Chapter 51

There is a bit of graphic content. Please be cautious if you are sensitive to such scenes.

Kiiiiiiii!

The Poison Spider let out a screech and leaped down from the roof of the building.

"Back up!"

Edgar, who had run to Will's side, forcibly pulled Will back.

Everyone present retreated to put distance between themselves and the Poison Spider's landing point.

The giant spider's massive body inserted itself between the spider web and Will's group.

Kiiiiiiii!

The Poison Spider raised its front legs and swept away John and Thompson, who were in the front row.

The Poison Spider's venom is contained in its saliva, and it is mostly injected when it bites.

However, sometimes the saliva adheres to the legs, and infection can occur with a single strike from the hooked claws.

The Poison Spider's venom causes intense pain and hinders movement.

Knowing this, John and Thompson did not try to block the attack forcefully but instead dodged it by scattering to the sides.

The Poison Spider's eight eyes vigilantly followed Will's group's movements.

"Let's cut it off a bit more from the web."

"Understood..."

John responded while keeping his eyes on the giant spider.

The two did not close the distance more than necessary.

Behind the Poison Spider was the spider web.

If they closed the distance carelessly, the spider might climb back onto the web, which would put the captured people in danger of being caught in the battle.

John and Thompson cautiously retreated, gradually increasing the distance between the Poison Spider and the web.

While watching the two from Edgar's shadow, Will noticed something.

(Bursting with power...)

Red magic power was emanating from John's body.

White-gold magic power was emanating from Thompson's body.

Each enveloped their bodies.

These were physical enhancement spells that front-line fighters like swordsmen often used.

For front-liners, these spells were essential.

By enhancing their bodies, their offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as their durability, increased.

Moreover, these spells had elemental benefits.

While unattributed magic only enhanced the body, adding an attribute allowed for additional elemental characteristics.

John's body was enveloped in red magic power.

That was the fire attribute.

On the other hand, Thompson was enveloped in magic power of a color between white and gold.

(What is it?)

Will tilted his head at the unfamiliar color of the magic power.

Occasionally, the magic power surrounding Thompson flickered and distorted.

"John, synchronize!"

As Thompson shouted, his figure disappeared, leaving a faint flash of lightning.

"Take this!"

In the next instant, Thompson appeared beside the vigilant Poison Spider and thrust a long, intricately designed staff.

A crackling sound accompanied a purple lightning that coursed through the Poison Spider's entire body, causing the giant spider to convulse.

(I see! It's a lightning attribute!)

Seeing the giant spider stop moving due to the electric shock, Will understood.

John leaped forward in front of the immobilized Poison Spider.

"Go! Ha!"

The first strike, a horizontal slash, severed the Poison Spider's right front leg.

The cut surface was burned by the fire magic power, stopping the bleeding.

A follow-up strike cleaved the giant spider from the top of its head.

The Poison Spider's body, crushed and burned, tilted and collapsed.

There was no sign of the Poison Spider moving.

The spider web, indicating the Poison Spider's death, began to sag and lose its strength.

Those bound by the spider silk were freed and began to escape from the web one by one.

"Did we... survive...?"

"Did we... survive...?"

Those who had escaped the dire situation confirmed their safety in a daze, gradually realizing and rejoicing.

"Yay!"

"We survived...!"

Some people cried out in joy, and some even burst into tears.

However, the danger was not yet over.

If they were attacked again, all their efforts would be in vain.

"Lord Gaious! Kyaa!?"

Lily, who was captured higher up on the spider web, screamed.

The web, which had started to loosen, rapidly lost its strength, causing Lily to drop suddenly.

"Whoa, and..."

Those below caught the people falling at a near-drop speed.

Gaious also firmly held Lily.

"Are you okay, Lily! Any injuries?"

In response to Gaious's question, Lily shook her head.

Her thin arms wrapped around his neck, her forehead buried in his shoulder, and her body trembled slightly.

Relieved that there were no visible injuries, Gaious let out a deep breath.

"Then, let's proceed as planned."

Everyone nodded at Thompson's words.

"Those who can move, come this way!"

Edgar began guiding the people.

Since the location was at the end of the central street, they could quickly reach the path leading to the Turquis residence.

The problem was what lay beyond, but for now, they had not been detected by Brown.

"Poe, guide them when a certain number have gathered! Swage, provide cover!"

"Understood (S)!"

Following Morgan's instructions, Poe and Swage began gathering the evacuees.

Will also looked around to fulfill his role.

Will had four Claymen.

One of them would carry Will.

Since the Clayman of Will's size was not large, it could only carry one adult at a time.

"Is there anyone who can't move?"

A noblewoman slowly raised her hand in response to Will's call.

It seemed her legs had given out.

There was also a crying little girl and a boy comforting her.

They were probably siblings.

If the boy carried the girl, they could both be transported.

A well-built man also had an injured leg and was leaning on a young knight.

"Boy, start with the weaker ones."

Following Ratts's instructions, Will directed the Claymen to carry the noblewoman and the children.

The noblewoman was piggybacked, and the boy, carrying the girl, was also piggybacked.

Will sent the two Claymen to Poe and the others.

Those near the spider web murmured in response.

"What happened...?"

"Terrible..."

"He's still breathing! Can't we do something!?"

Hearing these voices, Will ran over to the crowd.

"No, boy! Don't go!"

Ratts, sensing something bad, tried to stop Will, but it was too late.

Will had already seen it through the gap.

"Hold on! Hold on! Jett!"

A maid was clinging to a fallen man, half-mad with panic.

Will was more focused on the fallen man than on her voice.

Blood was spreading on the ground. His left arm and right leg were missing.

Blood was gushing from the wounds.

"Jett...! Mary...!"

Lily also covered her mouth and was crying.

Supported by Gaious, Lily knelt beside the maid.

"He was apparently captured behind us... his limbs were torn off by the monster... they tried to stop the bleeding with the spider silk..."

A man standing nearby muttered to no one in particular.

The spider silk had lost its magic and was now slack, no longer effective in stopping the bleeding.

"Boy, come here..."

Ratts took Will's hand.

Will's dazed gaze met Ratts's uncomfortable expression and Thompson's grim face.

Someone was injured.

This was a situation they had anticipated.

However, they had panicked and lost track of Will, and as a result, no one with healing magic had been brought along.

"Let's at least stop the bleeding..."

John urged, but the maid, called Mary, was still in a state of shock.

Everyone could guess the relationship between the two from her appearance.

"John... there's no change in the plan."

"I understand..."

In response to Thompson's voice, John kept his eyes on Mary.

He had also lost someone dear.

He understood the gravity of the situation.

Still, he would carry out the mission.

That was the kind of man he was.

Thompson said no more.

Sensing the start of the battle, Ratts tried to evacuate Will.

"Boy...?"

Ratts looked at Will, who was not moving.

Will was staring at the injured man.

Perhaps he was shocked by seeing someone on the brink of death for the first time.

For such a young child, it was understandable.

Ratts thought and tried to pick up Will.

However, Will grabbed Ratts's hand to stop him.

"Mr. Ratts, Will will try!"

Ratts looked at Will, who nodded firmly.

"Try what?" Ratts seemed to ask as he let go of Will's hand.

Will squatted beside Mary.

"Jett! Jett! No! Don't die!"

Mary was screaming, her face contorted with tears.

Lily, sitting on the other side, supported her while crying.

Lily looked up and noticed Will.

Mary, who did not seem to notice, continued to hold Jett's remaining hand and scream.

Mary only noticed Will when he grabbed her sleeve with his small hand.

"Ah... Miss, Mary, are you... okay...? Mary... I'm glad... you're safe... really glad..."

Jett, who opened his eyes slightly, looked at Mary weakly.

His gaze then shifted to Lily and finally to Will.

"Ha... Is a little child... an angel... has the time come...?"

Jett smiled weakly, and Mary shook her head vigorously.

Realizing his fate, Jett extended the hand Mary was holding toward her face.

Mary, understanding his intention, guided his hand to her cheek.

"Jett..."

Mary whispered weakly.

Will, who had been sitting beside her, suddenly stood up.

"Will is here, so it's okay now!"

Mary looked at Will, thinking he was trying to encourage her.

Will was holding a small spirit lantern and a staff.

The magic power he channeled lit up the spirit lantern.

"Ooh..."

The people around them murmured as all the spirit stones glowed in response to Will's magic power.

"Hmm...!"

Will, confirming the strongly glowing blue-white spirit stone, solidified his image and began to chant.

"Come, Kinosere! Heal this person with the breath of life!"

The healing magic Cecilia had once shown him.

A pale green light overflowed from the tip of Will's staff and descended upon Jett, enveloping his body.

"A... Ah...!"

Mary's eyes widened. Jett's wounds began to heal rapidly.

New flesh grew over the severed limbs, and the bleeding stopped.

Jett, who had been on the brink of death from blood loss, managed to cling to life.

Of course, the situation was still critical.

Even with healing magic, the lost blood could not be restored.

Jett's injuries were severe, and his body was weakened.

If any negative factors affected him, he could still die.

Still.

"Thank you... so much... oh... I'm so glad... really..."

Mary's voice was hoarse, and tears different from before streamed down her face.

The worst situation had been averted.

She clutched Jett's hand tightly to her chest and sobbed.

"A miracle... a miracle child...!"

Such voices rose from the crowd, and everyone's gaze turned to Will.

"Uu..."

"......?"

In contrast to the people's joy, Will was dejected.

"What's wrong?"

Lily asked, representing the group.

"Will... failed..."

"EH!?"

Hearing Will's words, which sounded like he was about to cry, Lily hurriedly looked at Jett and Mary.

"No... you didn't fail..."

Mary, wiping away her tears, answered.

She could feel Jett's life in the hand she held tightly.

From Lily's perspective, Will's magic had clearly healed Jett.

So, why was Will dejected? Everyone turned their gaze back to Will, who said sadly,

"Because... the man's arm and leg didn't grow back."

It made sense.

Will had tried to heal the missing limbs with magic.

But the arm and leg were still missing, so he thought he had failed.

"Master Will, it is impossible to regrow lost limbs with a healing attribute spell."

Thompson explained, and Will looked up.

"To regrow lost limbs, a more advanced healing magic is required."

Currently, to regrow missing limbs, one would need a spirit magic class healing spell or a healing item of divine medicine level.

Attribute magic, which humans can use, can only seal wounds and stop bleeding to maintain vital functions.

There are exceptions, such as when the severed part is still present and can be repaired, in which case attribute magic can reconnect it.

In this case, the limbs were torn off by the monster, and the missing parts were not available.

They were probably in some monster's stomach.

It was a grim thought.

In this sense, the healing magic Will performed was a great success.

It was a highly advanced magic to achieve such results.

"Will... you didn't fail?"

Will, timidly asking, had his head patted by Thompson.

"You saved someone who was about to die. You did a great job, Master Will."

That was something to be proud of.

Praised by Thompson, Will's eyes sparkled and he smiled.

"Will did a good job!"

When Will reported his success to the people around him, everyone smiled warmly.

"Come, Master Will. Let's return to the mansion."

"Yes!"

Prompted by Thompson, Will remembered his role.

A young knight offered to carry Jett, so Will used healing magic to heal the well-built man's leg.

"Wow, this is amazing! The pain is gone!"

"Hehe♪"

Will returned a joyful smile to the man's amazed voice.

After healing the injured and taking a break, Thompson and the others were ready.

"Prepare to retreat!"

John signaled to the rear, and Thompson took a deep breath.

The sound of an air attribute voice magic echoed around.

"Now! Those who can move, come to the central street! We will hold off the monsters! Hurry!"

As the magic was activated, Thompson ran down the central street.

He stopped halfway to deal with the monsters.

After a short delay, the people who could escape emerged onto the central street.

Men, women, adults, children, nobles, servants, and knights, all kinds of people.

Sensing their movement, the ant monster—Giant Ant—began to chase them.

"Here they come, monsters... don't think you can easily get past this [Filfarria's Lightning]!"

Thompson, enveloped in white-gold magic power, readied his staff.

The magic power covered his weapon, forming a blade of magic at the tip.

The people fleeing ran past Thompson's side.

He did not turn around, focusing only on the Giant Ants pursuing them.

"Thompson Ronmedal, the Lightning, is here!"

The moment the first one entered range, Thompson kicked off the ground strongly.