Chapter 86

After returning to the mansion, I headed to greet Lark.

I only explained that there were no serious injuries and informed him that Yuris and the others would soon return to give a detailed report.

"There were no particular problems, I see. No, that's good, that's good. I've been having one disaster after another, so I was worried that something troublesome might happen again..."

Lark nodded in agreement and sighed in relief.

There were issues, but I was sure Yuris would explain them well.

"By the way, who set the detailed routes for the monster culling plan?"

I wanted to confirm this.

While it wasn't certain, the person who suggested the routes was likely the spirit user who incited Hameln.

The location where the three teams gathered was too perfect for an ambush.

It might be that Hameln was only moved because of this, but at the very least, it was someone who knew the details of the culling plan.

"The detailed routes? I can't say for sure... We gathered people with broad perspectives from the private army and the alchemists' guild, and they corrected and decided on them together. If necessary, we can list them, but... why do you ask?"

"I just had a bit of a concern. Um, the alchemists' guild as well?"

I had heard that they were refused participation.

"Yes. Icarus is experienced and smart... I always rely on his wisdom in situations like this."

Lark said this with a bitter expression.

He seemed to be an excellent person.

However, it appeared that he always found excuses to avoid dangerous or difficult tasks...

"Who decided to set the meeting point near the mountains?"

"Huh? Hmm, I... did, I think. It was a good location, and there was no chance of getting lost..."

...It didn't seem like I could narrow it down from here.

I would have to ask Yuris and the others as well.

If I only needed to know the routes, I could probably get the information from someone in the private army, but relying too much on this might be risky.

The blockade of the territory by Nargalun, the failed attempt to destroy the private army by Hameln, and the damage to the crops...

If these were intentionally caused, it would have been easy to destroy the Phage territory.

The benefit of maintaining a state of neither life nor death would be for someone who could control this territory after Lark's authority completely collapsed...

Thinking about it this way, the suspects would naturally narrow down.

There are people I suspect, but I can't just say it.

If I'm wrong, it might only make the culprit more cautious, and even if I'm right, if they resist, I might lose credibility.

If I let them escape without solid evidence or if they become unable to speak, it could leave a lingering problem, making my position difficult.

That would be counterproductive.

I could warn Lark to be cautious, but I don't think it would improve the situation.

To be honest, Lark has no effective response right now, and if he becomes overly suspicious, it might only alert the culprit, which would be counterproductive.

I hope Lark focuses on the recovery of the territory... more importantly, the recovery of his authority. Desperately.

It seems the enemy is quite formidable.

Until I have solid proof to finish them off, it might be better to let them run.

I don't like it, but waiting for them to give up and flee is also an option.

After finishing my conversation with Lark, I headed to my room.

Mia was also given a separate room, but since it wasn't bedtime yet, she followed me.

"Well, let's check on Hameln."

I summoned the World Tree's artifact using a teleportation spell and placed it on the floor.

I pointed the tip of my staff at the artifact and chanted the spell again.

"পুতুলথুতু"

A black mist emerged from the World Tree's artifact and plopped onto the floor.

The black mist quickly formed a ball, and two small, round eyes appeared.

Hameln, who was originally about the size of a human head, was now small enough to fit in my hand.

"…বেণী?"

Hameln tilted its body and blinked.

"Isn't it much cuter now?"

"Because I reduced its power."

It was too dangerous to leave Hameln as it was, so I stripped away a significant portion of the spirits that composed it.

I needed to manage it thoroughly to prevent it from gathering spirits and regaining its strength.

"The two eyes... are they because you broke its eyes?"

"It's an amorphous demon, so it shouldn't matter, probably."

"R-Really?"

Hameln rolled over and exposed its belly to me.

It might be a sign of surrender.

When I poked its belly, it let out a groan, "kyu."

I channeled magic into Hameln and used the resonating magic to examine the individual's information.

"The summoning mark has already been cut."

"What's a summoning mark?"

"A mark that spirit animals or demons carve into the body of a spirit user they like. With a summoning mark, a spirit user can summon a spirit animal or demon whenever they want."

If the summoning mark of Hameln's original spirit user remained, I could have brought Hameln to a suspicious person to confirm.

However, Hameln's current state doesn't feel connected to any magic.

It probably erased the summoning mark to avoid being identified.

It might have sensed that the summoning failed and that it was in a captive state.

Since Hameln is a low-intelligence demon, it would be difficult to get it to reveal its original spirit user.

While I continue to search for the culprit, I should prioritize stabilizing the territory.

Hameln pressed its head to the floor and stopped moving.

Five long, arm-like appendages sprouted and hung limply.

The two small, round eyes blinked.

"...It's still kind of creepy, isn't it?"

Mia hid behind me.

"Is it?"

Its arms look withered, and its body seems gaunt.

It appears to be quite weak.

Perhaps it used too much power to lead the monsters, or it was beaten up by magic, or the internal environment of the World Tree's artifact didn't suit it...

Maybe it's hungry... or rather, lacking in magic power.

It must have used up its magic power to maintain its body after being attacked by the monsters and then been confined in an artifact with a barrier effect, unable to replenish its magic power.

I gathered magic at my fingertips and approached Hameln.

I didn't want to overdo it and make it too strong, so I kept it to a minimum.

Hameln suspiciously approached my finger, then stretched out its many arms and wrapped them around my finger.

It opened its large mouth and latched onto my finger. It tickled.

"That's enough."

"আহআহ!"

Seeing Hameln's body inflate, I quickly pulled my finger away.

Hameln looked at my finger with a regretful expression and stretched out its arms.

"But, it's kind of cute when you look at it like this."

When I poked its belly, it stretched out its small, thin arms and wriggled with a "kyakya" sound.

It felt surprisingly nice to touch.

"M-Mia, do you want to touch it a little...?"

You're easily influenced.

When I pulled my arm away, Hameln suddenly sat up and looked at me.

Its eyes seemed to ask, "Is it over already?"

Mia, who had been hiding behind me, slowly extended her arm.

Her finger touched Hameln.

"Ah... it's softer than I thought."

"Right? Right?"

After that, we poked and prodded for a while, and then, apparently tired, Hameln slowly approached the World Tree's artifact, changed its shape, and flowed into its mouth.

...Are you a hamster?