SWNOVELXO Chapter 99
Episode 3-b. Black Mage Subjugation.
The long corridor of the ancient ruins has transformed into the intestines of a creature, continuously writhing to greet us without ever returning to its original state.
As we descended underground, time continued to flow.
The floor became so damp and sticky that it even felt mushy, causing our pace to slow more and more.
“I’m, I’m sorry. The shape of the corridor has changed, making it difficult to find the traces of the magic circles… We have no choice but to activate and then dismantle them…”
“Hmm, understood. Then we must continue onward while maintaining the barrier for now.”
The process of finding and dismantling the magic circles in this otherwise normal corridor became futile due to this strange phenomenon.
To put it strictly, this subjugation is a failure.
They will collapse before reaching the deepest point.
Surely, before even reaching the end, they will be unable to withstand the traps of the magic circles and the continuous magical attacks from the black mages, and will fall apart.
However.
“Commander, I think it might be wise to retreat for now…”
“Speak sense! If we retreat from the very entrance, who will take responsibility for the honor of our knight order and magic division?”
“B-but…”
“Who will take responsibility for the disgrace of being pushed back by a black mage!”
“….”
Humans are quite foolish and stupid.
In pursuit of higher honor and greater wealth, they cling to stubbornness that leads to nothing.
Nothing is more important than life, yet they place their lives precariously on a thin line, decorated only with filthy greed disguised as honor and wealth.
Thus, I tried to bolster the words of one wizard who was slightly less foolish.
“I think it would be a more prudent decision to retreat and then come back after regrouping.”
It was a wish that people would not die due to the obstinacy of an incompetent superior who was determined to throw their lives away.
Of course, my words were still inadequate to sway his stubbornness.
The commander, who was referred to as such, approached me with an angry expression, looking down at me.
“What makes you think you can speak?”
“It was written that there are no ranks or status among the subjugation team, so this is just a piece of advice as a member of the team.”
“Even if there are no ranks or status within the subjugation team, you really don’t know the difference between the commander of the knight order and a mere adventurer. Just follow along and don’t stick your neck out.”
His growling demeanor seemed quite amusing, as if he were warning off other wild beasts coveting his belongings.
He appeared so blinded by greed that he didn’t even realize a cold blade was at his throat.
So I shook my head and finished speaking.
“You all will die. You, and all of your subordinates.”
“…, I’m just advising you to not boast about breaking the hands of a couple of underlings.”
Unfortunately, the hefty commander glared at me once more before returning to the front.
“Advance. Mages, report your remaining mana levels regularly, and knights, do not hide your injuries.”
Thus, the subjugation team continues onward.
The black mages appeared in groups like ants, repeatedly launching ominous blasts of mana before vanishing.
The wizards and knights who had entered their territory, along with some mercenaries and adventurers, began to be picked off little by little like beasts hunted by hunters.
Eileen tugged on the hem of my clothes, staring at this spectacle.
“Asha, are we really okay…?”
“….”
I had brought her along because she wanted to come, but her constant anxiety was somewhat vexing.
Thwack—
“Ugh! Why suddenly hit me in the head…!”
“Eileen.”
“Y-yes…?”
“I’ve told you several times that everything is fine. We are okay, aren’t we?”
They were the ones becoming increasingly serious; we would be safe even if we rolled around.
Our lives, at least, would not be at risk.
So.
I could only continue to ponder.
The backs of those people, whose expressions began to show fear.
The corridor’s scenery, still writhing and activating magic circles while increasingly darkening.
What choice I must make when faced with such a situation.
That was what I needed to think about.
“….”
If Ain had been next to me, would he have provided me with an answer?
He always resolved the problems I faced, even in situations like this, I am sure he would have been certain.
Thinking that, I trailed behind those who were chaotically moving forward.
The right choice.
That is far too difficult for those whose very essence has rotted away.
Is it fortunate?
Even as we delved deeper into this bizarre and squishy scenery, there were no particular problems.
“Ha, it seems the black mages are nothing special.”
The black mages repeated their pickings and even fell victim to our counterattacks, while the magic circles mostly cast similar attacks that we all easily repelled.
“It seems we’re getting accustomed to this pattern, Commander!”
“See? If we had retreated hastily, we would have just earned disgrace.”
The one referred to as the commander said this and shot a scornful glance towards his subordinate who had advocated retreat as he confidently advanced forward.
It seemed he was so displeased by my one piece of advice that he clicked his tongue while looking at me indifferently.
Then Eileen looked between the commander and me, speaking up.
“Asha, can’t we just kill them?”
“I’ve told you repeatedly that this level of magic won’t kill anyone, so stop worrying about it, Eileen.”
Even if all the various books and newspapers depict the gray as a calamity, haven’t we been together long enough?
And.
“No, no. I was just asking if I could kill them. I could just smack that annoying guy on the head with lightning, right?”
“….”
“What about striking him with lightning when the black mage’s magic comes flying at us, Asha?”
It turned out that her suggestion wasn’t about not killing people, but rather about killing them, so I pondered for a moment on Eileen’s words.
Hmm.
Hmm.
Tsk.
“…, no.”
“Tch…. You’re overly kind for no reason.”
“Yes, as you said, I must be kind to an excessive degree, so I cannot do that.”
Of course, it is an impossible thing.
The person who should be stopping me is rather encouraging me, causing an unwanted desire to rise, but I must be a good person.
It is wrong to harm lives over such childish things.
Moreover, though the boisterous commander may not realize it, I began to feel a sense of unease.
I wondered if it was possible for them to have penetrated so deeply without any bloodshed using only their own strength.
Because.
Since we had faced quite fierce attacks and defenses from the very beginning, it didn’t make sense to me that they would be this lax.
A hundred years.
The knights and wizards ahead have already let their guard down and are confused, but the black mages have not wasted that long time.
What is it that they have gained from a phenomenon where night does not come, fatigue is not felt, and dreams cannot be dreamt?
Every form of magic has a clear causality, so there must be results arising from such phenomena.
In fact, dying young is merely superficial.
The notion that they cannot escape after ten days is also an unnecessary byproduct that is not particularly relevant.
So.
– Hey! It looks like this way! The black mages are all dead! Hurry up!
– Damn it! At first, I thought our lives were at stake, but it turns out it was just our rewards!
From the back, the murmurs of a later arriving group that had finally descended into the underground began to be heard.
“Hmm, finally, with the subjugation team coming down late, it seems all that’s left is for the black mages to be finished off, right? Isn’t that so? Those adventurers who suggested retreat.”
The commander, whose grudges run long, is now speaking while casting a disdainful glance at me.
Well then, it is a good moment.
If I have the capability, it should be a good opportunity to eliminate everyone who has entered the lair all at once.
And their decayed thoughts are probably similarly aligned.
I began to feel a sense of something ominous starting to unfold.
I muttered softly.
“…, fools.”
“Asha?”
At the very least, those who can handle mana should hear something ominous echoing from all directions.
“Eileen, do not fall behind. It is coming.”
“W-what’s coming…?”
“Waves.”
Dirtily murky mana, like dirty water, is surging in like a massive wave from every corridor that winds through the area.
I bit my lip and dispersed my mana.
“Beyond the fence that cannot be dared to breach.”
“A wall that blocks the wind.”
“A warm presence.”
“I…”
“Ah, Asha…!! It’s coming, it’s coming!!”
Ah.
I was a bit late.
We were swept away by the turbid mana overflowing with a whoosh from every direction.
The stench filling the corridor and the wave engulfed us in an instant.
After calling them fools.
In truth, I too, being swept away with them, was a fool.