Chapter 171 - 170: Complete Eradication
A terrifying CRUNCH echoed once again from the worm-like Demon’s nightmarish maw.
Like a meat grinder at work, blood seeped from between its teeth.
But Dick’s fearless sacrifice finally awakened the courage in the others’ hearts.
They watched as Dick vanished into the worm-like Demon’s maw, watched as it continued to chew on his corpse.
The despair in their eyes transformed into a towering rage.
The miners grabbed the pickaxes and rocks around them. They gathered together, roaring as they charged forward!
"We’ll fight it to the death!"
"We have to get out!!"
"Charge!!!"
Facing the charging crowd, the worm-like Demon raised its head.
From the depths of its throat, lined with rings of teeth, it emitted a strange, command-like rhythm.
"BZZ... BZZ... BZZ..."
Countless watermelon-sized holes suddenly appeared, densely dotting the nearby stone walls.
Then, those holes all cracked open at once.
Smaller, yet equally ferocious and terrifying, worm-like Demons scrambled out from within!
These worm Demons resembled giant centipedes. Though only a little over a meter long, the sharp mandibles on their heads were a clear sign of their deadly power.
The moment they emerged from the rock walls, they pounced on the surviving miners without hesitation.
There was no room to dodge.
"No!"
A miner had just smashed a small worm’s head with his pickaxe when two more pounced on him from behind.
Their sharp mandibles instantly tore through his vulnerable neck and lower back.
"Help! Aaargh!"
Another miner was tackled to the ground by several worms.
He could only watch helplessly as their sharp mandibles grew larger and larger in his field of vision, before everything faded to black.
Scenes like this played out again and again.
Inside the mine tunnel, a Bloody massacre was underway.
...
「Alberti Manor.」
The manor, situated in a prime location in Black Stone Town, occupied a vast area and boasted beautiful scenery.
Through the iron bars of the main gate, one could see a massive, manicured lawn, a fountain garden, and several small yet magnificent-looking castles.
「On a late autumn afternoon, the sunlight was still warm.」
All was quiet inside the study.
Duke Alberti, Patriarch of the Alberti Family, sat with his head bowed, intently examining the ledgers.
The Alberti Clan was exceedingly wealthy, largely because its successive patriarchs had always possessed keen business acumen.
And Duke was a cut above the rest.
He wasn’t like other mediocre heads of nobility, who would spend all day indulging in tedious social events or showing off their martial prowess on hunting excursions.
Nor did he waste time having afternoon tea with noble ladies, trading jokes about illegitimate children, before dumping all of the family’s trivial matters onto the butler and accountant.
On the contrary, Duke liked to be in control himself.
From major investments in new mineral veins down to minor details like replacing a group of gardeners at the manor—
He personally reviewed every one of the family’s internal affairs, ensuring no detail escaped his control.
When Duke noticed another expenditure under Bev’s name for Magic Accessories—a "Calm Mind Bracelet" costing a steep forty Gold Coins—he couldn’t help but sigh softly.
’That girl... She still loves buying such flashy, impractical things...’
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing closer and closer.
Duke’s brows furrowed slightly.
The only person who could enter this hallway at this hour without an announcement was the old butler, who had served the family for two generations.
But his footsteps were always measured and unhurried.
’When had they ever been so rushed?’
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK."
The knock came as expected.
"Come in." Duke’s voice was steady and strong.
Just as he’d thought, it was the old butler, Reid.
His tailcoat was impeccable, but his graying hair was slightly disheveled from his quick pace, and his expression was grave.
He had served the Alberti Family for over forty years, devoting almost his entire adult life to the family.
"Lord Duke, there’s been trouble at the mines."
Reid got straight to the point.
"While excavating a new tunnel, the miners were attacked by a Demon, which subsequently caused a cave-in."
"Based on the survivors’ descriptions, and after consulting with professional Adventurers, I’ve reached a conclusion..."
Reid said slowly, "The thing that attacked them... it was a Challenge-rated Demon—the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm!"
"A Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm?" Duke’s eyes narrowed.
"Yes. And some of its brood as well. All in all, a very troublesome group of Demons."
"The mines around Black Stone Town have been in operation for decades with no record of anything like this. How could this happen?" Duke asked.
"It’s because they were recently excavating tunnels in the No. 13 Mine Area."
Reid explained, "In order to survey the path of a new mineral vein, they delved deep into the interior of the mountain, which has been dormant for a long time."
"The Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm must have been a Demon that had been slumbering deep within the mountain for countless years, awakened by our miners’ digging."
Reid added gravely.
"Lord Duke, upon receiving the news, I took the liberty of ordering the No. 13 Mine Area sealed. No one is permitted to enter, and the miners have been sent home for the time being."
"You did well."
Duke nodded slightly, then asked, "How many died in this incident?"
"Thirty-two..."
Reid’s voice was heavy. "Only three made it out..."
A mining accident of this magnitude would likely draw an inquiry from the Black Stone Town Government Hall to hold them accountable.
Hearing the horrific casualty count, a dark flicker of anger crossed Duke’s face.
He stood up and walked to the window.
After a moment, he spoke, his voice cold.
"Reid."
"Yes, my lord."
"Immediately, in the name of the family, distribute the condolence payments. Make sure to console the families of the deceased. Whatever Difficulty or requests they have, do your best to meet them."
"Then... put out a call for an Adventurer Squad to exterminate the Demons holed up in the No. 13 Mine Area! Wipe them out completely!"
"Yes, sir!"
...
「The Mage’s Guild.」
「The Library.」
The afternoon sun streamed through tall, arched, decorative windows, casting several bright columns of light into the quiet library.
Fine motes of dust drifted in the air, mixing with the faint scent of ink from ancient parchments to create a tranquil, scholarly atmosphere.
"Chapter Eight: The Theory of Conditional Casting.
For a Mage proficient in controlling Magic Power, Instant Cast is not the only technique worth pursuing.
In the life of an Adventurer, danger is ever-present.
A truly clever Mage does not entrust their safety entirely to the protection of their teammates or their own reaction speed.
They merge themselves with Magic, transforming defense from a conscious action into a passive instinct.
The theoretical basis for this technique is what we call Conditional Casting, or, to put it more colloquially—the Trigger Skill.