I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

64 – 064. Ishmael Subjugation (2)

It was fortunate, if you could call it that, that things didn’t immediately escalate.

“Look, there’s a village.”

While walking inside the barrier, we soon found a small village. It was such a small place it felt awkward to call it a village. It was just a gathering of a few shabby houses.

As we moved towards it, we were soon confronted with an astonishing sight.

“A-are you… rescue team…?!”

A man with a wary face appeared from among the ruined buildings.

“Luckily, there are survivors, just as you said.”

The Sword Demon shook his head as he looked at me. It seemed he hadn’t expected there to be anyone left alive in this terrible, ominous place.

“What happened here?”

“P-people… just died! They collapsed spitting… spitting blood. And then their internal organs and blood…!”

It was the same explanation as the common characteristics of the victims we’d encountered at the barrier just a moment ago.

‘Ishmael. It’s definitely him.’

There was no time to indulge in the same leisurely contemplation. Nodding to the farmer, I asked him my next question.

“Besides you, have you seen anyone else alive?”

“Y-yes… after it happened, I hid here.”

“Hmm.”

With my arms folded and my chin resting on my hand, I was lost in thought.

Fallen Angel Ishmael.

He’s a ‘demon type’ who uses the power of ‘devouring.’ That being, once noble in heaven, was characterized by devouring people’s blood and organs.

And.

‘……Looks like his brood hasn’t shown itself yet.’

Luckily, Ishmael’s combat power wasn’t particularly high. However, the brood he boasted of should have already appeared in the world. That’s why I chose a war of attrition rather than a ‘blitzkrieg’.

‘If we can prevent any more casualties, victory will naturally be ours.’

Therefore, first, we needed to gather the survivors. Even at this very moment, his brood would be collecting people’s blood and organs to create more monsters.

“You, come with us.”

“Y-yes? I-is it alright? Some mages… the mages who came in here have already disappeared without a trace.”

Mages, it sounded like he was talking about the investigation team from the Magic Tower Friedrich had mentioned.

“It’s alright. If you want to survive, come with us.”

I said quietly, and started to move. Actually, the terrain of this area was perfectly mapped out in my head.

I was the one who had spent thousands of hours on the silvering. I could draw the map of the Western Continent with my eyes closed.

“Heh! Seems you have something in mind.”

“……That’s right. Judging by the scale of the barrier, there should be two villages and a city remaining inside.”

The Sword Demon who had fallen into step beside me asked. I nodded silently and added a brief explanation.

“Just as you say. You plan to gather survivors and wage a war of attrition?”

“Yes, the enemy consumes the blood and organs of living beings as fuel. Simply put, this means that now, with fresh fuel, is when he is at his strongest.”

“Hmph. So even if I move with you, victory isn’t guaranteed?”

“That’s likely. Demonkin use all sorts of bizarre abilities.”

“Troublesome!”

The Sword Demon grimaced.

He probably never imagined that he, an 8th circle, would feel such a powerless emotion.

I headed north.

Using the garrison at the center of the barrier as a starting point, I’d move counterclockwise from our current location. Past the two villages, the city of ‘Heisenberg’ on the western border would be our final destination.

“……”

I glanced sideways at Geum Ha-rin.

She had been wearing a serious expression since before, not saying a single word. It seemed she had also realized the danger of the situation we were in.

“I have a question.”

Receiving my gaze, she hesitantly opened her mouth.

“A question?”

“Yes. In this barrier, the ‘demon’ you mentioned and his brood are the only enemies, right?”

“That’s not it.”

“……? What are you saying?”

“Demons, they emanate a foul aura just by existing. There’s a chance that beings could be corrupted by that.”

A good example is the ‘Hell Rift.’ I encountered goblin hordes corrupted by mana there. Similarly, it’s possible that monsters or wild animals exposed to the demons’ unique ‘mana’ could have emerged.

“You mean… beasts?”

“If by ‘beast’ you mean a monster, then yes.”

Geum Ha-rin nodded her head while moving. Then, her retort followed immediately.

“But, it’s strange. A place that should be filled with desperate screams is unnervingly quiet, isn’t it?”

Geum Ha-rin gestured towards the farmer cautiously following us.

“It’s just quiet.”

“What does that mean?”

“That.”

“……?”

Without a word, I raised a finger. What my finger pointed at was the sun in the sky, positioned inside the barrier.

That sun was different from a normal celestial body. It emitted darkness rather than light, and it seemed to drip with a menacing and foul aura.

“Ismael of Devouring. One of the bizarre powers possessed by demonkind. That… is an ＜Eye＞.”

“An Eye, you say?”

Geum Ha-rin’s mouth dropped open. The Sword Demon, who had been silently listening to our conversation, also stopped in his tracks. That’s how shocking the information I had just given was, it seemed.

“Yeah.”

I answered nonchalantly.

“It’s an Eye. As the word implies, it means that a ‘demon’ is watching everything within this barrier.”

“……Huh, haha! Is that the truth?”

“It is. It’s something I heard from the Papal See, so it can’t be false.”

And, I brazenly sold the name of the ‘Papal See’. After all, what name could be more trustworthy in this world?

“T-Then! Shouldn’t we not be wandering around so leisurely…?!”

Geum Ha-rin cried out in disbelief.

“Half right, half wrong.”

“Wh-What? I don’t quite understand. The fact that a demon is watching us means we could be in great danger soon!”

As expected of the Vice Sect Leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Her rather sharp insight made me nod my head once more, silently.

“Yeah. You’re only realizing that now?”

“……What?”

“In fancy terms, it’s ‘aggro’.”

“Uh, aggro? Never heard that word.”

“No surprise. It’s a word only known to high-caliber people like myself.”

“Heh.”

Something seemed to click with the Sword Demon from my conversation with Geum Ha-rin.

His short laugh held a peculiar sense of satisfaction.

“This child was speaking to the demon spawn from the start. Saying not to do anything reckless since someone more threatening and powerful than anyone in the barrier has appeared.”

Geum Ha-rin gaped, mouth agape.

“The Elder is right. By the time we’ve passed through those two villages and reached the city, we’ll likely have faced countless monster attacks.”

“Heh! Are you sure you’ll be okay? Protecting someone while fighting is inherently the most difficult type of battle, you know.”

“But I have the Elder by my side. And if I may be so bold, I’m not exactly lacking in skill myself.”

I tapped the hilt of my sword at my waist.

…It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I possess strength that puts me in the fairly strong category.

My dazzling, radiant ‘Trait’ was the basis of my power. Having slain the Blood Lion in a life-or-death battle that transcended ranks, and reached the 7th Stage with the help of the Plum Blossom Sect, was there really any more to say?

“And, most likely, my companions outside are causing quite the ruckus. To send experts of the 6th Stage or higher to this place.”

“Hmm! Right, I heard. That man who acted like your little brother, he’s the Crown Prince of the Empire. From the very beginning, your ability to see through this situation is truly something else!”

The Sword Demon said with a satisfied smile. His gaze then turned to Geum Ha-rin walking behind us, who merely flinched her shoulders.

“By the way. Elder, are you still not going to tell me why you came to the West Continent?”

Thinking about it again, it was obvious.

The Sword Demon, a few days ago,

had vaguely answered me that he came ‘to apologize’ when I asked why he was here.

But let’s be realistic. Does that make sense? The Heavenly Demon Sect, the rulers of the East Continent. For two of their top figures to suddenly come all the way here just to apologize?

“Really, it’s impossible to fool your eyes.”

“I refrained from mentioning it first because it must be a difficult matter to speak of.”

“It’s not particularly difficult. I just came to kidnap someone.”

“…Kidnap?”

My eyes narrowed in an instant.

No, for a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect to come to the West Continent to kidnap someone. I wondered who that unfortunate person might be.

“Of course, the plan went awry. An unforeseen variable appeared. Which is why I’m now taking this walk through the ominous darkness with you.”

“…Well, from my perspective, that’s a stroke of good luck.”

“Heh! Could be luck, could be misfortune.”

I chuckled, dismissing the Sword Demon’s Zen riddle, and faced forward.

Before long, the next village came into view far in the distance.

“Th-there, sirs! That place, aside from the border city, is the largest village in this area!”

“……Hmm?”

I frowned at the farmer’s continued explanation.

It was silent. Even though my expanded senses could easily detect for hundreds of meters, I couldn’t feel so much as an ant moving within that village.

“Is it already too late?”

Geum Ha-rin’s voice, low, burrowed into my ear.

My heart grew cold. A decrease in survivors meant our trials and tribulations would only intensify.

“First, I’ll check it myself.”

I expressed my decision shortly and leapt toward the village.

*Thwack!*

As I entered the village, as expected, a dreadful silence filled the air. Most of the buildings were destroyed or burned, and there were no traces, not even corpses.

“Looks like it’s already too late, just as the Young Sect Leader said.”

The Sword Demon, too, scanned the village interior with frigid eyes.

But then.

“Wait.”

Something strange caught my eye.

Through a gap in the barrier, where a faint darkness had settled like late afternoon, I saw a rippling red energy.

‘…A survivor, maybe?’

It was unbelievable, even as I looked.

The rippling fire emanated from the basement of the largest house in the village. Yet, strangely, no sound came from that blaze.

Yes. As if someone had deliberately suppressed the ‘noise’.