I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Paya’s Bizarre Adventure （1）

[Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode: Today’s Capital Spy Mission]

Today, I controlled Sanz Zombie to observe the outskirts of the Capital and returned. Creating Sanz’s alibi was a side benefit, and the main purpose was to scout the demon forces.

[One Piece: I can’t do this anymore. I might get caught and die. Sorry]

The user ‘One Piece,’ who was scouting for us, informed me that they could no longer go outside. They had several close calls where they almost got caught by demons.

[Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode: It’s okay, it’s okay. No need to be sorry. Malak-nim asked me to tell you thank you for everything. Stay hidden well]

I’m just grateful that they risked their life to help us. I’ll have to repay them when we meet again.

[Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode: From now on, leave the scouting to me]

It’s fine. I can now scout using the zombie body while creating Sanz’s alibi.

I also wanted to see the Capital myself. It was very limiting to grasp the scale of the demons and the Capital only through the photos One Piece sent.

Also, I had a brilliant plan.

Let’s assume the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon, aggroed by the Evil God Idol, leads his entire army towards Symphony. Then only a small number of troops and the Evil God would remain stationed in the Capital.

Couldn’t I summon strong individuals like Rake, Close-Range Spy, and Dina near the Capital and have them ambush, then head towards the Capital when the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon is far enough away?

If I bring a large totem and use Manifestation, it wouldn’t matter if it’s the Evil God or anything else. We could destroy the dimensional gate that way.

…That’s what I thought. Before I came all the way here.

As soon as I arrived near the Capital, I understood why One Piece only took photos from above the Skeleton Mountain Range.

There were strange magic circles spread out near the Capital.

While I was watching, wondering what they were, an Infected with drool dripping from its mouth approached the magic circle. An alarm went off and the Infected was instantly roasted.

Pzzzt!

━ Tsk. A barrier?

As soon as I saw it, these words came out of Zombie Sanz’s mouth. A Dragon Demon, likely a scout, even flew towards us.

That guy’s body length was at least 50 meters. It was like a 15-story building flying. It glanced at me and left since I was acting like an ordinary zombie.

In One Piece’s photos, there were dozens of those Dragon Demons. Kill all these guys and the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon too? I couldn’t help but feel a chill.

And it doesn’t end there. I looked down at the Capital from the mountain and confirmed how thoroughly the demons had prepared for the Capital battle.

Grooo…

High-rise buildings covered in something like bushes twitch and make strange noises. Building Demons, no, Installed Demons. The buildings themselves have been transformed into demons.

Every building in the Capital had become a demon. The reason One Piece hadn’t mentioned this fact, or rather, hadn’t known, was because the Capital was covered in something like green smoke.

Hiss━! Hiss━! Hiss━!

Tentacles attached to the buildings sway gently, emitting a special smoke of unknown origin. They used this to conceal the Capital.

Well, I’m borrowing the power of a divine being, so I can see through that smoke.

The Capital’s defense is this strong.

Even if I lead an elite team to attack the Capital, could we finish everything before the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon returns after receiving the Evil God’s help call?

Even if the Evil God couldn’t send a help call, a problem would arise. If that happens, our Tribal Federation headquarters would be wiped out by the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon.

The reason I’m trying to drive the demons back to the ground is to save my followers and this world. But what’s the point of closing the dimensional gate and killing the Evil God if the natives are massacred?

Leaving the idol in Symphony and sending the people on a large-scale evacuation wouldn’t work either. The demons aren’t stupid. They send flying mid-ranking demons several times a day to check on our Tribal Federation’s movements.

Even if we kill them as soon as we see them, they keep coming. They’re using mid-ranking demons as consumables. The moment they see the Tribal Federation moving, they’ll definitely use something like coordinate transmission to notify the Evil God and the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon.

For these reasons, we had no choice but to wait for the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon to reach the Tribal Federation headquarters, Symphony Castle. It’s better not to gamble dangerously.

As I was waiting for the demon forces’ response, as I had been doing for the past few days…

“Malak-nim.”

Paya, who had become somewhat aloof lately, came to the altar. She said she had seen a Loa’s altar and totem by sharing vision with Tteunteuni.

Shared vision is Paya’s new skill, showing her greatly improved skills as a Spirit Master. It allows the Spirit Master and the spirit to connect and see the same view.

She must have improved her skills a lot while I was out with Rake, defeating high-ranking demons.

“I couldn’t see if the tribe was wiped out, but it was definitely Udan-nim’s altar and totem. It will be a great help in your recovery, Malak-nim.”

Udan. A bear-like Loa. I’ve heard that he’s ferocious, violent, and fearless, favored by barbarian warriors who have a strong warlike disposition.

Hmm. Just like how I used the hidden piece ‘Unanswered Prayers’ to activate the Evil God Idol by infusing it with faith, she’s saying she’ll use the ritual tools at the altar to earn points for me.

I’m grateful that she’s acting for me, but it feels a bit strange that she’s saying it with a straight face and a nonchalant tone.

Is she upset with me about something?

…Actually, she has reason to be.

Let’s compare it to a mobile game. I was pushing the main quest with Rake, and I entrusted Kanto and the warriors with the side quests.

So what did I have Paya do? I had her do ‘dispatch missions.’ Like how you just fill the slots with unused characters and leave them alone for 8 hours to collect items.

While Rake was catching high-ranking demons and Kanto and the warriors were subjugating villages, Paya was gathering herbs.

━ Alright. Let’s go together.

I should take this opportunity to mend my relationship with Paya and earn some points. We can go together after I descend to Totem No. 2.

“I’ll go too.”

Rake, who had been leaning against Totem No. 1, stood up.

━ It’s okay.

I don’t need Rake’s help for this. Even if we encounter a high-ranking demon, I can just summon Rake using ‘Follower Summoning.’

━ Stay here and protect the Tribal Federation.

Besides, Tteunteuni’s efficiency drops drastically if he carries more than two people. We had no choice but to have three people on board last time when rescuing Bangguseok Choseon, but that’s not the case now.

It’s best if only Paya rides him so he can fly swiftly.

“…Alright.”

And so, Paya and I ended up on a sudden journey together. The demons are mostly out of sight, except for those flying around to spy, and Tteunteuni has stealth abilities, so it should be fine.

Screech━!

We soared into the sky with Tteunteuni’s cry, which I haven’t heard in a while. Now, shall we have a chat?

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

20 minutes have passed since we left the Tribal Federation. I’ve tried to talk to Paya a few times, but she only gives short answers, so the conversation doesn’t continue.

I’m running out of things to say now. It’s a bit awkward to keep talking when she doesn’t want to.

━ …

“…”

Tsk. How should I describe this? It feels like I’m a father who went on a trip with his daughter who has hit puberty?

To be more specific, it’s like I’m a father who used to be showered with affection from his daughter who would say, ‘Daddy! Kiss!’ when she was little, but a few years later, after she started school, she started saying things like, ‘Don’t wash my clothes with yours!’ or ‘I won’t kiss you anymore.’ And now, in an attempt to improve our relationship, I’ve dragged her to an amusement park despite her protests.

“We’re here.”

Paya got off Tteunteuni’s back and entered the half-ruined tribe.

The tribe’s name is Starlight Naru Tribe. It’s a tribe built near a river. We sent them a letter via Tteunteuni in the early days of the Tribal Federation, but there was no reply.

It seems they were attacked by demons long ago.

“Ah, it’s over there.”

Paya looked around, found the altar, and moved towards it. There were ritual tools on the altar, in relatively good condition.

━ Hmm.

I can feel a mystical energy. It seems certain that I can convert those into points with Paya’s help.

You might ask what’s the point of points now that I’ve even obtained Manifestation, but there are still quite a few blessings that haven’t reached max level.

Among them, the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing, which is helpful in many ways, is still at the intermediate level. If I raise it to the advanced or highest level, I might be able to summon 40-50 people simultaneously.

“Nawabarusatanoma…Rasnibaita…”

[Points earned!]

As Paya’s spell ended, the ritual tools withered, and points came in.

Oh. It’s not as much as when we caught a high-ranking demon, but it’s quite a lot. I can raise the ‘Follower Summoning’ blessing to the advanced level.

“…Something’s strange.”

Paya tilted her head as she looked at Udan’s totem in front of the altar.

“Wait a moment.”

Paya approached and touched Udan’s totem. Then she looked at me with a surprised expression.

“I can’t feel Udan-nim’s energy.”