Chapter 30 /// Go Back to Being a Human! ///
The miasma that drives the beastmen mad is spreading through the streets of Rotra this evening as it did last night.
“What do you think?”
It was Shion who asked Haku. Aria is also standing beside him, with a bottle of holy fresh water in her pocket.
‘……A faint smell of decay. It’s almost like a zombie smell’
“Maybe they’re using some kind of modified version of Zombie Powder”
Zombie Powder is an item that turns a living person into a zombie, and is favored by Sorcerers.
Since it was originally developed by the demon race, Shion thinks that the Demon King may be involved in this incident.
“Hey, Zion, do you think it’s possible to encompass such a large area?”
In response to Aria’s question, Shion held up his index finger and extended it high.
“Wind direction. Maybe they’re sending it from upwind, or maybe they’re generating wind magic to make it flow”
“What are we gonna do?”
“I’m tempted to retrace my steps back to the source, but the Ogre is my priority tonight”
“Okay, I got it”
‘Okay then, both of you, would you please ride this useless fox~’
What we need to do tonight is not to find out the cause of the evil. What we need to do tonight is not to find out the cause of the evil, but to see if the [Holy Fresh Water] that Aria made is effective against the Ogre.
Shion uses magic to detect magic power. With the power from the [Demonic Robbing Stone] restored, it can detect magic power up to about ten kilometers.
He found the same reaction as yesterday a few kilometers away, so he told Haku and asked him to move.
“If the culprit was demons, what do they want?”
“Maybe they want to pit beastmen against humans”
“Oh, so that’s what it is. So that’s what it’s aiming for. They’re still as dirty as ever”
Demons have more magic power than humans and are more skilled in battle, but they also tend to do things that look like manipulation.
Shion knows from experience that it is better to deal with the situation as soon as possible, as it will be more difficult to deal with it later.
‘Shh, shh, shh, both of you’
“—”
Haku stopped in his tracks near a stream on the plain. A few dozen meters ahead of him was the ogre he was looking for.
They hadn’t noticed Shion and the others yet. That’s just as well, because they are in the middle of a battle with a bear.
He can mount a rampaging bear, repeatedly fist it from his strong shoulders, and finally crush it in the face to end the fight. He has a degree of power that cannot be compared to that of a beast.
“Looks like it’s eating bear meat. Urph…”
‘It’s delicious when it’s grilled, though’
“That I understand. But, you know, I wonder if I can put that back, like eating raw and delicious”
It had only been a day since he had been turned into an ogre, but the human part of him seemed to have been completely lost, Aria muttered anxiously.
“I can turn it back. Let’s go”
‘If Shion says so, I guess I should’
“If you want to stop its movement, I can help. Can I ask you to help me build up my magic?”
“Then Haku, you have to protect Aria. I’ll be the bait”
‘Yes, sir’
The munching, gobbling ogre craned its neck. When he noticed Shion standing behind him, he immediately stood up and let out a roar of anger.
“I’m sorry, but we’re gonna need some company”
FWOOSH, one after another, people emerged from the ground. It was Shion himself, and his [Dark Clone] had increased her number to ten.
The ogre attacks the nearest clone. He doesn’t even think which one is the main body.
While judging that his intelligence was quite low, Shion fought as if he were letting go.
Even though it’s stronger than a mere ogre, if you play it right, you’ll never lose, and if anything, even a single alter will be able to finish it off and win.
It was only to buy time until Aria’s magic could be activated.
Then, just as Shion began to feel the cold air on his neck, a voice called out from behind him.
“We’re ready! Get out of the way!”
With that as a signal, he cancelled all his clones, and Shion stepped away from the Ogre.
PAKIIIIIIIIIIIN
“—guoohh!”
The lower half of his body was covered in ice, and the ogre was unable to move. He struck the ice with his fist in anguish, but it was not soft enough to be broken by that.
Quickly, with a thudding sound, Haku runs out and bites the ogre’s thick arm. With the power of his natural jaws, he could bite through it with ease, but of course he doesn’t.
The only purpose of this is to restrain them.
Shion followed suit and held down the one remaining arm to prevent the ogre from flailing.
“I’m counting on you, Aria”
“Leave it to me!”
With three steps of thumps, Aria closed the gap, grabbed both of the Ogre’s shoulders, and kicked him in the knee with a thud to the dove tail.
“Sorry about that”
“Ga…… ah……?!”
While he was panting in agony with his mouth wide open, she took out a bottle of white liquid and poured it into the ogre’s mouth. This was the Holy Fresh Water that had been transformed by magic.
“Please, come back……!”
Closing her eyes and praying with all her heart, Aria’s wish was luckily coming true.
“Hah…Hah… Am i… Did I… The fuck just happened…?”
He looks confused, but there is no noticeable trauma. Shion gives a thumbs up and mouths the word nice.
Aria made a pose as well, a big smile on her face.