CH 157.1

Chapter 157.1: Operation Crossing The Bridge 2

「――『Air Sagitta』」

The fired wind blade exploded upon touching the dry ground, scattering clouds of dust… but that was all it did.

「Not good. This is no longer the level of smokescreen.」

The easiest way to protect ourselves from the sniper was by finding a shelter to hide.

The arrows fired by Sakurai-kun weren’t unmanned drones or guided missiles which could track the target with sonar or thermograph. In short, disturbing his vision with some sort of smokescreen should be enough to drop the precision of his aim.

Normally, hitting a target that couldn’t be seen was an impossible feat even for a bow master, but the owner of 『Archer』 vocation had that kind of ability. They could hit unseen targets to a certain extent with their clairvoyance-like ability.

「Yup, Shimokawa’s 『Aqua Mist』 is an amazing magic after all.」

It was an excellent magic that would allow us to get out of a predicament. Since 『Aqua Mist』 instantly covered wide area upon casting, it was an extremely outstanding magic. As if that wasn’t enough, the mist would rob everyone save its caster’s field of vision.

Since it took a lot of time just to create one smokescreen, it was basically impossible without skill or magic. Even though I tried to fire 『Air Sagitta』 to create cloud of dust, it wasn’t thick enough to hide a human figure and easily scattered away.

If we wanted to create a real smokescreen, an instrument that would keep producing smoke was a must.

「Should I make smoke grenade in this dungeon?」

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I could create such an instrument in a crafting game, but creating it in REAL LIFE was quite a challenge. I mean, it was literally impossible seeing that I didn’t even know its materials, the tools needed, and manufacturing process.

「I can extract oil for torch but that alone is far from enough…」

I returned towards the plaza while pondering over such matters.

The current status of this fairy plaza was as follows: the area around the water fountain had become the bathroom and Mei-chan’s kitchen, the area around the trees bedroom complete with suspended hammock, and lastly, the area around the entrance a sort of storage for various kinds of loots and materials.

I gathered many ingredients from around this area, trying to think of a new plan by using these materials to defeat the sniper, Sakurai. Even though the ruined city was no different from the jungle after being abandoned for thousands years, we could actually harvest original materials of this area.

Even though we had gathered all kinds of materials and treasure boxes from around this area, its effects were insignificant. The most it did was enrich our daily diets. Currently, Mei-chan was busy preparing her original spice blend made from a combination of several herbs. I could look forward to tonight’s dinner.

「Haah… We should be able to create new items and weapons with this 『Simple Alchemy Formation』.」

Well, I guess I was asking for the impossible. Anyhow, I guess I have to make full use of what we have in our hands.

On the other hand, if we’re talking about something special I had in my hand right now… Uhm, maybe it was that 『Summoner’s Skull』 which I had kept in different place.

「Maybe I need to add this skull into Rem in order to learn summoning skill…」

That’s a bit impossible.

Let’s try it for the time being. NO. Well, this is indeed the right time to test this skull but, I definitely won’t do that. I mean, I was bewildered upon finding out that I don’t want to turn Rem into my guinea pig.

「Well, maybe I should just destroy this useless skull then.」

I mean, 『Air Sagitta』 was more useful.

A flash of insight suddenly came upon me when I gripped the cane in frustration.

「This skull seems like a perfect fit for this cane.」

I just felt that way when I compared the wind elemental’s sphere fitted on the cane with the skull.

Regarding the size, though the 『Summoner’s Skull』, which was originally a human skull, was bigger, it was a perfect fit if I placed it inside the bird claw-like ornament at the tip of the cane.

「No, I mean, it’s way too simple.」

Well, since there was nothing to lose from trying, I detached the wind sphere from the bird’s claws ornament and replaced it with the skull.

The white skull fitted perfectly into the grasp of the claw when I fitted it in. In addition, it didn’t get disconnected when I swung the cane lightly. Yup, it was a perfect fit.

「 Come forth, salamander!」

I struck an extremely embarrassing pose as I swung the cane.

But absolutely nothing happened.

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「Ri~gh—!?」

『Fool’s Cane』: The fool swinging the cane meaninglessly wouldn’t be able to unravel the miracle of the saint, it’s just an ordinary swing.

I felt a weak current running into my brain. This had happened before, but now I could see it.

「T-This is a new… curse.」

The same thing happened whenever I received a new curse that wasn’t granted directly by Ruinhilde-sama. Like when I received 『Black Blood』 or 『Vessel of Poison』. It was usually the kind of curse that directly altered my own flesh.

But what I experienced just now was a reaction when I swung the cane, not related to my flesh but my movement.

Surely, shamans had this image of equipping themself with cane like a wizard or sorcerer, and if my memory serves me right, this was the first time I swung a cane.

「Could it be that shaking 『The Fool’s Cane』 isn’t the only way to activate it…」

Even if I’ve limited way in my hands, please spare me from some sort of hidden skill or whatever it was, Ruinhilde-sama. I mean, I was the kind of child who was planning ahead after I had a full grasp of my own ability rather than relying on some sort of awakening like the fighter from a vegetable planet.

「Oh whatever. ignoring the usual wacky flavor text, I guess I’ve to try the power of this cane.」

And then, I struck into a pose again and shouted like before.

「 Come forth, salamander!」

But absolutely nothing happened.

Tch, as expected, summoning a salamander was pretty much impossible huh. I mean, it’s okay even if the one who got summoned was that electric black T-Rex. I guess summoning such a powerful monster without any cost was practically impossible.

「Anything is fine! C’mon, show your worth as summoner’s skull!」

When I swung the cane wildly――

「Uwa, what the heck… this guy actually sucked my mana…」

When I roused myself to recreate Rem, suddenly, I felt the sensation of mana being drained from my body. When I used my curse, it felt like the mana was sucked from my entire body but now, it was clearly sucked from my hand, and that large quantity of mana was flowing into the cane.

And just like that, my mana became the source to invoke the 『Fool’s Cane』.

To be exact, it created a magic circle on its own.

It was a magic circle that I had never seen before. It was around one meter in diameter, the pattern and letters written inside weren’t that complex either. It was pretty simple to the point that even I could understand it. This magic circle wasn’t written with a line of light, it looked like it was written with blood, like some sort of curse.

And that eerie magic circle kept appearing, one, two, three… and finally stopped after the thirty magic circles had formed.

And then, after all those magic circles appeared together, a figure formed inside.

「T-This is…」

The inside of the magic circle appeared to be similar to 『Vile’s Clay Doll』, a whirling of chaos. The figure that appeared from inside like a drunk man was… a skeleton.

It was a black, weak skeleton similar to the early form of Rem. It was about as tall as me, its frail-looking body enough to convince me about its low specs.

But there were thirty of them appearing together from thirty magic circles. All thirty black skeletons were lining up in front of me.

「Oooh, this is the first time I’ve gathered so many allies. Maybe this is the true power of a summoner.」