novelraw Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119 : Chapter 119
Chapter 119: Asking the Black Sea, Four Questions (7)
The corpse of the banshee lay in the middle of the grassy field.
The penetrating wound carved in the center of its torso was vivid. It was the mark made by Abel’s beloved sword piercing through it. While the banshee’s face, which had not yet decomposed, was stained with a scream, Abel thrust his hand into the banshee’s body. To extract the core.
Squish, squish.
An unpleasant sound echoed.
Abel rummaged through the inside of the banshee with an indifferent expression. Black slime began to soak Abel’s hand.
“Lizer, take a look around.”
At Abel’s words, Lizer nodded.
He stowed his wand in the inner pocket of his coat. It was better to use his body. When it came to handling spirits.
As Lizer waved his arms, the spirits that had been hovering nearby revealed themselves. The spirits, undulating in clusters of light, were sluggish. It must be that the environment of Portsmouth had made the spirits ill. Spirits were meant to permeate natural objects to reproduce, and they would soon become extinct in polluted land.
‘They are sad, angry, and cursing…….’
Lizer read the minds of the spirits.
He had felt it from the moment he arrived at Portsmouth. A hatred so immense it made his head throb. The spirits that dominated this place were expressing pure hatred. Not towards the monsters, but towards the residents of Portsmouth.
‘It’s unusual.’
To hate creations more than monsters.
For spirits, monsters were undoubtedly natural enemies. The fact that monsters had formed a nest meant that the nearby ecosystem was polluted to an extent that it would be difficult to restore. No matter how much intelligent life forms harmed nature through civilization, no existence posed a greater threat to the reproduction of spirits than monsters.
‘The daily lives of the residents are ordinary.’
Spirits gathered in groups and solidified into the shape of mirrors.
Roundly formed mirrors floated around Lizer. The scenery of Portsmouth was engraved on each surface of the mirrors. They contained the vision of the spirits wandering throughout the village.
“Young men……, vigilantes, did they say? They are gathered at the tavern. They are speaking ill of you, Professor.”
Lizer began to report.
The daily lives of the residents observed through the spirits.
“That guy is really unlucky. It’s the middle of winter, and he’s only wearing a formal suit. Saying he’ll guard this coast alone. Looking pretty like a girl…….”
“Never mind the personal talk.”
Abel sighed.
He was well aware that the residents didn’t look kindly upon him. It couldn't be helped. Regionalism existed between the capital and the villages, and an academy professor, not the Imperial Army, had been dispatched. It was natural for the residents to feel aversion.
It must have been futile for them.
Because Abel annihilated them in an instant.
The monsters that the residents here had risked their lives to confront.
“Just explain their movements.”
Rip.
The sound of the banshee’s core being torn off.
Abel looked down at the banshee’s core. It had stopped beating and looked ominous in his grasp. Although the day had grown dark, the dark red color was vivid, and the moment he crushed it, a stream of blood splattered and marked Abel’s cheek. An indescribable stench. Abel frowned and wiped away the stream of blood.
“There are no particular abnormalities.”
Lizer said in a calm tone.
Abel began his work while listening to Lizer’s report.
“Most of the young men seem to be spending the night at the tavern. It must be hard to endure without alcohol. Thanks to the relief supplies being delivered, they have some breathing room, and they are enjoying a hearty banquet.”
Contact with the intelligent species.
To achieve this, a certain amount of work was required.
First of all, after securing the banshee’s corpse, he removed the core. At that moment, the intelligent species would have noticed. That among the countless monsters it commanded, the core of one individual had been removed.
Most monsters had no ego. They merely acted under the control of a hive mind. The intelligent species was an individual created to command monsters as a proxy for the Demon King, and the nearby monsters would invariably have their senses connected to the intelligent species.
“The young women also seem to have regained their daily lives. They are gathered in one place, talking. While worrying about the future, they are occasionally offering prayers to Cthanid.”
“Give me the spirits.”
When Abel spoke, Lizer waved his hand.
Several spirits tangled together to form a sphere. A mass of light formed in a size similar to the banshee’s core. It floated beside Abel. Abel grabbed the mass of light and intruded into the banshee’s body. To replace the core with the spirits.
Through this, the intelligent species would sense it. That among the countless monsters it commanded, one individual had awakened an ego. To be precise, the ego of the spirits would invade the mind of the intelligent species.
“The elderly seem to be spending the night at the temple. The way they look up to Cthanid is…….”
Meanwhile, Lizer crossed his arms.
After thinking for a moment, he whispered in a small voice.
“……Too harmless.”
Abel stood up.
All preparations were complete. He just had to amplify the ego of the spirits through Lizer. The moment the ego of the spirits and the ego of the intelligent species clashed, the intelligent species would focus all its senses on the banshee that had been encroached upon by the spirits. It would hear, see, and speak through the dead banshee. In other words, long-distance communication would become possible.
“You are right.”
Before contacting the intelligent species, Abel watched.
The scene of the temple where prayers were spreading. Through the spirits commanded by Lizer.
“Lizer, I have made preparations in advance.”
“I see.”
Lizer looked back at the banshee’s corpse.
The banshee’s chest was shining. Spirits were emitting radiance from where the core used to be. Although he hadn't been given a separate explanation, Lizer easily grasped Abel’s intention. The final step would have to be done by Lizer’s hand.
“To be honest……”
Lizer took a step forward.
Shaking his head from side to side.
“……I think it’s a very crude method, Professor. To provoke an intelligent species like this. What if it launches an all-out attack right now?”
“If it had any intention of doing so, it would have done it long ago.”
Abel replied with his arms crossed.
“I provoked the intelligent species as soon as I arrived here. Did I not cut down a horde of monsters with Aura Blade. At that moment, the intelligent species must have noticed my existence.”
“It was quite a loud provocation.”
Aha, he laughed.
Bursting into laughter, Lizer bent down.
He placed his hand on the banshee’s corpse and infused it with mana. By resonating mana with the spirits, he amplified their ego. Somewhere in the sea near Portsmouth, the intelligent species would soon notice. That the ego of spirits had invaded its mind.
‘Lizer is right.’
Waiting for the intelligent species to react,
Abel carefully observed the scene of the temple.
‘It is excessively harmless.’
The residents were just praying.
No other immoral acts were taking place.
Confinement, exploitation, assault, and even mass suicide. Religions often classified as heresies were bound to be accompanied by sins. The end of extreme faith was invariably ugly. Just as Deserick de Saint-Pierre, and further, the members of the Saint-Pierre family and the Arcturus family had been.
‘Why is that.’
Abel calmly pondered.
It wasn't just declined because of the monsters. That much was certain. The scenery of Portsmouth was not only altered by the invasion of monsters, but the entire village was in a desolate state as if every member had been cursed.
‘An existence capable of casting a potent curse is…….’
Naturally, only the Main Gods.
Wishing for others to suffer misfortune. Anyone could do that much. Casting curses was a right everyone could enjoy. It just didn't have any actual effect.
The Main Gods were different.
They could inflict so-called divine punishment. The Main Gods of the Pantheon possessed a mindset that transcended the laws of good and evil, but they would punish without delay for sins that were too great. Not because they judged based on ethics, but because they intuited that it would be a danger to maintaining this world.
Just as the existence of the Demon King was.
‘A curse has definitely been cast on Portsmouth.’
Not only are monsters threatening Portsmouth,
but the Main Gods also wish for Portsmouth to disappear.
What could be the reason.
As Abel questioned this,
“Answer.”
He opened his mouth.
Looking back.
“What is it about them that you hate so much.”
<──A foolish question.>
The night-drenched forest rustled.
While even the moonlight was blocked by dark clouds, a sea breeze laden with the smell of salt blew in. Before long, the banshee’s corpse was flashing its eyes. It hadn't come back to life; another being had taken residence in its body.
Lizer took a step back.
The banshee, which should have been dead, raised its body.
The intelligent species was moving the banshee’s corpse.
“You are sentimental for a monster.”
Abel said in an indifferent tone.
“To recognize a banshee as a brethren, and to be angry at its death.”
The voice of the intelligent species was strange.
It sounded like a child, like a young man, like an old man.
It seemed as if three voices were reciting in unison.
We are rebelling.
The intelligent species whispered as such.
“I have no intention of listening to your personal opinions.”
Abel took a step forward.
He stood facing the intelligent species that had borrowed the banshee’s body.
A dark red glint was engraved in Abel’s eyes.
“You and I will soon engage in battle. We are merely talking as enemy commanders.”
There is no room for understanding each other,
nor is there any possibility of doing so. We merely exchange questions and answers to explore each other.
Isn’t that right, monster.
Abel asked as such.
“If you have no intention of talking, say so. I will pull out the spirits for you. You could do it yourself. You can move the banshee’s arms, can’t you. Tear open its chest, extract the spirits, and crush them. Just like I crushed the banshee’s core.”
The intelligent species bowed its head.
It moved its arms and legs, and felt its body, examining the banshee’s corpse. Then it opened its mouth toward Abel.
“Good.”
Abel readily agreed.
The banshee’s corpse was of no use anyway.
“I want to know the history of this village. Not from the perspective of the residents who cherish the village, but from your perspective, who hates it. Why do you hate this village?”
The intelligent species laughed.
A chilling sneer shook the grassy field.
The intelligent species, Nodens, revealed its name,
Muttered while looking back at the coast,
What is righteousness.
What is inheritance.
What is reform.
What is mourning.
It asked Abel four questions.
It won’t take long, it said.
As Nodens muttered,
“……Professor Abel?”
Somewhere in the nearby bushes,
Monika’s voice was heard,
“──Are you truly human!”
And somewhere in the distant forest,
Demian’s shout echoed.