Chapter 93 The Shapeshifting Monster
I, Leaf, came to investigate the village on the Guild Master's request.
There, I heard the village's secret from a villager named Banmo-san.
'So, the village is being ruled by monster...?'
I questioned in my mind. I could communicate with Banmo-san through telepathy since we used a mind-reading potion.
He nodded and explained.
'It was about a week ago. A faceless monster came to our village.'
'A faceless... monster?'
Banmo-san nodded in response to Aerial-san's question.
'At first, we thought they were a merchant. But when they took off the hood, there was a faceless monster underneath. And... they ate the villagers.'
A monster that eats people... I couldn't believe such a thing existed.
'And surprisingly, that faceless monster transformed into the appearance of the villager they ate.'
'Does that mean they have the ability to shapeshift, like me?'
Tai-chan can indeed transform into a human form.
But that's just a transformation into a human appearance.
From the way it sounds, that monster seems to devour their victims and take their place.
'The power to devour others and take their place... that's what it seems like. It might be a bit different from just transforming.'
I also thought Aerial-san was right.
Banmo-san said shakily,
'...The villagers were being devoured one after another. I think I'm the only human left in this village...'
Being controlled by monsters means that the monsters are devouring the villagers and taking their place.
'Monsters multiply. They devour people, take their place, and then give birth to new monsters.'
'What kind of monster is this...'
Aerial-san gritted his teeth sharply.
I... I absolutely can't forgive that.
What is that? Nobody has the right to unjustly take away someone else's happiness!
'I understand the situation. Let's stop here for today, at least for now.'
'Hmm... That's right. It seems suspicious to stay too long. Should I act as a guard next to Banmo... my lord?'
I stood up and took out a special dagger from my magic bag.
This item was given to me when I left the village.
"M-my lord? What...?"
"Activate, [Instant Death Poison]!"
The blade of the special dagger turned black in an instant.
I swung the special dagger with all my might...
And threw it out of the window!
Shooosh...!
"What!? Leaf, what are you doing...?"
"Enemy. I was keeping watch outside!"
I went outside.
The special dagger was stuck in a villager's head.
"Eek...!"
Aerial tried to scream.
It sounded like a girl's voice... Maybe my imagination.
I plunged the knife into the villager's forehead and pulled it out.
"Is it instant death?"
Tai-chan seemed fine as she looked down at the corpse.
"You're still alive, right?"
Suddenly, something shot towards me.
I somersaulted to dodge it and swiftly cut it down with my treasured dagger.
What fell to the ground with a thud were gray tentacles.
The villager I thought I had defeated stood up, their right hand extending like that of an octopus.
"Why did you catch on to our surveillance? I thought we had completely erased our presence."
The villager asked with vacant eyes.
Don't be fooled by appearances. This creature can take on the form of others.
"It's the smell."
"The smell? Ridiculous. We don't possess the scent that humans do."
"Yeah, that's how I knew. Conversely, there's no smell coming from that spot."
There is a scent in the air.
However, these creatures don't sense any smell at all.
Therefore, in a spot in the air without a scent, there is an enemy.
"I see... sharp sense of smell. I'll take that power for myself."
Swooosh...!
"My lord! Behind you!"
"Leaf-kun, run! The tentacles you cut are multiplying and coming after you!"
The tentacles suddenly swell up, trying to swallow me whole from head to toe.
But...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
With a splash, the tentacles turn into water and scatter on the ground.
"Ggh... what... what is this? Poison?"
The monstrous villager dissolves into a gooey mess.
"Haha, you fool. You think poison from the human world would affect me?"
"I sampled your tentacles and made an antidote to destroy these cells."
"No way... you're just a human..."
Eventually, the former villager turns into a puddle and disappears.
"Wow, Leaf-kun, it's incredible how you made this antidote so quickly."
I say to Aerial-san, who looks amazed.
"It's easy to deal with the villagers here, except for Banmo-san."
I pack the antidote into a bottle and raise it up.
"Filth needs disinfecting!"
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