158 Episode 158: "When I went out to collect materials, I came across a crime scene.".txt (1/2)

The forest of Night Ivy is located in the north of the resort town of Mishurira.

It is said that the ground has a property that makes it easy for magical power to pass through, probably because it is near a mine that used to be located there.

The magic crystal that Delilira requested is one of the ores that can be obtained nearby, and it is said to have the characteristics of a battery, so to speak, that stores magic power. It can be used for a long period of time in a stable manner and doesn't deteriorate much.

However, it seems that the magical crystals are fond of large creatures, often growing at the base of trees.

And a bunch of goblins are said to be building their nests where there used to be a mining village.

I double-checked the map.

On the outskirts of the Night Ivy Forest, there's an abandoned village that's no longer in use.

According to Delilira's information, the goblins that made their nests there live in old houses and mine pits.

There's also a way to use Cecil's ”Ancient Language Magic Fireball” to blow up the entire village beforehand, but that's too flashy for a collection quest. Besides, it would be troublesome if the people who were hiding in the houses and holes became violent and attacked us.

That's why we decided to avoid fighting as much as possible and focus on gathering.

That's why we split our party in two.

A ”search party” that would keep an eye on their surroundings and inform them when monsters were approaching.

Me, Rita and Cutlass will be in charge of this one.

The other one is the 'collection group'.

Cecil, Aine, and Leticia will be helping me with this one.

Cecil has the aptitude for magic, so it's easy for him to find magic crystals. Aine pays attention to every nook and cranny when cleaning, so she's perfect for collecting. Leticia decided to ask for their escort.

''The 'magic crystal' sells for quite a bit of money.

Aine, the party's 'sage manager,' said.

Then let's have a party if we get a lot of them.

Celebrating our arrival at the sanctuary and the success of our quest.

The next day, after talking about it, we left for the forest.

The search party (Nagi, Rita, Cutlass and Fynn)

As we entered the forest, we ducked down between the trees.

'Okay then, Rita, take care of the 'presence of mind'. Let me know if the enemy is approaching.

Yes, sir. Master.

We are deep in the forest. We are deep in the forest, where we can barely see the goblin's nest.

It's our job to keep track of the demon's movements and inform the collection team.

”Do you think Fynn can create a magical body with the Valhalla Armor and send it into the air with ......?

You'll be fine until we're halfway up that tree.

So, please. It's easier to see the goblins' nest from the air.

Very well. I understand.

Cutlass, who was wearing the artifact ”Balal's Armor”, bowed.

Of course. It's Fynn in it. I'm having them take turns on the way here.

”Create my body - the sacred relic 'Armor of Valhal'!

Fynn declares, placing a hand on his chest.

From the armor on his chest, a fluffy magic power is born, and he turns into a human form.

Gray hair, red-purple eyes - that's Fynn. As for the clothes, as I requested, she wears camouflage clothes based on brown. Since it's a body of magic power, it seems that the clothes can be made at will.

”If you feel that you are in danger, you must come back immediately.

It's okay. I've already been rewarded.

Fynn put a finger to his lips.

Then he moved upwards through the branches of the trees.

As a magical body, Fynn could get away from Cutlass for about fifteen to twenty meters on a rough estimate. We decided to take advantage of that and have him keep an eye on the goblin's nest from higher up.

Cutlass and I will stay here. Cutlass and I will stay here and escort Rita and Fynn during the search. The hardest thing to deal with is a group of goblins. If we see any movement, we'll be ready to respond immediately.

Okay. Okay.

Cutlass held his shortsword at the ready.

When he looked up, Fynn's figure was hidden among the branches. It was hard to see him, even though I knew he was there.

Probably from the goblins, it should be completely blended into the landscape.

'Sender; Nagi.

Recipient: Fynn

Body: If you see a nest of goblins, send me a ”screenshot”.

Just make it feel like you're throwing the images you see to me. Can you do that?'

I sent a message to Fynn in ”Consciousness Sharing (Mind Linkage) - Revised”.

And then Cutlass' shoulder trembled next to me.

It's because they're the same person, or maybe it's because they're both sending the ”shared consciousness” type messages at the same time.

'Sender: Fynn.

Recipient: Arujidono

Body: this is how it's done?

The message I received from Fynn reflected the view from the tree tops.

From 20 meters above the ground, I can see an old, abandoned village. A crumbling house, with goblins making their home in it. Beyond that, there are several side holes in the rocky mountain. Judging from the guards standing at the entrance, it looks like they're using it as a nest too.

It's amazing. I know exactly where the enemy is.

I'm glad that Fynn was able to help.

Normally, there's no way to search for them from the sky. Cutlass and Fynn, you're amazing.

Rita nodded at Cutlass' words.

Well, all my kids are cheat characters.

I decided to ask Fynn to send me a screenshot every three minutes as it was, and I decided to check out the scenery of the abandoned village.

'It's a strangely organized goblin, even at ......,'

What do you mean?　Nagi.

They're demons, but they act like an army. There are guards at the entrance to the village, goblins patrolling the area. A group of people are cooking in the middle of the abandoned village, and there's an orderly queue in front of it. The roads in the abandoned village are usually filled with weeds, but they've been neatly weededed and maintained.

I said, and both Cutlass and Rita nodded their heads.

'...... I've never heard of a goblin like that,'

...... I haven't heard of it either.

Right.

''I'd better get more information to the Adventurer's Guild later.

I hear there's a 'request to take out the goblins in an abandoned village' over there.

That's what Aineidono asked me to find out, isn't it?

It's good enough to tell the guild about the ”Goblin's Nest Strategy”.

Our job is just to collect. We can't put everyone in danger when we have no use for them.

...... And I have a bad feeling about it.

It's like there's something unearthly that exists on top of an organized goblin .......

'...... Nagi. Contact Aine and the others.

Suddenly, Rita poked me on the back.

''There's a hint of a demon in the air. I'm sure you're not the only one. The distance is much closer over there.

Okay. Rita, go cover me.

Yes, sir!

I lower myself and Rita starts to run.

At the same time, I send the message ”Consciousness Sharing (Mind Linkage) - Revised”.

'Sender: Nagi.

Recipient: Aine.

Body: Rita has sensed the presence of a demon. She's headed your way. Rita's gone to cover you. Until then, we need to deal with it in the quietest way possible. Is that clear?

The reply came back quickly.

'Sender: sis.

Recipient: Nei-kun

Body: We've seen the monster over here, too. It's a forest crawler. May I use Nah-kun's ”Raku-Ten Annihilation Strategy”?

”Sent by: Nagi

Recipient: Aine.

Text: okay. The operation code is 'Cecil Aine's number one'?

'Sender: Sis.

Recipient: Nei-kun

Body：Yes. It's ”Hell's Gate” named by Ms. Rafilia.

And Cecil Aine Laetitia No. 2.

”Sent by: Nagi

Recipient: Aine.

Body: ”Two-step pitching kill (dual death ball)” named Rafilia? That's fine. But be careful.''

”Sent by Aine.

Recipient: Nagi

Text: Thank you. Master. As a token of my gratitude, when the Leaning Carnation Mirror is completed, Aine will be the test case. It's going to be a real experiment. Huh?　Do you want to be a test case, Cecil?　And Letitia?　Hmm. That one doesn't seem to involve a slave contract, so maybe we can do it. Then how about we all become a test subject together? If that's the case, the arrangement would be...''

...... Oi.

Come to think of it, when we came back from Delilira's yesterday, everyone was talking about the ”Tensei Tensei Virtual Mirror”.

Well, there's not much to do in this world, you know. I know how you feel. Yeah, I know how you feel.

For me, I thought the ”Dragon Golem (Mini)” would be more useful. It's cool.

”Sent by: Nagi.

Recipient: Aine.

TEXT: It's good to be excited, but battle, be careful.'

In case you missed it, let's nail it. Master-like.

As soon as I sent the message, I got a reply from Aine. With a picture.

It was an explanation of the 'Rakuchin Eradication Operation' drawn on parchment.

It includes Cecil, Leticia and Aine's formations and how to deal with them.

...... Does Cecil and the others seem to be okay?

Yes.

I said to Cutlass, who was looking at me worriedly.

'I'm sure it will be a piece of cake,'

The pickers (Cecil, Aine, Letitia)

Activate!　”Magical Attribute Change Elemental Changer.

The moment I activated the skill, Cecil's heart thumped, the moment I activated the skill, Cecil's heart thumped.

...... face turns bright red involuntarily.

The one that Cecil activated was the ”Spirit Link” skill that Nagi gave him.

It is deeply connected to the memory of the time when he and Nagi became very close friends. Cecil shook his head to chase away the scene that had almost flashed through his mind.

''I'm at work right now. I have to concentrate on the task at hand...

Here he is, Cecil. It's The Forest Crowler.

As if in time to Leticia's voice, a large green caterpillar appeared from the trees.

''Forest Crowler.''

A large caterpillar that lives in the forest.

A carnivorous insect whose entire body is covered with a hard shell. It eats a lot of food and makes a big cocoon. It eats many cocoons and makes a large cocoon, but it does not turn into a butterfly.

They have a strong defense and tend to act in groups, making them very dangerous demons.

I will protect you. Magic while you still can.

Yes!

Cecil starts chanting.

The only thing he uses is normal magic with a different ”attribute”. The only thing left to do is to aim at the target──.

”'The Great Fluid Barrier' - 'The Water Wall'!

”Guh?　Mo-mo-mo-mo-mo...!

In front of the four Forest Crawlers, a wall of water as tall as a man appeared.

It's a water version of Cecil's level 2 magic ”Wall of Fire”.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

''What?　”Squeak...

Bashari.

It took only a few seconds for the 'Wall of Water' to stall the 'Forest Crowler'.

The four great caterpillars hesitated for a bit before starting to move forward.

The water flow from the ground could only slow down the great caterpillars' movement.

The hard shells of the caterpillars easily repelled the 'wall of water'. They proceeded slowly, kicking the puddles that formed on the ground with a splash.

''It's disarmed!''

BAM.

The wall of water collapses and falls under the feet of the caterpillars.

”Squeak!　Gyu!

The triumphant caterpillars scream. And then...

...... This is the end of the line.

The maid, who had been hiding in the trees, landed in a puddle of water.

''Activate. ”Sewage Increase (Osui Zoka) LV2

Aine plunged the mop into the ground and activated the skill.

『『『『────！！！！?』』』』

Shu.

Moisture leaves the demon's body.

The body of the ”Forest Crowler” begins to tremble and cracks appear in its outer shell.

Koron. It's like this. (The four ”forest crawlers” are all in the same place.

The four Forest Crawlers roll on the ground and don't move.

The four Forest Crawlers are knocked down!

Aine's 'Increased Sewage' increases the amount of 'dirty water' that is touched by cleaning tools. That water is forcibly taken away from what is around it.

And the amount of water created by Cecil's 'Wall of Water' is about the size of a small pond.

The water that would increase it by 30% was not enough to make the 'Forest Crowler' dry up.

''Operation!'' It's a success!

Cecil and Aine high-five each other with a bang.

''After all, the plan Nagi-sama made is perfect!

Nai-kun called it a ”two-hit combo.

I feel sorry for the ...... demons. It's called ”Rakuchin Annihilation Operation (Senmezetsu Sakusen) 'Cecil Aine's Number 1'