Reincarnated as a dragon’s egg ～Lets aim to be the strongest～ - Chapter 543

543 – The Mischievous Demon’s Trap (side: treant)
I dash along the ground covered by mist, heading in the direction Aruane disappeared in.

Aruane is a strong enemy. On top of that, she has the undead white mage Ool as a means of healing. She’s not an opponent I can take on at all.

However, she’s already been injured from Aro-dono’s brave and ingenious plan. Ool’s mana should have been considerably reduced as well.

I don’t know how much of an effect that had, but… To have any chance of winning, I’ve no choice but to be optimistic. I already knew long ago that my path to victory would be narrow.

In the first place, against a superior foe, reversing the battle situation in a single move is beyond my capabilities. Aro-dono and atlach-dono are cunning, possess skills with excellent single-hit power, and have the stats to back it up.

However, as I’m fundamentally a battle-of-attrition type, even though I can reliably win against weaker enemies, I can’t create opportunities against stronger opponents. I understand that fact more than anyone. I do have [Meteor Stamp], but that’s not a move that can hit when used by me alone.

During the battle, I’ll need to find some other path to victory. Whether or not such a path will exist is beyond me.

However, it is because I don’t know for certain there’s meaning in fighting. At least, there’s no reason for me to stand by and leave Aro-dono and atlach-dono to die. If I consider it further, it’s clear that the option of running away simply isn’t available to me. Hence, I can only press on. No matter how narrow a road this will turn out to be.

After heading straight for a time, the path ahead splits left and right along a cliff wall, leading to separate locations.

Hmm… did she go right or left? Ah, it’s also possible that she went upwards. I wonder if there aren’t any claw marks I can see on the cliff.

I notice a large chasm in the cliff wall. I looked around at other spots, but… the edges of the chasm are glowing with black light. T-that’s… Don’t tell me, could that be the special thread that atlach-dono uses?

Atlach-dono must have left it behind. That makes sense. Aruane had apparently hidden her somewhere before going to meet up with Lilixira. So then it makes sense that she would have stashed her in a cave like this!

…If Aro-dono were here, she would most likely have noticed right away after pursuing Aruane to this cave. I’m glad atlach-dono’s hints are available.

H-however, this cave is certainly big but… It’s a little too small for me. I could just barely squeeze myself in if I wanted, but then I wouldn’t be able to move properly or evade Aruane’s attacks.

If I move too much inside and end up bringing the cavern down, I could bury atlach-dono alive. B-but, if I wait outside, Aruane will kill her to fulfil the conditions for controlling her body using [Blood Doll]. Though if she was bluffing earlier, it’s also possible that she’ll bring her out alive for Lilixira’s [Spirit Servant], as was her original plan… ugh, ummm…

Argh, as if I could wait outside while there’s a chance atlach-dono will be killed! I’ve already decided not to be afraid anymore!

I use [Tree Spiritisation]. My giant body quickly shrinks down. As usual, I shift into a birdlike form around the size of a human child.

With this, I’ll be able to advance through the cave regardless of how narrow it gets. If I didn’t do this, I’d be immobilised inside, and would end up being toyed with and killed by Aruane.

However…my physical abilities are greatly reduced in this form. I’ve no choice but to make the best use of this tiny body to rescue atlach-dono, and then somehow escape from Aruane.

Even though I’ve become smaller, avoiding Aruane while rescuing atlach-dono in such a small cave… Such a skilful action is likely close to impossible. Furthermore, Aruane has too many advantages in her favour in this cavern. After all, I have no idea of the layout.

This is most likely a foolish course of action. Simply considering the odds of success, waiting outside in ambush would be better. The possibility of her bringing atlach-dono out alive isn’t zero. Even I know that. Yet even so, I don’t want to take that option.

Sticking close to the cave wall, and moving as quietly and quickly as possible, I press on.

I don’t hear anything resembling Aruane’s footsteps. Is this not the right place? No, that shouldn’t be possible. I checked from close up earlier, and that was certainly atlach-dono’s thread.

Could I be too late, and atlach-dono has already been taken away…? No, Aruane was injured. She should have required healing from Ool. There’s no way she’s had enough time to arrive, pick up atlach-dono, and then leave without running into me.

…Could something have happened that prevented her from entering this cave?

If so, then it’s more than I could have possibly wished for! I’ll collect atlach-dono and Aro-dono, and then we’ll hide somewhere together while master-dono takes care of that vile woman. With that, I’ll have perfectly fulfilled my role.

“Aruane thought you would come, Aruane did. After all, she gets it. You, you’re the most cowardly, yet the kindest of them. So, Aruane understands that.”

From behind, I hear a voice. Turning around, I see Aruane and the expressionless Ool, her bloodstained body being dragged by him.

“This cavern, it only has one route. Sorry, sorry about that. Aruane you see, doesn’t think badly of you at all. More than that undead onee-san who’s putting her life on the line, you, with your unbound potential, are more dangerous. So, Aruane led you here, where your true form would be sealed. If you hadn’t come, you would have probably just been running around from place to place, so Aruane would have ignored you.”

My escape route is blocked. They must have been hiding somewhere. Behind the rocks in the cavern, or likely even higher up in the cavern ceiling…

I thought I was lucky. However, all the resolve I was able to muster has been rendered meaningless by such a simple plan from this demon.

“Sorry about this. Aruane, you see, will never lose in a battle of wits. After all, she can see everything.”

Her eyes open wide… Sure enough, she isn’t an opponent someone like me can somehow face. Too shocked to react, I stand still.

At this stage, there’s nothing I can do. At most, I can try fleeing towards atlach-dono, and then likely die from Aruane’s claws before I reach her.

Aro-dono… I’m sorry. The path to victory was closed from the very beginning. This demon hasn’t been careless in the least, even against opponents like us. Her apparent leniency in not coming to finish us off was probably just because she needed to keep her health and mana high enough to take atlach-dono’s corpse to fight master-dono.

“Well then… let’s end it. Aruane will help to bring your body to that spider girl’s side. Of course, Aruane’s limit is controlling one body at a time, so having both of you move together is impossible.”

Aruane tosses something towards me. It’s pure white, and splattered with a poisonous-looking blood red. I remember it from somewhere.

My thoughts cease for an instant. It’s atlach-dono’s leg. Distantly, I understand that this means Aruane went around and disposed of atlach-dono before lying in wait for me. My mind goes blank, and I freeze.

“Farewell. Wooden hero-san.”

Aruane leaps towards me. In the air, a red liquid gathers on her fingers, and begins solidifying into vicious claws.