Chapter 309 - The Cannibal Tower

The Cannibal Tower

The next morning.

The Nise Yggdra tree.

In front of the hollow.

We Adventurers stood quietly.

“I have no talent for speeches. Last night was proof enough of that. However, you are not a group that needs to be roused. Your morale is high enough.”

Adlus stood in front of us and spoke quietly as his hands rested on his sword.

“Our enemy is right below us. A swarm of goblins. They are the remnants.”

As for the plan, Manager would use her shadows to find every entrance, and then the Adventurers would block them off.

At first, Manager was going to block them all with her shadow magic, but considering the burden to her and that it would affect her ability to fight, she ultimately suggested against it. She would not be able to use any other magic if she had to contrate on blocking all of the exits.

“We will break into the nest of the starving goblins. But you must all be careful. While we mean to be their annihilators, one wrong step can turn you into their food.”

If all of the exits were blocked from the outside, it would mean that all of the Adventurers could be used in the assault against the abandoned city. Manager could move freely. The plan had been changed after she had discussed with us the way her magic worked.

“Alright, let’s go. There are no orders. Just advance quietly and quickly. And then we hit the nest.”

Everyone nodded and turned on their notably beautiful magic illumination tools that hung on their belts. Hmm. Just the thought of them walking through the shadows made me glad that I had let the Adventurers borrow them. My collection deserved to be displayed like that.

Without another word, the silent march began.

□　　　□　　　□　　　□

The passage through the tree would have been pitch black without the magic lamps. But it was now bright enough to make out the dirt on the floor and walls. You could tell that goblins had passed through here numerous times.

We continued without saying a word. Like the last time, we walked down the slope and went deeper in until we came out into a much wider passage. As I was in the lead, I raised my hand for the others to stop. It was here that I used Nighteyes and Presence Detection to see what was happening.

“Hmm…”

“See anything?’

Daniela whispered as she held her bow.

“It seems like they’re all gathering in the center…”

“And what is in the center?”

I tried to think back on the last time I had infiltrated the place. To be honest, all of the buildings looked very similar, and it wasn’t as if I checked all of them. I really didn’t know.

“I don’t know… I’ll have to go.”

“I see. Well, Rindo should use her magic first.”

“That’s true.”

I wasn’t able to use Nighteyes and Eyes of the God Wolf at the same time, so I would have to actually go there to find out. I decided to do it after Manager used her magic detection and the Jades finished blocking off the exits.

“Shadow Step.”

Black magical energy went towards her feet, and then Manager stepped into the shadow that she made with the magic tool. Then the shadow began to spread out. It was as if it was eating all the shadows in the area, even climbing up the walls and the ceiling. It ran up buildings, covering them, stretching far. Manager had said that this magic was where everything started. And it made sense when you looked at it. Not only that, but she used the shadows to make a wall around us. Now the goblins wouldn’t be able to see us or the lights of the magic lamps.

Once everything was covered in darkness, her second magic activated.

“Shadow Read.”

This was her version of detection magic. It allowed her to get a detailed reading of the entire area that she had covered in shadows. She had said that the shadows of the night were her field, and this was proof of it.

“Hmm. Hmm. I see. There are four exists including this one.”

“Alright. Rindo, take your team of Jades and go and block off these exits. Once you return, the battle will begin.”

“Wait a minute. Two of them are heading towards us.”

Daniela stopped them as they started to walk. She nocked an arrow and unleashed it instantly. With a speed that the eye could not follow, she fired two arrows in succession. A short distance away, there were the sounds of bodies falling to the ground.

“…Alright. You can go now.”

“Go.”

Daniela observed that it was safe, and Adlus gave the signal. And so Manager and her team advanced silently and disappeared into the darkness.

We waited cautiously for a while until Manager and the others finally returned. From the looks of them, they had had to fight a few times. There were bloodstains on their clothes and weapons.

“We had a few close calls, but the job is done. All the exits are sealed. Earth magic is quiet useful, huh?”

“I’m honored that you think so…”

A quiet-looking man said with a hint of embarrassment as Manager turned to look at him. I rolled my eyes and looked back at Manager.

“So, you had to fight?”

“Twice. It seemed like the goblins were going out to hunt.”

They really were desperate for food then. There weren’t as many as there were before. And we hadn’t seen any walking outside. From what I could tell with Presence Detection, they were still gathered towards the center.

“Alright then. It’s time.”

The Namila Village Liberation Front. The final phase was about to begin.

And I was to be the advance guard.

I rushed through what was once the main street of the city. The Adventurers were split into teams of two, and one by one, they came out onto the street.

“Goblins up ahead!”

I had Presence Detection spread out. Whenever I detected them, I raised my voice as a warning. Then Daniela ran and unleashed her arrows.

“Rindo, to the left!”

Adlus detected a goblin coming out from the shadow of a building. Manager threw a shadow sword, splitting its head open.

Some of the Adventurers had disappeared down the alleys, and I could hear them fighting as I ran. After a while, I reached the place that would be the center of the city. More than half of the goblins were congregated here.

When I turned around, there were only about ten Jades behind me, aside from the three Rubies. The others had all scattered out.

“Ha…ha… Alright, let’s go.”

Adlus caught his breath and looked up.

In front of us, stood the largest building in this city…a tower.

It wasn’t just a building that was taller than the rest. It was in the actual shape of a tower. No one knew why such a structure was underground.

However, the top of the building nearly reached the ceiling. In fact, it joined the tangle of roots of the Nise Yggdra Tree, which kept it from falling. If anything, it was probably more secure than ever.

And I could sense that it was packed with goblins, top to bottom.

“I guess I didn’t notice it because I never looked up…”

I said as I looked up at it. I was too concentrated on not stepping on any bones or twigs while staying out of sight. And so it had escaped my notice.

“How about using fire magic to create an explosion that will tear the building down?”

“The others might get caught in it.”

Adlus rejected Daniela’s suggestion.

“Shadow Step would be difficult here.”

Manager said with a chuckle.

The Jades were holding their weapons and looked like they were eager to go in.

Well, that was a good sign. I slapped my face to fire myself up and then unsheathed my trusty blade, the Glampanzer.

And like that, we stepped foot into the tower where the goblins were devouring each other.