New chapter of Plant Magic Lord is out! (4/10)

 

 

 

What Was Underground

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

After finishing our preparations, we entered the underground passage. I stood in the front row of the team, right behind Stella.

This was a good sense of tension. A quiet fighting spirit was being released from Stella. Her weapons were dual bats, though. Also, next to Stella was Wood. He was positioned as a reserve in case of emergency. Although with only torches and cockatrice hats, it was still dark down here.

“I will add more light.” (Elt)

I concentrated my mana and chanted.

[Moon-viewing Moss]

Moss that emitted a bluish-white light spread throughout the passage. This made things much easier to see.

“Leave the rear to me.” (Adventurer)

The adventurer in his thirties bowed and moved to the back. With this, the formation was complete. The Lion Knight roamed a specific area of the underground passage. And for now, in order to approach Zanzas, we had no choice but to defeat the Lion Knight.

It had been a while since I entered the underground passage, but it was quite cold. We slowly, carefully, advanced forward without rushing.

“…The time has come.” (Stella)

When Stella said that, she stopped moving. We also stopped at that spot and stepped back a little. This was a one-on-one duel. A direct clash using everything one had.

“Fuu…” (Stella)

Stella let out a deep breath and took a stance with her bats. One in each hand, a dual-wielding style that no one had probably ever used seriously before. Normally, challenging an A-rank monster with two wooden sticks would be suicidal. However, Stella had glorious victories until now and a clear chance of winning. Plus. the Stella who now stood ready for the decisive battle was filled with so much elegance and grace that it was almost terrifying.

To compare, she looked exactly like a war maiden who had descended to the battlefield. She was beautiful as she stood illuminated in the darkness of the corridor.

Hmm… If only she was not holding the bats I made, and the lighting was not from the cockatrice hat… No, I should stop saying that.

“It is already right there.” (Stella)

Right after Stella said that, the Lion Knight could be faintly seen deep in the underground passage.

Whoa… This mana is certainly incredible.

Actually, this was my first time seeing it directly. Even though only the head and upper body were visible several dozen meters ahead, I could feel the tingling sensation of its mana.

I see, it definitely had more attack power than the Flower General.

The tension of the adventurers naturally increased.

“…Kaa-sama, do your best, piyo!” (Dia)

Dia’s encouragement echoed from the middle row of the team.

“Yes…!!” (Stella)

As she replied, a golden aura rose from Stella’s entire body. [Divine Incarnation], the highest class of enhancement magic. It greatly consumed both stamina and mana, but its effectiveness was certain. Stella did not intend to prolong the fight. One pitch. She intended to win with the first strike.

When the Lion Knight acknowledged us, it immediately entered an attacking stance. Its mana surged further, as if a raging storm. According to the reports, once it reached this point, it barely hesitated before attacking. I could feel its mana, increased to a terrifying level, being aimed at us.

*Bachi!!*

In an instant, the passage turned white. The Lion Knight had released a lightning ball.

At that moment, I definitely saw it. The lightning ball was sharp like a bolt and flew straight toward Stella. Then, right in front of Stella, the lightning ball split when it was only a few meters away. It was a perfect surprise attack. If someone had not heard about it beforehand, there was no way to react.

While glowing in gold, Stella stepped forward with force. Then, she swung as she released her power all at once,. Even though it was dual-wielding, the swing was at godspeed. Twisting her waist, she skillfully controlled the two bats, striking the lightning balls precisely.

*Bachi, bachii!!*

Two lightning balls were deflected.

I could not see everything with my eyes, but Stella released her left-hand Fragarach. The two lightning balls, now joined together, were returned toward the Lion Knight.

*Baki!!*

With an especially loud sound, the lightning balls hit the Lion Knight. Just as aimed, they struck the firing port on its head. It looked like a perfect hit. Then, the golden aura had disappeared from Stella. It seemed that the Lion Knight had consumed a great deal of mana from that single strike.

“Gulp…” (Elt)

For several seconds, mana crackled from the Lion Knight. However, its mana did not increase further. The Lion Knight staggered and then fell forward.

*Zuuuunn*

With a loud noise, it collapsed and stopped moving.

“We did it, piyo!?” (Dia)

“Dia, that line…” (Stella)

Stella caught her breath and quickly picked up her bats. She looked somewhat fatigued but seemed okay. That strike was nothing less than a divine skill. The adventurers who saw it shouted with joy.

““Uooooo!!”” (Adventurers)

Now that I think about it, during the Flower General fight, everyone moved quite separately. It might have been a while since everyone saw Stella’s full power.

“…I do not sense any mana anymore.” (Elt)

“That’s right, it is like the lion statue.” (Stella)

In other words, we had defeated it.

“Elt-sama, we did it…!” (Stella)

“Yes, really… well done.” (Elt)

“Hehe.” (Stella)

I high-fived Stella. For now, we had removed the obstacle.

 

—

 

We left the Lion Knight where it fell and proceeded further inside. The passage did not change. It was still marble.

“But… it is slightly sloped.” (Elt)

It might be just a feeling, but I sensed it. The glowing moss also seemed to be growing at an angle. While having caught her breath, Stella nodded.

“Yes, it is gradually descending. I can feel that too.” (Stella)

For now, we had no choice but to follow the path. According to the map, there was no exit ahead. This was completely unknown territory.

“I wonder what will appear next… hm?” (Elt)

“Oh…?” (Stella)

Stella and I noticed at the same time. From beyond the darkness, there was a faint presence…

*Peta peta*

It was a sound that seemed somewhat familiar, or perhaps not. As we stayed alert, a voice came from deeper in the passage.

“Whoa, the Lion-san is gone!” (??)

“Piyo.” (??)

“This might be bad!” (??)

“Piyo, piyo!” (??)

“There is a presence of companions!? Then, is it safe?” (??)

The voice was childish, and there was the piyo piyo call of the cockatrice heard every day.

“…No way.” (Elt)

The passage glowed sharply. It seemed the speaker had emitted the light. So bright… this was the second time.

“Oh, there are so many!” (Voice)

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I immediately understood who they were.

A cockatrice with glowing eyes. Next to it, a Dryad similar to Tetetoka with a black rose on its head. These two were the speakers.

“They are glowing, piyo…!?” (Dia)

There had been no records of human passage in this underground corridor for several hundred years. For that reason, it seemed there were indigenous people lived underground.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)