Elfaria Chapter 89

089. Ancient Temple

 ――Time goes back a bit.

「Kuhh―that woman. She still has the same bullshit force ......!」

　Covered in sweat and mud, and with her hair usually pulled back in a single bun, the female general in charge of the 2nd Hanaria Army was forced to live a harsh life in the "Great Sea of Trees" to escape the clutches of the enemy.

　Several days have already passed, but not only is the recovery of wounds and force unusually slow, but the "Wind Spirit's Blessing," which she usually receives as a matter of course, seems to be only diluted.

　Thanks to this, I can't even get out of the forest - at this rate, I'm sure I'll end up dead sooner or later.

「Fufu...... this reminds me of the time when I was being disciplined by my master.」

　I still don't know what he is thinking―but I still believe that his eyes are definitely staring at the same future (thing) as mine.

　However, just as the "Goblin Riot," which had been a concern of hers, was settled, she received a report of "disturbing movements in the Great Sea of Trees," and she went there directly with Luia and others.

　Just as she thought they had defeated most of the monsters, they were surprised by a surprise attack―their arch-enemy appeared. Monsters from other lands were summoned.

　The threat was so great that she followed her instincts and ordered a retreat. ...... She fought back with everything she had until everyone had escaped, but look what happened.

「Five days have already passed―and before I knew it, I had plunged into the "Crucible of the Spiritual Vein".」

　This area is considered to be one of the most dangerous in the Great Sea of Trees.

　Not only is it a hotbed for the emergence of demonic beasts, but it is also a terrifying place that can derange the senses of those who enter it.

(Still―this is too much, no matter how much you look at it.)

　Normally, the spiritual veins are rarely disturbed to this degree.

　Perhaps "disturbed" is the right word. In other words,

「It turns out―My guess was not wrong.」

　But with water and food scarce, it is too dangerous to go any further.

　I must get out of this place as soon as possible――I have to get myself back together.

　I am sure my comrades are doing their best by now.

　I just have to wait and believe in that――when she thought so

「!? Who's there!?」

　She felt a faint presence, drew her sword and shouted.

「I knew you had wandered into a place like this...」

　The one who showed up was Luia, the second-in-command, wearing an eye patch.

「I've been looking for you, General. I didn't expect to find you in a place like this. ...... Same as ever.」

　He was about to walk up to her with a smiling face, but...

「Who are you? You look a lot like Luia――No. That body belongs to him, right? But―inside, you are clearly a different person. Did you possess him?」

　When she says this with a sharp look in her eyes, instantly, Luia is ...... smiling with a strange smile that looks like his mouth is ripped open.

「Fufu, as expected. How did you know?」

「What, it's easy. It is unthinkable that he would be so formal with me on a less-than-official occasion. I guess it would be more correct to say, 'strong sense of disgust'(?).」

　If he were real, he would have teased her by saying something like, "You really are a moron♪," or "You're as annoying as ever".

「What about Leige? Isn't she your comrade?」

「Hmph. That woman and I have the same interests―there was a delay in the project due to an unexpected obstacle, but that has been resolved as well.」

「In other words―you've got a certain amount of ground to make up regarding the "vessel". And...」

「Heh heh heh heh! Did I talk a little too much? Still, you have no chance of winning in this land. I thank you for all the times you have given me a hard time... and you will taste it!」

「Kuhh!」

　She roared at the formidable foe who stood in her way under overwhelming odds.

　◇◆◇◆

　Nemu guided us through the dense "Great Sea of Trees," but

「S-Say, Yuuto. Haven't you been having a "ba~d feeling" since a while ago?」

　Osada-kun said so while hugging my left leg.

「Well, that's a strange coincidence, isn't it? I've got a "ba~d feeling" about this, too.」

　After I had obtained "Nemu's Blessing," I was able to sense the presence and drifting force around me far more clearly than before.

　That is why―I understand.

　This place is not normal. In fact

「GURUOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!!!」

　Suddenly appearing from the bushes was a dog with jet-black body hair that I had never seen before. But

「What-What the hell is this guy!? It's big and has fangs like a saber-toothed tiger!」

　I immediately returned fire, but it was a different dimension from the demonic beasts I had encountered in the past!

　Its movement, its speed, and its strength――Everything from ferociousness to whatnot is over the top.

「Da-Damn it!」

　The situation is bad, and if we don't do something, we'll be killed for sure!

「Come! [Water Spear]!!」

　I thrust out my free left hand and generate the image that comes into my head as a word.

　Instantly, a spear of water spun out swelled, and faced the demonic beast―

「!?」

　It was dodged at the last minute and came at me, trying to bite my defenseless throat, but...

「GYAVUUU!!!」

　I pierced its head with a water spear bent into a U-shape, and it died with a spray of blood.

「Haah――Haah――Haah――T-This is too dangerous, this guy!」

　I was saved by the fact that only one of them appeared. What's more,

「T-This guy is a ...... "Gravehound" isn't it!?」

　Osada-kun shouted loudly.

「In this world―It is a demonic beast that inhabits the Great Demon Realm of "Negelgord", located in the center of Elfaria! It's named so because its fangs resemble a weapon Glaive, but it's a monster that can kill a whole country's military platoon by itself!」

「Are you for real?」

　I can't believe that such a demonic beast has come out――

『But fortunately, it doesn't seem to be able to get out of this neighborhood―I suppose it's because of the disturbance in the spiritual veins』

　Nemu said, and I agreed.

　After that, we continued to exercise maximum vigilance and were occasionally attacked by substandard demonic beasts――"Lionhead," a six-legged lion with wings, and "Skeletal Knights. The "Medusa Ball," which had countless snakes around its one eye, and others attacked us, forcing us to fight at all costs at all times.

(Ggh. Goddamn it.......!)

　It was true that they were all strong opponents who could not let our guard down, but thanks to Nemu's blessing, we were barely able to fight more than evenly. However,

(My weapon is――my weapon is too weak!)

　The iron halberd in my hand is obviously too weak.

　At the moment, I am forcibly increasing its durability by covering it with force, but I can feel it screaming in my hand due to excessive overuse.

　After that, Nemu guided us through the forest――and we arrived at

「It's just like an "Ancient Temple", isn't it?」

　I was gawking at the structure that seemed to have been carved out of a rock wall in the forest, but...

「It looked like the ruins in Karguri, didn't it?」

　Osada-kun expressed his thoughts, and I felt the same way.

「But the quality of the force that I feel is ...... several times worse, this one.」

　Honestly, I was so terrified that my body was shaking. But

「......Nemu」

　I told her my name, and that was enough for her to realize my intentions.

　On the spot, she transformed into countless droplets of water and went straight into the interior of the ruins.

「Reconnaissance? How convenient!♪」

　Osada-kun was right, and it was also an excellent ability to switch between images in my mind and grasp multiple things at the same time.

(It's vast inside――but the structure doesn't seem that complicated.)

　Maybe it's close to the "chapel"――that's when I thought.

「!? Yu-Yuuto. What happened!」

　Osada-kun said, but this was no time to worry about that.

　Having seen this unbelievable scene, I forgot about the danger of traps and surprise attacks, and went inside with all my might――

「Gyoeeeee!! I-It's disgustiiiiinngggg!!!!!!」

　The moment we entered the depths, Osada-kun exclaimed.

　――It is obvious.

「...... Ugehh. It's like I've wandered into the body of a living creature!」

　The floor, walls, and pillars ...... were all turned into strange writhing pink guts, and from the ceiling we could see what looked like tubes hanging down, twisting like ivy.

　However, it was not the disgusting sight itself that shocked me the most.

「Aaahhh!!」

　Osada-kun didn't seem to notice it right away, but it was in the center of a more secluded area. Was it an altar or something?

　There, Jean was entangled in countless tentacles, hanging in midair with her legs spread in an M-shape, being tortured between her mouth and crotch.

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