There was no difficulty with the plan. In truth, even if it were difficult, Angie had no reason to refuse.
Even if it were hard, she wouldn’t refuse, and since the plan itself was rather simple, Angie silently followed along. Although the plan was deeply disagreeable and unpleasant, there was no way the girl could reject Aslan’s orders.
“The priest of the earth-shattering giant…?”
Angie’s role was simple: fold her arms and maintain an attitude that looked as priestly as possible. Regardless of how it actually appeared, Angie had to play the part of a priest.
The plan was straightforward: posing as a symbol of power greater than any veteran—a priest—and using that guise to earn trust before taking on the task of exterminating the blood lice.
For this plan, Aslan moved into action.
“Yes, the most promising individual currently receiving attention within the sect—Lady Angela. Ideally, someone of her standing shouldn’t involve themselves in such lowly matters, but the sect desires territorial expansion into Randy Canyon.”
Aslan pointed politely at Angie while responding to the bandit leader’s puzzled question, and Angie lifted her chin to display arrogance.
“This esteemed figure wields the power of destruction like any other priest of the earth-shattering giant. A single stomp of their foot could destroy everything around them. And they have graciously offered to use this precious power for your sake.”
Angie nodded slightly as if in agreement. Her confidence in posturing made her performance quite convincing.
Aslan glanced briefly at Angie’s haughty demeanor and added,
“You must know by now that engaging in prolonged battles or defensive actions against the blood lice isn’t wise. Those creatures can multiply endlessly from just one corpse.”
“…Yeah, sure. So what do you want to do about it?”
The bandit leader continued to eye Angie and Aslan suspiciously, but Aslan explained without showing any concern under his gaze.
“We’re going after the swarm mother.”
“…Swarm mother? What’s that?”
Unfamiliar with blood lice, the bandit leader asked, prompting Aslan to feign surprise and explain.
“The queen who controls the blood lice. She oversees all the blood lice in this area and governs their very consciousness.”
In reality, it was more complex.
To put it simply, the blood lice were parts of a massive swarm organism, and the swarm mother was its brain and heart. Through the senses and perspectives of the blood lice, the swarm mother controlled them simultaneously.
Just as a typical organism’s actions are controlled by the brain, the blood lice moved according to the thoughts and actions of the swarm mother.
But sharing such intricate details would serve no purpose and only deepen misconceptions about the blood lice. Since Aslan didn’t require full cooperation or trust, he omitted them.
“Once the swarm mother is eliminated, the blood lice will disintegrate. Due to her being the core of the swarm, losing her causes the blood lice to perish shortly afterward.”
Of course, this information was a lie, but the bandit leader, unaware of blood lice, accepted it without suspicion.
While processing this information, the bandit leader thought something felt off. When his skeptical gaze turned toward Angie, she internally panicked despite maintaining her arrogant expression. Had she been found out?
“This kid is a priest of the giants…?”
A crack appeared in Angie’s composure. Aslan tried to intervene preemptively but…
“Isn’t she too short to be a giant?”
“What about this brat?”
Angie forgot her act of arrogance, baring her teeth and growling. From her clenched fists came an unnatural crunching sound not typically heard from human hands.
The bandit leader’s eyes followed the sound, freezing momentarily.
“Want to fight…”
“Priestess, please restrain yourself.”
Before Angie could move or throw a punch, Ereta stopped her. Placing a hand lightly on Angie’s shoulder, Ereta signaled her to calm down. Angie took a deliberate breath and raised her chin.
Regaining some sanity upon hearing the comment, Angie realized her current demeanor wasn’t very priest-like and hesitated momentarily.
“You should let this pass this time. While I’d love to obliterate you here, it’s not the duty of a priest. Thus, it’s best you don’t test my patience.”
Angie recalled the demeanor of certain nobles she’d seen—specifically, those intolerably arrogant knights—and modeled her behavior accordingly. The noble attitude she projected caused the bandit leader to swallow nervously and lower his gaze.
Cracks had formed in the ground beneath Angie’s feet.
“Forgive me, Priestess. I dared to doubt your power.”
Apologizing, the bandit leader backed down. Though initially angered by the “short” remark, Angie maintained an air of indifference and nodded toward Aslan.
Taking the cue, Aslan continued.
“To summarize, hunting blood lice piecemeal serves no real purpose. We have combat veterans like myself and Dmitri, and even the esteemed Priestess is present. If we don’t kill the swarm mother, you’ll remain trapped here indefinitely.”
“…Can I have some time to think…”
“Think? Sure. You’re free to choose between starving here, getting wiped out by blood lice, or abandoning your slaves and barely escaping. But if you don’t want to die, you really only have one option.”
Sweating coldly, the bandit leader felt the weight of Aslan’s words pressing down on him.
“The only way for you to escape this canyon alive is by killing the swarm mother.”
Dmitri stood quietly throughout the conversation, arms crossed, observing Aslan as if trying to discern his true intentions.
He undoubtedly understood what Aslan was plotting and the consequences of killing the swarm mother. Yet he remained silent. With Dmitri quiet, the bandit leader scanned the traveling party anxiously before wiping his face with his hand.
“Do we absolutely have to take Dmitri? If something goes wrong and the blood lice attack…”
“If we go to eliminate the swarm mother, the blood lice will target us instead of you. They’ll try to block our path. Therefore, you’ll be safe.”
The leader didn’t respond immediately, burying his face in his palms and muttering softly. Having been trapped in Randy Canyon due to the blood lice infestation, he feared the worst-case scenario.
Aslan watched the bandit leader silently for a moment before speaking to instill hope.
“Remember, I’m making an investment. That’s why I sought you out. I will definitely return. The Priestess will surely return as well, and after eliminating the swarm mother, I’ll guide you all back to the Calus Empire.”
“How can I trust…”
“This should suffice for trust.”
Aslan pulled out a bag of money from his robes. Containing silver and gold coins usable anywhere in the northern continent, its weight landed heavily in the bandit leader’s hands.
“Promise. I will return.”
In the end, the bandit leader had to pretend to believe. Reluctantly, he sent Dmitri along, who grabbed minimal supplies before rejoining Aslan. Meeting Aslan at the entrance of the abandoned village, Dmitri tapped his shoulder and said,
“I’ll let it slide this time. Besides, it’s not my business anyway, and I have a vague idea of what you’re up to.”
Tapping Aslan’s shoulder again, Dmitri grinned mischievously when Aslan looked at him.
“Anyway, don’t forget what I desire, alright?”
Aslan didn’t respond, but Dmitri seemed satisfied with the silence and removed his hand from Aslan’s shoulder. Joining the group, Dmitri set off toward the canyon, surrounded by dense, lifeless woods.
“So, do we have a way to find the swarm mother?”
Not long after starting their journey, Dmitri asked. Aslan replied,
“I already know where she is. It’s obvious.”
“Oh, really? Where?”
“First, do you know much about Randy Canyon and the blood lice?”
Aslan asked, and Dmitri absentmindedly stroked his chin.
“Well, maybe a bit more than others. It was a place where mining villages rapidly expanded. Blood lice are parasites that live in hearts, right? Some say they were created by wild wizards.”
Angie slowed her pace slightly to listen better, while Ereta led ahead, clearing branches with her axe.
“The blood lice are exactly as you described—parasites that feed on hearts. Unable to survive without a host, they constantly seek living beings. They wander frequently, regardless of night or day.”
“Hmm, right.”
Given his experience fighting blood lice in the canyon, Dmitri was well aware that their appearances weren’t limited to nighttime.
“But the swarm mother is different. She has a habit of hiding herself from stimuli and danger. She prefers places unseen by eyes and unaffected by external disturbances.”
At this, Dmitri hummed in understanding, recognizing there was only one plausible location.
“In the abandoned mines of Randy Canyon, specifically the deepest tunnels. There’s nowhere else she could be. We need to enter the deepest part of the mine to capture the swarm mother.”
Hearing this, Dmitri exclaimed,
“That’s your scheme, huh?”
Though he seemed to understand Aslan’s plans, Aslan naturally didn’t elaborate, replying nonchalantly,
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Whatever. One thing matters to me. After eliminating the swarm mother, will you fight me?”
“At least not right away. Unless circumstances improve drastically, there’s no need for us to fight.”
Dmitri’s eyes gleamed predatorily at Aslan before dimming.
“Then I guess there’s nothing I can do.”
With a shrug, Dmitri led the group toward the canyon where the mine lay.
“You mentioned tunnels, right? Actually, I have a hunch about a place.”
“A hunch?”
On the way to the canyon, Dmitri suddenly spoke. When Aslan acknowledged, Dmitri enthusiastically continued,
“Yeah, a hunch! But first… How much do you know about this mine? Any rumors or stories?”
“…No, none.”
As Aslan checked his companions’ reactions, Ereta seemed uninterested in Dmitri’s tale, and Angie appeared clueless about mines altogether.
“Not much knowledge among my group either, huh?”
“Ah, sorry? That’s disappointing. Let’s assume ignorance and keep going then… Rumors say a treasure was discovered inside this mine.”
Treasure?
Frowning at this new information, Aslan observed Dmitri smirking knowingly.
“One of the reasons I took this job, aside from the fat cat hiring me for my skills, was because of this treasure. Word has it the appearance of these blood lice might also be related to it.”
“What kind of treasure?”
“Slow down, don’t rush me. I’ll tell you gradually. Anyway, hearing about this treasure made me think. This blood lice incident is deeply connected to it. Why? Doesn’t it seem strange?”
Aslan furrowed his brow in confusion, prompting Dmitri to smile slyly and continue,
“Have you ever seen wild animals or other monsters around here? No, right?”
Upon reflection, Aslan noticed the eerie absence of any signs of life nearby. Despite the blood lice infestation, the lack of movement was striking.
“It’s bizarre, isn’t it? These creatures need constant blood, hearts, and hosts to survive. Yet, they endure in this desolate canyon devoid of life. That’s clearly abnormal.”
“…Now that you mention it, yes.”
“Right? Normally, they should’ve all perished. Instead, they persist and torment us. Why do you think?”
Aslan chose not to answer, knowing Dmitri hadn’t expected one.
“It’s because of that treasure. The swarm mother has built her nest centered around it, sustaining herself through its power.”
“What kind of treasure could it be?”
Dmitri stopped walking, causing the group to finally notice the canyon ahead.
Narrow cliffs framed by wooden and stone bridges stretched across the canyon. Beneath them stood several statues carved from stone.
These ancient statues, remnants of a once-great empire, exuded grandeur despite being covered in moss, creating a contrasting atmosphere.
Behind the statues, scattered across the massive rocky mountain, were numerous mine entrances.
Pointing at these entrances, Dmitri casually remarked,
“The relic of an ancient empire warrior commander who fought without rest for fifty days against the empire’s enemies and fell on the fifty-first day.”
Turning at this unexpected statement, Aslan saw Dmitri grinning sinisterly with evident curiosity.
“During the war—or rather, execution—between gods and ancient deities, they were buried and disappeared into the earth. But they unearthed something incredible in this mine—the sword.”
“Sword?”
“Yes, a sword. It steals the lives it cuts and transfers them to its wielder—a literal life-stealing blade.”
Listening to this explanation, Aslan recognized the sword instantly. Its name and abilities came vividly to mind.
“A lesser divinity of War and Knowledge, crafted by the Warrior God.”
“Life-Stealer.”
“So you’ve heard of it? I believe the swarm mother survives using the power of this sword.”
Aslan nodded in agreement.
If it was Life-Stealer, it made sense. If the swarm mother was sustaining itself through life absorption via Life-Stealer, it could indeed survive for so long in an uninhabited area.
Seeing comprehension dawn on Aslan’s face, Dmitri continued,
“I know that brat isn’t a priest of the giants. I also know you detest cooperating with priests so much you’d rather die.”
“Brat?”
Indeed, Aslan despised collaborating with priests, seeing them only as adversaries, never allies.
Glancing sideways at Dmitri, Aslan watched him lean casually against the rock. Angie frowned but received no response.
“So, how do you plan to capture it?”
Instead of answering, Aslan redirected his gaze forward. The distant rocky mountain bathed in crimson sunlight cast a shadow over the horizon. Amidst the flood of light, the mountain appeared ominous rather than majestic.
After staring at the mountain for a while, Aslan spoke,
“Angie isn’t a priest of the giants, as you said. But that doesn’t mean we lack options. Perhaps…”
Aslan’s green eyes flickered toward Angie, revealing a sense of trust.
Considering her health topped at 10 due to the ancient deity’s word, it was a natural trust.
“Maybe we can capture it more efficiently than a priest of the giants.”
Angie’s expression remained indifferent despite this trust, having already heard Aslan’s plan.
Meeting Angie’s eyes, Aslan turned to see Dmitri and even Ereta looking at Angie expectantly. Ereta cupped her hands to whisper encouragement.
Understanding the group’s collective focus on her, Angie hesitated before sighing.
“Alright, fine. Is this really the easiest method?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
Aslan chuckled sheepishly, tapping Angie’s head gently, to which she responded with a slight pout.
“And it’s the safest approach.”
Hearing this, Angie paused as if contemplating, closed her eyes, and nodded.
“True, getting hurt is better for me than for you guys. My injuries heal quickly, but yours won’t.”
Looking at Aslan, specifically his missing right arm, Angie continued,
“If you get hurt, it’ll break my heart. Unlike wounds, heartbreak doesn’t heal easily.”
At Angie’s words, Aslan’s awkward smile revealed underlying guilt.
“Sorry. If there was a better way, I wouldn’t ask you to do this. But if you don’t want to…”
“Ah, it’s fine. I did offer, after all.”
Moreover, Angie stretched and added,
“I gave it a try earlier, and it’s manageable. Just a little sting.”
“Thank you.”
“Thanks? We’re comrades, aren’t we?”
Dmitri, unaware of the method, wore a puzzled expression until realizing why Angie had hesitated.
Upon entering the mine, Aslan’s “safest method” could be summarized as the “Angie-as-living-shield operation.”
