Chapter 117 - Manpower with Labor (3)

Drip. Drip.

The sound heard was the death cry of water droplets shattering as they hit the floor.

Some might find it beautiful, a gentle and clear sound wave, Blobel thought.

When would this pure water sound be covered by screams?

They say the night was calmest before a storm.

As if the water had run out, the sound gradually faded, leaving only a bitterly cold silence.

Considering there were six people gathered here, the absence of sound was too great.

Filling that space was Blobel's own heartbeat.

Would her nervousness show?

Blobel secretly gripped the cylinder hidden in her bosom.

No problem.

The plan was perfect.

A secret weapon was also securely prepared.

Except for that one, we're evenly matched.

Blobel stole a glance at the man who volunteered as mediator, then took in the three people opposite her.

Filthy Abyss Worshippers.

Grave robbers.

Thieves coveting the legacy we rightfully should inherit.

Profiteers who, while craving the Abyss' wisdom, threw tantrums when others uncovered its mysteries.

The Abyss School and Shadow, wasn't it?

Those enchanted by the wisdom hidden in the Abyss.

A school gathering madmen who had discarded all morals, norms, and laws for the sake of research.

They say their knowledge had already surpassed even the Six Great Schools dominating Res Limen, as they devoted themselves solely to research without any restrictions to achieve their desires.

And those two elves attached as helpers to the Abyss School.

Shadow, or more precisely, the elf clan called Shadows of the Trees.

They were a group of madmen no less than the Abyss School.

Delusional fanatics dreaming of reviving the World Tree that withered and died with the disappearance of the gods.

Blobel inwardly sneered that it was truly a case of like attracting like.

The goal of understanding all knowledge and truth in the world to reach omniscience, or the wish to resurrect a divine being—both were ideas that only madmen could conceive.

Regardless of affiliation, Blobel was no less than them.

Not just as the heir to the Naturalis School, but above all, she...

"It's not time yet."

The Abyss Worshipper from the Abyss School opened his mouth, which had never opened before.

"Isn't it as we understood? Seems like a good thing to me."

"You're right. According to what we've learned, this door requires two conditions. If one is met, it would be good news. The chances of the other condition being correct would increase."

His words conveyed no joy at all.

He continued speaking as if reciting from a book, "But it's too early to rejoice. If it doesn't open when the time comes, it might mean all the information we've gathered so far is wrong."

"We'll know if we wait," the mediator, seemingly uncomfortable with the long speech, cut in.

Blobel thought.

Should I do it now?

Is this an opportunity?

None of these people truly considered themselves comrades who would stick together to the end anyway.

Even the mediator who connected Blobel and these Abyss Worshippers said to look after their own lives, showing they were in no position to coexist.

She wasn't the only one aware of this fact.

"...Making the first move."

The elf's displeased muttering, revealing himself as a mage by holding a short wand, reminded Bobel of the aforementioned fact.

From Blobel's perspective, who hadn't yet shown her fangs, she couldn't understand what those words meant.

However, she moved.

Now!

"Bruno! Egon! Catch those elves!"

The other side had three people, the same as them.

From the start, the number of people Blobel could bring was matched to the Abyss Worshippers' number.

That was the condition.

So Blobel had instructed her companions on what they should do.

— I'll handle the one who looks like the leader, you catch the rest.

Those two are alchemists who specialize in plant alchemy. The alchemical formula, catalyst and everything is already prepared.

Unlike magic, alchemy was an ability established on thorough calculations.

Though considered a branch of magic for using mana as a power source, alchemy was established as an independent ability after going through the "Mother of Alchemy."

Alchemy was the mystery of measurement.

Using the same alchemical formula to operate mana, with the same materials and catalysts, even the most excellent alchemist would only produce the same result.

This was why superior alchemists were called those who never made mistakes with alchemical formulas and the required materials and catalyst amounts.

Although Bruno and Egon's Explorer rank was Senior, they had the alchemy kit Blobel personally prepared.

Its power should be difficult to escape even for Expert-rank Explorers.

The variable would be that person.

Baltren, as long as he doesn't interfere.

Naturalis and Abyss Worshippers.

A neutral force belonging to neither.

Baltren was the one who could secure such a position alone.

That was why she was more at ease.

Even in this tense situation, a quick glance confirmed Baltren was observing with folded arms.

Getting this far is enough anyway.

There might be something beyond this, but that would be dealt with.

My calculations are not wrong.

Blobel, having finished her calculations, cast her specialty, bio-alchemy.

The deployed alchemical formula devoured her body along with materials and catalysts.

The formula's form was transformation.

The main material was Blobel's left arm.

Secondary materials were owlbear claws and fur.

The catalyst was the emerald of life and regeneration.

The laws of bio-alchemy called for the transformation of Blobel's left arm.

Rip—

Tearing through the clothes covering her left arm, Blobel's giant monstrous hand rose as if preparing divine punishment.

And without any delay, it struck down with lightning-like sharp claws.

Crash—!!

"With just an owlbear's arm."

The seemingly unstoppable force was blocked.

Standing firm under the brutish palm large enough to cover a person was none other than the elf.

Blobel was more shocked by the fact that it was an elf who blocked her attack than by the fact that her attack was blocked.

Because it meant that the plan she had woven had gone awry.

The moment she recognized the anomaly.

Blobel instinctively changed her next alchemical formula.

And that judgment saved her life.

Crack—!

Egon's arm, which should have sealed off the elves following her order, turned towards her.

Egon's arm, transformed into wood by similar bio-alchemy, was like a spear.

Though she blocked it, perhaps Egon had anticipated this much.

In the blink of an eye, the spear form disappeared, branches spread out stem by stem and restrained Blobel's body in a net-like form.

"Lady Blobel!" Bruno shouted at the unbelievable sight of an ally's betrayal.

Only one traitor.

Is it arrogance?

Only the elves, who were no different from guards, moved while the Abyss School side remained the same.

If she could strike at this gap of carelessness,

They still don't know.

As if reading her mind, the Abyss School member spoke, "It's over. The fight ended the moment you were caught."

Over?

For whom?

Noble pride lifted Blobel's lips.

"It's an alchemical formula I taught. Think I don't know the reversal formula?"

"Then try it," he spoke mockingly.

No, he was actually mocking her.

This noble but young flower.

Gauron must have cherished her quite a bit.

It was foolish.

In the end, birds left the nest, and mother lions closed their eyes before their cubs.

They couldn't stay coddled forever.

Even now, wasn't she trying to stand on her own, breaking away from his protection?

He should have raised her more harshly.

It seemed he trained her quite well in combat, but one thing was lacking.

Watching Blobel's face gradually stiffen and darken, he said, "Seems you've never fought another alchemist."

The interpretation of the reversal interference formula was too slow.

He clicked his tongue and laughed, "Come to think of it, we haven't introduced ourselves yet."

Of course.

It wasn't a warm enough meeting to exchange pleasant introductions.

Potential enemies.

A very brief companionship.

That was all, so why would they introduce themselves?

"I'm Gephardt."

But even that was Blobel's mistake.

That name proved it.

"...The traitor of Arcanum."

One who became obsessed with the secrets held by Golden Intellect and was eventually swallowed by those secrets.

Former head of the Arcanum branch and current member of the Abyss School.

Despair swallowed Blobel.

"How ironic. Raising her preciously only to make her court death."

Was it hatred towards his old organization that branded him a traitor and expelled him?

As Gephardt watched Blobel's frustration with amusement, the mediator intervened.

"That's enough. They seem to have arrived."

"Ah, is that so? It would be annoying if our rear is exposed, let's finish cleaning up."

That conversation brought a ray of light to Blobel.

They made the first move?

She suddenly understood what the elf's muttering meant.

There were. People following.

Though she didn't know who, she was certain they weren’t on the same side as these filthy Abyss Worshippers.

Then there was hope.

Because they need her here!

Now even she could sense the presence, and Blobel screamed with her last ounce of strength.

"Everyone! You came just in time! Now's your chance! Finish them off!!"

Fight.

Blobel's thought that if they could just buy time somehow, she could interpret the reversal formula and turn things around—was suddenly shut down when she saw the faces of those who appeared.

"Eh...?"

Those faces were all too familiar to her.

§

"What's this?"

Figuring we'd been detected anyway, we entered boldly, revealing our presence.

But the first thing we hear upon entering was…?

They were waiting?

Finish them off?

Seemed like they were fighting among themselves...

Why are you there?

Only Lana's sigh beside me warmed this awkward air.