Chapter 224: The Masterpiece That Will Solve All Problems (5)
Chapter 224: The Masterpiece That Will Solve All Problems (5)
"Who could resist a stylish Silver Bracelet as loot?"
I had already scattered the traps that could neutralize the enemy in one fell swoop.
The Bitch Collars.
I had configured them so that anyone wearing them would enter a 'Petrified State' or 'Sage Time,' then I scattered them along the shore.
To make it look like we had been forced to retreat while preparing for a large-scale battle, we left behind various other pieces of equipment along with the Bitch Collars.
We had already confirmed with our own eyes that the Sirens had scavenged our gear. Now, all that remained was to 'lure' them in.
The field where the enemy held the advantage was the sea.
Therefore, I had to draw them out from the water and onto the land.
"Good. This will be our command headquarters."
While I was busy having sex in my office to control the Paladin Sonata, the room right next door had been transformed into a Command Headquarters that looked like it belonged in a territorial war.
"My Lord."
Yoanna, who had returned from the 25th floor, stood before a model of the battlefield created with the help of magic.
"The briefing is ready. Shall we begin immediately?"
"Of course. What’s the current status of the 25th floor?"
"The front line has been pushed back to here."
Yoanna pointed to the center of the simulated battlefield with a baton.
"The seawater has come in deeper than we anticipated, and the front line has shifted further back. As long as the tide hasn't receded, if they use their abilities to flood the area, this will become the primary battlefield."
"Right next to the shore, then."
"Yes. The sandy beach will be halfway submerged, but the water here will only come up to about ankle height."
It was the area where the white sands ended and the thickets began.
Yoanna had established the front line centered on the boundary between the forest and the sea.
"According to the Beast Codex, Sirens can exert their full power as long as they are in contact with seawater. It doesn't have to be much, but they receive the sea's buffs as long as they are at least ankle-deep."
"In other words, they won't cross into areas where the water is shallower than their ankles?"
"Exactly. That is this point right here."
"...Excellent."
I pointed to the beach beyond the 'Maginot Line' Yoanna had drawn.
"We will handle the vanguard on the sand. I’ll draw their aggro first, so the rest of you standby in the rear. Yoanna, what’s the total headcount required?"
"We’ll need at least two people for every Sea Elf. Though I’m not sure how many of them will take the bait..."
"We’ll just have to request as much support as possible."
I had finished analyzing the Sirens' habits.
All that was left was to reel them in.
"This will likely be the official first step of the new House Fermaton."
I would mobilize everything I could.
"I’m counting on you, Charlotte."
"...Of course, Count. Everyone in the Slave Trader Guild, including myself and Nine-Tail, desperately wants your plan to succeed. I will take charge of the 'experts,' so rest easy."
Even if those 'experts' were notorious for being particularly ruthless slave hunters.
When it came to capturing and snaring something, no one was better than a slave hunter.
"Good. Then, four hours after the meal, we begin Mission: Worker Exploitation."
It wasn't a slave hunt.
It was securing a workforce.
"Let’s start the party to hire a massive number of workers for our Water Park."
Clap.
I lightly raised Dark Jeanne toward those gathered in the command center-turned-party-venue.
"This is a large-scale operation involving over a hundred people. I don't know how many enemies will show up, but the most important thing is our safety and our lives."
Everyone.
"From now on, we’re going to go throw some trash into the ocean. Once you've all eaten and drunk your fill... you know the drill, right? Heh, put it all in the wooden trash bins next to you."
Starting now.
"Because we’re going to give them a gift."
Because 'humans' are about to do something very 'human.'
* * *
They had achieved victory over the humans.
The Sea Elves of the 25th floor basked in the joy of their triumph.
They donned the magic tools the humans had failed to recover and expanded their territory by pushing the seawater all the way to the forest.
Surely, after this, the humans would disappear.
But that expectation was far too naive.
[Greetings, everyone.]
In front of the beach, a massive knight in white armor appeared, wielding a giant two-handed hammer.
[Are you listening? I’ve come to reclaim the magic tools you bastards stole from us.]
His voice was thick with rage and annoyance.
The Sirens looked at each other and snickered.
The magic tools the knight spoke of were already being worn by the Sirens like jewelry.
The Silver Bracelets that cleared the mind and enhanced focus.
Some Sirens had refused to wear them out of pure hatred for anything human, but these items were undeniably helpful for 'human hunting.'
[Come out this instant! If you don't, I'll dump trash into the sea you cherish so much!]
The Sea Elves' faces contorted at the mention of trash.
Who would want trash spread throughout their home?
The Sea Elves of other floors were the same; any human who left trash on the shore was a target for execution.
And this armored knight, who was threatening to dump trash directly into the water, was even worse.
[Do you see this?]
Behind the armored knight, a blonde Bunny Girl vigorously pulled a cart loaded with something toward the beach.
[This is what we call a 'watermelon,' an essential for any beach outing. Well, I’ve brought several other vegetables and fruits as well.]
The Sea Elves tilted their heads as they looked at the items in the cart.
They looked like ordinary fruits, but what on earth did he plan to do with them?
Clank.
The armored knight drove a sturdy support stand into the ground.
Even as the waves washed back and forth beneath it, the stand didn't budge. The knight placed a well-ripened watermelon on top of it.
[Captain, the setup.]
"The 'ball' is ready~"
Tap, tap-tap.
As the Bunny Girl placed a watermelon on the stand with her gold-glowing magic gloves, the armored knight lightly tapped his hammer on the ground before swinging it wide over his shoulder.
[Pangya—!!]
With a mysterious, energetic shout, the knight slammed the fruit with his mana-infused hammer.
Whiiiiiiish—!!
Normally, the fruit should have shattered upon impact.
However, a very faint 'Mana Shield' was wrapped around the fruit's exterior. The Sea Elves hurriedly scrambled away as the fruit came flying toward them from the distance.
"It's a catapult!"
The form was different, but this was a projectile attack.
They didn't know why it was fruit, but if they took a direct hit to the head, there was a high probability of instant death.
Splash!
The mana-wrapped watermelon flew into the depths where the Sea Elves were swimming before bobbing to the surface.
Whether due to the impact or the Mana Shield breaking, the watermelon, floating due to buoyancy, split in half—
"Eek!!"
"Dammit!"
The Sea Elves screamed as they looked at the split watermelon.
"He threw something rotten! That crazy bastard!!"
"Another one! Here it comes!! Get out of the way!!"
The Sea Elves exchanged hand signals underwater as they dodged the incoming projectiles.
This time, a fairly large pumpkin fell, and soon the yellow pumpkin also split open.
"Aaaah! Bugs! There are bugs inside!!"
"Watch out! It's not just one! Over there, from the forest!!"
In the distance.
Beyond the beach, from the area hidden by the forest, dozens of objects began to fly in an arc.
[From now on, this sea belongs to us! Your ocean will become our trash dump!!]
Whirrrr.
Objects bundled in Mana Shields splashed into the seawater.
The moment the shields dissipated, the contents began to spill out one by one.
"Ugh!"
"You sons of bitches!!"
"Humans!!"
It was food waste.
Leftover scraps, rotten vegetables and fruits that even livestock wouldn't eat, and even half-eaten pieces of bread were packed into cylindrical wooden boxes.
"We can't just stand by! Let's drive those filthy humans out!"
"To hell with the rules! Throwing food waste into someone's home?! I'm going to kill them and make them eat every single scrap of trash they dropped!!"
The Sea Elves, consumed by rage, began to charge.
"Kill all the humans—!"
Swoosh.
Once again, the waves began to surge violently.
* * *
Disposing of food waste after a party costs money.
Steak bones, leftover side dishes, and the like.
I boldly brought all of it to the Infinite Labyrinth to use as offensive tools.
[Later on, we could just use an entire floor as a food waste landfill.]
"That's a great idea, Pervert."
Laura placed a wooden barrel full of rotten tomatoes on the stand and wrapped it in a Mana Shield, and I used the Ohamma-Sledge Hammer to launch it with precision toward the Sea Elves.
Splash!
The attack didn't hit.
But the moment it missed, the rotten tomatoes inside spread out, instantly staining the sea red.
[Why didn't our ancestors ever think of this? Hmm?]
"No one but you would ever think of something like this, Pervert."
[Right? Here they come. Let's retreat.]
Confirming that the waves were rising again in the distance, I scooped Laura up. She clung to me instantly and aimed her bow behind us.
"I'll cover our rear!"
[I'm leaving my back to you!]
I could feel the Sea Elves firing arrows at me from behind, but Laura safely guarded my back.
"My Lord!"
I heard Yoanna's shout from a distance.
"Preparations are complete!"
[Is that so? Then, from this moment... let the 'Fountain Show' begin!!]
Flutter.
As Yoanna thrust her spear-flag high, the white flag began to snap in the wind.
[Bitch Switch, ON!!!]
Pshwaaaaaaaaak—!!
Along with a fountain show of waves crashing over the sandy beach, the large-scale battle against the Sea Elves began.