IWRIT-09

Chapter 9 – The First Expedition (1)

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Before the barrier surrounding the Tower…

The open field was already packed with soldiers and adventurers despite the early hour when a black carriage rolled to a stop.

The first to move was the captain of the city guard.

True to her orcish heritage, she was twice the size of an ordinary person.

Yet she all but flew toward the carriage.

The Guild Master hurried after her in a panic.

Unlike the visibly tense pair…

The Lord didn’t step out until everyone else had already disembarked.

Her gaze slowly swept across the neatly assembled soldiers and adventurers.

A problem…?

The guard captain discreetly wiped her damp palms against her trousers as she anxiously watched the Lord’s expression.

Fortunately…

Camellia simply smiled faintly before patting her on the arm.

“Well done, Tarlak.”

…The Lord knows my name?

Captain Tarlak froze in surprise.

Even so, long-trained instinct took over, and she immediately lowered her head.

“It was only my duty, my Lord.”

Unlike the captain, however…

The Guild Master received nothing but criticism.

“I see some eyes still filled with insolence.”

“Is this the competence you were so confident in?”

“N-No, my Lord!”

“Absolutely not!”

“I’ll make certain they understand their place!”

He no longer cared about money.

Nor rewards.

He had begged for one last chance simply to help the domain.

At his frantic bowing, the adventurers assigned to the defense team hurriedly lowered their eyes.

They hadn’t even done anything yet.

Simply showing signs of resisting orders had nearly gotten the entire guild expelled.

If they pushed any further…

They might find themselves expelled from more than just the territory.

I only wanted to be assigned to the infiltration team…

How the hell did it end up like this…?

Seriously? She’s the Lord, and she’s paying attention to something this petty?

The adventurers assigned to the infiltration team glared viciously at them.

The advance payment…

The reward…

None of that mattered anymore.

The thought that they might’ve lost both the contract and their companions because of those idiots was enough to make forgiveness impossible.

Good.

The atmosphere’s just right.

Camellia quietly observed the tension lingering among the adventurers with satisfaction.

Whether out of fear…

Or because they wanted to prove they weren’t like those fools…

Either way…

They looked ready to carry out their orders without complaint.

That would do nicely.

“As soon as preparations are complete, we enter.”

“Check your equipment.”

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Not long afterward…

The sun rose.

It was time for the nocturnal goblins and gnolls to sleep.

Standing before the opaque barrier, Camellia gave a single order.

“Open it.”

The waiting mages hurriedly began chanting.

A section of the barrier dissolved, creating a narrow passage.

Rohengrin, the party’s tank, entered first.

Netanel, the healer, followed.

Then came Camellia…

With Jehar bringing up the rear.

The moment she stepped inside…

Camellia opened her map.

The unexplored area remained completely black, with only her current position visible.

That wasn’t a problem.

I’ve memorized the entire map anyway.

She quickly marked the patrol routes of the Gnoll Warlord and the Goblin King before giving her next command.

“We’re moving.”

“Rohengrin.”

“North.”

Without a word…

Rohengrin immediately obeyed.

As the four advanced in close formation…

Camellia continued issuing quiet instructions.

“Go around the wall.”

“Left.”

“Wait.”

Each order guided them flawlessly around wandering monsters or through safe passages.

They were already covered in layers of detection-reduction magic.

Even so…

It almost felt absurdly easy.

Eventually…

Even Netanel couldn’t help whispering into her ear.

“My employer…”

“Do you happen to possess some sort of precognition magic?”

To be honest…

Even Camellia was surprised.

She hadn’t realized she’d memorized the dungeon’s layout and every monster patrol route this perfectly.

She wasn’t forcing herself to remember.

The knowledge simply surfaced as naturally as breathing.

It was the sort of enlightenment achieved only after spending far too many hours playing the same game.

…Could we have just walked through without stealth?

She regretted it for a moment.

But a Lord didn’t dwell on the past.

Right then…

They spotted their target.

The Gnoll Warlord.

Like every gnoll…

It resembled a walking hyena.

As a Named Monster, however…

It stood nearly three meters tall.

A dented horned helmet rested upon its head.

Apparently out on patrol…

The creature lumbered forward, occasionally glancing around.

Just as expected.

It’s alone.

Unlike the Goblin King, who constantly remained surrounded by followers…

The Gnoll Warlord preferred to travel by itself.

It also possessed the Diurnal trait.

Even during the daytime, when most monsters slept…

It continued wandering for quite some time.

Which made this…

The perfect opportunity.

Camellia gestured toward Jehar behind her.

A quiet chant echoed.

A curse settled upon the monster.

Its movement speed decreased.

Its resistances plummeted.

Camellia flicked her fingers again.

This time…

Netanel called upon a miracle.

A blessing that further reduced all resistances against holy power for evil creatures.

“Grrr…?”

Sensing something was wrong…

The Gnoll Warlord abruptly looked around.

Too late.

“Beast.”

“Look at me.”

Camellia dispelled the concealment magic surrounding herself and stepped directly before the monster.

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 has used Domination on ‘Gnoll Warlord Nepitata.’]

Success: 8

Thanks to the overwhelming stack of debuffs…

Its resistance had fallen to such an absurd degree that the outcome had practically been decided before the dice were even rolled.

Without another glance…

Camellia calmly stepped back.

“Grrr…”

“…GRAAAAAAH!”

Moments later…

Driven into madness by Domination…

The Gnoll Warlord thundered toward the goblin territory.

Camellia motioned to the others.

“Let’s follow.”

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Using Domination on the Goblin King proved even easier.

Thanks to the havoc the Gnoll Warlord had unleashed.

Dragged from its sleep and attacked without warning…

The Goblin King never even had a chance to resist before falling under her control.

“SKREEEE!”

“ROOOAAAR!”

The two Named Monsters rallied their followers…

Then immediately threw themselves into a chaotic battle.

Everything…

Was proceeding exactly according to plan.

The only unexpected problem…

Was Camellia herself.

I-I’m exhausted…

Even with multiple blessings strengthening her body…

Just running around a few times had completely drained her stamina.

She somehow forced her trembling legs to keep moving through sheer willpower.

But she couldn’t stop the cold sweat streaming down her face.

Jehar hurried over in a panic.

Taking out a mint-scented handkerchief…

He gently wiped the sweat from her brow.

“My Lady…”

“Are you all right?”

“…I’m fine.”

She wasn’t.

Not even close.

But there wasn’t time to rest.

While the monsters remained occupied fighting one another…

She had to enter the Tower and repair the seal.

“When enough monsters have emerged from inside…”

“Notify the infiltration team.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“And tell them to search the locations I marked first.”

“Understood.”

Looks like we’ll rescue more adventurers than I expected.

If the adventurers trapped on the middle floors managed to make their way down and join them…

Everything would become even easier.

We’re almost there.

Repair the seal…

And it’s over.

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Several hours later…

The enraged gnolls and goblins had become so consumed by battle that they began calling for reinforcements from inside the Tower.

Eventually…

The flood of monsters slowed to a trickle.

Jehar immediately cast his messenger spell.

Not long afterward…

The adventurers entered through the opened barrier.

The moment they saw monsters slaughtering one another…

They froze in astonishment.

So magic that makes monsters fight each other really exists…?

It’s honestly terrifying…

But that’s incredible.

When the strategy had first been explained…

Most of them had been skeptical.

None of them had expected such magic to actually exist.

With the monsters completely preoccupied with killing one another…

The adventurers reached the Tower with remarkable ease.

Waiting there…

Camellia dismissed her disguise spell and stepped into view.

“Enter immediately.”

“Y-Yes!”

Even though the gate—which should have glowed blue—was now pulsating with an ominous crimson light due to the broken seal…

The adventurers rushed inside without hesitation.

Hopefully the ones who entered first will clear out the remaining monsters.

Thinking that…

Camellia gave another order.

“We’re going in as well.”

Without hesitation…

Her companions stepped through the gate.

Camellia followed behind them…

And pushed herself into the crimson portal.

A strange light suddenly enveloped her.

Then…

A translucent window appeared before her.

[Loading… 34%]

[Tip: The Tower is a place filled with danger and mystery. Do not linger within it for too long.
If you stare too deeply into the Tower… the Grim Reaper will eventually begin staring back at you.]

…Seriously?

I still have to sit through this damn loading bar even in real life?

The absurdity only lasted a moment.

The brilliant light flashed once…

Then faded.

A vast underground passage stretched out before her.

They had arrived…

On the First Floor of the Tower.