Stalker (3)
As soon as her voice reached my ears, everything in motion came to a halt. Before I knew it, I was submerged in the deep sea. Water filled every direction around me. The swarming insects charging at me couldn't withstand the pressure and folded their wings. An extreme pressure that made even breathing impossible. Only the Insect Sorcerer remained, his eyes rolling in shock while his body was frozen.
Help? Or you gonna handle it yourself?
...
And then, that whisper came again. Sweet like a lover's temptation, or like Mara whispering to Buddha. Urging me to ask for help quickly. But now that a path to survival had opened, doubt crept into my mind.
Last time, for sure...
In the dream the day before yesterday, she'd said it would resolve, but not that she would resolve it for me. Maybe this crisis was a trial I had to overcome on my own?
But how?
The Insect Sorcerer was a formidable foe, and I had no means to counter him. If only I had Go-seo in my hand...
Idiot moron.
"Pardon?"
The book is knowledge. That's all.
She suddenly spouted something cryptic. I gave her a puzzled look for a moment. Then, a small realization dawned on me.
Ah, I get it.
The purpose of a book's existence was to transmit knowledge. If I fully absorbed that knowledge, the book would lose its reason for being.
I fully understand the book. My eyes decipher the knowledge. The culprit doesn't fully understand the book, so he borrows its power to cast magic. But I've fully absorbed the knowledge, so I don't need the book to use magic. The caster of magic... is me, not the book.
Ah.
With that epiphany, sparks flew in my mind. Knowledge I'd only memorized until now—though only partially—had its veil lifted, and I understood it completely.
So this is the root.
I felt an unknown power dwelling within me. The foundation of magic. I'd used it countless times without realizing it myself. Only now did I sense this power... and gain the ability to wield it.
Now, even without Go-seo, I could use magic.
Got it now?
I've got the gist. I'll take it from here.
Good.
Her voice faded away in an instant. With it, the water that had blanketed the area drained just as quickly. As the deep-sea pressure vanished, the world began to move again. The Insect Sorcerer glared at me with trembling eyes, gasping ragged breaths.
"What... what the hell are you?"
"It's a long story..."
I scratched my head for a moment. Just seconds ago, the Insect Sorcerer had the overwhelming advantage. Now the tables had turned—he was on guard, and I'd regained my composure.
"Eh. You don't need to know anyway, right? You're about to die."
"You bastard!!!"
His nerves frayed at my words, he transformed both arms into centipedes and swung them at me. Insects swarmed from all sides. There was no escaping the onslaught, and even a graze would be fatal.
"Deep Sea Tentacles, pierce the enemy of the Mother."
⟨ Deep Sea Tentacle ⟩
But that was only if they hit. I immediately chanted the incantation and thrust out my hand.
Zzzzt...
Blood flowed from the wounds I'd sustained dodging the Insect Sorcerer's attacks, quickly pooling on the ground to form a red magic circle. From it, dozens of tentacles crawled out.
Block.
First things first, I ordered the tentacles to protect me. Several pairs coiled around me instantly, forming a spherical barrier. The centipede arms slammed into the tentacle wall, causing it to shudder but not break. The flying insects fared no better—they scattered like leaves when I swung a tentacle.
Pierce.
His turn was over. Now it was mine. I manipulated the magic circle, launching tentacles at him.
They shot toward the Insect Sorcerer in a flash.
"Damn it!"
He transformed his legs into eight spider limbs and dodged with agile movements. Normally, he wouldn't have been able to evade, but on land, the tentacles couldn't exert their full power.
Fine then. Time to change the terrain to our advantage.
"In the primordial Earth, there was no land. Thus, land too is the Mother's domain."
⟨ Deep Sea Manifestation ⟩
I sliced my palm and gathered the blood. Mana drained from me as the spell activated.
Shwooooaaah!
Water jets surged from all directions, flooding the area into a small sea. Rough waves churned, turning it into deep-sea territory.
A bit salty, huh.
Of course, it wasn't on the level of when Shin-nim had appeared earlier—she'd sunk the whole world. This was just filling a barrier with water. But that wasn't the point.
The tentacles, like fish in water, rejoiced and extended at speeds incomparable to before.
"Gaaargh!"
Crunch! Crackle!
The flailing Insect Sorcerer got pierced by the shot tentacles. Green blood spread as he let out agonized groans. I bundled several tentacles to fire a finishing blow—
That's when he made his last desperate struggle.
"Help me! Mantis!!"
He stretched his neck vertically and vomited something from his gut. A sword-sized black egg burst from his mouth. It hatched instantly—from larva to pupa to a massive praying mantis.
With a monstrous screech, it severed the tentacles and rescued the Insect Sorcerer. Tentacles fired at it, but it sliced them with its forelegs. Tentacles alone couldn't take it down. I needed stronger magic.
"Huuuuh..."
I caught my breath, sharpened my nails, and slashed my wrist. Intense pain ground my teeth, but I kept my focus and began the incantation slowly.
"Cleaner of the deep sea, devour all corpses and life alike."
⟨ Cleaner ⟩
My voice vibrated the sea. Strange sound waves spread outward. I had the catalyst blood and ample water. The only question was whether the deep-sea creature would heed my call.
And of course, no servant ignores the call of their master's husband.
A foghorn-like wail echoed. I turned to see a massive anglerfish at the barrier's edge. It clacked millions of teeth and flicked a building-sized black tongue.
Its name was the Cleaner—the giant anglerfish that disposed of deep-sea trash.
Devour everything but me.
At my command, it inhaled deeply, sucking everything in. Seawater rushed into its maw.
Kii, kieeek!
"No! I can't die like this...!"
The mantis and Insect Sorcerer resisted desperately, but they couldn't defy the all-devouring anglerfish. They were swept into its gut.
The makeshift sea vanished. The Cleaner patted its now five times larger belly with its fins, a satisfied grin on its face.
Good work.
I approached the silent creature and patted it lightly. My head throbbed painfully every time I saw it, but since it'd helped, a thank-you was in order.
"Hm?"
Then, its mouth cracked open slightly, and its tongue slipped out. The massive tongue approached me, and atop it, I saw a smartphone and a book.
"Are these the Insect Sorcerer's things?"
It nodded affirmatively. I carefully took the items from it. These could help figure out who he was.
Then be on your way.
I waved goodbye as the barrier began to collapse. It wagged its tongue in farewell. I blinked, and suddenly I was standing in the middle of the apartment complex.
"Is it over?"
I clutched my pounding head and looked around. Nothing seemed off. No traces of destruction from the fight with the Insect Sorcerer. Even the buildings devoured by the Cleaner had been restored.
Except for one unexpected survivor.
"Murderer?"
[...]
Incredibly, the murderer stood before me, unscathed. It made sense, though. Given his nature, he'd fled the moment the Insect Sorcerer was at a disadvantage—and apparently had a way to escape the barrier.
"If you're gonna charge, do it quick."
I showed him my wrist, blood dripping steadily. My head felt like it would split from overusing magic, but I wasn't about to lose to him.
As I prepared to cast at him, he suddenly bowed his head toward me.
"...A thank-you?"
[...]
He kept his head bowed for a moment. Then he straightened up and jabbed a hand into his chest. Black blood sprayed, and in his grasp was a small larva—seemingly freshly dead.
"Solitude? Something like that?"
[Nod.]
He nodded yes, crushed the larva, and bowed his head once more. I understood it was his farewell. It was a bit absurd, but I waved back.
He bolted away, vanishing from the complex. I watched his retreating figure for a moment, then turned.
"Ugh, I'm beat."
I'd hoped for some rest after so long, but I'd ended up doing the work of ages. What was the point of taking sick leave then?
"Hm...?"
Gotta head up and rest quick.
As that thought crossed my mind, my vision blurred and my body tilted. Oh no. Not this...
Anemia...
The price for pushing my body so hard had come swiftly. I collapsed right there, losing consciousness completely.