Volume 4 Chapter 80: The Gorgon’s Magic Eye【Final Volume: Balor and Nanashi Arc】

The flame spewed by the Gorgon is, naturally, extremely potent.
Its searing heat incinerates everything that stands in its path.

What makes matters even more troublesome is that the flame is laced with poison—a poisonous flame. Even if one could somehow withstand the heat, the added poison inflicts a debilitating condition.

Its power is tremendous, capable of rendering the land barren.
This breath—which can obliterate a wide area in one go—was one of the Gorgon’s favorite attacks.

Since it was aimed at the two humans, even the snakes that were attacking them were caught up in the blast and completely obliterated. Not that it mattered—the Gorgon could summon as many as she pleased; replacements were plentiful.

The Gorgon smirked with a sadistic grin, eagerly anticipating the sight of two charred corpses…

“Uoooooo! Finally, it’s Izun’s turn! Just watch this, Balor-dono!”

Another strange human has appeared. I had somewhat expected reinforcements—humans clearly understand her strength. That is why, in the past, vast armies attacked her.

No matter what, they wouldn’t try to kill her with just two; she had assumed there might be hidden ambushes. But this time, there was only one.

…………

What on earth do these people want? Certainly, the first two might be quick and troublesome opponents, but she was convinced that their swords would never reach her.
If a force capable of threatening her life were required, yet only a frail human appeared—moreover, foolishly emerging right in the direct path of the flame she had breathed—the number of charred corpses increased from two to three. That was all that was expected… but not quite.

“Alright, alright! Do your best, Izun! Mmmmmm—!”

Izun closed her eyes as she murmured her encouragement, then widened her bright red eyes.

“――――――Die.” 

“⁉️”

Is “overflowing” the correct way to describe it? From frail Izun’s body, a power resembling pitch‑black miasma oozes out.
It is an anomalous force that even the Gorgon—aged by long years—cannot explain.
It causes life to wither, corrupts it, and ultimately brings it to decay.

Relentlessly, something evil and hideous collides with the venomous flame the Gorgon expelled. For a fleeting moment, their forces balanced.
But then the Gorgon’s flame was swallowed by that strange power; it was effortlessly overpowered.
The venomous flame—which had once killed countless humans—was easily repelled. In that moment, the Gorgon undeniably sensed the peril to her own life.
And with that came fear—she was clearly intimidated by that alien power.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
“Wah! It’s flying⁉️”

With a crackling, unpleasant sound, wings burst forth from the Gorgon’s back.
Then, in one bound, she leaped.
She somehow managed to dodge the strange, overwhelming force—which, having completely engulfed the venomous flame, was barreling toward her with full momentum.
It was the first time in her existence that the Gorgon had been forced into such an unmistakable retreat.

She barely managed to escape, and a sense of relief washed over her.
However, she then felt an intense anger toward herself for having been so complacent—frightened by something as trivial as a human, forced to flee from mere human power. Such a thing was utterly unforgivable.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”
“Aw, jeez… You’re really angry, huh. Whitehair, since you’re the one who got us riled up, you’ll take full responsibility right to the end, nya.”
“It’s Izun’s fault⁉️”

Seeing the Gorgon unleash an ear-splitting roar in mid-air, Artemis scowled in disgust. Although she was merely complaining about her allies as usual, she truly felt like unleashing a string of curses.

The reason, clearly visible even to her, was that the Gorgon was about to use her trump card—an attack so well known that even if many had never experienced or seen it directly, they were aware of it as a matter of lore.
When one speaks of the legendary monster Gorgon, there is one distinct, fearsome attack: the most famous and dangerous of all.
In other words, the Gorgon’s magic eye.

◆

The Gorgon’s magic eye bestows a powerful curse of petrification.
It is renowned worldwide.
So potent is this force—and so devastating to humanity—that it has wrought enormous calamity.

“Ah… Isn’t it only effective if you meet its gaze?”
“No. I believe that anything falling within the Gorgon’s line of sight is affected without exception.”
“That’s too much, nya…”

Upon hearing Ashvin’s reply, Artemis slumped her shoulders in disappointment.
The Gorgon’s magic eye can be activated without direct eye contact; all it takes is for her to fix her gaze on a target and concentrate her magical power.
With that alone, every living thing that comes into view is petrified and doomed.
What’s even more troublesome is that this curse can never be undone.
In short, it is a finishing move: once the Gorgon employs it, everything in her sight is fated to perish.
Of course, since this power is so well known, countless countermeasures have been attempted over time.

“What about tools or spells to block it…?”
“None exist. No matter how robust a defensive spell one uses, or what kind of items reduce magical effects, they are all effortlessly shattered and rendered ineffective. That’s why this power was so feared by humanity—and ultimately sealed away.”
“Well, that figures, nya…”

Artemis was utterly exasperated at the lack of countermeasures.
The true terror of the Gorgon’s magic eye boils down to two key points:
first, anything that falls within its sight is unavoidably petrified;
and second, there is simply no way to prevent it.
In other words, its mere activation is tantamount to a death sentence.
Records show that even during the previous attempt to seal the Gorgon, this magic eye inflicted severe damage.

“Hmm… Can’t that strange power of Whitehair somehow counter it, nya?”
“I’ve never tried it, so I’m not confident—probably, I’ll fail!”
“A spirited answer—I’m delighted by it, nya…”

Izun beamed broadly.
I’m not sure what’s so amusing about it, but it is precisely because this power is so overwhelming that the Gorgon has been feared as a legendary monster.
Thus, there was nothing they could do about the magic eye…

“You said you could handle this, so we’re following you. Make sure you deliver results, Konoha.”
“Of course.”

To offer that reassurance, another maid—Konoha—appeared.
At the same moment, the Gorgon’s magic eye activated as it fixed its gaze on four maids.