Chapter 26

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 26

Chapter Title: The Backfired Curse

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To be honest, I had planned to summon Ddol Ddoli and Lara so the three of us could team up for a joint attack.

The enemies were beyond what I'd imagined.

I figured Ddol Ddoli could tank up front, Lara provide support, and I'd rain down magic barrages from the rear. Perfect role distribution.

But there was no need anymore. It didn't even look like it'd be my turn to step in.

Pure white light. The radiance exploding from Lara blanketed the entire cavern.

It was the effect of Sanctuary, an advanced holy spell that sanctified the area within a certain radius.

-Kraaaah!

The demon writhed in agony, thrashing like it was having a seizure. It was only natural; stepping into sanctified ground stripped it of its power.

Ian scratched his head as he watched it flail helplessly, unable to even stand properly while getting pummeled repeatedly by Ddol Ddoli.

'Is it really okay to just eat this for free?'

He'd been a bit excited for an intense fight after so long, but seeing it end so anticlimactically did let out some steam.

'Eh, good things are good.'

No need to lift a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finger to pick his nose, right?

Ian left the demon to Ddol Ddoli and Lara, scanning the surroundings instead. Something had been nagging at him since earlier.

He closed his eyes and focused. Slowly releasing mana to heighten his senses, he detected a faint thread of demonic energy from the dead-end wall. Frowning in puzzlement, Ian tilted his head.

Why was demonic energy coming from a solid wall?

'Hidden space?'

Another undiscovered secret room?

It was possible.

Memories from so long ago could be fuzzy.

Ian gathered mana and immediately began casting.

Boom!

The wall crumbled in a roar. Dust billowed thickly, and beyond it, several silhouettes came into view.

"Wha-what?!"

"H-how?!"

The black-robed mages' faces hardened. Ian muttered, 'Knew it,' and flicked his fingers.

Whoosh!

Long tendrils of mana shot from his hand, wrapping the black mages tight.

"Guh, ngh!"

"Release us!"

Ignoring their struggles, Ian peered into the revealed space.

A polygonal diagram etched the floor, candles stuck here and there. A basin brimmed with blood at the center, corpses strewn in the corner.

"Ugh, you creepy bastards. Not satisfied with summoning one, you were trying for another?"

Ian shook his head. Why were these guys so obsessed with summoning rituals?

"Genuinely curious—what glory do you think summoning demons will bring you? Risking your lives like this?"

"Are you with that giant outside?"

"Doesn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matter. Answer the question. Why the fixation on summoning?"

"So you are with it. Then you're that giant's minion."

Ian tilted his head for a moment.

'What the hell is he saying? Giant's subordinate? Meaning I'm Ddol Ddoli's lackey?'

He couldn't help but chuckle. What nonsense.

"Can't you asses read the situation? How do you even think... Ahem."

Ian paused. Did he really need to correct them?

He cleared his throat, lowered his tone, and widened his eyes in mock admiration.

"Sharp eyes. How'd you spot that?"

"Knew it. Would've been weirder if you hadn't."

The black mages glared furiously.

"Master was right. Knew you'd meddle persistently."

"Master? Who's that?"

"Didn't expect human minions, though."

Grind!

They gnashed their teeth. Raw hostility stabbed at Ian, tangible as killing intent—but it bounced off him harmlessly.

He didn't care about that; he was just curious.

'What are they misunderstanding?'

"Kuhuhu. Think that'll stop us?"

"Huh?"

"Fat chance. The grand plan is underway. Your dragonkin meddling caused a hiccup, but it won't derail completion."

Grand plan was obvious, but that last bit?

'Dragonkin?'

Where'd dragonkin come from?

'Not drakes or wyverns. Actual dragons?'

"Heh, clueless, eh? Figures for a minion. Tsk tsk."

"What're you babbling? Aren't you a minion too?"

One thing was clear: they were thoroughly deluded.

"Truly ignorant. How could you know? Even your master is someone's guardian."

"Guardian?"

"Yeah, idiot."

'Guardian? Dragon guardian?'

Dragons often used golems as guardians.

Were they mistaking Ddol Ddoli for a dragon's guardian?

The black mage cackled. He spat blood mid-laugh but pressed on.

"Tell it. Or no need—you're probably transmitting already."

"......"

"The ritual's complete. This Curse of Mortality will bring your dragonkin to ruin."

Suddenly, the mage's belly swelled. Ian's face hardened.

'Crazy bastard—suicide bomb!'

Only then did Ian realize: this wasn't a summoning ritual.

It was a curse invocation—advanced, self-sacrificial.

Demonic energy surged. Even Ian recoiled. He hastily layered triple defense spells and bolted. As he escaped the hidden space, a massive explosion engulfed it...

Pop!

"Huh?"

Ian turned blankly. Why so weak? This should've been huge!

Bang!

A sonic boom echoed as the demonic mass ricocheted off the wall, refracting outward—toward the main cavern, not the hidden space.

The transformed curse, upon touching the sanctuary, flopped wildly like a lively fish, bouncing everywhere.

It brushed Lara and Ddol Ddoli too, but bizarrely, no reaction.

Then it hit the demon in the corner, still getting battered by Ddol Ddoli—and a violent response erupted.

Ian rubbed his eyes. What? Curse of Purification?

Sizzle!

-Kraaaaaah!

A acrid stench filled the air. It was coming from the demon.

'The demon's body... it's burning?'

It was ablaze. The thing that shrugged off Sanctuary's holy power and Ddol Ddoli's brutal beatings was finally taking real damage.

Flames roared. Its dark-red flesh rapidly disintegrated.

A whopping four-level jump—juicy reward. The demon was gone for good.

"Ian! The demon's dead!"

"Yeah, looks like it."

Ddol Ddoli looked disappointed, like its punching bag had vanished. Lara was overjoyed, practically bouncing.

"You can drop Sanctuary now."

"Yes!"

Sanctuary faded, the light vanishing, plunging the cavern back into darkness.

Ian conjured magical light and examined the demon's remains.

Just bones left.

The 'Curse of Purification' must've burned away all flesh, leaving only the skeleton.

-Bad guy... died too easily...

Ddol Ddoli sounded glum. So dejected.

-Ddoli sad. Could've fought more...

'That wasn't fighting; it was one-sided brutality...'

Ian patted Ddol Ddoli's leg consolingly, then inspected the bones—widening his eyes.

"Holy shit. Legendary material!"

Unbelievable gain!

He hadn't gotten the mana core, but no matter. This legendary bone more than compensated.

'Using this as the skeleton frame...'

Ian swallowed hard. How powerful would a homunculus with a legendary bone base be?

He extracted the soul right away. About an hour.

Long wait, but tidying the mess and gathering evidence for the report passed the time quickly.

Ian's composure shattered.

"Holy... holy crap!"

Sudden gratitude welled up.

Toward those exploded black mages.

'Thanks. You guys hooked me up big time!'

He stashed the soulstone in his inventory pronto.

Just in case something else lurked.

After slaying the demon and exiting, Ian noted the overly dense mana had dispersed.

The demon's presence had been proxying the mana core's role, ramping up monster aggression.

The mana gauge confirmed density dropping rapidly.

Probably back to normal in a week, three days at most.

"You guys, thanks. You're the best."

"Heehee."

-Ddoli comes whenever master calls!

Ian chatted with Ddol Ddoli and Lara after so long.

Ddol Ddoli's updates: monster massacres as usual. Lara: hanging with elves, cranking out fairies daily.

"Come visit Eltea Forest sometime. You'll love it, Ian."

"Definitely."

Ian wanted to see Eltea Forest.

He had the royal emblem—VIP pass. Couldn't waste it.

But time was scarce.

Civil servant woes.

"All done. Let's head back."

"Yes!"

-Got it.

Ian's summoning only called; no reverse summon.

Meaning they walked home.

-Master calls next time, Ddoli comes anytime.

Watching Ddol Ddoli thud away, Ian scratched his head sheepishly.

Felt weird sending it off like that.

'Gotta learn spatial teleport soon.'

Teleport would send creations home.

Good thing Ddol Ddoli didn't care about location.

West, east, south, north—whatever.

It wandered freely anyway.

No fixed home.

Lara was the issue.

She had Eltea—and ruled over a thousand-plus fairies as queen.

"Lara, c'mon. I'll take you back."

"I'm fine. I can go alone."

"Huh? What do you—Whoa!"

Ian startled. Lara cast a spell.

She snapped her tiny fingers; starlight twinkled down, forming a stepping-stone bridge of light in midair.

'Starry Stepping Stones?'

First time seeing it—even for magic expert Ian.

What spell?

'Ah, fairy magic!'

No wonder. Humans couldn't learn fairy magic.

"What spell is that?"

"Cross this bridge back to Eltea Forest."

"What?"

"Or here from there. Cool, right? Heehee."

Ian's eyes bulged.

'Spatial teleport?'

"Call me, I'll come! See ya!"

Lara skipped across lightly.

Her tiny form dissolved like dust.

Ian blinked at the mystical sight.

'Insane. Total cheat.'

Parting with Ddol Ddoli and Lara, Ian returned to Baldergran. Lord Roderick welcomed him.

"Oh! Safe return! Was worried!"

"How've you been?"

"Just a day—what's to say? Anyway, results?"

"Problem solved."

"Solved how...?"

"Black mages hiding in Pelian Mountains, running weird rituals. That's what boosted monster aggression."

"Hmm, black mages. That heretical bunch from Pand... ugh, hard name. Popping up empire-wide lately?"

"Exactly."

"Whoa!"

"No worries. I wiped them out."

"R-really?"

"Yes. Wait a few days; monster raids'll drop."

Ian briefed Roderick, then stayed another week to confirm.

"As you said, raids stopped cold! Not a single one!"

"Good to hear."

"Hahaha! Thanks! You're Baldergran's hero!"

Roderick laughed heartily, clapping Ian's shoulder. Ian dodged subtly.

The burly man's glee was overwhelming.

'If you're that grateful, how about a reward?'

No cash—just fame. Unneeded.

Back in the capital post-mission, Ian's first act: submit two-week vacation.

"Impressive. Thought your 100% success streak was done."

"C'mon, what do you take me for? Not that tough."

"Details later, after observation. Why two weeks off?"

"Burned out. Need rest."

He said that, but his real goal?

'Can't wait. Straight to synthesis.'

Homunculus time.

Full vacation on his third creation after Ddol Ddoli and Lara.

Lessons from Lara's trial-and-error, plus research gains—should be smoother.

'Legendary soul and materials? How to resist?'

Might outshine even Ddol Ddoli or Lara.