Chapter 184 Chapter 183 The Cursed Plague (Part Five)
This song is worse than my scream, yet it’s such a beautiful sound.
For a moment, the bald, curly-haired man had such a thought in his mind.
But in the next second.
It felt as if a spiky ball had formed in his chest, rapidly expanding and piercing through flesh and bone. A strong, sharp pain surged in his heart.
The bald, curly-haired man couldn’t even hold on to his axe, clutching his chest and collapsing to the ground. The surrounding beastmen also fell to the ground, some rolling their eyes and foaming at the mouth, even losing their lives on the spot.
This isn’t an off-key song; this is a curse!
“Lalala, lalala, I’m a little paper boy♪.”
Some beastmen wept blood, covering their ears and struggling to survive amidst the singing.
The bald, curly-haired man gritted his teeth, desperately resisting the vicious spell.
The shaman chief covered one ear and pulled his arm back with the other, a bright amber glow in his hand, and he hurled it at the succubus singing under the yellow banner with a speed like lightning, leaving only an amber light in the air.
Ji Ma tried to dodge, but the amber spear seemed to have a mind of its own, correcting its trajectory and firmly piercing into Ji Ma’s chest.
The deadly song came to an end, and the beastmen began to scratch themselves and rise, though many lay still on the ground.
Ji Ma looked down at her pierced chest and said:
“Oh dear, I came out in this profession to show off and became a target, and I died really quickly.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure shrank and transformed into a pierced puppet, falling to the ground, the poorly made puppet face sporting a big smile.
Before the bald, curly-haired man could recover from this series of changes, a sudden cheer erupted from behind.
“For the goddess!”
The beastmen turned around to see a group of knights on warhorses charging in, having arrived out of nowhere.
Earlier, they had focused all their attention on the dark-haired succubus, and the knights, adhering to chivalric spirit, waited until they were close enough for their war cries to be clearly heard before shouting the name of the lake goddess.
Spearheads fell like rain. The beastmen were startled and panicked, standing frozen in place.
The shaman chief bellowed, “Quickly engage! You squad members and that bald head, go block the path—”
With a flash of light, a strong voice echoed behind him: “Saint’s Slash!”
A white light flashed past his shoulder. The hand holding the staff fell to the ground, and before he could react, George swung again, severing his legs.
The herd of beasts was thrown into chaos.
Can it get any worse?
The bald, curly-haired man was angry rather than afraid.
At that moment, he spotted a blindingly white elf appear in the manuscript, throwing a massive fireball at the beast herd….
Not far away.
Ji Ma sat on a small stool, took off her leather boots, and raised her feet wrapped in white silk to roast by the fire, watching the battle.
Flames intermittently exploded between the trees, and frost splattered everywhere. A dazzling light orb floated around, igniting trees and maximizing light pollution.
In this siege, Ji Ma had pulled along Jenna, who was far away in the empire, adhering to the principle of “the more the better.”
From the very beginning, both Ji Ma and George believed that victory was within reach; the only thing to consider was how to maximize the slaughter of over three hundred beastmen with only fifteen combat personnel.
Thus, they finalized the battle plan just discussed.
While killing every beastman was a righteous act, such troublesome clean-up work should be left to those specialized in combat. As the mastermind, my job is done; I’m so tired, even my socks are damp from the dew.
White mist curled up from the white silk on Ji Ma’s feet. She wiggled her toes, the sensation informing her that her socks were dry, and then she tucked her warm feet back into her leather boots, continuing to watch the distant battle.
The figure of the long legs swinging as they cut down foes was truly delightful. I finally understand why the Demon King Ji Ma wanted to have combat maids back in the day… what a pity.
Ji Ma shook her head, casting aside that greasy and lewd thought, and began to focus on the matter at hand, preparing to record the experimental results. She opened her personal system, roasting corn while beginning to record:
“It is proven that the wail of a banshee cannot be drowned out or blocked.”
“Even a beautiful song can trigger the effect of the banshee’s wail. Next time I’ll try using a sound that is even more unpleasant to see if it can enhance the effect.”
Ji Ma considered her own singing not quite pleasant but still above average. She knew she was tone-deaf, but what could be said?
As a mesmerizingly charming succubus with a beautiful face, a graceful figure, and a sweet voice, with these bonuses, even a tone-deaf song wouldn’t be that awful.
“Rumors can also serve as a medium for curses, and I can precisely control the targets of the curse.”
Ji Ma thought this record was too broad and added a more precise description: “If language serves as a medium, as long as the target understands the concept represented behind the words and hears or sees it, they will be infected by the curse.”
In other words, simple sounds cannot act as a medium.
“While curses are powerful, they can only serve to weaken at most; for a decisive blow, one needs violence.”
“However, there are numerous brute types in this world, so let dunderheads like George handle such sweaty and bloody hard work.”
“I have tried using rocks, trees, and other common items as curse mediums, all have failed.”
Ji Ma had originally thought this through well; if one could use commonplace items as curse mediums, then wouldn’t it mean that just looking up at clouds would result in curses and looking down at trees would also cause curses?
Sadly, reality is cruel; only the tree that becomes the curse medium can spread the curse.
After finishing her understanding of curses.
Ji Ma summarized the experience of successfully striking down over two thousand beastmen this time.
“Taking advantage of information asymmetry, the enemy leader does not know that the source of the curse is painful emotions; the more painful, the easier the curse spreads, and the more severe it becomes…”
“I’m too clever; it’s all linked, breaching the opponent’s psychological defense….”
“Beastmen live up to their reputation as wild monsters, meant for farming experience.”
After praising herself for a few thousand words, the Liankitty, which perched atop her head like a furry hat, immediately issued a warning meow.
Ji Ma looked up.
George, riding an armored heavenly warhorse, was galloping toward her, his shoulder armor was still mismatched, one side larger than the other.
Since Ji Ma hadn’t redeemed her armor yet, the banker had regretfully told her that the collateral was temporarily loaned out, but would be back soon, and he could guarantee everything would be as good as new.
So, Ji Ma turned back to George and remarked on the banker’s greed and bureaucracy, not mentioning the temporarily loaned armor, and patted her chest, assuring him it would certainly be returned within a month; George did not pursue the matter.
George reined in his horse and said, “Ji Ma, you’ve been slacking again.”
“Kid.” Ji Ma replied while eating corn, “Be a bit more polite to the greatest contributor of this victory.”
“Sure.” George dismounted, “You are the greatest contributor, but if you had come with us to chase the fleeing beastmen, this land would be safer, and fewer innocent people would be caught up in this catastrophe.”
“What does it have to do with me?” Ji Ma held out the half-eaten corn to George, “Want some?”
“Thanks.”
George placed his helmet on the ground, took the fragrant roast corn, draped an arm around Ji Ma’s shoulder, and bit into the corn. The Liankitty glared at George, emitting a low threatening growl from its mouth.
Ji Ma leaned her head against George’s shoulder, which was mixed with the scents of holy oil, blood, and a hint of char. Ji Ma sniffed.
What a masculine scent.
Thinking about how this capable guy would cut away his past for her and dedicate himself wholeheartedly.
Ji Ma felt a sense of peace.
Perhaps this is the sense of reassurance that comes from joining forces when unable to win.
“Ji Ma.” George tossed the bare corn cob into the campfire, “There’s something.”
“I knew it; I’ve become your tool.” Ji Ma sighed, “Though we’re engaged, don’t think you can take advantage of me; oh, people like me who can ride at night and fight for you during the day are extremely rare.”
Although George at first felt uncomfortable with Ji Ma’s use of “take advantage,” he became accustomed to it after hearing it often.
“I certainly won’t let you work for free,” George said, “but it’s quite simple. I want to gather evidence against the Mother of Beasts, but the leaders of those beastmen won’t admit it unless you tell him directly what your curse medium is.”
“Is that it?” Ji Ma felt slightly disappointed; she had initially wanted George to waive half her debt, not much, just fifteen thousand gold coins.
George said, “I will ensure no one hears your secret.”
“You understand me well.” Ji Ma, inherently suspicious, preferred to keep her extraordinary abilities as secret as possible. She smiled at George: “But you’re an exception, as long as you swear not to tell anyone.”
“I can, but only if you keep your vow too.”
Ji Ma thought for a moment.
Apart from a contract—promising to help her advance to platinum in return for fighting together with George—she didn’t have any other vows.
“What vow?”
George leaned his lips against her ear and whispered, “A marriage vow.”
Ji Ma’s face flushed crimson; she covered her face and shyly laughed, “You really are shameless, saying such mushy things without a hint of embarrassment.”
George explained himself, “It’s just that you’re too shy; I’ve proposed marriage many times already.”
Ji Ma pinched George’s face and said, “Cold-faced weirdo.”
The succubus girl laughed and stood up.
Nearby, the Liankitty unhappily knocked the helmet over, as it thought its master’s daily performances to survive were quite hard.
George stood up and said, “Come on, I’m eager to go.”
Ji Ma, however, folded her wings back into her back, holding the reins with both hands, leaning beside the white steed, smiling at George: “Take me with you; I won’t complain about your cold, icy armor.”
George donned his helmet, ignoring the unfriendly Liankitty, stepped into the stirrups, and mounted. Ji Ma wrapped her arms around his waist. George gave the horse a gentle kick in the belly, and the heavenly warhorse began to gallop, the black ribbon from the knight’s sword pommel fluttering in the wind.
Ji Ma closed her eyes, resting against his back.
The Liankitty realized it was being left behind and hurriedly called out while running towards the heavenly warhorse.
The heavenly warhorse complained as it ran, “So annoying, humans throw their extra burdens on old horses without shame to chase girls; can’t she fly?”
Fortunately, no one could understand its horse language.
