NOVEL NEXT Ch56 - To the Spirit Barrier
Chapter 56: To the Spirit Barrier
Adventurers gathered near the entrance to Lachelle. The Guild Master, the new receptionist, high-ranking adventurers, lower-ranked adventurers skilled in scouting, and the long-awaited nationally affiliated high mages. This select group was about to head towards Sylphine’s sister’s Dryad sprout. The new receptionist was included because of her keen eyesight and the fact that she was the only one who clearly remembered the green-haired sorcerer’s face. Luca, his appearance altered to that of an average-looking man using [Illusion], trembled slightly. His trauma ran deep.
A narrow path led to the barrier deep within the forest. It was maintained for the elderly mages who visited two or three times a year for barrier maintenance. These intellectually focused mages couldn’t traverse the natural forest for extended periods. Several small rickshaws carrying the mages set off from Lachelle, the purification party protected by scouts at the front, sides, and rear.
With nearly ten scouts, monster detection was remarkably efficient. They made steady progress, swiftly dispatching any Cursed Animals or monsters that happened to be nearby and attacked.
“I’m not too heavy, being a withered old man, but I feel bad having you pull the rickshaw every time,” one of the high mages said.
“Don’t mention it. It’s an honor to escort the nationally affiliated mages. The bumpy carriage ride must have been tiring… Thank you for coming so quickly.”
“Ho ho, not at all. It’s my duty! I want to purify Sylphine-sama’s Dryad sprout as soon as possible…”
“Thank you!”
The high mages responsible for the spirit barrier’s maintenance were mostly elderly. Their gentle nature seemed to foster good relationships with the Adventurer’s Guild members.
In Anees, talented mages with an aptitude for white magic were specially employed by the nation and trained as spirit barrier maintainers over many years. It was said that it took over 30 years of training before they could interact with the barriers. The reason for the white magic requirement was that most spirits favored light, and the barriers were light-based. Due to the unique circumstances of the curse, experienced mages were needed, which was why these seemingly saintly elders had been dispatched.
“(Lena, Drill Worms are targeting us from 10 meters underground. They’ll be right under the third rickshaw soon.)”
Luca’s purple eyes flicked towards Lena for a moment. The nostalgic telepathy.
“(Understood!) Um, my Butterfly says…blah blah blah…”
Lena relayed the monster’s approach, borrowing Lily’s name. Lily puffed out her chest proudly. She was currently in her Jumbo Butterfly form, not her fairy form.
“What!? Understood. Hey, third rickshaw, move aside a bit! Drill Worms are coming up from underground!”
“Got it!”
“Mm! …I hear a faint sound from underground… Here they come!”
“Yeah!”
▽Drill Worm appeared! x2
The earth bulged, and fleshy, slimy creatures emerged. Halfway out of the ground, they wriggled and writhed. They didn’t seem to be attacking yet. They appeared disoriented, having missed their target after emerging confidently.
The high-ranking adventurers wouldn’t miss this opening.
“[Head Splitter]!”
“[Spear Thrust]!”
The worms were swiftly dismembered. Large, severed pieces twitched on the ground, spraying transparent fluid. While Drill Worm meat was inedible, both the flesh and fluid were excellent fertilizer, so the group left the large chunks and continued on their way.
One of the adventurers smiled at Lena.
“Thanks, Miss Monster Tamer. It’s incredibly helpful to know when enemies are coming. With your scouting abilities, I’d love to have you in our party. We’ll handle the fighting, what do you say? Especially with Drill Worms attacking from underground, they’re a threat to most humanoids. You’ve tamed some excellent monsters! Good job, little one!”
“My familiars can scout with confidence thanks to the strong seniors protecting us. Thank you for your hard work in battle.”
“Haha, you’re good at flattery! You dodged the party invitation, though. Oh well. There’s a place for everyone, so leave the fighting to us. Otherwise, we wouldn’t know why we were called here.”
“Indeed!” a spearman chimed in cheerfully. Lena-sama, tamer of an excellent golden monster? Perhaps not. The world might mistakenly think Lena owned him.
Lena and her group, possessing unique rare skills they couldn’t reveal to others, couldn’t casually join another party. She was relieved the adventurer had dropped the invitation so easily.
The scouts continued their vigilant watch as the group ventured deeper. There was no sign or presence of the sorcerer…
A bright light appeared ahead. The path opened into a clearing. A shimmering, iridescent barrier, maintained for generations by the nation’s mages, welcomed them, softly reflecting the sunlight.
The adventurer party and the town priest stationed near the barrier looked exhausted, but their faces lit up when they saw the mages.
“Welcome, everyone…! I apologize for the immediate request, but Mages, could you temporarily disable the barrier?”
“Of course. That’s why we’re here. Now, let’s perform the purification ritual with all our might!”
“Thank you!”
The white-robed elders lined up, raising their staffs inlaid with glittering jewels. As they inhaled, the atmosphere shifted. The wind in the clearing died down, and even the birdsong ceased. Sylphine sighed contentedly, closing her eyes as if savoring the gentle stillness.
The air felt cleansed, their vision seemingly clearer. For a moment, the forest was silent. Then, a strong voice, unexpected from an elder, resonated through the clearing. It was the traditional spirit chant.
“We beseech thee, allow us to touch the shimmering rainbow veil that protects the beautiful maiden.
We are those who admire thee.
We are those who love thee.
We mean no harm, we hold no doubt, we offer only our utmost respect.
We express our heartfelt gratitude for the blessings you bestow upon the land.
Please extend your white, delicate hand to those who adore thee…”
Everyone was captivated by the magical singing. The tension in the air eased slightly.
The iridescent barrier shimmered. Slowly, the thin yet sturdy layers of the barrier dissolved, like a lady’s veil gracefully unfurling. It was a dreamlike sight.
As the barrier dissolved halfway, those watching gasped.
The Dryad sprout was almost 10 meters from the outermost layer of the barrier. The change in the large tree had been hidden by the multiple layers of the white, iridescent barrier. Sylphine cried out in anguish.
“…I can’t see my sister…!?”
Her sister was no longer visible to Sylphine. However, the humans, who previously couldn’t see spirits, could now see her clearly. Why?
“The spirit… Oh, what a pitiful sight…”
One of the high mages, tears streaming down his face, spoke in a choked voice. In Anees, folktales depicted the spirit residing in the Dryad sprout as a beautiful maiden…
Sitting slumped near the base of the tree was a young woman who looked almost like a girl. Indeed, she possessed a radiant beauty: translucent, youthful white skin, leaf-green hair that seemed to embody the forest’s vitality, a gentle, oval face, and a perfectly sculpted nose. …Her parted lips, taking shallow breaths, were strikingly sensual. …Something was amiss. She appeared to be in pain, and Lena and the others felt uneasy because they couldn’t sense the divine aura they felt from Sylphine. A closer look revealed that her feet, calves, and palms were stained a dark black, a grim realization dawning on everyone.
Luca conveyed shocking information to Lena.
“Sylphine, corrupted by the curse, has fallen from her spirit form to a lower being, which is why everyone can see her…”
Lena shed a tear. The words were too cruel. She asked Luca if Sylphine could be restored, but he grimaced and said it depended on the mages’ efforts, but it would be difficult.
The moment the barrier fully dissolved, Sylphine flew towards the large tree, carried by the wind. Seeing the blackened roots, she cried out again in anguish.
The humans, unable to see the younger Sylphine, rushed towards the seated maiden. Startled by the approaching footsteps, the maiden flinched. The mages and adventurers exchanged glances and stopped, approaching slowly and speaking in hushed tones.
“We mean you no harm, Sylphine-sama…! We are the people of Anees who spoke to you from outside the barrier, those who adore you.”
“We have come here to purify the taint that afflicts your Dryad sprout. Please allow us to aid in your recovery!”
Their actions and words were undeniably suspicious. However, their earnest plea seemed to reach Sylphine. She lifted her head, tilting it towards the voices. Her eyelids remained closed, stained a pale black, hiding her presumably beautiful eyes. She likely couldn’t open them on her own. The sight of her weakly trembling eyelashes brought pained expressions to everyone’s faces.
Sylphine likely suspected humans were responsible for the curse. Yet, bravely, she trusted the words of the people of Anees who claimed to admire her, and she feebly extended her blackened hand. The elder, eyes brimming with tears, whispered his thanks and gently took her delicate hand.
“…Peace be upon the spirit. [Purification Purge]!”
” [Purification Purge]!” everyone chanted in unison.
Despite it being daytime, the clearing was filled with blinding white light as everyone capable of using [Purification Purge] cast the spell. The younger Sylphine landed beside her sister’s presumed location, gently leaning against her.
Please let the sisters be saved…! And may this sad incident come to an end, Lena prayed silently, clasping her hands together. She wanted to rely on her unmeasurable Luck now more than ever. Please, Lucky!
With the barrier gone and the purification light making them highly visible, this was the most crucial time to be vigilant. The high-ranking adventurers formed a circle around the Dryad sprout, widening their field of vision and scanning the forest.
Then, the worst-case scenario unfolded.
Luca was the first to notice. This time, there was no time to relay the information through Lena. He shouted, seeing the overpowered sorcerer approaching the clearing at breakneck speed, his feet wreathed in wind.
“The sorcerer is coming!! He has a large monster with him… Everyone, prepare for battle!”
Behind the sorcerer, he could see the form of a terrifying cursed monster.
“What!?”
“Tch, understood!”
“Don’t let the sorcerer near the Dryad sprout! This will be a difficult fight while protecting the mages. Don’t let your guard down! Attack as soon as you see him, take him down swiftly! Dead or alive!”
“Yeah!!”
Lena readied her whip and cast [Inspire] on her familiars.
“Lily, please support everyone! Haru-kun, keep Kureha and Izumi attached to you. I’ll leave the fighting to you, but be careful of curse infection! I’ll try not to be a burden. I’ll regularly use [Inspire] and [Familiar Recovery]!”
“Alright, let’s do this!”
“Mm! …Let’s stay alert! We are part of Master’s power. Let’s do our best, together!”
“Hooray!”
“Fufu… Thank you!”
A tremendous threat was approaching. While they intended to leave the fighting to the high-ranking adventurers, Lena and her group were prepared to repel the sorcerer if necessary. They had promised to save Sylphine.
Lena looked back to see Sylphine watching them with worried, teary eyes. When Lena and the others nodded resolutely, Sylphine’s eyes widened in surprise, then she broke into a teary smile.
Luca, his magic sword at the ready, glared at a point in the forest. The new receptionist’s suspicious gaze pricked his back after he’d spoken out, but she was thankfully reading the room and staying quiet, so he ignored her.
▽Luca’s heart has grown stronger! (Compared to before)
“We see him! Firing!”
The twin archers, known for their sharp eyes, loosed arrows from their massive bows. The sorcerer effortlessly dodged the incoming projectiles. As expected, he was formidable! Several arrows struck the large monster, but the sorcerer didn’t seem to care, suggesting a lack of camaraderie.
Several ranged attacks were launched, but the sorcerer dodged them all and finally reached the clearing. Beads of sweat appeared on the adventurers’ foreheads.
The sorcerer planted his feet firmly on the ground, slowing his momentum after riding the wind. The scraping sound of his shoes against the sand echoed loudly. Then, the monster appeared, letting out an earsplitting roar.
“Gyaaaaaaaagh!!!”
It was a grotesque figure, likely a dragon, bound by dark magic [Shadow Chains]. More than half of its black-green scales were missing, and its flesh was decaying. Its forelimb wings were folded, too decayed to fly, bones clearly visible. It was likely the effect of the Corruption Curse. It should also be under the Contagion Curse. A Frenzy Curse was unlikely, as it was ineffective on highly intelligent monsters like dragons. Its enraged blue eyes glared hatefully at the sorcerer! …Were they not allies?
“Wait, is that the Phantom Black Dragon of the forest!? …Isn’t that the guardian beast of this forest!?”
A Lachelle-based scout cried out, his face contorted. The guardian beast. The apex predator of the area. It was said that harming it would disrupt the ecosystem and bring disaster. Moreover, true to its “Phantom” name, it dissolved into light upon death, leaving no materials, offering only experience points. The adventurers all grimaced. That damn pretty-boy sorcerer!
“It’s him! Under the hood, it’s the green-haired beauty I met!” the new receptionist declared, using [See-Through] to identify the black-robed sorcerer. That handsome bastard! The high-ranking adventurers present were all men.
“Grrrrrrraaaaah!”
“Take this!”
The adventurers unleashed their strongest magic and skill attacks on the sorcerer and the dragon!
▽Next: Battle, and the sorcerer’s objective.