NOVEL NEXT 8 - Domain (2)
The danger of the outside can’t be emphasized enough, even if repeated a hundred or thousand times.
Only beings of 5th rank or higher can reliably break through alone, and to survive continuously, one needs to reach 4th rank.
In that context, how can we survive with four 9th ranks and the rest ordinary people?
The Witch Society isn’t foolish enough to order such a suicide mission.
Where we’re going isn’t the complete outside. At most, it’s just the edge of the domain.
The dimension outside the domain can be considered a kind of demon realm.
A realm that can’t be broken through unless a 5th rank, or several 6th ranks form an expedition.
Monsters that have risen to transcendent levels, extremely harsh environments that change moment by moment.
Compared to that, this is decent.
There’s a proper ground, and trees standing densely, isn’t there?
This seems livable enough.
“Hiiik… Monster, it’s a monster…”
Despite having such an impression, Sharen was trembling while sticking close to my side.
I guess monsters themselves can be mentally hard to endure.
Especially for a girl who has never gone outside before.
She stares at the monster torn to shreds and dead before her eyes.
A strange corpse, blackened and with unrecognizable form.
I thought we could hunt monsters, but it was easier than expected.
Basically, it’s because we brought all veteran mercenaries who have easily surpassed 10 years of experience.
They alone would be enough to catch those monsters, but including the power of those who have entered factions made it even easier.
You might wonder why the Witch Society doesn’t use such talented people, but it’s because they become useless once the monster level rises a bit more.
By then they’re really just meat shields, and if they’re going to be used as meat shields, it’s better for witches to offer them as sacrifices.
“As expected of the Witch Ladies!”
“I didn’t know hunting would be this easy!”
The mercenaries had it easy thanks to the witches too.
Even if they just drew aggro a little in front, the monsters’ heads would fly off.
That’s the power of mastered
“Heheh.”
Belladrin shrugged her shoulders proudly.
She stepped forward and subdued the monster before I could even use magic.
Her skills were excellent. Though the rising height of her shoulders in proportion to that was irritating.
The mercenaries tore off a bit of the monster’s corpse as proof and kept it.
There’s no need for that with such worthless monsters, but it seems they’ve made a habit of it since the Witch Society pays money if they collect such traces.
After defeating the first wave of monsters, we four witches gathered closely to have a discussion.
“I’ll explain our mission again.”
The main thing is to eliminate monsters rushing towards the barrier, but there’s something more important.
A heavy object in the bag.
It can be considered a kind of item.
A beacon that sends signals far outside.
Why do we need to go install this…
“We need to bring back the runaway owner.”
“Grace? Even so, to say such things about the Society Head…”
“It’s the truth. Even if it’s the head of the household, they won’t hear good words if they can’t keep their position.”
“Belladrin, you too?”
Belladrin responded like that.
Her noble upbringing shows.
Sharen, who was loyal to the Witch Society, looked at us both like reactionaries.
Anyway, even if a 5th rank can break through the collapsed dimension, if they throw themselves in without knowing the exact location, they’re likely to become lost.
We don’t know where our Witch of Condemnation has gone after leaving her position, but from the Witch Society’s perspective, rather than waiting anxiously, they needed to help by installing such beacons to set the right direction to find her.
Otherwise, she might really never be able to return.
Even for Elder Carmia, it’s not good for the Witch of Condemnation to be absent indefinitely.
The burden of invasions pouring in from outside is growing.
There’s no point in seizing control of the Witch Society if it collapses.
“So, we need to reach the farthest outskirts we can get to.”
That’s how the signal spreads well to the outside.
“Can we do it?”
“It shouldn’t be difficult.”
This level of personnel, this level of power.
As long as we’re not going into the collapsed dimension, this is enough.
Even though I’m 9th rank, I was as strong as a decent 8th rank.
And it’s good for me too because I need to roam outside the barrier to find Hidden Pieces.
It’s not a common opportunity to be able to go out with such perfect preparation under the excuse of a mission.
“Then let’s move.”
Everyone departs.
The destination is the very edge of the domain.
And after some time passed, two people besides the barbarian and me collapsed.
It’s not like they met with a disaster from being attacked by monsters or anything like that.
The reason those two collapsed is simple.
“Graaaace… My, my legs, my legs hurt.”
“Is there, is there no one to assist me…”
Simple lack of stamina.
As I looked at those two with plenty of contempt, Belladrin asked, unable to believe it:
“I can understand that barbarian brute, but how is your stamina so good?”
“I’m just enduring with willpower?”
“?”
Of course, my stamina was at rock bottom too.
So my legs hurt terribly too.
They hurt, but…
Honestly, I can endure it?
This is also thanks to the mental fortitude perk.
Mental strength that can endure no matter how hard it gets.
I wouldn’t give up or break down in even more arduous and difficult situations, so just leg pain is nothing.
I’ll probably have severe muscle pain tomorrow but… it should be fine.
That’s for tomorrow’s me to think about.
“It seems the Witch Ladies are having a hard time, shall we rest for a bit?”
And of course, the mercenaries who had been going in and out of this outside for over 10 years had overflowing stamina.
With all the witches lying down, they were already setting up camp.
Sharen nodded hurriedly while breathing heavily.
“If we go any further, I’ll, I’ll really die…”
So we took a short break for the sake of those two with terrible stamina, and I got on my broom.
“I’ll go scout the surroundings for a bit, monsters might approach.”
“How diligent, commoner. I’m counting on you.”
Belladrin, who was lying on the ground receiving care from the mercenaries, waved her hand.
As befits her noble birth, she’s very natural at receiving care.
For some reason it’s irritating, should I throw some magic at her?
No, there’s a better way than magic.
“Commoner? Somehow your gaze towards me seems very disrespectful… Kyaaaah!”
I pressed my finger firmly on her calf.
Belladrin screamed and jumped up and down.
She’s like a fish just pulled out of the water at the dock.
It’s so funny, I pressed my finger on her other calf too.
“It hurts. It huuuurts!”
Belladrin shed a few tears and convulsed before dark energy flowed from the back of her hand.
Ah, did I tease her too much?
Whoosh-
I dodge the magic slashing through the air while riding the broom and soar into the sky.
Flight that’s quickly become familiar after controlling it several times.
Below the high sky, I could see the forest covering the surroundings.
“Commoner! If you come down again, that’s when you’ll really die!”
Belladrin shouted from below, but I didn’t pay attention.
Despite that, she won’t be able to chase me saying her legs hurt.
Scouting the surroundings was an excuse.
I’m moving to find the Hidden Piece that’s somewhere around here.
To be honest, the beacon for the Witch of Condemnation is not my business.
It’s fine if she comes back, and if not, oh well.
The Witch Society won’t collapse immediately if she doesn’t return, and it’s destined to fall to high-ranking clergy anyway.
So I started searching the surroundings diligently.
**
[Some time later, outside the barrier.]
“Hmm.”
Elender smiled.
She was looking forward to how well those children were doing, and that anticipation was enjoyable.
Sitting astride the barrier, she looked out there.
“Aren’t you worried?”
“Agrasha.”
Agrasha, who had suddenly flown over on a broom, asked Elender.
Her expression wasn’t very good.
It felt like letting children who can’t distinguish right from wrong loose by the water.
But Elender wasn’t like that.
“Those children are shining stars.”
“…”
“Shining stars won’t crumble from that level of trial.”
To Elender saying that, Agrasha gave a scolding remark.
“Wasn’t it just recently that you barged into the Elder Council meeting like your feet were on fire to get a grace period…”
“…Ahem.”
“Tell me honestly. You’re anxious, right?”
“You know my heart so well yet you still dig into it.”
“I do it because I know, Lady Elender.”
A strong wind blows.
Elender gave a hollow laugh while wrapping her fluttering purple hair with her hand.
Her eyes glowed red.
Agrasha was briefly reassured by that.
“So you were watching with your Demon Eyes.”
“No matter how clever and amazing they are, it’s too anxiety-inducing to not keep them in sight.”
“The problem is that you can’t keep doing that. You have a lot to do, right? Even now, Elder Carmia has summoned you.”
“I suppose I owe a debt, though I couldn’t use it effectively.”
Elender took out her broom.
She sat on it and slowly floated into the air.
The wind blew strongly.
“Agrasha, did Elder Carmia not pull any tricks?”
“Tricks, I’m not sure. If we suspect everything, isn’t pushing our kids outside so quickly a trick in itself?”
“That’s true.”
An unidentifiable anxiety enveloped her.
It’s certainly correct.
But even so, she couldn’t rush out there right now to protect the children.
Basically, as a 7th rank witch, she was busy, and there was no reason to interfere with a mission progressing smoothly when there seemed to be no problem even when viewed with Demon Eyes.
Elender reluctantly lifted her feet and mounted her broom.
To respond to Elder Carmia’s summons.
And to meet the person behind the tricks in person.
**
Unfortunately, I didn’t discover the Hidden Piece.
It was to be expected. If it was easily visible, it would have all been taken already.
Maybe I’ll find it if I search more later?
Returning, I easily subdued the raging Belladrin, and we set out again.
As some more time passed and we gradually approached areas closer to the outside, the level of monsters started to rise to a degree that was difficult to handle.
I also used magic to the extent that the demon didn’t stir, and the significance of the mercenaries gradually decreased.
If the monster level rises just a little, mercenaries can’t help but be useless.
Even if they’re not helpful, we couldn’t advance without them since there was essentially no front line.
This reached its peak when an 8th rank monster appeared.
It’s one I’ve seen endlessly in the game.
A monster that looked like a turtle crawled over.
▶ 8th Rank “Turtlehide”
▶ Characterized by a powerful shell, difficult to penetrate with ordinary 9th rank firepower.
▶ However, as its defense is high, its mobility and attack power are weak.
-Guoooo…
An enemy that can’t be penetrated by witch magic.
When such things poured in forming groups with other monsters, there was no way out.
If there was anything that provided a breakthrough, it was the barbarian Ulrisa.
She bravely leaped forward, raising her axe.
“Thulak ven nargoth!”
Bang-!
As she brought down her axe like that, the head of the monster at the front was shattered in one blow.
Of course, she couldn’t split a monster’s head with just an axe, it was a miraculous crazy act of her directly imbuing the axe with magic.
“No way.”
Here, there’s a crazy barbarian here.
She’s a witch but standing at the front line.
But strangely, it’s reassuring.
Does this make sense?
It seems I wasn’t the only one with such thoughts, as Sharen, Belladrin, and all the mercenaries were astonished at her prowess.
The barbarian girl, splitting monster heads and covered in their blood, roared.
“Come on!!!!”
I know what that is.
The barbarian faction’s power
Of course, she hadn’t entered the barbarian faction so it was just an imitation, but the loud noise focused the monsters’ attention.
Bang-!
Crunch!
While she was rampaging with her axe, I also prepared magic.
I didn’t particularly want to reveal up to 8th rank, but the party was gradually falling into danger.
It would probably end with a few mercenaries dying, but treating life so lightly would make me like the other witches.
I create a Dark Sphere.
And it advances silently.
Then, boom.
-Keeeeek!
-Guooooooooogh!
Most of the monsters rushing at Ulrisa were swept away by the silently exploding Dark Sphere.
The only one who could recognize this magic’s rank would be Belladrin, but she was too focused on using all her efforts on magic to pay attention.
However, the Turtlehide was still fine, with only a bit of its shell scraped off.
A more powerful single blow was needed to kill that.
I throw off the gloves covering my hands.
The chaotic pattern on the back of my hand became visible after a long time.
The mercenaries leaped forward like heroes of reversal to protect the witches as much as possible.
The witches’ firepower was their hope.
Without that, they couldn’t overcome the endlessly pouring magical beasts.
Following that, I used 8th rank magic in succession.
And among 8th rank, it was a relatively high-tier spell.
It was a veteran-only spell that I continuously applied in the game while saying ‘Isn’t this 7th rank? Why is it 8th rank?’
At the intense concentration of magical power, Belladrin’s gaze, who had been continuously firing magic, turns this way.
Her eyes widen in shock.
I’ve been discovered, but it doesn’t matter now.
If we retreat like this, the mercenaries will die, the mission will fail, and it’ll all be for nothing.
So I didn’t stop casting.
A type of power that takes long to prepare but is that much more powerful.
Enormous magical power flowed from the back of my hand.
It can’t be helped. Without consuming this much magical power, I can’t complete the spell.
I felt the sleeping demon slowly open its eyes.
Feeling dizzy, I cast the spell.
[Dark Spear]
A spear of darkness was grasped in my hand.
I twisted my body as much as possible to throw it.
Then I shouted.
“Ge, get out of the waaay!”
Flash!
The spear thrown from my hand shoots out, erasing everything in its path.
Kwaaaang-!