"Wait—I appreciate you coming to help, but our bodies have already started fusing with the cocoons. There's nothing more that can be done."
I drew my sword, intending to free them from the cocoons, but would cutting the cocoon kill the person inside too?
Separate the cocoon from the ground, kill them first, then use Resurrection?
Cut away only the fused parts and then cast healing magic?
"Kill me quickly… At this rate, I'll stop being myself… I hate to make a stranger bear the guilt of murder, but… there's no other way. I'm sorry."
Another person pleaded with me.
Even in this state, they were worried about getting my hands dirty…
"I want to be saved too, honestly. I don't want to die. But if we fully fuse like this, the cocoon will be absorbed into the ground and vanish somewhere. I can only imagine it'll be used for something terrible."
"So please—just put me out of my misery! Please let me die while I'm still human!"
The people around me made the same plea.
I guess I have to steel myself for this.
But there has to be something I can still try.
[Reverse] activated — reversing the fusion state of these people!
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As always, [Reverse] activated with just my mental command. No special effects or anything flashy.
But it definitely took effect, and the hundred-plus cocoons in front of me began to unravel.
"Oh… it's like a dream…"
"Did we really… get saved…?"
"Thank you, young man! Tell me your name! I want to spread the faith that worships you!"
When I used [Reverse] to reverse their fusion state, everyone transformed back to their unfused condition.
Strangely, the white cocoons that unraveled at the same time also vanished without a trace.
That worked. I wasn't very confident, though.
In the great hall, the people freed from their cocoons celebrated together.
Families and lovers embraced each other, confirming that everyone was safe.
Watching over this scene, several figures in black robes approached from behind me.
"What exactly is going on here? The energy supply from the cocoons was cut off, and then…"
"I didn't think that many cocoons could be completed in such a short time, but to think they've been released…"
"We can investigate the cause later. Shall we seal them all in cocoons once more?"
The joyful atmosphere instantly turned dark and somber.
"What the hell are you people?"
"I'll tell you as a parting gift to the afterlife—we are the Obsidian Sorcerers. Elite magicians chosen by the True King!"
As they spoke, their black robes billowed dramatically.
Just before that, I had detected one of them secretly casting [Gentle Breeze Magic].
Ah, so that's how they do it—this is how they pull off those dramatic cloak-fluttering poses in manga and anime.
"We can't let this many escape. Let's restrain them and then prepare the cocoon magic. 'Before the hands of pitch-black darkness, you have no freedom — Dark Bind'!"
Black hands sprouted from the ground, reaching out to restrain everyone present.
Restraining this many people at once—they sure have a lot of mana.
But I won't let that happen.
"[Saint Flash]"
Holy light blazed across the entire area, and the dark hands vanished.
"What?!"
I then turned to the most spirited-looking man among those I'd saved.
"I'm going to teleport you all to Lord Harold's mansion with teleportation magic. Once you get there, tell them 'Alan sends his regards.' They should understand. Now then—[Transport]."
Without waiting for a reply, I teleported everyone to the vast garden of Harold's estate.
Some people's bodies had been trembling the moment they heard the Obsidian Sorcerers say "seal them in cocoons," so I had to get them out of there as fast as possible.
"Large-scale teleportation magic! But this looks like we've got some excellent experimental material on our hands. This one alone could generate the energy we need!"
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Skills: [Reverse], [Divine Eye], [Sword God], [Fist God], [Spear God], [Scorching Magic], [Freezing Ice Magic], [Clear Gale Magic], [Rock Iron Magic], [Holy Magic], [Dark Magic], [Space-Time Magic], [Thunder God Blade], [Phantom Thief Gentleman], [Ninja Master], [Seeker of Truth], [Berserk], [Vayu Sprint], [Pain Relief], [Complete Status Ailment Resistance], [Dark Spirit's Protection], [Super Intuition], [Heaven's Gate], [Abyssal Contractee], [Magic Hand], [Treasure Search], [Seduction], [Incitement], [Telemesmerism], [Eloquence], [Strong Luck], [10x Growth Speed], [Growth Limit Breakthrough]
Rank: Orichalcum