CH 172

Chapter 172

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : To The Swamp, Part 10 — Swamp Fiends

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

「S–So… what brings you to this swamp?」

「It was. Do you know the White Witch, Fairtuse? I think she’s quite an old lady.」

「O–Of course.」

「I want you to take me there. With my companion, of course.」

「V–Very well. You have horses… then w–we’ll take the boat out.」

The man signaled something, and several boats floated out of the swamp. He then turned the boats over to remove the mud and urged Miranda and the others to get on board.

「W–We’ll row you to Fairtuse’s.」

「Oh, that’s very thoughtful.」

「S–She told us that if we didn’t, that woman would come for us. S–She said she would kill us all and hang us from a tree if we ever broke our promise. The elders have long passed down from generation to generation that the rampage of that woman b–back then was more terrifying than any swamp fiend.」

「Well, then again…」

Miranda was a bit taken aback, but she couldn’t complain since it was because of that that she was saved like this now. But still, what kind of a rampage did Miliazar go on? Miranda would like to hear about it when she returns to Arnelia.

From there, the trip was a leisurely one. The swamp people rowed their boats by sticking sticks in the swamp, and the boats went smoothly as if they were going down a river. The boat was going fast enough to run a horse lightly. The boat was moving forward through the dense tree cover. Apparently there is a route that only they would understand.

How much time did they continue on their way? There is no time interval in the dimly lit swamp. They had already gone deep into the swamp, and they could frequently hear the eerie cries of some sort of magical beast or other. Even Euthy was not talking much.

「I–It’s so spooky～」

「I guess so. Lisa is a little intimidated. There are creatures everywhere, and some of them have been following us for a long time.」

「E–Ehh?」

「Well, it doesn’t look like they’re going to set us up, but at best they’re going to pick at our dead flesh when we’re hit by something.」

「Don’t say scary things…」

「（For that matter, how did Alfiris detect the presence of the swamp people before Lisa did earlier? Indeed, the mystery only gets deeper and deeper.）」

Lisa was more concerned with that question than with her surroundings. Blind by nature, the brightness and eeriness of her surroundings didn’t matter to Lisa. However, Lisa seemed somewhat unsettled, as if sensors were originally ineffective in the swamp. Seeing this, the swamp people spoke to her, as if they were trying to be Buddha-like.

「D–Don’t worry. Few creatures here, h–hardly anyone defies us. W–We’re the masters of the swamp.」

「I see. So that’s why there is almost no killing spirit in spite of so many living creatures around.」

「Y–Yes. But, t–there are exceptions. Those are… N–No…」

「?」

The swamp people suddenly begin to panic. At the same time, a fog suddenly began to roll in around them, quickly taking away their vision. There were five boats out. The boat was divided into two parts, with three boats for horses and Miranda and others. However, they couldn’t see each other’s boats at all due to the already thick fog. On the contrary, even Lisa, who is supposed to be next to Euthy, is barely visible.

「W–What was that?」

「? My Sensor suddenly stopped working…」

「L–Listen up, you girls. Whatever happens, don’t make a fuss. I–If you make a fuss, we’ll all die!」

「What is it!?」

「I–It’s the Serpent!」

After the man’s last words, the sound disappeared from the surroundings. The boat seemed to have pulled over the edge to the limit, and the voices of the swamp people went silent. The creatures that had been around for so long were now silent, and all living things seemed to have disappeared from the surroundings.

And soon, the boat began to rock regularly. The waves were making waves with this heavy mud. The waves gradually grew larger and then large enough to tip the boat. Lisa desperately held on to the boat, but at the same time caught Nia, who was on board with her, so as not to drop her. Then, a sign of an incredibly large creature approaches by their side.

「（What… it’s here!）」

The moment Lisa sensed the presence, the creature, which was about to pass by her, stopped. Lisa felt her heart beating fast, and sweat was breaking out all over her body. She found herself so nervous that it was hard to breathe, and her body was shaking and trembling. But it seemed to be the same for Nia and Euthy, and Lisa firmly felt a different kind of trembling from her own. That made her feel a little relieved that she wasn’t the only one who was frightened.

「（Isn’t this sign bigger than Phalanx? No, if it’s not… bigger than Lifeless? That’s absurd.）」

Just as Lisa was beginning to doubt her own abilities, the creature began to move again, and there was another wave, a big one, and then the wave subsided. And at the same time, the fog began to lift.

「W–We’re fine…」

With that voice from the swamp people, I heard everyone exhale loudly. None of them even felt alive. But only Alfiris’ face lit up as if she had seen something interesting.

「What was that, about now?」

「I couldn’t see it through the fog. But it seemed incredibly large…」

「I–It’s the Serpent.」

The swamp people leader, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

「Is that also a Swamp Fiend?」

「No, that thing only showed up in the last 200 years or so. B–Before that, that thing was never here. That’s when the number of creatures that don’t listen to us started growing in this l–land. That one is the worst of the bunch, but there are plenty of o–others.」

「I see. I guess I better get to Fairtuse’s as soon as possible.」

「Y–Yes. Still, y–you’re lucky to be safe after running into the Serpent.」

Then the swamp people started rowing again. In the midst of everyone’s relief, Alfiris mutters so that no one else can hear.

「Hmmm… It’s not just a swamp fiend. Interesting.」

But the words never reached anyone’s ears.

＊＊＊

At that time, Schutim was under attack by a horde of Archfiends. The beautiful trees were burned or rotted, fairies were running away, and there was already no sign of what it had been like a few hours earlier. Nevertheless, the damage to the fairies was kept to a minimum, as most of them had already escaped under the direction of Winthia.

However, Winthia was obliged to see the place through until all the fairies had escaped. She also wanted to see the village she had built to the end. And naturally, the Archfiends gradually surrounded Winthia, who was standing there, and the spirits hiding behind her. The reason they did not all attack Winthia at once was because Winthia was so intimidating.

Spirits are forbidden in principle from voluntarily engaging with others, but they may respond when asked, as can be seen by considering the example of how they helped Nia. The same is true with regard to aggressive attacks, they never attack spontaneously until they are so powerful that their own survival is at stake. Even if their family was killed in front of their eyes or their village was destroyed, it was an absolute rule.

Still, Winthia was intimidating the Archfiend with her angry gaze. If they try to harm her as well, that’s when she’ll show no mercy. Knowing this, the Archfiends were hesitant to interfere out of instinct.

The antagonistic situation was broken by a man’s voice.

「What are you doing…」

The Archfiends reacted to the voice and turned to see Lifeless standing there. Reflexively, one of the Archfiends jumped at him, but a huge armored knight beside him smashed his head with his bare hands.

「Doltmund, don’t pollute the Spirit Village.」

「I beg your pardon. I’m not to be trifled with by a being of such impolite manners.」

The knight in armor kneels down and takes the boy in a vassal’s bow. The overwhelming intimidation of the other Archfiends gave way without a second thought.

「Hmm, a higher spirit? Let me hear your name.」

「You are a very pompous person with a very pompous attitude. Do you think you are in a position to command spirits?」

「You don’t talk too much about me, do you? Do you really think that a mere ordinary Higher Spirit can beat me, let alone a Higher Spirit that has attained godhood? In fact, your disappearance will not affect my magic in the slightest. If you think that you are the object of worship for all magic, then you are full of hubris.」

「Kuh…!」

In a sense, Lifeless’ argument was justified. It would be an act of self-destruction for someone who exercises Spirit Magic, such as making a direct contract with Winthia, to do harm to Winthia, but Lifeless can exercise not only Spirit Magic, but also Logic Magic and even Dark Magic. Furthermore, since Winthia is not the only Higher Spirit of wind, the actual annihilation of a Higher Spirit will have little effect on the magic used. They don’t think any of them would think of such a big deal, as it is an emotional event for a normal human being to just talk to a higher spirit in person.

Winthia has also heard Lifeless’ story and expects the man in front of her to be the same. And from what she saw in person, it was clear that he wasn’t someone she could compete with, not very well. Even so, she couldn’t let the pride of a Spirit keep her from being in the good graces of a human.

「…」

「Silence, you feisty spirit.」

「Do you want me to make you throw up?」

「No, Doltmund. It’s not a good idea to make the spirit hate you. Besides, if all they want to do is escape, this spirit is always ready.」

Lifeless controls Dortmund, who is about to get up, with one hand and watches Winthia closely.

「Hmm, I like the way she looks, though.」

「…Don’t look at me like I’m dirty, you lowlife.」

「I didn’t mean it that way. I was simply complimenting you, so don’t be offended. Besides, I like more fragile women. I don’t like strong-willed girls like you.」

Lifeless laughed at her derisively, and Winthia almost lost her temper, but decided to stop herself and observe the boyish man in front of her a little longer.

After a few moments of staring at each other, a raven lands on Lifeless’ doorstep and crows.

「Hmm… Oh well, Alfiris has already entered the swamp.」

「How? In what way did you?」

「Apparently the swamp people cooperated. I don’t know how they did it. Apparently, even if we keep chasing them, we’ll never catch up with them. An unknown person would only get lost in the swamp, and it would be foolish to search for someone in a place like that. Unless we want to burn the swamp to the ground, we won’t be able to see if they’re alive or dead. I want to make sure Alfiris is choked to death with my own hands.」

「Then how would you do it?」

Lifeless often ruminates over Elrich’s question, and then answers slowly.

「…It will be from the north that they will come out anyway. But just in case they come back to where they came from, you, Elrich, stay in the south with half of the Arhcfiends. Doltmund will be ahead of me and the north. I’ll set up a defense line in the south and north with my familiars. She won’t escape.」

「Ridiculous. With how big the swamp is.」

Winthia couldn’t help but wonder if he could do such a thing, but Lifeless laughed it off.

「I doubt that.」

A large number of raven familiars sprang from the Lifeless’ body. Their numbers filled the sky above Schutim with blackness, and there were still more than enough to go around.

「Wha–… So many familiars at the same time…」

「I’m sorry, but my magical power is equivalent to that of 100,000 ordinary mages. If I wanted to, I could gather all the mages of the modern magic societies and they still wouldn’t be able to reach me.」

「That’s absurd! How could a human being be capable of such magic?」

「Of course I have studied, even to the point of vomiting blood. You weaklings can’t even imagine what I have been through. Anyone who works with magic knows that more magic is not necessarily better. It is useful, though, to have a lot of magic power.」

Then, as Lifeless shot light up into the air, the ravens took off in unison and the light shot out again. Winthia couldn’t hide her foreboding at the sight of the black feathers fluttering down.

「（Those kids against a guy like this… no wonder Aerial is worried.）」

「Well, what about you, Higher Spirit. This is a place full of atmospheric elements. Let me replenish my magic here for a moment. I’ve been using a lot of magic lately, and I’m only at about half of my total amount. I’m not going to take your wealth and eat it if I stay here.」

「No, we’ll leave you alone. We are already ready to depart.」

「Well, then you may do so. And you lot.」

When Lifeless looked at the Archfiends, they were frightened.

「How long are you going to stay here in your stupor? Scatter to the prairie quickly!」

At Lifeless’ exhortation, the Archfiends ran away as fast as they could. After witnessing this, Lifeless sat down on the spot and began to meditate. Doltmund sat there accordingly, and Erlich left with the half Archfiend they had brought with them.

Winthia watches the scene. Then she slowly leaves Schutim again herself.

「（Euthy, Aerial… please be safe. May we meet again and may the winds guide us.）」

Winthia left the place feeling as if she were praying, and yet feeling helpless because there was nothing she could do at this point.