Attacking the Mage -1
Even if attacked, all the divided entities can survive and move separately.
They can copy what they've absorbed, and even absorb intelligence.
"Anyway, they say a creature like this exists?"
"Yes···."
"In your opinion, how should we deal with this creature?"
There had been that deal, but these were still days with nothing immediate to do.
Which meant suffering under Bellisa all over again.
"Hmm, roast them all at once with flames or something?"
"It's not the kind of thing that dies from that. Anyway, you're not helpful even once, are you?"
Bellisa said that and stood up from her seat.
"The correct answer is instant-death magic. You don't even know that?"
I wanted to protest that I hadn't gotten a proper explanation of the situation, but I held back.
Bellisa seemed completely oblivious to her assistant's complicated feelings and just continued with her own story.
"Or, the soul separation magic I developed would work too."
"Soul separation magic?"
The assistant asked about the magic that sounded unfamiliar.
"What's this, you showing interest for once?"
'Because I have to hand over information about you, that's why.'
She hesitated, but the assistant's resolve was already firm.
"Th-that's···."
"Never mind, you'd never understand even if I explained."
"B-but, I could study it with books or something."
"Haa, even a fool studying···."
She sighed as if it was just annoying.
For a guild leader, she showed zero interest in training her juniors.
"It's simply a technique to extract the soul from the target's body. Then, as far as I know, if it can't find a body, it's processed as dead right away."
Extract the soul.
After a certain time, the flesh dies, and the soul flies off to the heavens.
"Wow···. That's a scary magic."
"Isn't it?"
"Want to experience it once?"
Wheek.
Then she gestured with her hand as if casting the magic on her assistant Sila.
Flinch.
Sila shrank back at the sudden declaration and the moving magic wand.
Seeing that, Bellisa giggled and put away her magic wand.
"Just kidding."
"···Don't make jokes like that."
It was Bellisa's usual lack of humanity in her prank, but now it was fine.
Because having to endure this would soon be over.
Anyway, Bellisa's assistant, Sila, diligently sold information.
And among it was the story of that tentacle monster of unknown identity.
"So anyway, she said she's researching this tentacle monster?"
"Hoo···. I see."
The tentacles disguised as the Suspicious Mage responded.
He reacted as if it was a story he'd never heard before, but of course, it wasn't a creature he was hearing about for the first time.
'This is us···?'
Inside, the tentacles were deeply troubled.
'The Hero Party is moving faster than I thought······.'
The fact that the Hero Party, the gathering of the strongest, was moving like this according to his thoughts was a crisis.
He had to smash them before they united.
"So, she said there's some way to deal with it?"
But even he thought this tentacle existence wasn't something that could be easily eliminated.
And yet, did that great mage have a way to kill the tentacle creature?
"Ah, that is···."
Then, as if it were a very delicate matter, she whispered quietly into the Suspicious Mage's ear.
"Soul separation magic?"
"Shh!"
"Ah, what a slip-up. Yes, but what exactly is that?"
"So···."
Having heard a more detailed explanation, the tentacles were in a complicated state of mind.
"Hmm···. So soul magic is her recently developed ultimate technique, huh."
He'd picked up more useful information than expected.
Without this, he might have gone in blindly to attack and nearly died.
"Now that I know it's soul-type···. This seems pretty useful."
"Y-yes···? I told you this to warn you to be careful, and you say it's useful?"
"Yes···. I know a bit of magic myself, you see."
Of course, in reality, it wasn't a mage but a tentacle creature.
In fact, this highly intelligent tentacle had a better understanding of magic than most humans.
It had stored all the library's knowledge, and it had all become part of the tentacles.
It could even perform textbook magic better than anyone.
"I'll pass along the plan soon."
The tentacles turned to leave like that.
And immediately started thinking.
More precisely, the walking Clone was told to move appropriately on its own, while the Main Body thought separately.
The smart tentacle Main Body, having received the information, slowly pondered.
The tentacles, who had already created their own space in a closed underground area, immediately expanded their perceived time as much as possible.
"Let's see···. Should I research a way to counter soul magic······."
No, just thinking of ways to block it wasn't enough.
'Even if it's not soul magic, a mage probably has tons of ways to kill a Clone like me.'
If soul magic didn't work, flame magic could burn it, or super high heat could roast it, and a Clone like him would die instantly.
So he needed to think of a way to neutralize them in one counterattack.
Right after blocking that attack, he needed a way to neutralize the mage.
At the very least, he had to come up with that.
'Then···. What if I just reflect that magic back?'
Once that thought hit, the answer became simple.
After all, in terms of cost, it's better to catch an arrow and throw it back than to make a new one.
"I need to research a reflection magic that works on soul-types."
But wait, didn't they say not to kill her?
'Hmm···. Then I need to make something like a small box where the mage's soul can possess without dying······.'
Anyway, he had to create as many defensive systems as he could think of.
"Alright···, then if I make it according to the received blueprints······."
Tick-tock···, tick-tock······.
A clock-shaped Magic Tool that gave an unpleasant, twisted feeling was completed.
Right after, the space-time sensation in his area warped.
That special Magic Tool wasn't just for tormenting women.
"Alright, plenty of time, so let's do some research."
Stretch 1 second to several years.
If that's not enough, he could overlap multiples to create an even more complex state.
"Alright···. First, let's see if there's anything that can reflect soul magic and similar types······."
He researched in that expanded time.
And so, a week passed in real time.
He'd spent an enormous amount of time.
But thanks to that, preparations against magic were complete.
'No way it's still not enough after all this···?'
Knock knock.
"Haa···, yes."
The assistant Sila, still suffering under Bellisa, didn't look pleased.
But was it his imagination that her expression softened a bit upon seeing the Suspicious Mage?
"It seems like the time for that revenge has finally come."
"Finally······."
'What?'
Honestly, he'd expected her to hesitate or worry about an outsider messing with her, but he hadn't anticipated this.
"Take this first."
"Wh-what is this?"
In reality, it contained something completely different.
What was actually inside was the smart tentacle Clone's Main Body, and a storage container to safely hold the bounced-back soul.
But of course, he wasn't going to say that outright.
He just described it as something disgustingly irritating.
"Inside here is a monster. A monster that dirties up the surroundings like crazy, and it's hard to catch like a cockroach."
"Aha···."
Sila's face wrinkled slightly at that.
Not because of the plan, but because the contents sounded unpleasant.
It was a lie, but even this would be sufficient revenge.
Even if the contents were what the tentacles said, it would torment the mage who lived off her own superiority for quite a while.
"Anyway, it's a pretty useful monster. But to put this in Bellisa-nim's Mansion···."
"The monster detectors need to be off."
"Yes, exactly."
That was also why an internal collaborator was needed to attack Bellisa.
Surely, the great mage's home would be rigged with all sorts of magic.
"So···. As long as this monster slips in without tripping the detectors···."
"I see?"
"Then···, it'll be quite a hassle."
And he observed the assistant's reaction.
Pfft.
But without a hint of worry, she let out a slight laugh that seemed genuinely delighted.
"Ah, sorry···. I'm just so happy."
'This much?'
"I'll finally get to see that damn mage's face twist up, even if just a little."
"It could've been something even harsher."
'Huh? This woman···.'
She harbored more venom than expected.
"Anyway, do not peek inside this thing. If you open it···. The monsters might end up running loose in your house by mistake."
"Of course."
"Whatever's in there, I don't care."
With the cooperation of this venomous woman, getting into the mage's house should go smoothly.
Now, it was just beginning.