Genius Warlock

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Just as the servant had mentioned, a druid had managed to infiltrate the temporary base of the paladins.

To be more precise, they initially suspected the presence of a druid, but that assumption required some clarification.

‘That’s the most logical explanation…’

Clad in a green cloak and donning a wooden mask, Oliver contemplated while employing druidic magic to subdue the servants.

By the way, the wooden mask and cloak had been supplied by the pharmacist who advised Oliver to assume the guise of a druid.

-It’s best to conceal one’s identity. The unknown is the best weapon and at the same time a shield.

He held the belief that simply by impersonating a druid, he could plunge the paladins into disarray.

Upon hearing this explanation, it didn’t seem like an implausible notion.

The mere presence of a druid, unaffected by the holy techniques, was sufficient to unsettle the paladins. The concept of “enjoyment” didn’t make it seem out of place either.

‘Above all, the biggest advantage is that I can hide my identity.’

While in the process of rescuing Marie, Oliver had anticipated the possibility of his identity being exposed. However, if he could keep it hidden, he was determined to do so. After all, he aspired to return to Landa discreetly.

“A druid?! Is he a mercenary for Enjoyment?!”

As Oliver was on the verge of subduing the servants in the corridor, a newcomer among them exclaimed.

Upon spotting Oliver, this servant promptly aimed a large cross-shaped gun in his direction.

Oliver had encountered a similar weapon in the past, wielded by one of Joanna’s servants.

‘A weapon of the Pater religion? If I remember correctly, its penetration power is-’

――――Bang!

A shot rang out while Oliver pondered. With reflexes heightened by the power of nature, Oliver swiftly dove to the ground, narrowly avoiding the bullet.

The stray bullet continued its trajectory, striking the allied servants on the opposite side.

As Oliver remembered, the gun possessed formidable firepower, piercing through the iron-clad armor of three servants.

“Arghhh…!”

“My arm! My arm…!”

“Don’t recklessly fire the Cross Gun!”

The narrow corridor echoed with screams and chaos. Severed limbs, fingers, and pools of blood littered the floor.

Fortunately, no fatalities occurred.

The servant with the Cross Gun once again took aim at Oliver, who remained on the ground. However, Oliver sprang up towards the ceiling, using it as a launching point to charge at the servant with the Cross Gun.

Taken by surprise by this unexpected maneuver, the servant hesitated, but three other servants, acting as a shield, stepped forward, brandishing shields and weapons to intercept Oliver.

It was a remarkable display of teamwork.

Crash!

Oliver conjured a green vine in his hand, allowing it to grow and coil around his arm. With this makeshift weapon, he delivered a devastating blow, sending all three servants flying.

Perhaps this outcome was to be expected. While the servants were skilled warriors, trained and equipped to maximize their combat abilities, they still didn’t possess the physical might of a paladin.

‘But I can’t let my guard down.’

While the allies bought the time, Oliver turned his attention to the servant who once again had the Cross Gun trained on him.

Instead of succumbing to panic at the sight of the gun’s barrel, Oliver manipulated the vine into a shield-like form.

Then, another gunshot reverberated.

Bang!

Flames erupted from the Cross Gun, shattering the vine wrapped around Oliver’s arm as if it had detonated. Its power was immense; it wasn’t merely a mundane vine but one infused with the forces of nature.

If the beanstalk had been even slightly thinner or lacked the power of nature, there’s a good chance his arm would have been blown away as well. It was a stark reminder of the importance of staying vigilant.

While striving to conceal his identity to the greatest extent possible, Oliver understood that he might need to resort to magic and even black magic if the situation demanded it. The consequences of being killed or captured would render all his efforts futile.

After assessing the abilities of the servants, Oliver produced another green bean. Harnessing the power of nature, he allowed it to grow and then wielded it like a whip, ensnaring the neck of the servant who was in the midst of reloading.

Swoosh-Thud!

Despite being choked, the servant displayed a determination to aim at Oliver. However, as Oliver exerted his strength, the servant couldn’t resist and was hurled across the corridor.

This unexpected turn of events caused the servants behind Oliver, who had been targeting him, to pause briefly due to their comrade being unexpectedly airborne. Capitalizing on this momentary advantage, Oliver replicated the same action with the other servants, immobilizing their movements.

“Is this all you’ve got to buy time─!”

“That’s enough for now.”

Oliver replied, his gaze fixed on the clustered servants. He retrieved a branch he had previously broken off and infused it with the power of nature.

Grrrrrrrrrrr…

With the infusion of natural energy, the branch swiftly grew into a massive tree, effectively blocking the narrow corridor.

“Wait, stop!”

“Block him!”

“Damn it! Is this a trap?!”

One servant exclaimed in panic just before the corridor was completely obstructed, and he wasn’t far from the truth.

Oliver, while concealing his identity and using his abilities sparingly, had utilized the warlock’s vision before entering to assess the number of individuals inside. Following that, he intentionally infiltrated the central narrow corridor as indicated in the blueprints.

The confined space limited the opposition’s response, making it an ideal location to stir up chaos and concentrate their forces. Most importantly, it allowed him to block their path in this manner.

Oliver turned around and employed the warlock’s vision once more.

As he had verified earlier, there were only a few captives and a minimal guard force situated toward the rear of the shelter.

After evaluating the situation, Oliver extracted the power of nature from a vial and employed it to reinforce the growing branch.

Beyond the tree barricading the corridor, the sound of pounding echoed.

Judging by the intensity, it appeared that the barrier wouldn’t hold for more than 2 or 3 minutes.

‘I need to resolve this before then.’

Oliver decided, infusing some of the extracted power of nature into his body to replenish his energy. Utilizing the warlock’s vision, he checked behind him.

Six servants were already lying in ambush near the corridor. Pretending not to notice, Oliver moved forward and, right at the entrance, breached the wall, making his escape to the side.

“…!!”

The waiting servants were caught off guard, and Oliver, without hesitation, summoned another branch and expanded it into a club, drawing inspiration from spells used by Shamus and other druids.

Immediately after creating the club, Oliver wielded it with both hands, targeting the servants on the other side of the wall.

Boom!

With his body enhanced by the power of nature, Oliver’s club effortlessly shattered the shelter wall, which had been designed to be sturdier than typical buildings. Along with a cloud of dust, a significant amount of debris and shockwaves surged forward.

Caught completely off guard, the servants were struck by the shockwave and debris, rendering them unconscious instantly.

“Who, who are you?”

As Oliver inspected the fallen servants, someone addressed him.

Turning his attention to the voice, he found three individuals imprisoned in the shelter room, likely belonging to Marie’s group.

Two men and one woman, all of whom appeared to be in poor condition.

“Hello.”

Oliver offered a slight greeting, raising his hand in acknowledgment.

The unusual demeanor of Oliver left the people confused, unsure if he was a friend or foe, rendering them speechless. Recognizing their uncertainty, Oliver decided to introduce himself.

“I am─”

Boom!

However, just as Oliver was about to introduce himself, a paladin took advantage of the opportunity and crashed through the wall, swiftly closing the gap between them.

Thinking that Oliver was caught off-guard, the paladin, donned in an iron coat and brandishing an ax, launched a ferocious attack with a powerful swing.

Oliver attempted to block the paladin’s assault with the club that had effortlessly shattered walls. To his shock, the paladin’s ax demolished his club with astonishing ease.

Crack!

The wooden club splintered as though it had been pulverized, leaving Oliver taken aback.

Although he never underestimated the paladins, he had believed that with the power of a druid, it would be a less formidable challenge. He had clearly misjudged the situation.

Despite being unaffected by holy techniques, the paladins retained their formidable physical prowess.

Initially trying to create some distance, Oliver found himself outpaced as the paladin swiftly struck him across the face, shattering Oliver’s wooden mask and sending him hurtling down the corridor.

“How dare a mere druid…!”

The paladin’s enraged shout echoed, but Oliver felt more relief than anything else.

Although the punch had been painful, the paladin still believed him to be a druid.

‘Also, he played right into my hands.’

With this thought in mind, Oliver staggered back, surreptitiously dropping a seed onto the floor.

“You can’t escape!”

Sensing an advantage, the paladin, showcasing his incredible physical prowess, rapidly closed the distance, raising his ax with the intent to deliver a finishing blow.

Just as the ax was about to descend upon Oliver’s head, he activated the seed he had planted earlier.

The seed, infused with the power of nature, sprouted instantly into a green vine, rapidly extending.

Starting from the paladin’s ankles, it wound around his legs, waist, torso, shoulders, and arms.

This intervention allowed Oliver to narrowly dodge the ax’s blade by a hair’s breadth.

“Just this kind of trick…!”

The paladin shouted, his attention on the green vines ensnaring him.

Employing his rigorous training and the physique enhanced by holy techniques, he commenced tearing apart the potent vine charged with nature’s power. It appeared as though he would free himself within seconds.

If he were given a few seconds.

Whack!

As the paladin struggled to break free, Oliver crafted a club from the wooden debris scattered on the floor. Firmly gripping it with both hands, he swung it with all his might into the paladin’s face.

A resounding boom resonated through the corridor, creating a shockwave. The paladin’s head snapped backward, and he lost consciousness instantly.

One could say that Oliver had been remarkably fortunate.

Creating the illusion of vulnerability by engaging in conversation with the captured individuals had led the paladin to recklessly attack, providing Oliver with the opening he needed.

‘Luck has been on my side continually. Meeting Celine right upon arriving here, getting help from the pharmacist…’

Feeling grateful for his continuous stroke of good fortune, Oliver bound the paladin with beanstalk vines and approached the individuals he had encountered earlier.

“Is everyone okay?”

Still cautious of Oliver, they slowly nodded in response.

“Um… are you the chosen ones?”

“…Yes.”

The captives hesitated briefly before nodding.

Oliver continued, “Oh, thank goodness. If it’s not too much to ask, could you assist me? We’re short on time, and there’s much to do. By any chance, do you know where Mr. Lawrence is? I need to ask him something.”

In response to Oliver’s repeated requests, they wore a bewildered expression and repeated their earlier unanswered question.

“Who… who are you?”

“Oh, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself… Pleased to meet you. My name is Oliver.”

“…God?”

“No, just Oliver.”

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