Chapter 436:『Particles』
「I’m here because Retze came? ー The spirits told me that there’s a visitor, so I 【Teleport】. 」
I thought it was Snow Leopard or Horsey, though.
The crunching of snow resounded as I walked away, and everyone trudged sluggishly behind me.
「And you guys, why are you here? 」
「It’s because of the quest… 」
Dean mumbled awkwardly.
「We have been successfully lured deep into the woods. 」
Butler replied. Just like me, he was carrying the other woman princess-style.
Butler looks picturesque while carrying a lady with his back ramrod straight. Hmm, do I look picture-perfect too, I wonder? Ahh, but with Ash, it’d probably look like I’m carrying another guy, huh.
「There were too many of our opponents, you know! 」
Chris must’ve recovered a bit. He was now walking on his own, and he even patted Dean on the shoulder that he was leaning on before, although he was still a bit unsteady on his feet.
Opponents ー does that mean there were others beside that observer guy? Probably yes, given the wounds they have all over their bodies.
「But this place is truly magnificent! It’s like an oasis in the midst of the Magical Woods! 」
Chris’s eyes were sparkling as he took in the scenery around him. It’s great that you’re feeling all better now, but it’s a sanctuary, okay, a sanctuary.
「Come in. Ahh, there’s not enough chairs, huh ー 」
I opened the door and invited them in.
Retze was still lying on the floor. He listlessly turned over to face us when we approached.
「… I guess beds would be a better option, huh. 」
I whisked the tables and chairs away into 【Storage】, took out several thick carpets that I bought from Es and laid some futon on top of them.
「Jean-sama… 」
Butler sounded anxious when he called me.
「What’s up? 」
I gently laid Ash on top of the make-shift bed and covered her with a blanket.
「Alrighty, Retze, I’m gonna carry you. 」
As soon as I said that, Retze immediately rolled over to one of the beds on his own. Uh, you’ve worked hard.
Dean and Chris also removed their cloaks and shoes, preparing to dive into the futon.
「I’m afraid this must be made from white geese… 」
「Yup. 」
「!! 」
Retze jumped to his feet.
「Ugh… 」
Then he collapsed on the bed again.
「Isn’t this an extremely expensive item!? It’s not a mattress that we can dirty!! 」
Chris was about to touch the futon, but he hastily moved his body back.
「Hey, can you stop taking out high class goods just like that!? 」
Dean hastily kicked his dirty boots away from the bed.
「But it’s the same thing as the sleeping bags that you always use outside. 」
Isn’t it too late to react this way?
「Wait, what!? That filling…! 」
「I didn’t even notice that the cost of my equipment had surpassed the prize money from the quest…! 」
Dean and Chris are as lively as ever.
「What about Ash? 」
Butler seemed resigned as he laid the other woman on the bed.
「She sustained injuries in the course of protecting this young lady here, then the black spirits converged upon her while attempting to flee. Though it may not be feasible at this very moment, I wish to bring her to the temple with all due haste. 」
Very few black spirits are capable of physical attacks, but they can possess weakened humans.
Even if the black spirits hadn’t fully merged with an animal to become a monster yet, it’s still not good. For example, humans who are possessed with normal spirits can make fire easier. The presence of ordinary spirits can make the air a little warmer and the surroundings a bit better. However, black spirits will make it harder for fire to start, and they can make everything feel damp and uncomfortable.
Black spirits can cause negative thoughts to constantly haunt the human’s mind, and they can also amplify jealousy and envy, so it’s nothing good.
「Let me see. 」
I removed the blanket that I just covered her with and checked the black 『Particles』. I found some around her shoulders, on her sides, feet ーthey were wrapped all over her, creating a hazy mist.
I quickly brushed them off, and Az popped her head out. Looks like Ash had been shielding the bird. Ah, no, there were no black 『Particles 』on Ash’s chest where Az was, and there’s nothing on her wrist covered with the bracelet either. Az and the other spirits must’ve protected Ash.
Were they protecting each other? I directly casted 【Heal】earlier without checking her wounds, so it’s just a guess, but Ash did seem like she was in really bad shape? To the point that it wouldn’t be strange for black spirits to possess her.
「Good job. 」
Az seemed to be tired from the way she flapped her wings. I sent her some mana. She shook her feathers as if she wanted to take a bath, and she returned back to her rounded form.
Blue Drop and Green Circle were peeking from Ash’s sleeves, and I also transferred some mana to them. Hmm, maybe I should put a stronger spirit, or maybe I can make them stronger by sending more mana?
「…Indeed, Jean-sama has the ability to grasp spirits. 」
Butler has a complicated smile on his face.
「Retze, it’s your turn too. Ah, Ivy-chan is in shreds. 」
「Yeah, I asked too much from her, after all. 」
Retze had given up and simply laid down on the futon. I patted him and brushed the black 『Particles』off him, then gave mana to Ivy-chan.
The vines that had started to unfurl from the half-drawn sword stretched out and then smoothly slithered back into the blade, finally snapping into place as the sword settled back into its sheath. Gotta hand it to Ivy-chan—she’s pretty slick.
「All the adventurers hired by the fortress city completely bailed on us halfway through but we already dealt with the actual perpetrator that had mixed in our group. We were also stuck with the monsters they summoned. After dealing with them and wandering around for a couple of days, the black spirits started swarming around us too. It’s a mess. 」
Dean remained standing. He spread his arms to make it easier to pat him. Well, at least, his chest and flanks are safe too.
The 2 spirits with fetish appeared by his flanks, so I was a bit taken aback. Still, I also gave them a bit of mana.
「Just when we thought we finally escaped from the monsters, here comes an insane number of spirits swarming around us. I only felt them and couldn’t See so I’m a bit better off, but the young lady was screaming her head off. 」
Chris spread his arms too, making it easier for me to brush the particles off.
「Just when the situation became extremely dire, Retze-sama found this place. Is this perhaps a sanctuary? The black spirits have ceased their pursuit and now appear to be converging on something else in the distance. 」
Butler, who can See spirits, asked.
「Yup. It’s a sanctuary, but somebody gave it to me. 」
「I see. So the black spirits scattered because the sanctuary has opened. 」
Butler nodded in understanding.
「…Sorry. I’ll tell the black spirits not to attack folks I know. 」
It’s not that they scattered, they just went away to attack the spectator…
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Thanks.