Published at 27th of January 2022 04:25:13 PM

504 Before the Decisive Battle

Umukahime walks up to the dead fly and lifts with tentacles from her back.

My fog is thick here, so it is unusual for individual monsters to slip in, but It probably heard the sound of your battle. Its not a monster local to here. Do you recognise it?

I nod. The black lizard is staring at the dead fly nervously. Shes probably remembering her desperate escape from Beelzebub.

Theyre here for me, for sure. Its the Saint of the current era, Lilixira.

[Spirit Servant]

Umukahime mutters with a tone of annoyance. She probably fought alongside Alchimia against that Saints [Spirit Servant].

Umukahime, would you mind lending a hand? Any help you can provide would be reassuring.

Umukahime is a max-level rank monster. Shes far above the atlach-nacha and Aro in terms of both stats and experience. In addition, with her ability to freely manipulate the fog, she should be able to put Lilixiras side at a significant disadvantage.

Our interest should align. You want me to defeat Gods Voice, right? Plus, it would be bad if Lilixira survives and becomes the trigger that revives Foren. Right?

She shouldnt have any reason to refuse. But, Umukahime gently shakes her head.

Sorry, but Im not going to participate in this battle.

Whys that?

I ready my foreleg.

Its not a situation where I can let her go without knowing her reason. Depending on her answer, its possible I might swing this foreleg down at her.

If the Saints able to break through against you, then there was never any hope. So, I was instructed to not assist.

I open my eyes wide and glare at her.

Thats a rather unfunny excuse. Im fighting for the lives of my friends here.

Tentacles sprout from her back ready themselves against me.

The same is true for me. The lives of my brethren and master are at stake. They have waited five hundred years in the afterlife, believing that one day someone who could defeat Gods Voice would appear. Fortunately, I have now read her will. If this generation is no good, then I will wait another five hundred years and inform the next Hero.

Umukahime declares, completely motionless. Is she serious right now?

If Lilixira wins and Gods Voice her [Laplace Interference Authority] level increases, Gods Voice could succeed in reviving Foren, or else the data obtained from her could be used as the foundation to revive Foren in the next generation.

For you, Lilixiras victory would be bad. Isnt that right?

I would prefer that a fanatic did not win. But, this cycle has probably repeated hundreds of times over the course of tens of thousands of years. There is no way to know how far Gods Voices plan has progressed. So, I will bet on the idea that there will be another time.

She says it so lightly. Even though to us, this time is everything.

I am strong, but not as strong as you. If I were to get involved in this fight, I could easily lose my life. A battle with Gods Voice is another matter, but I will not participate in a battle with the Saint. As the last of my masters retainers, I have a duty to see through her revenge.

I defeated the shub-niggurath and clay brave in accordance with that Alchimia prepared. I might be reading too far into this, but its possible they were intended to become experience for me. At any rate, they had been waiting with that level of resolve for hundreds of years for one who could defeat Gods Voice.

So getting angry with her for not lending a hand is barking up the wrong tree. Besides, I doubt shed break even if I threatened to kill her.

I see, sorry for seeming to threaten you. Would you mind leaving the fog as-is at least?

Thank you for understanding. Ill maintain the fog. Id rather this land wasnt trampled on too much, after all. If it was necessary, I wouldnt mind weakening it for you, but that is not needed?

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I nod. The fog doesnt do anything to me or Aro. Besides, Ive grown used to it. It should hinder Lilixiras side more than us.

We descend the mountain and return to the waterfall cavern. Appearing restless, Aro sets about our food from the hanging fenrirs and troll mandragora.

From the shub-niggurath fight, the level ups are:

Aro: Lv: 77/85toLv: 80/85

Atlach-nacha: Lv: 29/102toLv: 54/102

Treant-san: Lv: 49/85toLv: 54/85

Black lizard: Lv: 54/80toLv: 58/80

Magiatite-jii: Lv: 24/92toLv: 35/92

The impact of [Demon Lords Favour] really is significant. However Aro is just one step away from her maximum level. But because it would require hunting a fair few fenrirs to get the rest of the way, and because we dont know when Lilixira will attack, I decide that its better to just rest for the rest of the day.

I dont usually feel like I belong in human lands, and my life has felt somewhat meaningless there. But, with all of you, I feel at home.

Volk mutters in between bites of fenrir meat. His tone sounds content, but also with a tinge of loneliness.

It would be good if we dont lose anyone.

Sword form magiatitie-jii says from Volks arm, likely guessing the meaning behind Volks words.

That is the plan. Fortunately, weve had plenty of time to prepare. But that also means Lilixira has had time too. I cant predict what shell do. I cant declare with absolute certainty that well all be safe.

Kishii

The black lizard looks up at me anxiously. Its okay. With how strong I am now, I should be able to overwhelm even someone like Beelzebub. Once weve defeated them, lets try living a bit more relaxedly. Ah, thats right, I kind of disappeared on them, so maybe I should go visit the orange monkeys.

Here, atlach-nachdono, I brought you some!

Why?

Carrying a huge quantity of meat, treant-san holds out its branches towards the atlach-nacha. She responds with a question, displeasure and doubt mixed into her voice. Thats an expected reaction. I get an impression of bewilderment through her mask.

I feel something poking my leg and look down to see Aro watching them, her face bright red.

Now that atlach-nacha has become beautiful, perhaps treant has fallen in love?

Is she beautiful now? Ive only seen her with her mask on, so I cant say either way. It seemed like they were quarrelling untill just now, so I wonder whats caused this? Ah, no way, is treant-san still riding the high from the atlach-nachas praise from earlier? Shes totally already forgotten it though.