Let's turn back the clock to ten days ago...

The intelligence-gathering team that had left the village was headed for the Rastabel Empire, using magic to disguise their appearance so that they would not be seen.

The time is past noon.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. Maybe it's the army of Rastabel that we were talking about.

'I see. 'Well, I'm sure Rastabel's army would have something useful to tell us. No soldier would talk about such things on the march, so we'll approach them at rest. Don't forget to disappear, everyone.

"'Yes!'

(But there is no country in this direction ... are you going to bypass it and attack it? No, then it would be better for another country to go in one direction to distract the enemy... If we continue on, we'll end up in the forest. We should get some information out of them, after all.)

No matter how much of an army they had, it would be reckless to deal with the demons that spread through the Forest of Demon Fog.

In the first place, it's difficult for an army to function as an army in the Demon Fog Forest, where giant trees are overgrown with them.

However, Sheil understands that and does not abandon the possibility that the destination of his march is the Forest of Demon Fog.

That is because, in the unlikely event that the Forest of Mist is the target, the existence of the village could be revealed.

After that, Siyu and the others kept a certain distance from Rastabel's troops and listened to the situation, waiting for the time when they would go to rest.





When the sun began to set, the spirits easily infiltrated the position of the army, which finally began to prepare for the night camp.

They carefully observe the soldiers, occasionally approaching right up to their side, but they don't show any signs of noticing the soldiers.

(Okay, spread out in pairs. When you have seen and heard a certain amount of things, gather at the place you just saw. If something happens, run away immediately. Understood?")

("'Yes, I understand.'")

The spirits quickly paired up at Siyu's signal and scattered to this and that direction.

''Alright, we'll go too.''

("Yes.")

The one paired with Siyu was a relatively young spirit among those who had gone to gather information.

Her name was Hartia.

She was a wind spirit that was quite quick, even if not as quick as Hoomil.

The reason why Sheil took her as a pair is also to support her inexperience, but the implications of being able to take on the role of a messenger in an emergency are significant.

While confirming that he is not seen, he gathers information while listening to the soldiers who are chatting while hiding in their blind spots.

The topic of conversation was all about the previous battle, Dizenaire, and unnaturally, there was nothing about this expedition's destination that was most likely to be discussed.

(That's strange... If they hadn't told the soldiers where they were going, they should have been talking about where they were going. In that case...are they under orders not to talk about it? But for what...?)

Questions ran through my mind, but of course there was no way I could find an answer.

While thinking, Siuil and Hartia, who are working to gather information, saw a tent that is more luxurious than the surrounding objects.

There were several soldiers standing in that tent who looked like guards, and it was easy to predict that there were important people among them.

('Heartier, we're going in there. Be ready to escape at any time.'')

("Ha, yes.")

More breathless than ever, they slipped in as soon as the soldier who had come to report on time asked permission to stand guard and open the hanging curtain.

Inside the tent, there were numerous furnishings that didn't look like they were just going to camp for the night.

I could see a soft bed instead of a sleeping bag, a wardrobe and a tea set to a brightly colored crystal that looked like a brightly colored light that I couldn't quite identify.

In this space, surrounded by things that were clearly not necessary, a man was sitting in a chair.

Judging from his appearance and atmosphere, there is no doubt that he is the general commander of this army.

The man receives a stack of paper that looks like documents from the soldier and listens to the report while silently looking at it.

''Also, the scouts that have been released around the area have reported that there are no problems. Currently, they have been replaced with another unit and are resting.

Is that it?

Ha!

Okay. Get back... No, no, wait a minute.

The man was about to ask the soldier to back off when he finished his report, but when he called for restraint, he pulled an envelope out of his desk drawer and handed it to him.

'Take this to the captain of the First Division. Tell him to come here when he checks the contents.

'Ha! I understand!

(That envelope... should we follow it? No, if the troop leader who delivers that thing is going to be here, I'd better keep hiding out.)

Siyu hesitated slightly, but from their conversation, he chose to stay here.

After saluting, the soldier who received the envelope immediately ran out of the tent.

While waiting for the unit commander, the man sitting in the chair is busy looking through the documents.

Sheil and Hartia looked into the pages every time they rolled up the pages, but there was no information on the march, the soldiers' status reports, etc.

After a while, the man takes his eyes away from the material, and at the same time as he takes a breath, he begins to play with the accessory that was hanging around his neck.

(Taking a break? Hmm?

Suddenly, a tremendous sense of emptiness hit Siyu and Hartia.

Their legs trembled, they became breathless, and they couldn't stand properly.

(Not good! At this rate...)

Naturally, in such a state, it was difficult to maintain the magic that hid their appearance, and they had to expose their bodies in front of the man.

The man saw Sheil and Hartia, but strangely enough, they didn't seem to be upset at all.

Seeing the two wobbling and shifting into a fighting stance, the man raised the corners of his mouth in a grin.

'Surprised? I'm sure you're right. After all, even the person who set it up is surprised.

"You, sir, what are you...?

It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with them.

It's all thanks to Rosalia-sama's power. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you can do with it.

"Weakening of the spirits of our..."?

Enduring an uncomfortable sensation that they had never experienced before, Siyu and Hartia gradually retreated.

There was no way the man in the small tent didn't notice them, and he drew his sword that was propped up against the wall and walked up to them while pointing it at them.

I'm sure your people are being hunted all over the camp by now. Yeah, we won't kill you, so don't look so scared. You've got a lot of energy to supply, you know.

They want us.

Yes, it's easy to get caught, isn't it?

'Oh, don't get me wrong? You are the appetizer before we capture the spirit animal.

"?

Sheil and Hartia's expressions intensified at once.

(The purpose of these guys is the spirit beasts (Hinori and the others)... in other words, the village of the spirits (us)! Somehow, I have to tell everyone about this...)

"Ugh! Earth Fury.

"Whoa!

""Wow!"

Sheil's magic, released while suppressing the discomfort that ran through his entire body, violently shook the earth around himself.

As if they didn't expect resistance in their weakened state, shouts of agitation rose from the man and the soldiers who were surrounding the outside of the tent.

''Hartia, over here!''

"Yes, sir!

The two desperately move their feet while holding their chests in anguish as the soldiers are trapped by the shaking ground and unable to run properly.

Outside the tent, the spirits, who were struck by a sense of emptiness just like the two of them, were resisting with all their might against the soldiers who were trying to capture them.

However, the weakened spirits were unable to push back the soldiers, and they were gradually being trapped and captured.

''Shiyu-san! Everyone! Ugh... help, we have to help!

Don't speak!

(Sorry, everyone. The purpose of these guys is to reward the village at all costs!)

Gritting his teeth at abandoning his family, Siuil took Hartia's arm and kept running.

Just when they were about to leave the camp soon, multiple shadows stood in front of them.

(Kook! I'm almost there...!)

In front of them, the soldiers are slowly approaching to hunt down their prey.

And in the rear...

'I didn't think you could do magic in that state. It wasn't possible in the preliminary experiments. Well, let's just say we got some good data.

They were in the tent, that man standing there.

The emptiness that had overtaken them both seemed to be eating away at their bodies more than the girls thought, and they couldn't seem to be able to pull away that much.

''Now, if all else fails, I'd appreciate it if you could catch me quietly?

I still have a few options. Earthshaker!

Soldiers braced themselves for Sheil's magic, wary of it.

The magic power released makes countless cracks in the ground and leaps up at its target as she wills.

''...Eh?''

The one who was thrown into the air- -Hartia could only widen her eyes at the unexpected event.

It seemed that the soldiers were the same, and they were unable to move while following Hartia with their eyes as she flew past them and toward the rear.

''What are you doing! Catch it quick!

It is a very good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

''Siyu-sa...!

"Heartier, hurry up and report this to my village. I'll buy as much time as I can.

In addition to the unknown emptiness, Siyu, who had consumed enough magic power to fluctuate the terrain on a small scale, was out of breath.

It's very hard to believe that they can fight properly against the soldiers in front of them.

''But...''

Let's go!

What?

Hartia was hesitant about running away without her family, but her body trembled for a moment at the spirited command, and then she flew away with a sad expression on her face.

Sheil, who sensed the signs of Hartia's distance from her over her back, slightly broke out in her cheeks.

(Magic... one or two more shots are the limit, huh? Well, that's fine. As long as Heartia returns to the village, everyone else will manage the rest.)

The man in the tent seems to be indignant for catching and missing the spirit (prey), and he seems to be shouting something, but it doesn't enter Siyu's ears at all.

(Sorry, guys. I'll take care of the rest, Vilm.)

The emptiness that consumed his body remained the same, but the discomfort that crawled through his entire body was gone before he knew it.