Xelloss and Ad were making their way through the forest, where the snow was so thick that it was difficult to move forward.
　There was more snow than they had expected, and in some places they were knee-deep in it, and to be honest, they regretted their underestimation of the snowy mountains.
　The streets where many people used to come and go were now reduced to rubble, and trees were growing on the buildings as if they were symbols of vitality. It was beyond my imagination that a city that was no longer inhabited could be buried by nature to this extent.
　Because the runway was barely open, the snow melted under the heat of the sun, and a few plants and trees peeked out from the snow and frozen road surface. The multi-legged tank stranded there looked like a corpse.

I don't know why there are parts of the runway without snow. Is it possible to get warm enough to see the surface of the road just from the heat of the sun?
"Maybe it's because there's some kind of solar panel embedded in it.　I don't know what it's for, but ....... It feels like glass to the touch. It doesn't break when you hit it, so it's definitely not glass. Tempered glass?
"Hmmm. ...... would you bury tempered glass in a runway?　I don't think there's enough of it for power generation. There are still many mysteries in the old technology.

　There is no such thing as a useless tool or facility.
　In addition, if we assume that this ruined city was a military facility, there is no such thing as useless equipment.
　In addition, the old age was a highly advanced magical civilization. As long as there are magical power reactors, it is doubtful that there is a need for solar power generation. After all, it was a time full of clean energy.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get out of the snow. It's deeper in some places, and it's a tougher hunting ground than I expected.
There are a lot of demons.　There's a pack of snow wolves around right now. ......

　The old man and his friends were now surrounded by a pack of demons.
　In the snowy mountains, food is scarce and the demons that can hibernate are already in a deep sleep. Only the demons that can be active in the winter are vigorously searching for prey.
　Of course, the old men themselves were also recognized as a unique quantity.

In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web. The less damage, the better.
The less damage, the better." "Do you want to use a bow?　It's a good weapon in this case. ......
That's right. The arrows are expendable, but this is not the time to choose a weapon.

　He opened the status list and tapped on the console panel to change his equipment. However, to the casual observer, he seemed to be acting strangely.
　Only Xelloss and the others can see the status screen. In addition, only reincarnated people have inventory and storage.
　There are also item bags, but these tools can only be obtained from dungeons.

I'll use an iron arrow, just in case. I use an iron arrow, though, and a mithril bow.
I'm the same way. I'm not so sure about that, though.

　Xellos and his friends have powerful weapons, but when they use them, they become overpowered.
　This is because the power of the weapon combined with the ability of the reincarnated person will cause the material to be blown up. The old man hasn't forgotten the rabbit he minced in the Great Dark Green Zone of Furan.

"I think this is still too much, don't forget to take it easy.
OK.
In some cases, you can kill them with just a pebble.
Pebbles?　No, that's really impossible.

　Apparently, Ad has never used a finger bullet or a stone.
　They are surprisingly effective in hunting, and even more effective when used with pitfalls.

Give priority to fangs, claws, and fur. They'll sell for a lot of money to rich people.
"Aim for your own home. And don't you think you can sell magic rocks?
It can be sold, but if it's a very large one, it might take two hours to exchange it for cash. It'll be hard to get the money.
Can't you sell them to a mage store?
They're ...... running at a loss.

　The store is run by a female mage dressed like a witch.
　But there is a clerk there who is a genius at undermining the store. She is also a nasty woman who wants to turn people into criminals.

I hope it doesn't go under.
How bad is this place?

　While getting their feet stuck in the snow, the two of them charged into the wolf pack.
　It was a reckless act that would normally result in death.

　The massacre of demons by two vicious mages began.


　...


　On that day, the investigators from Solstair Magic Kingdom who were investigating Ether Lante were examining the inside of the vent.
　Based on the testimony of the academy students who discovered this hidden route, half of the survey team that was investigating the city was sent here, and several material delivery routes have now been identified.
　Some of the routes were direct from the ground, while others followed intricate routes that led to valleys, like a nest of ants.


　If the ancient city was a military defense base, then this complicated route of material delivery would make sense. However, there was a big problem in grasping the full scope of the city.
　There were countless places where demons had made their nests.
　Creeping through the narrow air vents, goblins and orcs roamed about, especially on the mountain side, and many of them were using it as a place of inertia.
　The magical kingdom of Solistair is a country adjacent to the great deep green zone where powerful demons live, and they are very wary of demons. The Kingdom of Solistea is a country adjacent to the Great Deep Green Zone, which is inhabited by powerful demons.
　As a result, it turned out that they were much more powerful than the goblins and orcs that inhabited the country.
　After all, it was made of iron. A demon with that much intelligence could act militarily, so we couldn't let it know we were there.
　If we were not careful, it would be dangerous to allow it to invade Ether Lante.
　The captain of the survey team was looking at the scenery outside with his second-in-command, wondering how to deal with the situation in the future.

It's a problem. ...... With them around, we can't proceed with the investigation, and more importantly, we can't investigate the ruins outside.
"Right. Well, it's been abandoned for a long time, and we expected it to be a nest of demons. ......
They're not like us. The upper range of strength is crazy. ....... It's a shame that we can't even get our hands on the untouched ruins right in front of us!
"We're sorry to hear that, too. If we could just figure out some of the old technology, it would make life so much easier for people. ......
"Compared to the creatures in the archives, I have no idea how such a monster came to be.
I don't know if you can call it evolution.　Can we call it evolution? But even if the environment has changed drastically, how can so many species grow at once?
I'd like to figure that out, too. ....... We can come up with as many theories as we want, but it's all speculation.

　The few old documents that remain show that there are now only a few animals left in existence.
　Those that do exist are creatures that have the ferocity to defeat even demons, and can turn into demons at any moment. The only original species left are, at best, domestic animals such as pigs, cows, and horses that have retained their original forms.
　Now, in this world, animals can be called demons.

Greater Kobolds and High Orcs roam the land. ...... This place is hell.
If we can somehow eliminate them,......, no, there will be many casualties.

　For researchers who want to examine the foreign objects of the Old Age, the ruins just above Ether Lante are a veritable treasure trove. I still feel the urge to go out there.
　However, it would be suicidal to conduct a survey outside, where monsters with herding habits live in competition for survival.
　You can force the investigation, but you can't involve your subordinates in your personal selfishness.

As far as I'm concerned, ......?

　At the outer ring of the vent, there is a walkway for workers, and the windows are filled with thick, special glass of high quality. A white pillar suddenly rose up in the scene that unfolded outside the window.

What the ...... was that?
I'm not sure if it's a battle between vicious demons or not.　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
"But it's not as powerful as it looks. It was as if an iceberg had broken up and fallen into the lake.
Oh, you've seen an iceberg? ......
This is an image recorded on a magic tool from the old days: ....... No, you don't care about that!　Obviously, some kind of ridiculous monsters are in a state of combat with each other!

　This time, a huge rock rises up as if to pierce the heavens.
　This time, a huge rock rose as if to plunge into the sky, and demons caught in its power flew high into the air like pieces of wood.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help.

I'm not sure what to say.
I'm not sure if the ruins are safe.　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
There's no way it's safe!　What kind of monster destroys a valuable treasure?

　What kind of monster would destroy a valuable treasure?
　In the midst of all this, a huge fireball was created in the air.
　The light that shone brightly was more like condensed lightning than fire, and it had a truly divine glow. A foreboding feeling ran through the captain's back.

"Ma...... no way.......　

　From the huge ball of light, countless bands of light ran through the earth.
　And then...

　--Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　A shockwave erupted from behind.
　The thick tempered glass windows trembled, the building shook like itself from the vibrations, and the view from the window turned into a cloud of steam.
　I understood that it was an attack that contained tremendous amount of heat and energy.
　With a single attack, it cleaved the earth, spewed lava, and sent shock waves laying waste to the earth.
　It looks like the breath of a dragon, but there is no such demon anywhere.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

　A huge human figure floating in the steam.
　The red glow around the mouth makes you imagine that the attack was a breath attack by a giant. In other words, the giant in front of you is a monster comparable to a dragon.
　The red glow in his mouth gradually grew brighter and soon countless balls of flame rained down on the earth.
　The city of ruins was cruelly burned in the flames.

The ruins of ...... the treasures of mankind ......... ah ......
What? --------------- Ah!

　The survey team leader was so shocked that he fainted.
　The civilization of the old days could be called a world heritage. Right in front of his eyes, it was cruelly torn apart by light, sunk into lava, and obliterated by the blast.
　For an archaeology specialist, the event that happened in front of his eyes is nothing but a tragedy. It can be described as a nightmare.



　Later, it was recorded by the survey team that there were giants who did not show themselves around the mountain ruins.
　This is the later folklore, the legend of the "invisible giants".


　The time goes back a little.


　The time goes back a bit.
　Xellos and Ado, who ran into a pack of snow wolves, were still unbeatable.
　In the first place, only an Ancient Dragon or a God would be able to take on these two. But this is where I made a big mistake.
　It was an abandoned city in the mountains, a place where the competition for wildlife survival was at its fiercest. There is limited food, and the competition for survival is fierce.
　Xelloss himself did not underestimate nature. In fact, he was so wary of it that he didn't even realize that he had made a simple mistake.
　It happened when he was dismantling a snow wolf.

It's a beautiful fur. ....... Huh?　Isn't the value of this thing going to plummet?
"Mr. Xelloss ......, you should have told me that before you wiped me out. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
If it comes down to it, I'll sell it to the chairman of the Solistair Chamber of Commerce. I'm sure he'll make a profit with his flawless business.
I don't like that guy. ....... I'm afraid of the way he smiles and the way he behaves, he's so flawless.
He's a nobleman. And he's a duke. If you get too deep, you'll end up with burns.
He's too dignified.

　The Snow Wolves are requested by the Mercenary Guild every year.
　Their snow-white fur is popular even with noblewomen, and a single pelt can fetch a very high price. However, it was a terribly cunning and organized demon.

I hear the meat is delicious.　You can expect to make a lot of money selling them, but these numbers seem problematic. ......
"There's 200 of them, are you okay?
"Hahaha, leave it to President Delsasis. We just need to deliver 20 of them to the mercenary guild and we're good to go.
That's a bit selfish, isn't it?
Mr. Ad, I have no connection to the Duke of Delsasis. I'm connected to President Delsasis. This is business, okay?
What's the difference? If I'm not careful, I'll be taken in by the nobility.
He's a man who knows his place in business. If you're dealing with him as a merchant, he'll never use the duke's prestige. I think he's a very dangerous man.

　Both Xellos and Delsasis saw each other as business partners.
　If Ado intended to be a merchant, then Delthasys would also be a merchant. And then they would take care of each other's interests.
　As a merchant, he was conscientious, but if he were to turn against him or betray him, he would be feared. On the other hand, as a duke, if you were to antagonize him, he would surely send you to hell.

As a merchant, you are conscientious, aren't you?　You wouldn't be fooled, would you?
"What are you talking about?　Mr. Ad. ....... A merchant's negotiation is a deception. You should be grateful that they're offering you a profit. Ha-ha-ha.

　The point is to watch your step, but not let them know it.
　The product is a little more colorful than the purchase price, and you make more money. You make money by controlling information, using your connections, and using your talent.
　And he does it all on the side of his job as a duke.

"I'm just being used, aren't I?
"Use and be used. Isn't that the best relationship? Be careful not to get greedy or you'll end up in trouble.
You're too optimistic. I'm afraid of Mr. Xelloss, too. ...... Mr. Xelloss!
...... Coming. You smell the blood, ......?　But what is this number ......?

　It's a sign of a pack of demons gathering from all sides.
　I could sense their vicious intent to kill and their tyrannical will to fight.
　What Xelloss had forgotten. That in the snowy mountains, food is scarce and the demons are starving.
　In order to survive, they repeatedly hunt, devouring the carcasses of their comrades and relentlessly attacking and preying on foreign enemies.
　It's a pure killing intent to keep life alive, but the number of demons releasing that killing intent is extraordinary.

I'm not sure what to make of it.


I don't mean to belittle nature, but this is more than a little crazy.

　It's because of the small area that demons tend to be violent.
　It's the opposite of the Great Deep Green Zone, where a small number of species fight each other in a limited area.
　In the spring, they increase their numbers and kill each other to stave off hunger, and in the winter, they kill each other for lack of food.
　In the winter, when there is no food, they kill each other. The last species to win starves and their numbers are reduced and adjusted, and the same thing happens again the next year.
　A circle created by nature.
But it was the logic of the weak and the strong, where there was no winner, only life.

"Ahahahahahaha!　It seems that we've upset the balance. It looks like all the demons are going to kill each other now.
It's no laughing matter!

　The demons began to move in unison.
　The Snow Wolves attacked the Greater Kobolds, the High Kobolds swarmed the High Orcs, and the Orcs attacked the Snow Wolves.
　Other demons would devour the dead, and then other demons would devour them.
　It's not a three-way or four-way fight. All demons eat each other and kill each other to survive. It's hell.
　If there was a word for it, chaos would be the appropriate word.
　Xellos and the others were caught up in the battle.

"What are we going to do about it?
"We'll just have to annihilate them. "The breath of zero degrees, spouting from the earth!

This is the enhanced version of the [Ice Gazer].
　It is a spell that blows up freezing, extremely cold air like a geyser and freezes it instantly. However, the scope of this magic was different by an order of magnitude.
　A geyser of white ice blasted high into the sky over the ruins of the old city.
　Many of the demons were caught up in it, and died instantly from heat loss. Even the air was freezing, so they could not survive.
　But that didn't stop the hungry demons from moving.

No, no, no, they're still attacking us. ....... There are demons living in the snowy mountains.
I'm not sure what you mean by that.　I'm not sure what you mean by that.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　It instantly raises the ground where enemies gather, and creates a huge mountain. The mountain is covered with countless thorns, and it is a spell that skewers enemies without question.
　Even after the spell is activated, the ice mountain immediately collapses and crushes the enemy with the mass of ice.
　If you accidentally catch a friendly fire, you're in trouble.
　Of course, even a glimpse of it will gouge the flesh and cause mortal damage.
　You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this sort of thing.

I'm not sure what to make of this. The number of demons is increasing .......
How many of them have been living in this small area? Is it possible that this is just the beginning?

　The demons were starving. They were so hungry that they ate the corpses of their comrades.
　But they would never kill their living brethren. In a way, they were very loving.
　But things have changed.
　Now there is a lot of food in the land, and people are fighting for it.
　They were gathering to satisfy their hunger and to preserve life for the next generation.
　To put it bluntly, the old man and his friends had gone out of their way in a land that had been held in a precarious balance.
　The beasts, sensitive to the smell of position, were lured by the smell and began to move in large numbers, and the surrounding area was filled with many demons.

I can only laugh at ...... this. The situation is unfashionable.
I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I'm not sure if we're using a lot of unfashionable magic right now.　Is it okay to destroy the ruins?　Isn't there some kind of protection ordinance?
"If it's this damaged, there's no protection for it. It's better to just burn it down.
"Hideous ......

　The old annihilators have a history of blowing up enemy monsters and allied players in an infighting match in Sword and Sorcery.
　This is the same person who destroyed a fortress, trapped monsters in a city that should have been defended, and conquered a raid despite the devastating damage. He had the same strangely calm demeanor as he did then.
　There was a kind of resignation, a kind of mastery, that could be seen in his attitude. He may have switched his thinking to, "If there is no human casualty, it's okay.
　In a sense, it can be said to be positive, but it can also be said that they have shelved the issue of responsibility.

They said, "It's a den of wild animals anyway, we can't investigate it. I'm going to burn it down at once, and you can destroy any enemy that comes near it.
"Oh, ......, so now I'm one of the annihilators. That was a short ...... life of common sense.
Rude. I'm not sure what's wrong with me, but I don't want to hear it from my wife, who happily put a collar on me. Are you a masochist?
That's more rude!

　A man who is honest enough to call someone's wife 'crazy'.
　It's certainly rude, but it's also true. Yui's obsession with Ad is quite heavy.

You'll be locked up in a locked room one of these days, won't you?
"Don't say ....... Don't say . I'm afraid you might actually do it.



　He was aware of the swarming demons, but still had time to talk to them.
　All around them, a chaotic scene of demons biting, fighting, and killing each other was unfolding.

So, let's kill them. ....... I'm not sure what to do.
I'm not sure what to make of that.
"It's a different world, so it's OK!

I'm not a fan.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　The magic circle absorbs the surrounding magic power and converts it into destructive power until the deployed magic circle spontaneously dissipates, and extremely thick lasers indiscriminately rain down on the enemy.
　The safe zone is within five meters around Xellos, but the rest of the area is subject to attack. It was like an uncontrolled map weapon.

　A ball of light was created in the sky, as if the sun had increased, and lasers shot out from it in all directions.
　In the aftermath, the ground turned to lava and blew up as if a volcano had exploded.
　The snow that had fallen instantly turned to steam, and the forest was instantly enveloped in white steam. Perhaps it was a relief that the hellish scene inside was no longer visible from the surroundings.

I wonder if ...... this magic is so powerful?　The lasers went a long way, didn't they?
The more distance you go, the less powerful it becomes, because the laser diffuses in the air and the magic itself turns back into magic. The area around the vent should be less powerful. ......
I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.　You can't see it because it's covered in vapor, but isn't it bad?
I mean, it's abandoned. There's no one there, right?

　In fact, there were people.
　The Etha-Lante investigators were looking at the devastation from a distance.
　Fortunately, they were able to avoid a direct hit from the magic, but there were scars left by the windows they were looking at from the laser attack that had melted them. If the attack had been even slightly off, it would have been a disaster.

But what about the flying demon?
That's a butterfly!　His farts stink like instant death!
His fart stinks like instant death! Mr. Ad, I'll take care of it.
Seriously?

　The old man pushed his disgusting partner to Ad.
　The Boar's Head Butterfly, officially known as the Boar's Head Butterflies. It's a fierce and territorial monster. The farting that this monster gave off, which could kill him instantly, was very dangerous.
　And Ad was not a fan of this monster either.

Don't come here!　[Corona Nova]!

　Ado, in a hurry, created a huge fireball in the air.
It is a magic that spreads its attack range like a fan, and the power of spreading from a single point is terribly high. I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm not sure.　This is what you call the Brocken phenomenon. ....... I've never seen it before.

　In the light of the fireball, the old man's shadow was projected onto the dense vapor surrounding the area.
　I'm going to play around with it a bit, showing it moving for fun.

　--Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　In the meantime, magic of tremendous power was shot into the ruined city, and the buildings that barely retained their original form were cruelly transformed into rubble.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with that.
I'm not sure I like it.　He stinks of meat and his body odor is horrible. And he came in a pack. ......
Congratulations. You're a full-fledged annihilator now.
I'm not happy!

　The old man put his hand lightly on Ad's shoulder, giving him a warm look.
　However, he seems to be very unhappy with Ad.

　In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a few things you can do.
　If you look at it dispassionately, the Xellos have destroyed an important historical legacy, even though they could have done something else.
　The slightest carelessness could have led to an irreversible situation.

...... Shall we run?
Yes, we should.

　And the old men escaped in the steam.
　They did not know that a strange legend had been left behind.