The black mist, composed of souls and ashes, was moving through the forest.
　The souls of the brave men are bewildered, while the soul of one man is shaking with joy.

"Why is the control ......?
"It looks like this lady has taken over the control!　Why?
I'm not sure what's going on here.

　It was when they were attacking the demons and absorbing their semen and blood that they felt something strange.
　I'm not sure what to do. Suddenly, their bodies (?) began to move independently of their will, and they escaped from the forest and began to attack houses.
　It was only after they had killed all the people in the village that they found out that it was caused by the soul of a certain person. Because the soul started laughing like an idiot.

Don't know what ...... is?　I'll give you a hint, it's the bandits I've been killing.
"Thieves?　No way. ......
"Ahahahahahaha, you finally get it?　It's a good thing I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.
『『『『『! 』』』』』

　The heroes were summoned to this world regardless of their own will.
　In the early days, countless people from other worlds were summoned, and most of them were suddenly annihilated by the attacks of the evil gods. This is too unreasonable.
　After that, the heroes continued to be summoned, and after being used for political purposes, they were buried in the dark. That's why they hate Metis Holy God State so much.
　But they are not willing to kill civilians who have nothing to do with them. That's the level of ethics they have.
　With the exception of one irregularity: .......

"Nothing is more convenient for me than to go after the bad guys to build up my power. It's given me my freedom.
"d*mn ...... separation in this case ......
"Heh heh ...... is useless, brother. We'll take your bodies and your power.
"How dare you kill us, .......? I'm going to use you guys this time, okay?

　Fog demons are essentially spirits at their core.
　They can manipulate matter and touch objects that cannot be touched by spirits. The focus is on the synchronization part.
　The souls of the former heroes are basically good people, and although they can be angry and vengeful, they cooperate with each other based on a common consciousness.
　So why can't the souls of villains do the same thing?　Sharanra, who was observing to gain her freedom, secured the souls of the bandits every time she attacked them and asked for their cooperation.
　Also, the more negative delusions an evil spirit has, the more powerful it becomes. The hatred of the heroes also gave power to the evil spirits.
　As a result, the Legion of the former heroes was taken over by Sharanra and the others.

"There were just more bandit souls than you, you know?　It's just that there were more bandit souls than you, and they were too shallow to gain power. It's so pathetic. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
"You old hag. ......
"Oh, my God. ......
"Oh no ......, this is going to cause unnecessary casualties ......
"What does it matter if you kill someone good or bad?　If you kill someone, you're just a murderer, and you're just like me. We're all monsters now, so let's just get along.
『『『『『 You've got to be kidding me. 』』』』』
I'm not sure what to say.　It's a good thing I'm not the only one. Oh, I can smell those delicious souls from over there. I think there's a town nearby. Let's go.
『『『『『『 Hey, Miss! 』』』』』

　The brave men could not say anything.
　It is true that they have been taking the lives of others, even for their own purposes.
　But if this continues, ordinary people will be eaten by these villains.
　This is not what the former heroes wanted.
　However, due to the skills the heroes had acquired, the demonized Legion had gained a great deal of mobility. The only saving grace of the Legion was that it consumed a lot of magic power due to its lack of a physical body.
　This weakness had greatly slowed down his long-distance travel time, but he had already left the magical kingdom of Solistair.

(Someone please stop ...... these guys. If we don't, ......).

　I know it's a naive idea.
　I was well aware that I was not qualified to rely on anyone.
　Still, I can't help but wish.
　I know it's a naive idea.


　.


　We drove through the forest in a light car and came to an open area.
　There were obvious traces of settlement, and we could see downed trees and stumps.

...... Are we on foot from here?
'No, I've been pretty reckless through the woods. ....... What's with all the scratches on the body of the car?


I hope I'm not too late. ......
You don't want to hear what I have to say. ....... So, where's this illegal immigrant village?
Wait a minute. Let me see. ......

　I unfolded the map on the spot and checked the direction with the compass.
　An unidentified demon attacks even humans, draining their blood from their bodies.
　This kind of demon increases its power with the number of people it sacrifices, and develops an even more annoying stubbornness. They will not be easily defeated.

It's a little further west. But, is Metis' internal politics not going well?　It would be the end of the country if there were refugees.
It's a country where clergymen in name only and bribes are rampant, and they raise tax revenue without caring about the people. In addition, the holy knight order led by the brave man was destroyed, and the bereaved family must be paid.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
I heard that the cost of living is also high.　I heard that in the countryside, the damage caused by fairies is unbelievable.

　Fairies are semi-spiritual creatures with a hedonistic nature.
　They play vicious pranks and threaten the lives of humans, so in a sense, they are treated as pests.
　In fact, some of their pranks are so vicious that they can kill a human being, and they laugh at the sight of human beings suffering and lamenting as if they were watching a comedy show. Even Xelloss thinks it would be better to exterminate such creatures.
　The problem is that the Holy Priesthood of Metis fosters this fairy.

"The farmers in the countryside must be suffering ......, poor thing.
I agree. Let's get a move on. What if it's too late?
You can't do anything about it.　Even if they had all been killed, the magical kingdom of Solstice would have none of it.
Awesome. ......
You can make your nationality the Kingdom of Solstice Magic, but the Kingdom of Metis Holy Law won't let you do that. If we're not careful, it could be a diplomatic issue.
It's really bad. ......

　We walked through the forest, talking about various things, and after about thirty minutes, we finally found a house.
　However, there was no sign of life in the house.

"...... Mr. Zeros.
Oh ......, it looks like it's already too late. Let's split up and check the houses. Keep your eyes open. ......
Copy that.

　The nameless village was in a terrible state.
　All the people, young and old, male and female, were mummified, and it was hard to believe there were any survivors.
　It seemed that some of them had tried to escape into the forest, but were caught up and killed. At least one day has passed since his death.

Seriously? ....... Did you get attacked in the night?　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you out.　That's ridiculous.

　Most of the houses were locked from the inside and there was no evidence that anyone had broken in.
　But most of the villagers were murdered inside their houses. This is crazy.

"Shadow dive?　No, this situation is more like widespread magic. ...... Maybe it's not real?　That would make sense for this situation.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. I'm not sure what to do.
　It's a collection of small poisonous flies that move in swarms and kill their prey with poison. It lays eggs on the prey it kills, and then moves on to larger swarms.
　But at least this demon doesn't have the ability to mummify.

I think it's better to think of it as a spirit. I'm sorry to the victims, but I think it's a good thing that we were able to confirm it. ......

　Whenever I find a dead body, I put my hands together and pray for the soul.
　Even though our religions are different, we never forget to show our condolences to the dead. The man is Japanese.

No, there are no survivors. ....... Children were killed without mercy.
"I guess ...... this is about depriving them of their spirit. Is depriving the blood a medium for the spirit to interfere with the creature?
"It's better if we can guess from the situation. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.　If so, should I return to report it?
That's right, ......, what should we do?

　I'm not sure what to do.
　It's not a good idea to invade another country without permission, even if it's at the request of the Duke of Delsacis.
　But if you don't find out who he is, this request will be a failure.

You can't blame them. ...... Do you want to invade a neighboring country? If they're going to attack houses, they're most likely going to attack a village or town close to here.
"Yeah, ......, so what are we going to do from here?　My light wagon won't get us through the forest. A rebuilt Air Rider?
The Astounding ....... It's not working yet.
Why not?　Why did you name it that before?　It hadn't been decided yet, right?


I get a lot of questions. The reason why you can't use it right away is because it's still incomplete. The magic tank is empty, and I haven't adjusted it yet. Same with the bike, by the way.
So what do we do now?
...... We're still in the woods, we'll just have to run. I think we can accelerate like the eight men by strengthening our magic. ......
Are you serious?　Are you seriously going to go one hundred and nineteen kilometers per hour?　You're speeding!　I hope we don't lose our legs in the process.
The bullet train can accelerate over 200 kilometers per hour.

　As a punishment for talking nonsense at the scene of a tragic incident, I suddenly felt the magic in my surroundings increase abnormally. At the same time, the ambient temperature dropped.

"Mr. Ad!
I'm not sure if this is ......

　The two of them got into a battle stance.
　As if to confirm this, the mummified villagers began to move in unison.

"Failsford. ......
You've been playing that scary game?　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　The answer begins with the destruction of the magic circle that summoned the heroes.
　In the past, the concentration of magic power around this area was lower than that of the Great Dark Green Zone of Fafran, but this was because the magic circle was collecting magic power flowing through the earth's veins and at the same time rapidly depriving it. If the magic circle were to disappear, the magic power that should have been absorbed would flow into the earth at once.
　If there is a dragon vein directly underneath, the influx of magic power will be even faster, and its effects will be felt on the surface of the earth. It activates the spiritual quality drifting through the forest and creates a spirit called the mountain demon.
　These have similar characteristics to ghosts, and possess the bodies of living creatures, causing the corpses to turn into zombies. However, they are still unintelligent and easy to deal with, but they are still monsters that must be defeated because they will attack humans.

I've beaten the undead before - big skeletons and demons. ......
"Shouldn't we cremate them?　If they continue to wander around as monsters, they'll never get better.
That's right. I think I'll just burn them and move on.

　Not long after, smoke rises in the forest near the border.
　When the Knights learned of the strange sight, they went to check it out, but all that was left was an uninhabited house. By the time they arrived, Xellos had already crossed the border and was on his way to Metis.
　Of course, they had to run.


　.


　A little further back in time, we find ourselves in a public bathhouse in the town of Lizzagur.
　There was a fierce battle going on between the bastards who dared to peep and the female customers who focused on defense.

"d*mn it, freezing magic is not fair!
"Shut up!　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.
"Lolita......, where's Lolita......?
"Mature women ...... are even better if they are slightly obese chubby beauties!
I'm not interested in pretty girls.
"I'm not interested in beautiful girls. Bring out the old woman!
"What's with ...... that guy. He's got a handsome face. ......

　There are bath tubs and soaps and magic flying around, magic barriers are deployed, the hot spring is freezing, cold wind is blowing wildly, and sometimes fists and kicks are flying wildly.
　Already half of the partition wall had been destroyed, and there was no longer any point in separating the men's and women's baths. The men were crowding into the gaping hole, while the women were desperately trying to defend themselves.
　This is no longer peeping, but rather an assault on the women.
　However, they were determined to peep, and never laid a hand on the women. In a sense, they were gentlemen.
　In the midst of the commotion, Izzard and Sergus, who were in the men's sauna, stiffened the moment they opened the door and came out.

"...... Sirgus, what is this?
What is it?

　It's a normal scene of men breaking down a wall and trying to attack a woman.
　And Sergus never misses a situation like this.

Hmm, should we assume that the men are at fault in this case?
"Well, yes. The women seem to be resisting desperately. ......
That means it's okay to hit them, right?
......... What?

　When Izaat looked back at Sergas, the old mage had jumped high into the sky.
　It was a tremendous leap.



　The man was taken by surprise and threw a kick.
　The men who were taken by surprise were blown away before they could scream, and fainted without knowing what had happened.

"What the hell is this old muscle?
It's coming down from above!
Who the hell are you?


I'm just a mage. Can't you see that?
「「「「「「 You know what I mean! 」」」」」」

　The body of Sergus looks more like a warrior than a mage.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.
　He was mad.
　He was pissed off.
　The body that had been forged in battle was so beautiful that it was hard not to fall in love with it. A wild beast of prey!
　It's a bit of a stretch to believe him when he says he's a mage.

I'm going to finish you off for now. "I'm going to kill you all for the sake of my lady and my hobby.
What's wrong with the last part?
What do you mean, "hobby"?
It's obvious. To make you fools bleed. I can legally beat the crap out of any fool who tries to peek in the ladies' room. Isn't this fun?　Guffffffff ......

　The smoky hot spring turned into an ice field with a terrible blizzard.
　Yes, this is now a hunting ground for ravenous beasts. The moment you get spotted, you're already screwed.

Run to .......
It's too late!
「「「「 geborahhhhhh!!!」」」」

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but I think it's a good idea.
　In addition, the shockwave sent the surrounding men flying through the air, and they fell directly into the bathtub, creating a column of water like an intermittent spring.

What a sloppy mess. I'm not going to let you do that.
「「「「「 No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 」」」」」」

　And so it begins.
　It is a shameful crime to run away from a crowd of criminals.
　It's a bloodbath today (for one).

I'm not going to be able to do it.
"The female body is ---------!
"I wanted her to be ...... .........

　The last thing the fools saw was themselves flying through the air and falling in slow motion. There was no memory of what happened next.
　They were all caught unconscious and taken away by the guards.
　It was fortunate that they were only given a lecture after doing so much, but no matter what they did, they were looked at negatively by the townspeople until they left.
　I suppose they deserved it for destroying a public bathhouse.
　As a side note, Elomura and the others were lying in a pose like the last of some iron-blooded commanders.

"......?　There's no one here.

　Meanwhile, Anzu had been training in the art of water recluse in the bathtub during all this fuss.
　When she came up from the bottom of the bath, she found the women's bath empty and tilted her head curiously.
　I'm surprised she didn't faint.

　I'll tell you what.

　Zveit, unaware that the merrymaking was over, bought a bun at a stall and was tucking into it.
　I'm not a big fan of sweets, but I like this bean paste.

"Is that bean?　The unique sweetness of the ingredients and the sugar ...... make this simple flavor perfect for me.

　The sweets served at banquets and other social occasions are too sweet for Zveit to eat. However, the simple taste of the buns was different and he was able to eat a good amount of them.
　As a nobleman, he had a problem with manners, but he had been doing this kind of eating and walking for a long time, so he didn't worry about it now and casually carried the buns in his mouth as he walked.
　It doesn't matter how you spend your time in everyday life as long as you behave in a proper manner in public. He knew the difference between noble behavior and private life.

What are they up to now ......?
Out of the way, out of the way!

　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and how your friends are doing, you can call us at the web site.
　After all, it was Elomra, another member of the Weasler faction and his best friend who was being carried. I stood alone in the public bath, unsure of what had happened.

What did they really do?　They're ......".

　A stretcher with a group of strange men on it passed by, and I knew that something important was about to happen.
　But it was Elomura who started the foolishness. At the same time, the thought came to my mind, "Why don't we squeeze them hard? Punishment for crime is common sense.
　Above all, voyeurism is a crime.

"Well, that's okay. ......

　Zveit easily abandoned his friends and guards. He popped a bun into his mouth and walked back to the inn, gazing curiously at the exotic architecture.
　He was so distracted that he didn't notice Christine and the others ahead of him, and they were also unaware of Zveit's presence.
　They seemed to be busy.

I'm not sure what to make of this.


Hmm?　He was a voyeur, wasn't he?　You were a voyeur, weren't you? Then I'm sure you won't complain when I kill you.
That's too much!　You need to take it easy on him. No one was seriously injured, but they were all hurt. I'm going to have to explain myself.
"You're the one who's affected, so you have no choice. I'll go with you to the guards later, and we'll finish the questioning as soon as possible.
"That's fine. I don't care if they're dead or not, they're vile people who peep into bathrooms.
Sir?

　The old mage was quite a violent man.
　He was an old man who had always been a warrior, so he tended to test his tactics against criminals.
　If there is a bandit, he will happily face him, if there is a demon, he will battle with his weapon in hand, and if there is an insolent ruffian, he will orally attack him on the spot.
　She's a martial artist, but when magic is added to the mix, it's just too much.

"Christine, the only way to become stronger is through actual combat. "The only way to get stronger, Christine, is through actual combat. Tactics based on trained bodies and experience. How to use magic at the right time, and how to build techniques to defeat your opponent. That's what I study.
You sound more like a tactical engineer than a mage.
When I was a student, a mage could not be a tactical engineer. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the coming weeks.

　It's a good idea for you to learn how to be a mage.
　In the event that you've got a lot of money, you'll be able to take advantage of the fact that you'll be able to get a lot more out of it.
　This was even more so since there were many nobles among the mages.
　However, in his younger days, he was a serious pain in the ass and skipped discussions with others, and did not do things like submit reports on tactics to the academy.
　Because of his character, no one recommended him for the national army, and he has been wandering from place to place ever since. It was only about ten years ago that I became able to teach students as I do now.
　The time I lost cannot be regained, and I have gained various experiences until now. This was a typical example of how time changes people.
　However, although I am happy that the passage of time has proven the correctness of my research, I feel a sense of regret that I am not there.
　But there is nothing I can do about this.

...... These are good times. I'm so jealous that I want to smash everything down.
"Don't do it, sir!
Miss, look ahead to ......
What?
Whoa!

　Christine almost fell .
　Christine almost fell, but Zveit's arm caught her around the waist and kept her from falling.
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

I'm sorry. I was a little distracted. ......
"No, no, ...... this way, this way .......

　They look at each other as they embrace.
　As you can already tell, it was Zveit who bumped into her.
　In a split second, they both felt something like a bolt of lightning strike their brains. The clock stopped.

"Well, that's pretty .......
"Oh, how interesting ......

　Both of their faces heated up, emotions they had never felt before occupied their minds, and their hearts beat fast and hard.
　There was something pink in the air between them.

"Oh, ......, how long are you going to hold each other?
You're not going to do anything insolent to the lady, are you?　If you do, I will cut you down.
Whoa!
Ah. ......

　The two of them simultaneously distance themselves.
　I was too embarrassed to speak.
　In a strange atmosphere, only Sergas tilted his head to look at Zveit. For some reason, Zveit's face was familiar to him.

It's a familiar face that I've seen on ...... somewhere. Where did you ...... ............ mmm, what if!

　Zveit's face was superimposed on that of his former rival and best friend.
　When you understand that it is a face, you understand who the good young man in front of you is.

"Oh, you're ...... Creston's grandson, aren't you?
"Do you know my grandfather?　You're .......
You know him as Sergus. I had a lot of fist fights with him back in the day.
Sergus?　Sergus Cephon?　I've read the books you've written!　I've read the books you've written, and they've always been an important source of basic tactical research for the Weasler school!　Seriously, I never thought I'd find you here: ......

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.
　The Weasler school is always on the lookout for new tactics, and aims to unravel the tactics used in all literature and historical wars, and improve them to suit the times.
　They are mainly interested in how magic tactics can be used in mass battles, and they try to find the most effective moves for every situation, from the big picture to small local battles.
　Of course, the battlefield changes depending on the situation, but Sargus's research paper, which pursues all possibilities based on this, has now become a valuable source of information.

Creston's research was on the defensive tactics of fortified cities, including internal politics. It was not something that I could use without organizational reform. Times have really changed. ......


I'm sorry, I'm late!　Oh, I'm ...... no, I'm the eldest son of the Dukes of Solstair, Zveit van Solstair!　It's an honor to meet you.
It's a pleasure to meet you. You've got a good heir. ......
Thank you, sir. Thank you.

　Zveit is unusually nervous.
　In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.
　In particular, the training methods for raising basic abilities and the theory of small-scale organized warfare are useful for academy students, and were even used against demons during actual combat training.
　Zveit was forced to improve his abilities by Xellos, but the training methods that Sergus himself practiced were efficient and effective for the rest of the students.
　Well, survival in a land of powerful demons is beyond reckless. If you're not careful, you could end up dead, so there's no way you can use it.

How's Creston doing?
He's fine. He dotes on his sister to the point of insanity. ......
Doting?　He's overprotective?　He's always been a self-disciplined, uptight guy. ......

　People are changeable creatures in many ways.

Where is Master Sergus lodging now?　If you have time, I'd like to ask him some questions.
"I'm on vacation, and I'm escorting Christine there. I don't like to talk about trivial things when I'm on vacation.
So, where do you live now?　I'd love to hear your thoughts on my research.
"A student's research report?　I used to slack off when I was younger, but I'm serious. Now I'm a tutor for Viscount Elwell. Of course, it's magic. ......
The Viscount Elwell's ...... head was hit by a poisoned arrow while fighting bandits. My father was also lamenting the loss of a good man. He was an excellent knight. ...... Oh, I'm sorry. That was inappropriate.

　I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that.

I'm sure my father would have loved to have been spared by the Duke of Delsacis. Unfortunately, I'm not as talented as my father. ......
"Is that really Creston's son?　I've always found him to be a terrible man. ......
I don't know my father, either. I don't know what he's doing behind the scenes, and I don't know how many other siblings he has. ......
"His Excellency, the Duke of Delsacis, has been the subject of many rumors. I'm sure his family has some thoughts on the matter. I'm sorry for your loss.

　Izaat also expressed his sympathy.
　Isart's words could be considered disrespectful, but Delsacis is not swayed by this. In fact, he will be able to afford to laugh it off.
　There is no doubt that he is a brilliant man, but Delsacis is a man of many mysteries.

No, I really don't know who my father is either. ....... I don't know how you are able to manage the internal affairs of your domain, your business, and your fancy wars with the underworld. The ability to make time for that is amazing. ......
That's a lot of work.

　Sergus has also met Delsacis, but he had an unfathomable and eerie feeling of dread.
　I think he's some kind of monster.

Is he really that great?　I've only met him once, but all I can tell you is that he's a big man. ......
"I think his capacity is the problem. You can't see the bottom of the barrel, and he's terribly smart. It's like an insurmountable barrier. ......
You'll break your heart if you let it.　I'm not going to get involved with that man, and I'm not going to let him get anywhere near me. He's a monster.
"The Duke of Delsacis," said Lord Sergus, "has gone so far as to say: ......

　It may be safer to think of it as a natural disaster in human form.
　In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a few things you can do.

Well, what the heck... ....... It's a good thing we met here. Let's meet somewhere else. ......
Oh, it's Grandpa.
"No, it's Urna!　Why are you here ......?
I'm a friend of your sister's. Do you know Master Sergas?
She's my adopted daughter. I raised her as a grandchild, not a daughter.

　Fate is a strange thing.
　The connection was so unexpected that everyone was surprised.

"Urna, what are you doing running to ......, brother?
"Oh, you're not Sergus, are you?
Hmm?　You're the little girl from the Saint-Germain family, and you're the maid who used to be by Creston's side. She's as beautiful as ever.
Thank you, Mr. Sergus. ......



　And sometimes fate has a way of pulling us together.
　Afterwards, they ate together and chatted, and the day came to an end.
　As a side note, Elomra, Dio and the others were taken away by the guards and spent the night in a cold prison cell.

Let me out of here: ......
Why don't you let me out of here......Zveit, help me......

　The fools affected by the inspirational roar spent the night crying for help.
Accidents caused by skill effects are a scary thing.
　And there was another fear. .......

We have arrived at Lizzagur.

　Janae and Iris had arrived in Lisaguer and were staying at a small inn.
Iris had once walked around the town, but now she was having after-dinner tea with Jahné in a room of the inn.

"Janae, I heard that there was a group of voyeurs in the public baths.
That's scary. Let's use the inn's hot spring. I don't want to show my bride-to-be's skin to a total stranger.
You're a real sweetheart, Jane-san. ....... But don't eat too many buns or you'll get fat.
Leave it.

　These two were the only ones who were out of the commotion and were having a relaxing time.
　They are the only ones who are really at peace.