Chapter 9.
The First Assault (1)
In front of the barrier surrounding the Tower.
The clearing, packed since early morning with soldiers and adventurers, fell silent as a black carriage rolled to a stop.
The first to move was the captain of the guard.
True to her orc bloodline, she was twice the size of an ordinary person, yet she sprinted toward the carriage with astonishing speed and came to a halt before it.
The Adventurers’ Guild Master hurried after her in a panic.
Unlike the two tense officials, the Lord only emerged from the carriage after everyone else had stepped out.
Her gaze slowly swept across the ranks of soldiers and adventurers.
Is something bothering her?
The guard captain discreetly wiped her damp palms on her trousers, nervously watching for a reaction.
Fortunately, nothing seemed seriously amiss. With a faint smile, the Lord lightly patted her on the arm.
“You’ve done well, Tarlak.”
The Lord… knows my name…?
Captain Tarlak froze in surprise but instinctively bowed her head.
“It was only my duty.”
Unlike Tarlak, the Guild Master received nothing but criticism.
“I see some disrespectful eyes among them. Is this the competent work you were so confident in?”
“N-No! Absolutely not! I’ll make sure they’re properly disciplined!”
He had begged desperately for this opportunity—not for money or rewards, only for the chance to let the guild help the territory.
Terrified, the Guild Master bowed repeatedly.
The adventurers assigned to the defense squad hurriedly lowered their eyes.
They hadn’t even caused trouble yet.
Simply showing dissatisfaction had nearly earned them expulsion.
If they pushed any further, they might not just be expelled from the territory—they might be expelled from the world entirely.
I only wanted to be on the infiltration team… How did it end up like this…?
Damn it. Why does a Lord care about something this trivial?
The adventurers chosen for the infiltration team glared fiercely at them.
They didn’t care about the advance payment or the reward.
But the thought that everyone could have been thrown out and their trapped companions abandoned because of a few troublemakers filled them with resentment.
The atmosphere’s not bad.
Camellia quietly observed the tension lingering among the adventurers and nodded inwardly.
Whether they obeyed out of fear or because they wanted to prove they weren’t like those fools, they looked ready to work seriously.
That would do.
“As soon as preparations are complete, we enter immediately. Check your equipment.”
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Not long afterward, the sun rose.
For nocturnal monsters like goblins and gnolls, it was time to sleep.
Standing before the opaque barrier, Camellia spoke.
“Open it.”
The mages nervously chanted their spells, temporarily parting a section of the barrier to create a small opening.
Rohengrin, the tank, entered first.
Next came Natanel, the healer.
Camellia and Jehar followed behind.
Immediately, Camellia opened her map.
Because it was unexplored territory, only her current position appeared while everything else remained black.
It didn’t matter.
I already memorized the entire map.
She quickly placed markers on the black map where the Goblin King and the Gnoll Lord patrolled.
Then she gave her orders.
“We’re moving. Rohengrin, north.”
Without a word, Rohengrin began walking.
Even while they stayed tightly grouped together, Camellia continued giving quiet instructions.
“Go around the wall.”
“Left.”
“Wait.”
Each command guided them perfectly around monster patrols or into safe paths.
They had layered themselves with perception-reducing magic, but even so…
This was far too easy.
Natanel finally leaned over and whispered into her ear.
“My employer… do you happen to possess some kind of foresight magic?”
Truthfully, even Camellia was surprised.
She hadn’t realized she remembered every path and monster location this perfectly.
She didn’t even have to consciously recall them.
The knowledge came as naturally as breathing.
It was the state one reached after playing the same game for far too many hours.
A stealth mission… maybe we didn’t even need the concealment spells?
She regretted it for a moment.
But a ruler never dwelled on the past.
Right then, she spotted their target.
The Gnoll Lord.
Like all gnolls, it resembled a walking hyena.
As a Named Monster, it stood nearly three meters tall and wore a battered horned helmet.
Apparently on patrol, it lumbered along while occasionally glancing around.
As expected. He’s alone.
Unlike the Goblin King, who always remained surrounded by followers, the Gnoll Lord preferred wandering alone.
Thanks to its Diurnal trait, it remained active for long periods even during the day when most monsters slept.
That had led it to this perfect location.
Camellia gestured toward Jehar behind her.
A quiet chant echoed.
A curse activated.
Its effects:
Movement Speed Down.
All Resistances Down.
She flicked her fingers again.
This time Natanel invoked a miracle.
Another massive resistance reduction against evil creatures.
Grr…?
The Gnoll Lord sensed something strange and quickly looked around.
But by the time it noticed—
It was already too late.
“Beast.”
“Look at me.”
Camellia dismissed the perception-reducing spell surrounding herself and stepped into the Gnoll Lord’s sight.
Then she activated Domination.
“From this moment onward, the enemies of you and your entire race are the goblins.”
“Exterminate every last one of them.”
[Camellia Lord uses Domination on Gnoll Lord Nefitata.]
Success: 8
Thanks to the overwhelming resistance debuffs they had stacked beforehand, the success rate had become absurdly high.
The outcome was practically decided before the dice could even roll.
Without another glance, Camellia calmly stepped away.
GRRRR… GRAAAAH!!
Moments later, the Gnoll Lord lost itself to the effects of Domination and thundered toward the goblin camp.
Camellia motioned to the others.
“Let’s follow.”
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Using Domination on the Goblin King proved even easier.
The Gnoll Lord had already thrown the camp into complete chaos.
Dragged awake by the rampaging assault, the Goblin King was dominated before it even had time to retaliate.
SKREEEE! KIIIT!
GRAAAAH!!
The two leaders summoned all of their followers and threw themselves into a savage battle.
Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan.
The only unexpected problem…
Was that Camellia’s physical condition was even worse than she’d anticipated.
Th-This is exhausting…
Even with Natanel continuously refreshing his blessings, running a few times had completely drained her stamina.
She managed to suppress the trembling in her legs through sheer willpower…
But she couldn’t stop the cold sweat pouring down her face.
Jehar hurried over, pulling out a mint-scented handkerchief to gently wipe the sweat from her forehead.
“My Lady… are you alright?”
“…I’m fine.”
She wasn’t.
Not even close.
But there was no time to rest.
While the monsters remained occupied fighting each other under Domination, they had to enter the Tower and restore the seal.
“When enough monsters have left the Tower…”
“Contact the infiltration team.”
“Understood.”
“Tell them to search the locations I specified first.”
“Yes.”
Looks like we’ll save more adventurers than I expected.
If those trapped on the middle floors managed to descend and join them, things would become even easier.
We’re almost there.
Once the seal is restored… it’s over.
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Several hours later…
The gnolls and goblins, driven into a frenzy by their battle, began calling reinforcements from inside the Tower.
When the flood of monsters finally slowed to a trickle, Jehar immediately cast a messenger spell.
Not long afterward, the adventurers entered through the opened barrier.
The moment they witnessed monsters slaughtering each other, they were dumbfounded.
So there really is magic that can make monsters fight each other…?
It’s kind of terrifying… but incredible.
When they’d first heard the strategy, they’d only half believed it.
Yet here it was before their eyes.
Since the monsters were completely occupied attacking one another, the adventurers advanced toward the Tower with surprising ease.
Camellia, who had been waiting nearby, dispelled her camouflage spell and revealed herself.
“Proceed inside immediately.”
“Y-Yes!”
Although the gate—which should have glowed blue—now writhed with a sinister crimson light due to the broken seal, the adventurers entered without hesitation.
Hopefully the first group clears out whatever monsters remain inside.
Thinking that, Camellia gave another order.
“We’re going in as well.”
Without hesitation, her party stepped through the gate.
Camellia followed behind them, walking into the crimson portal.
A strange light suddenly engulfed her.
Then a holographic window appeared.
[Loading… 34%]
[Tip: The Tower is filled with danger and mystery. Do not linger inside for too long.
If you gaze too deeply into the Tower…
the Grim Reaper will begin to see you as well…]
Seriously? I still have to watch this damned loading bar here too?
Her disbelief lasted only a moment.
The light flashed brilliantly once before fading away.
A vast underground labyrinth spread out before her.
They had arrived on the first floor of the Tower.
