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Episode 91
Inferiority complex (7)
“… … .”
[… … .]
Philip has shed his human form.
Dozens of tentacles writhing like an octopus. A single, slimy body. And a dark red magic flowing from around his body.
Riley frowned at the sight of that disgusting sight and asked me a question.
‘That’s… … ?’
[Black magician.]
Warlock.
A wizard who fell for the temptation of the evil god.
Unlike regular wizards who use mana to emit magical power, these guys use magic energy to manipulate magical power.
Warlocks are much more powerful than before the fall.
But in return, it was difficult to maintain one’s sanity during battle.
-Ugh, ugh… … !
This was a fact that could be known just by looking at Philip’s appearance right now.
Isn’t that guy in the form of a tentacle monster?
A person like that can never maintain human reason.
Of course, once this battle is over, Philip will return to his human form… … .
‘… … But still, I don’t want to become strong enough to become a tentacle monster like that.’
[huh.]
In this way, black magicians would make contracts with evil gods, losing their humanity in exchange for great power.
Since the source of their power is evil itself, they were also targets for punishment designated by the empire.
-Grumble, gurgle… … .
By the way, how did that guy Philip suddenly turn into a warlock?
Warlocks were the lowest of the evil worshippers.
As such, they had little connection with evil spirits. They were also the weakest among the evil spirit worshippers.
But even if he was a low-level warlock, it didn’t make sense for him to suddenly become corrupt like this.
After a moment of thought, I was able to guess the reason.
[… … It seems he had the seeds of a black magician in him from the beginning.]
Evil energy comes from negative emotions.
I don’t know the exact details, but it’s clear that Philip has been harboring dark feelings in his heart for some time.
Then, due to some incident, the emotions that had been suppressed for a long time burst out. The evil spirit must have taken advantage of that gap to flirt with Philip.
[I think the seed of evil has blossomed because of you, Riley.]
‘… …Because of me?’
[huh.]
I continued speaking.
[Wizards with low self-esteem like Philip tend to feel inferiority complex easily. I think Philip’s inferiority complex has gotten worse because you keep showing off your genius side.]
‘What is that… … .’
Riley looked utterly incomprehensible.
Well, how could someone like him know what it feels like to be inferior? Of course, he’s never felt it before.
‘So are you saying that Mr. Philip became corrupt because of me?’
[No, that’s not it.]
Didn’t I say that before?
There must have been evil energy accumulating in Philip’s heart for a long time.
Even if it weren’t for Riley, Phillip would have fallen to the dark side at some point. Riley just helped bring that point forward.
Well, that’s actually good.
We had the opportunity to kill Philip as soon as he turned into a warlock.
There were only two casualties.
Just Hancock and Marco.
If Philip’s fall had taken place in a crowded place.
And if there hadn’t been anyone in that space with the power to stop Philip…
At that time, an even more horrific massacre may have unfolded.
There would have been dozens or even hundreds of victims, let alone two.
Because the warlock who just became corrupted has no reason to remain sane and is just launching reckless attacks.
as soon as.
Just like now.
Wheaaa …
Dozens of tentacles rushed toward us.
A speed so fast that it cannot be followed with the eyes.
But no one in the group seemed flustered.
Because all of those who survived were experienced.
Sreung─!
Ermin, holding his greatsword, immediately charged forward. As he swung his sword, the tentacles were cut down one by one.
A gap appeared in Philip’s attack.
Taking advantage of the gap, the hairy captain ran towards Philip’s main body with an axe in hand.
“Whoaaaa!”
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Although he was a large man, he was very fast.
It looks like a wild boar is charging its prey.
Bang──!
But as soon as the hairy captain’s axe touched Philip’s body, Philip’s body hardened.
The axe flew out of the foreman’s hand, sending up red sparks.
“……shit!”
The captain lost his weapon in an instant.
Gulp─!
Immediately, the newly created tentacles began to fly towards him terrifyingly.
If we leave it like this, we’ll die without a fight.
I quickly called Riley’s name.
[Riley.]
‘……yes.’
Wooooowow─!
Her actions were quick.
Quickly and accurately.
Several “magic missiles” were created in an instant and flew towards the tips of Philip’s tentacles.
Pavababak─!
Philip’s tentacles, which were directly hit by the attack, were rendered incapacitated.
The tentacle that was flying towards the furry leader also lost speed and fell to the ground.
“Sir, behind me.”
“……okay!”
Ermin, who had already walked up to the captain, switched places with him.
While Ermin was wasting time by dealing with the tentacles, the captain picked up the axe that had been thrown on the floor.
“Ermyn! That’s it! I picked up the axe! Now get back!”
“Okay… … .”
Woof, woofwoofwoof─!
“… … ?”
But right then.
From somewhere, an ominous aura of magic began to be felt.
Whaaaa …
“this……!”
An ominous magical power began to gather between Philip’s wide-open mouth.
Ermin quickly lowered his posture.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwa─!
The very next moment, a terrifying beam of magical energy passed through where Ermin had originally been.
I sighed for a moment at the thought that I had avoided the attack.
The crimson beam of light expanded, then began to scatter in all directions in a chain of explosions.
Pubbububububu!
Magic cannons that are reminiscent of bullet hell games.
When the hairy captain saw that sight, he frowned and hid behind a huge rock nearby.
“Ugh… … !”
The rock that blocked dozens of magic cannon shots was quickly reduced to dust.
“Damn it! I’ll just do one! Is that guy a tentacle monster or a wizard?”
Philip, who had fallen into the trap of becoming a warlock, was quite a difficult enemy.
Tentacles flying from all directions.
There are even irregular magic spells spewed out from its mouth.
If you focus only on the flow of magical power to evade the magic spell, you will be caught in the tentacles’ attack in an instant.
But if you focus on avoiding the tentacles… … .
In the blink of an eye, you find yourself caught in a barrage of hundreds of magic cannon shots flying in at a time.
Kwakwakwakwa─!
Pervert─!
“Oh, shit… … !”
Dilemma.
Between two choices, there is no right answer, no matter which choice you make.
Ermin and Captain Furbo were looking extremely embarrassed because of the damned tricky combat environment.
“Phew… … .”
But Riley was different.
Because we’ve already faced enemies like the fallen Philip.
One of Lich’s inventions that shoots magic from its mouth, but also makes physical attacks with its heavy body.
‘… … The fighting style is similar to that of a chimera that uses magic.’
[huh.]
The fallen Philip displayed similar traits to the chimera.
Oh, of course.
Things are very different now than they were then.
When dealing with Chimera, Magic Missiles were enough to damage its main body, but… … .
Wheeeeeeeek─!
Thud─!
‘It doesn’t move at all.’
… … Now, Philip’s body was extremely hard.
Not only was his physical defense weak, but his magic resistance was so strong that he deflected all of the magic missiles Riley fired at him.
A more powerful magic was needed.
A magic with just zero attributes could never harm Philip.
‘If only I could use a single “Lightning Series” here… … .’
Riley had the perfect weapon for the situation.
A new single-use device invented a few weeks ago in Richie’s Cave.
That magical name is… … .
‘This is Riley Ryu Rapid Mega Shooting Star Electric Bolt.’
[… … Yeah, that.]
Anyway, if we use that single weapon, we can easily hit Philip’s main body.
That technique, if nothing else, was incredibly excellent in terms of penetration power.
but.
We couldn’t use this magic rashly.
because…….
4. And above all, never let anyone know that you are a wizard belonging to the Irantes Tower while performing your mission.
The moment you use “Lightning Series” magic here and now.
Because our “Appointment Quest” will end in failure.
Riley’s use of the “Lightning Series” is tantamount to revealing to Ermin that she is a magician belonging to the Irantes.
Rumors about Riley spread beyond the magical community, throughout the entire .
It was only natural that a genius who surpassed the great magician Martha Pargerich had appeared, and that she would become the talk of the town. Ermin, the battle priest of the Great Temple, must have heard this news as well.
A minor magician who has completed attribute flowering.
Even though we have different genders, appearances, and names… … .
Ermin, who witnessed this, will definitely begin to suspect Riley’s identity.
Woof, woof─!
Riley still had the crystal ball Isabella had given her in her arms.
Through this crystal ball, the Irantes Tower monitors Riley’s every move while she’s on a mission.
So the moment Riley used any “lightning” magic here, it was clear that our “Assignment Quest” would be considered a failure.
‘What should I do?’
Riley asked a question.
You can’t harm Philip without using lightning magic.
However, if you use lightning magic, the “Appointment Quest” will be in vain.
If the appointment quest fails, Riley will not become a full-time member of the Tower.
Naturally, I will not be able to attend the round table conference held in Wilhelm.
This means that the ‘big picture’ we had established will be disrupted.
therefore…….
[There are two ways.]
We were given only two options.
[The first one is to abandon the Furry Captain and Ermin and just run away.]
‘……yes?’
[I’m being literal. Since we’ve already secured the runestone, let’s just run away.]
Right now, Riley is just supporting from the rear.
All I do is intercept the flying tentacles with “Magic Missiles” and dispel the magic coming out of Philip’s mouth.
Anyway, Philip’s attacks were focused on the furry captain and Ermin who were standing in the battle line.
Running away in this situation wasn’t particularly difficult.
‘Are you saying we should use Ermin and the captain as bait?’
[huh.]
To be honest, this was also the most reasonable way.
Ermin and Captain Furbo are people I first met during this mission. They are also people I won’t be seeing again once the mission is over anyway.
Their deaths wouldn’t be a problem for us.
“… … .”
but.
Was Riley a wizard who treated human lives like tools?
[Well, if you don’t like that, we have a second option.]
‘I’ll do that.’
[You haven’t even explained how to do that yet?]
‘But if you choose that second method, Ermin and the captain can survive, right?’
[… … .]
‘Then that’s enough.’
I gave Riley a warning in response to her answer, which was without a moment’s hesitation.
[The second plan is extremely difficult. It’s the closest thing to impossible we’ve ever done.]
“… … .”
[Riley, you could die instead of saving Captain Furbo and Ermin.]
‘Your Majesty.’
Riley cut me off like a knife.
‘When have I ever said that I would stop doing something dangerous because of something like that?’
[… … .]
I answered.
[None.]
Riley nodded.
She said, her voice full of determination.
‘Then please tell me the second plan quickly.’
