Chapter 32
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Chapter 32: Feast of Night
In the deepest part of the forest, within an exquisitely decorated treehouse, a soothing melody flowed gently.
The rich, deep tones of a cello filled the air, played with such masterful skill that it could have shamed even the finest court musicians of the Belmar Duchy. Yet the performer carelessly dragged out a dissonant note just before the climax, abandoning the piece mid-performance.
A harsh, saw-like voice suddenly erupted: "Squawk! More foolhardy adventurers coming our way! Master, let’s crush them!"
A black crow flapped wildly in the sun-dappled treehouse, bouncing between beams like a rubber ball.
In the shadowed center of the room, a black-haired girl in dark robes methodically packed away her instrument.
"Level 23 Demon Swordman, Gunner, Blue Fist Saint… Level 24 Elementalist. Pathetic! Those lazy Elves should offer triple fruit tribute for letting these weaklings slip through!" The crow pecked angrily at invisible magical threads.
"The Demon Swordman and Elementalist are actually level 30…" The girl sighed mid-correction. Why bother explaining to this dim-witted bird? The fighting would fall to her regardless.
Yet she couldn’t ignore these intruders. Their concealed power unsettled her – even she couldn’t gauge their true strength. Leaving such threats unchecked would only bring greater trouble later.
"Robin. Move out."
"Forward march! Let me lead the charge!" The crow shot through the window like a loosed arrow.
The girl sighed again. Trudging through winter’s deepest night to some distant battlefield… What a nuisance.
Still, she dutifully pulled on gloves and hat. Her petite figure ambled through the doorway as casually as someone taking an evening stroll.
"Elves call her Mist Sorceress Alice, but her true profession is Summoner," Midi explained as they followed invisible magic currents. "Summoners rely on summoned creatures – their strength lies in managing different beasts’ abilities."
He continued: "They channel magic to empower their summons, disrupt enemies, or… force sacrifices as last-resort attacks. It’s a complex art requiring strategic pairing of creatures to cover weaknesses."
"But Alice’s no ordinary Summoner," Midi added grimly. "Her menagerie includes bizarre beasts with clashing attributes. Combined, they create effects more dangerous than any single monster."
"If Fina’s a precision sniper, Alice is an inescapable maze. Her victims often die confused, never understanding the attacks around them. Some might not even realize they’re dead."
The real problem was timing. In their previous life, Midi had bonded with Alice during desperate times – protecting comatose Fina while fleeing the Delos Empire. Shared crisis forged their alliance.
Now? No imperial invasion, no forest fire. Just petty noble squabbles driving this intrusion. To Alice, such worldly conflicts meant nothing. Recreating their past camaraderie under these circumstances… Nearly impossible.
Fortunately, Midi knew he had something that would surely catch Alice’s interest. At least, he was confident they could start with a mutually beneficial transaction, then gradually seek opportunities to deepen their bond.
No rush. As long as all three remained safe, they’d eventually return to those cherished days.
Midi told himself this repeatedly, yet memories of his time with Alice surfaced anyway. The warmth of those ordinary moments tugged at his lips, curving them into a faint smile.
“Are you close with that Mist Sorceress?” A frosty voice yanked him from his thoughts, plunging him into an icy chill.
“Not really.” Sweat formed on Midi’s brow under Fina’s piercing stare.
*Lovers aren’t just acquaintances, right?*
His mind raced, preparing defenses against further questions. But the future Queen of Magic merely snorted, letting the vague answer slide.
*Hiding things again!* Irritation flared in Fina’s heart. She’d vowed not to pry for now, especially mid-battle. Yet Midi’s earlier happy expression inexplicably grated on her, fueling a urge to wreck something.
She didn’t realize Midi often gazed at *her* with that same soft look when she wasn’t watching.
Silence settled between the pair. Sigmund and Lilian exchanged glances, deliberately lagging behind to avoid the brewing storm.
As Midi opened his mouth to ease the tension, a surge of magic froze all four in their tracks.
Instantly, the team shifted into battle state, all distractions forgotten.
“Something’s approaching from the north. Massive scale.” Lilian’s magic senses flared.
“The Mist Sorceress?” Fina crackled with combative energy.
“No. It’s… mist?” Sigmund squinted, Night Vision Abilities straining.
Midi’s brow furrowed at the word. *Speak of the devil.*
Winter’s breath carried a white tide rolling across the land. Moonlight, forest, adventurers—everything vanished into the hungry fog.
Dampness clogged the air. Breath turned labored. Sound warped strangely. Vision shrank to three meters, senses dulled.
Worse, magic threads wove through the mist like spider silk—boosting the Mist Sorceress’s Summoned Beasts while sapping enemies’ power.
The Fog Demon “Feast of Night”—one of Alice’s signature creations.
Midi grimaced. *Starting with Feast of Night plus the forest’s magic? A full-scale siege against four adventurers? Overkill.*
But this timeline’s Midi and Fina far outstripped their past selves. No wonder Alice struck first to avoid drawn-out troubles. The butterfly effect of reincarnation had struck where it hurt most, leaving him scrambling.
Retreat wasn’t an option.
They clustered tightly—the only sane move in blinding fog. Midi’s earlier briefings on Alice’s Summoned Beasts kept the group steady.
Defying the odds, Fina attacked first.
Flames converged from all directions, roaring as they fused into a single point. With dragon-like fury, a five-meter fire pillar erupted skyward, tearing a hole through the mist.
Elementalist skill: Flame Impact.
