Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Underground Temple (5)
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"I'm counting on you, Pipi."
-Pip!
"As fast as possible, and..."
-Pip?
"...come back safe."
-Pip pip!
After shoving Connie into the darkness, I tightly tied the letter to Pipi's ankle and launched it into the air. Pipi flew vigorously toward the outside, soon vanishing after leaving only a tiny speck of light.
The letter attached to Pipi contained a rough map of the underground temple's location and a simple plea. 'Please help us. This is something only you can do.' I kept it straightforward without extra words because I had absolute confidence and faith that 'they' would surely help us.
"Will it really be okay?"
Elle whispered anxiously, peering into the darkness. I nodded lightly.
"It'll be fine. Connie has talent, after all."
I'd noticed it during the well purification. Connie possessed a sturdy, pure body capable of withstanding Donar's divine power. So, if Donar 'noticed' and chose to aid Connie, he could endure it no problem.
That was the basis of my faith.
"Now, while Connie buys us time, let's do what we have to."
Elle and Lloyd nodded. The moment the evil rooted in this underground temple revealed itself with Connie as bait, we planned to strike.
"But there are still too many of them."
Lloyd said in a cool voice. He was right. For the four of us to take on the rats in the underground temple, their numbers were overwhelming.
"...Well, we'll just have to hold out until they arrive."
"What if they don't come?"
"The chances are low, but if they choose not to come, as you say, Lloyd..."
I paused in thought. Truth be told, 'them not coming' wasn't part of my plan at all. That's how much I trusted them.
"...Then we'll have to handle it ourselves somehow."
I could use [Sun Light] to buy time and then hightail it out of here. It might not look cool, but what good is style when your life's on the line?
"But I'm sure everything will go according to plan."
"..."
"You just thought I jinxed it, didn't you?"
"No."
"Your eyes say otherwise."
"Never."
"Well, then we're good."
Heh heh. I lightened the mood with a bit of banter, then checked my arrows one last time. The sound of rat tails brushing the floor echoed in the darkness. They'd strike Connie soon. We had to hit them at the right moment—precisely when the real 'head' revealed itself.
"Kus kus."
-Got it.
"I'm counting on you."
-Hmph, now you say it?
Darkness from Dimacushel extended from my shadow, wrapping around us like a curtain. We held our breath in that 'safe' darkness, watching Connie.
-Smack!
-Screeech!
-Splat!!
-Kieeeek!!
Connie was smashing the rats' heads into minced meat with his mace. Most people saw the mace carried by priests as a crude staff, but that was a huge misconception. Despite its looks, a mace was a proper 'bludgeon' with serious striking power. One hit and the skull shatters!
"Master. Connie's holding up amazingly well."
Elle marveled at Connie's flashy attacks. I was impressed inwardly too. I figured he'd do well, but this was... 'too' good, wasn't it? Was that guy really a priest? Normal priests were fragile as paper...
Just as I started worrying if Connie might build a mountain of ratman corpses,
"As expected of a saint's prowess."
It appeared.
The 'head.'
'Demons after all...'
Thankfully, hidden in Dimacushel's darkness, it hadn't noticed us yet. Of course, getting caught was only a matter of time... but for now, it was focused on Connie.
"Elle, Lloyd. You two go right and left respectively. Move when I signal."
Ratmen still swarmed the area. I'd draw its attention first, then Elle and Lloyd could flank and clean up the rest, throwing it off balance.
"Kus kus. Keep connected to their shadows."
-Theodore. You really know how to piss off a demon.
"Thanks for the compliment."
I grinned at the darkness, nocked an arrow, and slowly drew the bowstring. Light began gathering at the arrow tip. Yet the demon pressing Connie showed no sign of noticing.
"I respect your courage, at least."
"..."
"Little saint."
Blackish-red nosebleed dripped from Connie's nose. He was at his limit. Holding out this long as a novice priest was impressive. Connie was the lucky one—no, Donar was. In this day and age, to gain a pure priest like Connie. That fight had surely imprinted Connie on Donar.
"Kus kus. Reel it in when I shoot."
-I can't wait to see Barbason's face.
"Me neither."
Grinning, I fully drew the bowstring. Here we go...
Three.
Two.
One.
"Time to give up."
As it reached for Connie's mace,
-Twang!
I released the taut string with all my might.
-Whiiiiiizzzzzzz!!!!
The arrow, overflowing with purification power, blazed through the darkness, slicing between it and Connie. I aimed for the heart, but it was a demon. It dodged nimbly at the last second. Ha, rat-like moves indeed.
Even dodging, the purification clawed the air, leaving a burn-like scar on its hand. But it ignored the wound, glaring straight at where the arrow came from—me.
Dimacushel slowly retracted the darkness, like raising a theater curtain. As the creeping shadows returned to my own, I watched it calmly.
"The one I've been waiting for..."
Barbason's face shifted: confusion, then surprise, then 'rage.' Entertaining to watch. I met its eyes—black sclera typical of demons—with a polite smile. Staring down a demon eye-to-eye would bruise its pride. With glee in my voice, I shouted,
"Here comes the baby saint, you bastard."
"Insolent...!"
Barbason swung its hand. Sharp claws from its black fingertips flew like darts, embedding in my spot with brutal thuds.
"Wow, you look pissed."
Dimacushel chuckled from the shadows at my taunt. He seemed to love seeing another demon riled. The rippling shadows lunged at Barbason then receded, repeatedly.
"Th-Theodore!"
Seizing the gap, I tossed a handmade potion to Connie staggering toward me.
"Drink."
Connie chugged it frantically. Gulp, gulp. Color returning to his face, he looked at me, then hastily wiped the blood from his nose.
"I-I thought I was dead...!"
"Dead? Don't be dramatic, Connie."
"You, you have no idea how scary it was. How did I even..."
"You did pretty great for someone shaking in their boots."
"R-Really?!"
"Yeah. Honestly, the ratmen were the pitiful ones."
Pounded like cutlets under a schnitzel hammer. Connie's own strength plus Donar's power exceeded expectations.
"Let's finish strong, Connie."
I tossed seeds from my pouch into the air. Barbason, who recoiled thinking they were weapons, sneered upon realizing they were mere seeds, baring fangs again.
"What nonsense is this?"
"Nonsense?"
Snickering, I activated [Breath of the Forest]. I'd worried the mana in my body might falter against Barbason's and the sea stone's power, but luckily, mana flowed to each seed, sprouting them.
-Stab!
-Sprout!
-Pop!
-Burst!
The temple floor was too hard for deep roots, but that was fine—they just needed to hold briefly. Vines spread instantly, forming thickets. Small trees grew encircling them, and Barbason retreated in panic before bursting into laughter.
"Purification power, huh? These are just ordinary trees?"
"Yeah, ordinary trees. Good eye?"
"Planning a garden here? Fitting for Linshaka's child!"
"Heard the rumors? They say the [Duke of Night] is buried under a tree too."
"Ah, so you buried Porlasis in Ravata."
"Too kind."
"Arrogant fool..."
Done with banter, Barbason extended claws with a chilling grin. The ratmen bared yellow teeth, eyes gleaming, ready to charge us.
"...You demons."
The 'ordinary' trees bloomed rapidly, bearing fruit. Pale green cherry-like fruits hung plump from branches.
"Need to respect plants, you know."
-[Forest and Earth's Goddess Linshaka agrees with your words.]
-[Forest and Earth's Goddess Linshaka bestows her blessing upon you.]
-[Aronia trees grow into 'Blessed' Aronia trees.]
The 'Aronia trees' emitted a soft pale green glow. Simultaneously, a seductive, sweet scent—imperceptible to humans—spread everywhere. Connie sniffed curiously.
"Th-This is..."
Before he finished, small shadows emerged from the darkness.
-Meow.
Cats.