“『The background music has changed!』”
Ah, it definitely feels like a boss fight…
[Ia! Ia! Shub-Niggurath!]
[Great Black Goat of the Woods!]
[Answer the call of thy servant who knoweth the words of power!]
“…What?”
Hm… since it’s a ritual…
[Ia! Ia! Shub-Niggurath!]
[Great Black Goat of the Woods!]
[Answer the call of thy servant who knoweth the words of power!]
“Did it start?”
“Ah, right. Let’s go, then. The quest updated.”
『Stop the escape of the fanatic remnants』
The summoning ritual has finally begun.
There is no telling what they’ll do if you let them go. Don’t let the fanatics who gathered for the ritual escape.
Oh, the game has taken control of my body. A so-called boss fight cutscene.
“Kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi.”
“Gonna keep saying it?”
“Kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi… it’s impossible.”
“You’re out. You’re a sacrifice!”
“That penalty is too heavy!”
There’s an oxygen gauge in this game. If you run out of oxygen, you die.
Anyway, let’s see how things are going to proceed.
[Meee~e!]
“『An attractive voice!』”
Yeah, it has a nice voice… The Black Goat. It’s clearly in a fighting stance, though, waving the tentacles about!
“『So excited that it’s not going to listen…!?』”
<<Fight until the Black Goat calms down.>>
<<A certain number of people must be available to fight for a set amount of time before the completion of the ritual.>>
<<The analysis of the documents has revealed the methods of attack for the Black Goat, thus the danger zone will be displayed even for those that do not possess the relevant skills.>>
<<Red: Avoid at all costs.>>
<<Orange: Can be blocked by multiple people.>>
<<Yellow: Can be endured by single people.>>
…Is that so. We can’t get rid of it easily, so we have to fight until it calms down and can use its head? It’s like an endurance battle with additional conditions.
I think trampling, charging and capturing will be red attacks. Is it orange for a slam attack and yellow for a cleave?
Control of my body has been returned, along with a warning to take a position before the fight starts.
“I think he’s trying to intimidate us…”
“Wight thinks so too .”
“That’s for the bone players to say.”
“Lich thinks so too!”
“Fuha! Ske-san was behind us…”
The Black Goat has many writhing tentacles, so it is indeed intimidating. I thought the Blessed and the fanatics would not move because of the ritual, but the Blessed did, huh? The captives have been moved into groups on the left and right, as if to protect them. The Black Goat is in the centre, in front of us, with the ritual behind it. There are two Blessed, one on the right and one on the left, completely on the defensive
Parties are almost irrelevant, with us divided into positions that have become like layers. Naturally, in order of the range of the main weapon. We are arranged in the order of tank, melee, throwing, short bow, magic, longbow, Japanese bow. Those who can arc their shots are at the back.
The range of magic depends on the spell used, but the main ones are balls, arrows and lances, so people using those are in the same position as longbow users.Those wanting to use explosions, pillars and mines should be in the same position as the short bow users. The priests who are using support spells such as heals and buffs should be behind the Japanese bows.
The further forward you go, the more magic you can use, but naturally the chance of getting hit increases. It’s a matter of your stats, skills, and preference. In other words, my position is at the front of the magic users.
Ske-san is in the same position as me, with armour summoned in front of him. He has more magical options, while the servants can prevent attacks that get through, with that. It’s a typical example of how positioning changes depending on the skills you have.
I’ll send back #1 and summon Lizzy. She will hit the tentacles or throw her axe when she can.
“Is it going to charge?”
“I think the odds are pretty low, but it depends on how fast it is…”
“I don’t think I can stand it if it runs at me with the tentacles waving about.”
When it comes to long range… The Black Goat should not have much in the way of spells. It depends on the individual, though.
The time until the ritual is complete, and presumably the time it takes for the goat to calm down, are shown, as well as the number of fanatics and children. Next, the HP gauges of the Blessed are discreetly displayed in sub-target frames. The big one is the HP gauge of the Black Goat…yup.
“『It has 10 HP bars!?』”
“So many…”
“Well, our goal is the fanatics, not to defeat it. The quest isn’t about defeating the enemy, so don’t try.”
Well, I hope it’s easy to understand….
The thin tentacles are hitting the tanks in the vanguard. They seem to be in charge of the normal attacks, while the four thicker ones are still writhing above.
[Meeeeh!]
“『Badbadbad! Safe!』”
When the four thick tentacles are raised up, some of the ground turns orange. And then they come down with a bang.
People who can escape get out of range, while those who can’t solidify their defence and guard against it.
“Uwaa. You’ll be crushed if your stats aren’t high enough.”
“I wonder if it’s being treated as a strength based resistance”
“Maybe it’s not just about strength.”
The attack did not reach our spot, so I attack with magic while observing with Ske-san.
It seems that the attack that someone fired at the fanatics was prevented by the thin tentacles of the Black Goat. So it still defends them. The attack from the far right is prevented by the Blessed… The timing of the attacks probably needs to be prepared properly.
“The goat is tough!”
“Gyahahaha! The goat is hard!”
“Mohican! There are children here!”
“Hihihi! I’ve already solved that problem!”
“Seriously?”
“I’ll just pray that they imitate Princess instead!”
“『Hey!』”
That was said when camping too. Even if it’s a solution, it’s a very self centred one.
The tentacles are rampaging in all directions, so it’s pretty busy…whoa, they’re coming. A large yellow area… it’s probably how the tentacle will move in a cleave.
“It’s time to jump rope!
“Do it right, boys!”
“Don’t get killed!”
The writhing tentacle is coming at a very high speed, moving like a wave from the edge of the attack area, but I avoid it by floating up into the sky.
“Being able to fly makes it seem so easy it’s envious.”
“Well, I don’t think I can get to the ritual.”
It’s not limited to flight, but it seems that when approaching the ritual a large number of the tentacles come from the Black Goat. The thin tentacles are also defending against long-range attacks. Because of that, even though there are many HP bars, it doesn’t seem to be decreasing at all.
The tentacles are banging down elsewhere. And now another cleave.
“Here it comes again!”
“Aa~ My heart is hopping~!”
“Hopping… oi.”
“『The height is different!』”
Previously it was at ankle height, so it was enough to jump. This time it is around the height of my stomach. I’ll float higher than before.
“This is… get down!”
“Hup….eh? Buhh.”
“Oof…”
The tentacles passed over the heads of those who went prone. Those who jumped… were divided into the ones who were able to avoid it safely and the ones whose feet were caught by the tentacle. Anyone who was confused about how to avoid it was mowed down mercilessly
“Didn’t I tell you to get down?”
“Say it…faster…”
The person who was hit in the face took a lot of damage…
“Isn’t this going to be unavoidable if we don’t take more distance?”
“Right. I didn’t expect to have to get down. Just crouching isn’t enough.”
“There wasn’t much space.”
And if you’re too far away, the slamming attacks will be more of a challenge. It requires several people to block it, but if they can catch it, anyone within a certain distance will be saved. In other words, tanks are needed not just on the front line… Are they sub tanks? It’s better to have them.
If I bring out #1 to tank the slamming, my servant, Ske-san’s servant and I can prevent it, but I’m worried about the damage penetration, because I’m guarding with a weapon.
Or rather. Isn’t it fine for me to fly for this battle? I don’t think I need to be on the ground, and it would free up space down there. I’ll become a resident of the sky.
“Ske-san, I’ll be in the sky too.”
“Alright!”
This time it will be easier for Ske-san to act alone. Let’s join the twins above.
So far, there have been no attacks aimed at the sky. We just need to avoid the slamming tentacles. The attack comes earlier than on the ground, since they come from above, but it is easier to avoid them in the air, so there is no problem. I’ll attack with magic from up here.
[Maaaah!]
Its voice is a little higher than before…. Mu? A large number of thin tentacles have gathered to protect the goat… is the information shown by [Magic Vision] important?
“There’s a lot of magic power gathering. Is it preparing for a magic attack?”
“『Seriously?』”
“…Darkness is coming.”
“『It doesn’t have to come…eh?』”
What?
A large number of black spheres appear around the goat, like a porcupinefish. They don’t seem to be behind the goat, but this is an attack that the analysis didn’t tell us about!
I don’t think I’ll be able to defend myself with «Spatial Magic». It’s probably a shotgun-type attack, so blocking is a waste of MP. Then I’ll use [Light Burst] and parry as much as possible!
“Anti-magic stance!”
“I don’t have that!”
“Just get down!”
“[Lumen Wall]”
“[Magic Guard]”
“[Magic Barrier]”
A large number of «Sensing Danger» lines are displayed around me, and as the gathered tentacles spread, the large number of spheres are released.
“『Aaah!』”
Kuhaa…that’s too much no matter how I think about it. 40%, even though darkness is halved!?
With half damage from darkness, I’m down to 60%, 40% for people with low vitality and defence, and the buffers and the like are in the red, below 20%.
“”Scary!””
“Master! A large number of angels from the sky!”
“『Darkness is really impossible for them….』”
Master! A large number of angel corpses from the sky! …It’s definitely horror. The damage to the angel group is enormous. Angels and devils are the most popular of the inhuman races… The magic attack was less damaging to those on the ground.
The twins should also have a dark reduction, but their level is a little low. But considering they are alive, it looks like they handled it somehow. Well, there’s no problem as long as they’re alive.
“『[Party Heal]!』”
The healers have begun to fix people up. Of course, I’ll heal too.
[Meeaah!]
“『Hey, you!』”
“Nappa, get away!”
The attacks with the thick tentacles have resumed quickly!
It’s hard to be a healer when the attacks are coming your way. …You’ll have to heal the party while evading. Those who haven’t been attacked have plenty of time to recover.
The flight team is watching from above.
“Fuu… I’ll leave the rest to you…”
“Shut up and get up already.”
“Save.. me… save me…”
“[Resurrection]”
“Thanks!”
There were a surprising number of deaths.
A clean hit to the face with a resurrection potion, for the person who tried to leave the rest to someone else.
And the familiar revival spell, [Resurrection], was discovered a while ago, so we should be able to manage. The unlock condition is 『Use, or have used on you, a Resurrection Potion (10 times)』. It’s added to «Holy Magic» as an Ex spell. I haven’t learned it yet!
At the moment, it seems that resurrection potions revive with more HP, but it is advantageous to be able to revive using only MP. As someone who can make my own high quality resurrection potions, I could use it as a means of reviving when I run out of potions… or save it for when I can’t afford them.
“”Attacks aren’t working on the ones in the back!””
“The Blessed have put up some kind of barrier.”
“”A membrane of light appears…””
It seems that a dome shaped barrier is protecting the area guarded by the Blessed.
[Meeeeh!]
“『Again!』”
There are two slams and two cleaves. Hmm… The attacks seem to be aimed completely randomly. There’s no safe spot.
“Fuhahaha! I have…already seen those attacks enough.”
“Oh, it doesn’t mean you can avoid it, just because you can see it.”
“Ah, no good. I can’t move my body.”
“Like an old man.”
It’s quite challenging to perform melee attacks while evading. It’s too difficult while jumping, so they can only slash the tentacles as they pass overheard, or try and get in an attack after dodging a slam.
Getting close is even harder… it looks quite painful.
“Ugh!? Aah! Help me!”
“『What? Uwa, it caught him.』”
He got caught quite splendidly… Will it let go if attacked? I think it’s possible in theory, but, well…not happening.
After being carried into the large mouth, his HP is dropping at a tremendous speed.
“Ahaa!”
“『Why does he look so happy…』”
…That might be a bit of a dangerous person. He seems like he’s enjoying it too much.
When the HP reaches 0, he dies and is thrown away like garbage.
“Lol, treated so badly.”
“As I thought, those tentacles are gonna grab you if you get too close.”
[Meeaaa!]
Oh, is it slightly different?
“An ordinary slam… no, it’s not!”
“『Wait, wait, wait, wait.』”
The four thick tentacles are raised up, and the red warning is displayed on the ground, but is then followed by more red nearby. Each tentacle hits twice in a row, so there are eight strikes. That’s a pretty big area for instant death attacks…
Because it’s a slam attack, the flying group are able to avoid it.
[Maaaah!]
A large number of thin tentacles have gathered to protect the goat. It’s the preliminary move for a magic attack again. This time it’s… Oh, that’s not good.
“Amethorin-san, get behind me.”
“”Light will kill us!””
The gathered magic power turns white, and many small white spheres appear this time. And they are fired with the same motion as before.
“Master! A large number of demons from the sky!”
“Wraith types too!”
Many angels fell to the darkness, but honestly, the light is more damaging. In addition to devils, Immortals will also fall. Wraiths are popular among Immortals, but they can’t endure it. Or rather, if they’re hit with an attack against their attribute weakness, they’ll die.
[Meeaah!]
“『You!』”
This time… it’s cleave attacks. It’s four simultaneous cleaves, but each tentacle seems to have a different height. They’re busy jumping, squatting and lying down… how dangerous.
“There’s another above!”
The tentacles were swung from one side to the other along the ground, but now they’re coming back aimed at the sky, going in the opposite direction. The tentacles are faster than on the ground, probably because they have a wider range of motion.
[MEEEeeeeee!]
“Mm? That’s a long one…”
“”Is something new coming?””
The thin tentacles undulate restlessly, gathering magic power at their tips.
“It looks like magic again, but the movement is different.”
“The cry was different too…”
“『Something came flying!』”
A large number of black and white spheres, about the size of watermelons, are scattered about. They stay in the air as well as on the ground…. So, what now.
“Hyahahaha! They’re bulging!”
“Eh?”
“…Aren’t they swelling?”
“Swelling, huh…meaning?”
“Dangerous!”
They’re going to explode, I see.
“Isn’t it going to be hard to escape from this many? Maybe we can break them.”
While saying so, that person ran towards the black sphere, involving about 10 people around him when it exploded. Their HP was completely wiped out…
“…Yes.”
“『It’s not ‘yes’, is it!?』”
“That was an explosion like the Mine spell…”
“”Can we escape above?””
“Even with damage reductions, I’m not sure I can survive mines.”
The Mine spell deals almost solely in power. Moreover, since the user is a Black Goat, it will get a bonus to the damage in exchange for only being able to use light and darkness.
I’ll try to attack the sphere with magic, but mine doesn’t compare.
“Aah! I don’t understand! What should I do!?”
“This is going to wipe us all out.”
“This is treated the same as the Mine magic, right? [Telekinesis]”
“Be careful!”
“Sorry. But they can be moved.”
That’s good news. Dealing with it is the same as with Mine. I’ll let the union party leaders know.
I’ll hurry and move away the spheres that are swelling up. Given the twins, white should be avoided. This is a game of positioning. Black is still possible, but white is definitely no good.
Lizzy is keeping her distance to avoid getting hit.
“Big! Mm…?”
The black and white spheres, which were the size of watermelons, have grown to the size of balance balls.
«Foresight» tells me that a large area centred on a sphere is dangerous. With this range, it’s too late to escape. I tell the twins to evacuate, and get as far away as possible while casting defensive magic.
A few seconds later, the sphere shrinks to the size of a baseball, then bursts with an effect like the spell of the same name. I put out tentacles as a shield for the twins.
“[Magic Barrier]!”
“”Nya!””
“『Aah!』”
[Magic Barrier] was just in time, but this is right at the edge of being safe. The twins are at 20% despite the tentacle shields. I’m in a pretty dangerous state too. I couldn’t afford to use [Gravitas Manoeuvre], so I couldn’t gain any distance.
Lizzy…seems to have been able to evade it.
“Ah… I’m going to die…”
“Live.”
You’re beautiful… at least in your own eyes.
“…I’m beautiful!”
“『Buha.』”
“Well, well, I know how it happened.”
I’m sorry, but even if you turn your face away, I can see it perfectly with my field of vision.
It’s in a pretty bad way, until it recovers from that.
The colour of the timer for the Black Goat calming down has changed. There are many dead people on the ground. Do your best getting everyone recovered, healers.
The thick tentacles did not move after the black and white spheres, and the thin tentacles were only hitting the tanks, so the recovery proceeded calmly.
The colour of the timer changed from red to orange. I don’t know how long for, but the count was still ongoing while red, so there seems to be something beyond the red.
[Meeeeh!]
“『The big one’s are moving!』”
“『We aren’t fully recovered yet!』”
It looks like break time is over.
There are warnings for two slam attacks and two cleaves.
『Are we back to the start of the pattern?』
『Then are the spheres the last one, degozaruna?』
『Is magic next?』
『No, the same actions should come one more time.』
[Maaaah!]
As the union leaders said, it did the same thing again.
『Then darkness should come next, degozaruna』
『There must be some angels here, so stay back, okay?』
When using the union channel, their voice can be heard regardless of distance, but those not in the union will just have to pray.
By the way, won’t fights against those of the same family become rather plain? I’m still a newcomer, so light and darkness are halved, but on reaching the top it will become absorption, rather than just immunity. But since we can only use light and darkness attributes, there’s no choice but to hit each other with physical attacks…
While watching the angels fall due to dark magic, I’ll attack for the time being.
『That kid has auto-healing, right?』
『Defeating it is hopeless, degozaruna.』
“The time needed for it to calm down is decreasing, isn’t it?”
『The main purpose of attacking looks to be reducing that, rather than its HP.』
『Maintaining a certain number of people until it calms down is quite hard.』
『That sphere is awful, degozaru.』
The fanatics are also protected by the barriers, so it can’t be helped. If we don’t find a way to deal with them soon, we’ll be wiped out by the spheres.
『Well first of all, let’s send a sphere over there and see what happens.』
『That’s it!』
『Did anyone see how long it took to explode?』
『About 10 seconds.』
『That should be enough time.』
『Then we’ll send the ones closest to the enemy over there, and see what else we can do.』
『Then we’ll go with that, degozaru.』
『The enemy’s attacks are the same so far, so they do seem to have a proper order.』
『Well, being completely random would be a bit much…』
Two slams and two cleave attacks at random locations.
After that, a wide range shotgun-like darkness magic attack.
And again, two slams and two cleave attacks at random locations.
“Get up now…[Resurrection]”
“Thanks!”
“Isn’t resurrection a huge drain on MP?”
“That’s true.”
The recovery goes slowly, but if you don’t think about the timing for when to wake up…you’ll be hit by a tentacle and die again instantly.
This time, the healer might just ignore you.
『The next attack should be double hits on four places…』
[Meeaaa!]
“That angle is… a cleave.”
『It’s not!』
A cleave is aimed along the ground, then the followup through the air.
『The height and position seem random.』
『So the light attack should come next.』
[Maaaah!]
『Here it comes!』
『Back off if you’re weak to light, okay?』
A blast from a wide range light magic shotgun.
Followed by four slams, twice.
『Are the slams and cleaves random?』
『It could be alternating, so we can’t be sure yet.』
『That’s true.』
Is it completely random, or fixed to some extent…hm.
[MEEEeeeeee!]
The thin tentacles are undulating restlessly, with magic power gathering at the tips.
『Spheres』
『I’d like to try out the same and opposing attributes on them.』
『Their effect was a bit strange.』
『Right, right.』
Oh…In that case, let’s try some counter-magic. Myself and the twins will use dark magic attacks on the nearby sphere of light.
It seems that dark magic can cut down the light sphere, and after shooting at it with the help of others nearby, it disappears.
The same attributes…are they absorbing it?
『You can tell the same attribute is no good just looking at it!? Ahh!』
Along with the voice of that union member, a sphere of light explodes at the edge of my field of view. The burst effect is unleashed, taking out the surroundings.
I’m observing while attacking a nearby sphere. This is monstrous attack. I’d like to get some information.
Those in the front row… are playing dodgeball against the Blessed of Shub-Niggurath and the Black Goat, using the spheres. Honestly, dodgeball against a huge, tentacled goat seems no good.
The spheres are being moved, but they explode after 10 seconds, with any on the player side being devastating. The damage is terrible. The ones that are sent over just in time hit the barrier. If the timing is not right, they explode uselessly.
After the bombs hit the barrier multiple times… A high-pitched cracking sound is heard, along with a visual effect of something transparent shattering, the shards visible in the reflected light.
“It’s broken!”
“No AOE attacks!”
Most of the attacks on the fanatics are blocked by the Blessed and the goat, but a stun attack hits one of the fanatics, knocking him out.
The second attack was stopped before it arrived, prevented by the barrier that has reappeared.
『So the fanatics are just extras… small fry…』
『The Blessed blocked so much…』
“Didn’t the time until calming down increase?”
『Seriously?』
『Yeah, it definitely increased.』
『Then is breaking the barrier useless? Eh?』
『No, isn’t it attacking the Blessed that the goat doesn’t like?』
『Well… that could be it. Should we aim for just the fanatics?』
“We can’t use AOE because the kidnapped children will get caught in it. It’s out of range to begin with.”
『In that case, there’s no choice but to have the bow users do their best.』
『Or have the flying team do their best.』
While we’re talking, the healers are reviving and healing the dead. The tank that disappeared after being defeated during dodgeball is especially prioritised. The thin tentacles are rampaging about.
『So they explode faster with the same attribute?』
『The correct answer is to hit them with the opposing attribute.』
『Bows are no good. They explode immediately.』
『Attributes other than the opposing don’t seem entirely useless, but they’re a lot less effective.』
『The same attribute triggers them. The countering attribute makes them disappear. It’s still a mystery if anything else is worth using.』
『And they take about 10 seconds to explode.』
We gathered quite a bit of information, because we knew when the attack would come for the second time.
I’ll slow down my attacks a little, while I summarise the information to be shared with the union.
Normal attack. Thin tentacles. Attacks enemies within range and provides defence against long-range attacks.
1 + 2. Simultaneously slams two locations and cleaves two locations. Random targets. Can’t block. Evade.
3. Wide-range, dark magic shotgun. Instant kill for races with dark attribute weakness. Keeping distance recommended.
4 + 5. Simultaneously slams two locations and cleaves two locations. Random targets. Can’t block. Evade.
6. Double slam attacks on four locations or four cleaves. Cleaves once along the ground, followed by once through the air.
7. Wide-range, light magic shotgun. Instant kill for races with light attribute weakness. Keeping distance recommended.
8. Double slam attacks on four locations or four cleaves. Cleaves once along the ground, followed by once through the air.
9. Scatters spheres of light and darkness.
A combination of Mine and Burst. The sphere expands from a Mine state and Bursts after 10 seconds.
Instant death to anything in range due to extreme damage explosion. Can be dealt with in the same way as Mine spells.
Hit the spheres with the opposing attribute. The same attribute is bad. Other attributes are not useless.
Burst effect with the same attribute when triggered. Disappearance of opposing attributes when bursting was confirmed. Number of shots unknown.
Special Actions
Always derived from slam and cleave. When returning, it will try to grab players near the tip. It may be possible to rescue them by attacking the tentacle, but they will probably die before you can.
After hitting the barrier with spheres 9 times, it will break long enough to get one attack through.
If the Blessed of Shub-Niggurath are hit, the time until the Black Goat calms increases?
It’s necessary to hit the fanatics with pinpoint accuracy.
Be careful not to hit the kidnapped children.
『Thanks for the summary.』
『We don’t have the luxury to do that on the ground.』
『Really. Seriously ruthless.』
Well, I should get back to attacking….hm?
『Huh?』
『[Crimson Ring]!』
『That’s a rabbit and… it’s taking a child!』
“『Not the children!』”
Ah, the Blessed looked over here and stopped… Is it calm? It’s just the Black Goat that’s raging.
The Blessed lets go of the child and the rabbit, and reaches for one of the Outsiders who ran ahead, but he’s evading and batting at it. It catches the fanatic who fainted when the barrier was broken earlier instead, with a squish. The spilled blood moves as if with a will, drawing out a circle, like the spell’s name implies.
The blood-red gate of [Crimson Ring] is completed with the blood. Two more Blessed of Shub-Niggurath arrive through it.
“『Fuu, there’s more!』”
As more arrive through the [Crimson Ring], the summoning will become faster, but what if it goes further? I hope the barrier won’t be strengthened. If it is strengthened, the number of spheres needed to break it will probably increase.
“There are a lot of corpses here, too…”
“Get up.”
Once the [Crimson Ring] is over, the thick tentacles of the goat start to move again..
『If we don’t break the barrier and defeat the fanatics, won’t the children get sacrificed?』
『I wonder if it’s okay to not catch the fanatics…』
『The quest just says not to let them escape, so it should be okay…』
“I’m sure they’ll be happy to be of use.”
We could say it saves us the trouble of catching them, if they become collateral. It’s a necessary sacrifice. You see, it’s easier to kill bandits on the spot than to catch them. And it’s natural to prioritise children over old fanatics.
『Don’t they say that ‘he who believes shall be saved’?』
『Death is salvation.』
『To the Abyss.』
“Even if you die, it’s not always a relief in this world. Though, I don’t know about in real life.”
『That’s right!』
The goat’s HP doesn’t decrease at all, so I don’t think its behaviour changes depending on its remaining HP. If so, will the elapsed time have an effect? If it’s the time until it calms down, on the contrary, it seems like it should become more docile. To be honest, the current situation is quite hard.
“Hey, take a lesson from the mercenary penguin! You’re dying too fast!”
“Im☆possible.”
The guy in the penguin costume is pretty good, isn’t he? He hasn’t died even once, and seems to be quite strong. Because of his appearance, he stands out.
“That’s bad… MP has run out.”
“What about po-yons?”
“Just ran out.”
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
“You over there! The magic in those potions makes them worth more than an ordinary one!”
“Stop it! You’ll die if you make a mistake!
“Eey! Princess shield!”
“Would you normally use a princess as a meat shield? Fairellen-san?”
“Uhahaha! It’s good that the tentacles can only hit us with one cleave, but the magic is too scary.”
“The difficulty has gone up a lot this time. Currently, only the inhumans can fly…”
“It’s too easy to get taken out, depending on your attributes. Well… us fairies are always a glass cannon style!”
That’s just how fairies are… Most of them are suitable for combat in the sky, but since humans are obviously a flightless race, controlling them takes some getting used to. With the small size and high suitability for flying… I hear it’s often quite scary.
In that sense, human-sized angels and devils are popular. Angels are more defensive, demons are more offensive, with angels having a higher aptitude for flying. Probably because of the wings.
『Come on, everyone loves spheres.』
『I hate them?』
『I love round things!』
『Go get kicked by Tindalos.』
『If I’m gonna get kicked by Tindalos, you should be kicked by Yog-Sothoth.』
『Kicked by Yog-Sothoth…..?』
“Maybe Stellura-sama will come to kick you?”
『…Is that a reward?』
『With the physical prowess of a god, I think you’d die if you were kicked.』
『I’d rather die from being kicked by a beautiful goddess, than be kicked by a spiky dog.』
How did they manage to reach this point.
The people at the front line hold the spheres until the last moment, then send them flying towards the barrier just before they explode. The others work on hitting them with opposing attributes to erase them, or move them into a cluster. If they make a mistake, the spheres explode and destroy them.
“Goodbye!”
“Stop dying! I’ll kill you!”
“What’s that. I’m the one who would beat you?”
“Get up.”
“I love that you still help me properly!”
“Shut it… Next time you die, I’ll put you to rest.”
“See you again~”
Sounds like… they’re having fun?
We managed to knock out a fanatic. An unconscious fanatic is destined to become a sacrifice, but that’s just a matter of getting what they deserve.
“Lol at Mead taking out a fanatic with [Meteor Shot].”
“Overkill…”
Rather, it’s usually an advanced technique. [Meteor Shot] is an attack with a time lag, but she shot it at the fanatic while counting on the barrier being broken.
『What do you think of actions 6 and 8?』
『It’s just a case of either slams or cleaves.』
『After the magic, it’s just the one that wasn’t used before it. It hasn’t changed until now』
Either a slam or a cleave is used before the magic. The attack following the magic is the one which wasn’t used before it.
Well, it’s just the magic attacks that are fatal to the flying members, so the tentacles can do what they like.
The fighting is continuing.
There are quite a few deaths, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem. Even so…
“They increased quite a lot…”
『About 7 or 8 now?』
『I wonder how many more there will be.』
『It should calm down soon.』
『I’m happy that fewer people died after we reduced the number of spheres.』
『On the other hand, it’s getting harder to break the barrier.』
The number of spheres has decreased, so we can’t afford to fail with as many. As a result, it’s more difficult. But the burden on the healers has been reduced by just as much.
“I made a mistake and died, but it’s okay!”
“It’s not okay. Is your head bugged?”
“Harsh!”
“Get up already.”
After this is over, I’ll ask someone to help me with learning [Resurrection]… I’d like to have resurrection magic, after all. It seems that the HP after reviving is low, but the resurrection time is shorter than with the item, which is useful in cases like this.
『A little more, a little more…』
『Come on!』
『We’re gonna have one more set of spheres, degozaruna』
『Against that many, it looks impossible to aim for just the fanatics.』
『I’m sure the perverts will manage it.』
『Mutt, kill.』
『Fuu…looks like it’s finally my turn…watch me, just watch me.』
So you’re going to take a swing at Mutt-san following that flow… He’s definitely an enthusiastic pervert, to the point I think he’s lost it. I think his player name, Vincent, is kind of cool, but the nickname of Mutt fits.
“Fuhahahaha! Useless, useless, useless, useless! Full speed ahead!”
With the reduced number of spheres and having become familiar with them, we are able to break the barrier without much difficulty, after which Mutt-san charges in.
It’s rather amazing that he can run through while avoiding the attacks coming from the thin tentacles of the goat.
『Not bad, Mutt.』
『Yeah, but…』
『I wasn’t expecting that. Read the air.』
『Why!』
“『Hm!?』”
Oh? A gauge appears next to the words [Fist of Yog-Sothoth], and fills quickly. …It must be showing on the UI because there is no preceding movement.
“This is the first time you’ve used that!? Bublagh!?”
『Mutt-kun was blown away!』
『Fumu… The damage doesn’t look too bad, but that’s a hell of a knockback.』
『I’m not sure it’s okay to call that a knockback…』
『That’s a home run…』
<The special spell [Fist of Yog-Sothoth] has been learned.>
What! I’ll check the description.
[Fist of Yog-Sothoth]
By consuming a variable amount of MP, fire an invisible fist at a single target.
The more MP consumed, the greater the knockback distance and chance to stun.
The effect is greatly dependant on the distance to the target, and the size and posture of the target.
…I’ll have to test the MP consumption after the event, before I use it.
『I got a 5 second stun. I couldn’t control the landing, so the damage after flying away was quite nasty?』
『And the archers did the job with curved shots, so it was pointless too. 0 points!』
『That’s way too strict!』
『Well, I’ll at least praise you for not dying.』
『It couldn’t even wipe out Mutt.』
『Damn iiiiiit』
I learned a new spell, though, so I’d like to thank you.
The timer counting down until the goat calms down stops, and the thick tentacles are swung down without colouring the floor, stopping halfway.
<<The Black Goat has calmed down, choose your words carefully and survive.>>
“『Geh.』”
“Princess. We want the S rank clear. Leaving it to you!”
“If I do it, there’s a good chance the fanatics will die, so is that okay?”
“When you’re going to sacrifice people, if you don’t get away, you’re not getting out alive…right?”
“Pretty much.”
“There’s no mercy for those who try to sacrifice children.”
The large tentacles have drawn back, squirming above it, so I move out in front of the Black Goat. …Can the goat talk?
“Black Goat, have you calmed down?”
『Fellow Outer One….Nemeseia.』
A nice voice! Well, it seems like telepathy.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
『Umu. So, why do your companions get in the way?』
“We’re not here for you, we’re aiming for those idiots. After looking into them, we found they’re planning to manipulate you.”
『Oh?』
Well, I’ll discuss it with you.
“For the time being, it’s the children that are going to affect the outcome.”
“Right. Can they be brought over here?”
I agree. I’d like to secure the children… but it’s hard to make a move without knowing their reasons.
“By the way, what is the goal of those of you related to Shub-Niggurath?”
『To get home. We can’t return home on our own.』
…It’s a very simple reason. Hence why they’re so desperate. But if that’s the reason, we’ve almost won. In my case, I have the Silver Key. It’s an event map, so there are locks on personal use, but it will work for events.
[Crimson Ring] needs to be kept under control to stay connected. In other words, it’s impossible for everyone to return using [Crimson Ring]. So they intended to call their master, Shub-Niggurath, so they could all return together. [Crimson Ring] is just preparation, calling over the Blessed to summon Shub-Niggurath.
『They are the ones who said they would procure the blood needed and help with the summoning.』
“I see. I will provide a way back, so I would like to protect the children who also have a home to return to.”
『You can prepare a way home?』
“Because I have this.”
『The Silver Key!』
“And in the worst case, you can sacrifice all of them and use the [Crimson Ring].”
『Very well. Hey.』
At the Black Goat’s instruction, the Blessed have brought over the children. The others have received them.
What else is likely to affect the evaluation? The children are protected. There will be no damage to the town. Their purpose is to return home, so they won’t get angry as long as I can use the Silver Key… No, that was their motive in the first place. So, what now.
Maybe the best answer is to just keep quiet? If I don’t say anything more and simply open a gate, the Black Goat and its followers will be happy to leave. We and the town will be safe, the children will be safe and the goat gets souvenirs for Niggurath, who will get what they deserve.
…Isn’t that perfect? If the Silver Key doesn’t work, there’s no problem if we just sacrifice them all.
『Uwa, that smile makes Onee-chan look like a villain…』
『Seriously.』
『That smile even though she’s not in a fight… The dark side.』
“Rina.”
『…………』
『Imouto-chan became a shellfish.』
When I called my sister through the union, she squatted down and buried her face in her legs. It’s useless to turn your face away, because I can still see. I suppose this is the correct solution.
Ah, no wait… isn’t this no good at all?
“By the way, Black Goat. Would you like to take those people as souvenirs?”
『These ones? I don’t mind, if they intend to serve…but if not, they’re just in the way.』
…From the looks on their faces, it’s not likely. No good. No good at all.
『What’s wrong?』
“If you don’t want to take them as a souvenir, I was thinking it might be best to eradicate them here.”
『Oh?』
“Princess, that’s quite disturbing.”
“Despite her appearance, she’s quite belligerent.”
“『Our princess is ferocious.』”
You can say what you like!
It can’t be helped. If this makes the Black Goat go wild, I can call Shub-Niggurath with the Silver Key. It should calm down quickly when its mother arrives. If the key doesn’t work… Oh, [Invite Shub-Niggurath] is in white now. I can use that in the worst case.
I’ll tell the union so they’re ready to move.
“Reason 1. With what they tried to do, under human law, it’s considered kidnapping and theft at best.”
“『The children and the wood.』”
“Reason 2. They know how to summon Shub-niggurath.”
“『That’s not good.』”
“Reason 3. They foolishly tried to outwit the Black Goat and attempted to use Shub-Niggurath. Is that a challenge to the Outer Ones?”
『Tell me more.』
I share the information we learned from the analysis with the Black Goat and the Blessed.
“『Oh?』”
Oh, the Blessed have the same reaction as the goat. …Well, that makes sense. As Outer Ones, we’re all the same, so are likely to be angered by the same things. They were calm during the ritual, but that’s that and this is this.
…What now. The thick tentacles are about to swing down. No, if you’re happy with killing them, that’s fine. It would save me a lot of trouble, wouldn’t it?
“That’s a false accusation! That’s not…!”
…Wonderful! A wonderful self-destruction!
Speaking falsehoods to us, the Stellura family, is an act of suicide.
“Swear to the Goddess Stellura, here and now.”
“…!”
“If you can’t swear, that’s already an answer. Nevertheless, this is hard for us to handle too….maybe we should call Shub-Niggurath to make the decision for us?”
『…Very well.』
We’ve never met, so I’m not sure what to expect, but if it gets violent I’ll use the Silver Key to send them away… I want to call her anyway. I want to call her!
“So with that, do you mind if I call her?”
“Speaking of the ritual for summoning Shub-Niggurath…”
“I know what you’re expecting, but this is a normal game.”
“Why!?”
“What’s with that response.”
“It’s not a problem that the fanatics are fine?”
“I’ll use the Silver Key, so there should be no need for contracts. It’s like opening the door of a house. If there is a problem, it should only be with me, the owner of the key.”
“『That’s fine then.』”
Well, let’s summon her. …Is there no chant because I’m using the Silver Key? That’s a bit sad… let’s go with the standard.
“Ia! Ia! Shub-Niggurath….[Invite Shub-Niggurath].”
<<Shub-Niggurath is about the be summoned >>
<<Summoner: Compatriot >>
<<State to be summoned in: Normal >>
<<Contract status on summoning: None >>
<<Friendship level of summoned target: Neutral to Friendly >>
The Silver Key flies into the sky, unlike how it usually opens ahead of me. …But, I can’t see it if it does that? Oh, I can watch via Lizzy.
<<Shub-Niggurath has been summoned by a player >>
<<Transition to the dismissal phase… on hold >>
“『On hold!?』”
The sky… has cracked open. In an area that is at least wide enough to entirely cover overhead of us. From the unseen space behind the crack, a mist or smoke…well, something leaks out.
There is a feeling of the air suddenly becoming heavier. It is a strong presence.
The fanatics are sitting down and looking up at the sky with blue faces. They are being awfully rude to the one they wanted to meet.
“『SAN check!』”
“『Not in this game!』”
“『But in my dreams!』
“『That’s it!』”
The overflowing substance is trying to take a meaningful shape, or maybe just following gravity, as it slowly falls down to where we are.
The translucent matter that is falling gradually turns black, taking the shape of hooves that are quietly standing on the ground. …Though the ground seems to be quite caved in.
…I can tell that a lot of care has been taken in how not a single tree has been felled. Are some parts of the trees not materialised? I don’t know if it can be called materialisation.
The size is about 2…or even 3, times that of the goat. It’s big…
『Newcomer, what is it?』
“It’s nice to meet you for the first time, Shub-Niggurath.”
『We are compatriots, speak at ease. …So?』
“We have run into a bit of a problem.”
『My child, answer.』
Shub-Niggurath has the voice of a slightly imperious woman… is how I feel I should describe it.
A group of players watching as the goat is questioned by its mother, its tentacles swaying about. It’s very surreal. But I don’t want to say anything to interfere.
“Can we call it an emotional reunion…?”
“『No clue.』”
“We’re in the way of the moving reunion.”
“Well, so are they.”
“Let’s go home.”
“Sure.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“『Fuhaa.』”
You are in the presence of Laputa…ehem..the god Niggurath!
What kind of position does Shub-Niggurath have in this world? Nyar-sama was the chancellor, but…I’m also curious about Azathoth. Though I don’t need to hear it now.
『You mean I can do as I please here?』
“You can do as you like with those people. We won’t interfere and I’ll report to the people here.”
『Fumu….Please connect to the public area.』
I’ll do that. Silver Key, please!
The rift in the sky closes and the Silver Key comes down to create a very large gate, connected to the public area of the Medium, showing the field of flowers spreading off into the distance.
『My child, let us return. My thanks to our compatriot and your companions.』
『Meee.』
The fanatics are being carried away by the Blessed who came here in droves. The fanatics are crying out, but we are splendidly ignoring them. I’m sure we’re of one heart right now. It is “Go quickly, so we can get our S clear”.
This is what they wanted in the first place. Shub-Niggurath class existences are not too common, but there are plenty of people who are equally as strong out there.
…Well, I don’t know if the ruler the fanatics were imagining and the one they would have gotten would be the same anyway.
Finally, when Shub-Niggurath returns to the mist and passes through the gate, the portal disappears and the key returns to hanging at my waist.
<<The Shub-Niggurath family has left >>
<<Main Event: Stop the escape of the fanatic remnants, complete >>
<<Checking quest evaluation…….. >>
“『Uoo….? Isn’t it taking too long?』”
“They’re part of the Niggurath family too, from today…..”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
<<Checking quest evaluation…….Pending >>
“『That’s lol.』”
“Well… I think we went with a bit of a special method.”
“『A bit?』”
“…It’s the result of putting me to the front. Please accept it.”
“『…Then it can’t be helped!』”
Oh?
“Wahahaha! It’s me!”
“『Hey!』”
“Yamamoto-san and the event team are discussing, so you’ll have to wait!”
“What do you think will happen?”
“Well, probably S. It’s just that it was a rather special method, so it was hard to measure the points!”
<<Review complete >>
<<The goal of the fanatics……Investigated >>
<<The goal of the Black Goat……Understood >>
<<Rescue of the kidnapped children……Success >>
<<Escaped fanatics……0 >>
<<Damage to the town……0% >>
<<Outsider deaths……12,964 >>
<<Blessed of Shub-Niggurath killed……0 >>
<<Dealing with the Black Goat……Success >>
<<Preventing the summoning of Shub-Niggurath……Success? >>
<<Clear evaluation……S Clear! >>
<<A bonus will be rewarded for a perfect clear >>
<<The bonus reward will be paid to everyone on the first server >>
<<After 3 minutes, you will be transferred to the east gate with the rescued children >>
<Your Race Level has increased.>
<The level of your servant has increased.>
<«Book» reached level 50. “2” Skill Points acquired.>
<Book»’s art [Quick Cast] has been enhanced.>
<«Serpentine Sword» reached level 30. “2” Skill Points acquired.>
<«Serpentine Sword»’s art [Unrestricted] was acquired>
<«Super-Class Magic Ability» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Super-Class Magic Ability»’s art [Search Magic] was acquired>
<Options related to [Search Magic] have been added.>
<«Aurora Magic» reached level 5.>
<«Aurora Magic»’s art [Seras Flak] was acquired>
<«Holy Magic» reached level 40. “2” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Holy Magic»’s art [Party Heal] was acquired>
<«Chaos Magic» reached level 5.>
<«Chaos Magic»’s art [Haos Flak] was acquired>
<«Space-Time Magic» reached level 5.>
<«Space-Time Magic»’s art [Slow] was acquired>
<«Body Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Limb Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Soul Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Maximum MP Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Maximum HP Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Great Art» reached level 40. “2” Skill Points acquired.>
“『It’s heeeeeere!』”
“『Niiiiice!』”
“『As expected!』”
“First of all, there’s hardly anyone that avoided dying.”
“That was the goat’s fault.”
“It was nasty, no matter how you look at it.”
“And the inhumans were getting one-shotted…”
“Well, make sure you don’t leave anything undone on the fourth day!”
“『Sure!』”
Yatsuzuka-san has left.
The event itself has one day left. I guess it is a last chance to earn tickets during the tidying up period. I’ve already exchanged for what I want, so I’ll spend tomorrow relaxing while checking my skills.
“There were a lot of evaluated points this time, huh?”
“Because it’s a city event”.
“It was right to ask the goat for its goal….”
“Getting all the information you can is basic.”
“It’s funny that the summoning Niggurath result is a question.”
“She wasn’t called, but we called her anyway…”
“If it won’t be called, let’s call it first, Aniki!”
“You can’t do it without the Silver Key, though!”
I wonder if the easiest legitimate way of doing it is to have all the fanatics sacrificed…
“What about the children?”
“Are they asleep?”
“I think they probably fainted.”
“Oh, right, I called Niggurath without any consideration for the children.”
“『….It’s too late for that now!』”
What a nice smile. …Well, we’re finished now.
We are transferred to the grassland outside the east gate, so we will return to the town.
“『Thanks for the hard work!』”
“『Thanks!』”
“What’s next?”
“A closing party?”
“That’s fine, but what about the pumpkins and the cat?”
“『Ah….』”
“I feel like we should just wait for the answer.”
“Was the end at 3pm on the 4th day? Is tonight the last chance?
“Looks like it?”
Well it’s about midnight that the horror shows up, so that’s probably the case. However, I think I’ll just report to the Count family.
“I’m going to the Count’s mansion, what about the rest of you?”
“Hm… what to do.”
“It’s the last day, so take a look around?”
“Hmmm.. let’s should do that.”
“What about you two?”
“”It’s a bit early, but let’s sleep?””
“This time you were fighting against instant death attacks because of your race, so it was a bit tiring…”
“”It was tiring, but fun!””
“That’s good. Good night.”
“”Good night!””
Now that everyone in the party has decided what they’ll do, I’ll go to the Count’s mansion. The people carrying the children will also come to the mansion with me. I don’t know about private homes, but if it’s the lord’s mansion, they can return home on their own after waking up.
I thought it would be enough to see the head of the family, but it looks like his wife was waiting too.
I’ll report on what happened. That we rescued six children, but perhaps one of them has fallen through the boundary. The purpose of the Black Goat. The purpose of the fanatics. And how it ended.
“So that’s what happened. Thank you for your efforts. We’ll take responsibility for returning the children.”
“Yes, I’ll leave it to you.”
It took some time to give the report, so I’ll head back to the church and go to bed. And just in time. This has been my strongest opponent since I started this game… For others, it might have been the Shoggoth during the sports event, but for me it’s having to always leave early…
I say my goodbyes to the lord and his wife and withdraw. It’s late enough in this world, I suppose.
On the way to my room I say hello to the priestess in the chapel. I’ll take it easy and leisurely look over my skills on the final day.
Good night!
“『The background music has changed!』”
Ah, it definitely feels like a boss fight…
[Ia! Ia! Shub-Niggurath!]
[Great Black Goat of the Woods!]
[Answer the call of thy servant who knoweth the words of power!]
“…What?”
Hm… since it’s a ritual…
[Ia! Ia! Shub-Niggurath!]
[Great Black Goat of the Woods!]
[Answer the call of thy servant who knoweth the words of power!]
“Did it start?”
“Ah, right. Let’s go, then. The quest updated.”
『Stop the escape of the fanatic remnants』
The summoning ritual has finally begun.
There is no telling what they’ll do if you let them go. Don’t let the fanatics who gathered for the ritual escape.
Oh, the game has taken control of my body. A so-called boss fight cutscene.
“Kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi.”
“Gonna keep saying it?”
“Kabaddi kabaddi kabaddi… it’s impossible.”
“You’re out. You’re a sacrifice!”
“That penalty is too heavy!”
There’s an oxygen gauge in this game. If you run out of oxygen, you die.
Anyway, let’s see how things are going to proceed.
[Meee~e!]
“『An attractive voice!』”
Yeah, it has a nice voice… The Black Goat. It’s clearly in a fighting stance, though, waving the tentacles about!
“『So excited that it’s not going to listen…!?』”
<<Fight until the Black Goat calms down.>>
<<A certain number of people must be available to fight for a set amount of time before the completion of the ritual.>>
<<The analysis of the documents has revealed the methods of attack for the Black Goat, thus the danger zone will be displayed even for those that do not possess the relevant skills.>>
<<Red: Avoid at all costs.>>
<<Orange: Can be blocked by multiple people.>>
<<Yellow: Can be endured by single people.>>
…Is that so. We can’t get rid of it easily, so we have to fight until it calms down and can use its head? It’s like an endurance battle with additional conditions.
I think trampling, charging and capturing will be red attacks. Is it orange for a slam attack and yellow for a cleave?
Control of my body has been returned, along with a warning to take a position before the fight starts.
“I think he’s trying to intimidate us…”
“Wight thinks so too .”
“That’s for the bone players to say.”
“Lich thinks so too!”
“Fuha! Ske-san was behind us…”
The Black Goat has many writhing tentacles, so it is indeed intimidating. I thought the Blessed and the fanatics would not move because of the ritual, but the Blessed did, huh? The captives have been moved into groups on the left and right, as if to protect them. The Black Goat is in the centre, in front of us, with the ritual behind it. There are two Blessed, one on the right and one on the left, completely on the defensive
Parties are almost irrelevant, with us divided into positions that have become like layers. Naturally, in order of the range of the main weapon. We are arranged in the order of tank, melee, throwing, short bow, magic, longbow, Japanese bow. Those who can arc their shots are at the back.
The range of magic depends on the spell used, but the main ones are balls, arrows and lances, so people using those are in the same position as longbow users.Those wanting to use explosions, pillars and mines should be in the same position as the short bow users. The priests who are using support spells such as heals and buffs should be behind the Japanese bows.
The further forward you go, the more magic you can use, but naturally the chance of getting hit increases. It’s a matter of your stats, skills, and preference. In other words, my position is at the front of the magic users.
Ske-san is in the same position as me, with armour summoned in front of him. He has more magical options, while the servants can prevent attacks that get through, with that. It’s a typical example of how positioning changes depending on the skills you have.
I’ll send back #1 and summon Lizzy. She will hit the tentacles or throw her axe when she can.
“Is it going to charge?”
“I think the odds are pretty low, but it depends on how fast it is…”
“I don’t think I can stand it if it runs at me with the tentacles waving about.”
When it comes to long range… The Black Goat should not have much in the way of spells. It depends on the individual, though.
The time until the ritual is complete, and presumably the time it takes for the goat to calm down, are shown, as well as the number of fanatics and children. Next, the HP gauges of the Blessed are discreetly displayed in sub-target frames. The big one is the HP gauge of the Black Goat…yup.
“『It has 10 HP bars!?』”
“So many…”
“Well, our goal is the fanatics, not to defeat it. The quest isn’t about defeating the enemy, so don’t try.”
Well, I hope it’s easy to understand….
The thin tentacles are hitting the tanks in the vanguard. They seem to be in charge of the normal attacks, while the four thicker ones are still writhing above.
[Meeeeh!]
“『Badbadbad! Safe!』”
When the four thick tentacles are raised up, some of the ground turns orange. And then they come down with a bang.
People who can escape get out of range, while those who can’t solidify their defence and guard against it.
“Uwaa. You’ll be crushed if your stats aren’t high enough.”
“I wonder if it’s being treated as a strength based resistance”
“Maybe it’s not just about strength.”
The attack did not reach our spot, so I attack with magic while observing with Ske-san.
It seems that the attack that someone fired at the fanatics was prevented by the thin tentacles of the Black Goat. So it still defends them. The attack from the far right is prevented by the Blessed… The timing of the attacks probably needs to be prepared properly.
“The goat is tough!”
“Gyahahaha! The goat is hard!”
“Mohican! There are children here!”
“Hihihi! I’ve already solved that problem!”
“Seriously?”
“I’ll just pray that they imitate Princess instead!”
“『Hey!』”
That was said when camping too. Even if it’s a solution, it’s a very self centred one.
The tentacles are rampaging in all directions, so it’s pretty busy…whoa, they’re coming. A large yellow area… it’s probably how the tentacle will move in a cleave.
“It’s time to jump rope!
“Do it right, boys!”
“Don’t get killed!”
The writhing tentacle is coming at a very high speed, moving like a wave from the edge of the attack area, but I avoid it by floating up into the sky.
“Being able to fly makes it seem so easy it’s envious.”
“Well, I don’t think I can get to the ritual.”
It’s not limited to flight, but it seems that when approaching the ritual a large number of the tentacles come from the Black Goat. The thin tentacles are also defending against long-range attacks. Because of that, even though there are many HP bars, it doesn’t seem to be decreasing at all.
The tentacles are banging down elsewhere. And now another cleave.
“Here it comes again!”
“Aa~ My heart is hopping~!”
“Hopping… oi.”
“『The height is different!』”
Previously it was at ankle height, so it was enough to jump. This time it is around the height of my stomach. I’ll float higher than before.
“This is… get down!”
“Hup….eh? Buhh.”
“Oof…”
The tentacles passed over the heads of those who went prone. Those who jumped… were divided into the ones who were able to avoid it safely and the ones whose feet were caught by the tentacle. Anyone who was confused about how to avoid it was mowed down mercilessly
“Didn’t I tell you to get down?”
“Say it…faster…”
The person who was hit in the face took a lot of damage…
“Isn’t this going to be unavoidable if we don’t take more distance?”
“Right. I didn’t expect to have to get down. Just crouching isn’t enough.”
“There wasn’t much space.”
And if you’re too far away, the slamming attacks will be more of a challenge. It requires several people to block it, but if they can catch it, anyone within a certain distance will be saved. In other words, tanks are needed not just on the front line… Are they sub tanks? It’s better to have them.
If I bring out #1 to tank the slamming, my servant, Ske-san’s servant and I can prevent it, but I’m worried about the damage penetration, because I’m guarding with a weapon.
Or rather. Isn’t it fine for me to fly for this battle? I don’t think I need to be on the ground, and it would free up space down there. I’ll become a resident of the sky.
“Ske-san, I’ll be in the sky too.”
“Alright!”
This time it will be easier for Ske-san to act alone. Let’s join the twins above.
So far, there have been no attacks aimed at the sky. We just need to avoid the slamming tentacles. The attack comes earlier than on the ground, since they come from above, but it is easier to avoid them in the air, so there is no problem. I’ll attack with magic from up here.
[Maaaah!]
Its voice is a little higher than before…. Mu? A large number of thin tentacles have gathered to protect the goat… is the information shown by [Magic Vision] important?
“There’s a lot of magic power gathering. Is it preparing for a magic attack?”
“『Seriously?』”
“…Darkness is coming.”
“『It doesn’t have to come…eh?』”
What?
A large number of black spheres appear around the goat, like a porcupinefish. They don’t seem to be behind the goat, but this is an attack that the analysis didn’t tell us about!
I don’t think I’ll be able to defend myself with «Spatial Magic». It’s probably a shotgun-type attack, so blocking is a waste of MP. Then I’ll use [Light Burst] and parry as much as possible!
“Anti-magic stance!”
“I don’t have that!”
“Just get down!”
“[Lumen Wall]”
“[Magic Guard]”
“[Magic Barrier]”
A large number of «Sensing Danger» lines are displayed around me, and as the gathered tentacles spread, the large number of spheres are released.
“『Aaah!』”
Kuhaa…that’s too much no matter how I think about it. 40%, even though darkness is halved!?
With half damage from darkness, I’m down to 60%, 40% for people with low vitality and defence, and the buffers and the like are in the red, below 20%.
“”Scary!””
“Master! A large number of angels from the sky!”
“『Darkness is really impossible for them….』”
Master! A large number of angel corpses from the sky! …It’s definitely horror. The damage to the angel group is enormous. Angels and devils are the most popular of the inhuman races… The magic attack was less damaging to those on the ground.
The twins should also have a dark reduction, but their level is a little low. But considering they are alive, it looks like they handled it somehow. Well, there’s no problem as long as they’re alive.
“『[Party Heal]!』”
The healers have begun to fix people up. Of course, I’ll heal too.
[Meeaah!]
“『Hey, you!』”
“Nappa, get away!”
The attacks with the thick tentacles have resumed quickly!
It’s hard to be a healer when the attacks are coming your way. …You’ll have to heal the party while evading. Those who haven’t been attacked have plenty of time to recover.
The flight team is watching from above.
“Fuu… I’ll leave the rest to you…”
“Shut up and get up already.”
“Save.. me… save me…”
“[Resurrection]”
“Thanks!”
There were a surprising number of deaths.
A clean hit to the face with a resurrection potion, for the person who tried to leave the rest to someone else.
And the familiar revival spell, [Resurrection], was discovered a while ago, so we should be able to manage. The unlock condition is 『Use, or have used on you, a Resurrection Potion (10 times)』. It’s added to «Holy Magic» as an Ex spell. I haven’t learned it yet!
At the moment, it seems that resurrection potions revive with more HP, but it is advantageous to be able to revive using only MP. As someone who can make my own high quality resurrection potions, I could use it as a means of reviving when I run out of potions… or save it for when I can’t afford them.
“”Attacks aren’t working on the ones in the back!””
“The Blessed have put up some kind of barrier.”
“”A membrane of light appears…””
It seems that a dome shaped barrier is protecting the area guarded by the Blessed.
[Meeeeh!]
“『Again!』”
There are two slams and two cleaves. Hmm… The attacks seem to be aimed completely randomly. There’s no safe spot.
“Fuhahaha! I have…already seen those attacks enough.”
“Oh, it doesn’t mean you can avoid it, just because you can see it.”
“Ah, no good. I can’t move my body.”
“Like an old man.”
It’s quite challenging to perform melee attacks while evading. It’s too difficult while jumping, so they can only slash the tentacles as they pass overheard, or try and get in an attack after dodging a slam.
Getting close is even harder… it looks quite painful.
“Ugh!? Aah! Help me!”
“『What? Uwa, it caught him.』”
He got caught quite splendidly… Will it let go if attacked? I think it’s possible in theory, but, well…not happening.
After being carried into the large mouth, his HP is dropping at a tremendous speed.
“Ahaa!”
“『Why does he look so happy…』”
…That might be a bit of a dangerous person. He seems like he’s enjoying it too much.
When the HP reaches 0, he dies and is thrown away like garbage.
“Lol, treated so badly.”
“As I thought, those tentacles are gonna grab you if you get too close.”
[Meeaaa!]
Oh, is it slightly different?
“An ordinary slam… no, it’s not!”
“『Wait, wait, wait, wait.』”
The four thick tentacles are raised up, and the red warning is displayed on the ground, but is then followed by more red nearby. Each tentacle hits twice in a row, so there are eight strikes. That’s a pretty big area for instant death attacks…
Because it’s a slam attack, the flying group are able to avoid it.
[Maaaah!]
A large number of thin tentacles have gathered to protect the goat. It’s the preliminary move for a magic attack again. This time it’s… Oh, that’s not good.
“Amethorin-san, get behind me.”
“”Light will kill us!””
The gathered magic power turns white, and many small white spheres appear this time. And they are fired with the same motion as before.
“Master! A large number of demons from the sky!”
“Wraith types too!”
Many angels fell to the darkness, but honestly, the light is more damaging. In addition to devils, Immortals will also fall. Wraiths are popular among Immortals, but they can’t endure it. Or rather, if they’re hit with an attack against their attribute weakness, they’ll die.
[Meeaah!]
“『You!』”
This time… it’s cleave attacks. It’s four simultaneous cleaves, but each tentacle seems to have a different height. They’re busy jumping, squatting and lying down… how dangerous.
“There’s another above!”
The tentacles were swung from one side to the other along the ground, but now they’re coming back aimed at the sky, going in the opposite direction. The tentacles are faster than on the ground, probably because they have a wider range of motion.
[MEEEeeeeee!]
“Mm? That’s a long one…”
“”Is something new coming?””
The thin tentacles undulate restlessly, gathering magic power at their tips.
“It looks like magic again, but the movement is different.”
“The cry was different too…”
“『Something came flying!』”
A large number of black and white spheres, about the size of watermelons, are scattered about. They stay in the air as well as on the ground…. So, what now.
“Hyahahaha! They’re bulging!”
“Eh?”
“…Aren’t they swelling?”
“Swelling, huh…meaning?”
“Dangerous!”
They’re going to explode, I see.
“Isn’t it going to be hard to escape from this many? Maybe we can break them.”
While saying so, that person ran towards the black sphere, involving about 10 people around him when it exploded. Their HP was completely wiped out…
“…Yes.”
“『It’s not ‘yes’, is it!?』”
“That was an explosion like the Mine spell…”
“”Can we escape above?””
“Even with damage reductions, I’m not sure I can survive mines.”
The Mine spell deals almost solely in power. Moreover, since the user is a Black Goat, it will get a bonus to the damage in exchange for only being able to use light and darkness.
I’ll try to attack the sphere with magic, but mine doesn’t compare.
“Aah! I don’t understand! What should I do!?”
“This is going to wipe us all out.”
“This is treated the same as the Mine magic, right? [Telekinesis]”
“Be careful!”
“Sorry. But they can be moved.”
That’s good news. Dealing with it is the same as with Mine. I’ll let the union party leaders know.
I’ll hurry and move away the spheres that are swelling up. Given the twins, white should be avoided. This is a game of positioning. Black is still possible, but white is definitely no good.
Lizzy is keeping her distance to avoid getting hit.
“Big! Mm…?”
The black and white spheres, which were the size of watermelons, have grown to the size of balance balls.
«Foresight» tells me that a large area centred on a sphere is dangerous. With this range, it’s too late to escape. I tell the twins to evacuate, and get as far away as possible while casting defensive magic.
A few seconds later, the sphere shrinks to the size of a baseball, then bursts with an effect like the spell of the same name. I put out tentacles as a shield for the twins.
“[Magic Barrier]!”
“”Nya!””
“『Aah!』”
[Magic Barrier] was just in time, but this is right at the edge of being safe. The twins are at 20% despite the tentacle shields. I’m in a pretty dangerous state too. I couldn’t afford to use [Gravitas Manoeuvre], so I couldn’t gain any distance.
Lizzy…seems to have been able to evade it.
“Ah… I’m going to die…”
“Live.”
You’re beautiful… at least in your own eyes.
“…I’m beautiful!”
“『Buha.』”
“Well, well, I know how it happened.”
I’m sorry, but even if you turn your face away, I can see it perfectly with my field of vision.
It’s in a pretty bad way, until it recovers from that.
The colour of the timer for the Black Goat calming down has changed. There are many dead people on the ground. Do your best getting everyone recovered, healers.
The thick tentacles did not move after the black and white spheres, and the thin tentacles were only hitting the tanks, so the recovery proceeded calmly.
The colour of the timer changed from red to orange. I don’t know how long for, but the count was still ongoing while red, so there seems to be something beyond the red.
[Meeeeh!]
“『The big one’s are moving!』”
“『We aren’t fully recovered yet!』”
It looks like break time is over.
There are warnings for two slam attacks and two cleaves.
『Are we back to the start of the pattern?』
『Then are the spheres the last one, degozaruna?』
『Is magic next?』
『No, the same actions should come one more time.』
[Maaaah!]
As the union leaders said, it did the same thing again.
『Then darkness should come next, degozaruna』
『There must be some angels here, so stay back, okay?』
When using the union channel, their voice can be heard regardless of distance, but those not in the union will just have to pray.
By the way, won’t fights against those of the same family become rather plain? I’m still a newcomer, so light and darkness are halved, but on reaching the top it will become absorption, rather than just immunity. But since we can only use light and darkness attributes, there’s no choice but to hit each other with physical attacks…
While watching the angels fall due to dark magic, I’ll attack for the time being.
『That kid has auto-healing, right?』
『Defeating it is hopeless, degozaruna.』
“The time needed for it to calm down is decreasing, isn’t it?”
『The main purpose of attacking looks to be reducing that, rather than its HP.』
『Maintaining a certain number of people until it calms down is quite hard.』
『That sphere is awful, degozaru.』
The fanatics are also protected by the barriers, so it can’t be helped. If we don’t find a way to deal with them soon, we’ll be wiped out by the spheres.
『Well first of all, let’s send a sphere over there and see what happens.』
『That’s it!』
『Did anyone see how long it took to explode?』
『About 10 seconds.』
『That should be enough time.』
『Then we’ll send the ones closest to the enemy over there, and see what else we can do.』
『Then we’ll go with that, degozaru.』
『The enemy’s attacks are the same so far, so they do seem to have a proper order.』
『Well, being completely random would be a bit much…』
Two slams and two cleave attacks at random locations.
After that, a wide range shotgun-like darkness magic attack.
And again, two slams and two cleave attacks at random locations.
“Get up now…[Resurrection]”
“Thanks!”
“Isn’t resurrection a huge drain on MP?”
“That’s true.”
The recovery goes slowly, but if you don’t think about the timing for when to wake up…you’ll be hit by a tentacle and die again instantly.
This time, the healer might just ignore you.
『The next attack should be double hits on four places…』
[Meeaaa!]
“That angle is… a cleave.”
『It’s not!』
A cleave is aimed along the ground, then the followup through the air.
『The height and position seem random.』
『So the light attack should come next.』
[Maaaah!]
『Here it comes!』
『Back off if you’re weak to light, okay?』
A blast from a wide range light magic shotgun.
Followed by four slams, twice.
『Are the slams and cleaves random?』
『It could be alternating, so we can’t be sure yet.』
『That’s true.』
Is it completely random, or fixed to some extent…hm.
[MEEEeeeeee!]
The thin tentacles are undulating restlessly, with magic power gathering at the tips.
『Spheres』
『I’d like to try out the same and opposing attributes on them.』
『Their effect was a bit strange.』
『Right, right.』
Oh…In that case, let’s try some counter-magic. Myself and the twins will use dark magic attacks on the nearby sphere of light.
It seems that dark magic can cut down the light sphere, and after shooting at it with the help of others nearby, it disappears.
The same attributes…are they absorbing it?
『You can tell the same attribute is no good just looking at it!? Ahh!』
Along with the voice of that union member, a sphere of light explodes at the edge of my field of view. The burst effect is unleashed, taking out the surroundings.
I’m observing while attacking a nearby sphere. This is monstrous attack. I’d like to get some information.
Those in the front row… are playing dodgeball against the Blessed of Shub-Niggurath and the Black Goat, using the spheres. Honestly, dodgeball against a huge, tentacled goat seems no good.
The spheres are being moved, but they explode after 10 seconds, with any on the player side being devastating. The damage is terrible. The ones that are sent over just in time hit the barrier. If the timing is not right, they explode uselessly.
After the bombs hit the barrier multiple times… A high-pitched cracking sound is heard, along with a visual effect of something transparent shattering, the shards visible in the reflected light.
“It’s broken!”
“No AOE attacks!”
Most of the attacks on the fanatics are blocked by the Blessed and the goat, but a stun attack hits one of the fanatics, knocking him out.
The second attack was stopped before it arrived, prevented by the barrier that has reappeared.
『So the fanatics are just extras… small fry…』
『The Blessed blocked so much…』
“Didn’t the time until calming down increase?”
『Seriously?』
『Yeah, it definitely increased.』
『Then is breaking the barrier useless? Eh?』
『No, isn’t it attacking the Blessed that the goat doesn’t like?』
『Well… that could be it. Should we aim for just the fanatics?』
“We can’t use AOE because the kidnapped children will get caught in it. It’s out of range to begin with.”
『In that case, there’s no choice but to have the bow users do their best.』
『Or have the flying team do their best.』
While we’re talking, the healers are reviving and healing the dead. The tank that disappeared after being defeated during dodgeball is especially prioritised. The thin tentacles are rampaging about.
『So they explode faster with the same attribute?』
『The correct answer is to hit them with the opposing attribute.』
『Bows are no good. They explode immediately.』
『Attributes other than the opposing don’t seem entirely useless, but they’re a lot less effective.』
『The same attribute triggers them. The countering attribute makes them disappear. It’s still a mystery if anything else is worth using.』
『And they take about 10 seconds to explode.』
We gathered quite a bit of information, because we knew when the attack would come for the second time.
I’ll slow down my attacks a little, while I summarise the information to be shared with the union.
Normal attack. Thin tentacles. Attacks enemies within range and provides defence against long-range attacks.
1 + 2. Simultaneously slams two locations and cleaves two locations. Random targets. Can’t block. Evade.
3. Wide-range, dark magic shotgun. Instant kill for races with dark attribute weakness. Keeping distance recommended.
4 + 5. Simultaneously slams two locations and cleaves two locations. Random targets. Can’t block. Evade.
6. Double slam attacks on four locations or four cleaves. Cleaves once along the ground, followed by once through the air.
7. Wide-range, light magic shotgun. Instant kill for races with light attribute weakness. Keeping distance recommended.
8. Double slam attacks on four locations or four cleaves. Cleaves once along the ground, followed by once through the air.
9. Scatters spheres of light and darkness.
A combination of Mine and Burst. The sphere expands from a Mine state and Bursts after 10 seconds.
Instant death to anything in range due to extreme damage explosion. Can be dealt with in the same way as Mine spells.
Hit the spheres with the opposing attribute. The same attribute is bad. Other attributes are not useless.
Burst effect with the same attribute when triggered. Disappearance of opposing attributes when bursting was confirmed. Number of shots unknown.
Special Actions
Always derived from slam and cleave. When returning, it will try to grab players near the tip. It may be possible to rescue them by attacking the tentacle, but they will probably die before you can.
After hitting the barrier with spheres 9 times, it will break long enough to get one attack through.
If the Blessed of Shub-Niggurath are hit, the time until the Black Goat calms increases?
It’s necessary to hit the fanatics with pinpoint accuracy.
Be careful not to hit the kidnapped children.
『Thanks for the summary.』
『We don’t have the luxury to do that on the ground.』
『Really. Seriously ruthless.』
Well, I should get back to attacking….hm?
『Huh?』
『[Crimson Ring]!』
『That’s a rabbit and… it’s taking a child!』
“『Not the children!』”
Ah, the Blessed looked over here and stopped… Is it calm? It’s just the Black Goat that’s raging.
The Blessed lets go of the child and the rabbit, and reaches for one of the Outsiders who ran ahead, but he’s evading and batting at it. It catches the fanatic who fainted when the barrier was broken earlier instead, with a squish. The spilled blood moves as if with a will, drawing out a circle, like the spell’s name implies.
The blood-red gate of [Crimson Ring] is completed with the blood. Two more Blessed of Shub-Niggurath arrive through it.
“『Fuu, there’s more!』”
As more arrive through the [Crimson Ring], the summoning will become faster, but what if it goes further? I hope the barrier won’t be strengthened. If it is strengthened, the number of spheres needed to break it will probably increase.
“There are a lot of corpses here, too…”
“Get up.”
Once the [Crimson Ring] is over, the thick tentacles of the goat start to move again..
『If we don’t break the barrier and defeat the fanatics, won’t the children get sacrificed?』
『I wonder if it’s okay to not catch the fanatics…』
『The quest just says not to let them escape, so it should be okay…』
“I’m sure they’ll be happy to be of use.”
We could say it saves us the trouble of catching them, if they become collateral. It’s a necessary sacrifice. You see, it’s easier to kill bandits on the spot than to catch them. And it’s natural to prioritise children over old fanatics.
『Don’t they say that ‘he who believes shall be saved’?』
『Death is salvation.』
『To the Abyss.』
“Even if you die, it’s not always a relief in this world. Though, I don’t know about in real life.”
『That’s right!』
The goat’s HP doesn’t decrease at all, so I don’t think its behaviour changes depending on its remaining HP. If so, will the elapsed time have an effect? If it’s the time until it calms down, on the contrary, it seems like it should become more docile. To be honest, the current situation is quite hard.
“Hey, take a lesson from the mercenary penguin! You’re dying too fast!”
“Im☆possible.”
The guy in the penguin costume is pretty good, isn’t he? He hasn’t died even once, and seems to be quite strong. Because of his appearance, he stands out.
“That’s bad… MP has run out.”
“What about po-yons?”
“Just ran out.”
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
“You over there! The magic in those potions makes them worth more than an ordinary one!”
“Stop it! You’ll die if you make a mistake!
“Eey! Princess shield!”
“Would you normally use a princess as a meat shield? Fairellen-san?”
“Uhahaha! It’s good that the tentacles can only hit us with one cleave, but the magic is too scary.”
“The difficulty has gone up a lot this time. Currently, only the inhumans can fly…”
“It’s too easy to get taken out, depending on your attributes. Well… us fairies are always a glass cannon style!”
That’s just how fairies are… Most of them are suitable for combat in the sky, but since humans are obviously a flightless race, controlling them takes some getting used to. With the small size and high suitability for flying… I hear it’s often quite scary.
In that sense, human-sized angels and devils are popular. Angels are more defensive, demons are more offensive, with angels having a higher aptitude for flying. Probably because of the wings.
『Come on, everyone loves spheres.』
『I hate them?』
『I love round things!』
『Go get kicked by Tindalos.』
『If I’m gonna get kicked by Tindalos, you should be kicked by Yog-Sothoth.』
『Kicked by Yog-Sothoth…..?』
“Maybe Stellura-sama will come to kick you?”
『…Is that a reward?』
『With the physical prowess of a god, I think you’d die if you were kicked.』
『I’d rather die from being kicked by a beautiful goddess, than be kicked by a spiky dog.』
How did they manage to reach this point.
The people at the front line hold the spheres until the last moment, then send them flying towards the barrier just before they explode. The others work on hitting them with opposing attributes to erase them, or move them into a cluster. If they make a mistake, the spheres explode and destroy them.
“Goodbye!”
“Stop dying! I’ll kill you!”
“What’s that. I’m the one who would beat you?”
“Get up.”
“I love that you still help me properly!”
“Shut it… Next time you die, I’ll put you to rest.”
“See you again~”
Sounds like… they’re having fun?
We managed to knock out a fanatic. An unconscious fanatic is destined to become a sacrifice, but that’s just a matter of getting what they deserve.
“Lol at Mead taking out a fanatic with [Meteor Shot].”
“Overkill…”
Rather, it’s usually an advanced technique. [Meteor Shot] is an attack with a time lag, but she shot it at the fanatic while counting on the barrier being broken.
『What do you think of actions 6 and 8?』
『It’s just a case of either slams or cleaves.』
『After the magic, it’s just the one that wasn’t used before it. It hasn’t changed until now』
Either a slam or a cleave is used before the magic. The attack following the magic is the one which wasn’t used before it.
Well, it’s just the magic attacks that are fatal to the flying members, so the tentacles can do what they like.
The fighting is continuing.
There are quite a few deaths, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem. Even so…
“They increased quite a lot…”
『About 7 or 8 now?』
『I wonder how many more there will be.』
『It should calm down soon.』
『I’m happy that fewer people died after we reduced the number of spheres.』
『On the other hand, it’s getting harder to break the barrier.』
The number of spheres has decreased, so we can’t afford to fail with as many. As a result, it’s more difficult. But the burden on the healers has been reduced by just as much.
“I made a mistake and died, but it’s okay!”
“It’s not okay. Is your head bugged?”
“Harsh!”
“Get up already.”
After this is over, I’ll ask someone to help me with learning [Resurrection]… I’d like to have resurrection magic, after all. It seems that the HP after reviving is low, but the resurrection time is shorter than with the item, which is useful in cases like this.
『A little more, a little more…』
『Come on!』
『We’re gonna have one more set of spheres, degozaruna』
『Against that many, it looks impossible to aim for just the fanatics.』
『I’m sure the perverts will manage it.』
『Mutt, kill.』
『Fuu…looks like it’s finally my turn…watch me, just watch me.』
So you’re going to take a swing at Mutt-san following that flow… He’s definitely an enthusiastic pervert, to the point I think he’s lost it. I think his player name, Vincent, is kind of cool, but the nickname of Mutt fits.
“Fuhahahaha! Useless, useless, useless, useless! Full speed ahead!”
With the reduced number of spheres and having become familiar with them, we are able to break the barrier without much difficulty, after which Mutt-san charges in.
It’s rather amazing that he can run through while avoiding the attacks coming from the thin tentacles of the goat.
『Not bad, Mutt.』
『Yeah, but…』
『I wasn’t expecting that. Read the air.』
『Why!』
“『Hm!?』”
Oh? A gauge appears next to the words [Fist of Yog-Sothoth], and fills quickly. …It must be showing on the UI because there is no preceding movement.
“This is the first time you’ve used that!? Bublagh!?”
『Mutt-kun was blown away!』
『Fumu… The damage doesn’t look too bad, but that’s a hell of a knockback.』
『I’m not sure it’s okay to call that a knockback…』
『That’s a home run…』
<The special spell [Fist of Yog-Sothoth] has been learned.>
What! I’ll check the description.
[Fist of Yog-Sothoth]
By consuming a variable amount of MP, fire an invisible fist at a single target.
The more MP consumed, the greater the knockback distance and chance to stun.
The effect is greatly dependant on the distance to the target, and the size and posture of the target.
…I’ll have to test the MP consumption after the event, before I use it.
『I got a 5 second stun. I couldn’t control the landing, so the damage after flying away was quite nasty?』
『And the archers did the job with curved shots, so it was pointless too. 0 points!』
『That’s way too strict!』
『Well, I’ll at least praise you for not dying.』
『It couldn’t even wipe out Mutt.』
『Damn iiiiiit』
I learned a new spell, though, so I’d like to thank you.
The timer counting down until the goat calms down stops, and the thick tentacles are swung down without colouring the floor, stopping halfway.
<<The Black Goat has calmed down, choose your words carefully and survive.>>
“『Geh.』”
“Princess. We want the S rank clear. Leaving it to you!”
“If I do it, there’s a good chance the fanatics will die, so is that okay?”
“When you’re going to sacrifice people, if you don’t get away, you’re not getting out alive…right?”
“Pretty much.”
“There’s no mercy for those who try to sacrifice children.”
The large tentacles have drawn back, squirming above it, so I move out in front of the Black Goat. …Can the goat talk?
“Black Goat, have you calmed down?”
『Fellow Outer One….Nemeseia.』
A nice voice! Well, it seems like telepathy.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
『Umu. So, why do your companions get in the way?』
“We’re not here for you, we’re aiming for those idiots. After looking into them, we found they’re planning to manipulate you.”
『Oh?』
Well, I’ll discuss it with you.
“For the time being, it’s the children that are going to affect the outcome.”
“Right. Can they be brought over here?”
I agree. I’d like to secure the children… but it’s hard to make a move without knowing their reasons.
“By the way, what is the goal of those of you related to Shub-Niggurath?”
『To get home. We can’t return home on our own.』
…It’s a very simple reason. Hence why they’re so desperate. But if that’s the reason, we’ve almost won. In my case, I have the Silver Key. It’s an event map, so there are locks on personal use, but it will work for events.
[Crimson Ring] needs to be kept under control to stay connected. In other words, it’s impossible for everyone to return using [Crimson Ring]. So they intended to call their master, Shub-Niggurath, so they could all return together. [Crimson Ring] is just preparation, calling over the Blessed to summon Shub-Niggurath.
『They are the ones who said they would procure the blood needed and help with the summoning.』
“I see. I will provide a way back, so I would like to protect the children who also have a home to return to.”
『You can prepare a way home?』
“Because I have this.”
『The Silver Key!』
“And in the worst case, you can sacrifice all of them and use the [Crimson Ring].”
『Very well. Hey.』
At the Black Goat’s instruction, the Blessed have brought over the children. The others have received them.
What else is likely to affect the evaluation? The children are protected. There will be no damage to the town. Their purpose is to return home, so they won’t get angry as long as I can use the Silver Key… No, that was their motive in the first place. So, what now.
Maybe the best answer is to just keep quiet? If I don’t say anything more and simply open a gate, the Black Goat and its followers will be happy to leave. We and the town will be safe, the children will be safe and the goat gets souvenirs for Niggurath, who will get what they deserve.
…Isn’t that perfect? If the Silver Key doesn’t work, there’s no problem if we just sacrifice them all.
『Uwa, that smile makes Onee-chan look like a villain…』
『Seriously.』
『That smile even though she’s not in a fight… The dark side.』
“Rina.”
『…………』
『Imouto-chan became a shellfish.』
When I called my sister through the union, she squatted down and buried her face in her legs. It’s useless to turn your face away, because I can still see. I suppose this is the correct solution.
Ah, no wait… isn’t this no good at all?
“By the way, Black Goat. Would you like to take those people as souvenirs?”
『These ones? I don’t mind, if they intend to serve…but if not, they’re just in the way.』
…From the looks on their faces, it’s not likely. No good. No good at all.
『What’s wrong?』
“If you don’t want to take them as a souvenir, I was thinking it might be best to eradicate them here.”
『Oh?』
“Princess, that’s quite disturbing.”
“Despite her appearance, she’s quite belligerent.”
“『Our princess is ferocious.』”
You can say what you like!
It can’t be helped. If this makes the Black Goat go wild, I can call Shub-Niggurath with the Silver Key. It should calm down quickly when its mother arrives. If the key doesn’t work… Oh, [Invite Shub-Niggurath] is in white now. I can use that in the worst case.
I’ll tell the union so they’re ready to move.
“Reason 1. With what they tried to do, under human law, it’s considered kidnapping and theft at best.”
“『The children and the wood.』”
“Reason 2. They know how to summon Shub-niggurath.”
“『That’s not good.』”
“Reason 3. They foolishly tried to outwit the Black Goat and attempted to use Shub-Niggurath. Is that a challenge to the Outer Ones?”
『Tell me more.』
I share the information we learned from the analysis with the Black Goat and the Blessed.
“『Oh?』”
Oh, the Blessed have the same reaction as the goat. …Well, that makes sense. As Outer Ones, we’re all the same, so are likely to be angered by the same things. They were calm during the ritual, but that’s that and this is this.
…What now. The thick tentacles are about to swing down. No, if you’re happy with killing them, that’s fine. It would save me a lot of trouble, wouldn’t it?
“That’s a false accusation! That’s not…!”
…Wonderful! A wonderful self-destruction!
Speaking falsehoods to us, the Stellura family, is an act of suicide.
“Swear to the Goddess Stellura, here and now.”
“…!”
“If you can’t swear, that’s already an answer. Nevertheless, this is hard for us to handle too….maybe we should call Shub-Niggurath to make the decision for us?”
『…Very well.』
We’ve never met, so I’m not sure what to expect, but if it gets violent I’ll use the Silver Key to send them away… I want to call her anyway. I want to call her!
“So with that, do you mind if I call her?”
“Speaking of the ritual for summoning Shub-Niggurath…”
“I know what you’re expecting, but this is a normal game.”
“Why!?”
“What’s with that response.”
“It’s not a problem that the fanatics are fine?”
“I’ll use the Silver Key, so there should be no need for contracts. It’s like opening the door of a house. If there is a problem, it should only be with me, the owner of the key.”
“『That’s fine then.』”
Well, let’s summon her. …Is there no chant because I’m using the Silver Key? That’s a bit sad… let’s go with the standard.
“Ia! Ia! Shub-Niggurath….[Invite Shub-Niggurath].”
<<Shub-Niggurath is about the be summoned >>
<<Summoner: Compatriot >>
<<State to be summoned in: Normal >>
<<Contract status on summoning: None >>
<<Friendship level of summoned target: Neutral to Friendly >>
The Silver Key flies into the sky, unlike how it usually opens ahead of me. …But, I can’t see it if it does that? Oh, I can watch via Lizzy.
<<Shub-Niggurath has been summoned by a player >>
<<Transition to the dismissal phase… on hold >>
“『On hold!?』”
The sky… has cracked open. In an area that is at least wide enough to entirely cover overhead of us. From the unseen space behind the crack, a mist or smoke…well, something leaks out.
There is a feeling of the air suddenly becoming heavier. It is a strong presence.
The fanatics are sitting down and looking up at the sky with blue faces. They are being awfully rude to the one they wanted to meet.
“『SAN check!』”
“『Not in this game!』”
“『But in my dreams!』
“『That’s it!』”
The overflowing substance is trying to take a meaningful shape, or maybe just following gravity, as it slowly falls down to where we are.
The translucent matter that is falling gradually turns black, taking the shape of hooves that are quietly standing on the ground. …Though the ground seems to be quite caved in.
…I can tell that a lot of care has been taken in how not a single tree has been felled. Are some parts of the trees not materialised? I don’t know if it can be called materialisation.
The size is about 2…or even 3, times that of the goat. It’s big…
『Newcomer, what is it?』
“It’s nice to meet you for the first time, Shub-Niggurath.”
『We are compatriots, speak at ease. …So?』
“We have run into a bit of a problem.”
『My child, answer.』
Shub-Niggurath has the voice of a slightly imperious woman… is how I feel I should describe it.
A group of players watching as the goat is questioned by its mother, its tentacles swaying about. It’s very surreal. But I don’t want to say anything to interfere.
“Can we call it an emotional reunion…?”
“『No clue.』”
“We’re in the way of the moving reunion.”
“Well, so are they.”
“Let’s go home.”
“Sure.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“『Fuhaa.』”
You are in the presence of Laputa…ehem..the god Niggurath!
What kind of position does Shub-Niggurath have in this world? Nyar-sama was the chancellor, but…I’m also curious about Azathoth. Though I don’t need to hear it now.
『You mean I can do as I please here?』
“You can do as you like with those people. We won’t interfere and I’ll report to the people here.”
『Fumu….Please connect to the public area.』
I’ll do that. Silver Key, please!
The rift in the sky closes and the Silver Key comes down to create a very large gate, connected to the public area of the Medium, showing the field of flowers spreading off into the distance.
『My child, let us return. My thanks to our compatriot and your companions.』
『Meee.』
The fanatics are being carried away by the Blessed who came here in droves. The fanatics are crying out, but we are splendidly ignoring them. I’m sure we’re of one heart right now. It is “Go quickly, so we can get our S clear”.
This is what they wanted in the first place. Shub-Niggurath class existences are not too common, but there are plenty of people who are equally as strong out there.
…Well, I don’t know if the ruler the fanatics were imagining and the one they would have gotten would be the same anyway.
Finally, when Shub-Niggurath returns to the mist and passes through the gate, the portal disappears and the key returns to hanging at my waist.
<<The Shub-Niggurath family has left >>
<<Main Event: Stop the escape of the fanatic remnants, complete >>
<<Checking quest evaluation…….. >>
“『Uoo….? Isn’t it taking too long?』”
“They’re part of the Niggurath family too, from today…..”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
<<Checking quest evaluation…….Pending >>
“『That’s lol.』”
“Well… I think we went with a bit of a special method.”
“『A bit?』”
“…It’s the result of putting me to the front. Please accept it.”
“『…Then it can’t be helped!』”
Oh?
“Wahahaha! It’s me!”
“『Hey!』”
“Yamamoto-san and the event team are discussing, so you’ll have to wait!”
“What do you think will happen?”
“Well, probably S. It’s just that it was a rather special method, so it was hard to measure the points!”
<<Review complete >>
<<The goal of the fanatics……Investigated >>
<<The goal of the Black Goat……Understood >>
<<Rescue of the kidnapped children……Success >>
<<Escaped fanatics……0 >>
<<Damage to the town……0% >>
<<Outsider deaths……12,964 >>
<<Blessed of Shub-Niggurath killed……0 >>
<<Dealing with the Black Goat……Success >>
<<Preventing the summoning of Shub-Niggurath……Success? >>
<<Clear evaluation……S Clear! >>
<<A bonus will be rewarded for a perfect clear >>
<<The bonus reward will be paid to everyone on the first server >>
<<After 3 minutes, you will be transferred to the east gate with the rescued children >>
<Your Race Level has increased.>
<The level of your servant has increased.>
<«Book» reached level 50. “2” Skill Points acquired.>
<Book»’s art [Quick Cast] has been enhanced.>
<«Serpentine Sword» reached level 30. “2” Skill Points acquired.>
<«Serpentine Sword»’s art [Unrestricted] was acquired>
<«Super-Class Magic Ability» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Super-Class Magic Ability»’s art [Search Magic] was acquired>
<Options related to [Search Magic] have been added.>
<«Aurora Magic» reached level 5.>
<«Aurora Magic»’s art [Seras Flak] was acquired>
<«Holy Magic» reached level 40. “2” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Holy Magic»’s art [Party Heal] was acquired>
<«Chaos Magic» reached level 5.>
<«Chaos Magic»’s art [Haos Flak] was acquired>
<«Space-Time Magic» reached level 5.>
<«Space-Time Magic»’s art [Slow] was acquired>
<«Body Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Limb Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Soul Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Maximum MP Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Maximum HP Enhancement» reached level 10. “1” Skill Point acquired.>
<«Great Art» reached level 40. “2” Skill Points acquired.>
“『It’s heeeeeere!』”
“『Niiiiice!』”
“『As expected!』”
“First of all, there’s hardly anyone that avoided dying.”
“That was the goat’s fault.”
“It was nasty, no matter how you look at it.”
“And the inhumans were getting one-shotted…”
“Well, make sure you don’t leave anything undone on the fourth day!”
“『Sure!』”
Yatsuzuka-san has left.
The event itself has one day left. I guess it is a last chance to earn tickets during the tidying up period. I’ve already exchanged for what I want, so I’ll spend tomorrow relaxing while checking my skills.
“There were a lot of evaluated points this time, huh?”
“Because it’s a city event”.
“It was right to ask the goat for its goal….”
“Getting all the information you can is basic.”
“It’s funny that the summoning Niggurath result is a question.”
“She wasn’t called, but we called her anyway…”
“If it won’t be called, let’s call it first, Aniki!”
“You can’t do it without the Silver Key, though!”
I wonder if the easiest legitimate way of doing it is to have all the fanatics sacrificed…
“What about the children?”
“Are they asleep?”
“I think they probably fainted.”
“Oh, right, I called Niggurath without any consideration for the children.”
“『….It’s too late for that now!』”
What a nice smile. …Well, we’re finished now.
We are transferred to the grassland outside the east gate, so we will return to the town.
“『Thanks for the hard work!』”
“『Thanks!』”
“What’s next?”
“A closing party?”
“That’s fine, but what about the pumpkins and the cat?”
“『Ah….』”
“I feel like we should just wait for the answer.”
“Was the end at 3pm on the 4th day? Is tonight the last chance?
“Looks like it?”
Well it’s about midnight that the horror shows up, so that’s probably the case. However, I think I’ll just report to the Count family.
“I’m going to the Count’s mansion, what about the rest of you?”
“Hm… what to do.”
“It’s the last day, so take a look around?”
“Hmmm.. let’s should do that.”
“What about you two?”
“”It’s a bit early, but let’s sleep?””
“This time you were fighting against instant death attacks because of your race, so it was a bit tiring…”
“”It was tiring, but fun!””
“That’s good. Good night.”
“”Good night!””
Now that everyone in the party has decided what they’ll do, I’ll go to the Count’s mansion. The people carrying the children will also come to the mansion with me. I don’t know about private homes, but if it’s the lord’s mansion, they can return home on their own after waking up.
I thought it would be enough to see the head of the family, but it looks like his wife was waiting too.
I’ll report on what happened. That we rescued six children, but perhaps one of them has fallen through the boundary. The purpose of the Black Goat. The purpose of the fanatics. And how it ended.
“So that’s what happened. Thank you for your efforts. We’ll take responsibility for returning the children.”
“Yes, I’ll leave it to you.”
It took some time to give the report, so I’ll head back to the church and go to bed. And just in time. This has been my strongest opponent since I started this game… For others, it might have been the Shoggoth during the sports event, but for me it’s having to always leave early…
I say my goodbyes to the lord and his wife and withdraw. It’s late enough in this world, I suppose.
On the way to my room I say hello to the priestess in the chapel. I’ll take it easy and leisurely look over my skills on the final day.
Good night!
