Maou na Ore to Fushihime no Yubiwa:Volume 4 Chapter 6

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Chapter 6: The Tamer of the Spirits

“… So this means the victor of the 45th ‘hundredth deaths course’ is the dark horse that came from the human world… The contestant Kusumi Manami. Congratulations.”

“…”

The contest’s results, whatever… Sure enough, Manami won.

Manami, atop the winner’s podium, received an extra-large trophy.

“… Manami-chan. Amazing. You are historically, the first human winner.”

“Yeah. Once again, we’ve been taught a lesson about that girl’s greatness.”

The buzzing at the venue showed no signs of fading.

Since the ghouls not even in their wildest dreams had thought that a human that entered on the spur of the moment would be the victor.

“By the way, Kyouko, what position did you end in?”

“Me? I was 14th.”

“Quite plain, you…”

“L-leave me alone!”

Thinking it calmly, I believe that Kyouko achieved 14th place of nearly 600 contestants despite being her first time participating was a good performance, but compared with my sister’s active role, it can’t be seen as anything but plain.

Though in the first place, it’s not like we can talk, forfeiting in the middle.

“… At any rate, that dragon that attacked us on the way… What the heck was it?”

“About that… A while ago, I tried asking management, but… It seems they know nothing.”

“… Is that so?”

So that means, as expected, that that dragon… Though it was unrelated to the race, someone put it there to attack us.

Who was it? For what reason?

The instant that I was thinking those things.

From somewhere at the venue a cry was heard.

I looked to the sound’s source, and.

Aren’t those, a bunch of ghouls with no expression suddenly moving towards us like an avalanche?

Those numbers… A low estimate would be a hundred.

Weird. It’s strange.

The bunch of ghouls looked awfully dispirited, how would I put it… Their gait looked wobbly and their skin was pale. And above all, their eyes didn’t show a shred of life.

“!?”

And once again happened something that surprised me.

All of a sudden, the lifeless ghouls started one by one attacking the other ghouls.

Holy cow… Am I dreaming?

The attacked ghouls’ gazes too became empty and devoid of life and assaulted other ghouls.

“The ghouls are turning into zombies!?”

Even I think that that unfolding looked like a joke, but even so, I didn’t find any other words to describe what was happening.

“Ghouls turning into zombies… Could it be!?”

“… Zonmi. Do you know something?”

“Long ago, I read it on some documents.

Monster tamers with the particular ability of manipulating the undead and animated corpses—necromancers.

They bestow transient souls on us undead and on other beings’ corpses and can manipulate them as zombies.

But then… monster tamers with the ability as necromancers are so scarce that, even perusing history books, can be counted with a single hand.

Still… If we take that the necromancer was the one controlling the dragon that attacked us before, this impossible scene can be explained.”

“In other words, someone with the ability of a necromancer is picking a fight and attacking us… You mean.”

“Someone… There’s no need to obscure it like that. Since there’s only one group of people we know that wants to harm us.”

“…”

Exactly as Zonmi has said, I can only think of one person that holds ill will and would attack us.

The group that commits atrocities; employing monsters—the Black Tamers.

This time, once again… Most probably, this is their doing.

And this time, the opponent we must battle… It’s an unknown necromancer able to control the undead at will.

… If that’s the case, this is pretty bad.

What’s bad… The enemy’s ability shows its max potential at the land of the ghouls.

“!? Zonmi Behind you!”

Suddenly, one zombified ghoul jumped at Zonmi.

I quickly rushed to Zonmi’s side and punched that guy.

“Thank you very much… I was a bit scared right now,”

“… It’s still too soon to be relieved.”

“It seems… We’ve been surrounded before we knew it.

The number of zombified ghouls increased explosively and our surroundings were being filled.

I, Zonmi and Kyouko covered each other backs to get rid of any blind spots.

Well… What do I do?

This situation… How do we get over it?

These guys… One by one, the zombies’ strengths were honestly nothing to fear.

If I was alone, I could forcefully break through upfront… Such action is not impossible, but the problem here is with Zonmi.

Guessing from the situation till now, Zonmi, who is from the undead tribe, will be out with the first attack from the zombies.

A zombie Zonmi… In some sense, at least my sister would rejoice with that development.

Fighting upfront may be too much risky.

“… Humph! Ghouls of lowly standing are reckless fellows for opposing my master.”

Suddenly, a huge flame pillar encircled us all around.

The huge flame pillar situated as if to protect us has power to keep the zombies at bay for about ten minutes.

“Iris!? And moreover… Lilith-san and even Manami!? Have you come to help us!?”

“… Chiharu-sama. I beg your pardon. The ones who have launched this attack, I dare say… It would be the Black Tamers.

I don’t know how they did it, but it seems that they have already found our whereabouts.”

“… Fine, monster tamer. What shall I do?

If that’s what thou wantest, I can turn to ashes in an instant every ghoul here…”

“…”

What Iris is saying is true.

Like Zonmi, monsters from the undead tribe are extremely weak to heat.

Even now, we can only talk leisurely like this thanks to the flame pillar that Iris spat out acting as a tough defense wall that’s keeping the zombies at bay.

However.

“… No, let’s not attack them. They are just being controlled by a necromancer. I don’t want to harm unrelated monsters.”

“I agree with Haru. If what the enemy seeks is to use the zombies to engage in a battle of attrition… We’ll be playing into their hand.”

“… There’s something that we must put as top priority.

That is… To guarantee Chiharu-sama’s safety. Since the Black Tamers know our whereabouts, I suggest we part from Living Lodge at once.”

“…”

Surely it may be as Lilith-san says.

Even if the Black Tamers do have a reason to attack us, there’s no reason for us to fight the Black Tamers.

If we could avoid fighting without fleeing… That would be the best option.

“Iris… Is it fine with you?”

The problem lies in if Iris will accept…

“… If that’s thy wish, I have no reason to refuse. I’ll leave my revenge against those guysthe Black Tamers for another date.”

“… Is that so? Thanks.”

Compared with the previous incident of the attack at the Grandeel archipelago, Iris mental growth is astounding,

Before, just by hearing the name of the Black Tamers, Iris would have got excited and simply charge into the enemy camp, but… Now she respects our opinions and regards her objective as secondary.

I… am very glad for Iris’s growth.

“So, let’s first do as Lilith-san has said and, for the time being, prioritize leaving this place.

Kyouko and Iris will turn into monsters and carry us. Our destination, right… The port city we arrived at first could do. We’ll think about the detail once we’ve reached there…”

“Please, wait!”

The one who suddenly interrupted my words with a loud shout was Zonmi.

“… I’ve been worrying about it for a while, but I can’t find Aruru and Meruru anywhere. It would be good if they managed to successfully get away, but… I can’t leave this city until I’ve at least confirmed my family’s safety.”

“Ghoul. I understand your feelings, but… Don’t speak selfishly. Have you forgotten our top priority?”

“… I’m very sorry.

Still… Only this I can’t afford to concede. If you have to leave Living Lodge no matter what, leave me behind, please.”

“…”

How careless.

I almost… compelled Zonmi into forsaking her family and fleeing. Moreover… Thinking better now, Putting my own safety first may be an extremely irresponsible choice.

So, what do I do?

Had we never landed at Living Lodge in the first place… This city’s undead may have been right now living peacefully.

“… Yosh, understood. Before departing Living Lodge, let’s return once to Zonmi’s parent’s home.”

“… Chiharu. Is it fine?”

“Yup. If I had to put it in words, speaking truthfully, I too… am against leaving this place. We haven’t persuaded Zonmi’s father yet… We’ve not wrapped up such an important task and I too am worried about Aruru and Meruru.”

“Buu. Oniichan is too soft with the zombies.”

“… Understood. If those are you instructions, Chiharu-sama, I won’t stop you. However, I earnestly ask you to not exceed yourself.”

“… Roger.”

In any case, the talk is settled.

… At a time like this, it’s reassuring to have monsters that can fly.

We rode onto the transformed Iris & Kyouko’s backs and set off to Zonmi’s parent’s home.

× × ×

“All troops! Fight from a distance using your spears! Don’t let the mob step inside the castle!”

When we reached the ghoul clan’s castle, which was Zonmi’s parent’s home, Zonmi’s father… Satosu-san, standing upon the fort, while shouting directions to many brawny soldiers, battled the zombified ghouls.

“Father, you're safe!”

“… Zonmi? More than anything, you're safe too.”

Satosu-san, sighing from relief with a face of deep reassurance,

“… You were Chiharu-kun, aren't you? It’s not like I approve of your contract, but… I’m grateful for bringing back my daughter.”

“Thank you very much… That aside, how’s the situation like at the city!?”

“Aah. The situation is plainly the worst.

… Estimating optimistically, short of 30% of the population has been brainwashed by the person that appears to be a necromancer.”

“… Is that so?”

Weird. It makes no sense.

As the enemy’s objective was to manipulate the ghouls to attack us… Was it necessary to brainwash all of the ghouls in the city?

“By the way, Chiharu-kun. Have you seen Aruru and Meruru anywhere?”

“… They haven’t returned to the castle? To tell the truth, we are also looking for them.”

“… Is that so? It would be nice if those children returned safely, but…”

Satosu-san deeply sighed,

“In any case, it’s become troubling. We have to seize that necromancer as soon as possible… The situation has once again turned to the worse.”

“By the way, is there any way to return the zombified people to how they were?”

“… There’s just one.

The necromancer must employ a cane with a unique magic stone mounted on it. In other words, if we could destroy it…”

“Then we could save the civilians?”

I see.

As Satosu-san said, to fix the chaos of the situation, it seems that we have to search for the necromancer that’s the mastermind of the incident.

“A—. A—… Kusumi Chiharu. Kusumi Chiharu. I know that you are there.

Do I have to introduce myself? My name is Lance. Lance Patriot. Would saying that I am a necromancer that belongs to the Black Tamers speed up things?”

I looked towards the voice, and.

I could see a boy carrying a megaphone in his left hand instead of on his right one.

“… Darn. As soon as he’s mentioned, he appears besides us?”

I didn’t expect that he would show himself to us so soon…

I’m grateful, but… Despite things going on successfully, I feel a bad presentiment.

Jumping down from the fortress, I confronted the necromancer face to face.

The boy called Lance was quite younger than me… His age was around the first year of middle school, perhaps?

Noelle, with whom I’ve battled before, also looked quite young… The Blacks Tamers perhaps are a group with a surprisingly low average age.

“I‘m the Kusumi Chiharu you’re looking for, but… What do you wish for?”

“… Eeeh. How fast. It seems that your brain works faster than I thought.”

“…”

The boy called Lance chuckled.

Why would Lance have brainwashed the ghouls in the city?

At first I thought that it simply was to use them as pieces once it was time to battle, but when I heard Satosu-san’s words, I knew.

The necromancer can voluntarily lift the brainwashing on the ghouls.

In other words, that’s… Putting it another way, the ghouls of the city are hostages.

There’s no reason for the necromancer to not use them as bargaining chips.

“My demand is just for you and me to have a one-on-one peaceful negotiation.

You can just hear me talk while keeping quiet, too. How’s it? It’s easy.”

“… Can I trust your words?”

“I’m not forcing you.

However, if you refuse, as you guess, it can come to the worst conclusion.

Necromancers can freely manipulate the undead… In other words, I have the lives of nearly half of the citizens on my hands.

If you refuse my proposal, those currently under my control… I’ll erase at once the souls of the zombies whose numbers are increasing at an explosive rate even now.”

“…”

Hey, hey.

He’s going to annihilate nearly half of the population?

Surely, I think that that’s impossible.

But.

This guy… Does he truly mean what he’s said?

This city’s… Undead’s lives, does he think of them as bugs?

“… Chiharu. Don’t be fooled by the enemy’s words.

Probably… That’s a buff. Eve if he’s a necromancer, there’s no way he can erase souls.”

“Right, right. If you say you can’t believe me, I don’t mind showing you by killing a zombie.”

“…”

Lance laughed fearlessly.

Things have become very bad.

In this situation brought up by Lance, the matter is not if he can erase souls or he can’t.

With the option of trying to actually kill a hostage out of the question, we don’t have any other way to make sure.

The situation… It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s the worst.

“… If I accept your demand, will you free all of the hostages?”

“Of course, I promise you. Since I can’t use my full strength while controlling this many zombies. Anyway, when we face each other, I have to do it so I can protect myself.”

“… Understood. I accept your demand.”

“Chiharu!?”

“Ha, ha, ha. Nice answer. Then, now… Why don’t you put on this ring?”

“… This?

“That’s an item called “warp ring”. Using the same principle as summoning, it can transport the wearer to a set place.

Since with two rings, it forms a pair, the moment you equip it we’ll both be warped to the chosen place.

The place I’ve chosen is a snowy mountain a hundred kilometers from here.

Moreover… One more thing. You can be relieved.

Necromancers can control zombies in a radius of ten kilometers at most.

The moment we warp, the brainwashing of the ghouls will be lifted.”

“…”

What peaceful negotiation?

The opponent that has been using thoroughly prepared sly moves until now, at this point… There’s no way that he’ll keep that promise. Probably… No, definitely it won’t unfold as a one on one dialogue.

“… Sorry. Zonmi. Everyone.”

Even so… No matter which traps he’s set after that… I can’t let people die before me when their lives are exposed to risk.

I picked up the warp ring that's left on the snow—and put it on.

So, my consciousness instantly faded and the scenery and sounds around me drowned out.

Aah. Could this be what monsters feel each time they are summoned?

References and Translation Notes

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