Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Restriction of Perception

―……We must withdraw.

Flambeju’s confidence did not last a full day.

It was because he had gone with Baluka to scout the Poison Goblin camp and returned.

500!

Even that was the minimum estimate. If there were more of them in areas we had not yet examined, then it was a large-scale settlement of up to 1,000.

It was because the barbarians had wrecked the northern lands, causing a nearby city to collapse. The Poison Goblins had seized the opening and taken root, then reproduced at a startling speed to increase their numbers.

A scale like this was beyond what even Baron Azif’s army could defend against.

“Abdul, what is your judgment?”

―Master’s survival must be protected above all else, and to do that, I recommend a strategic retreat.

It was a rational judgment, and I was of the same opinion as Abdul Alhazard.

“Baluka…… never mind.”

The slender boy who looked around fifteen turned to me and smiled brightly. That smile was far from innocent. It belonged to a psychopath who had witnessed the deaths of 10,000 people.

I had not intended to ask Karkash at all, but he leaned his upper body toward me and forced eye contact.

―Protect, Master!

“Yes, thank you.”

It was a fight we could never win by ordinary means.

Still, the promotion request itself seemed manageable. Poison Goblin scout parties were often discovered on the outskirts, and they consisted of three or four at minimum, up to twelve at most. Their arms were also on the lighter side.

If I only dealt with the scout parties, cut off their noses, and brought them back, I could be promoted. However, I had no experience living such an easygoing life.

‘If the higher-ups tell you to do it, you do it.’

Now, I had no higher-ups. I was the highest decision-maker, and I volunteered to become a demanding ruler who gave relatively difficult orders.

“Our goal is the subjugation of the Poison Goblins.”

Flambeju nodded solemnly like a protagonist who had received his final mission, and Baluka’s breathing quickened as if he was excited.

When I spoke, a faint light flowed from Abdul Alhazard’s staff. That light connected me, Abdul, and Karkash, and it probably helped them understand my words.

And no one objected to my words.

―Subjugation!

……Karkash had a tendency to habitually repeat my words, and that meant affirmation.

“Abdul, is there a limit to the things that can be stored in the Dead-Spirit Realm?”

―There is, Master.

Abdul drew a line on the ground with his staff. He advanced a fairly long distance, roughly 20 meters. Then he advanced at a right angle by a similar length.

―The height is similar as well.

It was a cubic space of 20 meters in width, length, and height.

Abdul drew a line in one corner with his staff and said,Currently, this much of this space is filled with monster corpses and Master’s belongings.

“And anything that isn’t alive can be placed inside?”

―Of course.

“Is it structured so that things are organized even without any particular sorting?”

―I organize them.

“You do?”

―It is pleasing to see things neatly stacked.

Abdul’s eyes gleamed. He seemed to genuinely enjoy it.

Flambeju asked me cautiously.

―Are you sincerely thinking of subjugating those filthy bastards?

“Yes, for the great Achievement you and I will establish.”

―A splendid attitude. Yes, there is nothing Master cannot do! Put strength into it, strength! Put strength into it, strength!

Flambeju clenched both fists and burned with enthusiasm, but since he could not use secret arts like Abdul, all he could do was flap his mouth.

The most important attitude when entering a fight was to understand one’s resources. It was better to make maximum use of what existed than to create and use what did not.

“Abdul, I heard the Necronomicon has a restriction placed on it to avoid people’s gazes.”

―That is correct, Master.

“Can you reproduce it?”

―Blood is needed.

“How much?”

―Using Vulfs as the standard, 30 corpses will do.

“Karkash, Baluka. Begin hunting.”

―Will do. Hunt!

Karkash gripped a large axe, and Baluka gripped the pair of daggers I handed him.

As soon as they entered the forest, the smell of blood rushed in, and sounds that seemed to be axes striking trees and animals followed one after another.

―If you let them rampage like that, the Poison Goblins will come.

“That is what I want.”

―……Splendid, Master!

***

Piiiiiiiii!

Birds flew up along with the sharp sound of a horn.

Poison Goblins had begun rushing in from every direction.

However, when they arrived at the scene, we were no longer there.

Karkash had withdrawn at full speed, and the Poison Goblin corpses had been moved to the Dead-Spirit Realm. The blood they had spilled had already been devoured by the Necronomicon.

―Catch the intruders!

The Poison Goblins’ shout echoed.

“A little to the left.”

―A little, left!

Paying attention to the direction the sound came from, I decided our direction of movement.

Karkash, carrying me and Abdul on the A-frame carrier, was incomparably faster than Poison Goblins, and he did not tire either.

―Preparations are complete, Master.

Abdul Alhazard held out the Necronomicon. A new secret art was engraved there.

“Restriction of Perception.”

―The Restriction of Perception does not erase existence, but makes one perceive it as “unseen despite having seen it.” This is not an illusion that deceives light or shadow, but one that digs into the gap of perception itself. Even if he enters one’s sight, is detected by sound, or touches the senses, he shall slip from “attention” and not remain in “memory.” The substance does not change, and despite existing in this world, it is not perceived. The duration is proportional to the amount of blood used and the precision of the restriction inscription, but one must beware that excessive precision may instead risk drawing Yog-Sothoth’s gaze.

Karkash stopped. Perhaps because we were quite far from the Poison Goblins’ territory, they did not chase us.

“……Necromantic secret art, Spirit Invocation!”

―Thank you for calling me again, Master.

In Baluka’s voice, I could feel an earnest will not to leave my side for even a moment.

“Hold this.”

I handed Flambeju to Baluka.

Because he understood that this entire process was a step toward an “Achievement,” Flambeju did not grumble.

I held Flambeju’s hilt together with Baluka.

―W-What are you trying to do? Are you planning to change the sacred object’s form in this state? How do you know what side effects will occur?!

I was certain that no side effects would occur.

That certainty came from the yellow solid line connecting Flambeju and me.

Flambeju in Baluka’s hand did not look changed on the surface. He remained in the form of a short dagger.

However, geometric patterns were engraved into the surface of the blade. And as if blood were filling them, each pattern turned reddish.

“Krgh!”

Without realizing it, I clenched my teeth and groaned.

―M-Master! Do not die! You must not die, Master!

It was “Abyssal Backlash,” caused by an attempt to transform a sacred object excessively.

It did not occur in my body, but in an abyss far deeper.

The thing being struck was probably my soul.

That was a realm I could not endure.

I could not even overcome it with willpower.

All I could do was wish and wish again for that time to pass.

Abyssal Backlash manifested in my body as well.

My skin split open, and blood poured from every hole in my body.

And yet, I did not die.

As if I did not even have the right to choose death, the pain of the bottomless abyss continued as though it would last forever.

―Put strength into it, strength! Put strength into it, strength!

If Flambeju’s shout had not rung clearly inside my head, I might have mistaken it for time having stopped.

Fortunately, time was flowing steadily.

And the Abyssal Backlash inflicted upon me did not last as long as I had expected.

“Haaaaaah!”

I drew in a rough breath.

The split skin closed, and the flowing blood stopped.

However, the endless agony was carved all over my body like scars.

‘Your mind, chosen by Yog-Sothoth, shall never collapse.’

It was the final sentence defining the Achievement “One Who Gazed upon Yog-Sothoth.” That became a comfort. No, I had no choice but to acknowledge that those words were true.

Even after being shaken down to my soul, I did not die.

―Master…….

When I nodded while panting, Flambeju breathed a sigh of relief and burst into tears.

―I thought it was all over! If Master dies, I end as well! This great self, the sacred object of the beginning and the first sword, would disappear into the back alleys of history! Huuuuuung!

I, too, could not lightly brush off what had happened this time.

I had been swept up by the fear that my existence might be erased.

It was engraved into my soul like trauma.

Baluka disappeared. No, I could not perceive him. If I focused, he appeared right beside me, but if my concentration wavered, he immediately vanished.

The Restriction of Perception secret art had been engraved into Baluka’s Flambeju.

I had been about to entrust Baluka with the mission of “subjugating Poison Goblin patrol parties.”

―A large number of enemies are rapidly approaching, Master.

At Baluka’s words, I raised my head. Large beads of sweat fell heavily.

The buzzing sound of wings came from the forest, and above the underbrush, I saw something like black mist.

‘Spores?’

Pitch-black grains swirled in the wind.

And at their center were things stirring up the wind.

―Shaiov, Master.

Baluka had once hunted a Shaiov before.

They were spore-type insect monsters that appeared in the abandoned mine region north of Azif.

“Did we enter the Shaiov’s territory?”

The reason the Poison Goblins had stopped pursuing us was not their own will. It was to avoid entering the Shaiov’s territory.

In terms of monster grade, Shaiov were higher than Poison Goblins. It was because of the spores they scattered around.

“Karkash blocks them from the front, and Baluka strikes from behind.”

The two ran toward the swarm of insects without even looking back.

“Abdul, is there no way to block those hallucinogenic spores?”

Abdul Alhazard stared at me. His deeply wrinkled face tilted as if he did not understand the meaning of my question.

―……Hallucinations do not work on you, Master.

It was an unexpected answer. And I could guess the intent behind that answer.

“Because of the effect of the Achievement?”

―That is correct. As one who has faced the One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken, Master could never fall for their hallucinations.

Spores clung all over Karkash’s body.

However, Karkash belonged to death. Spore attacks did not work on him. The same was true for Baluka.

WHOOOOOOSH!

When Karkash split one Shaiov apart with his large axe, the others, who had been flying in comfortably, panicked. Before those that had scattered could gather again, Baluka cut the necks of the ones that had retreated.

The Shaiov’s weak point was its neck. Compared to its large body and head, the neck was on the thin side. However, since the area around the neck was covered in fur and its movements were quick, accurately cutting only the neck seemed difficult.

‘He can pull off something that difficult.’