What? I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Spirit people are a long-lived race. Their lifespan is much longer than humans and they age more slowly, so they live a peaceful life like plants.
For such a high-ranking race, the life of a human being, who is born, has children, and dies at more than three times the speed of a human being, seems extremely dizzying.
Many of the spirit people stay in the forest and rarely go out, partly because they look down on people with low abilities, but also because they feel dizzy when they see the rush of life of their own kind.
In this sense, the Crus who had abandoned their affluent and moderate lives to join human society were extremely active and curious.

To the protesting Crus, the respected party leader, Lapis Furgol, leader of the Starlight, narrowed his clear amethyst eyes and said in a firm voice.

This is a good opportunity, Crus. It's not every day that I get the chance to be involved in a mission that I rarely get to sit on. This is an opportunity to see how Lucia Roget--the All-Forming--gained so much power. This is an important mission that will lead to our future.

"But, Lapidus. I'm not used to being an escort, sir. I might get in trouble.

I understand the logic. Crus and the others are more curious and ambitious than ordinary spirit people. Not as much as Eliza the Wanderer, who had no idea what she was thinking, but Kryss was willing to work with the humans. However, I was worried.

As a spirit person, Kryss is imbued with the temperament of a spirit person. Although he is careful, he often offends humans. He is still unable to use honorific language without being conscious of it.
If he were just a merchant, his rudeness would not be so severe, but with a nobleman, and even with an emperor, he does not know what will happen if something goes wrong. Not to mention the party, the effect would spread to the clans.
I don't understand why that absent-minded-looking Yowaningen approached Lapidus and the others.

Lapidus nodded hawkishly at Krus' words.

I'm not sure why he approached us, but I'm pretty sure we should follow the instructions of the Thousand Transformations. And learn the source of its power, its methods. Don't just help because you're asked. This is a task only you can perform, Krus.

It's an important role. In the years since I became a Clan Master, I have solved many difficult cases and discovered the power of the Thousand Transformations, which has always been a mystery to me. It's good for the party, but Crus himself is curious as to how Lucia's power was cultivated.

He clenched his fists and steeled himself. Then a thought occurred to him, and he looked at the leader.

'Speaking of which, why me? Well... There are other members who would be more suitable, sir.

I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm sure you're the closest of all of us to getting along with the Thousand and One Changes.








You're making a terrible mistake, Lapidus. It's not that Kryss is close to Transfiguration. He's only helping them as a noble spirit man because they ask him to do various things. I'm just fulfilling my duty as a powerful person.
In the first place, Yowaningen is Lucia's brother. Krus is helping him out of a rational decision.

Besides, although he's a joke and an idiot, he's not a bad guy for a human.


I've always thought so.


So, when the scene suddenly unfolded in front of him, he was stunned by something that was unbecoming of a spirit person.

The hall was filled with dead and dying. All of the guards that had been placed to protect Emperor Zebuldia had fallen, and they had not moved an inch.
The only one who was still unconscious was Franz Argmann, the leader of the Order and the employer of Crus and the others.
Outside the large window is a dimly lit space. Franz kneels down and stares at Telm with a sharp look in his eyes.

'Huh, huh...... what, what do you mean......'

'Hm,......, Your Majesty is the power of the warding fingers,......, but don't tell me that you took over the damage of the Princess? The power of the armor? I'm not sure what to make of that. .................. Well, okay. But you'd better not move. You're already dead ......, but you're going to deplete what little life you have left.''

Therum's expression was calm. And there was a taut smile on the face of the "thousand changes" nearby.
I didn't understand. Or maybe he didn't want to.

The reason the guards had fallen. This was magic.
Extremely powerful, silent magic. A magic designed only to kill life. Nobles don't use this kind of fearsome magic.

The guards were still alive. Unconscious and unable to fight, they could feel the pulse of life. But they're slowly wasting away. If we don't treat them soon, they'll be dead before long.
I knew it in my gut. This is-- efficiency. Efficiency is why you haven't killed it all in one moment. It's not naivete. You're going to die anyway, so you don't waste money on magic to choke you to death. That's what I'm saying.

Even at the moment when he saw the spell that killed the chilldragon swarm, Krus had a cold impression of Therum's magic. He had thought it was just his imagination, but his instincts were right.

Humans are terrifying. Their short lifespan allows them to grow quickly, and their haste to live allows them to kill without hesitation.
Is this... their true form?

A chill ran through me. I feel an unusual wand in my right hand. You open your mouth quickly, but what comes out is not a spell but a cry.

'What do you mean, sir! Do you have any idea what you've done? Kecak Chakka, why don't you stop Telm!

'............ I thought you were trying to convince me, sir. It's okay. What happens to you is not in my hands. You're not my enemy. If you want to stay out of harm's way, stay back.'

'Take it ......'.

What?

With those words, Crus understood the situation. He didn't want to understand, but he did.



His Majesty's face showed no signs of impatience at this time. However, his gaze was stern.
He put his hand on the jeweled sword at his waist and asked Therum.

'I knew you were lurking nearby, but ...... Term Apokris. Are you the 'fox'?

'Indeed. But it's time to say goodbye. The ship is going down.

You can't win. Krus can't defeat Telm even if we catch him by surprise.
The therem's power is too great to be human. He's probably the greatest mage in the field of water that even Lucia Roget can't match. And even now, when he's not looking at Crus, Thermu Apokris can't be too careful.

If there is a chance of victory, it depends on the power of this treasure staff that I have entrusted to him...

The expression of Senhenhen Banka hadn't changed at all since right after Therum had entered.
That pitiless smile gave Chrysus a strong chill for the first time. If what Telm had said was correct, then the Yeowanlingen--.

No, he already understood. He just didn't want to believe it. If Therum had attacked him as an assassin, the first thing he should have done was to counter him with the Thousand Transformations.

He quickly distanced himself from Yowaningen and readied his staff.
Franz stumbles to his feet, sword in hand. But his eyes are cloudy and his expression is pale. His movements are sluggish, and even in melee combat, Krus is probably stronger than he is now.

'Krei Andrich...... are you the...... 'Fox'?

Franz's breathing was ragged. There were no obvious injuries, but he was half-dead.
Even so, he drew his sword with a feeble movement. The tip of his well-polished sword trembled.

'I won't let you do this. I knew it was suspicious. d*mn it, I knew it! You don't fake it!

'Your loyalty is admirable, ...... but you have underestimated us. Foxes can be found ...... everywhere. We've already taken out the others.

I can tell at a glance. Telm was in perfect shape. The emperor is also reasonably skilled with a sword, but he's not a match for Therum.

No, no one can match him. Even if Franz was safe, even if the other knights were still alive, and even if Crus cooperated with them, there was no way he could win when the Therum of the Water Stop and the Thousand Transformations became enemies.

'I had faith in you... but I've failed you, Ivaningo! I'm not sure what to say.

The kill knight didn't even wince in this situation. Perhaps the kill knight is also a fox. When you think about it calmly, there is no way that someone with such a disturbing name like Kill Knight is sane.
Calm your raging emotions and think calmly. You can't win.

The only reason Krus is alive is because he's under orders from Yowaningen. Are you trying to turn him? But I've been underestimated.
There is no way that Krus Argen would betray his bodyguard. Krus is not a man of intrigue. If he is to live an ugly life, he will die a proud death as a noble spirit man.

The only thing you can do is run. Make a hole in the ship and get out. I can manage a fall with magic. Unless we're pursued.

We can't keep them all alive. The Emperor comes first, the Empress second. Krus was ready.

Use the big spell. Breathe and be aware. The room is filled with aching murderous intent and a vast amount of magic that Therum has concocted.


And then the silent Senhenbanka muttered with a somewhat serious expression.


'Fox ......? .................. what are you talking about?'

'..................!