Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: 21. Devil's Minion. (2)
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The relentless downpour showed no signs of letting up. In an already gloomy demon realm, the rain made it the worst of the worst. On top of that, the vicious black mana aura stabbed at their skin like needles, leaving no room for proper rest.
...In other words, from the moment they entered the demon realm, an extreme race had begun: either the devil's minion dies, or the mercenary band does.
The band's representative, Vice-Leader Palmer, seemed to read the situation as well. He gathered the leaders. Everyone assembled with pallid, worn-out faces.
"Dragging on like this will just make us suffer more. ...Whether it's some devil bastard or whatever, let's wrap this up quick."
The burly Palmer clenched his pot-lid-sized fist and spoke in a fierce tone.
"Damn right. Let's hustle our asses off and kill that son of a bitch. I'm about to drop dead from exhaustion."
"Spending even one night here will definitely lead to big trouble. We have to end it this time, no matter what."
Everyone seemed to wish for the same. Leader Allen felt the same way.
They had already confirmed the direction before entering the demon realm. Thus, the leaders agreed to minimize rest and push forward with forced marches.
From then on, their relentless advance began. Of course, they didn't slack on vigilance around them. This was, after all, the demon realm teeming with monsters.
And even the mages who had held up well until now were starting to crack under the pressure. It seemed signals were coming to Red-Robe Mage Elena too.
As they drew closer to the problematic spot, the black mana aura raged even fiercer, blurring the lines between day and night. The mercenaries began suffering from nonstop hallucinations and auditory illusions. Allen Mercenary Corps was no exception.
Gumtit Swordswoman Natasha was tormented by countless illusions too. Especially Leader Allen's dizzying temptations—she nearly fell for them several times. ...Of course, after repeated exposures, she built some resistance, but that didn't mean she was immune.
...Filthy cocks and such, I'll overcome with mental fortitude...!
Compared to devil plague, this was nothing. No matter how much she liked Leader Allen, if he suddenly pushed for sex, she'd think it was weird. ...No, it pissed her off even more that the devil bastard was pulling this crap. Treating the deep bond between them like mere sexual fodder—!
Natasha believed she and Allen were connected by something far more noble. Something that couldn't be dirtied by crude sex.
She mustered her strength and kept walking, walking. Now she had developed a solid resilience even against the illusions.
...Yeah, good training. This is my chance to be reborn with an even tougher mind...!
As the Gumtit Swordswoman marched on endlessly, starting to worry a bit about Leader Allen's condition, something caught her eye. Almost simultaneously, the mercenary band halted as if on cue.
...Something was dangling from every tree. Hundreds of them, at a glance.
"...Fuck..."
Not just missing humans—every kind of creature hung from the trees like they were lynched. Corpses and carcasses lay fallen on the ground, rotting and reeking horrifically...
In the face of this nightmare scene straight out of a horror story, they wondered if they were hallucinating. It was that unbelievable.
Ironically, the illusions had stopped now. The siren's song was just a lure to draw prey here. With the prey arriving on their own, no more seduction magic was needed. Now it was hunting time.
The mercenaries gripped their weapons, poised for battle. Allen Mercenary Corps aligned their formation, ready to fight at any moment.
As the band formed a loose circle, Vice-Leader Palmer gestured forward with quick hand signals. The mercenaries advanced slowly toward the target.
Allen Mercenary Corps scanned every inch with murderous eyes, ensuring nothing was missed nearby. They soon reached the spot where humans, animals, and monsters dangled.
Their excrement dripped straight down, piling into shit mounds below. Mixed with corpses and carcasses, the stench was unbearable.
The foul odor was so bad that even Red-Robe Mage wrinkled her brow. It felt like her nose was rotting away.
The sight of creatures hanging like fruit stretched on endlessly. ...Looking closer, hideous tentacles were impaled into each one. Sucking out nutrients and energy, apparently.
The silent, dangling figures—like executed prisoners—had everyone on edge. Even the most experienced among them, Kallisman, seemed to be seeing this for the first time.
"Tentacles could pop out anywhere suddenly. Stay sharp."
Cautious Archer Georg swapped his bow for a dagger. Red-Robe Mage prepared to unleash spells at any time.
The rain poured without respite. Water streamed from the limp toes of the creatures like piss. The mercenaries splashed through the soaked ground, pressing forward.
Right then, the mana-sensitive Blind Saintess gave a curt warning.
"Something's ahead."
What it was, they didn't need to see. The devil siren's minion, no doubt. Whether it used a human or monster as host was still unclear.
Money aside, it was a continental scourge that had to be eradicated. ...Of course, getting paid too would be nice.
"Odd-Eye, fall back and stand with Georg. Enemies might target the rear."
"Yes."
The Blind Saintess in the second row shifted to the third. That increased the burden on Natasha up front, but her stats had nearly recovered to peak condition. She still couldn't match the Blind Saintess, but she was now the second strongest in Allen Mercenary Corps after her.
The Gumtit Swordswoman gripped her round shield in her left hand and shortsword in her right, scanning all directions with eagle eyes as she advanced.
And then, from somewhere, a demonic shriek erupted—the tentacles shot toward Allen Mercenary Corps like arrows.
--!!
Natasha deflected and sliced the tentacles aimed at her with flashy moves. The other members showed skills befitting Allen's long-term contractors.
"Faster—!"
At Allen's urging, the members quickened their pace. Tentacles targeting their backs were perfectly blocked by the Blind Saintess. Her skirt kept tangling around her legs, so she hiked it up to her thighs, exposing her pale, slender legs.
Soon, something huge loomed in the distance, crouched. Allen called out to Red-Robe Mage.
"Elena, blast it—!"
With dozens of tentacles flying at them, there was no time to confirm what it was. Fire first, ask later.
Elena fired a mana bullet, but it was intercepted midair by a tentacle. The enemy knew to block magic. From that, Allen roughly guessed the host wasn't a monster.
......Magic's hard to land with these tentacles......!
But spamming spells until one hit was inefficient. Elena would run out of mana first.
Explosions boomed as other mercenary bands fired spells too, but they'd soon realize it was pointless.
No choice. Close combat it is—.
The band slashed wildly at the swarming tentacle swarms, pushing forward. Occasional spells hit with bangs and blasts. Red-Robe Mage fired mana bullets when she could.
As they closed in, the devil's minion came into clear view.
It looked like dozens, hundreds of earthworms tangled and coiled together. Its glossy surface alone was vomit-inducing.
The tentacles attacked even more fiercely. ...The prey it thought was easy was far stronger than expected—it seemed a bit panicked.
Then the mage leader unleashed a long-chanted powerful fire spell. The blazing fireball pierced the blocking tentacles and slammed into its body.
--!!
...It hit, they cheered inwardly.
The objects dangling from the trees all came tumbling down—thud thud thud. And the tentacles that had been feeding on them joined the assault.
----!!!!
The tentacle mass, warped by flames, writhed violently. ...Now upgraded from prey to intruder—danger level up.
"Shit—!"
The number of tentacles tripled at least. Even nimble Blind Saintess started getting overwhelmed. She blocked somehow, but it wouldn't last.
"Leader—!"
Pink Saintess cried out, implying they needed a plan. Allen quickly scanned the other bands. They looked strained too.
They held the tentacle onslaught, but were slowly pushed back. Old Dog Kallisman's left flank was already pierced once, yet he defended without falling.
Allen wanted to send Blind Saintess at it, but her absence would doom them all. Couldn't send mediocrities either.
"Natasha—!"
So he called the Gumtit Swordswoman.
"Can you break through? You're the only one who can among us!"
"I'll do it...!"
Natasha shouted with resolve. She ramped up, slashing tentacles and charging ahead.
From Viola Mercenary Corps, Vice-Leader Palmer stepped up. Other bands sent their elites too. They knew they had to kill that tentacle blob.
The Gumtit Swordswoman dodged, blocked, and cut incoming tentacles by a hair, advancing. One she missed grazed her right side.
Ugh...!
Flesh tore off with her leather armor, blood gushing. But she didn't flinch. Any lapse meant death.
Good thing she wasn't alone—otherwise, she'd be shredded into mincemeat already.
Vice-Leader Palmer reached the tentacle mass first. He swung his fearsome axe like a twig, hacking its body wildly. Sliced tentacles burst with reeking innards.
Natasha saw danger behind Palmer and slashed incoming tentacles with him. No time for thanks—the big guy was busy blocking too.
Then another fire spell whooshed from the mage leader. The tentacle mass gathered dozens as a shield, blocking it this time. ...But it gave the mercenaries a breather—an opening.
Those close to it went wild with weapons. All elites, each blow devastating.
----!!!!
The tentacle mass recalled even its anti-mercenary tentacles, lashing at those pummeling its body.
"Damn it!"
Natasha, her old fiery temper flaring, barely repelled the mad rush.
Then, just before a missed tentacle struck, an axe severed it. Palmer's aid. This time, Natasha couldn't thank him.
Fortunately, more mercenaries rushed in, fighting tentacles together. By then, the blob was dying.
In its final spasm, it tried the siren's song—♪—but it fell flat on blood-mad eyes.
The Gumtit Swordswoman clutched her wounded side, retreating and watching the blob disintegrate into chunks.
Then Leader Allen approached her.
"Good work, Natasha."
"...Thank you."
"Knew you could do it. ...Well done."
Allen pulled Natasha into a warm embrace.
......Ah......
His warm hold made her forget the pain, just for that moment.
"Let's head back now."
"It's not over yet."
"Nah. You've done enough. Good job. Time to recover."
Leader Allen smiled gently.
It was touching, really.
......If only Leader Allen wasn't buck naked from the waist down, dick flopping out.
"Good work, Leader."
Natasha swung her sword—slash—bisecting Leader Allen. He vanished like a mirage.
---♪
The illusion ended.