Chapter 90
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18. North Island and South Island
Kaiden was undoubtedly the most efficient conduit for channeling my magical power.
So before leaving the Cabin, I decided to train with him, experimenting with various methods of infusing mana into his body.
Kaiden stood in the Clearing before the Cabin, drawing a magical circle on the ground.
"Aren't you able to cast magic without drawing circles and such?"
"True, but when my mana becomes unstable, there's nothing more reliable than drawing it out directly."
Yet we never had the chance to test his power.
Boom! Crash!
A deep, resonant sound echoed from somewhere far away. Kaiden and I froze in alarm.
"Could it be...?"
The Silver Earthworm beneath my feet began to writhe frantically, spewing finger-sized flames repeatedly toward the Thicket, its entire body tense with vigilance.
At that moment, the group burst out of the Cabin, gathering their belongings. They had all heard that ominous sound.
Upon seeing the Silver Earthworm's behavior, the group turned their gaze toward the quiet Thicket beyond, their faces darkening with foreboding.
"That doesn't sound like a Tarantula Monster."
"It doesn't seem to be an Anaconda either."
"Then could it be a wolf-type Monster?"
Kaiden, Rujeep, and Yuanna spoke in turn. Then what was it? I tilted my head in confusion. At that moment, Asdal looked at me.
"Didn't you say wolf-type Monsters don't inhabit this area? So it can't be one of them."
"No. The Monsters have begun venturing beyond their territories. We encountered wolf-type Monsters on our way to the location where we found the key."
Kaiden resolved Asdal's doubt.
The theory that Monsters were beginning to leave their territories was, in fact, no longer a theory but an established fact. They'd already begun evolving—what could possibly prevent them from abandoning their territories?
Kaiden and I had even encountered an Orangutan Monster in an area where wolf-type Monsters were supposed to inhabit.
"Or it could be an Orangutan Monster. If it is one, it would be far more destructive than wolves, which would be quite troublesome..."
At Kaiden's murmur, everyone fell silent, their expressions growing grave.
"Even if Monsters swarm us, as long as the Half-Emperor is here, we should have nothing to worry about."
At Asdal's words, everyone's gaze turned to Enoch. Enoch lifted his head as he fastened the sword holder around his waist.
Seeing Enoch's composure—not a trace of agitation—a smile bloomed across Asdal's face.
"Look at that composure. See? If the Half-Emperor goes berserk, what does it matter if Monsters swarm us by the hundreds? The epithet 'War Demon' wasn't given to the Half-Emperor for nothing."
Of course, I disagreed with his assessment.
"You want to send Enoch berserk? He could end up slicing us to pieces while cutting down the Monsters."
"Hmm. A careless remark."
Asdal quickly acknowledged his mistake.
But unexpectedly, Kaiden, who had been holding me close, reinforced Asdal's point.
"If control can be maintained properly, it might actually be a good strategy. Margaret, you can control him, can't you? Aren't you holding the Crown Prince's leash?"
"A leash? Enoch isn't a dog."
"From what I saw last time, it seemed pretty similar."
As the debate about Enoch continued, he finally let out an exasperated sigh.
"...I understand perfectly well what you all think of me. And even without going berserk, I can eliminate the Monsters. It will take time, but if you all avoid injury and stay out of my sight, there will be no need for me to lose control."
"That's Enoch for you."
"That's the Half-Emperor for you."
"As expected of the Crown Prince."
Asdal, Kaiden, and I gave Enoch a thumbs up in turn. Enoch is undeniably the strongest in this world. Right, he's not the main male lead for nothing.
"It would be wise for us to retreat swiftly while Your Majesty keeps the monsters at bay."
Yuanna, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, finally spoke.
"Actually, I have a good idea if you'd like to hear it? During my time as the Holy Maiden, I was dispatched on many monster subjugation missions, so I'm quite experienced with this sort of thing."
Holy Maiden on duty—it was an odd way to phrase it, but since Yuanna despised being called the "Holy Maiden," I let it slide.
"Monsters that swarm in groups follow a certain pattern, you see."
There was weight behind Yuanna's words. Perhaps it was because she truly understood when her input was needed.
"Usually, there's a leader-type monster within the swarm. If we identify and eliminate that leader, the group collapses, and the remaining monsters become easy to handle."
"Hmm, that certainly makes sense. I'm accustomed to human warfare, but I'm not well-versed in monster behavior."
Enoch nodded at Yuanna's words with an approving expression. Asdal, who had also been listening quietly, showed his agreement.
"I've also commanded monster subjugation squads before. I understand what the Holy Maiden is getting at."
"The problem arises when a monster appears that doesn't swarm. With those creatures, there's no choice but to defeat them through individual combat."
"That would be the worst-case scenario."
Yuanna nodded at my words.
I glanced back at Rujeep for a moment. He met my eyes with a puzzled expression, clutching his medical kit to his chest.
"I think it would be best for those who can't contribute to combat to evacuate early and then provide support. The Bishop and I will focus on treating wounds. Holy Maiden, since you're quick on your feet and skilled at climbing trees, could you handle relaying information about the situation?"
"Leave it to me."
Yuanna nodded with a serene smile, even expressing delight at the chance to use her old skills from her pickpocketing days.
"I'll use weapons as I assess the situation."
I retrieved a flare gun and loaded it with ammunition.
Even with flares and explosives, a surprise attack from a swarm of monsters was always a risk, so staying at a distance and providing support at the right moment seemed ideal.
It would also be easier to channel mana that way.
Through my practice with mana manipulation—hidden from Asdal—I had discovered that I could inject my mana into others without direct physical contact.
Of course, the precision suffered in that method, and a considerable amount of mana dispersed in the process.
It was roughly the difference between using a hose to fill a bucket with water versus gathering water by hand.
"Right, with Silver Earthworm around, we have nothing to worry about."
Kaiden laughed with confidence. But if I actually said I'd take the lead in combat, he'd be the first to object.
He was only reassured because I said I'd stay safely in the rear.
Enoch removed his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt cuffs, rolling up his sleeves as he glanced at us.
"Then let's settle it that way. I'll take command of the battle. Asdal, you analyze the monsters' behavioral patterns."
Asdal gave a thumbs up and laughed at Enoch's words.
"Good thinking. Flone Young Lady, would you inject mana into me? I'll trace the flow of mana to read the monsters' movements."
At Asdal's request, I grasped his hand with the one wearing the ring. His blue eyes immediately began to shimmer brilliantly with emerald light.
"Given their fast movement speed and large numbers, they seem to be wolf-type monsters."
At Asdal's words, Enoch, Diego, and Kaiden drew their swords in turn and took defensive positions.
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