Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 464

464

“Why, what’s wrong, El?”

“It says there’s something here?”

I’m the only one who can hear Naias’s voice here. But the others seemed to sense my unusual reaction and asked anxiously. I pondered how to explain it, then answered honestly.

“It says there are people nearby.”

“What? Really?”

“Could they be the missing people?”

Ah, I hadn’t thought of that. I quickly looked up, and Della, who had spoken, nodded with a stiff face. Everyone else also began to check their equipment hastily. They took out the prepared medicines, nutritional supplements, and first aid supplies, just in case.

“Naias, where are those people now?”

―They’re close by.

“Close by?”

―Yes, they’re closer than before.

―They’re steadily getting closer.

…Does the distance getting closer mean they’re coming towards us? I briefly raised my hand at the incomprehensible answer, stopping the group’s movements. The group, having stopped what they were doing, looked back at me with puzzled expressions. Naias pointed behind me with her finger.

―They’re over there now.

“……!”

I reflexively turned my head and was taken aback. Someone was standing tall in the middle of the bushes.

“Wh-what is it? A person?”

The group also seemed to have noticed them, and they were flustered. The person who appeared silently was a man with a somewhat dark and gloomy aura. His face was so gaunt it was hard to guess his age, his eye sockets were dark, and his face was pale. The clothes he was wearing were tattered and stained with something that looked like blood. It was like, yes, he looked like a corpse.

“Hiss!”

Chris, startled, quickly took a step back. The other members, as startled as he was, gasped.

The next moment, the man opened his mouth and smiled. Black teeth, as if dyed with ink, were revealed in his mouth, which seemed to be forced open. A stream of dark red liquid poured out from between them. It was a horrifying sight that sent shivers down my spine. At that moment, a strange smell wafted around. The musty smell, as strong as decay, was similar to the smell of rotten blood.

“Wh-what is this…”

“I-is it really a ghost?”

The pale group looked at me with tearful faces. The hands gripping my clothes tightly were all trembling.

I stared at the man’s appearance and calmly organized my thoughts. Hallucinations of seeing ghosts, smells, all of these are phenomena that can be experienced when influenced by thoughts. Even Asel used to feel a foul smell along with hallucinations.

When I was a spirit, I wasn’t affected by thoughts, so no matter how strong they were, they just looked like clumps of dark red filth to me. But now that I’m human, I’ll be affected at least a little. I was fully aware of this before coming, and I was prepared for it. So it makes sense that I’m seeing a hallucination of a ghost. But something about the current situation felt a little strange no matter how I thought about it. Naias had clearly said she saw humans a little while ago. She also pointed exactly at the man in front of me. Even if she’s a low-level spirit, would Naias also see a hallucination?

‘No, this isn’t a hallucination……’

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.

“Everyone, take up your weapons!”

“What?”

“Prepare for an attack! That’s not a ghost, it’s a human! There’s an ambush here……!”

“Aaaaaaah!”

The scream that burst out swallowed my voice. Surprised, I turned around to see someone sitting on the floor, backing away. It was Chris.

“Chris?”

“Gh-ghost! A ghost is coming! A ghost is coming!”

“No, I told you! That’s not a ghost, it’s……!”

“Heeeeeak!”

But another scream followed. This time it was Simon. The other members were also backing away with pale faces. Everyone was staring intently at one spot. Following their gaze, I turned around as well, but I couldn’t see anything. Rather, the man I had seen a little while ago had disappeared. I looked at the members again. Everyone’s eyes were unfocused, as if their souls had left them. It was a typical state of being trapped in a hallucination. But it didn’t make sense. If my judgment was correct, the man was definitely not a ghost, and there were no thoughts anywhere. So there was no way they could be seeing hallucinations.

‘Ah, could it be this smell?’

“Naias! Block the smell that’s spreading right now!”

―Okay, I’ll try!

Smells are also a type of particulate matter. It would be weaker than blowing it away with wind, but just trapping it in water should be enough to kill its effectiveness. Naias’s group nodded and immediately began to move. Finely scattered water droplets spread out like mist, beginning to trap the foul smell.

What happened next was unexpected. Suddenly, a fire arrow flew from one spot and pierced Naias’s body accurately. It happened so quickly that I couldn’t even understand what had happened for a moment. Naias, who didn’t even have time to dodge, lost her form and scattered.

“Gasp!”

Even for a low-level spirit, the shock of being forcibly dispelled was great. I gasped for breath, and my legs gave way, causing me to collapse. I tried to get up right away, but the remaining Naiases were being dispelled one after another, making it difficult for me to come to my senses.

“Aaaaaaah! Don’t come! Go away!”

“Everyone, run! Run away!”

Meanwhile, the group was in complete chaos. Whether they couldn’t see anything other than the hallucinations, no one noticed my condition. Seized by fear, they just started running wildly.

“Wait! No! Don’t go! You can’t go! What you’re seeing is a hallucination!”

I shouted with all my might, but my voice didn’t reach their backs as they desperately ran away. When I barely managed to get up, no one was in sight. But on the contrary, there was a presence approaching from another direction. There was no need to guess; it was obvious that they were the ones who had created this situation.

“Damn it……”

I was completely caught off guard. Can I face them all in this state? I supported my staggering legs and barely fumbled for the sword at my waist. Summoning the spirits again would be the first thing to do, but my internal energy was too messed up after being forcibly dispelled. It didn’t seem like I could summon anything right now. I summoned Naias on purpose because low-level spirits are the most convenient for scouting, but it was a mistake to focus too much on the strange phenomena occurring in the forest. If I had known the opponent was human, I wouldn’t have been so careless. I was filled with regret, but it had already happened.

I focused on controlling the rampaging mana while catching my breath. But even considering that my insides were damaged, my body felt strangely heavy. Am I even holding the sword properly? I felt like I couldn’t feel anything in my fingertips.

‘Does this smell have a paralyzing effect too?’

Thud, footsteps echoed from behind. I turned around with difficulty and saw shadows flickering in the bushes. People with their faces half-covered with masks were appearing one by one. Among them was the man who looked like a corpse that I had seen at first. Looking closely, I could clearly see that he was deliberately disguised that way. As I cautiously pointed my sword, the men, who seemed a little embarrassed, soon chuckled. They had noticed that my condition wasn’t normal.

“What, this guy is still holding on?”

“Looks like the suggestion didn’t work on him?”

Suggestion. Ah, so that’s why they were disguised as corpses. I finally understood why they appeared in that state at first. It seems that the purpose was not only to draw attention while spreading the hallucinogen but also to plant a suggestion. It was probably to make it easier to fall into hallucinations. I wanted to retort, ‘Who are you guys?’, but my tongue wouldn’t move. It was definitely mixed with an anesthetic.

“Amazing. You’re the first one to last this long.”

“Doesn’t he look young?”

“Be careful. He’s probably a spirit master.”

Someone warned from behind the men who were approaching me. I could see the huge bow and torch he was carrying on his shoulder. He was probably the one who shot the fire arrow.

“Water spirit masters have a natural ability to purify themselves. They say their vitality is tenacious.”

“Ah, so that’s why he’s resistant to drugs too?”

“But he seems to be unable to even speak? No matter how strong a spirit master is, they’re useless if they can’t summon spirits.”

Chuckling laughter followed. Soon, those who stopped in front of me reached out as if to take off my hood. Even then, I was unable to make any sound. The anesthetic was so strong that my vision seemed to be gradually blurring. But there was one thing those men were mistaken about.

Who said you can’t summon spirits if you can’t speak?

‘Secule!’

I had barely managed to calm my mana, so I decided to meet their expectations. As the spirit responded to my call and agreed to be summoned, a splash of water rose around me.

“Wh-what is it!”

The men, who had been off guard, were startled and hesitated. I quickly scanned my surroundings. Although they used sly tactics, their abilities themselves were at the level of ordinary men. It meant that I could knock them all down with Secule alone.

But it was at that moment. I didn’t even feel the presence, but with a clank, something was fastened on my wrist. When I opened my eyes wide, the situation was already changing in an irreversible direction. The operation of mana stopped, and the power that was being completed scattered as it was. The stream of water that had been bravely soaring around me disappeared in an instant.

No way.

I stared blankly at the vapor that was scattering futilely before my eyes and opened my mouth. I couldn’t feel Secule’s energy, which had been clear until just now. I know why this happened. The summoning circle disappeared. I could understand the situation in my head. But understanding and accepting are completely separate realms.

What, what is happening right now?

“Whew, that was close.”

I heard someone whistling right next to me. I turned my gaze blankly, and then I saw the person standing next to me. A face wearing a black mask under lightly tied blonde hair. The yellow eyes that met mine smiled as if refreshed. I was a little late to realize that he had put a bracelet on me a little while ago.

“To be able to summon spirits without chanting the incantation, you’re amazing? But it looks like I won, so what should I do?”

The man who spoke in a cheerful tone as if teasing me was carrying a bow and a torch on his shoulder. He was the one who dispelled Naias. The moment I recognized him, I almost reflexively swung my sword. “Eek!” The man who barely avoided the attack stepped back and distanced himself from me.

“Wow, you still have the strength to move? You’re really amazing.”

“What? What’s going on right now?”

“Wasn’t a spirit being summoned just now?”

The others were still confused because they hadn’t grasped the situation. The blonde man, who smiled at me again, shrugged his shoulders at the pouring questions and replied.

“A spirit was being summoned, that’s right. But there’s a trick to cutting it off in the middle. I cut off the summoning quickly by blocking the mana.”

“Gasp, is that true?”

“Can’t you tell by the water that rose and disappeared? That’s why I told you to be careful earlier. Anyway, just know that you all would have died just now if it weren’t for me.”

“Haha, you did really well, Lil!”

“You’re our hero!”

“If you know, give me a special allowance.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you!”

It was like celebrating a festival. Among the hands that were noisily stroking his head, the man who met my eyes again smiled.

“Then I should finish up soon?”

Then the other men turned to look at me. The eyes smiling above the masks sparkled viciously. Thanks to that, I came to my senses a little. Now wasn’t the time to be struggling with shock.

‘They don’t… seem to be trying to kill me.’

I took a slow, deep breath while looking at the approaching men. I don’t feel any murderous intent. It may be because of my current state that I’m being careless, but just looking at the fact that they’re not holding swords, it seems that their goal is to subdue me. Maybe they’re trying to drag me somewhere.

‘Pull yourself together, El.’

If I get caught like this, I’ll be in a terrible situation. Even if it’s to save the group, I had to get out of here first to plan for the future. Although summoning spirits was blocked, my insides were calmed down, so my condition was better than before. I don’t know how much my body, which had become stiff due to the drug, would cooperate, but I could move for a while if I pushed myself.

If I could just take off the weight-increasing devices here, the situation would be much better. The weight of the rings on my wrists and ankles, which were now a part of my body, felt especially burdensome today. It was a pity that there was no way to do anything about it right now. I straightened my posture and gripped my sword, and the men made dumbfounded expressions.

“Looks like you still haven’t given up?”

“He’s got an amazing amount of mental strength.”

“Haha, but in this anesthetized state……”

The man at the front smiled and reached out to me. But those words couldn’t be continued to the end. It was because I stabbed my sword in the gap where his gaze was distracted.

“Ugh!”

The surprised man quickly dodged, but I continued my attack accordingly. The man, who couldn’t dodge the sword blade that followed right away this time, widened his eyes in horror. At the same time as the sensation of being cut was transmitted, a short scream burst out. “Ulbein!” The men who had become urgent drew their swords.

“What, that guy? How can a spirit master also know swordsmanship?”

“I thought it was just for show!”

The men with hardened faces slowly began to surround me. While keeping in check the attacks that could start at any moment, I took a deep breath. I was already out of breath from moving for a short time. My whole body was as heavy as wet cotton. My legs kept staggering.

‘I have to end this as quickly as possible.’

If I give the opponent leeway, I’ll be the one who suffers. After putting strength into my spirit, I gritted my teeth and jumped in first. The men, who missed the first attack again, were horrified and began to defend.

“Damn it! Block him!”

“Kugh, what strength!”

“Why is that anesthetized guy moving so well?”

A chaotic battle continued for a while. It was my first time facing so many people, so I wondered if I would be okay, but it wasn’t as difficult as I thought. First of all, whether it’s because everyone’s swordsmanship skills are low, they were slow as if they were sluggish, and all their movements were clearly readable. If I just pushed them well like this, I could create a gap to escape. Hope appeared, and I gained confidence. That’s when I was gradually making my way.

“Kugh!”

Was it because my vision narrowed due to my hasty mind? Suddenly, something tightened around my neck and pulled me back strongly. In an instant, I lost my balance and fell helplessly, being dragged along as I was. I felt a thick rope tightening around my neck. It seemed that someone had thrown something like a noose. The blonde man was standing at the end of that line. It was that guy again.

“Got him!”

“Good, Lil! Keep holding him!”

“Net! Bring the net right away!”

At the end of the busy voices, a net made of chains soon covered my body. I tried to get out somehow, but my body wouldn’t move as I wanted. Meanwhile, the men who had rushed over hastily forcibly pressed me down as I struggled in the net. I gasped for breath at the pain that was embedded in my side.

“Phew, he’s finally calmed down now.”

“What the heck is this guy? Isn’t this the first time we’ve used a lasso and a net after he’s been drugged?”

“Upper-level spirit masters are really amazing.”

“How are the injured?”

“There are some. But fortunately, it doesn’t seem like they were cut deeply.”

It seems that the drug is now consuming my mind. The voices shouting from above echoed with a buzzing sound. I desperately blinked my eyes to avoid losing consciousness somehow. In my dizzy vision, I saw faces making bored expressions.

“Just finish him off.”

Soon, a dull sound rang out, and a sharp pain arose in my head.

After that, it was darkness.