Chapter 122: The Black Mage’s Ambush

There were over 50 crucians that appeared in the cavern.

I could see why the Earl of Coldwell called it a colony. If those things all rushed out at once and started tearing up the ground? “Just imagining it is horrifying. But what are those guys doing?”

The crucians all tilted their heads in unison.

It felt like some kind of cult ritual. Then, I got an even more ominous feeling than before. Their big round eyes all seemed to be facing me. No, that makes sense, right? From their perspective, I’m the intruder. But thinking about it, they didn’t seem that intelligent.

They were the idiots who just stubbornly headbutted, after all.

They probably couldn’t find me stuck to the wall and attack…

“Or could they?”

I stared at the luminous stone in my hand.

In this pitch-black cavern, this was the only glowing object.

It was natural that attention would focus on it.

“Carp?”

“Carp!”

Thud thud thud thud!

The crucians started flailing wildly and charging this way.

Once they reached top speed, they’d leap without regard and attempt a headbutt.

Thud thud thud!

Sure enough, dozens of crucians thrust their heads forward and flew at me.

“Damn it!”

—You idiot! You should’ve put away the luminous stone earlier!

“How, when I can’t see!”

I bickered with Shugl but swiftly leaped to the side.

I couldn’t die arguing with this guy, could I?

Crack! Crack!

As I stabbed the wall with the warhammer and moved, some distance opened up.

Meanwhile, the carp bastards’ storm of headbutts began.

Boom boom boom!

It was an attack method ignorant beyond belief.

“Ugh! What if it collapses like that.”

—Huh?

—What?

I muttered absentmindedly, and Shugl and Feltron made weird noises.

I had a feeling I knew what they’d say next.

“It’s not a death flag.”

—It is, though.

“Shut up!”

Clang! Crash!

I pulled out the Hector Punisher and stabbed again, descending downward.

Then I dropped onto the back of a crucian wandering the floor.

“Hyah!”

Crack!

With gravity’s help, I slammed the warhammer in, and with a terrifying sound, the thing’s nape caved in deeply.

「Critical Hit! 3.9 times attack power added.」

“Bu, buung… Kwaak!“

The guy died in a single blow.

It matched perfectly with what the two half-demons had investigated.

The whole body except the head was relatively soft.

So I aimed for the nape on purpose, and it was this effective.

Not just a dozen—even if I fight all those guys?

One hit, one kill?

Then it’d be over after swinging 50 times.

Though I’d have to hit the vital spot precisely.

“Come on in, you morons.”

I taunted the crucians with my back to the wall.

Of course, they didn’t fall for it.

They’d charge headfirst anyway, even without that.

“Buuung!”

Boom!

I swiftly dodged the flying crucian.

The guy crashed into the wall and flailed.

This made it easy to aim for the vital spot.

“Hyah!”

Crack!

As soon as I jammed the Hector Punisher into the nape, I swung my arm again.

Another one flailing nearby caught my eye perfectly.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Smack!

「Critical Hit! 4.2 times attack power added.」

“Yes!”

Thanks to the critical hit, the guy’s body became unrecognizable.

From the nape to the back, it all burst open.

I extended my right arm to the side and confidently chanted.

“Summon!”

Swoosh! Thud!

The Hector Punisher flew like an arrow and stuck in my grip.

Yes! This is it. Feels killer.

Grabbing the handle strap and spinning it, I felt like the god of thunder.

In that state, I leaped over another charging crucian and struck.

Crack!

Knowing the vital spot made the fight effortless.

Plus, the Hector Punisher’s functions were too good.

I didn’t even need other skills.

Save them for unexpected situations. This is enough.

I ran around the cavern, slaughtering crucians.

After killing about 40 like that.

“What the hell is going on!”

A light burst from a hole in the opposite wall.

A beam far more intense than the faint luminous stone.

I was momentarily blinded, but I leaped regardless.

My next move was already planned.

Crack!

“Kuek!“

Another crucian with a burst back rolled on the floor.

“Back off!”

The same voice echoed through the cavern again.

Surprisingly, the crucians hesitated and retreated.

“Aw, just leave them. There aren’t many left anyway.”

I smacked my lips and stared at the opponent.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, the sudden newcomer came into view.

Seeing him control the crucians, this must be the black mage.

<Character Info>

Name: Ezekiel

Status: Commoner

Position: None

Relationship: No acquaintance

State: Rage from chimera damage, no guilt, malicious plan to collapse Coldwell Earldom

Skills: 5th-class black magic, chimera creation and enhancement.

Overall Ability: A

Sure enough, the status window was exactly as expected.

It didn’t show what motive he had for this.

But there was plenty of useful info.

Oh? Now it even shows magic tiers?

It was no exaggeration to say I had most of his personal details.

Plus, a rough idea of his plan.

Even a god-tier shaman couldn’t do this.

Let’s think this through.

Currently, the Coldwell Earldom was in a major crisis.

What reason to drive the territory to the brink?

There must be something to suck out of it, hence this scheme.

Then the culprit?

One of the neighboring lords, or all conspiring.

There were quite a few territories bordering Coldwell Earldom.

But filtering was quick.

North was a massive mountain range, west full of small territories.

No way barons without power pulled off something this big.

Then only east and south.

Both earldoms, so plenty possible.

I stared at the opponent and shouted.

“Are you Ezekiel?”

“Hm?”

“I heard from the Earl of Mccartney. He sent me to help, but the hospitality sucks.”

Ezekiel’s wariness dropped rapidly.

Probably because I knew his name and the client.

“You could’ve called me from outside—why cause this mess?”

“I thought a black mage of your caliber would use high-intelligence chimeras. No, why make ones that charge the moment they see you? I almost died for real.”

I pointed at the crucians with a dissatisfied expression.

Ezekiel scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said.

“W-well, couldn’t help it. To overturn the ground, they need good physical ability and defense, but then intelligence suffers.”

“Aw, just don’t use carp to begin with.”

“Well, that’s true, but…….”

“Enough chit-chat, let’s go in and talk. I hear results have been lacking lately.”

“Ahem! As you wish.”

The conversation so far was very natural.

I’d look like reinforcements sent by the Earl of Mccartney.

My acting was that slick.

Anyway, I guessed randomly, and it worked.

To the east of Coldwell Territory was the Holbrook Earldom.

I couldn’t completely rule it out from this incident, but I tentatively excluded it from suspects.

They’re in chaos over succession issues.

I wasn’t into gossip, but I heard the big ones.

Probably why they rejected the Earl of Coldwell’s request for help.

Then only one left.

The Earl of Mccartney.

“Seeing you smash my chimeras like this, your skills are solid.”

“This much is nothing.”

“So what do you plan to do? Doesn’t seem like you’ll disguise as a monster incident like me.”

At Ezekiel’s question, I smiled faintly.

Then I leaned my face in slightly and said.

“Don’t you recognize me?”

“You’re quite handsome, but not famous…….”

Ezekiel, tilting his head and muttering, suddenly went silent.

He seemed to finally realize my identity.

“Y-you? This…….”

“Too late.”

Ezekiel was standing face-to-face with me.

Arm’s reach, so escape was impossible.

A mere black mage’s physical ability couldn’t even react.

To my warhammer.

Whoosh—! Smack!

“Gurgle!“

As Ezekiel’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed, the crucians started flailing.

“Carp? Carp!”

“Carpsin! Carpsin!”

But they couldn’t headbutt right away.

Because I was holding their master.

“Hey! Don’t even think about it.”

As I held the Hector Punisher’s blade to Ezekiel’s neck, the crucians stopped.

Even with low intelligence, they could tell their master was in danger.

In that state, I walked around and smashed all the carps’ napes.

Crack! Crack!

They were so dumb, they didn’t even think to save their master.

“Hunting is this easy.”

Then, as I finished off the last one.

Smack!

「Stopped the chimera wave, the calamity of Coldwell Earldom.」

「Reward granted.」

「Communication Rod Mastery changes to Warhammer Mastery.」

「Warhammer Mastery skill grows to level 51.」

“Oh! This is killer?”

Lately I hadn’t used the communication rod as a weapon, so it felt a bit wasteful.

But I couldn’t let the top-tier Hector Punisher rot.

I’d use it even if I had to level from 1.

But applying the communication rod mastery like this?

Couldn’t ask for a better reward.

When using a warhammer, all stats increase evenly.

Alright, let’s head up.

I slung Ezekiel over one shoulder and wandered the cavern.

To find an exit.

Probably where this guy came from.

“Yes!”

Sure enough, besides the weird device on the cavern ceiling, there was an entrance.

Made for Ezekiel’s solo use, the passage was very narrow.

But getting out wasn’t a big issue.

Thud! Thud! Sizzle!

Just painful for the guy I was carrying.

It was so tight, he kept bumping and scraping everywhere.

—Whoa! Really vicious.

—A human worse than a demon!

Shugl and Feltron, watching, each threw in a comment.

Of course, these half-demons had to pay for their nonsense.

Hands full now, so verbal beatdown.

“Both of you, no spirit energy for a week.”

—Aah! No!

—I was wrong, human!

The two grabbed my pant legs, but my steps didn’t stop.

They were too small to feel the weight.

“Huh?”

After walking a while, the exit finally appeared ahead.

Stepping out, bright sunlight and a huge crowd awaited me.

“Eh? Why are there suddenly so many people?”

As I examined the situation with a puzzled expression, someone spotted me and shouted.

“Th-there he is!”

“Waaah!”

Startled by the sudden cheers, I started running the opposite way.