm and had shown considerable restraint even in his expression of surprise.
(He's not participating in the battle even though it's at a standstill. Cold sweat, pain… magic nullification…)
Ryo was thinking about such things while engaged in battle.
In other words, the situation was such that he had the leeway to do that.
Brigitta's ability was tricky, but when it came to such close quarters and high-speed combat, there were few situations in which it could be utilized.
Of course, neither Dionisi nor Brigitta were weak by any means.
In fact, they should be among the top ten… human opponents that Ryo had ever fought.
But simply put, that was about it.
Compared to the non-humans Ryo had fought….
Compared to the vampire swordsman he fought in the magic-nullifying space, he was fighting with so much ease.
He was not as cornered as he was back when he fought the one-eyed Assassin Hawk who employed magic nullification.
The three of them thought that they could easily defeat Ryo, a magician, by putting him in a position where his magic was rendered useless.
Boy, were they wrong.
Despite being a magician, he was strong in close combat.
Ryo was that kind of magician….
(I think I got it.)
Ryo stepped back and distanced himself from Brigitta.
And Brigitta, as if waiting for him to do that, attacked with her three-section staff extended.
Ryo dodged the tip of the three-section staff homing in on him by taking a half step forward with his right foot, and while dodging, he severed the fully extended connecting parts of the three-section staff.
At about the same time, leaning forward, he struck back one of the daggers that Dionisi had thrown with Murasame, as if he were hitting a ball with a bat.
Aiming at Abelardo.
"Ugh-ha!"
The flying dagger pierced Abelardo in the gut.
Abelardo involuntarily fell to his knees.
Leaving them both looking at Abelardo in surprise, Ryo rushed over to Abelardo and kicked him in the head as he bent over.
Abelardo was sent flying.
Something flew out of his left hand.
Ryo reached out and caught it.
Something cylindrical, about the size of a 350 ml can.
While Ryo reached out to take it and check it out, Dionisi and Brigitta picked Abelardo who was sent flying and took off.
Ryo watched as a carriage appeared in the distance, picked up the three of them, and left.
There was no need to defeat the three of them and more importantly, he was curious about the cylinder in his hand.
Perhaps it was the alchemy tool that generated the magic nullification.
But after seeing that look on Abelardo's face, he couldn't muster the courage to try it out himself….
"I'll just take it as a souvenir for Kenneth."
But then Ryo realized.
His carriage had already been destroyed.
And the coachman was still unconscious, having been blown away.
"Haaa…"
Ryo let out a deep, loud sigh.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0375 Intermission – Developments in the Debuhi Empire
-x-X-x-
Two years ago, Rupert VI had abdicated the throne and the new Emperor was his eldest son, Helmut VIII.
Former Emperor Rupert announced his retirement from all political affairs, and the true authority of the Empire passed entirely to Helmut VIII and his entourage.
Of course, nothing wrong with that.
Since Helmut had gathered his entourage from his days as crown prince, learned to rule in the territories he was given, and gained experience and achievements to that very end.
He would become Emperor and rule the country well.
Taking his time to reel in achievements.
But Helmut couldn't wait.
The shadow of his great predecessor was still looming over him.
Former Emperor Rupert VI was just twenty years old when he ascended the throne.
Thereafter, he further strengthened the mighty Empire, reformed the aristocrats who even slightly defied his authority, and gained absolute power and absolute economic strength.
When Rupert VI abdicated and Helmut VIII ascended to the throne, there were no more aristocrats in the Empire who would challenge the Emperor's authority, and the Emperor's power and authority were already immense.
Perhaps it was inevitable that Helmut became impatient with the grandiose achievements of his predecessor.
He had only one thing on his mind.
What could he do to surpass his predecessor's great achievements?
What could he do to surpass his predecessor?
This is a question that has been repeated in many histories, in many worlds, and not only by Helmut VIII.
Some built gigantic structures.
Some built libraries to accumulate knowledge.
And others… invaded neighboring countries to expand their territories.
"Failed?"
Helmut VIII asked, a hint of displeasure evident in his voice.
"My apologies."
Flora Leisenheimer, commander of the 10th Imperial Army, bowed her head and apologized.
She bowed deeply, but her expression did not change at all.
Her advisor Elmer, who was standing right behind her, could tell.
That Flora didn't feel even a modicum of remorse.
In the first place, she was against this operation.
At one point, she had asked the Emperor to reconsider.
But the operation was carried out nonetheless.
And with her in charge.
She might even be made to take responsibility for it….
"Enough. You're excused."
"Understood. Excuse me."
Without further ado, Flora and her advisor Elmer left the room.
The 10th Imperial Army commander's office.
"The Emperor is becoming too impatient."
Flora Leisenheimer, commander of the 10th Imperial Army, frowned as she drank her coffee.
Her advisor was sitting across from her on the sofa.
"Elmer, what do you think?"
The man called Elmer answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Fundamentally, it should become better with time but…. The direction certainly isn't encouraging. His Majesty is arbitrarily comparing himself to the previous emperor. Even if it's inevitable…. And there's no one around to snap him out of it. Since Count Hans Kirchhoff was kicked out, no one has been able to express their opinion. They're all scared, and I don't blame them."
"It's only been three years since the war with the Kingdom. And though the Kingdom suffered substantial damage, the Empire was by no means unscathed. Sheesh, after we managed to finally establish a friendly atmosphere thanks to the joint delegation dispatch to the Western Countries."
"Well, as an Emperor… if he could succeed in conquering the Kingdom, a feat that his predecessor failed to accomplish. If he could accomplish that, it would certainly be one of the greatest achievements, surpassing those of his predecessor."
"I, for one, don't want our soldiers to be sacrificed for something like that."
Flora's last words were more like a whisper.
Of course, there was an alchemy tool installed in the room to prevent against eavesdropping, but still.
She couldn't help but keep her voice down….
"Right, Elmer. How is the situation in the Corridor Countries?"
"It's not looking good at all. That king of the horsemen tribe has conquered them all. Apparently, he has a grudge against the Empire because of the former emperor. Until now, the Corridor Countries and the Central Countries have rarely had relations, but that's a different story with the 'Equestrian tribe'. Their area of activity is completely different. They are one to watch out for."
Elmer answered Flora's question with a frown.
"There is really no need to pick a fight with the west and the south at the same time…"
Elmer couldn't help but nod in agreement with Flora's mutterings.
On the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, the 12th Imperial Army training ground.
"What is His Imperial Majesty thinking… ordering us, Shadows, to the 10th Army instead of the 12th!"
The voice didn't sound angry.
However, it was filled with frustration.
The voice belonged to General Rancias, commander of the 12th Army.
Listening to his complaint was Bossabo, an archer who had newly become Rancias' second-in-command two years earlier.
Bossabo, who was assigned to the 12th Army because of his divine archery skills, was highly regarded by Rancias for his ability to coordinate as a lieutenant and, in some cases, lead the whole army, and he had earned his complete trust.
Well, that explained why he was the one listening to his complaints….
However, Bossabo, who was in his mid-thirties, was also experienced enough to know that listening to his boss's complaints was part of the job.
"I guess it means you have yet to regain the Emperor's trust."
He was also a man who had no problem voicing out the difficult stuff.
"Sure, leave it to you to hit a sore spot…"
General Rancias succumbed with a frown.
"After the war with the Kingdom, half of those who returned from the Elven Forest left the army. After an experience like that, who can blame them…. Then again, it's also true that the strength of the 12th Army has been rattled by it. Though we're training new recruits, the art of 'Shadow' is not easy to master."
Saying that, Rancias let out a loud sigh.
He knows.
He actually knows well.
How extremely difficult it is to regain trust once it is lost.
And that he was just clinging to their past glory.
But still….
Isn't it human nature to seek that glory again?
"We're going to build the army back up, and better!"
"…Yes sir."
General Rancias shook his head repeatedly before saying so, and his second-in-command, Bossabo, who could imagine harsh training regimens ahead, delayed his reply for a moment.
Indeed… a lot of things are simply inevitable….
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0376 Intermission – Developments in the Handal Union
-x-X-x-
"Your Excellency, it's been confirmed that it's the Djinn Bug."
"What an unpleasant report."
Lord Aubrey, the Union Governor, responded to Aide Lamber's report with a frown on his face.
"Be that as it may…. I can't exactly make up a false report to shy away from it."
Lamber also frowned and shook his head slightly.
"Is it the one I think it is? The one the Kingdom's folklore officer confirmed?"
"Yeah. Viscount Rashata Debuo, Folklore Officer of the Central Temple in the Royal Capital. He is the one who directly confirmed the outbreak of the Djinn bug in the Kingdom's Kona village previously. Since we sent a delegation alongside the Kingdom to the Western Countries, our relations have improved, and they let us into the site. It appears the delegation was well worth the high cost."
"Well, we only paid for it… but I'm fairly certain that our hardship is nothing compared to what His Majesty Roberto Pirlo, who is actually on the ground must be going through."
Lord Aubrey said with a wry smile.
It was none other than Lord Aubrey who begged the former king, who was now in his mid-seventies and enjoying a comfortable life, to go on this grueling journey to the west.
Knowing that, Aide Lamber shook his head again, slightly.
"The Djinn in Kona village… later broke out of its seal, didn't it?"
"Yeah. Of course, the Kingdom has not announced it, but it seems certain from the information we have gathered."
"Yet there's no indication that the Djinn who broke out of the seal went on a rampage."
"That's right. It didn't get sealed away again… and seems to have flown away to the west."
As Lamber explained what Lord Aubrey remembered, Lord Aubrey looked down and began to think about something.
Meanwhile, Lamber said nothing.
Arranging the papers on the desk.
After a while, Lord Aubrey opened his mouth again.
"My memory is a little fuzzy, but… there was a record of a Djinn sealed near the border of the Kingdom and the Union that went on a rampage, wasn't there?"
"You remember correctly, sir. Legend has it that it was sealed away by King Richard of the Kingdom."
"Well, even if it's just a legend… it's that much of an existence none stood a chance against unless they were such a great hero right? I really don't want such a menace on the loose again."
"Its revival is only a matter of time I'm afraid…"
"Maybe in a hundred years or so, fine. I'll be long gone by then."
"Passing the hot potato to our children and grandchildren…"
"By then, I'm sure they'll have invented magic and alchemy tools that can defeat even a Djinn with a single blow."
Lord Aubrey said, nodding repeatedly, not believing it at all.
Lamber, who has been his assistant for a long time, knew that Lord Aubrey did not believe that, not one bit.
Though he knows that….
"I'm afraid that's just wishful thinking."
"…As stiff as ever I see, Lamber."
Here's how Rashata made his confirmation.
Nilpha, a city in the western part of the Union.
The city is famous for its wine.
Vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see, and merchants come from all over the Central Countries to buy wine.
This year, however, the vines were infested with an insect never seen before.
They were about the size of a pinky fingernail.
They had ten legs, and when crushed, they produced a blood-red fluid….
Once these insects latch on, the trees die quite quickly.
Insect experts in Nilpha as well as the surrounding larger cities were called in, but no one could figure out what the bug was.
No effective measures were found and they resorted to squashing the bugs one by one as they were found… and the situation continued for several months.
The situation changed when an inspector visiting from Jayclaire, the capital city of the Union government, came across the insects.
The inspector, Asser, was an old magician who was about to turn seventy years old.
He had long since retired from active service and was spending his time leisurely in the suburbs of Jayclaire when he was consulted by his protégé, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Nilpha's wines were facing a crisis. If the situation persisted, he said, bottling of wine would be close to impossible and tax revenues would suffer.
Asser did not care about the tax revenue, but he was very concerned that his favorite wine, Nilpha wine, would become harder to get.
Therefore, he asked the Union government to temporarily reinstate him as an inspector to deal with the 'unidentified bugs' plaguing Nilpha.
And the higher-ups in the Union government wholeheartedly gave their approval.
As was evident from the fact that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue was a disciple of Asser, many of Asser's disciples had risen to quite high positions in the Union government or in the countries that made up the Union.
And those disciples knew that Asser possessed a wealth of knowledge that was incomparable to an average magician.
The reason for that was that Baron Asser once served as a famous folklore master, or that he was the chief magician of the Union when he was active and had memorized all kinds of forbidden books… various rumors were abound regarding him.
Some even claimed that the famous Explosive Blaze Magician of the Empire was a disciple of Asser… of course, this was dismissed and laughed off as idle gossip.
Anyway, it was well known to his disciples that Asser's knowledge was extraordinary.
When Asser arrived in Nilpha city… to be precise, even before entering the city, he entered the vineyards that surrounded the city.
His attendants hurried after him, but he did not care about that.
Asser had come to save Nilpha's wine, and he understood that his priority was to understand the current situation, and the best way to do that was to see and figure it out for himself.
As luck would have it, he was able to see a bug that had just been found.
"This is… it can't be…?"
It looked like the insect Asser remembered.
However, he had never seen it in person before.
It resembled an insect in a book shown to him by the lord he once served.
It had ten legs, and when its legs were spread out, it was about the size of a pinky fingernail.
And then….
When he squashed it, a blood-red fluid came out.
"It's the same bug from the book that my lord once showed me…. But I never thought…"
Asser's forehead wrinkled deeply.
If indeed, that was the bug, the 'Djinn Bug', then….
It is said that the Djinn bug is one of the familiars that is used to amass strength for a sealed djinn when they're about to revive.
Djinns gather their power in various ways, one of which is using the Djinn bug.
In other words, a sealed Djinn was trying to break its seal.
"I need to verify this immediately."
Asser muttered to himself and headed to the Nilpha lord's manor to contact the Union government.
After further discussions within the Union government, it was decided to have the Kingdom's Folklore Officer, Viscount Rashata Debuo, confirm the matter.
The Viscount then made his way directly to Nilpha to confirm that it was indeed the Djinn bug.
Thus, the report was delivered to Lord Aubrey, the governor.
-x-X-x-
A few days after Ryo had left for the Republic for the second time, the six members of 'Room 10' and 'Room 11' had once again begun their conquest of the West Dungeon of the Holy Capital.
That in itself was fun, but honestly, they wondered if it was the right time to be diving into a dungeon… or so they thought….
"Go ahead."
That's what Hugh McGrath told them.
His attitude was neither here nor there.
Even Niels could tell that there was something behind it, but he accepted it without saying anything.
He didn't say anything because there was no need to tell them at the moment.
It wasn't yet time for them to know.
Either way, it was probably something Niels and the others didn't need to know at that time.
So Hugh said nothing.
So Niels, too, didn't ask.
The inn in the West Dungeon town, 'Holy City Ginyu', has now become a regular inn.
They stayed at the best inn in town with the delegation's money while diving into the dungeon.
"Is it really all right for us to be treated to such extravagant luxury?"
Amon said with a smile while having dinner at the luxurious inn.
"Mr. Hugh had given us only one condition. We're not to leave the town of the West Dungeon until we are instructed to do so. Isn't it fine if we just keep to that?"
Etho, too, looking pleased, replied while eating.
Niels was a little worried, but he also understood that there was no point thinking too hard on it.
Last time the six of them had conquered the 100th floor, where a boss monster spawned.
Therefore, this time, they started from the 101st floor.
"The next boss is on the 150th floor… and that's the deepest floor recorded."
Although Niels said that, there were also several concerns leading up to it.
First, the six are composed of three swordsmen, one dual-swordsman, and two priests.
Simply put, it was very unbalanced.
They have almost no long-range offensive capabilities.
At best, they have the rapid-fire crossbow that Etho wears on his left arm… and maybe the light javelins of the two priests.
They have no magician.
But, well, that's okay.
Be it 'Room 10' or 'Room 11', they're basically a party without a magician.
Safe to say they're very much used to it.
But in a dungeon… it's tough without a scout.
There were many heinous traps leading up to the 100th floor.
Of course, they avoided all of them….
Amon and Zeke excelled at sensing the traps.
Amon relied completely on intuition.
While Zeke logically deduced the likelihood of there being a trap.
The avoidance rate of traps by those two was 99%!
Once, during a mobile combat, Gowan stepped on a trap, triggering a poisoned arrow trap.
The dozens of poisoned arrows that were closing in were repelled by Etho deploying his emergency deployment defense magic
And, before Gowan stepped on it, Zeke pointed it out to him… though Gowan didn't process it in time.
In other words, as long as Amon and Zeke were together, they could find all the traps.
Nonetheless, Niels was feeling anxious for reasons unknown….
The next day, they began their dungeon dive.
The floors were much larger than the previous ones.
Of course, there was no map….
Moreover, there was almost no information about the floors below the 100th floor.
That was because many of those before them were unable to overcome the 100th-floor boss and ended their dungeon dive right there.
The boss spawn on the 100th floor is completely random.
However, the boss normally possess a certain level of strength.
The boss that appeared before the six of them was a wyvern.
That could be said to be one of the strongest bosses to appear on the 100th floor.
Normally, when a wyvern appears, any party would retreat.
Since it's possible to withdraw on the 100th floor.
And there's no disadvantage at all, only the restriction that you can enter only once a day.
If they entered the next day, another boss would appear, and they could simply resume their conquest.
Yet, the six attacked the wyvern.
And in the end, they succeeded in defeating it.
Besides the wyvern-class, the 100th floor is known to spawn fairly powerful boss monsters.
And one that is difficult to conquer with a party of a few.
King Boa.
Harpy Queen.
Goblin King.
Shadow Stalker Queen.
Wraith King.
And so on.
A parade of kings and queens!
Since all of these monsters are rarely seen above ground, many of them have no established subjugation strategy.
For this reason, only a few parties can advance from the 101st floor down.
'Room 10' and 'Room 11' were the rare parties that were able to advance.
That actually became the talk of the town in the West Dungeon.
Only eight parties, including the six of them, have ever set foot on the 101st floor of the West Dungeon.
It was said that more than 5,000 parties were diving into the West Dungeon at any given time, and they were among the top eight.
It was only natural that they would be the talk of the town.
Of course, the six of them didn't care about that.
A few days after resuming their dungeon dive.
They were making good progress and had reached the 120th floor.
The moment they descended the stone steps and were about to step into the 120th floor.
"Wait!"
Zeke spoke up.
Zeke and Amon were in the lead.
Since they were responsible for detecting traps.
And so Zeke was staring intently, but tilting his head slightly.
Then he opened his mouth.
"Something's wrong. I'm sorry, I can't put my hands on what exactly, but… it's definitely strange."
That was very unusual for Zeke.
In most cases,
"The passageway is narrow, so spears and other traps may appear from the side",
Or, "The ceiling is too dark to see, so something may fall or monsters may ambush from there",
He would point out the reasons and possible traps, but… this time he only said, "Something's wrong".
"It certainly seems strange. Only… I'm not sure what's weird about it."
Amon said something similar.
But now it was confirmed.
There was a trap on the 120th floor, something that they had never been seen before.
"All right. We will proceed more carefully than ever before. One step at a time."
Niels said, and the other five nodded.
And so they proceeded, literally, one step at a time, checking to see if there was anything unusual about the cobblestones under their feet.
Basically, the traps in the dungeon are often triggered by the cobblestones underfoot.
When a certain weight is applied, the trap is triggered, and so on.
So, Amon and Zeke in the lead checked the cobblestones step by step as they proceeded.
So they should not have stepped on any trap.
But then… it happened instantly.
Teleportation.
All six of them had already experienced it several times… above ground.
They were experiencing it for the first time in a dungeon.
They didn't even have time to cry out.
One moment they felt their bodies float, and the next moment they were standing somewhere.
"Teleportation…"
Harold muttered involuntarily.
"A dungeon with a teleportation trap…"
Etho said in a low voice.
"Ryo mentioned it before."
Niels said in a whisper that didn't suit his body size.
"This time, it wasn't me…"
Gowan insisted that he had not triggered the trap….
The other three nodded and comforted Gowan.
Yup, the other three. There were only four of them, including Gowan.
"Amon and Zeke…"
"Were sent to another location…"
Etho prompted, and Niels nodded and answered.
The six were separated.
-x-X-x-
"We've been separated…"
"Yeah. Was it a teleportation trap?"
Amon commented and Zeke agreed.
"I heard about it from Ryo-san some time ago. Arthur from the Court Magician Order said that some dungeons in the Western Countries have teleportation traps."
"I guess that's exactly what we encountered."
"Also, he said there are also magic-nullified rooms. Apparently Abel-san told Ryo-san that."
"…That's basically a magician killer… well, it's also a priest killer."
Zeke replied to Amon's information with a wry smile.
Although they were separated, they both remained calm.
"Honestly, if it's me and Amon-san as a pair, we'll probably be able to handle ourselves. But if the other four were split into two groups… well, I guess everyone would be able to handle themselves too?"
"Yeah… Etho-san and Harold… should be fine. Etho-san and Gowan… won't likely face any problems either. As long as Etho-san isn't teleported alone, I feel like they'll be fine."
"You're right."
Zeke agreed with Amon's guesses, and in the end they both laughed.
They were a B-rank party and a C-rank party.
Everyone was strong in their own way.
"Okay… then we should just advance."
"Yeah!"
Zeke initiated, and Amon nodded.
After all, procedures in the event of a split were already predetermined.
They didn't expect to be separated due to a teleportation trap, but it was possible to be separated in a dungeon.
There were various kinds of traps after all, such as pitfalls and moving walls.
In the West Dungeon, you can return to the surface by conquering the floor.
Therefore, if they were separated, they would each conquer the floor and then return to the surface and regroup.
That was the arrangement.
So, the two started moving forward.
The problem wasn't them.
"Layered traps… they're definitely aiming to kill us."
Niels grumbled but didn't stop swinging his sword.
Harold was swinging his sword next to him.
Behind them, Gowan was lying on the ground.
While Etho shot arrows with his rapid-fire crossbow, he occasionally made Gowan drink an antidote potion.
"Two potions left!"
Etho shouted to let them know that they were in a critical situation.
However, even then, Niels couldn't think of a good solution.
They were forcibly teleported and the first trap was a magic-nullified space…
And then deadly poison arrows.
Not only that but an attack from a large number of goblins as well.
Five poisoned arrows flew toward Harold.
Gowan pushed Harold away and parried the arrows with his twin swords, but… one of them struck him.
Because it was a magic-nullified space, Etho couldn't use his
The only way to keep him from dying was by giving him potions periodically.
In that situation, they had to deal with a large number of goblins.
Of course, goblins aren't a big deal.
But still, there is power in numbers.
Niels and Harold were still capable of cutting them down, but eventually, they would get tired…
Ping.
Niels cut down the arrow that came flying at him.
"Now there's Goblin Archers."
Even Niels' voice was beginning to be tinged with anxiety.
To be wary of attacks from both short and long-range… the difficulty level was now dozens of times greater than before.
And they would fatigue several times faster now…
(It's getting bad)
Naturally, he didn't put that into words but just thought it in his head.
Niels was the leader there.
He was also a commander.
Ryo always reiterated that the commander's choice of words has a strong influence.
And King Abel, whom he respects, said it too.
Sometimes you have to say things you don't mean!
"We'll cut down the archers too! Gowan, stay with us!"
It was pretty much a yell so that Gowan could hear him as he fought the poison.
But that's fine.
Niels' voice gave Harold and Etho, who were on the verge of losing hope, a little bit of vitality.
Muster up some energy.
But…
Harold's fatigue reached its limit before Niels.
"Ugh"
A Goblin Archer's arrow pierced through Harold's right thigh.
Seeing that, the goblins pounced on Harold all at once.
"Don't underestimate me!"
However, Harold is also a C-rank swordsman.
And a man who wants to become a duke in the future.
He couldn't die in a place like this!
At that very moment, his sword swing was his most powerful and sharpest ever.
The heads of three goblins were sent flying with a swing.
However, he lost his balance because he used too much force.
He quickly regained his balance, but even the goblins with low intelligence understood.
That meant Harold's physical strength was reaching its limit.
Of course, Niels, who was fighting beside him, also understood.
Compared to the three members of Room 10, the three members of Room 11 didn't have much stamina.
Or rather, there wasn't a party in the Kingdom that had the same stamina as Room 10.
Except for a certain water attribute magician, a certain elf swordswoman, and a certain royal swordsman.
"I'm out of potions!"
Etho conveyed desperately.
Furthermore, Harold's sword had started to shake.
"Is it our end?"
Niels muttered…
At that moment…
A group of goblins started screaming from the right flank.
Furthermore, he could see the goblin get blown away.
No, to be more precise, it was a severed head.
He could also see the staff that caused it.
"Zeke! Throw me an antidote potion!"
Etho shouted.
A moment later, an antidote potion was thrown towards Etho.
After catching it, Etho immediately made Gowan drink it.
"They connected with us!"
Etho's exclamation was also heard by Niels.
"Harold, we're almost there, hang in there!"
"Yes!"
Niels called out in encouragement and Harold answered.
Harold also understood.
What happened.
The people they wanted the most to come came.
His party's priest was probably mowing down goblins like a demon god while trying to join up with them.
And his senior swordsman must be killing goblins with his shockingly swift sword strikes.
He couldn't afford to falter!
Power returned to Harold's eyes.
Niels saw that and nodded slightly.
He could see that the party was out of danger.
Amon and Zeke's extermination speed was truly amazing and the number of goblins was reduced in the blink of an eye.
It was three minutes later that the six people joined up.
Even after they joined up, they were still in a magic-nullified space.
Therefore, it was not possible to heal Gowan with magic.
Still, it was overwhelmingly different from before.
After all, thanks to the two members who acted as their scouts joined them, they no longer would step on any new traps.
That was a huge change.
"Scouts, they're important…"
No one heard Niels' murmur.
On the way, they encountered three ogres, but Niels, Amon, and Zeke defeated them.
Harold was still exhausted and was stopped by Zeke.
Harold looked frustrated, but he didn't object.
He had complete trust in Zeke… even Niels could see that.
And finally at the end of the 120th floor.
The magic-nullification was lifted and Gowan recovered with Etho's
Their 120th floor ordeal had finally come to an end.
"Aside from the antidote potion, my arrows are too special, so resupplying would be impossible in this town."
"How about the Holy Capital?"
"I recall there was a shop in the east workshop district that sold a lot of arrows."
Etho commented that he couldn't get arrows for his repeating crossbow, Niels clarified, and Amon remembered and answered.
Etho had run out of arrows on the 120th floor of the dungeon.
"We were told not to leave town, but I guess it can't be helped…"
Niels said with a sigh.
"Let's return to the Holy Capital tomorrow."
They didn't understand.
Why did Hugh tell them not to leave the West Dungeon town?
The reason why Ryo took a day-long detour to this dungeon when he was on his way to the Republic.
Later, those involved were more aware of the importance of properly conveying the message in words.
-x-X-x-
The parties Room 10 and Room 11.
When they reached the halfway point between the West Dungeon and the Holy Capital.
The world turned upside down.
It was their third time experiencing that.
"This is…"
A voice inadvertently escaped from Niels' lips.
After experiencing it for the third time, he knew what was going on.
"At long last… you lot finally came out."
It was now a voice they were very familiar with.
The priest-like man appeared.
At that moment, Etho suddenly understood.
Why did Hugh tell them not to leave the city of West Dungeon?
Perhaps this priest-like man, no, this 'Akuma' could not act within the West Dungeon town where the Djinn Merlin resided.
That's why he told them not to leave town.
"I see."
And Zeke, who was next to him, seemed to have come to the same conclusion at about the same time.
He was frowning.
Right, even if they realized it now, it was already too late…
The six people were teleported by the Akuma.
"Now…"
The Akuma paused for a moment. But he quickly continued.
"I told you, right? Spread the word about the Fallen. Why aren't you spreading the word? Why? Did you try your best to spread the word? Maybe you did, but it hasn't spread. Results are what I need! Seriously, you lot have a death wish? I don't like killing humans either. No, well, that's a lie. I've been secretly killing and eating them behind the other's backs, but… that's besides the case. Hells… I just wanted to see the Church's reaction to Fallens, but that's enough. It's too much hassle. You all should just die."
The Akuma's crazed claims echoed.
Everyone understood what was going to happen next.
They would all be killed.
However, there was an overwhelming difference in power that they couldn't help but understand.
Before that difference, none of them could move.
No, none of them could move previously.
Until now.
Shing.
Niels pulled out his sword and slashed.
Shing.
From the other side, Amon did a quick draw slash with his sword from its sheath.
Both strikes bounced off an invisible wall.
However, their eyes were not filled with despair.
Parin!
A staff jab right to the center broke the Akuma's barrier.
It was Zeke.
"Wow. Isn't this interesting? I can't believe humans like you would break through my barrier."
However, the Akuma laughed with a relaxed expression.
"Gufu"
Without any sign, a stone icicle pierced Niels' stomach.
""
The moment the stone icicle disappeared, Etho's Area Heal resounded, and Niels' abdomen, which had a large hole in it, was repaired.
The only healing magic that was effective even from a certain distance.
However, naturally, the amount of magic power consumed was large.
Meanwhile, Amon and Zeke's continuous attacks continued.
On the second barrier.
When it broke, there was a third barrier.
When it broke, a fourth…
"Ugh"
"Guh…"
Suddenly, stone icicles struck the two of them.
Due to their refined reactions, they avoided fatal injuries… but as expected, they did not come out unscathed.
"＜Area Heal＞＜Area Heal＞"
The wounds were repaired with Etho's Area Heal without delay.
Then, Harold and Gowan finally started to act.
They moved behind the Akuma and struck him with their swords.
The Akuma was surrounded by five people.
But…
"Kukuku, great, great, resist! What would you do if I did this?"
At that instant, stone icicles pierced the feet of all five people surrounding the Akuma.
Niels and Amon barely managed to react, but even they had the flesh of their feet gouged out.
""
was originally an area healing magic.
It healed all five of them together.
Etho immediately drank a magic potion to replenish his magical power.
"The priest who knows about the Fallen is more tenacious than I expected."
The Akuma appeared impressed for the first time.
"The standard rule in party battles is to destroy the healer first… but that's boring. Hmm, I guess I'll do that."
The Akuma muttered and chanted.
"
Then… of all things, he grew four new arms.
"What…"
As expected, even Niels was caught off guard.
The next moment, each of his six arms gripped a sword.
"Now it's a fight."
The moment the Akuma said that, all the
The five sword fights began.
The Akuma stood still and struck back.
What was surprising was that he perfectly blocked Harold and Gowan's attacks from behind, which should not be visible to him.
"Kukuku, it's been a while since I had a six-sword fight, but… no, it's a five-sword fight. Well, it's not bad."
With overwhelming leeway, the Akuma laughed as he parried the five swords.
Even though he was standing completely straight without any strength from his hips, he continued to receive the full force of the five people without any difficulty.
"The difference in physical strength is too great."
Zeke's mutter expressed everything.
He could withstand the full force of the human strikes with only his arm strength from the wrist to the shoulder.
Therefore, he was not in danger at all even when standing still.
On the contrary, it gave those who continued to attack him a sense of despair.
They could never overcome his defense.
Normally, a thrust would be effective in cases like this.
For all other slashing attacks, they can be countered completely with force, but thrusts… unless they are parried with the side of the sword like some water attribute magician, they are usually dodged.
However, the Akuma angles his sword so that the line of the sword's thrust is greatly deflected.
As a result, in the end, he was able to deflect the attack without moving any part of his body other than his arms.
"His technique is also very good…"
Harold whispered.
"Naturally"
The Akuma answered, laughed out loud, and continued speaking.
"My number of years of experience is completely different from you guys. Technique gained from just swinging a sword for ten or twenty years will never be able to reach me."
After smiling and answering, he continued speaking.
"Now for the second round."
"Gha!"
The moment the Akuma spoke, Harold's stomach was pierced by stone icicles from front and back.
"＜Area Heal＞＜Area Heal＞＜Area Heal＞"
Etho used three times to recover his fatal wound.
He drank a magic potion to recover his magical power.
"Ghufu"
Furthermore, Gowan's stomach was also pierced by stone icicles from the front and back.
"＜Area Heal＞＜Area Heal＞＜Area Heal＞"
Again, Etho stacked Area Heals.
"Shit…"
Niels used his sword to knock away the stone icicles that suddenly appeared from the front, but the stone icicles from behind pierced him.
""
Area Heal seven times in a row.
But that was when Etho collapsed to one knee.
"Etho-san!"
Amon couldn't help but shout.
"I'm okay."
Etho replied quietly but powerfully and drank a magic potion again.
"You're truly tenacious, priest who knows about Fallen. Interesting… extremely interesting, but… I'm sure you'll run out of magic potions soon, right?"
"Would you like to bet on it, Akuma?"
Etho answered the Akuma's provocation with strength in his eyes.
But he knew.
The one he just drank was the last.
There was no option left.
But he won't give up.
This was between the Holy Capital and the West Dungeon.
That person… that Djinn who hates Akumas…
The world was torn apart.
The color red entered the edge of the six people's vision.
The sky split and it was the same as last time, the red Djinn Merlin!
"Akuma!"
"So you've come, Spellno!"
The Djinn with a look of resentment.
The Akuma with a violent smile.
"Begone, pests!
When the Akuma chanted, the six people surrounding him were blown away.
Rather than being blown away, it might be more appropriate to say that they were flicked away.
And in the open space…
The battle between beings beyond the human realm began.
"
Djinn Merlin chanted.
"That's definitely your first move!
When the Akuma chanted, a mass of gravity aimed at the Akuma from above deviated and fell to the ground.
"It deflects gravity?"
Merlin made a sound of obvious surprise.
"Kukuku, is this the first time your first move was deflected without dodging? Last time I dodged by teleporting. This time I tried deflecting."
The Akuma said with a laugh.
Both Merlin and the Akuma had a conversation.
It was not like it was an all-out, high-speed battle that left them breathless…
Both sides understood that they were not an opponent they could fight at full power from the beginning.
Either a momentary lapse or a move that exceeds expectations?
Only by exceeding the opponent's imagination at the last moment… that a conclusion could be reached.
By the way, the six people who were blown away by the wind gathered at a certain distance from the two and watched the battle.
Even if they were to participate, they would only be a hindrance.
Both of them did not move as they faced each other.
The Akuma was the first to move.
"There's no point in just facing off.
A waterfall of flame extended from the Akuma to Merlin.
"
However, when Merlin chanted, the waterfall of flame reversed and headed toward the Akuma.
"Right, that's how you responded."
The Akuma commented and with a wave of his hand, he swatted away the flames that had come toward him without incident.
"Then, how would you deal with this?
As the Akuma chanted, a wall of flame appeared around Merlin.
"With this, you can't reverse it, right?"
The Akuma asked joyfully.
"
Merlin chanted, and the wall of flame disappeared in an instant.
"Hmm. Does that nullify magic? Or does it 'return it to its original state'? That's interesting."
"Analyze as much as you like."
Merlin spat and chanted.
"
Countless long, thin black needles fell from the sky.
"It won't hit."
The Akuma said comfortably and began to dodge by moving at high speed.
But…
"What… why can't I move?"
When the black needles pierced the ground, the Akuma suddenly became unable to move.
"Those aren't needles for piercing."
"Is my body getting pulled by the needles? I'm being pulled from all directions, and as a result, I can't move? I see."
The Akuma analyzed.
"Even in that state, you can still analyze it."
Merlin muttered while frowning.
"Spellno, in this state, are you going to attack me in close combat?"
"I'm not so reckless as to engage in close combat with an Akuma."
Merlin said and chose to settle the matter with magic.
"Begone.
The last time, he wiped out the Akuma with 'Implosion'.
But…
"I've been waiting for that!
The Akuma crackled and chanted.
In that instant, the Implosion left behind a roar and disappeared.
Naturally, the Akuma's body didn't disappear.
"Impossible…"
Even Merlin was stunned.
It wouldn't matter if he dodged it, but that was his first time seeing an Implosion nullified.
"Yes, I wanted to see that look."
The Akuma smiled comfortably.
What's more, the black needles that were impeding the Akuma's movements had all disappeared due to the Dimension Slash earlier.
"Spellno, you probably don't have much remaining magic power, right?"
The Akuma spoke again with a ferocious smile on his face.
Merlin's expression didn't change, but it was clearly different from before he released
Even by Djinn standards, it is a spell that consumes a considerable amount of magical power.
It was truly a one-shot one-kill spell.
One-shot one-kill… if you can't finish the fight with that, defeat is inevitable.
Merlin's life was at stake since he couldn't deliver the finishing blow…
However, a situation would change three times.
Boom.
A heavy object fell from the sky, causing a resounding boom.
It was aimed at the Akuma, but of course, he wasn't the type of Akuma to be crushed by something like that.
"A wall of ice?"
The Akuma and Merlin murmured in unison.
What fell was a wall of ice.
"That's…"
"I think that's probably…"
"I don't think there's anyone else…"
The six people from Room 10 and 11 were watching from a distance.
Amon muttered, Etho agreed, and Niels shook his head slightly.
Yeah, they could recognize that water attribute magician's
-x-X-x-