Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 037
Chapter Title: The Cult Leader and the Zealots (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Young mage. You and your loyal escorts will become sustenance to fill the bellies of my followers. At least rejoice that you can atone in this way as you meet your death!"
While I was piecing together the monster's identity.
The cult leader shouted in an excited voice.
He'd taken two Lightning Bolts point-blank and was still fine?
'No, he's not completely unscathed.'
The cult leader could only flap his mouth; he couldn't steady his body.
His entire form was rigid from the Lightning Bolt.
So before he recovered enough to move, I had to turn the tide in my favor.
'Hmm, what should I do?'
There were easily over fifty Kudraks.
This was nothing like what Stalling had told me.
He'd said there were only about twenty devotees, cult leader included.
Had they recruited more while I was on my way here?
I racked my brains with that guess.
'Guess I need to block the entrance first.'
If all the Kudraks poured into the mansion, the inside would turn into chaos.
Gilbert and Bear alone wouldn't be able to handle it.
So the right move was to delay their entry as much as possible.
'First time using this in real combat.'
In this situation, I chose magic.
Specifically, Leaping Flames.
It was the only area-of-effect spell I'd learned.
First time using it for real.
My heart pounded with anticipation.
Fwoosh!
Leaping Flames activated, and a small flame bloomed in front of me.
It quickly grew, soon becoming a fireball the size of a human head.
And then.
Whoosh!
The fireball shot forward, scattering intense heat.
Its target: the lead Kudrak.
"Keeek!"
The vanguard Kudrak spotted the incoming fireball and screamed, retreating.
But it had nowhere to run.
Its rear was blocked solid by its comrades.
Boom!
The fireball struck the Kudrak's head.
Its face burst into flames.
And from there, tiny embers scattered.
Those embers flew toward the other Kudraks behind it, growing larger as they went.
That's when I intervened.
'I need to direct the embers where I want them.'
Embers spawned from the fireball.
They latched onto nearby enemies, but where they burned varied each time.
That's why I had to guide them.
"Ugh..."
Controlling the embers made my head throb with intense fatigue.
My mana control was exceptional—praised by Master himself—but even I struggled to handle ten embers at once.
Still, it was just hard, not impossible.
Slither.
The ten embers moved at my command.
Like fireflies dancing in the air.
Instead of randomly hitting shoulders, knees, or feet, they all shot toward the nearest Kudrak's head.
The moment they reached their targets.
Fwoosh!
The heads of ten Kudraks ignited simultaneously.
"Kieeeek—!"
Engulfed in flames, the Kudraks writhed in agony, thrashing wildly.
Some bashed their heads against walls, others attacked nearby allies, or rolled on the ground.
Each reacted differently.
But the outcome was the same.
They couldn't extinguish the flames devouring their faces and soon stopped moving one by one.
'Now their corpses will block the way.'
With eleven lead Kudraks dead, their bodies clogged the mansion's entrance.
The others couldn't push in easily.
This meant Gilbert and Bear could handle them more readily.
"Gilbert, Sir Bear. Hold those things back."
I gave the order.
Then turned back to the cult leader.
Wayne, leader of the Bliss Cult.
Even after the ambush, he remained composed.
He'd endured the young mage's attack.
And his loyal followers were smashing through the door to rescue him.
Just as he foresaw victory.
An anomaly occurred.
'What is this...'
Heros's fireball.
One had incinerated eleven devotees.
Considering the immense devotion needed to create even one, this was a devastating loss.
And that wasn't all.
'His guards are no pushovers either.'
Heros's escorts: the burly giant and the skeleton.
They blocked the devotees trying to enter, slashing them indiscriminately.
And their skill was no joke.
They carved through hides tough enough to resist most blades with ease.
Watching his followers fall, Wayne's mind rang with alarm.
'At this rate... even victory is a loss!'
The kingdom of the Great One.
His devotees, who toiled day and night to build it, dying so pointlessly?
Unacceptable.
Thus, he resolved to use the divine power granted by his master to eliminate these heretics.
'Lightning Bolt doesn't work well. Should I switch to fire magic?'
As I pondered overlooking the cult leader.
Suddenly, his body began to twist.
Deeply suspicious.
No intention of just watching, so I fired Ignition immediately.
Once wouldn't suffice, so four in a row.
Blaze.
The cult leader's head erupted in flames.
He screamed in torment.
Better effect than Lightning Bolt.
But his transformation didn't stop, and soon he morphed into a monster with a charred black face.
Skin pale as if drained of blood.
Gums and teeth exposed without lips.
Arms stretched unnaturally long, like pulled downward.
Larger build, longer sharper claws, but overall similar to a Kudrak.
"Today, I'll rip out your heart and offer its blood to Him. Abandon any thoughts of leaving alive!"
The cult leader bellowed at me.
But despite his aggressive shout, he kept his distance, facing off.
Wary of my magic.
This gave me time to think.
'How much mana left?'
Spells used so far: two Lightning Bolts, one Leaping Flames, four Ignitions.
Factoring in extra cost from Burning Hands... total mana spent: 134.
Remaining: 96.
Even accounting for recovery in combat, under 100.
'Cutting it close.'
Even in human form, the cult leader had impressive durability.
Now with transformation? Undoubtedly stronger.
A few spells wouldn't cut it.
'Call in Gilbert or Bear for help?'
If even one joined, victory would tilt my way.
But I couldn't spare anyone now.
Neither could hold off dozens of Kudraks alone.
Pull one out and they break through even once?
Kudraks enter the mansion, and the situation turns against us.
So we had to maximize the narrow entrance, turning one-vs-many into one-vs-one.
"Why not attack like before? Are you afraid? Of this form chosen by the Great One?"
As I mulled options.
The cult leader spread his arms and asked.
His face still blackened, but fresh skin was growing in spots—improving.
Regenerating, slowly but surely.
Time wasn't on my side either.
'Time for physical attacks.'
Felt like spear or mace would work better than lightning or fire.
Direct wounds needed.
But my normal physique couldn't handle close combat with this monster.
'Ah! Swap with Gilbert and Bear? I block the door with Leaping Flames, they handle the leader with swords. Not a bad plan.'
As ideas swirled.
I suddenly remembered something forgotten.
The grimoire on the bookshelf!
'Let's see, its name was...'
Pointed Rock Grimoire.
Sounded like Earth magic inside.
If it had ground-spiking attacks like Master's?
Perfect for now.
Even if not, reading it boosts mana—win-win.
"Hey, didn't you say you worship the being inside a grimoire?"
I stalled by talking to him.
Meanwhile, listening for the grimoire's voice.
《I need top-quality soil!》
Top-quality soil?
High-grade dirt, probably.
As I guessed, a reply came.
"Yes. Finally feeling the urge to serve the Great One? Too late, heretic."
"Not serving, just curious. You mentioned a Blood Pool Grimoire, but you have others, right? Like Pointed Rock Grimoire."
He reacted with surprise.
"How do you know that?"
"Mana radiates from it—odd not to notice. Anyway, if yours has a great being inside too, do you worship that one?"
"Absurd! I serve one alone. Don't test my faith!"
The cult leader recoiled fiercely.
But his reaction confirmed it.
He had no talent for Earth magic.
If he could hear the Pointed Rock Grimoire, he'd have fulfilled its request long ago.
Not a hard ask.
"Took you long enough to admit you can't hear the Earth grimoire's voice."
I said, hurling mana soil at him.
Secretly pulled from my bag during our talk—leftovers from fulfilling Spadix Grimoire's task.
"What trick is this now?!"
Thinking I attacked, he dodged in panic.
The mud hit exactly where intended.
Right on the grimoire's spot.
Now, its judgment.
Was my mana soil top-quality?
《Hmm? Oh? Excellent! Top-quality soil!》
Luckily, the Pointed Rock Grimoire approved.
After its pleased voice.
The mana soil got sucked into the book with a slurp.
The grimoire fell from the shelf, opening on its own.
"What did you do? Why is my grimoire acting up?!"
"It's not yours. It's mine now."
"Nonsense!"
While bickering.
The rapidly flipping pages reached the back cover.
And turned to dust.
Information flooded my mind.
'Stone Thorn. Mana cost: 25. Raises rock from the ground like a needle to attack enemies.'
Quickly skimmed essentials.
Activated the new spell immediately.
Boom!
The floorboards before my feet shattered.
A needle-sharp rock spiked up from there.
Amid flying dirt and wood splinters blurring vision.
I saw the rock pierce the cult leader's abdomen.
'Ah...!'
Stone Thorn suited me perfectly.
Great power, reasonable mana cost.
But what thrilled me most.
Its method: ground erupting to strike foes.
Just like one of Master's favorite attack spells.
Now, anywhere, before anyone, I could proudly declare.
That I was Digori's disciple.