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“M-Master… we have to help that person…”
“Momo, give it up. There’s nothing we can do for her anymore.”

While holding Momo back from trying to save the woman, I observed the mysterious tendrils.

These tentacles, shrouded in darkness deeper than night itself, had blurred outlines, making it difficult to grasp their true form. It was unclear if they were even living creatures.

I couldn’t detect any magic from them; all they imparted was a nauseating sense of dread through mere sight. The only thing I knew for sure was that touching them would be the end.

“Koutei, sound the alarm before the damage spreads. The guild staff should be leading the evacuation efforts.”
“Understood, then let us get to it!”

The golem opened its gauntlet, revealing a hidden button beneath. When pressed, the sound of bells ringing echoed through the streets below.

It seemed there were emergency evacuation procedures in place for situations like this, which was reassuring.

“Ms. Laika, I need you to push that thing back for just a moment. I’ll close the door in the meantime.”
“That’s easier said than done. Will magecraft even work on it?”
“There hasn’t been a recorded engagement since I took over, so that’s unclear. Please proceed cautiously and test the waters as you engage.”
“You’re asking for the impossible…”

Facing an enemy we had almost no data on, one that could kill instantly upon contact, and yet being expected to handle it unscathed—the Saint sure had a ruthless side.

But it seemed this level of recklessness was necessary. The situation must have been dire.

“This one shall take the lead. That thing’s curse will not work on this one. Take care of Lady Roche.”
“I see. Then hold the line and push it back for us.”
“Haha! If only it were that easy! But leave it to this one!”

With a hearty laugh, the golem tossed the Saint and the assassin—who had long since fainted from fear—towards me before charging in.

What a rough character. What would he have done if I hadn’t caught them in time?

“The thought that I’m being so relied on… is rather infuriating.”
“Um, as a lady, being held upside down like this is quite embarrassing…”
“What, a great Saint can’t fly? This is why magic is so inconvenient, specializing too much in one area!”
“Master, that’s not very mature of you.”
“……”

Chastised by Momo, I rotated the Saint upright, no longer keeping her suspended upside down.

As for the assassin, it seemed Momo had caught her in time—though I wouldn’t have minded if she’d been dropped.

“By the way, what’s the golem’s performance like? What are the chances against those strange tendrils?”
“The compatibility isn’t bad, but it’ll be difficult for him to handle it alone. So, please provide support.”
“…Maybe I should have left you suspended after all.”
“Master!”

While we were bantering, the golem had already engaged the target.

Surprisingly, the amorphous tentacles could be physically interacted with. The golem had managed to grab hold of them and was pushing them back with considerable force. As expected of a golem, its strength was impressive. At this rate, I might not even need to assist…

“…If only it were that simple, but things never go that smoothly, do they?”
“Ungh! So many of you attacking this one at once—how cowardly!”

Indeed, in a direct contest of strength, the golem had the upper hand—but only if there was just one tentacle.

The moment it tried to push the tendril back through the gateway, countless more tentacles emerged, completely entangling the golem.

Fortunately, the gateway was smaller than the golem’s diameter, so it couldn’t be pulled through, but in this situation, it was utterly immobilized.

“Waah! Is he really fine, Ms. Roche!?”
“Yes, Koutei should be fine no matter how much he touches it… but if the curse settles in, he’ll have to be disposed of.”
“Mercy! Mercy, This one begs of you—please help!!”
“Completely lacking in tension… Wake up.”

I manipulated the ground beneath the golem, causing it to rise and spear through the countless tentacles like a sharpened lance. Though it hit the mark, there was no satisfying resistance. However, some of the tentacles dissipated, and in the moment their grip loosened, the golem managed to break free.

“Haa… Haa… Th-thank you so much…!”
“Why is a golem panting? Still, our attacks aren’t doing much damage—it’s like fighting mist.”

The severed tentacles quickly regenerated, and there were no visible signs of damage from the earthen spears. Perhaps they lacked a true physical form. If that’s the case, how is it that Koutei could interact with them?

“Maybe I should try a different approach. If earth doesn’t work, then—”
“Master, get down!”

Momo yanked me back just as something sliced through the air, piercing the space where I had just been standing. It resembled the earthen spear I’d conjured, but it was made of twisted, sharp flesh.

“――――7q@, 7q@3, uyw@55555555!!!!!!!”
“Is that… thing moving!?”

The attack hadn’t come from the tentacles, but from what remained of the person who had once been Syntu. The grotesque creature, its form twisted beyond recognition, let out a screech through a massive, distorted mouth lined with uneven teeth. It stretched and contracted its limbs—or what might have once been limbs—hurling the fleshy spike in a swift, vicious strike.

“I’m sorry! Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just got carele—The Fourth!!”
“Master!?”

It was too late—I hadn’t completely dodged. Instinctively, I severed the contaminated strands of hair with magecraft. The hair, cut off just in time, rapidly turned black, transforming into a lump of flesh studded with human teeth and eyes as it fell back toward Syntu. If I had been even a second slower, that could have been me. No… if things had gone differently, it might have been Momo or the others…

“Damn it, bringing Momo and the others was a mistake. All I’ve done is increase the number of targets.”
“I apologize, but being close to Koutei and me is the safest place to be…”
“Bold words. If you’re going to say that, make sure you can protect us. Can you block that thing’s attacks?”
“The flesh part I can handle, but the tentacles… that’s uncertain. I can at least buy us some time.”
“That’s enough. I’m leaving the two in your care for a while.”
“Master! Wait, I can—!”
“Denied. You can’t even control your magecraft properly; you’d only get in the way.”

I cut off Momo’s protest and pushed her, along with the Saint, toward the rear. I had a rough idea of the Saint’s defensive range from the airship incident—at this distance, she should be able to offer protection.

“Now then… you’ve gone too far, you lumps of flesh.”

The masses of flesh on the ground thrashed about without any further attacks, but there was a volatile, unpredictable danger to them. They had to be eliminated. Such abominable curses had no place in this world; they would continue to spread like a disease, worse than mere death.

“…Looks like I can’t afford to hold back.”

I had already used two powerful spells today. Even with the Saint backing me up, I wasn’t sure how much more my body could take. I could probably push it to use one more big spell—two if I was lucky. The real question was when to use them and which ones…

Unless I even included my trump card, I wouldn’t be able to put these abominations down.

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