615 – Weeping Woman

In order to challenge the origin matter again, we head back the way we came.

The reason we’ve been travelling on the ground up to now was to avoid attracting the origin matter, so flying back is an option, but I’d like to take some time to recover MP first.

For that reason, and to see if I can spot any packs of monsters with [Presence Perception] for Aro and treant’s levelling, we’re going back on foot.

After all, the hecatoncheir is probably impossible for me to beat without borrowing Aro and treant’s power.
To help them get even stronger, I’ll also get them to contribute to killing the origin matter.

It’s a dangerous plan, but we haven’t got a lot of choices at the moment.
I need to space out fighting the hecatoncheir and the origin matter to recover my MP, so this is already costing us a significant time loss.

I’m certain there’s something that can help us in that sky-piercing tower.
If we take too long to get past the hecatoncheir, God’s Voice’s [Spirit Servants] will lay waste to the surface world, and we risk getting afflicted with [God of Madness].

“Dragon-god-sama… I think I can hear someone crying.”

As we travel, Aro calls out to me from my back.

『Someone crying…?』

“Yes.
Umm, it sounds like a girl…”

It’s hard to imagine there could be any humans here.
A girl seems even less likely.
Besides, my [Presence Perception] isn’t reacting to anything.
To be honest, I can’t help but wonder if Aro is just hearing things.

『Do you know the direction?』

“That way.”

I look in the direction she points.
I still can’t sense anything, but I might as well check it out.
It would be good if this could lead us to some sort of clue.

Even if there’s nothing, it’s not a big loss.
We’re technically heading towards the origin matter, but I could get there in a moment if I were to fly.
We’re really just wandering around in order to raise Aro and treant’s levels at the moment.

“Ah! Did you hear it just now?”

Aro calls out as I walk.
But I’m still not hearing anything.

『Treant, can you hear it?』

『No…』

This seems rather ominous… Is Aro hearing something she shouldn’t?

“C-can you really not hear it? It sounds like three people now.”

[Presence Perception] still isn’t picking anything up.

『Haha, please don’t make up ghosts to scare us, Aro-dono…』

Treant’s [Telepathy] sounds a little strained.

“I’m undead myself though…”

Aro complains with a complicated expression.
I’m not too sure how a walpurgis is classified, so she might be better described as a former undead.
If anything, treant is the scarier of the two, as he looks like the distorted ghost of a penguin.
Isn’t it a bit late to be worried about appearances now…?

『Either way, this definitely seems creepy.
Sorry, Aro, but I’m turning around…』

Suddenly, I hear the sound of crying.
I tense up.
It’s faint, but it unmistakably sounds like multiple voices.
Aro seems to have noticed it first, so I wonder if she’s more attuned to spirits or something.

From the shadow of a tree, a young woman appears.
She’s wearing a torn brown dress, and her face is obscured by a dark blue hood.

【[Banshee]: A rank monster】
【The result of spirits of the dead being bound to this world through ritual.】
【They pull on the souls of others through their cries, luring more into their ranks.】
【If mysterious crying is heard deep in a forest, it must never be approached.】

An A rank monster… Just about perfect for raising Aro and treant’s levels now.

…Moreover, it’s likely that this banshee isn’t alone.
If Aro heard correctly, then there should be three of them.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Species: Banshee
Condition: God of Madness

Lv: 103/120
HP: 1744/1744
MP: 1124/1124
Attack: 958
Defence: 642
Magic: 1263
Speed: 1225
Rank: A

Characteristic Skills:
[Automatic HP Recovery: Lv4] [Automatic MP Recovery: Lv5] [Undead: Lv-] [Dark Attribute: Lv-] [Weeping Cry: Lv-] [God of Madness: Lv-]

Resistance Skills:
[Physical Resistance: Lv4] [Magic Resistance: Lv5] [Poison Resistance: Lv6] [Paralysis Resistance: Lv6] [Confusion Resistance: Lv3] [Petrification Resistance: Lv3]

Normal Skills:
[Curse: Lv6] [Death God Claw: Lv5] [Extreme Poison: Lv6] [Ghostly Step: Lv7] [Dark Sphere: Lv7] [Soul Suck: Lv6] [Death: Lv5] [Curse Song: Lv6] [Ally Call: Lv5]

Title Skills:
[Former Saint’s Subordinate: Lv-] [Weeping Woman: Lv-] [Final Evolution: Lv-]

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

The stats aren’t anything too concerning, but there are a lot of alarming skills.
[Ghostly Step], [Soul Suck], and [Curse Song]… I don’t think any of them can kill us unconditionally, but…

【Normal Skill [Ghostly Step]】
【Causes the user to vanish, erasing their presence.】

I see, this was why I couldn’t pick up on their presences… Knowing that other banshees are hiding using this, it seems this could get quite annoying.
This [Ghostly Step] skill is probably more effective than other similar skills.
It’s unusual for something to be able to hide its presence from me this thoroughly.

【Normal Skill [Soul Suck]】
【Absorbs mana through touch.】
【The absorption rate can be massively increased through lip contact.】
【In addition, if the target’s mana is drained by this skill, their soul will be captured.】

S-scary… This explains some of what the banshee species description said.
I suppose this is representative skill of a banshee.
It sounds like a superior version of [Mana Drain].

【Normal Skill [Curse Song]】
【A song that sounds like crying.】
【Temporarily lowers the listener’s stats.】
【Those fully entranced by the [Curse Song] are unable to even lift a finger.】

This is another troubling skill.
It only says it reduces the listener’s stats, but the way its written makes me suspect it’s the attack and magic stats in particular.
I’m already hearing the song, so it’s possible I’m already affected.
It doesn’t feel like I’ve gotten weaker though…