The Book Eating Magician Chapter 47:

Trios Counterattack #1

Obviously, the mercenaries were the ones who attacked first .

The mercenaries retreated to the rear of the barrier and pulled out something from their waist . Then they loaded it with stones piled up nearby and started to spin it . The item was a sling, a ranged weapon which used centrifugal force to launch rocks like they were arrows .

Slings were easier to carry than bows, and unlike arrows, rocks could be found everywhere . Such advantages were attractive to mercenaries who couldnt afford expensive equipment .

Fire! Instead of Randolph, the vice commander Hank shouted, and the stones flew .

Pak! Pakak! Pak! Puhak!

The small undead like kobolds and goblins were broken in one hit by the stones . The orcs didnt fall instantly, but it was the same result after being hit three or four times . In a flash, the remnants of the undead fell to the ground .

However, that damage was nothing when there were thousands of corpses gathered .

They are like a swarm of ants .

Theo, Sylvia, and Randolph observed the bodies from their position on a barrier . Looking at the crowd of rotten undead approaching was enough to make a person nauseous . One undead wasnt much, but the story was different if there were thousands . It was a disaster similar to grasshoppers devastating a field of crops .

Randolphs mouth dropped open as he stared at the scene .

According to the plan set up by his employer, Theodore, the three of them had to go to the rear of the wave of undead . However, it was impossible to open a path among such numbers, even with the firepower of a magician . If they used 4th and 5th Circle spells, there was a chance, but then they would lose the capacity to fight by the time they reached the warlocks base .

So, Theo thought of a way to get through without fighting .  

Weight Reduction . Theos magic was completed a step ahead of Sylvias and wrapped around the two of them .

It was a lightweight magic frequently applied to objects but not humans . With that, Theo and Sylvias body weight was reduced by half . The magic which Sylvia had been preparing was also completed now .

Hidden Mana Force . Magic power emerged from her staff and wrapped around all three people this time .

It was a magic which hid the mana pouring from their bodies . It wasnt a good magic to use against an opponent with all five senses, but there was nothing better against undead which only pursued mana .

With this, the basic setup was done . Theo confirmed that the spells were working properly and nodded .

Its done . We can start at any time .

Young Lady?

I’m ready .

…Right then, both of you come over here .

After hearing their answers, Randolph clicked his tongue and tied his sword more firmly to his waist . Then his large hands grabbed the boy and girl, and he hoisted them over his shoulders .  As Randolphs great strength was now combined with the lightweight magic, he couldnt feel the weight of the two people at all . Their appearance was indecent, but that couldnt be helped .

In next moment, Randolph jumped fearlessly toward the wave of undead while carrying the two people!

Don’t open your mouth, Employer! You might bite your tongue off!

As a first rate swordsman, Randolphs power was already beyond the domain of an ordinary human .

He jumped 10 meters high in a single step, and the distance he leaped covered 50 meters . It was a leap which defied the existence of gravity . However, he didnt have wings, so he would eventually have to fall down, even if he jumped high .

Soon enough, Randolph began to fall at a terrifying speed .

Kuk, opening a path this way… He chuckled as he gathered aura in the soles of his feet .

When he thought the it, he realised it wasnt that difficult . Even if the undead were rotten, it was a lot easier to trample on their heads and move that way! Randolphs foot landed on the head of an orc zombie .

Peng!

The impact of the fall and the resistance from Randolphs aura caused the zombie to explode . As soon as the orc zombies head exploded, Randolph jumped again .

It wasnt just that . The heads of a goblin and hobgoblin further away soon burst open as well . Randolph used them as stepping stones as he crossed the group of undead . This was method called flying on grass in the east, but Randolph used aura to replicate the trick . (TL: Meaning to run so fast that it is like you are flying on grass)

As a result, the three people were able to get through the wave of corpses, like a fish swimming up a waterfall .

Amazing…! Is this movement due to aura? To think a human can move like this without magic…

In the meantime, Theodore was busy observing Randolphs movements . He understood the concept of aura when studying at the academy, but he had never experienced it at the level of someone like Randolph .

Unlike magic which refined mana in the body, aura was a way of strengthening the human body . It was one of the tricks for those without magic power, and this was also the national power of the arch rival of Meltor Kingdom, the Andras Empire .

It was different from magic which utilized mana in various ways . Aura was the crystallization of pure power, a method developed from studying fighting from beginning to end . An extremely skilled aura user could compete with an ogre, which was an advanced monster, or be reborn as a monster who could split apart a wall with a single sword .

This… last one!

Puhak! Randolph crushed the head of a troll zombie and jumped forward . From now on, he could use the tree branches instead of stepping on the undead .

Randolph looked at his right shoulder and said to Theo, From here on, I will follow the instructions of my employer . Guide me to the fastest path, even if the terrain is a little steep .

I understand, Theo acknowledged .

This was a place where hed played frequently during his childhood . The vegetation was a bit different, but he was able to find the location of the cave written in the report . Without considering the arduous terrain, a map with the straightest line to the cave appeared in Theos head .

40 degrees to the left until you see a small cliff!

Following Theodores instructions, Randolph shot off again like an arrow . The undead passing below them never noticed the presence of the party . Even if they did, there was nothing they could do to the three people in the trees .

The trios counterattack began in the darkness .

***

The leader of the Wandering Wolves, Randolph, was indisputably worth 300 gold . He stepped on the undead and tree branches, and even climbed up small cliffs and waterfalls . Thanks to that, the trip was reduced from one hour to 20 minutes . However, Theodores expression was stiff .

Starting from where theyd entered the forest to their present location, Theo estimated that the number of undead was close to 10,000 .

That number is ridiculous… What did the warlock do to invoke such a large number of undead? Does this grimoire specialize in summoning undead?

In particular, the warlock had summoned wyverns and ogres which didnt exist in this area . It was more likely that hed called the bodies from somewhere else instead of making them personally . Or maybe he released the undead from the Negative Dimension available only for outstanding necromancers . There would nothing unusual about that if he possessed a grimoire .

Just like how Theo unlocked Gluttonys seals, maybe the warlock had released a seal which gave him access to the Negative Dimension .

Hey, Employer . At that moment, Randolph stopped and pointed somewhere .  Weve arrived at the target area . What are your next instructions?

…Put me down first .

Whoops, I forgot since you are so light . In less than five seconds, Randolphs grin broke his serious expression .

Theodore and Sylvia had been lightened by magic, but Randolph showed no signs of hard breathing even despite all the running . Rather, it was Sylvia who wobbled when she was put down, like she had motion sickness .

Theo walked calmly before the cave .

View Mana Force . Blue magic power flashed in his eyes .

The 2nd Circle magic allowed him to visualize mana in the air, so he would be able to tell if the warlock was in the cave . Indeed, the result of the magic was quite good .

Ack…?! Theos vision was suddenly covered in darkness .

The dark mana spread like a poisonous gas and entered his eyes . He suffered no injuries, but the sudden loss of sight could be called terrible . The density of the dark mana, which he countered for the first time, was at a level which Theo couldnt have guessed .

He turned off View Mana Force and wiped the sweat off his forehead . Im certain . That guy is in there . The mana spread around the cave is filled with darkness . It can truly be called **** .

If the warlock had left this cave, then Theos group would be like a dog chasing after chickens . The counterattack plan would fail, and they would have to immediately return to the Miller Barony to prepare for the evacuation .

The 200 gold received as collateral for the swords would also have to be returned to Randolph .

Sylvia, hows your condition?

Yes, it is okay . I was just dizzy for a moment .

Randolph, are your legs okay?

Of course . I cant be a mercenary if I am already tired .

After verifying their conditions, Theo fell deep into thought . It had been successful thus far, but he couldnt be sure what would happen next . The dark cave was the warlocks base, and he didnt know what was being done in there .

At the crossroad of victory or defeat, he took a step forward .

Lets go in .

It had taken them a long time to reach this location . If the warlock became aware of the trios strike, he could escape and bring back the undead . They couldnt afford to stop due to tension or fear .

Randolph will be in the lead, Ill be in the middle, and Sylvia will be at the rear . Keep this formation as much as possible . If you encounter the warlock, then you can move freely .

Yes, understood .

I understand .

Theo hadnt known it, but the memories he obtained from Alfred awakened his abilities as a commander . The two people naturally accepted his direction as they lined up around Theo, and Randolph entered the cave first .

There was no need for them to carry separate tools like torches .

Light . Simultaneously, two **** of light appeared in the darkness . The shadows in the cave were pushed away, and its appearance was revealed .

Indeed, not all the undead had been sent to fight . The three of them prepared for battle .

It was at this moment that…

[Rats…! You dare to… invade my residence…!] An ugly and distorted voice echoed through the cave!

It seemed like a voice from the depths of **** instead of a human voice . The negative mana responded, and Theodores party was covered with a cold chill .

[You may have found my dwelling place, but…! You will never be able to go back alive…!] Anger filled the terrible voice as the undead started moving .

A burned orc warrior picked up an axe, and a direwolf zombie revealed its fangs . A moderate number of undead had been left here as protection .

[Kill…! And, die…] This sentence of death was spoken by the grimoire!

However, Theodore just laughed at the sentence . I guess we made it in time .

Yes . Shall we make that fool **** himself while begging? Randolph noticed and also spoke in a ridiculing manner .

A lion didnt bark; a person convinced of their victory would have no need to threaten their opponent . If they ran away from this threat, they would miss their prey . Only those who sensed defeat would bark like this while asking the opponent not to approach .

Lets go . With renewed confidence, a crimson flame ignited in the palm of Theodores hand .