Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Invitation
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With the lake's calm surface at our backs, we set off on the journey to rescue Elia.
I naturally took the lead, walking ahead, while Leon followed silently behind me.
"Hey..."
After we'd been walking for a while, she cautiously opened her mouth.
"Is there something you'd like to ask?"
I caught the subtle tremor in her voice.
She seemed curious about something.
"It's not anything else, but... is this really the right way? It feels a bit off to me."
Leon trailed off, but she seemed convinced of her point.
For that split second, she must have clearly etched in her mind the direction where the black swarm had enveloped Elia and vanished.
Yet the way we were heading deviated somewhat from the path her sister had been taken.
She was worried I might be leading her astray.
I wanted to put her mind at ease on this matter.
"That's a good point. As you said, we're heading in a different direction from the hive where your sister was abducted."
A moment of silence, then her impulsive hand grabbed my collar.
"We agreed to go save my sister! So why..."
"Whoa, calm down. Have you forgotten the promise you made with me?"
The word "promise" made Leon realize her mistake, and she released her grip.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"It's fine. It's only natural to react sensitively when it's about family."
Before we set out, we had made one promise by the lakeside.
To follow my words without question.
Even if doubts arose, to trust and leave it to me.
Otherwise, we couldn't save Elia.
"Even if it doesn't make sense to you right now, please follow me. Time is too tight to explain everything at once."
"...You can really save my sister, right?"
"If you follow my instructions well, we'll definitely rescue her. Once I get what I want, that is."
"Got it. If you're speaking with such confidence, you must have something to back it up."
She bit her lip briefly, still wrestling with doubt, but for now, she seemed willing to go along.
Someone desperate to save their only precious family would lick shoes if it meant a chance.
She figured there was at least a sliver of hope in sticking with me and following orders, rather than charging in alone and dying a dog's death.
She still couldn't shake her suspicions, asking like this, but it was far better than acting rashly in a critical moment.
"More importantly, where are we going now? You can at least tell me that, right?"
"There's no specific destination. What I'm looking for is an environment, not a place."
Leon blinked in confusion at my words.
Rather than explain, I decided to show her directly.
"It'll be quicker if you see for yourself. Ah, perfect—there it is."
"That's...!"
As we crested the hill, the sight that unfolded made Leon gasp in shock.
A fantastical scene spread across the gentle slope: flowers of every color blooming vibrantly, swaying in the breeze, as if infused with nature's mystery.
"Wh...why did we come to a place like this all of a sudden?"
Was it because she and her sister had been harmed in such an environment?
Leon eyed the spot warily from a distance, glaring at me suspiciously.
I pressed on regardless.
"No need to worry. It's safe here."
"How do you know that?"
"Simple. You can tell just by looking at the flowers."
The flowers were deeply rooted and blooming vibrantly with life, but upon closer inspection, some were wilting here and there.
Plateria spreads vitality to the flowers around it.
If one were nearby, there wouldn't be any wilted flowers—so it's safe to take that as a sign they're not here.
"See this? Not a twitch."
I stepped into the flower field as a demonstration.
I trampled them underfoot and even lay down, showing Leon firsthand that it was safe.
Only then did she relax and take a tentative step forward.
As expected, no flowers bloomed on our bodies, and we strolled through the field.
"You look dissatisfied."
"I want to get out of this ominous place as fast as possible."
"Don't worry. I don't plan to stay long either. I came here to prepare something essential before rescuing your sister."
By now, Elia had likely been dragged to the Ebon Wasps' nest, their hive.
Upper-layer apex predators, they lived by drinking honey infused with dense mana. Their bodies were harder than steel, enhanced with reinforced strength, Light Body Movement, and dozens of other buffs layered on.
Charging headlong into a hive with thousands of them—not to mention the queen—would be suicide.
Our countermeasure? Deception.
Plant a false impression in their minds and slip in to snatch Elia while bypassing the fight.
"Perfect, there's one right there."
Buzzz.
A massive wingbeat reverberated through the air.
The droning sound passed overhead, and a black shape landed atop the flower field.
A gigantic wasp with black-iron chitin. Leon recoiled in surprise at its appearance, but I grabbed her shoulder to steady her.
"Don't move rashly. These wasps are sensitive to sound and motion. But their eyesight is nearly degenerated, so staying still is safest."
The key was not losing composure. I warned Leon, and she regained her calm, silently watching it.
"Whispering's okay?"
"That's fine."
"Is that what you were looking for?"
"Yes. A wasp that's separated from the swarm to gather flower nectar."
Ebon Wasps active only during Plateria's blooming season.
They roam beyond the range of Plateria's influence to harvest their staple food: honey.
Since it's food available only when Plateria is awake, they bustle about at this time.
With few threats in the upper layers, they worked without much vigilance, like lazy savanna lions.
"I'll give you the signal. Cast your spell and take it down then."
"Wait, that thing's crazy fast. It'll be hard to hit with my magic."
"It's fine. Trust me and gather your mana. But the chance is only once, so aim carefully."
Leon nodded and began her incantation.
Confirming she was ready to unleash her spell at any moment, I focused back on the wasp.
It was still engrossed in sucking nectar from the flowers.
I extended my index and middle fingers, concentrating mana at their tips.
Like a gunslinger from the west, I took aim and waited in the silence for the perfect moment.
I already knew exactly when it would be.
'The chance is when it sticks out its tongue.'
That instant when the massive body plants its heavy legs firmly on the ground and thrusts its long tongue deep into the flower to sip the tiny nectar.
The decisive moment when the Ebon Wasp was most vulnerable and defenseless.
Bang!
A sharp crack echoed as the mana bullet fired.
It flew in a straight line, piercing the wasp's thin, translucent wing membrane perfectly.
"Buzzz!"
Caught off guard, it flapped its wings frantically.
It tried to take flight but, having lost its balance, could only circle uselessly near the ground.
Success—I'd temporarily crippled its flight ability.
Now, all that was left was to hunt the weakened prey.
Its sturdy body, overwhelming strength, and tough armor were beyond my current power to breach, but that didn't matter.
The perfect person for the job was right beside me.
"Now!"
I gave the signal, and Leon responded instantly.
A dazzling spear of light formed between her hands.
The weapon infused with holy power traced a path straight toward its target.
Kraaack!
A perfect hit.
The light spear pierced the Ebon Wasp's chest dead center without a fraction of error, and its massive, intimidating bulk crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom.
We approached side by side and looked down at the convulsing corpse.
"See? Easier than you thought, right?"
Leon responded with a complicated expression.
"We got it, thanks to you. But what now? What do we do with this?"
We had successfully hunted the Ebon Wasp.
She acknowledged that much.
But she still wasn't convinced this would help save her sister.
Her doubts showed plainly on her face, unable to hide her anxiety and unease.
Instead of answering, I drew a sharply honed dagger from my belt.
"Now we dissect it. Mind helping out?"
"To sell in the city?"
"Nothing like that. This will be our disguise."
"Disguise?"
I smiled at her wide-eyed question.
"Exactly. Our mask to boldly receive an invitation into their home."