Now then, the Marionette Worm which was the root of all evil had been defeated. However, the issue that remained was the reaction of the Thornshell Scorpion Highlord. If it chose to continue being hostile toward us, a second round would be waiting…?
[Well, I have caused you trouble. Brave Boar Orcs.]
Wait, it could talk! Up until now, it had only made “Giigiiiii” sounds, but was that because it was under the effect of [Puppetry]? Well, the Troll King could speak human language too. So I’m pretty sure it possessed the skill of [linguistics].
“May I assume you’ve returned to your senses, great scorpion king?”
[Indeed. Thanks to you all. I am truly indebted to you.]
――――――――――
Race level increased. Gained 1 SP.
Job level increased. Gained 1 SP.
The race level of your familiar has increased.
The job level of your familiar has increased.
The level of [Soul Magic] skill has increased.
Newly learned “Medium Soul Healing” and “Paralysis Healing” spells.
The level of [Witchcraft] skill has increased.
Newly learned “Illusory Smell” spell.
The level of [Appraisal] skill has increased.
――――――――――
This means the battle is over! Thankfully, the enemy was reasonable. So, I’ll dispel the “Specter’s Mire”.
[Phew, that was quite an ordeal. Even though I was being controlled, it’s been a long time since I’ve been this injured… Well done, hohoho!]
…The atmosphere was so different from when we were fighting. This affable way of speaking reminded me of Genjuro. And when it came to battle, his uncanny strength was also similar.
“Great scorpion king, this land has been passed down through our generations. Would you return it to us?”
[Of course. However, I’ve shed quite a bit of blood. Until I’m fully healed, may I stay here? Of course, I won’t be a nuisance and promise to return to my original dwelling as soon as I recover.]
“I understand…”
King Salman pondered deeply with his hand on his chin. The root cause of everything was the Marionette Worm. It could be argued that the Thornshell Scorpion Highlord, who had been manipulated, was more of a victim.
However, it was the physical body of the Thornshell Scorpion Highlord that was actually hurting the residents of Bigdareio, and that was an undeniable fact. Sometimes, even if you understand something logically, you may not understand it emotionally.
“Very well. I will persuade my people.”
[I am sorry to be so demanding.]
Oh, how king-like of him to say that! It wasn’t an overbearing country he ruled, but he showed he could be firm when needed. Perhaps this sense of balance is essential for a ruler.
“Uh, excuse me!”
“Hmm?”
It was Prince Zahar who spoke up, timing his intervention at the end of their conversation. There seemed to be only one reason for him to initiate this conversation.
[Ah, the young man who extracted that dreadful parasite from my body. What brings you here?]
“My name is Zahar! Would you become my partner?”
He asked so directly! Being straightforward is undoubtedly a good thing, but this was too abrupt and lacked necessary explanations. How could it be understood?
[What do you mean by that?]
“Zahar, you…”
Even the Thornshell Scorpion Highlord and King Salman were taken aback and speechless! It seemed unlikely that such an abrupt request would be accepted immediately. Was Zahar really alright with that?
“Haah… I will talk to you about this later. First, we must attend to everyone’s healing. Priests, begin treating the severely wounded first. As soon as emergency treatments are complete, we will return to Bigdareio.”
“””Yes!”””
◆◇◆◇◆◇
The battle to reclaim the oasis had ended, and we were now returning to Bigdareio. However, not everyone was with us. There were still a dozen or so of the soldiers who were relatively fine remaining in the oasis. They stayed to prevent it from being occupied by another monster and because the Thornshell Scorpion Highlord was still there.
Even though a reconciliation had been reached between Bigdareio and the Thornshell Scorpion Highlord, it was still impossible to just trust him unconditionally. His serious injuries and need for treatment played a role, but more so, it was about keeping a vigilant watch over him. This cautious approach seemed fitting for a digital parallel world.
However, Prince Zahar’s inclusion among those staying behind was driven by his own objectives. While we were busy with treatments and preparing for our return, His Majesty Salman and Prince Zahar engaged in extensive discussions. It appeared that they had agreed upon a condition: if Prince Zahar could successfully persuade the scorpion to join his cause, it would be acceptable. This was confirmed when I was asked about how I had befriended Karl.
But still… it struck me as quite unusual that a prince would be allowed to stay behind at the oasis as if it were a matter of course. It seemed to reinforce the idea that Bigdareio was indeed a land of monsters. Although the prince was quite skilled, it was remarkable that someone who might be the future king would be left in such a dangerous place.
Now, with some free time until we returned to Bigdareio, I decided to review the new spells I just learned. Just recently, I acquired “Medium Soul Healing” and “Paralysis Healing” of the [Soul Magic] skill as well as “Illusory Smell” of the [Witchcraft] skill. Let’s examine them one by one.
First, medium soul healing was a pure enhanced version of the minor soul healing. It had the same constant recovery effect, but the amount recovered at a time and the recovery time seemed to have increased. Naturally, this also meant higher magic power consumption, but that was to be expected given its effect. Although the spell effect couldn’t show instantly, it might become the mainstay of my healing arsenal.
Next, paralysis healing was a spell to cure paralysis; it was the paralysis version of poison healing. While it could be treated with a potion, it was more convenient to heal with a spell if there was enough magic power reserve, as it saved on consumable items.
The last spell, “Illusory Smell” was somewhat unique. It allowed the caster to make the target perceive various odors, ranging from almost nauseatingly foul stench to pleasant floral fragrances. Though it seemed hardly useful in direct combat, it seemed like it could do some interesting things depending on how you used it.
“Ah, there’s Bigdareio in sight, Karl.”
“Guooh!”
As I gently stroked Karl’s neck, he gave a cry as if he was agreeing with me. Once we returned to Bigdareio and collected our reward, we had to embark on a journey through the sky to the Vetus Floating Island, where Genjuro and others were waiting. It was quite a demanding schedule.
Transporting everyone with just Karl and myself was difficult, but that problem had already been solved. After the battle, we acquired a ship from King Salman to float on the oasis.
The ship was reasonably large and spacious enough for everyone to board. It also had a magical tool that lightened the load of its passengers, which made it easy for Karl to lift the ship even with everyone aboard.
I thought it would be costly, so I expected tough negotiations. However, King Salman surprisingly let us have it for free. The reason was that, in Bigdareio, ships typically came equipped with a passenger weight-lightening feature.
This was due to the fact that many in Bigdareio were orcs and boar orcs. The oasis was vast, but not as vast as a sea. Hence, the boats were designed to be nimble, but if these large-bodied creatures got on board, the boats would capsize due to their weight. Therefore, this feature was installed by default.
With the prospect of returning home already in sight, it was time to unwind. So, while I sat astride Karl and cherished our time together, a notification sound echoed in my mind.
――――――――――
You have received a notification from the management.
――――――――――
Huh? It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen this kind of notification. The last time I received an event notification was when I wasn’t logged in. Well, let’s see what it says…
――――――――――
A player has just achieved their first reincarnation. As a result, the reincarnation system will now be unlocked.
There are several methods to reincarnate. Try experimenting with them.
――――――――――
Reincarnation system?! What’s that about?! Does it mean I can change my character later on? Wait, another notification just came in!
――――――――――
A new holder of [Yifa’s blessing] has emerged.
As a result, although its effects remain unchanged, [Yifa’s blessing] will transform from a unique skill to a normal skill.
――――――――――
…There were so many things that I didn’t understand! Even the chariot below that my companions were riding was buzzing with noise. Well, for now, I should head back to Bigdareio and discuss this with everyone.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
“Well, the reincarnation has been accomplished. How is your new body feeling?”
In a certain forest, inside a cave that was actually a disguised hidden temple, a lustrous female voice could be heard coming from a mysterious statue, which was in tatters but was shrouded in a black aura. Had Isam been there, he would have undoubtedly been reminded of the “Goddess of Light and Order” Earle, from the defense battle event.
Indeed, the statue housed a goddess, but it was not Earle. The voice belonged to “Yifa” the Goddess of Death and Chaos. Yifa was a hedonistic deity who reveled in chaotic situations and bestowed her blessing upon Isam.
“…It’s wonderful. Thank you so much, Goddess.”
The male player who was kneeling in front of her divine statue replied and his voice tinged with barely concealed joy. His squirming form might have provoked disgust in most, but Yifa understood his happiness perfectly from his movements.
“That’s good to hear. But are you sure about this? Among all the monster creatures, no player has ever chosen this race before.”
Yifa’s concern was not unwarranted. Since Isam and his companions had made a name for monster avatars in the dungeon event, the number of players choosing to play as monsters had significantly increased. Although still not at the level Yifa desired, it was a marked improvement from the initial phase where “non-humans = normal animals” only.
Still, due to the wide array of initial choices, many races remained unchosen. At the same time, there were many races that only had one or two players just like Shio who was the sole Birdian player in the game. This was a result of players gravitating towards the races of Isam and the others, who had made them known at the event.
But among the unchosen, there was one race that almost no one even considered. The reason was simple: their appearance was so repugnant that it incited visceral disgust in people. The player before Yifa had deliberately chosen this race and was asked if he regretted his decision.
“I don’t mind at all. In fact, being disliked by regular players suits me just fine.”
He had originally been a normal human player. However, after a certain incident, he found himself drawn more to monsters than humans. He then decided to renounce his humanity.
The path he chose was not an easy one. With nothing but vague hints obtained from the Firth Library, he embarked on a journey and found this cave only after a series of dangerous adventures. He then gathered materials based on the limited information available and finally managed to meet the conditions for reincarnation.
“Haha, that’s great. It’s interesting. So, I’ll give you a reward.”
“A blessing…? What is this?”
“It means you’re a favorite of mine. There’s only one other person I’ve given this to.”
That one person was, of course, Isam. Until now, no player other than Isam had caught her interest in such a way, so in that sense, the person in front of her was an interesting player who had finally appeared.
“Oh, that’s an honor.”
“Your journey will certainly be filled with many hardships. So, let me give you a hint. Head for the Vetus Floating Island. There, you will surely find players who will accept you.”
“Thank you, Goddess. I will follow your prophecy and head for that land.”
“Feel free. Now, enjoy this world.”
Having said that, the aura surrounding the divine statue faded away. With this, the goddess’s descent had come to an end.
“Vetus Floating Island… So that’s where they are, Goddess! I must hurry to their side at once!”
Knowing this, he realized he needed to become stronger and master his current avatar. With determination in his heart, he took out a weapon from his inventory and began to walk out of the cave.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
TN: By any chance….is that the priest?
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