chapter 09

The First Raid (1)

In front of the barrier surrounding the Tower.

A black carriage rolled into the clearing, which was already packed with soldiers and adventurers gathered since early morning.

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

True to her orc heritage, she was twice the size of most people, yet she practically flew as she rushed to stand before the carriage.

The Adventurers’ Guild Master hurried after her in a panic.

Unlike the two nervous officials, the lord only appeared leisurely after everyone in the carriage had stepped out.

Her gaze swept across the soldiers and adventurers lined up in formation, tracing a slow arc.

“Is there something she doesn’t like?”

The guard captain discreetly wiped her damp palms against her trousers and watched for any reaction.

Fortunately, there seemed to be no major issue. The lord smiled lightly and patted her on the arm.

“Good work, Tarlak.”

“The lord knows my name…?”

Guard Captain Tarlak was startled, but years of habit made her bow immediately.

“It was only my duty.”

Unlike Tarlak, who received praise, the Guild Master was greeted with nothing but criticism.

“I see some insolent eyes mixed in with the crowd. Is this the competence you were so confident about?”

“N-No! Absolutely not! I’ll make sure they understand!”

He had practically begged for this opportunity, insisting that he needed no payment or reward and only wanted to help the territory.

The horrified Guild Master bowed repeatedly, and the adventurers assigned to the defense squad quickly lowered their eyes.

They hadn’t even caused trouble yet, merely looked like they might object, and already the threat of expulsion had appeared.

If they pushed any further, they might not just be expelled from the territory—they might be expelled from the world altogether.

“I only wanted to join the infiltration team. How did this happen…?”

“Damn it. Why does a lord care about something this petty?”

The adventurers assigned to the infiltration squad glared fiercely at them.

They didn’t care about contract fees or rewards.

But thinking that they could have lost comrades because of these fools made them furious.

“The atmosphere isn’t bad.”

Camellia was satisfied as she sensed the tension drifting among the adventurers.

Whether out of fear or from a desire to prove they were different from those pathetic men, everyone looked eager to do exactly as they were told.

That made the operation worth attempting.

“We move in as soon as preparations are complete. Check your equipment.”

Some time later, 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 spells, partially releasing the barrier and creating a small doorway.

Rohengrin, the tank, entered first.

The healer Netanel followed.

Then came Camellia and Jehar.

Camellia immediately opened her map window.

Since this was unexplored territory, only her current location was displayed while everything else remained black.

But that wasn’t a problem.

“I’ve memorized the entire map anyway.”

On the dark map, she quickly placed markers showing the roaming routes of the Gnoll Lord and Goblin King.

Then she issued her orders.

“We move. Rohengrin, north.”

Without question, Rohengrin began walking.

Even as they traveled close together, Camellia continued giving quiet instructions.

“Go around the wall.”

“Left.”

“Wait.”

Each time, they miraculously avoided monster patrols or slipped through safe routes.

They had layered themselves with detection-reduction magic, but even so, things were going far too smoothly.

Eventually Netanel couldn’t hold back and whispered into her ear.

“Employer… do you happen to know some kind of foresight magic?”

Truthfully, Camellia herself was surprised.

She hadn’t expected to remember every route and monster location this perfectly.

She didn’t even have to struggle to recall them.

The knowledge simply came naturally, as effortlessly as breathing.

One could call it the state of complete unity that comes from playing a game for far too long.

“Did we even need the infiltration plan…?”

She felt a slight twinge of regret, but a lord did not dwell on the past.

At that moment, they 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 dented horned helmet.

Apparently on patrol, it trudged along while occasionally scanning its surroundings.

“Alone, just as expected.”

Unlike the Goblin King, who always stayed among his followers, the Gnoll Lord preferred to move alone.

It also possessed the Diurnal trait, meaning it wandered around even during the daytime when most monsters slept.

As a result, they had encountered it in the perfect location.

Camellia gestured toward Jehar behind her.

A quiet chant sounded.

A curse activated.

Movement speed reduction.

Resistance reduction.

When Camellia motioned again, Netanel invoked a miracle.

A resistance-reduction effect targeting evil creatures.

[Grrr…?]

Sensing something wrong, the Gnoll Lord suddenly looked around.

But by the time it noticed, it was already too late.

“Beast. Look at me.”

Camellia stepped before the Gnoll Lord, dismissing the perception-reduction magic surrounding her.

Then she activated Domination.

“From this moment on, the enemies of you and your race are the goblins. Exterminate every goblin you find.”

[Camellia Lord uses Domination on Gnoll Lord Nephitata.]

Success: 8

Perhaps because they had piled on so many debuffs beforehand, reducing its resistances to absurd levels, the success rate was ridiculously high.

The result had practically been decided before the dice were even rolled.

Camellia calmly stepped back.

[Grrrk… grrrk… KRAAAAH!]

Before long, the Gnoll Lord went berserk under the influence of Domination and thundered toward the goblin territory.

Camellia signaled her companions.

“Let’s follow.”

Using Domination on the Goblin King was even easier.

The Gnoll Lord was literally rampaging through everything in sight.

The Goblin King had barely woken up before disaster struck.

Before it even had a chance to retaliate, it too fell under Domination.

[Kiiiik! Kiit!]

[KRAAAAH!]

The two monsters dragged their subordinates into the conflict and began fighting like mad.

Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

The only unexpected problem was how much worse Camellia’s stamina was than she had anticipated.

“T-This is exhausting…”

Even with blessings continuously supporting her, a few short bursts of running had drained her completely.

She managed to suppress the trembling in her legs through sheer willpower, but she couldn’t stop the cold sweat pouring down her body.

Jehar hurriedly took out a mint-scented handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her face.

“My Lady, will you be alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

She absolutely was not fine.

But there was no time to rest.

While the monsters remained occupied by Domination, they needed to enter the Tower and repair the seal.

“When enough monsters have been lured out from inside the Tower, contact the infiltration team.”

“Yes.”

“And tell them to prioritize searching the locations I mentioned.”

“Understood.”

It looked like they would be able to rescue more adventurers than expected.

Things would become even easier once the adventurers trapped on the middle floors came down and joined them.

They were almost done.

All that remained was fixing the seal.

Several hours later.

The gnolls and goblins, worked into a frenzy by the fighting, began calling out their comrades from inside the Tower.

When the stream of monsters pouring out began to thin, Jehar quickly cast a messenger spell.

Not long afterward, the adventurers entered through the opened barrier.

The sight of monsters fighting one another left them stunned.

“So magic that makes monsters fight each other really exists?”

“It’s a little terrifying… but incredible.”

They had been skeptical during the briefing, but apparently such magic truly existed.

Since the monsters were too busy beating each other senseless, the adventurers approached the Tower with ease.

Camellia, who had been waiting nearby, dismissed her disguise spell and revealed herself.

“Proceed immediately.”

“Y-Yes!”

Even though the gate should have been glowing blue and was instead churning with ominous crimson-black energy due to the broken seal, the adventurers charged into the Tower without hesitation.

Hopefully the first group clears out the remaining monsters.

Thinking so, Camellia gave another command.

“We’re going in as well.”

Without a word, her party stepped through the gate.

Camellia followed them into the crimson, rippling portal.

A strange light suddenly enveloped her.

Then a holographic window appeared.

[Loading… 34%]

[Tip: The Tower is filled with danger and mystery. Do not stay too long.

If you stare too deeply into the Tower, the ‘Grim Reaper’ will also be able to see you…]

“I have to look at this damn loading bar here too?”

Her disbelief lasted only a moment.

The light flashed brilliantly once before fading.

Then a vast underground passage appeared before her.

They had arrived on the first floor of the Tower.