496 – The Mist’s Guide

“It seems we’ve won. There were no problems on my end. It was just a matter of avoiding the [Clay Gun] and slicing up those monsters.”

Volk says as he shoulders the golden magiatite-jii sword. After walking around the mountain for a bit, we manage to link up with Aro and the rest without incident.

“Dragon-god-sama, please listen! Lecherta made a poison swamp and submerged them, and then I pinned them down!”

Aro says happily. S-She’s saying rather terrible things while smiling.

Aro worked together with the black lizard.

When the black lizard evolved into the Venom Goddess Lecherta, she acquired a skill called [Poison Swamp]. After checking it out, it seems to be a wide-range attack skill that replaces the ground with a poisonous bog… They probably used a combination of [Poison Swamp] and Aro’s [Rope of Regret] to drown the shub-niggurath’s kin via earthen arms.

It’s a strong combination, but it really must have looked like quite the gruesome spectacle. The black lizard is walking calmly, but I get a slight impression of pride from her.

…Was the treant and atlach-nacha combination alright? The atlach-nacha’s bearing seems to indicate that there were no problems, but in contrast, the treant seems somewhat dejected.

『A-are you okay, treant?』

『Master-dono… I did my best. To improve the efficiency of our movements even a little, I single-mindedly used [Decoy] to gather them in one spot.』

『I-is that so. You’ve done well…』

…That was likely the atlach-nacha’s idea. Despite having a stat distribution that would push it towards fighting as a tank, the enemies have always been far too strong for treant-san to fulfil that role up till now, but it seems treant-san has finally grown strong enough to draw heat in fights without immediately dying. Evolving to B+ has made a huge difference, and has even allowed treant-san to catch up to the strong monsters here.

Treant-san quickly moves behind me before glaring at the atlach-nacha and gesturing with a branch.

『Atlach-nacha-dono! Haven’t you pushed me around too much while I’ve had to be restrained without master-dono!』

Treant-san berates the atlach-nacha with an incredibly blunt accusation. While I’m around, you doesn’t have to be restrained… I see, is that so… Though you are technically her senior, you know…

The atlach-nacha folds her arms and glares back at treant-san from behind her mask. Treant-san quickly hides entirely behind me.

“That’s true, you worked hard.”

The atlach-nacha speaks dispassionately as though finding the exchange troublesome. Her voice is a slightly lower-pitched alto. To me, she sounds a little clearer than when she used Humanisation Technique as a nightmare. Compared to her human form from that time, how she is now as an atlach-nacha might actually be closer to a real human.

…Oi, she’s not taking you on, treant-san. Such a mature response that was.

『A- Atlach-nacha-dono has, actually praised me…?』

Treant-san softly sticks its head out from behind me. Hey aren’t you a little too easy, treant-san…? Are you really satisfied with that?

At any rate, we’re able to continue now.

I press on, pushing deeper and deeper into the mist. Ahead of us surely lies whatever the clay guardians and shub-niggurath were protecting. As the fog gradually thickens, our drive to keep pushing on also dampens.

『…Treant-san, not that way. Volk, too.』

『I-I’m grateful…』

“Mu- muu… perhaps the fog here is harsh on me. Irushia’s figure has appeared blurry to me for a while now, after all.”

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…Aro has her resistances, and the black lizard is sticking close to me, so they seem to be fine. At some point, the atlach-nacha stuck a thread on me and has been using that to follow me. You really do have the basics down, don’t you.

That said, your thread, doesn’t [Magic-Draining Sticky Thread of Darkness] leech away mana and health…? It didn’t sound like the type of skill to have an on-off switch. It’s only a miniscule amount, so it’s no problem to me but… It’s just… I’d rather you showed a bit more tact and asked my permission first…

『What should we do? Is it getting too difficult?』

“Don’t be ridiculous, as if I could give up halfway in such an interesting place.”

As expected from Volk, how strong.

“Atlach-nacha, please stick a thread to me and lead me.”

…Her thread sucks vitality and magic power you know, is that really alright? If she makes it thin, it might only drain a little, but… Her expression is as invisible as ever behind her mask, but from the atlach-nacha’s gestures, it looks like she’s now pulling Volk along.

With Aro by my side and the atlach-nacha following behind, we manage to push deeper into the mist.

As the fog grows ever thicker as we approach the peak, I spot the faint figure of a lone woman through the mist. Between her almond-shaped eyes and her kimono-like dress, she appears to be no more than a beautiful woman, but there’s no way a normal human would be in this sort of place.

【[Umukahime]:[1] A+ rank monster】
【A monster with enormous strength, capable of completely subsuming a vast area in an illusory mist.】
【It is able to take on the form of anything it sees, even so far as replicating the skills that it has seen the target use.】
【Because of this terrifying ability, and as its actual form is completely unknown, it is feared as a god or a calamity moreso than an individual monster.】
【A long time ago it was attached to a human man, but due to displeasure with him, it dispersed a maddening mist that covered the entire region and swallowed his village, causing all living things to stumble about without eating or drinking before eventually passing away without even feeling pain.】
【Its true form is that of a giant shellfish monster.】

A-another A+!?

“There is no need to be so on guard. I have no further hostile intentions towards you. I only wanted to test you. A successor of one of the Six Realm skills is among you, correct?”

Umukahime opens her mouth. S-Six Realm skills… In other words, she’s connected with the old demon lord as well? The shub-niggurath’s strange aggression might have been her way of testing me.

“And, I wonder if you might have the capacity to oppose God’s Voice?”

『O-oppose God’s Voice…? But isn’t God’s Voice watching over us even now?』

Is fighting God’s Voice possible? I can’t see how to even begin such an endeavor.

It’s true that as long as God’s Voice is left unchecked, I won’t ever be able to feel truly safe. However… I don’t know if God’s Voice is even something that can be fought in the first place.

“You’ve piqued my interest. It is fortunate that there are no zealots in your company. If there were any, I would have had no choice but to try and eat them, despite the fact that I am no match for you.”

Umukahime continues.

“Originally, my master was subordinate to God’s Voice, and worked to the bone in order to shape the world to the way it should be. However, after being snared in the malicious plot of God’s Voice, and lamenting being used as a convenient tool for the sake of God’s Voice’s selfish desires, my master made preparations here for the sake of defeating that entity. Yet, that too ended in meaningless failure. However… ahead of us, my master left behind a stone monument consolidating all knowledge regarding that entity. If you intend to receive the final test, then follow me.”

Umukahime heads even deeper into the mist. I glance at Aro and the others. Once they’ve all nodded in agreement, I proceed forward.

『The final test, could it be a battle with you?』

“Against the one who felled the well-prepared shub-niggurath, what could a battle with myself possibly test? No, it is not me.”

[1] – Likely based on the Umugihime, a clam that obtained divinity in Shinto mythology.

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