TSMMT Ch 41

Echidna

Guiscard looked confused after listening to Dianna. Was she sane? Or was she still dreaming after waking up?

He studied her condition. She showed no signs of seeing hallucinations. Her eyes remained clear.

[Dianna] "We can't stay here forever. We must eat and sleep. This forest is cold."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Dianna] "I trust Philip, but we must also consider the possibility that rescue will not arrive. No one knows what will happen once night falls."

Philip. At the passing name, his gaze turned cold. Dianna spoke the truth. If they didn't neutralize that snake now, they couldn't survive.

[Dianna] "Avoiding the snake monster's gaze and finding the others is our best option. Guiscard, do you remember the way out?"

He gestured no. She nodded.

[Dianna] "Then, even if we avoid the snake monster in a place where we don't know the path, can we survive without running into other monsters?"

Guiscard gestured no once more. Dianna gripped him.

[Dianna] "They say that when a powerful monster is defeated, its deathly energy lingers, forcing weaker monsters to retreat."

[Guiscard] "......."

[Dianna] "If we kill that beast, we will remain safe unless a monster stronger than that one appears."

[Guiscard] "Is that even possible?"

She smiled bitterly at his words.

[Dianna] "We must make it possible."

---

Echidna was the mother of all monsters. She had not actually given birth to them. Every creature held Echidna in awe and offered their flesh and blood to her. Under normal circumstances, Echidna should have been in hibernation, but for some reason, a voice calling out woke her.

[Echidna] "Did the Dragon Lord wake me? To my surprise, a bounty of delicious treats filled the area."

[Crowd] "Aaargh, a monster!"

Chasing the fleeing humans, Echidna eagerly devoured them in her excitement. The hard iron armor proved unyielding and difficult to strip away. But delicious things were always hard to consume!

[Echidna] "What is this? They said a pack of humans kills my children in the winter, so you must be those brats!"

[Crowd] "Aaargh!"

[Echidna] "Die, die!"

As she ripped off a head, a fountain of blood sprayed outward. Tasting the crimson blood like holy water, she smacked her lips.

Is this why I woke from hibernation? How wonderful!

Echidna cackled. Because these humans were fast and strong, their attacks caused pain. It hurt, but at least her stomach was full.

After she tore a few men apart, the others retreated on their own. Echidna grew excited. She wandered around again, searching for her nest.

Hmm, but why are there no young ones? They say human children taste the best. Is it impossible to eat children today? In the past, it was fun to devour the young ones who entered the forest.

She smacked her lips.

Right then, good fortune smiled upon her! A light weight squished onto her tail. She turned around to find a blonde girl standing there.

The girl with long braided hair wore a bright red cloak. Pale skin and silver-gray eyes defined her features.

Ah. She is beautiful. So beautiful! She looks even more beautiful covered in terror!

Therefore, she gladly joined this game of hide-and-seek. The boy following the girl bothered Echidna for some reason, but they were just food anyway, so how could they pose a danger?

Echidna decided to enjoy this game of hide-and-seek. In truth, she knew their general location. A trail of blood dripped heavily; where else could they possibly be?

However, her stomach was full, so she resolved to maximize her enjoyment of these children's terror. It served as a good way to digest her meal. Chasing them down if they fled sounded entertaining, and devouring them when hunger returned would make them a true delicacy.

[Echidna] "Children, come out quicklyyyy."

Boredom crept in now. Then again, human children are cowards, so they must be hiding tightly, right? I should just devour them. I am getting sleepy.

Suddenly, a thick scent of blood reached her nose!

Ah, this sweet scent of blood! It belongs to the human girl, doesn't it? This pretty thing showed up right on time, as if worried I might be hungry.

She smiled happily and rushed toward the scent. She planned to kill the male instantly and play beautifully with the female.

Her face is pretty, and her actions are endearing, so should I keep her alive for a few more days?

Raising a human might be fun. Eating just one arm at a time when I get hungry and decorating her pretty face will be quite a sight. A human body is warm, so I must bind her tightly to keep her from moving.

Ah, what a delightful prey!

Joy consumed her when she caught sight of the human girl's red cloak.

[Echidna] "Where are you going? Play with me!"

[Dianna] "......."

[Echidna] "I will love you! I will keep a cute child like you alive for ages!"

Strangely, the girl didn't even run away but stood looking up at Echidna.

[Echidna] "Oh? Where is the boy?"

[Dianna] "He ran away."

[Echidna] "What an awful boy. Don't worry. I will catch him and tear him to pieces right in front of you."

She spoke in a sing-song voice and reached a hand toward Dianna. At that moment, something scratched her hand.

[Echidna] "Huh?"

It was Sylph.

[Echidna] "Haha, a Sylph? No wonder!"

Echidna cackled. Many among humans could command spirits! Most of them were low-ranking spirits. A mere low-ranking spirit of wind; a tantrum of this level was adorable.

[Echidna] "Oh dear, child. Were you playing the role of 'I will handle this place, so run away!' with just a Sylph?"

Echidna flicked her finger, sending Sylph flying back. Even if naturally born spirits and monsters stood at opposite poles, bringing a mere Sylph before someone called the Mother of Monsters was laughable. The human girl's reckless bravery was hilarious.

As Echidna laughed and reached out again, a Sylph sliced her tail. When she spun around, another Sylph scratched her arm.

[Echidna] "What! There isn't just one?!"

There were at least three spirits instead of one. Irritation flared within Echidna this time. Blazing her yellow eyes, she glared at Dianna.

[Echidna] "You are in trouble! I will tear off one of your legs!"

[Dianna] "......."

A few mere flies only brought annoyance. However, Echidna paused once more. A scratch appeared on her cheek this time.

Yet another Sylph was present.

Leaving a scratch on my beautiful face?

Bloodlust consumed Echidna's features. Kill. She would kill this human girl! She swung her arm at the human girl, but strangely, her speed slowed.

Dozens of Sylphs gripped her arm. It resembled a swarming pack of Lepus.

Formed a contract with this many Sylphs? This girl? No, is that even possible?

She stared at Dianna. At that exact moment, intense pain struck.

[Echidna] "Aaaargh!"

She looked back. Her tail lay severed on the ground! Behind her, the black-haired boy stood holding his sword.

I thought he ran away! How did he wound me?

A human blade could scratch her, but it shouldn't have cut clean through like this! Her bones were incredibly tough. A human's grip strength had limits! It wasn't as if that little brat could use sword aura either!

How, how?!

[Echidna] "Aaaaargh!"

Everything defied explanation. Screaming in agony, Echidna swung her remaining tail. However, the boy leaped high into the air and dodged the strike. Her gaze caught the Sylphs clinging to Guiscard's feet.

Yes, that was the reason! That is why she kept my attention pinned down! To give this brat time to get close?

[Voice] "Ann!"

Just then, human voices echoed. The clanking sound of clashing iron also rang out. Oh no, humans surrounded Echidna! Panic gripped her. She had let her guard down completely. If she knew the girl was a genius capable of summoning so many spirits, she would have killed her the moment they met!

A spirit summoner, a boy skilled with a sword, and a crowd of humans! The disadvantage was absolute. When she tried to flee, it was already too late.

Armored knights surrounded the area.

Murderous intent flooded Echidna's eyes. Since things turned out this way, she would kill everyone. She would kill them all! Her venom was a deadly poison capable of killing everyone in the forest. This was the exact reason she earned the title Mother of Monsters and commanded reverence.

It was the weapon granted to her by the Poison Dragon, Lord Fafnir.

If she unleashed her venom in her fury, every living existence in this forest—excluding Lord Fafnir—would perish.

She gladly prepared to spread her poison. However…….

[Echidna] "Huh?!"

She stared in sheer shock. The black-haired boy appeared right before her face. Leaping to an incredible height, his eyes locked with hers.

Although she had not released the liquid poison yet, her toxic miasma remained lethal to all life. Yet why was this boy immune? At this distance, the poison should have infected him. The purple-eyed boy showed no signs of pain, nor did he cover his mouth.

Echidna scowled at the Sylphs clinging to Guiscard.

She summoned a sickening number of them. How annoying.

The spirits accelerated his sword strikes. A human who overcame his physical limits by using Sylphs for support was absurdly powerful.

But why am I watching this from below?

Her gaze drifted toward a torso spraying blood.

Ah, my head has been severed.

With that final realization, her consciousness shattered into darkness.

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