Chapter 530: Something That Exists There
“Why… why is this happening?”
Even if you ask me why, and even if you’re crying like that…
“Master, something strange has appeared!”
“Yeah. There’s no way this is the Spirit that’s supposed to tell us stories, right?” It doesn’t seem like it can communicate properly.
The creature that resembles a centaur can speak, but its words feel one-sided and meaningless.
“Maybe we should at least ask it!”
“That’s true. —Ah, excuse me, but could you tell us the old tales of this place…?” Following the suggestion of the Ex-Staff, I try to engage it.
“Why can’t things go as I want?”
Its voice drops an octave.
From the centaur-like creature, dark, thread-like filaments extend and touch the Mushroom, causing it to dissolve and spread out, leaving only the remnants of the filaments. For just a moment, the filaments maintain the shape of the Mushroom before quickly reaching out to other Mushrooms, causing their forms to collapse as well.
The Mushroom disappears, leaving a room filled with filaments. A slimy liquid, the remnants of the Mushroom, slowly spreads across the cobblestone floor, trickling into the gaps.
“…Is it not going to dissolve?”
So that’s why it didn’t say “why”! And the question is still a question!
Before I know it, filaments are creeping towards my feet. They’re covered by a thin air layer, so I’m fine. The mask and goggles are just for show; I need to get into the habit of preparing properly, or I won’t be able to handle things like Retze does.
Though something has been added that the goggles and mask can’t block. Just like in the water, creating an air layer is too convenient.
Ah, but it’s not good if it starts to tighten around me. I mean, if I asked, it might turn into a bouncy balloon that pushes back, but that’s not the point. In times like this, it’s magic. It’s okay; I’m not in a panic like when I was with Iruka. I can think calmly.
“So, here goes: ‘Weak Fire!'”
The filaments burst into flames for a moment, burning away. It looks a bit like a magic trick.
“…! Why, why?!”
“Why? Because I don’t want to!” I say, placing the Ex-Staff behind me and drawing the Zanzenken.
There’s no way I’m going to connect with this Black Spirit. It’s probably human at some point. If I’m not careful, I might end up tracing the emotions it experienced and find myself in a similar mental state. It’s easier to empathize with emotions of another existence.
Centaur, this feels unpleasant. If I make a contract, it’ll probably start to invade me, being made of filaments.
The centaur strikes its front legs against the cobblestones and charges at me. Its attack consists of a charge and—
“A bite.”
In the cramped space, I dodge just in time, but it rears back its head and tries to bite. Its youthful face is wrinkled, and its mouth splits wide open.
I use the belly of the Zanzenken to hold it down, redirecting its momentum diagonally. I step sideways and slam the Zanzenken into its lowered neck.
As the centaur’s upper body—its human part—tries to right itself, the blade slices from its head down to its jaw, severing it. The severed half of its head hits the floor with a splat, and then it transforms into black filaments.
“I really don’t like slimy things, Master!” says the Ex-Staff.
It seems to have stretched a bit beyond its usual size, watching the battle unfold.
“I really don’t like it when it’s acting normal without half a head.”
Is it not human but actually a Black Spirit made of filaments? If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem like a few cuts would have much effect.
“Why, why can’t we be together?”
“Why, why…”
“It’s returning, it’s returning.”
Just as the Ex-Staff said, filaments stretch out to the severed part, forming a slimy smile on the centaur’s face.
The arms of its human part look ornamental and hardly move. They either hang limply or stretch forward as if cradling something.
The centaur charges at me again. If I slice it into pieces, will it calm down? But the black filaments on the floor are quietly reaching back toward the centaur. Is this going to be endless?
I dodge while blasting Fire at the centaur. It shrinks for a moment as it burns, but then the filaments explode outward, restoring the centaur’s form.
It has a spirit-like aura of a human, yet its lower body is that of a horse, made of filaments. It’s definitely not a rock spirit, but it emerged from the cobblestones. The only material resembling a spirit’s tendency is the filaments. It seems to inhabit this building, but it doesn’t appear to be attached to it. It hasn’t affected the grasslands either.
“How about this? ‘From the gaps in the cobblestones, flow in and burn away!'”
Flames burst forth from every gap in the cobblestones.
“…!”
The centaur’s movements halt as the filaments dissolve and burn away.
“Why, why…”
The centaur crumbles.
“If it’s a Black Spirit with a main body, then the place it appeared must be where its main body is.”
I probably didn’t say that out loud, but I don’t think it heard me.