Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Catch the Rat, Catch the Rat, Squeak Squeak! (2)
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-Rumble rumble rumble...
A heavy metallic scraping sound echoed through the underground temple, accompanied by powerful vibrations.
"Damn it...!"
The prison.
It was filled with half-formed ratmen who hadn't fully transformed into chimeras yet.
Barbason seemed intent on unleashing those ratmen from their cages.
'But those ratmen aren't fully under control yet...!'
A chimera, a monster born from fusing two beings, could only become a usable 'soldier' after its two original egos were completely erased and reprogrammed. Freshly made chimeras were nothing but chaotic entities driven by conflicting egos and instincts. They wouldn't obey orders—they were pure disorder, acting on impulse alone.
Releasing such chimeras...
'...Is he trying to get us all killed?'
The ratmen locked in the prison still had a chance to revert to humans... meaning they were fundamentally still 'human.' They weren't like the puppets Barbason had been manipulating as his limbs just moments ago. If they killed the curse's source—Barbason—and lifted the spell, these mutated ratmen could return to being human...
'If things stay like this, we're all screwed.'
I quickly pulled out Giant Kudzu Vine seeds, embedded them in my arrowheads, and fired at the prison.
-Whoosh!
-Thunk!
-Whoosh!
-Thunk!
-Grind...
-Creeeak...
From the arrows that struck before the prison, Giant Kudzu Vines began to sprout. They burrowed roots into the solid underground temple floor and spread thickly. Using [Plant Bind] on these far sturdier-than-normal vine plants would trap most ratmen by their feet.
-Squeeee!
-Kieeeek!
As planned, the ratmen were caught by the Giant Kudzu Vine roots and stems, unable to break free properly. Good, that buys us some time...
-Chomp chomp chomp...
-Chomp chomp...
Some time? No way! Damn it! Right, they're 'rat' men. After struggling briefly, they bared their sharp teeth and started gnawing through the roots and stems binding their feet. The Giant Kudzu Vines grew quickly, but they were helpless against the ratmen's teeth.
I glanced desperately at El and Lloyd. They still hadn't recovered from the impact of the blows they'd taken. Even if they did get up, it wouldn't change much. Subduing that many ratmen with just three of us was practically impossible.
'How much longer, Pippy?'
I looked up at the empty air. The pitch-black void offered no response.
Regaining his composure, Barbason approached me slowly with his signature chilling smile. He was thoroughly pissed now—the density and volume of the mana surging and rippling from his body were vividly clear to my eyes.
"Your cute little tricks end here, Druid."
As Barbason extended his black hand, something invisible seized my throat and hoisted me into the air.
"Gah, guh..."
I dangled in midair, thrashing for a moment.
-Shing!
In that instant, a blade-like shadow shot out from beneath my feet, slicing through the darkness between Barbason and me.
-Thud!
I crashed to the floor, clutching my stinging neck and glaring ahead with bloodshot eyes. The smile had vanished from Barbason's face.
"Dimakushel."
-Greetings, Lord Ratling.
"...I never expected to meet you again in a place like this. You were definitely..."
-Is that so? I've always eagerly awaited our 'reunion.'
Kuhahaha! Dimakushel's mad laughter boomed through the underground temple as if it might shatter it. His massively swollen shadow churned, poised to devour Barbason at any moment.
-Barbason. Hiding in a dump like this suits a ratling like you perfectly. If you're going to steal something, do it right. Pathetic ratling, can't even drive out Donar's light and just whimpering away!
"Words from a mere human's shadow aren't worth hearing..."
Before Barbason could finish, Dimakushel's shadow speared toward his neck like a lance. Barbason's head dangled, nearly torn from his body. Yet he showed no surprise, simply reattaching it with a cackle.
"Your temper's as short as ever, Dimakushel."
-Gotta be quick to deal with a fattened ratling like you.
"Now I see plenty. You right now are..."
-...
"...Nothing at all."
As Barbason's fingers cracked and moved, ten strands of darkness erupted from his nails. Tail-like shadows slashed sharply through the air, carving into Dimakushel's shadow.
-Whoosh!
I aimed at Barbason's hand and loosed an arrow. I missed his hand, but it severed one of the shadows from his nail before embedding in the wall.
"Don't butt in, human!"
With Barbason's enraged shout, whip-like darkness lashed out. I barely rolled aside to dodge, then nocked another arrow.
"I'm not one for meddling anyway?"
-Whoosh!
Another arrow tore through the darkness from a second nail. Dimakushel's shadow exploited the gap, piercing one of Barbason's legs. Good— if Dimakushel keeps pressing him like this...
-Kyaeeeek!
That's when it happened. The ratmen, having gnawed through the Giant Kudzu Vines, charged straight at us. They weren't targeting just Dimakushel and me—they even rushed at Barbason, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
"Kukuku! You mustn't kill them!"
-W-What? What nonsense is this...!
"They still have a 'chance'!"
A chance to return to human.
No one had the right to strip that away. Dimakushel barely twisted his shadow at the last second, sparing a ratman's heart—it merely tripped instead.
But Barbason was different.
He mercilessly slaughtered the ratmen charging at him. Whip-like darkness swung ruthlessly, sending their heads tumbling to the floor like ripe fruit, shattering on impact.
'Crazy bastard.'
To Barbason, these 'ratmen' were mere pawns—nothing more, nothing less. Taking their lives was as effortless as breathing.
For us, though, the fight was growing tougher by the second. Battling Barbason while handling the ratmen too. The remaining cats were herding the rats, preventing us from being overwhelmed numerically, but that was small comfort.
"I'll kill you, Druid! Then I'll toss your flesh to these vermin as feed!"
Fully ramped up, Barbason relentlessly swung his nails, pressing Dimakushel and me. Knowing we couldn't attack the ratmen, he cunningly redirected our strikes toward them and even hurled ratmen at us as improvised attacks.
-Bam!
-Squeee!
I barely deflected a charging ratman with my shield leaf and caught my breath. Dimakushel's shadow swirled across the floor, tripping up ratmen.
"Fool! What are these pests to you!"
Barbason laughed maniacally as he stomped Dimakushel's shadow. While his darkness and Dimakushel's shadow clashed over territory, I...
'How long can we hold out like this?'
I'm winded. Arrows are running low. El and Lloyd, now recovered, were fending off ratmen, but non-lethally—it was tough.
"Damn it..."
Muttering curses, I happened to glance up at the empty air.
-Twinkle!
"...!"
A familiar sparkle. Small, round, shimmering in rainbow hues...
It drew closer, bit by bit. I naturally reached out toward it.
-Flash!
Just before it plummeted fully, it unleashed a lightning-like burst of rainbow light. Amid the blinding glare, I alone kept my eyes open.
As the light faded, a perfectly fitted rainbow bow rested in my hand.
"...You're late, Pippy."
Grumbling softly, I grinned and gripped the bow. A warm, gentle energy from Pippy enveloped my palm, washing away my fatigue.
'I can take down Barbason with a shot now.'
But with the ratmen not subdued, many would die or get hurt in the crossfire.
Should I ignore their lives and kill Barbason?
For the greater good, is sacrifice inevitable?
"N-No, Lord Theodore!"
As if smelling my anguish, Connie cried out desperately.
-...
My hands trembled as I gripped the bow.
"Theodore!"
An unexpected voice called.
"We're here!"
Draven, the hound triplet brothers, beastmen from Altans, and barbarians.
They burst into the underground temple wielding battered weapons—even farm tools. Roaring spirited cheers, fierce enough to collapse the temple with their growls alone.
-...
I lowered my bow for a moment and exchanged glances with Connie.
"Alright, Connie."
"L-Lord Theodore."
"Back to the original plan."
"...!"
Nodding joyfully, Connie shouted to the newcomers.
"Lord Draven! Subdue them! Don't hurt or kill them! These are..."
Connie forced out a choked voice.
"These are people!"
Draven's eyes widened, then he burst into hearty laughter.
"Hey, Connie! Why say something like that!"
"...!"
"They're obviously people. We can tell—unlike others!"
Exactly.
Beastmen and barbarians, discriminated against their whole lives based on appearance rather than essence—they above all could see the truth beneath the surface.
"...Please, Lord Draven!"
"Leave it to us, Druid!"
Good.
No more worries.
I gripped my bow tightly once more.