Chapter 11

"Until just one or two years ago, there was no such area," Londait said with a bitter tone as he led us to the location.

"Until then, this plain was vast, as its name suggests. Medicinal herbs could be freely gathered all over. But at some point, evil spirits began to wander in one area..."

At first, there were only a few sightings.

Since they were evil spirits, they would only briefly pass through the edge of one's vision or float up like shadows in the middle of the night, never showing a clear form. We were complacent and took no action. By the time we realized it was a serious problem, the evil spirits had already overrun the area.

"Because of this, more than half of the plain is now occupied by evil spirits...! You can't enter the area where they swarm. If you do, you'll be killed and become one of them!"

Noem, who was listening to this ghost story, clung to me in fear!

"Originally, the Collant Plain was the richest place for gathering medicinal herbs in this area, but thanks to this, the harvest has drastically decreased. Potions have become more expensive, and adventurers' earnings have decreased, causing the whole town to suffer."

"Can't you ask the church for help? Isn't exorcising evil spirits the job of the clergy?"

"Of course, we did. But even they couldn't do anything. They just set up a barrier to prevent the evil spirits from crossing to this side."

"Is that the boundary of the evil spirits' territory?"

"That's right."

Londait's expression darkened, as if he was recalling his frustration...

"...From now on, you newbies will see the boundary of the evil spirits' territory in person and firmly remember it. Make sure you don't wander into it by mistake."

"Y-Yes...!?"

"Also, take a look at the evil spirits. Once you see them, you'll never want to get close out of fear."

"I don't need to do that! I won't even think about getting close, even without seeing them!"

Noem was already so scared that she was crying.

While she clung to me, we walked through the plain for about an hour. At a certain point, the atmosphere began to change.

Although there was nothing unusual to see, the air that caressed our skin became strangely warm and sticky, as if something ominous was touching us.

"Londait, have we entered the evil spirits' territory?"

"No? The boundary should still be far ahead...!?"

However, Londait's tone was uncertain. He, too, had noticed the change in the atmosphere.

"Wait a moment."

Londait perked up his ears.

"What is it?"

"Be quiet. I'll take this opportunity to show you my skill."

The skill: Enhanced Hearing.

A skill that greatly enhances the ability to hear, allowing Londait to accurately pick up even whispers from a great distance.

"...I didn't expect that."

Londait has a strong build and a tough personality, so I thought she would have a direct combat skill.

"I often get that. But the number of times this ear has saved my life is countless. The crucial moment for an adventurer to survive or die is not how to overcome danger but how to avoid it."

For that, there is no better skill than Londait's Enhanced Hearing. She can hear the footsteps of creatures that might harm her from far away, and even the secret conversations of those who intend to attack her.

With the heightened awareness and caution of a herbivore, she has survived until today.

"...They're getting closer. A slimy, eerie sound... This is bad, they're closer than I thought."

I understand. Even without relying on Londait's skill, I could confirm it visually.

Indeed, they were there, those ominous beings.

They were semi-transparent and murky, like algae in water, ethereal and almost non-existent. Yet, within that ethereal illusion, I could clearly see human faces, each in agony. There were many of them.

A floating, algae-like illusion composed of countless human faces in agony. That was the evil spirit!?

"Aaaaaahh!"

Noem screamed in terror.

"Damn it! That's a Legion!"

Londait, who was trying to maintain a calm demeanor, couldn't hide her sweating.

"There are many types of evil spirits, but the worst of the worst is the Legion! It's a collection of multiple evil spirits, far stronger and larger than any single one! Run, everyone! Run!"

She took off like a rabbit.

"Why the hell are we encountering a Legion!? We're still on this side of the boundary! They're not supposed to be able to cross the barrier!"

Londait shouted, but it was unclear who she was addressing. Now that we had encountered them, there was nothing we could do. All protests and complaints would have to wait until we survived.

The evil spirits had already noticed our presence and were heading straight for us. As if trying to drag us into their ranks, they were coming towards us, reaching out as if begging for help.

Noem was screaming in a tearful voice.

"Londait! They're chasing us! The evil spirits are chasing us!"

"I can see that! Just run with all your might!"

"How far do we need to run!?"

"..."

"!? What...!?"

Why are you silent, Londait?

"Normally, crossing the barrier and leaving the evil spirits' territory would save us. The sanctified area, purified by the clergy, allows humans to enter but not evil spirits..."

"Then, if we enter the sanctified area...!"

"But, as I said before, we're still supposed to be in the sanctified area. The boundary should be further ahead, yet the evil spirits are already swarming here..."

"That means...!"

"Really, where do we need to run to...!?"

It means we don't even know if there is a safe zone.

Humans have a limit to their physical endurance, and we can't run at full speed for long. Noem, who was almost a novice, was already out of breath, and I had to carry her while running.

I still had plenty of stamina, and I could run hundreds of times faster if I wanted to, but even Londait, who was matching my speed, couldn't maintain a full sprint indefinitely.

"...Sorry, I was completely complacent..."

Londait said while running.

"I believed the clergy and let my guard down. Evil spirits are difficult to detect, but this makes my skill useless!"

Londait's Enhanced Hearing skill could detect even the silent footsteps of a predator, but evil spirits, being incorporeal, don't make any sound. The only way to detect them in advance is to concentrate and distinguish the strange, mixed sounds in the air.

"It's okay. The point is, if those things disappear, the danger will be gone, right?"

"Huh...?"

"Leave it to me. You carry Noem instead."

"Huh!?"

I handed Noem to her and turned around, heading towards the approaching evil spirits.

"Are you crazy! Do you intend to fight the evil spirits!? Physical attacks don't work on them!"

Londait's panicked voice hit my back.

"To defeat evil spirits, you need weapons or items with holy attributes specially processed, the holy magic of the clergy, or a skill that works on evil spirits! What can you do with no skills and no weapons!?"

While we were talking, the Legion of evil spirits was already engulfing me like a tidal wave, swirling around me and trying to drain my life force from the point of contact.

If you want it so much... I'll give it to you.

"Haahhhhh!"

With a shout, the ominous beings shattered into pieces. They disappeared as if burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind.

"Wh-What just happened!? You... You destroyed the evil spirits!?"

"You just said physical attacks don't work on them! You must have some skill, right!?"

No, no, not at all.

The attack I just used didn't rely on any skill. I had a hunch. Evil spirits drain life force from humans, so I thought that life force might have some effect on them.

I already have an enormous amount of life force, thanks to my level of 8,347,917. If I released it all at once, it would be like a trickle of water becoming a raging torrent, capable of drowning a person. I thought the same torrent of life force might be able to wipe out the evil spirits. It seems to have worked.

So, this is just using a power that everyone, including me, has, in a clever way...

In other words, it's a technique, not a skill.