Chapter 87

"Whoosh..."

Lamia raised both hands and began to gather magic.

Oh, she’s going to use magic. That spell formation is the mid-level wind magic, 'Gale Fang.'

Lamia's right hand glowed ominously, and countless blades of wind were released.

—But they vanished upon hitting the magic barrier I had automatically deployed.

"Haahh!"

Seizing the opportunity, Silfa approached.

However, the sword she swung was deflected in mid-air and didn’t reach Lamia.

It seems she also has a magic barrier.

To be able to cast a barrier to defend against Silfa’s mid-level magic and sword strikes, this one is quite strong.

"—'Crushing Fist'!"

"Right there—!"

Tao’s strike, infused with 'Qi,' and Ren’s attack from a blind spot were also blocked by the magic barrier.

Hmm, it’s tough. It doesn’t seem like we can defeat her with just the three of us.

"That Lamia has a considerable amount of magic power. And she can even use magic..."

"Indeed, as Master Lloyd predicted, she must be a creature synthesized through a suspicious experiment, right?"

"Maybe. If so... I’d like to capture her."

Even from a distance, it’s clear that Lamia’s body is connected by complex spell formations.

How was she synthesized, and how does she differ from other creatures? What role does her magic play... Yeah, I’d like to examine her thoroughly.

But to break through this magic barrier, a fairly advanced attack magic is needed.

Of course, I can handle it, but such a powerful attack magic would be flashy.

While spells like barriers or holy magic might be less noticeable, using them would reveal my true magical prowess to Silfa and the others.

I want to avoid that. In such a case...

"—Ren, I want to capture her. Can you stop her movement with poison?"

"! Leave it to me."

Ren, understanding my intention, nodded and ran, blending into the darkness.

Ren alone can’t break through Lamia’s magic barrier, but with my help, it’s a different story.

The spatial magic 'Shadow Link.'

This magic connects shadows with a magic path, allowing for short-distance spatial jumps.

Combined with Ren’s assassin’s agility, it enables high-speed movement.

Lamia tried to counter with a magic barrier, but it was too late.

With a sickening purple dagger, Ren embedded it into Lamia’s back.

"Gy—!?"

"Relax, it’s a sleeping poison."

As Lamia collapsed, Ren muttered.

Stealthily approaching, Ren placed a hand over her mouth to check her breathing.

...Yeah, she’s still breathing.

It seems the poison only contained the sleeping component.

Ren’s poison generation ability is steadily improving.

"That move was great, Ren."

"Thank you, Silfa. But it’s thanks to Lloyd’s magic."

Hey, I told you to keep it a secret. What do you think I was trying to do by supporting you?

"Indeed, it was Master Lloyd’s doing. In such a confined space, using attack magic is dangerous. He immediately judged that and switched to support. Excellent situational judgment."

She’s muttering something, but it seems Silfa isn’t too concerned, so it’s fine.

In any case, this place is a treasure trove of research materials.

I want to investigate it alone, but the others are in the way.

"Alright, we’re done here. Let’s go back quickly."

"Of course, that’s what I intended... Master Lloyd, why are you in such a hurry?"

When I urged everyone to leave quickly, Silfa tilted her head in confusion.

Uh, sharp.

"No, I’m not in a hurry. We need to get Iesha back and reassure her, right?"

"Hmm, that’s true. We shouldn’t linger in such a creepy place."

"Exactly!"

Phew, it seems I managed to fool them.

If they’re here, I can’t thoroughly investigate the laboratory.

"Then I’ll set the place on fire. Such a dangerous place can’t be left alone."

As everyone was being led outside, Tao placed a torch at the entrance.

Hey, what’s Tao doing?

"Yes, that’s right. There’s also something to burn here. ...Heave."

And Silfa, who had somehow brought documents, scattered them.

"Ah—"

Before I could stop her, the fire quickly spread to the documents and other items, burning fiercely.

Damn, but if I try to extinguish it now, I’ll be suspected.

...Damn it, there’s no choice.

I turned my back on the laboratory and started walking.

"...Yeah, evil has been destroyed. Let’s go back."

"Master Lloyd, you’ve been acting strange... Is something wrong?"

"N-nothing! Don’t worry about it! We need to reassure Saria, right?"

"Hmm, that’s true, but..."

Silfa looked at me with a suspicious gaze.

In any case, we returned to the castle with Iesha.

◇◇◇

"Iesha!"

Back at the castle, Saria, who had been waiting, rushed over.

She took Iesha’s hand with a worried look.

"She’s fine. She’s just unconscious."

"...That’s good."

"She’ll wake up by tonight. Then we can talk to her. We might get a clue about the culprit."

As we laid Iesha on the bed, she started mumbling in her sleep.

"Mm, I can’t eat anymore..."

"...You really... cause so much worry..."

Saria pinched Iesha’s cheek gently as she slept soundly.

She must have been very relieved. Her usual cool demeanor was gone.

Seeing this, Silfa and the others exchanged amused glances.

◇◇◇

"Well, I hope she’s safe..."

At night, I secretly left the castle and went to the laboratory in the sewers.

After walking a while from the burned entrance, the inside was intact.

Good, the barrier worked.

Just in case, I had set up a barrier inside the laboratory to prevent it from being burned.

I hurried everyone back to avoid revealing this.

Yeah, the inside is fine. Phew, I can gather information now.

As I was about to enter and search, a voice startled me.

"Um..."

It was Lamia, whom I had knocked out earlier.

Just before casting the spell, I noticed Lamia’s dazed expression and hesitated.

"Aaah! P-please don’t kill me!"

Lamia crouched, hugging her head.

I lowered my hand. She seems different from earlier.

"What’s with this one? She’s quite different from earlier."

"Hmm, it seems she regained her senses after being defeated by Master Lloyd. She has a rather cute face, though not to the extent of being recommended."

Grimo and Jiriel seemed to have the same thought.

She seems to understand, so I’ll ask her.

"Um, do you have human consciousness?"

"Y-yes! But I don’t remember my name or anything... I just woke up here with this body. I don’t know what’s going on... ugh..."

Lamia started crying.

"It seems she was originally human. She has the scent of a human woman."

"Synthesizing a human and a creature... It’s a sin against the gods. Unforgivable!"

I see, they’ve been using ghouls to capture people from the town and adventurers for experiments.

They probably brainwashed her, but it was incomplete, so it broke during the battle.

"Anyway, I’ll call you Lamia. Do you have any idea who captured you?"

"No, I don’t remember... Ah! But I found this!"

Lamia pulled out a rosary from her pocket.

"This... Is it from a church person? It must be the mastermind behind this!"

"Maybe, but it could also be a trap to make it look like a church person. Hasty conclusions are dangerous, Master Lloyd."

In any case, it’s a clue.

I took the rosary from Lamia and put it in my pocket.

"So, what should I do... With this body, I’ll be considered a creature... ugh..."

Lamia asked me, looking very nervous.

She seems quite timid. Can she even be an adventurer like this?

But for us, it’s convenient to have someone who’s easy to work with.

"Yeah, with that body, you can’t return to the town."

"S-so, I have to live as a creature...?"

"—No, that’s not the case."

Hearing my words, Lamia’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Lamia, you’re lucky. I know someone who’s similar to you. I’m thinking of having you taken care of by him. If you’re okay with it, how about it?"

"R-really!? Please, I’d be grateful!"

"Sure, leave it to me. Let’s go then."

With that, I activated the spatial teleportation magic.

After a unique floating sensation, the view opened up.

The place was, of course, the Lord Roadst’s manor.