Reincarnated as Twins: And Then, I Was the Only One Abandoned - ☆25 Asmodeus

☆25 Asmodeus 

Early the next morning. Just as the sun was beginning to rise, *someone* persistently knocked on my door. They forcefully dragged me out of sleep. 

There was no way I could say, “Just give me one more hour,” in this kind of situation. 

After grabbing a sandwich from the inn’s dining hall, we climbed into the carriage and set off toward Rivandel. 

“Hey, Elysia, what kind of Demon God are we dealing with this time?” 

“Based on the testimonies we’ve gathered, I believe it’s ‘Asmodeus, the Demon God of Poison’. Like the innkeeper mentioned, it seems to have awakened from a long slumber about a year ago. The guild received a request for its subjugation, but it was too much for the local adventurers. Since Noah happened to be nearby and investigated the matter, we concluded that this was likely the case. And so, we decided to take action.” 

“Is it worse than Agni?” 

“It’s hard to compare them directly since their natures are different. However, at the very least, Noah and Yuna won’t make the mistake of fainting when offering their mana for summoning.” 

A mistake, huh……… 

You passed out just like I did, though. 

Wait… poison? 

Oh, that reminds me. 

“Yuna, you’re a priest, right? So does that mean you’re here because they’re counting on your detoxification abilities?” 

“Yes, that’s part of it. But more importantly, my role as a priest includes healing, purification, and other abilities crucial to this mission. That’s why I was selected.” 

Huh. 

I had a feeling she was powerful based on the way her mana felt. But I didn’t realize she was a specialist in healing magic. 

……..…Wait, which religion is she even a priest of?

Come to think of it, I don’t know how many religions exist in this world in the first place… 

◆◆◆

We traveled by carriage from early morning. And by the time we reached Rivandel, the sun had already set. 

Even before arriving, I could sense how bad things were. 

The ominous presence of mana grew thicker and thicker. By the time we entered the city, it was so overwhelming that it felt suffocating. 

Corpses were scattered throughout the streets, left abandoned. 

The town was practically a ruin. 

A foul stench filled the air, with swarms of flies buzzing around. 

“This is worse than I imagined…” 

Noah muttered, covering his nose. 

“We don’t have time to look for an inn. Let’s find the source of the mana immediately.” 

Following the trail of ominous mana, we pressed forward. 

Eventually, we arrived at a place where nothing but stone-paved roads stretched out before us. 

“It’s coming from below… which means the underground waterways. Let’s check with the guild for an entrance.” 

The guild in Rivandel was a small building near the center of town. 

Even from the outside, it felt bleak. 

When we pushed open the doors and stepped inside, only a few adventurers were present. They were silently drinking their alcohol with lifeless expressions. 

Despair hung thick in the air. 

We approached the receptionist, explained that we were taking on the request to investigate the source of the epidemic, and handed over Rubis. In return, we received a map of the surrounding area. It included the entrance to the underground waterways. 

Though the receptionist expressed gratitude, they didn’t seem particularly hopeful. 

◆◆◆

Using the map as a guide, we made our way to the entrance. 

We lifted the cover leading into the underground waterways. 

A rush of cold air hit my face, carrying a damp, musty smell. 

As we descended, the malicious mana attacked us like a living force. 

“This… is stronger than I expected…” 

Yuna quietly chanted something, and a soft light enveloped us. 

“This will purify any malevolent toxins. Let’s move forward.” 

The moment the light touched me, I felt sick. 

Casually, I stepped out of its range. 

….…It must have reversed. 

Since my body automatically reverses mana-based effects, that light must have turned into poison for me. 

For now, I was fine without it—my body would purify itself naturally anyway. 

But wait… 

If this means I can’t receive magical healing, then… 

Hold on. 

This isn’t just a simple issue, is it? 

What happens if I get hit by something like resurrection or regeneration magic? 

A cold chill ran down my spine. 

This is really bad… 

I need to learn how to control my mana so it doesn’t automatically trigger these reversals.

Can I really handle this with sheer willpower…? 

I decided to test it out. 

Slowly, I stepped back into the glow of Yuna’s purification magic. I was focusing all my concentration on preventing my mana from reversing it. 

…Oh. It worked. 

I’m fine. 

I guess my dexterity carried over from my past life. 

This kind of thing was probably why Narumi always found me so irritating. 

Without any awareness of my internal struggle, we pressed on. We headed toward the ominous source of mana deep within the underground waterways. 

The tunnel was dimly lit, thick with humidity, and covered in moss. Stagnant water pooled at our feet. And every so often, I heard something moving in the darkness. 

Before long, we reached a dead end. 

“This is the place. I’ll begin the preparations. Everyone, stay focused.” 

Exchanging tense glances, we all nodded in silent agreement. 

Elysia knelt down and began drawing a magic circle on the ground. Her voice carried the incantation of the summoning spell. 

The rest of us channeled our mana into the magic circle. 

As the spell progressed, the circle started emitting a pale green light. The glow gradually intensified, casting eerie shadows along the damp walls of the underground tunnel. 

Then, from the center of the magic circle, black mist began to rise. 

Slowly, it took shape. 

Its form twisted and expanded, morphing into something grotesque. 

Three heads—one of a bull, one of a human, and one of a sheep. 

Flames spewed from their mouths. 

A pair of scaly, bird-like legs struck the ground with an ominous thud. While a venomous serpent’s tail slithered and coiled behind it. 

A golden crown rested atop its heads. And in its hands, it grasped a war banner and a spear. 

“I am Asmodeus. You who have summoned me—what is it that you desire?” 

Its voice was deep. It was like a rumble rising from the depths of the earth. 

This time, no one passed out. 

Guess that’s what happens when you put together a properly chosen team. 

Elysia took a step forward, her hands slightly trembling. 

“My name is Elysia. Your awakening has caused a plague to spread across this land. I have come to request a contract with you—to have you sealed within this ring and bring an end to this disaster.” 

She bowed deeply, despite the tension in her voice. 

“A contract, you say? Very well. If you have the power to subdue me, I shall gladly comply. Now—show me your strength!” 

The mana surrounding Asmodeus flared with an even more sinister brilliance. 

Then, with overwhelming force, it came surging toward us.