Chapter 187 - 188

Chapter 187 – We Decided to Lure Them In!

"Chief, I went quite far out but found nothing unusual!"

When I got out of the Mado Armor in Sheorl's wharf district, Erevan's voice called to me.

Apparently, he had parked his Mado Armor right next to ours. He descended from the cockpit and started walking towards us.

His suit only emphasized his muscular physique, and Fule looked away as if she couldn't bear the sight of him.

After defeating the horde of Lance Bees, we patrolled the area above the sea surrounding Sheorl for some time.

As for the results, we had found nothing.

Nearly all of the Lance Bees had perished without a trace after being hit by Hell Explosion.

The Wyvern flying unit was currently on scouting duty, but there had been no reports yet.

I nodded to Erevan as he reached us.

"Aye. I also went as far as the horizon when seen from Sheorl. We should be safe for now. Still, there is no harm in staying on our guard."

"We'll do that. Besides, we have the Mado Armors. From now on, I'll have them take turns watching the sky around Sheorl. They should be able to detect changes faster than boats."

"Thank you. Of course, if the magic energy is anywhere as thick as it was earlier, than Rienna, Baris and I will likely notice it immediately."

That's how strong the magic reaction from the Lance Bees was.

"But you were still able to destroy them with one hit. Your magic really is amazing, Chief."

I shook my head and replied.

"It wasn't really my magic. It was all because of the Mado Armor. That being said, we really need to test various spells with it…or we might accidentally destroy our own island."

I hadn't been so enthusiastic about it, but it looked like I would have to spend some time getting used to it.

In the meantime, Baris and the octopus monster—Aries the Tactician, ran up to us.

"Lord Heal! And I see the Princess is unharmed as well."

"Aye, we are fine. By the way, about the horde…"

"I realized it as well. And when I went underground to check the tentacle that was stored there…"

Baris took the bottle from his belt and showed it to me.

Inside, the black tentacle that had been nesting in Garuda was now moving wildly.

Fule looked at it and opened her mouth with a disgusted expression.

"I hate looking at it every time…but it seems worse than usual?"

Upon hearing this, Aries reported to me in a cheerful voice.

"Your majesty. I've been observing this thing in the underground city's laboratory every day! It started going wild about two days ago. But it's gradually grown worse!"

Aries was in charge of maintenance in the underground city, as Baris's advisor.

While I hadn't visited the underground city for awhile, it seemed like things were going smoothly.

However, Fule made a sharp observation to Aries.

"So, why didn't you tell us about it?"

"I…I… But surely there is nothing so abnormal about a writhing tentacle…?"

"Well, maybe you think so because you're an octopus…"

While they talked, Rienna looked at the tentacle and said,

"Maybe…it was calling its friends?"

"It-it is certainly a possibility! Of course, up until now, Sheorl has been attacked by various other hordes of creatures. So it might be unrelated as well!"

Aries said. Erevan replied immediately.

"In any case, we should hurry up and kill it if it's dangerous! So it doesn't call anything else to this island!"

What Erevan said made sense.

If this tentacle really had called its friends…that horde, then it was incredibly dangerous.

We knew that it was weak to healing magic and the kind of powerful magic that Elto taught us. Surely there wasn't much more we could learn through studying it…

"…But, there is another way to think about it. It's because we have this tentacle, that they all come to this island."

I stated. Rienna and Baris immediately realized what I meant, but Erevan tilted his head.

"Huh? Yes. So we can't let it live."

Fule shook her head.

"That's not it, father. What do you think will happen if that horde went somewhere else?"

"Well, that's…we have a Chief like Heal and Mado Armors. But any other place would probably turn out like Arancia… I see."

Erevan realized what I was trying to say.

"Aye. I doubt there is any country on this continent that could drive back that Lance Bee horde. Even Elto, who taught us Hell Explosion, would have a difficult time."

The Elto Continent had numerous dragons, but against such a number of Lance Bees who had enhanced magic due to the tentacles…it would be hard to fight back.

"But why should we care about what happens to those outside… Well, I suppose it won't be just those who hate us that die."

Rienna nodded at Erevan's words.

"If there is another similar attack, then we will be the only ones who can defeat it."

"Aye, it's possible that they could be dangerous to continents that we are friendly with, such as Elto and the dragons or Amolis, where merchant Berfalt is from. And so we will let the tentacle live for now."

In other words, we would lure enemies towards Sheorl and defeat them.

If this prophecy about the world ending was true, then perhaps we could delay it a little. And so other countries and continents can avoid Arancia's fate.

If it was possible for us to do such a thing, I could not look away.

And everyone nodded at my suggestion.

However, Erevan and Baris looked a little worried.

But just then, I sensed the presence of powerful magic energy coming from the sea near the Sheorl coast.

It immediately jumped out of the water and towards Sheorl's wharf. Apparently, there were still Lance Bees that were infected by tentacles inside of the water.

"A bee! Kill it!!"

As there were already soldiers guarding the wharf, they immediately pointed their bows and crossbows at it.

"Wait! They are difficult to defeat without magic!"

I said. And then I prepared to fire off some magic at it.

However, a small white bird seemed to come out of nowhere, and it unleashed a blinding light at the Lance Bee.

"Is that…Mel!"

I rushed forward, but the Lance Be was already lying on the ground, motionless.

And then the small bird—transformed into a girl with long silver hair.

"I'm sorry, father! I was playing in the underground city. That's why I'm late!"

Baris came to stand right next to me and said,

"When I heard that the sky was black, I was reminded of the black tentacles, and so I called Mel."

Previously, Mel had unleashed a light in order to get rid of the tentacles that were on Garuda. My guess was that the light had the same effect as healing magic.

In fact, the tentacles had completely vanished from the fallen Lance Bee.

Fule stood behind Mel and patted her on the head.

"As you can see, Mel is here too. So we'll be fine! The rest of us need to learn healing magic somehow, and then we'll be able to defeat any that come! Besides, we also have the Mado Armor and you, father. Right?"

While Erevan had looked worried, he nodded when he heard those words.

"…Aye! No matter what happens, we'll fight back. That's what we've always done."

"Yes. That's what our power is for."

Baris agreed with a nod.

And then I turned to Mel.

"Mel. This might mean that we'll have to call you while you're playing with Ril…"

"That's fine! We want to be useful to everyone as well! And Ril is going to help too! See!"

A white puppy…who was Ril, jumped out with a rope in its mouth. It then wrapped it around the fallen Lance Bee.

"Ril! You got it!"

"You were amazing too, Mel! It's almost not fair…!"

Ril said with a little annoyance as she turned into a girl with short silver hair.

Considering that her mother, Queen Noia, was a sorceress, Ril should become a very powerful magic user as well.

"Both of you. Your father and mother have an important request, so listen carefully, alright?"

Fule said with a mischievous grin.

As Rienna and I looked embarrassed, Ril and Mel replied energetically, 'Okay!'

In the meantime, Erevan was looking at the Lance Bee.

"Still, what should we do with it? These things are quite dangerous. Many of my old comrades were killed by them in the forests."

"So they attacked goblins as well. These are monsters known as Lance Bees. And they gave humans a lot of trouble."

"Then let's kill it. But I doubt there is any part that we can eat."

It was then that Heath and Garuda, who were a different kind of bee monster, arrived.

"Heath. Yes, it really is different from you two."

Upon hearing this, Heath shook its head.

However, it then pointed its front legs at the Lance Bee as if to say, 'could you leave it to us?'

"You can befriend it?"

Heath and Garuda nodded.

"If that's what you say, then I'll leave it to you two. However, I'll have to tame it later on and…ah."

I realized that yet another tentacle-infected Lance Bee had appeared near the wharf.

However, without a second's delay, Mel shot it out of the sky with her light. And then Ril tied it up.

The two waved at me as if to say, 'we got this.' There were bound to be more of them. And so I would leave the surviving Lance Bees to them.

After that, about thirty Lance Bees arrived.

And after Mel rid them of their tentacles, they were kept in the prisons for some time. But through Heath and Garuda's careful persuasion, they eventually agreed to join us on the island.

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Chapter 188 – We Formed an Alliance!

Two days passed after the attack of the Lance Bee horde.

In the meantime, there were no new attacks as we had feared.

That being said, there was no saying when they might come again.

And so as a new countermeasure, we decided to adopt Baris's suggestion of increasing the patrol range around Sheorl.

However, as we did not have enough boats, it was decided that we would do it from the air, by using the Mado Armor.

Mappa then suggested that he could make some Wyvern-type Mado Armors. They would be in the perfect shape for the Wyverns to ride, and allow them to fly in the air at high speeds.

Like this, we would be able to quickly detect an enemy attack. That would mean more time to prepare.

Currently, I was watching the Wyvern Mado Armors flying in the air above Sheorl as part of their training.

One moment it seemed that they had disappeared into the horizon, and in the next instant, they were back near Sheorl.

"Woah! They can fly much faster than ordinary Mado Armors."

Rienna stood next to me as she nodded.

"Ashton and Haines's armor was very fast as well, but these are even faster."

"Aye. Well, they are Kobolds, so they would be faster on land. However, what a sight this is."

Ten giant objects with iron wings were forming a formation in the sky.

The humans of the continent would surely be shocked if they could see this.

Of course, I and the people of Sheorl were starting to get used to seeing such unusual sights… But even then, there were some, especially the monster children, who looked up with sparkling eyes.

Alyssa, who stood to my left, was also stunned.

"To think that such things could be made so easily…"

"I'm surprised too… Well, it's really because of how capable Mappa is. By the way, how are things in Arancia?"

"Thankfully, the food situation has become quite stable. Even if you just count the frozen fish, we can feed the people for two days."

"I see. Then we'll continue to supply you with fish from now on. And what about the Mado Armors?"

"Yesterday, we finished constructing ten of the armors. The Guardians then selected people who could use magic and started to train them. Since they are riding the armor, it seems that the force of their magic is strengthened. I myself have been practicing riding them."

"I see. That's good to hear. And what of the attacks?"

"Not any yet… But judging by the pace they have come in the past, it should be any day now."

"When it does happen, you can count on our help. Don't worry."

Rienna nodded at this.

"It will be fine. We have the Mado Armors now, and will drive them back."

"Thank you…Lord Heal and Lady Rienna. As the representative of Arancia, I am grateful to all the people of Sheorl."

Alyssa bowed her head low.

"You're welcome. Now that I think about it, I was supposed to give you something before you leave."

"Oh, yes… Ah, here it is!"

Rienna said as she pointed at the sky.

There was Heath and Garuda. And behind them were several Lance Bees. They were flying towards us.

They were carrying pots. And they put them down neatly on the ground.

There were two different types of content. Some had honey and others contained leaves from the World Tree.

I opened the lid of one and turned to Alyssa.

"Previously, you seemed to really enjoy the tea with honey. And since there are more bees now, we have them make honey."

"We've been sending you a lot of fish, but nothing sweet. And while it's not much, I hope that you all enjoy it."

Said Rienna. Heath and Garuda seemed to be in good spirits as they also pointed to the pots. They must have been proud of how it had turned out.

Alyssa saw this and fell silent for some time. And then she opened her mouth with a resolute expression.

"After spending time with you and the others, and coming to this island, I feel like I've come to understand you well. You all…"

Don't expect anything in return. That was probably what she wanted to say.

She would have thought that what we were offering was not equal to mushrooms.

Indeed, perhaps it seemed excessive if mushrooms were all we wanted.

I decided to reply honestly.

"Yes…I think it's probably as you are thinking. We all suffered before getting to this point. And so we can't abandon someone who needs help…"

"It's just a natural feeling. Wanting to help others."

Added Rienna. I nodded in agreement.

"Alyssa, surely you felt like that when you left the safety of the holy place? In other words, we are all the same."

"Lord Heal… Hehe. Yes. Ever since we met, I felt a certain familiarity with you. You rushed to our aid and did everything that you could. There was no way that I could think you were merely here to trade."

"Our bodies move before our mind has… Well, we're all just very alike."

I said. And Alyssa laughed in agreement.

"But helping you also helps us. About that… It might be difficult for you to understand, but will you listen to what I have to say?"

And so I told Alyssa about the prophecy. And about how I thought that the black rain and tentacles that ate away at Arancia were a foretaste of what's to come.

Alyssa looked troubled as she crossed her arms.

"The black tentacles that infected the bee horde. And the miasma they unleashed…if that too is just an omen…"

"Aye. It's not just Arancia, but similar things are likely happening in other places… Well, that is what I think."

"But the possibility must be high. The attacks on our country are large in scale, and then this bee horde that came to Sheorl. If this was happening in other countries and continents…"

Alyssa seemed to believe my words.

Most people would not believe any talk of prophecies. I was sure that leaders from countries who haven't been attacked yet would just snort at me.

However, Alyssa and her people had been on the brink of extinction. And so after experiencing such a thing, they could not confidently say that the same wasn't happening elsewhere.

"And so it's necessary to be able to fight against the black tentacles in other lands as well. We need to share information and help each other with resources and technology… And I want you and the people of Arancia to be part of that network. If something ever happens to Shoerl or there is another country in need, you can help."

It wasn't just one-sided assistance.

Sheorl would help Arancia, but if Sheorl was ever in danger, then the people of Arancia would help us.

Alyssa nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. While it's not much, we will help you."

"Are you sure? You don't have to discuss it with the others?"

"No one will be against it. After all, we all owe you a great debt. To put it formally, it would be called a military alliance, yes? And if it's not just Sheorl, but other countries join as well, then we will feel even safer. I look forward to this alliance."

"Thank you, Alyssa. I'm looking forward to it too."

And so we shook hands.

This was our first ally with a common enemy. And I was sure that this alliance would be a great advantage to both Sheorl and Arancia.

However, just then, Haines teleported in front of us.

He had been able to travel so quickly by using both his own speed and a Teleportation Stone.

Haines fell on one knee and spoke in a calm voice.

"Master Heal. And Miss Alyssa. Arancia is under attack."

"So it's come… Alyssa. Let's go."

"Aye! I too will fight inside of a Mado Armor!"

And so we rushed towards Arancia.