Chapter 253: Incitement
There are a few other adventurers following Dean and the others besides me. From what I heard beforehand, adventurers wanting to delve deeper tend to stick together. The more of us there are, the less likely the Demon Beasts are to approach, allowing us to progress faster.
Once you go deeper, some Demon Beasts get overly excited by the presence of humans and attack aggressively, so unless it’s a large-scale extermination by the Order of Knights, we usually split into smaller groups. Right now, we’re still in the shallow layers, so we gather as much as possible, but keep enough distance to draw our swords if needed.
Since Dean and the others are heading to a pretty deep area, I expect the people following along will gradually drop off to stay in layers that match their abilities.
With that in mind, I’m trailing behind, taking advantage of Karn’s prominence and keeping a few people between us. The Spirit I named pretends to be interested in the group of adventurers, flitting around in front and behind while communicating with me through some kind of mental link.
“So, it seems like almost everyone was wiped out from the Twentieth to the Fortieth Layer.”
“Yeah~”
“We also escaped.”
Apparently, my copycat Spirit had been behaving itself up to the Twentieth Layer, but it seems it went on a rampage afterward, leaving almost no Demon Beasts or Spirits up to the Fortieth Layer. Moreover, it looks like it consumed the Stone Spirits and caused collapses in several places.
…….
Do I really come off as that thoughtless? Well, I did plan to abandon everything eventually, so maybe I didn’t care much about the people or things around me back then.
—Alright! It’s not my fault; it’s my sister’s! Besides, I’ve never actively tried to get involved! There’s definitely something off with that copy.
“For now, if you see any Spirits that look like they’re melting, chipping, or in pain, let me know. But don’t get too close; they might try to consume you.”
“Okay!”
Just like the Uma I asked for help from Yukihyo in the Forest, there might still be Spirits that haven’t been consumed by hatred.
This is it; if I keep naming Spirits, I’ll stand out even more, and I have a reason to want to get down quickly, so I’ve decided to split off.
It’s a bit frustrating to think I’m cleaning up after the Heroes, but naming Spirits will help me gain power, and it will strengthen Severance. If I name them, the Spirits won’t have their power taken without consent—consuming the Ball of Light will be necessary for the Heroes to wield their strength.
Even if they overuse it a little, they’ll likely grow significantly later, but just how much is “a little” for the Heroes who seem to use their power freely?
Well, there are countless Spirits in this world, so it’s not that simple. If I were weaker, there’s a risk I could have my power taken even if I contracted with them.
I wonder if I can talk to Retze and the others during our break? I want to let them know there are many places that have collapsed or are on the verge of collapse. The words Balmoa and Vice Guild Master are being tossed around among the adventurers following us, and I’m worried about getting too close since I’ve overheard comments about Karn’s muscles.
Karn can talk to Spirits, but there aren’t any Spirits here that can communicate in a way that resembles human thought. They can understand some of what we say, but they struggle to convey it. It’s like they can’t find the right words?
Oh, but I can communicate with the Ex-Staff without speaking.
“Uh, test, test. Currently testing the microphone.”
“What is that?”
Karn’s voice returned, sounding perplexed.
“Oh, it’s connected.”
Looks like the sensitivity is good.
“The first words don’t mean anything, so don’t worry about that. And just a heads up, once we move past the Twentieth Layer, you’ll have to be careful because the Black Spirits will try to take over your body.”
Since there don’t seem to be any other animals around, it’s likely a choice between cannibalism or possessing the adventurers who came along.
“Just when I thought you were talking to me out of nowhere, why is it so bizarre?”
“I just asked the Spirits. I thought it was better to tell you quickly.”
“What did the Spirits say? I can summon either branch, but they seem to cancel each other out, and whichever Spirit I want will come forth.”
So if I summon a Spirit, a white branch appears, and if I summon a Black Spirit, a black branch appears. That’s definitely noticeable.
“Apparently, from the Twentieth Layer to about the Fortieth, my copycat Hero has been running wild, leaving no Demon Beasts or Spirits, and most have been consumed by the Black Ones. Also, it seems they’ve been using Spirits indiscriminately, causing collapses everywhere. Watch your head and feet.”
It’s not just that they used them; it seems they’ve been devouring them.
“—Is it okay if I stand out?”
“You’re so big that there’s no way to hide, you know?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Karn’s response was a bit hesitant.
“Isn’t this a chance to make an impression on the Vice Guild Master? You’re going to be a king, right?”
The original citizens are long gone. The country where Karn was king has been buried in sand for ages. So, we have to acquire something new.
“Were you serious about that…? I’m Gene’s ‘King’s Branch,’ you know?”
“Don’t you want to be a king?”
Karn seems calm, but there’s ambition there. No, it’s not just ambition; it’s like being a king has always been the norm for him.
“……”
Karn fell silent.
If I’m not imagining things, I can see the emptiness of losing a country reflected in Karn. He’s bound to me by contract, and there’s a resignation in him that he’s come to accept.
“The king can choose whoever wields the branch I’ve obtained, so what’s the problem?”
It doesn’t matter if a human king isn’t human. I have the things I want, the abilities to achieve them, and the chaotic times to make it happen—so why hesitate?
“……Gather Spirits for me. Let’s pretend we’re talking about what the Spirits said.”
“Sure.”
Looks like I’ve successfully incited him.
I ask the Spirits to gather under Karn. To those who can see Spirits, it must look like small lights of different colors are swirling around Karn’s face, whispering in his ear and drawing attention right in front of him.
To me, it looks like a rainbow-colored afro.