For Sale. Fallen Lady. Never Used.

Nidhogg stopped at a certain point on the outskirts of the Great Forest.

When we came out, the situation was much more serious than what Milone had told us.

“Madness.”

“Mother World Tree…”

“…Already to this extent?”

We had clearly descended at a place slightly farther from where the army of the Grotesque Proliferation resided.

But when we came out, what greeted us was not the vibrant greenery characteristic of the Great Forest.

Leaves, still green but twisted and dried like fallen leaves, tree trunks that would break with a single tap, cracked and split.

The small grass turned into sand-like dust, and animals, which had grown to an eerie size thanks to the life force of the Great Forest, were now shriveled to just bones and skin.

It was a strange sight, as if the entire forest’s energy had been drained by someone.

“Already expanded this far…?”

Yes. This was the aftermath of the energy absorption done by the army of Grotesque Proliferation as they passed by.

It was an ability commonly used by dark demons, but even other races could do similar things if they received authority from the Grotesque Proliferation.

“The expansion speed is faster than expected, Master.”

“…No. This isn’t just the natural consequence of expanding their army. It means they’ve already passed through here.”

Think of it like sheep and pastures.

What would happen if sheep only graze in one spot? The grass in that area would disappear, and eventually, the sheep would starve.

So shepherds always move the sheep periodically to find places with grass to eat.

“The army of Grotesque Proliferation is the same. They move continuously to places where there is energy to absorb, where they can satisfy their lust.”

So when I heard they were quietly gathering their forces, I thought it was because they weren’t fully prepared yet.

When their numbers are small, they can manage with kidnapped people used as portable lust outlets.

But when their numbers grow, it’s not enough. They must keep moving because of that.

This is why it’s called a snowball effect.

When scattered, they are weak and can hide or run if needed… but once they grow large, they become like an unstoppable runaway train, ravaging the continent.

“Did the scouts give us false information…?”

“That’s not it.”

Cardinal Tumila shook his head at my murmur.

“Her Excellency the Chancellor is very meticulous by nature, and as a principle, she cross-checks information multiple times. Planting just one or two spies in the scout teams would not be enough to escape her paranoid suspicions.”

In H&A, he was portrayed as a cardinal who respected the Circulating Life, holding High Elves with divine blood in high regard, while viewing the Chancellor, who strips High Elves of their rights, negatively.

That was why he was always in conflict with Milone… but conversely, it meant he knew Milone well.

He was probably right.

“Then there’s only one answer. All the scouts were deceived. There’s no other explanation.”

“…The Boiling Silence.”

Carla, who had already been tricked once, whispered with a shudder.

“That’s right. The Boiling Silence must have done something. A creature that has lost their apostle and much of their own power doesn’t have many options, right? Like… clinging to another Evil God for revenge.”

Helena let out a deep sigh, as if something clicked.

“When they invaded Solaris, they used an ability to deceive the perceptions of those around. Since all the villagers were evacuated, they only needed to fool a few scouts.”

“Tsk. Whether they knew we would attack first or just tried to sneak in, it’s not a completely hopeless situation. Look at these leaves. They seem like they would break if you touch them, but… they’re still green, not brown like dead leaves. That means the energy was only recently drained.”

“Which means we can actually attack them from behind.”

“Only if we can determine the exact direction. Iris? Can you do a wide-range detection spell?”

Iris, who had been staring blankly at the dried Great Forest, snapped back to reality at my voice and nodded.

“I can do it. But wide-range detection consumes a lot of mana, and such strong mana waves can be detected by the enemy. In that case, surprise is out of the question.”

“Ugh. Still, it’s better than wandering around aimlessly. Then, I’ll ask…”

“Um…”

Just as I was about to ask Iris for the wide-range detection spell, one of the few beastmen among the elves raised his hand.

A rat tribe male, looking rather frail for a typically tough beastman, fluttered his large mouse ears as he continued.

“I can handle animals somewhat. How about asking Lucci to look from the sky?”

“Lucci?”

“Ah, my friend. He’s a pigeon.”

Proudly, he lifted the birdcage hanging from his waist.

Inside the ornate golden cage was a pigeon with a dazed look. Closer inspection revealed a flicker of magical light in its eyes, likely under some kind of hypnosis spell.

…Didn’t he say it was his friend?

Not a familiar spell but a brainwashing spell, huh?

Well, when a beastman becomes a magician, they’re not exactly in their right mind.

Nevertheless, looking down from above would certainly be helpful, so I nodded.

“Let’s try it first. If Lucci can’t find them, then we’ll use the wide-range detection spell.”

“Yes, yes!”

Giggling, he took the pigeon out of the cage and whispered something to it.

With each whisper, the magical light grew stronger, inversely, the focus in its eyes diminished until they looked like doll’s eyes. Then, he finally let the pigeon fly.

Only then did I notice that one of his eyes flickered with the same magical light as before.

It must be some kind of shared vision spell.

The pigeon, circling the sky, suddenly stopped and then flew back at high speed.

“F-found it.”

“Where?”

“Over there… if you go that way for five minutes—no, since they’re moving too, it’ll take a bit longer. Anyway, that direction.”

He pointed in one direction with his finger.

“The direction is set.”

Even at the same level, the mobility of an intermediate mage and an Aura user was like heaven and earth.

Unless you’d mastered teleportation, Aura users were usually much faster.

But that didn’t mean magicians had no options.

With my overflowing mana, I cast a few support spells, and with Helena’s blessings, the magicians could run at a fairly decent speed.

And soon, we spotted a green head.

We found a goblin ambling along at the very back.

As planned beforehand, the magicians and priests prepared the strongest single strike they could manage covertly.

The knights were ready to charge, swords gleaming with aura.

Just as I was about to send the signal at the right moment…

“What’s this…?!”

Suddenly, numerous anomalies were caught by my cultist detection trait.

“Fire first! Knights, don’t follow me, secure the perimeter!”

At my shout, various colors of magic and divine spells crossed the sky.

At the same time, shadowy figures rushed from all directions.

These were the assassins of the Boiling Silence, who had somehow managed to encircle us.

Explosions and screams erupted from behind, but I focused on the sensations conveyed by my cultist detection, ignoring the scorching heat on my skin.

“What a nuisance!”

Two assassins were approaching quickly. I cast Shining Ray at one’s head.

Though weakened by being cast without incantation, it was still an intermediate spell.

Even a bishop-level assassin couldn’t dodge or block this attack.

Thud!

Barely twisting his neck, one assassin’s head was half blown off, rolling on the ground at the same speed he was charging.

I just smashed the other with my new staff as he approached.

Clang!

With a body strength not inferior to most knights, stacked buffs, and an enhanced staff, it sent him flying with a clear sound.

Like a kite with its string cut, he flew and collapsed.

What’s this? Why are they so weak?

Looking around, others were in similar situations.

Surprised by the sudden appearance of assassins, they gritted their teeth and swung their weapons… but they were dumbfounded by how easily these foes fell.

However, soon, I understood their intentions with the countless auras approaching from the front.

They were just sacrificial pawns to counter our ambush.

Our magic certainly dealt significant damage to the army of Grotesque Proliferation.

But in that gap, the knights who should have stirred up the interior were distracted by the assassins, failing to fulfill their roles.

Thus, this turned into a simple frontal battle rather than a chaotic melee.

Since we needed to wait for reinforcements to arrive in a few days, we should fight moderately here and retreat. Here, the focus should be on delaying and ensuring safety rather than dealing damage to the enemy.

Just as I was about to send a signal with this intention…

“???”

For some reason, the army of Grotesque Proliferation, which was confronting us, didn’t move.

Despite standing erect or touching themselves between their legs, they did not advance toward us.

In the midst of this confusing scene, a cultist walked out from among them.

An elf woman with long ears and beautiful features, but unlike the purity-loving elves, she wore an outrageously revealing outfit that even a common prostitute wouldn’t wear.

Even now, dripping with arousal and licking her lips, this face was familiar to me.

Mad Mariell.

The Archbishop of Grotesque Proliferation and a mini-boss you would meet randomly while wandering brothels.

Though not overly strong, she was troublesome if encountered unprepared.

In other words, she was no threat now.

I didn’t know what they planned to do with just one Archbishop, but there was clearly some intent here.

Thinking there was no need to play along, I gathered my mana, intending to blast her away and retreat.

Boom.

But a change occurred before that.

A dense aura of the Grotesque Proliferation spread across the area. I hastily cast magic, but it was futilely blocked by a thick curtain of divine power. Not just my magic, but everyone’s.

“Ha.”

Even with intermediate level spells, this easily? And without an apostle to serve as a conduit?

They must have consumed a considerable amount of divine power. As if to confirm my guess, the aura of the Grotesque Proliferation grew even heavier.

Like witnessing the possession of the Boiling Silence in Fiona’s body before.

“Are you really crazy?”

Mariell was definitely not apostle material. She would have held a higher position if she were.

Indeed, Mariell’s body, unable to handle the power of the Grotesque Proliferation, was melting rapidly.

Flesh dripping, bones dislocating, blood gushing from every orifice, Mariell was being used up like a disposable asset.

And through Mariell, the Grotesque Proliferation spoke,

[Aah… such a lewd scent.]

Could they have sensed Carla’s potential?

If I hadn’t intervened, Carla would have become the apostle of the Grotesque Proliferation. That was how compatible they were.

Quickly stepping in front of Carla, I glared at them. Mariell’s half-ruined eyes curved into a crescent moon.

[Yandel, our nemesis. You lascivious little one, would you become my apostle?]

“What…?”

Am I so lustful that even an Evil God wants me?

*This is slander!!!! *