Chapter 24: Mr. Eldertich (3)
It was a gelatinous octopus. No, I knew it wasn't actually a gelatinous octopus, but...
'...If it weren't this size, it would be almost cute.'
I was speechless with bewilderment. Eldertich's true identity was that of a servant race to one of the most famous Outer Gods. Judging from the name he introduced himself with and his cephalopod-like form, he was certainly from that race, but...
"Um, Mr. Eldertich? Why are you a Dumbo octopus? The thing... is, as far as I know, that’s not what your kind usually looks like."
That race is not supposed to be this cute. Eldertich flinched at my words, then began to reply in a voice that seemed to boil with rage.
[Did you just call me an octopus? How dare you utter such an insult...! Were you that eager to point out that I am a mutant, a problematic individual?]
...I had touched a sore spot. It wasn't my intent, but it seemed his appearance was a weakness for Eldertich.
'A mutant and a problematic individual... so he lives among humans because he is inferior to his own kind.'
Outer Gods do not particularly cherish or care for their servant races or offspring.
'They probably wouldn't have cared whether he was shunned or not.'
He must have been collecting Outer God-related tools and books in this black market to compensate for his own shortcomings.
"Well, I wasn't looking for a fight."
[Then did you think I would submissively comply if you threatened me with my identity?]
Eldertich narrowed his eyes and created a magic circle in the air.
'...Magic? Not a miracle?'
It was strange. For Eldertich, a descendant and servant of an Outer God, to use magic instead of his master's power. He was probably an even more flawed individual than I thought.
[You shall pay for your folly by becoming my slave!]
Without reciting a spell, Eldertich began unleashing his attack. From the open magic circle, droplets of water, compressed under high pressure, poured out like bullets.
'<Devastating Rain>! To think he can use it without an incantation.'
As I blocked the barrage of attacks with "Gluttony," my cloak fluttering, Eldertich immediately switched to his next spell. This time, it was a large spear of water, <Azure Spear>.
'Dammit, "Gluttony" won’t be able to block that.'
A fast and high-penetration spell, perfect for inflicting mortal wounds. I moved my body the moment the magic circle lit up, but.
"Ah..."
It was likely impossible to dodge with my pathetic stats, as it pierced my side completely. Clutching my side to stop the gushing blood, I looked up to see that Eldertich had already prepared his next spell.
"That looks like... <Great Waterfall>."
If this place weren't on the coast, the spell would have taken longer to cast. But here, he didn't need to turn mana into liquid; he could just rely on the surrounding water, making his casting speed incredibly fast.
[Rumors say you obtained the Book of Filth... this is unexpected. Why don’t you use miracles?]
He’s found out that much? Eldertich, who created a massive ball of water in front of his magic circle and was allowing himself a moment of respite, launched his attack without giving me a chance to respond.
KABOOM!
A torrent of water with the power to crush rocks. But it was directed not at me, but strangely, toward the sea.
[What is this? Don’t tell me...!]
A brief moment of respite. In that time, a fine white thread barely visible had wound around Eldertich's magic circle. <Thread of Confusion>, which reacts to magic and miracles, entangling and interfering with them.
[You, you managed to join the system of 【The Weaver of the Threads of Ruin】!]
Eldertich must have known I obtained the Weaver’s book. But he seemed to have never imagined I had initiated, and his reaction was one of pure astonishment.
[...You are insane. You have already undergone the initiation ritual for the system of 【The Sleeper of the Underworld】, and you underwent another for a different system?!]
What I did must have been truly insane, as Eldertich's short, thick tentacles trembled.
[That's why I didn't want to get involved with you...!]
Eldertich decisively abandoned the magic circle he could no longer control, which was held fast by <Thread of Confusion>.
'But he can't dispel it.'
Because it was tightly bound by <Thread of Confusion>, Eldertich’s magic circle couldn’t be canceled.
'Using extra magic while a circle is being forcibly maintained will be a huge drain on his mana. Well... I’m in the same boat.'
Nonetheless, Eldertich created two small magic circles.
'Three magic circles at once... he must have a lot of mana.'
Of course, I had anticipated this much.
"...!"
Eldertich noticed a very fine thread caught on his tentacle. He tried to remove it quickly by diving into the seawater, but that was exactly what I was aiming for.
[How many miracles does this human possess...!]
A spiderweb, spread like a net over the sea’s surface. Eldertich created a spray of water with his two magic circles, washing away the web that was entangling him and which I had set as a trap.
[And you had the nerve to say you didn't want to fight!]
"I was being sincere."
Ignoring my words, Eldertich shook off the web and, half-submerged in the water, began launching <Azure Spears>. Two spears flew at high speed. They were too fast for me to block, and the number of wounds on my body increased.
'I want to avoid using <Forbidden Transformation> as much as possible...'
Along with the excruciating pain, a wave of dizziness from blood loss began to wash over me.
[I don’t know what tricks you’ve pulled, but you can’t weave a web in the sea.]
Eldertich continued to launch spells, and I took gradual damage while blocking with my cloak.
'I’ll lose a war of attrition like this, but...'
But the trump card I had prepared wasn't revealed yet. With no time to even drink a healing potion, I decided to go on the offensive.
[What are you doing now...!]
The moment he saw me place my hand on the ground, Eldertich immediately launched an <Azure Spear>. It pierced through the back of my hand, and a terrible pain struck me.
"Kgh!"
I really feel like I’m going to lose consciousness. As blood bled out of me, I felt myself grow dizzier, and my body weaken. As I barely managed to raise my hand, a spiderweb, stained red with blood, extended from beneath my palm.
[What is this...?]
<Web Wave>.
As I slammed my raised hand back onto the ground, a vast spiderweb hidden under the dirt rose up as a shockwave.
[You’ve chosen a very bad miracle to use!]
Eldertich triumphantly created waves with his two magic circles to counter my web.
[I see I’ll have to break your limbs. Tired human!]
Eldertich was wary of my next move all along. But the fact that he was trying to end things now indicated that even his large mana pool was reaching its limit.
[Hmm? You again...!]
Eldertich stopped his spell as he discovered that the two new magic circles he had summoned were also bound by Threads of Confusion.
[How in the hell... but those are mana-consuming miracles. I don’t know how you used so many, but that must be your limit.]
I have a fairly large mana pool, and thanks to my trait, my mana consumption efficiency is excellent. The problem is that Outer God miracles consume an exorbitant amount of mana exceeding even that.
[To make me use this much mana...]
Eldertich summoned a fourth magic circle. it was noticeably smaller, but it seemed sufficient to cast a spell that would end me.
"To the darkest depths of the underworld..."
I hurriedly began reciting the prayer. The situation was so dire I could no longer hold back.
[You’re finally using that miracle!]
Four spears of water flew toward me with fierce momentum.
"Grant me your blessing. <Forbidden Transformation>... Kgh!"
The miracle only activated after the <Azure Spears> had blown off my limbs. <Forbidden Transformation> cannot restore damage taken before the miracle’s activation. Nonetheless, it reacts with the flowing blood, so the black liquid flowing from my severed limb stumps was forming into new arms and legs.
[My mana may be exhausted... but I still have my tools.]
Eldertich transformed back into his human form to deliver the final blow. Then, as if from a spatial storage spell, he pulled a single dagger from his pocket.
"I didn't want to bring out such a dangerous tool, but when it comes to healing abilities, nothing beats this."
I recognized the dagger. The hilt was in the shape of a deformed fetus, and the blade was a sickening white, tinged with yellow like an old bone.
"Is that... 'The Pale Decay'?"
That is the dagger imbued with the energy of 【The Deformed Defiler】, famous for causing living beings to rot.
"Impressive. I wonder how you knew at a single glance. I find it hard to analyze things without this monocle."
"So that monocle is a tool that allows you to see through magic."
"Indeed! It is a wonderful treasure. Truly, thanks to this monocle..."
Eldertich, who was boasting like a collector displaying his prized possessions, froze as he finally noticed 'them'.
"...H-how?"
On the sandy shore, and above the sea. The entire area had already been overrun by giant spiders. The spiders were glinting with countless red eyes, like an ominous and alien constellation.
"How did you get this many 'Spiders of Leng'...!"
Spiders of Leng, the servant race to 【The Weaver of the Threads of Ruin】. At the appearance of dozens of giant poisonous spiders from the otherworldy 'Leng' plateau, Eldertich recoiled in fear.
"Th-that is?!"
His gaze finally turned to me, and Eldertich discovered the massive amount of webbing extending from my shadow. He probably couldn't see it until now thanks to the monocle.
"Since when...?"
"The gate has been open from the start. although the spiders only truly started coming out after you transformed."
"Doesn't <Reinforcement Gate> consume a ridiculous amount of mana?! Even I would find that impossible..."
"I am a bit special."
<Reinforcement Gate> requires a massive amount of mana, a miracle that must normally be performed as a ritual with numerous sacrifices. But using my <Transcendence> trait, I was able to use it without any mana cost. Nonetheless, I had to spend a great deal of mana just to keep that gate open, meaning I couldn't use many other miracles.
"My original plan was to work stealthily while you were unaware, but it seems you couldn’t perceive any of that without your monocle."
Initially, I was wary of any magic or miracles you might possess that could perceive hidden things. Once I realized that wasn't the case, I orchestrated this entire situation.
"To ensure a complete victory, I simply bought time until this space was completely covered in webs."
"So those traps were just a diversion, to keep me from noticing this..."
The spiders watching Eldertich fired webs, pinning his hands. The sinister dagger fell to the ground, corrupting the earth and turning it black where it landed.
"You had the upper hand from the start... yet you prolonged this just to ensure your victory..."
A Spider of Leng sunk its poisonous fangs into Eldertich. Eldertich convulsed violently before collapsing to the ground. Paralyzed, he was bound tightly in webs. Once they finished their work, the spiders disappeared back into the shadows.
"P-please, let me go! I’ll tell you anything! I’ll cooperate, just please, don't kill me!"
"Excellent attitude."
Using a tentacle from my cloak, I picked up the dagger from the floor and pointed it at him.
"Now then, shall we start with the story of that Young Lady?"
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