Chapter 216: She Who Held the Black Staff in Her Sleep
The frontline unit successfully escaped the Stampede for now, and they continued their retreat toward Sentrea while fending off monster ambushes along the way. While resting their exhausted horses, Tsutomu passed by Alma, whose black hair had stiffened due to the dried Sandworm blood.
I REALLY need to wash this off soon
While the sll had not been too botherso before due to everyone being occupied with monster ambushes, Alma had now realized that she slled terrible
sothing akin to rot, perhaps due to there being things inside the Sandworms stomach that had not completely digested.
With Tsutomu passing by with a slightly wrinkled nose, Alma turned to face him, alert to his presence. Normally, Alma would not have struck up a conversation with Tsutomu due to the awkwardness between them, but in her current state of agitation after being swallowed by the Sandworm, she reflexively opened her mouth,
What, you think Im stinky?
To be fair, you ARE stinky. Maybe your nose has gotten used to it by now, but you sll like rotten at to .
Uh fair enough, I guess? Alma, hearing Tsutomus response, looked away after an awkward and hesitant pause.
For a similar reason, the space around the rescued Explorers who had been swallowed by the Sandworms was noticeably vacant.
Tsutomu, observing Almas reaction, made a face with a mix of amusent and exasperation before calling out to the Undine in his pocket.
Can you clean her up? She slls so bad, my nose is about to curl Tsutomu made his request while holding his nose, and the Undine, the Sli-shaped Spirit, turned away in a decisive refusal.
Tsutomu proceeded to negotiate with the Undine, stacking up more and more Water Magic Stones. He eventually managed to entrust the clean-up of the fluid-covered Explorers to the Undine.
Arent you a White Mage? How co your affinity with the Spirit is so high? I cant believe one of them would be willing to do such nial tasks like this
Eh, because Im a lucky boy, I guess?
Gah Look, Im sorry about that, all right?
I should say sorry, too. I know its behind us now, but well, I couldnt resist.
Tsutomu had already received a full apology from Alma, and seeing that she was genuinely apologetic, this ti he was the one to apologize for making an insensitive joke. The Undine crawled up from the ground and started scraping the gunk off Alma who, while appearing slightly ticklish, lowered her gaze.
Say, do you rember that one ti, while that nickna fiasco was going on, when our eyes t?
I pretended not to see you. I was afraid that if we spoke, Id be asked to return the Black Staff. Really, Im sorry. The face you made at
I still rember it sotis.
Its all right. As you can see, Im doing perfectly well for myself.
Despite what he said, Tsutomus expression was not particularly bright. When the nickna Lucky Boy beca known, Tsutomu had no reliable allies in this fantasy world. Almas act of deliberately avoiding eye contact with him at that ti stuck with him due to it happening when absolutely everyone around him was a stranger
It felt as if he had been pushed off a cliff.
Youre strong, you know
strong enough that you actually dont need the Black Staff. But I really should have talked to you then. When Weiss took the Black Staff away, I felt a bit of what you were going through
and if it werent for my Clanmates doing that I wouldnt be here. Alma glanced at Garm and Amy, who were chatting with the other Absolute Helix mbers. And you you have good friends, too. There is no telling what wouldve happened if they hadnt been there for you. I an, back then, you seed like a lost child. All the more reason that I shouldve spoken up instead of avoiding you, you know, seeing that I was the one who penned that nickna.
Its all right, really. You apologized, and thats good enough for .
I dunno, you didnt exactly leave on a good note the last ti we talked But for the record, I treat the Black Staff as just a tool now, all right? I dont hold it in my sleep anymore, really!
[She actually did that!? I an, that mightve sounded cute out of context, but still]
As Tsutomu stared with widened eyes at Alma, she blushed and took a mont to regain her composure.
A-anyway Considering how badly I treated you, I Mmph!?
Huh? A-are you all right?
Mmph!? Blub blub blub
Whoa, Undine! Stop it! Youre drowning her!
The Undine, seemingly unable to overlook Tsutomus saddened expression, suddenly pounced on Almas face. Alma, with the blue Sli-like creature covering her face, could not breathe and struggled, while Tsutomu hurriedly tried to peel it off.
As the chaos unfolded, Weiss looked on with a solemn expression.
The frontline unit, having rested their horses, resud their journey and safely returned to Sentrea without any further monster ambushes. House Babenberg had put up shields spanning from the underground to the sky in Sentrea, providing ample protection against monster attacks. With the threat seemingly averted, the troops finally let themselves relax, engaging in casual conversations.
Christia conveyed to House Babenberg the intelligence she gained from the Stampede, instructing the knights to readjust Sentreas defenses, including its walls and weapons. Afterwards, she called over Leon, who had been conversing with the head of House Babenberg.
Listen, Leon
if this information doesnt reach the Royal Capital, I fear that things will take a turn for the worse. You must ensure that they are inford. Return to the Capital imdiately and ensure this information is delivered. The docunts are all compiled here.
Mm-hm. Sure, leave it to .
Sorry for making you do this. When you successfully deliver this information accurately to the Royal Capital, Ill have a reward ready for you.
For real!? All right!
Leon, who had been working himself to the bone since being summoned to the Capital, was suddenly reenergized upon hearing of Christias promised reward. With Leon brimming with enthusiasm as he left Sentrea, Christia headed toward the head of House Babenberg to discuss matters concerning the defensive battle.
anwhile, Tsutomu, leisurely seated in the inns lobby, speculated about the recent behavior of the monsters.
Hmmmmmmmm
[Monsters commanding other monsters I dont think that has ever existed before.]
Beside him, Hannah, wearing a difficult expression as she practiced Magic Fist with Magic Stone Scraps. Tsutomu crossed his arms and dug through his ntal archive of Live Dungeon knowledge. However, in the ga, creatures with the intelligence to command monsters were nonexistent. Although there were talking monsters, they usually were encountered alone in pseudo-boss fights, making it unlikely for them to assu a commanding role.
Ow!? Teach! Im hurt again!
[Also, the mbers of the Scarlet Devil Squad and Absolute Helix were specifically targeted. If theres soone who can command monsters, theyd typically aim for Christia, the commander right? Considering what the targeted mbers have in common its probably that theyve progressed further down Gods Dungeon compared to the others. Besides, the targeting toward
specifically seed even more persistent.)
Even if there actually was soone capable of commanding monsters within the Stampede, Tsutomu could not discern the motive behind the attack. Concealing Wyverns in the clouds, ambushes from Sandworms in the ground
particularly in soft soil where Sandworms could easily advance, and likely having other monsters help with the digging. Despite possessing intelligence capable of issuing such detailed instructions, the individual commanding the monsters did not seem to target Christia but rather those associated with Gods Dungeon.
Cmon, Teach, can I get so healing here? What, youre not gonna make
waste a Potion, are you~~?
Hannah, dont bother him, Korinna said, Here, Ill heal you.
[If it spawned in a Dungeon like a Devourer Dragon, it probably wouldnt target , and instead go for soone stronger. Still, the fact that it specifically aid for
suggests another factor Maybe the monster infiltrated Dungeon City even before this Stampede?]
Arriving at such a conclusion, Tsutomu turned to Hannah, who was having her injured fingertip healed by Korinna. As Tsutomu reached his hand out to Hannah, she brightened, hoping for a swift recovery.
.
Gyah!! Whyd you attack
like that, Teach!? WHYYYYYY!?
had almost no effect on humans
at most warming them up a little
but Hannah rolled around on the ground, exaggerating her pain.
Well, it seed like soone was commanding the monsters in the Stampede, you see, and its probably soone related to Dungeon City
So I thought it might be you. Looks like I was wrong, though.
What!? I an, I have absolutely no idea what you were talking about, but youre suspecting
of doing sothing!? Why!?
I dunno, maybe you were getting kinda annoying with how much you hurt yourself?
Oh cmon! Im working hard on my training, you know!
Indeed, Tsutomu had been finding Hannahs recent practice of Magic Fist sowhat irritating
especially how she would do it near him. His casting of
on her, however, was unintentional. Hannah was angry all the sa, however, as apparent in how she was flapping her wings.
Also, back when we were in Dungeon City, I already told you not to use the Magic Fist out here. If youre going to keep flaunting it just because youre Sir lchors apprentice, I wont heal you anymore.
I wouldnt do it here!
And Korinna, dont feel obligated to heal her, all right?
Yes, of course.
Korinna! Dont let him poison you! I still want you to be a good girl! KORINNAAA!!
Oi, retorted Tsutomu, feeling that he had been indirectly insulted.
In return, Hannah looked at him with a mixture of fear and expectation. Tsutomu proceeded to ignore her, standing up from his chair.
Ill talk to Garm and the others. Since Healers might be targeted from the start this ti, you should be careful too, Korinna.
Y-yes, I understand.
Following Tsutomus warning, Korinna, looking scared, and Hannah, appearing jittery, were left behind as Tsutomu went to the other Clan mbers, conveying to them his speculation about the possibility that the one commanding the monsters might be related to Dungeon City.
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