"What the hell is that noise?

　Celestia covered her ears and made a frown.
　Pheuel's long ears twitched in response, but only Neya opened the door and went to the child's side.

Stop blowing your whistle.

　Neya, relentless even with children, forcefully took the whistle and began to check it.

"What's wrong with it?

　It's a magic tool," she said, giving me a stern look. It's a magic tool that uses sound to communicate something to the entire town.
　As if to prove it, an old woman with a grim expression came out of the house, accompanied by a man.

She said, "That was the sound of one who is avenging the Master. I don't care what happens to me now.

What's going to happen to me?

You'll know soon enough.

　What the old woman said was soon to take shape.
　Men with axes and hoes, and behind them women and children with wooden sticks and daggers, were coming from all over the town.

They're noisy people.

　I don't think they heard a word I said.
　The men surrounded the house, breathing hard to keep us from escaping.
　There must have been more than fifty of them.

What the hell are you doing with all that stuff?

"You, the church official?

　A man with an axe steps forward from the group.
　I don't know if he's human or an alchemist, but I know he's got a lot of blood on his hands.

I don't know what you think you're doing, but we're just adventurers.

Then what's with the whistle the woman is holding up?

"It was so loud it broke my ears when it was played near me.

　Neya quietly returns the whistle, and the child runs into the crowd.
　Do you think it's a good idea to fool around here, or to antagonize them outright? .......
　While I'm pondering this, Seretia walks out in front of me.

We know that you are living with alchemy dolls made from dead people.

　The man with the axe nodded his head, but judging by the buzzing of the women behind him, I was pretty sure he was also an alchemist.
　These people have a tendency to become incomprehensible when it comes to their own existence, as if they are restricted.

We don't care if you are playing with an alchemy doll, and we are not going to contact the church. However, there is no guarantee that such a doll will not find its way into my country, so I want to talk to the one who gave it to me, the one called the imam.

Oh, no, of course he's going to report us.

Yes, who would believe anything you strangers have to say?

　A woman shouted from the group, and those around her looked at us as if we were the enemy.
　In the midst of the mass panic, Fiehl calmly and solemnly applied his magic.

I will restrict your movement.

Fiel's earth magic caused the ground to undulate, and tentacle-like rocks extended from the earth, restraining the legs of all her opponents and making them unable to move.
　The women screamed at the sudden magic, and the men repeatedly slammed their axes and hoes into the rocks that held their feet.

Don't do that, it's not worth it. Listen to what we're saying.

"What do you expect us to believe from someone who does this?

　The women cry out with tears in their eyes.

"If I wanted to deal with you, I wouldn't have asked for a conversation. And that alchemy doll, you may think she's immortal, but with my power I can destroy her completely.

　Every time I took a step or two closer, the people who had been crying and screaming stopped crying as if they were lying.
　I thought they would be quiet now, but their eyes are still glaring at me like vengeance.

I don't like it, but I guess I can take that as a sign that you're listening to me.

　No one responded to my words, even though I said I was listening.
　Celestia lifted her shoulders lightly, as if she had no choice.

"We just want to know who you call a mage. To that end, we will not say anything about what we see here, and we will not do anything that concerns you. I promise you that.

　He looked at Fiehl, who nodded and broke the spell.

"...... What do you want to know about the imam?

　The woman walked out of the group with a wooden stick in her hand and a grim smile on her face.

"Everything I know.

"I'm sorry, but no one knows the name or face of the imam. The only thing we know is that he saved us. He came out of nowhere and brought my late husband back to me. It's the same for everyone here.

　The residents nodded in agreement to the woman's words.
　Most of the unresponsive people were young men, who seemed to be unable to respond when it was about them.

"You don't know where I'm from or how many people I have?　What's the purpose?

"All we know is that the imam was always alone. No one has ever heard his voice. And we don't care what he wants. He's like a god to us. Because he is, isn't he?　He can bring the dead back to life like no one has ever done before. She's a god.

　The woman's voice is intoxicating and her expression is ecstatic.
　The others are similar and seem to truly adore the guru.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you. ---- Can one person ...... reach out to such a wide area?　Or are they splitting up?

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　If it's just one person, think about the means of transportation.
　If he travels this far by horse alone, he will be conspicuous.


　What about flight magic?
　Flight magic consumes a lot of magic power and requires a certain amount of magic power. If you want to abuse it, you'll need to be physically fit.

　The old me, Ars, would be able to do it with both magic and magical power, but even so, I would have to be away from the royal palace for a long time, and that would be impossible in terms of time. As I was pondering this, a roar reminiscent of the dragon of Argis roared in the mountains.

What's that sound? Is it the dragon of Algis again?

"An Algid dragon would never fly this far, and this voice is different.

　I'm not sure if it brought back memories of that time, but Seretia became restless and looked around.
　At that time, a black shadow covered our heads.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.

"Master Celetia, that's not an Argyz dragon. I've never seen one either.

　I've never seen one before either." Next to Neya, Phiel was also looking up at the sky and shaking her whole body.
　I know why.
　I know the reason for that. That black and miserable figure, that overwhelming presence that no one can get away from.
　Only Pheuel and I knew the true identity of the dragon here.

...... It's a disaster, that's what it is.

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

"...... is the ravenous dragon Hellartio.