Published: September 9, 2025
This is Satou. Curry roux is truly amazing. Even if the vegetables are a bit overcooked and falling apart, as long as you add the roux, it still becomes curry. Even if the potatoes dissolve and become powdery, curry is still curry.
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“I just want to confirm if this has already been considered—is that okay?”
“Yes, any opinions are welcome, please.”
Lady Jia pleaded with teary eyes, looking up from a low position.
Ah, this atmosphere makes it hard to say anything offhand.
“Have you tried gathering them all in one place and attacking remotely with a high-output magic?”
“Yes, it seems the Biloanan Clan on another continent tried that, but as soon as they defeated some, the creatures split and multiplied. They also suffered counterattacks from the World Tree, and by the time it was all over, half of the World Tree’s branches and the majority of the Elves’ lives were lost.”
It seems the World Tree exists on other continents as well. The Biloanan Clan, despite being Elves, are a quarrelsome clan specializing in fire magic. Maybe it’s just prejudice, but they don’t seem very Elf-like.
“That clan is a bit different from the others…”
“Jia, don’t badmouth other clans.”
“Sorry, Elder.”
Next to the elder, Lady Aarize was nodding her head in agreement.
Come to think of it, she was here.
“What happened to the World Tree of the Biloanan Clan afterwards?”
“It seems they managed to exterminate all the evil jellyfish, but the mana flowing from the World Tree to the land was reduced too much, turning nearly 30% of the continent into desert and wasteland.”
The damage is quite severe.
Considering the indirect damage, it might have been worse than the Demon King.
No one knew the details of the long-range attack magic, so I asked the elder to arrange for an inquiry with the Biloanan Clan.
“Next, the second point. Have you tried capturing the evil jellyfish for research? Looking for attributes they dislike or substances that repel them, or even pheromones that might attract them?”
“Yes, I believe both the Berinuan and Bulinan Clans conducted such research. Their weak attributes are fire and heat. On the other hand, they seem resistant to ice and darkness. I haven’t heard of any attracting substances.”
“Hmm, I’ll inquire with both clans myself.”
“Thank you.”
Lady Jia answered my questions smoothly, and the elder immediately promised arrangements. Lady Aarize just nodded silently beside them. Is that all, High Elf?
“Lastly, the third point. It’s said that harming the evil jellyfish causes the World Tree to attack them. Do you know how much harm triggers the attack?”
“I had someone with appraisal skill check, and it seems that after about 30% of their health is depleted, the World Tree attacks.”
Then maybe we can debuff and neutralize them?
If long-range offensive magic is possible, perhaps long-range status-change magic would work as well?
“Have you tried putting the evil jellyfish to sleep, then separating them from the World Tree to eradicate them?”
“This is also in reports from the Berinuan and Bulinan Clans—ah, here it is. They can be put to sleep, but it seems the jellyfish monitor each other's distances, and when they are separated beyond a certain point, other jellyfish interfere.”
Lady Jia was flipping through paper files. Surprising to see such low-tech in this near-futuristic space.
Hmm, if we put them all to sleep at once, wouldn’t it work?
I asked Lady Jia, but—
“That’s impossible.”
—she denied immediately. She said if you put a hundred to sleep, the first one wakes up. Plus, they have strong resistance to sleep and paralysis, so they’re hard to put to sleep. The magic power of sleep potions is absorbed by the jellyfish, reducing effectiveness.
They also tried water and wind-based sleep magic, but unless it’s intermediate level or higher, they can’t penetrate the magic absorption field around the jellyfish. Though, apparently, expert casters can have effects even with beginner magic, so the jellyfish’s absorption isn’t perfect.