It was just before noon, and the freshly colored world outside was spotted by the sunlight pouring through the trees from far up in the crevices of the giant trees. It's a good thing that the sun is not shining and the temperature is chilly. The cloak has done its job, I guess.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.
　Even the troops led by Letty are on long-term missions to the outside world. That is to say, it is also to say that they have a grasp on the aspect of the outside world. The weather is fickle, the plants are strange. The ecosystems that have developed on their own have yet to be understood.
　Even so, the fierce people who have experienced it firsthand must be feeling an instinctive sense of danger from this strange atmosphere.
　They unconsciously retrace their past memories and brace themselves for the nearness of the encounter. The experiences they recalled were, to be honest, ominous.
　The time when the high rate that controlled and territorialized an area had killed the low rate demons that settled there without a second thought. There are various reasons for this, such as cannibalism and other demons destroying their territory, but it may be difficult for humans to guess at this point in time.
　One thing I can say is that it's not domination anymore. It is a mad demon that wants to eliminate all things other than itself. When it does so, an ominous silence descends over the area, as if all living things had ceased to exist. It was common to all of them that they felt similar to that.

　Ars, who was in the lead, stopped moving and signaled everyone to stop.
　In the distance, there was a huge pile of rocks, and as we ascended to a tall tree, we could see a mineral deposit that looked unnaturally bobbled and arranged. It looks like a mountain, but there was an uncomfortable feeling of being placed without any context.
　Of course, Ars has not seen a number of deposits in person, so it is difficult to judge whether it is normal.
　If I were to express my sense of discomfort, should I say that it is as if only the tops of the mountains are visible on the surface? It's hard to say from this point of view, but it would be more fitting to say that it was buried below the surface, and what we were seeing was only one part of it.

　The deposit came into view, and that's why the troops stopped marching, but that was incidental.
　The real reason for this.........

'There was a battle here, wasn't there?'
It looks like. But.....
Yeah, there's more to come from here.

　The smell of blood obviously thickened, and considering the time, the smell of blood shouldn't be smelled, but the shade was coiled up as if the color was duller and darker towards the back.
　The scenic beauty that he had seen just now was transformed as if the world had changed forever.
　Ars finds a leaf with a bloodstain on it and rubs it lightly. The short trees, some of which had been reamed by the use of magic, and the huge trees that were deeply scarred by the use of magic spoke to the severity of the battle.
　But there seemed to be a lack of clarity of will in it.

'It's in pieces. I wouldn't be surprised if this one even hit my friends.''

　I'm sure they were quite confused. There are traces of magic left everywhere, so much so that it's hard to even figure out where it came from and which way it was fired.

'It's a bit far away, isn't it?'

　Letty was right, the first battle should have been in the vicinity of the deposit.
　But..........

'Perhaps this must have been from the first line, mostly in retreat, and this is where the remaining soldiers got into a battle.
You mean you couldn't get away with it?

　As expected, I didn't want to think that far, but that's not likely.
　If this many people were mobilized and ordered to retreat, they should be able to make it back with at least a few dozen people or more. If that's almost none of them, it would be more comfortable to say that they struck out here.

I'm sure you'll find out when you move on," he said, but Ars himself has little hope.

'My eyesight is much better, Master Ars, and I can use my eyesight right away. I can use my eyes right away.
So, please.

　Perhaps from here on out, it should be demon territory. In that case, Linne's eyes would still be useful. Rather, without it, she could fall behind.
　As far as her visual range was concerned, she still wouldn't be able to see to the ore deposits.
　Immediately, Linneh shook her head to tell us that she couldn't find the demon, but her expression turned pale, as if she had seen a horrible object.
　I proceed cautiously without pursuing it as it is predictable.


''Al-kun!　Isn't this.......worse than I expected?

　The frowning Letty couldn't help but listen to the devastation of the whole area.
　A little further on, it was like a world in isolation, where the lush greenery had been discolored to a distorted black, like a scab.
　Dried blood stained the green grass and the skin of the old trees with a black stain.

'Bad for bad, only the worst was to be expected.

　The trouble was that the trouble didn't disappoint, but as usual, the waist was heavy.
　There is not a single figure that looks like a corpse.
　Only dried bloodstains splattered and dyed. The second group of investigators were well motivated to go on ahead.

''Captain!　Come here.

　I looked at the one who called me and saw Sajik looking at a point with a look on his face that was inappropriate to say he was proud of it, but he wanted to say he was going to get rid of the stigma.
　I've heard that Ars also has a good nose for him, but I won't mention it because it would be a long story if I rehashed it here.

''It's a scar...''

　Four claw-like scratches on the skin of the giant tree are still visible.
　Definitely caused by a demon, but is this the target to be defeated... no, it's at this distance. The information that there were other demons in the area would be more of a problem, as there are six A-rated ones, but a full-scale battle is still a bit away. If that's the case, the demons that chased us here were able to annihilate us. This means that this is likely to be a bad meal.

''Perhaps it's a claw marks on the target... but if that's the case...''

　It was high enough to look up. The claw marks were presumably not wielded for the attack, but simply from reaching for it.

''From that position, it must be nearly three meters long.

　Then the line of demons, the so-called Ogre species, that Letty had mentioned before we left, also came up.
　This alone is not clear, but knowing the form and type of the opponent beforehand will help a lot with the formation and strategy.
　I've been thinking of giving Sajik a word of thanks, but I didn't like the look he gave his companions as he did and snorted and said, "Did you see that?" and left without saying a word.
　I thought I heard disappointment behind me, but it must have been my imagination.

　Even if it's a compliment, it can be given after everything is taken care of. I don't know how Letty's troopers will be allocated their rewards, but it would be enough to color them in.
　That's also not something I'm worried about right now.

''Ars-sama!
Can I help you, Miss Lynne?

　Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lynne with one eye suppressed and a look of impossibility on her face. To meditate on one eye meant that she would limit her vision and get closer.
　We should already be less than a kilometer away from the deposit.

''Ha, yes!　Two hundred meters ahead of you, there's an awful lot of people. Perhaps it's a mage sent by Balmes.
Well....
It's strange. The first batch of wizards would have been dead for two months. Is he dead?
Well it's like breathing.
"Hey!　How did you survive?　And what does it mean to be near a deposit that's not safe?

　The team members start to buzz with the alarming news.

"Captain, do we go to the rescue right away? If he is still alive, there is a chance that he can survive in the support unit that follows.
Hey!　Quiet!

　Control the troops who offered. That's because he saw the thoughtful look on Ars' face.
　Silence descends, waiting for the captain's decision.

　Ars understands that it's quite unnatural. If they abandoned him here, there is a possibility that he will be plugged in later on, so it would be better if they could rescue him.
　However, there was an uneasy feeling within Ars that he couldn't dispel, and he couldn't take another step forward.

(In the case of Gudma's one, even though he was a mutant, he still had intelligence. The simple idea is more along the lines of a trap.)

　Ars swallows the urge to swear that it would be easier for him if he had a brain below the level of a d*mn animal.
　Still, there are some demons who instinctively play tricks to hunt, but all of them are sloppy, to the extent of targeting or luring the obvious weaklings into their hunting grounds.

　However, Gudma was mutated by introducing demon flesh and blood into his body. If we're going to classify that thing as a demon, we have to be wary of it this time as well.
　In the end, Gudma couldn't resist the demon's blood, but considering the course of the mutation, that was close to the centralization of information. If that's the case, we can conclude that it's synonymous with demons eating humans and taking in magical power as a medium for information.

　I'm going to take a breath and scratch the back of my head.

I'm going to head to a position where I can see it for the time being. Keep in mind, depending on how things go, you may want to discard it.

　There was no objection to that decision, and the sound of a gasp and determination rang out.
　The price that a single mistake would pay for a strong enemy with the potential for more than an S-rate was too great.

''You shouldn't be able to use [Consensor] from here.

　That being said, the squad member turned his attention to his ears and closed his eyes on the side of the communication device as his expression jumped with a jolt.

''Indeed, the noise is terrible. Is this another effect of the mineral deposits?''

　Ars nodded.
　The wavelengths must have been disrupted by the deposit. We'll lose contact with the backers, but we've been informed of the possibility beforehand, so there shouldn't be any confusion.

'Don't get too far away from each of us. Until we're within visual distance, we'll shorten our formation while keeping an eye on our surroundings.

　The formation with Rinne in the center remains the same, but we should be on the highest alert first.
　While slowing down, they act as if they are killing even noise, and gradually the landscape becomes thicker with bloodstains. Comparing these and the bloodstains from earlier, I judged that the more time had passed, the more time had passed.
　The demon's different colored body fluids could also be seen from that area. It seemed to indicate that the battlefield was in this vicinity.

　We ducked into the bushes and arrived at our destination. According to Linne's story, it's just ahead.
　Peeking through the gap, there was only one man........sitting flat on the ground.
　A pitch-black ground surface that can be assured to be a bloodstain with the man at the center. The prone figure is so lifeless that he may have already run out of things to do. I'm not sure if I'll be able to confirm his or her expression because of the dirt and mud covered hair hanging on his or her face.
　It's just a sideways shape from Ars and the others.

''There's no demon reaction around us, but something is wrong.

　Letty as well as Ars nodded her head in a whispered report to Lynne, as if to appeal to her doubts.

''I don't have any reaction in sight, but the most intense battlefield scars are up ahead.
After all, there's no reason for him to stay here alive. They'll be devoured by the wind.
'If you're saying it's bad food, that's certainly odd. And from the looks of it, it's hard to believe that the trauma is so bad that you can't even move...
So it's a long shot.

　If Lynne can't detect a reaction, it's hard to believe that she's been lured or noticed.
　Ars instructed Letty to keep the squad members hiding in the branches and shadows of the trees to be on alert for their surroundings.
　Letty quickly gestured to all the troopers.

''As it stands, we can't be sure just because we have a strong suspicion...?
Are you going to start?

　It would be a fool's errand to waste time here. This would be a scene that requires a quick decision. One of the reasons is that there is no decent hiding place because of the battle. In the first place, you're in the territory of the demons.
　However, even if you know it's a trap here, if you abandon it without being able to obtain proof, you might be pursued in case of emergency. The excuse stands, but it's ridiculous to be wasted time.

Hmph!

　Immediately after Letty peeked through the gap, her eyes widened.
　The quizzical Ars immediately asked him.

I'm sure that person is......... That's Duncal.
'Speaking of Duncal, you're a single wizard from Balmes.
Yes, I've only seen it a few times. I've only seen it a few times. I want you to look at that man's shoulder.

　At that prompting, Ars looks into his eyes. What Letty is referring to is a battle uniform that was torn in places - a dark green top and bottom, but it vaguely resembles an alpha's military uniform.
　On the shoulder were three dirty medals of some sort.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this," he said. It's the Order of Wilheim in Alpha. The fact that you wear it means that you are wearing it.........
That's all he is...
He's pretty vain.

　I guess that's bluntly true. I think I saw a part of Letty's impression of Duncal.
　Ars pretended he hadn't heard it, and the more he sorted it out, the more likely it was Duncal himself.
　The Order of Vilheim, a medal given mainly to military personnel, is the highest award given to those who have made remarkable achievements in the defense of the country, the recapture of territory, etc. Of course, both Ars and Letty have received the medal.
　There is no doubt that it is an honor for a magician.
　The fact that Duncal has it is probably natural considering the ranking of a single. Of course, the question of why Balmes, who is not supposed to have made any achievements, remains, but for now, the purpose is to confirm his identity. Let's just say that Balmes feels inferior to other countries and tends to try to be an equal.

So how could we not be sure?

　Thinking along the lines of a quick decoy, it would be more profitable for Ars to go out, but I hesitated as to whether it was the captain's role to buy them out, and if so, even though I thought about it while remembering the faces of the squad members.

(As expected, he couldn't use Letty's squad members as discards.)

　In the end, it's easier to leave on your own.
　Ars first flicked a magic power bullet with his finger and lightly bumped it. The magic power bullet, which is about the size of a pebble, struck Duncal's shoulder with a pop. However, he wondered about the lack of any reaction at all, and wondered if he was really alive?　He turned his questioning gaze to Lynne.
　In response, only a nod came back.

''Can't help it.......just be on guard.

　He told Letty and Linne, and Ars emerged from the bushes. Then he slowly walked out of the bushes.
　The troopers who were watching were in a cold sweat. The fact that Ars said that there was a high possibility of a trap must have been burned into their brains. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with us.

　With one arm behind him in his cloak, he grasps the hilt of his AWR while closing the distance.

I'm an alpha mage. "I was on a mission to defeat you and I found you. Are you sure this is the same Duncal who led the first Barmes campaign?
..........

　He probably didn't hear it. There was no response.
　But a strange sound stuck to Ars's eardrums as an uncomfortable sensation at a distance that could be reached if he approached and reached out.
　It seemed to be the sound of breathing. However, if it was just a snatched breath, it would be understandable. But what Ars heard sounded like a heavy bass sound coming from something like a wild pipe.
　You can certainly hear the alarm bells ringing loudly, saying that this is a sound that no man could possibly make.
　At the same time as Ars pulls the AWR from his waist--.
　The man who seemed to be Duncal, who was lying on his back, turns his head only with a gyration and looks at Ars.

''-----!　Tsk!

　It was a depressed, vacant eye socket. But instead of an eyeball, the depression seemed to be filled with a pitch-black stagnant substance that seemed to be both empty and fitted in. And from the mouth, a dusky liquid was gurgling out. The mouth, which had been torn open not to squirm but to enjoy it, drew a crescent moon with the force of a mouth that reached the earlobes.
　Ars turned around, raising his voice.

'It's a trap!　Prepare for battle!