The Magus of Flowers paused briefly. The instant he reunited with Samael and Anna, he lightly tapped his staff against the ground, sending ripples of pink spreading outward.
Thick silver chains crisscrossed through the air and smashed down, instantly shredding the three figures.
But in the next instant, those remains turned into flower petals that filled the sky.
The beautiful pink-and-white things then spread outward, transforming into dancing butterflies that blocked the pursuers' and the beasts' vision.
By the time the Androgynous Green Haired Beauty waved away the glowing butterflies surrounding him, his vision had cleared again—and a large number of beasts around him had collapsed to the ground, sleeping heavily.
Useless trash!
The pursuer snorted and bent down, pressing a hanging hand against the earth. Green halos spread outward in circles, and his sharp senses soon locked onto the three figures several kilometers away once more.
A first-rate illusion might fool him for a while, but as long as he remembered the rhythm of their lives, nothing could hide from the senses blessed by the earth.
However, just as the Androgynous Green Haired Beauty confirmed their location and prepared to continue the pursuit, his heart suddenly pounded violently, and an anxious roar rang out in his mind.
Mother has awakened?
Tch, her condition was still unstable. I couldn't just leave her alone all day, could I? Consider yourselves lucky!
The Green-Haired Beauty cast an unwilling glance at the reed plains shrouded in darkness. Magical energy erupted from beneath his feet, and the earth shook violently.
The beasts around him, which had fallen asleep under the illusion, woke one after another and sprang to their feet.
"Remember the scent of those three rats. Keep chasing!"
As long as Mother's safety was guaranteed, there would be no shortage of these inferior beasts.
Taking them along on the return trip would only make them dead weight. Let these idiots wreak havoc in the heart of Mesopotamia to their hearts' content and burn away their last bit of usefulness for Mother's great cause.
After issuing the order with a cold snort, the Green-Haired Beauty flew into the sky and headed back toward the Fir Forest beyond Babylon's defensive line.
Hundreds of beasts, like wild dogs released from their leashes, excitedly sniffed the lingering traces and swarmed toward the reed plains.
The three, wrapped in petals and transported dozens of miles away, had barely caught their breath when rustling sounds began to rise continuously from the pale-green grass.
Under the faintly glowing moonlight, dozens of trails darted and spread through the grass, accompanied by violent growls that rose and fell without end.
Surrounded from all sides, the three stood back-to-back in a triangular formation, each guarding a direction.
Samael, still impressed by Merlin's earlier display, glanced gloomily at the great sage reputed to possess the qualifications of a Grand Magus.
"Don't look at me. After that large-scale illusion and teleportation, your considerate Big Brother has been completely drained."
"You two, for the sake of what we just went through together, make sure to protect me."
The White Haired Swindler spread his hands and shrugged helplessly. Yet there was not the slightest tension on the face that habitually wore a frivolous smile, making it impossible to tell whether he was telling the truth.
"Tch, Merlin is useless!"
Anna, whose face had regained some color, gave a disdainful snort. She gripped her scythe blade with both hands and assumed a ready stance.
"Do you expect me to fight these beasts barehanded? At least give me a weapon!"
Seeing the incubus truly retreat with his hands raised, looking completely content to slack off, Samael's face darkened.
"That can be arranged!"
Without hesitation, Merlin pulled an ornate longsword from the inside of his staff and handed it to the Sumerian traveler with a cheerful smile.
"You're a magus, aren't you?"
Samael's expression stiffened slightly as he looked at the icy-cold longsword in his hand.
That staff of his really could function as a sword sheath?
"I was never good at magecraft. If I chant spells too quickly, I bite my tongue."
"Besides, isn't it perfectly reasonable for a mage with little melee protection to carry a sword for self-defense?"
The incubus blinked, looking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Then what kind of magus are you supposed to be? Grand Magus level? This?
As far as he knew, there had roughly been three magi in history who possessed Grand Magus qualifications.
They were the Wise King Gilgamesh, the Mage King Solomon, and the great sage Merlin.
One had pioneered the path, one had carried its glory forward, and one still shone with the afterglow of the setting sun.
Yet these three figures who spanned the entire history of magecraft were basically not the sort to seriously cast spells and chant incantations. They were all more adept at melee combat than magecraft.
Thus, based on the different melee preferences they awakened while practicing magecraft, the three had each been given an "elegant title" that overshadowed their identities as magi.
One was the Axe King of Uruk...
One was the Israel Fist Emperor...
One was the Sword Saint of Avalon...
Look at these magi with Grand Magus qualifications. They really didn't take their talent seriously at all. What kind of people were they?
Samael, caught between a rock and a hard place, felt bitter even amid his jealousy.
But he had no time to wallow in sorrow. When the ancient serpent saw seven or eight beasts emerge from gaps in the grass and charge toward them at a trot, he could only recall the trials he had undergone in the Underworld.
Using Anna as the spearhead, he adjusted his stance, circulated his magical energy, and stabbed out whenever he found an opening.
"Mm-hm, a combat technique popular throughout Babylon. It looks a little rusty, but it's still decent enough."
"Keep it up, little brother!"
The incubus watching from the side raised a hand to stroke his smooth chin, offering a fair assessment while smilingly voicing his support.
As Samael gradually found his footing, he could not help thanking Ereshkigal, his strict master, once again.
It was precisely because of the sparring sessions against Garuda Spirits in the Underworld, as well as the combat techniques and insights left behind by General Tarlie, that Samael had been able to blend into the identity of a Sumerian human.
"That slash went wide. A little higher..."
"Watch your right! Don't miss that swamp over there..."
"Anna too—you're putting too much force into your movements. Save some strength. With this many beasts tonight, it'll be a grueling battle of attrition..."
However, Merlin in the rear refused to stop talking even while spectating, stoking the anger of the two fighting their hardest up front.
"If you're so good, come do it yourself!"
"Uh, my magical energy hasn't recovered yet. Wait a little longer..."
"Then shut up!"
"If you can't do it, stop running your mouth!"
Anna and Samael, fighting as they retreated, turned back and roared in unison, their eyes nearly murderous.
The carefree-looking incubus shrank his neck and shook his head helplessly.
Yet in secret, the ever-vigilant great sage quietly let out a breath of relief, a trace of fortune flashing through his eyes.
When I exposed that opening earlier, that divine construct weapon didn't seize the chance to attack. It seemed she had stopped pursuing us and returned to the Temple of Blood.
Still, what a pity.
The journey would have involved some risk, but if I had truly lured her successfully to Uruk...
Then she would not have been facing just Anna and me. She would also have had to face a certain Heroic King who had been waiting for quite some time.
She had already taken Enkidu's name and conquered several cities in succession.
The destruction she had caused alone far exceeded that of the beasts beyond Babylonia's borders.
If we could have kept that divine construct weapon here, the Beast Goddess's side would surely have suffered a severe blow to its morale. This trip would have been immensely profitable.
Well, forget it. Not everything could be forced, and it wasn't as though there had been no gains.
Not only had I picked up an Anna in the Fir Forest, but this traveler who joined us along the way might bring me new surprises as well.
The shrewd incubus smiled as he watched Samael slaughter the beasts, the corners of his lips curling upward slightly.
Before you continue