The Kingdom’s army, overwhelmed in a battle of wits with the Empire’s forces, prepared for their mission in a chaotic atmosphere.
The soldiers stood ready with demolition tools and shovels in hand.
Despite being a critical mission commanded by the regiment leader, the terrain limited their numbers. Only forty managed to barely break through the flood.
There were ten more at the start, but they were killed by demons. The area had been left unattended for a long time, making it dangerous as many high-level demons inhabited close to the neutral zone.
“Damn those imperial bastards.”
The regiment leader vented his frustrations on the Empire’s troops as he prepared to enter.
With splendid golden hair and an aristocratic vibe, it was clear that one of the Empire’s princesses had come to retrieve the important artifact known as the Holy Sword.
Thinking they would be like the ditzy princesses of his kingdom, he was taken aback as they immediately resorted to insults and displayed their skills.
They were even dangerous wizards.
“What a brat, tsk.”
The commander had to suppress his irritation.
Feeling humiliated by confronting a much younger teenage girl was the first reason, and the second was realizing that they stood no chance against them in combat.
“Wasn’t that knight from earlier using an aura?”
“Wasn’t it sword energy?”
“No, I saw it clearly.”
The soldiers murmured, their voices buzzing around like pesky flies stuck in his ear.
“The Empire’s swordmaster is the emperor’s bodyguard.”
“No, I heard one more appeared recently. Some crazy healer’s escort knight.”
“A swordmaster reduced to a healer’s escort? That doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s true. They say he can rip apart bodies, put them back together, and even revive corpses by feeding them weird things.”
“Isn’t that a black magician, not a healer?”
“They say he works in the inner palace. Surely, he can’t be a black magician.”
“…Could it be that guy from earlier? The one who introduced himself as a doctor?”
“A doctor? Did that man say he was a doctor? Right, that title definitely sounded like it…”
Bang!
The commander emphasized his authority by slamming his shield down to get everyone’s attention.
“Let’s move out. We need to retrieve the Holy Sword before those cowardly imperial bastards can prepare any tricks!”
His subordinates replied in unison.
The unit commander moved to the lakeshore to scout the terrain. As he dipped his feet into the lake, he looked around and said,
“There’s a path that leads to the central rock island. Can you see it?”
The commander lowered his head slightly to look below the waterline.
It wasn’t clearly visible as it was partially submerged, but there was indeed a section that jutted out of the lakeshore and connected like a bridge.
As the water level receded, the ground was bound to be revealed.
It seemed unnatural, but the commander had no doubt. It was where the Holy Sword lay. A place steeped in legend; surely it had some kind of significance.
More importantly, weren’t the lake spirits guarding this area with their blessings?
Five women floated above the water, all gentle and beautifully serene. Their long legs were hidden beneath their nun-like garments.
‘That golden-haired princess was the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, though.’
This obedient type was better than a fiery woman who was hard to control.
The commander unconsciously licked his lips.
He thought he should draw the Holy Sword before starting the operation.
Who knows, he might be chosen as the new hero by drawing the Holy Sword.
Then the spirits would bless him, and he might even get to claim them for himself.
With dark desires burning within, the commander extended his arm.
“Advance!”
The royal army, led by scouts, took their first steps toward the lake in single file.
Splash, splash. The water came up to their shins, refusing to lower no matter how far they walked.
The path to retrieve the Holy Sword.
It felt like the path of a hero.
It truly was a heroic mission. The commander felt a bit smug.
“The water level is rising.”
At that moment, the scout reported from the front.
They were halfway to their target. The height of the previously elevated ground was decreasing, and the water level began to rise.
“Hmm.”
Calves, knees, and next were their thighs.
It was becoming harder to move.
The supply troops had to lift their gear above their heads two at a time to move.
“Scout, report if you judge we can’t go any further.”
“Understood.”
Step by step, step by step.
As an uneasy sensation crept up, the scout said,
“Oh, the water level is dropping again.”
The scout’s body rose up ahead, meaning the terrain was elevating again.
They were nearing the rocky island where the Holy Sword was supposed to be. The commander let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
It was right in front of him.
And then, at that moment.
AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
A sudden, eardrum-shattering scream made the soldiers cover their ears.
No, some were actually bleeding from their ears.
The commander wasn’t without his skills; he immediately drew his sword to assess the situation without panicking.
Shapes flew towards them, cutting through the water.
They were none other than the lake spirits.
“Everyone, take combat positions!!”
Something had gone wrong. The charming ladies were nowhere to be seen, and only monstrous figures with gaping black mouths remained.
They were certainly demons.
“This…!”
The commander swung his sword widely, feeling a rush of sensation. He struck down one spirit, severing its neck.
AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
Whatever it was, the royal army was no match for lowly demons.
Just as the commander smiled at his impending victory.
“Ugh?!”
Suddenly, his wrist twisted at an unnatural angle.
Not just his wrist, but his legs buckled as if an invisible force pulled them to kneel.
“What the, ugh!”
Looking around, all the soldiers were in the same predicament.
The heroic expedition team heading for the Holy Sword was plunged into chaos in an instant.
All the soldiers twisted grotesquely, falling into the water one by one.
None were acting of their own volition. They were being controlled by an unseen telekinesis.
It was all too clear who was behind it.
The spirits before them—no, the evil spirits.
AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
A grotesque woman’s face surged into the commander’s view.
With a pitch-black fear, her hand reached out.
It was none other than his own hand.
Chin.
He saw the scene where it clawed at his face, pressed down, and submerged him into the water.
The commander finally realized.
They had lost control of the parts of their bodies that touched the lake water.
And the more they screamed, the more they were ensnared and couldn’t escape.
But by the time he realized, it was already too late.
His respiratory organs sank below the surface, forever missing their chance to contact oxygen.
With desperate bubbles escaping, his final struggles ceased.
*
“Oh my god.”
Tanya exclaimed in shock at the gruesome sight before her.
“All the kingdom’s troops have been confirmed dead,” the commander of the knights reported. Acella scoffed.
“I could tell those rude fools were complacent. So what exactly are those things?”
“They’re called Sirens, a disaster-grade demon,” I answered.
“Sirens.”
“A disaster-grade? One appearing means an entire city can vanish overnight.”
I nodded.
“Sirens can control people’s nerves with their cries. As you can see, they move their bodies freely. Their combat ability itself is low, but if you touch them wrong…”
“In a lake-like terrain, you’d drown. Cowardly.”
“Yes. However, if you aren’t exposed to mana, you won’t be controlled. They must have infused the lake water with mana now, sensing the Holy Sword’s divine power calling to them.”
“What do we do then?”
“Shall we blow them away?”
Tanya drew her sword. I stopped her by lowering her wrist.
“That could work, but if the commander gets controlled and his aura swings this way, a catastrophe will occur.”
“Hmm, you have a point.”
I brought up another suggestion.
“There’s a clear countermeasure for Sirens. They can’t manipulate the deaf.”
“Are you suggesting we all amicably chop off our ears before going?”
“There’s something better.”
I pulled something out of my pouch.
It was a poison I had collected earlier while taking a detour.
“This poison is paralyzing. It can cause harm if used directly, but I can refine it to a suitable level.”
“Oh, meaning you’ll turn it into a short-term anesthetic that won’t harm the body,” Hugo understood my words immediately and explained.
“However, during the operation, everyone’s hearing will be impaired, so we need to communicate with signals. Let’s set some beforehand.”
Acella nodded.
“I give my approval. Make it happen.”
“Leave it to me.”
I sat down on the ground, spread out a cloth, and laid out the materials.
“First, let’s analyze the ingredients.”
I lightly drew a circle and activated alchemy. Mana flowed in. I determined the properties through the pre-activation step of [Property Change].
[Leaf of the Ear-ringing Vine]
[Contains paralyzing mollusk toxin based on Pyrhodium]
Using [Property Change], the properties of the poison can change, so I won’t proceed to casting yet.
‘Shall I use Compression here?’
I drew two more circles on the ground and connected them.
As I used [Compression], a broad leaf shrank down to the size of a pill that just fit on my fingertip.
‘How’s the effect?’
―――――――――――
· Paralysis Potion (Hearing)
· Effect: Loss of hearing for 2 hours and a loss of 10 health. Potential for permanent loss.
―――――――――――
‘Still too toxic.’
Since Acella and Lishe had to take it as well, I couldn’t use a mechanism that would inflict injuries and then heal them.
Also, since the goal was simply to retrieve the Holy Sword, it didn’t need to last for 2 hours.
‘I’ll extract the toxic effect and use it to synthesize into another medication.’
I erased the circles drawn and drew another one.
While I was doing this, I felt a soft touch on my right hand.
Acella had placed her hand over mine.
“That’s not how it should be done. You need to draw it vertically.”
“Oh, right. I made a mistake for a moment.”
Acella gently guided my arm.
Moving my fingers in that direction, she spilled mana to complete the shape.
“Synthesis.”
The results came out quickly.
―――――――――――
· Paralysis Agent (Hearing)
· Effect: Temporarily deafens hearing for 30 minutes.
―――――――――――
“Got it. We can now break through the lake.”
At my declaration, Acella raised the corners of her mouth.
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