Episode 48 Quest: Obsidian to Rose III
「I was captured by 『Lyanancy』 and taken to a Western-style house in the depth of the Rose Garden. It was a more luxurious Western-style house than the Adventurers' Guild in the East End. It was as big as the Count of Ezerland's residence and a few steps more sophisticated than that one. It was a beautiful blue and white building. I didn't understand what was going on at first, but I finally realized my position when 『Lyanancy』 took me into the bedroom and rolled me onto the canopy bed.」
Robert let out a sigh as he said this.
「You're saying you crossed the lines with a monster?」
「I had no choice. If I disobeyed her, she would kill me. I was ......afraid of dying. Esther, forgive me. I was the...... worst man.」
「Dad......」
「So what happened after that? Did you run away after being raped by "Lyanancy"?」
Robert's mouth tightened as Serena urged him on.
After a beat, he shook his head.
「During the act, I was filled with hatred and anger toward her. She killed all my friends and trampled on my dignity as a warrior. That's given........but when she smiled at me on the bed, with her cheeks stained, I gradually lost all hostility toward her.」
「In other words, you were physically entrapped with her?」
「It's not like that. She was a good woman, that's for sure. I'm sorry, Esther, for the obscenity of the subject.」
「D-don't mind me. Go on, then. What happened to Dad? No way, I'm ......」
「............. She was a good woman, sure. But it was her circumstances that got my heart twisted. She said to me. "Thank you for your lovely letter. It made my heart ache when you said that you want to take me away and travel with you on horseback to the end of the world, where there is no one"」
Robert looked up at Kian.
「It seems that the "Master" had tied her to the "Rose Labyrinth". I don't know how you can bind the powerful magic power of "Lyanancy" with a magic contract, but ...... anyway, she was destined to wait for the "Master" who would never come back and take care of the Rose Garden for all eternity. It was lonely, sad, and ...... it was cruel. When I visited her, she had been alone in the Rose Garden for more than a hundred years. The only people she talked to were the ghosts and the little birds that came to the Rose Garden, and she would listen to their stories and dream about the outside world」
Robert continues his story.
「She was a hateful fellow who killed all my friends, and she was a monster to be killed. But ......when I saw her with the looks of a beautiful maiden, and she happily wandered through my love letter. I was at a loss for what to do anymore. I ...... I lived with "Lyanancy" with no conclusion」
「You lived with a monster in a Western-style house!?」
「Yeah, I spent what seemed like three days in the outside world, but I was with her for what felt like three years. I ate the meals she cooked for me, she washed my body, and at "night" we slept naked in each other's arms. ...... It was a luxurious life. When we make love, we touch each other physically, but we enjoy words and games more than that, you know? 『Lyanancy』 had none of those things and she just wanted me. If she is lonely, she wants me, if she is sad, she wants me, if she wants to go outside, she has sex with me while listening to me talk about the outside. The love ...... was very animalistic. As a result, she conceived a baby, which was predictable from the beginning. You already know what I'm talking about, don't you? That baby is Esther」
「So that's why she had relatively more magic power than most people, huh」
Kian said as he looked at Esther.
「Esther looks just like her, but her body has inherited the characteristics of my ...... human traits. Esther is not animalistic like 『Lyanancy』. I had a gut feeling when I saw the baby Esther smiling brightly in my arms. ......After giving birth to Esther, "Lyanancy's" love for me did not diminish but deepened. She wanted me more and more strongly. I...... I began to accept her services during meals and when she washed me in the bath. When I couldn't get an erection, she would use every trick in the book to make me erect. What can I say, it was, well, a very nasty service that learned what I liked. I'm sorry Esther, that's a bit vulgar......You may envy me. In fact, I was beginning to think that I could just leave things as they were. As the years passed, my resentment over the murder of my friends wore off, and I began to really love "Lyanancy," who was appealing to me for love with all her might. But...」
Robert's eyes fell and tears streamed from his hollow eyes.
「But one day, while I was cleaning out the basement storage room of the Western-style house, I found a mirror. Somehow there were no mirrors in the Western-style house, but there were in the warehouse......And when I looked in the mirror after a long time, I saw a man with dark circles under his eyes and a face that looked like he was about to die.」
Robert rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand.
「I was terrified. Who the hell is this? Is this that Robert Pigfoot? Where is that youthful figure, so full of life? ...... I thought that. That's right, I had been sucked dry by 『Lyanancy』. She was devouring my life as well as my love. I had begun to think of her as a human being, but then I remembered that she was a monster in human skin」
「So that 『Lyanancy』 was the first time she made love to human prey.」(?)
Arueno looked at the bear man with pitying eyes.
「I bet she couldn't tell the difference between appetite and sexual desire. Even if she didn't intend to kill Robert, she almost killed him as a result.」
「Yeah. I thought I would be killed if I didn't escape. Even if I didn't die right away, I knew that if I lived in a Western-style house for another three years, I would end up a mummy like Rain Wraith. ......Awakened by the desire to kill, I found a dagger with magic power in the warehouse and hid it in my clothes. Then, ...... to that guy who was seeking me with an innocent smile as usual, I......」
Robert couldn't say a word until the end and finally spilled a large tear.
「I'm ...... I'm the worst. First, I forgot to avenge my friends, then, feeling that my life was precious, I killed a woman who liked me. "Why? Robert, Robert!" she was calling my name sadly over and over again. But I just stared at her like she was a monster and kept sticking the knife in until she was covered in blood and couldn't move. I was crazy. I just wanted to save myself......In the end, I had to defend myself, saying, "This guy was an evil spirit that I should have killed, and I did nothing wrong". I cut the hair off that dead woman, and I held Esther in my arms, I left the Western-style house and headed for the Adventurers' Guild. The guards caught me at the entrance to the East End and forced me to push my way through to the Guild.」
Robert took a trembling breath.
「I offered that woman's hair to my client and received a hefty reward. By that time, all I had left was my sweet Esther. Without Esther, I would have killed myself. But I decided to live for Esther's sake. I would start my life anew.....I quit my job as an adventurer and started running a tavern with the money I had earned up to that point. I thought I would forget about 『Lyanancy』 and live a quiet life with my lovely daughter.......But every once in a while, in my dreams, she would talk to me bitterly. Why did you kill me? That went away after about six months」
Robert moved his eyes to Esther.
「I lost my memory of her,......, and I spent the rest of my days enjoying the tavern, the food, and Esther's growth. It was peaceful. But...... the other day, I met her again in a dream. This time instead of saying, "Why did you kill me?", she said, "Give her back to me"」
Robert got up from the bed.
The floorboards in the room shook with a creak.
He picked up a sturdy axe hanging on the wall of the room.
「That guy's back from the dead. And she's looking for Esther. ...... I don't care what happens to me. I deserved that. But if ...... she wants to take Esther away from me, I'll face her bravely. I'm a fucking bastard, but I'm going to be a fucking bastard to the end.」
「......I see, I understand the story very well.」
Kian nodded.
「I'm sorry it took so long. That's why, Kian. I'm going to ask you to take her down. If you can't do it, I know you won't believe me, but I'll have to go to Lynn of the Order of the Lion and ask him for a favor.」
「...... Didn't "The Order of the Lion" go on an expedition to the west last month?」
「Then you're the only one I can count on. With you defeating Griffin one-on-one and ...... with the "Magician of Thorns", you can surely subdue "Lyanancy"!」
「Um, may I have a word?」
Esther, who had been listening silently, raises her hand.
Arueno gently said, "Go ahead," and she opened her mouth while looking around at everyone in the room.
「I understand what Dad said. But ......, my mother ― 『Lyanancy』 ― is a powerful monster, isn't she? You don't have to go all the way to subdue her, the 『Rose Labyrinth』 is located about 80 kilometers away from this city. Can't we just leave her alone now?」
「Kian-kun and Serena-san may not agree, but that's one way to go. If I make a talisman and put a ward around it, it might be all right. But...」
Arueno's face turned difficult.
「But it's still dangerous. Robert-kun, you've already had the dream, right? Which means you've already been subjected to mental interference.....It's the same with the "Art of the Spirit Absorption," but the trouble with vampire magic is that once a connection is made, you are subject to constant mental interference. "Do not invite them into your home"―this is the general rule when confronting vampires. Even if I set up a ward, if Robert-kun's mental contamination progresses, 『Lyanancy』 may take control and break the wards from the inside. Robert-kun, you wouldn't want to deliver your daughter to the "Rose Labyrinth" with your own hands, would you?」
「Am I too late?」
「You seem normal now. But if you continue to dream, the contamination will surely deepen. Theoretically, the contamination could be stopped if we could find all the 『Lyanancy』 factors in your body and purify them one by one, but that's practically impossible.」
「I had sex with her many times. I'm sure I have a lot of her factor in my body. ...... Esther, did you hear that? We have no choice but to fight. You wait here. I'm going to go settle things with Kian and his party!」
「Wait, Robert-kun. If we're going to defeat 『Lyanancy』, we're going to have to take Esther-san with us.」
「Wh-What did you say!?」
Robert peels his eyes away.
Beside him, Kian opened his mouth.
「So you are saying that in order to destroy the rain ward, you need Esther's body?」
「Indeed. From what I've heard, what 『Lyanancy』 is craving is to see Esther-san. I'm sure she was in despair after her loved one killed her and even took her daughter. The strong curse attracted rain, which became a ward to strengthen the ghosts and herself. That's how she survived her near-death experience.」
「Y-you can't! There is no way I could take Esther to the 『Rose Labyrinth』 and do such a dangerous thing!」
Robert spat and shouted.
Arueno puts her hand on her cheek.
「Hmmm, then do you want to put up some wards and dodge the issue? It doesn't sound like a very wise choice, though. ......」
「As someone who wants to complete the request, I want you to lend me Esther's power. Even If you refuse here, I'm going to think of another way to drag 『Lyanancy』 out of the 『Rose Labyrinth』, but...」
「Probably, I don't think we can kill that evil spirit if we don't stop the rain.」
Said Serena, shaking her head.
She gouged out the forehead of 『Lyanancy』 with a magic dagger, but 『Lyanancy』 escaped and is still alive.
For example――
Suppose you bought 20 slaves and slaughtered them like Funnelwing and the others near that labyrinth.
Serena said that even if they were able to lure 『Lyanancy』 out of the labyrinth, she would only be regenerated by escaping again along the way.
Arueno nodded.
「True. Robert-kun, you stabbed 『Lynancy』 to death, didn't you? But 『Lyanancy』 was alive and regenerating. Then ......, even if you go there now and lure 『Lyanancy』 out and cut her up in the same way, she will just be shut up in the depth of the labyrinth and regenerate again.」
「Arueno-san, is there any way to get rid of the rain ward without Esther?」
When Kian asked this, Arueno's face turned difficult.
「In other words, breaking the ward by force, you mean? Hmmm ......」
「Is it difficult?」
「Yes. ......」
Arueno nodded.
Robert scratched his head.
Kian looked at Serena.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
「Umm, I'm, coming.」
It was Esther herself who broke the delicate atmosphere.
She looked up at Kian with determined eyes.
「Esther! What are you saying!? It's dangerous! I won't allow it!」
「No, Dad. ...... I don't know anything about magic or warding, but the bottom line is that if I go to the 『Rose Labyrinth』, everything will be solved, right?」
「No, it won't! If you go there and break the wards 『Lyanancy』 will come out! You'll have to go straight into battle! She can kill people just by staring at them! It's too dangerous.」
「I'll put up a ward so you can resist the "Art of the Spirit Absorption".」
「 I and Serena will be responsible for the ghosts that come close to Esther. ...... Serena, is that okay with you?」
「Sure. That's the minimum requirement for asking for cooperation, no?」
「......! B-but, you know...」
Robert groaned and scratched his head again.
Esther looked at Arueno.
「Even if you put up a talisman and wards,......, my Dad will be controlled by 『Lyanancy』 someday, won't he?」
「Yes, that's right. As long as 『Lyanancy』 continues her mental pollution, one day Robert-kun will fall under her control and take you with him to the 『Rose Labyrinth』. Before that happens, we have no choice but to kill 『Lyanancy』 in another way.」
「Then again, the only way to save both my Dad and me is to go to the 『Rose Labyrinth』 from our side.」
Esther said as she turned to Robert.
「Right ......, but... If it is Kian, he can find a way to break the rain barrier without you.」
『Kufufu, Kian, I already told you. Whenever you feel like pouring your magic power into me, do it.』
(――――)
Glasses says so, but it is too disturbing to think about.
Kian was not ready to give her his magic power.
「Kian-san, will you definitely protect me and my Dad?」
Esther said this and turned her strong gaze on Kian.
He nodded his head without hesitation.
「Of course I will.」
「Then――I entrust my life to you, Kian-san! Kian-san is an amazing person who rescued my Dad from Griffin, after all!」
It was amazing to Kian that she could trust someone with that much, but at the same time, he thought it must be a strong point of this girl, Esther.
Trust.
Belief.
It's a double-edged sword, but if you're lucky, you can bring in a powerful ally unconditionally.
Since Esther is a young girl, it is a method that works very well for an Old man who has difficulty finding a woman.
(Well, whatever it was, if she trusted me, I'd just do my best to respond to her trust)
「If Esther says that much,......, I guess I'll just have to make up my mind too. But Kian, "Thorny," you guys, if anything happens to Esther, I'll never forgive you.」
「There is no such thing as failure for me. I'll protect you all as brilliantly as I did on the Griffin incident.」
「Like I said before, I wish you wouldn't call me by that name. ...... Forget it. Esther-san, Robert-kun, as long as I'm around, you'll never be in trouble. However, you will follow my instructions to the letter. If you do anything on your own, we won't be able to cover you.」
「Esther, you understand? I'll watch over you, but I can't protect you if you move around on your own. You will only need the help of a High Elf magician over here when you need it.」
「Geez, I know, I'm not a child anymore. ......」
Esther says this while glancing at Kian.
She seems to be concerned about their reaction.
Kian dared to ignore her, looked around at the people there, and opened his mouth.
「All right, we've decided on a plan. Arueno-san, when would be a good time?」
「If we're going to do the ritual, the night would be good. In the daytime, the clouds over the labyrinth will be too thick to block the sunlight.」
「Well, I guess we're off now.」
Robert said and pulled out his leather armor from under the bed.
「Esther, go get changed. You need to put it on the chainmail I gave you before. It won't do you any good against the ghosts, but it will at least make you feel better. ......I'm going to change now too. Wait for me outside the store.」
Kian and the others nodded and left Robert's bedroom.
As he closed the door, he gave himself a pat on the cheek as if to get into the mood.
× x x x
After getting ready and closing the "Pig's Foot Pavilion" -.
The group, including the Pig's Foot father and daughter, transitioned from the alleyway to the outside of the East End moat.
「Wow, this is what it's like outside the city at night」
Esther, who had never been outside the city at night in her entire life, said this as she looked toward the unmanned training grounds.
In the distance, a white moon can be seen hovering above the trees in the "Eastern Forest".
Kian hugs her shoulder and bends down to avoid being noticed by the guards patrolling in front of the raised drawbridge.
「Ah, Ki-Kian-san♡」
「Shhh. ....... Arueno-san, we will continue to move east. When we reach the shade of the rocks over there, please transmute the golem.」
「Roger. But Esther-san is in trouble. I think you should keep a little more distance」
「Hey, Kian, I won't keep quiet if you mess with my daughter, no matter how much you want to. You understand that, don't you?」
「Yes, of course. ...... Sorry, Esther.」
Kian whispered low, right next to her ponytail.
Esther mumbles, "D-don't be,......" in a fading voice.
It's too dark for Robert to see, but her face is bright red.
She is staring at Kian with a completely female-in-love face.
Kian simply says, "It's all right, I'll protect you," and moves away from her.
Kian feels a bump on his back and turns to see a smiling Arueno bending over diagonally behind him.
(Looks like it was all in my imagination.)
『You're kidding, aren't you?』
The group quietly moved to the shade of a rock.
From there, they rode on the golem created by Arueno and headed for the 『Rose Labyrinth』.
It was about three hours later when they arrived at the labyrinth.
The group disembarked from the golem in the wilderness before the rain clouds thickened, and put on their rain gear.
Far beyond could be seen a towering wall of black roses.
The air was cold and smelled strongly of rain.
Adjusting the hood of her raincoat, Esther looked up at Arueno.
「Um, what should I do?」
「I'll perform a ritual to stop the rain in front of the Rose Labyrinth. I'm probably going to get a bit of your hair, so please be prepared for that.」
「O-Okay」
「Kian-kun, you guys will protect me and Esther during the ritual. If things get really dangerous, we'll stop the ritual and I'll join the line of fire. ...... but in that case, we'll have to start all over again.」
「Roger that. Serena, Robert-san, are you ready?」
「I'm ready.」
「I only have this axe as a weapon. I might be able to damage the real 『Lyanancy』, but not the ghosts she summons. I'll have to set it on fire to scare them off.」
「Do you get it? Not only Esther, but you are also someone I must protect. I need you to stay with Esther and protect her.」
「My bad, I'm counting on you. What, I'm good at wielding the torches. I'm also confident that I won't die if I come in contact with a few ghosts. I've always had a lot of life force, even when I was an adventurer, and I've played the role of a shield in the vanguard.」
「I'm not going to let the ghosts get close to Robert-san and the others. I will strike them all down.」
Serena said quietly as she pulled out a knife lent to her by Arueno.
It would have been tough if Kian was alone, but if she were there, they would only need half the number of ghosts to get rid of.
Kian felt inside that he was very lucky to have her as a companion.
Although he would never say it out loud.
「Let's go. I'll go ahead.」
Serena, with her white staff at the ready, runs off into the wilderness without a sound.
The other two followed her and began to run.
「―――」
「............」
「Haa, haa, haa」
「Esther, don't fall down. Kian, what about the fire? Can I light it now?」
「Yeah――Arueno-san」
Arueno pointed at the torch that Robert had taken out.
The torch was instantly lit and began to burn.
「Look.」
Serena, who was ahead of them, raised a sharp voice from the front.
She points the tip of her knife forward.
「It's Rain Wraith! Stay sharp!」
As she said, several green phosphorescent lights flared up in front of the wall of roses ahead, and ghosts clad in white rags were about to crawl out of the darkness as if seeping out of it.
Rain was beginning to fall overhead, hitting the hoods of the group's rain gear hard.
Kian raised his voice.
「Esther, Robert-san, step back! Serena! We'll get rid of the Rain Wraiths! Don't let them get near us until the ritual to stop the rain is over!」
Author Note:
About "Ghost Contact" and "The Art of Spirit Absorption"
Both acts take life force, but there is a difference.
The "Ghost Contact" sucks only a small amount of life force and takes a limited amount of life force from the place it comes in contact with. It is not strictly speaking magic, but rather an act of physical predation.
The "Art of Spirit Absorption" sucks a large amount of magic power from the target. First, the user must connect the path of magic power with the target, then pour magic power with a mesmerizing effect into the target (the magic of mesmerizing), and by contaminating the mind, paralyze the target, making it difficult to resist once the path has been connected. Once the target is completely paralyzed, they cannot resist or escape, so they will be sucked in endlessly.
If it is an insubstantial ghost, if it sucks too much magic power, the magic power that maintains its own body will be too diluted to maintain its shape and it will collapse. If it is a 『Lyanancy』 or Kian or vampires with a physical body, as a rule, they can continue to suck endlessly until their opponent's magic power runs out. The magic power that can no longer be contained in the body will be cloaked around the body and will then dissipate and disappear spontaneously.
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