This is Raghu, the 'stop for drifters'.
This is the town where Masamune and his friends stopped and used to get a quick bite to eat.

And that night when Masamune and his friends left the town.
For some reason a hand of fire was rising from the clock tower square in the center of this town.

''Kyaaaaaaaah!''

"'Run!'

"'Stop it!'

...wow!

Screams can be heard from all over the town.
Everywhere there are people dressed in white with white masks like death masks, attacking the townspeople indiscriminately.

'Don't think you can get away with it!　Humans oh!

Magic is flying everywhere, while the metallic sound of blade and blade clashing can be heard.

''Don't chase too deep!　You don't have to take it alone!

Then I heard some voices giving them instructions.

The area around the clock tower.
The white as far as the eye can see from there.

--The bloodline of the charitable people.

There are various types of people dressed in white.
They cover their entire bodies with white cloaks and robes, so their true identities are not visible, but they are all different in height.
A few of them are as tall as an adult man's knee or below.

These small white-clad men used the Great Axe, a short axe with a huge blade, to chop up the townspeople indiscriminately.
Fresh blood flew around and the white turned reddish-black.

''Please!　Stop it, ehhh!

Those who beg for mercy but are merciless.

And it is those who are in command.

--He is Ankh Amadeus.

He is the one called 'God of Life' in the lineage of the Charity.

'Oooh-ooh-ooh!

Another little white one killed the townspeople with an axe.
Blood spurted out and the townspeople died in convulsions.

'Gdufka--'

Then Amadeus calls out to the little white-robed one.

'Yes, Master Ankh!

"Assemble the 'minus one' (Machavelle). This city shall be your next stronghold.

I understand.

You're the leader. You're in charge of the town, okay?

Yes, come on!

Then Gudhuka ran from the spot.

''Those who don't belong (Machavelle)'' are these devotees dressed in these white cloaks and robes.

''Ankh-sama...............Why?

Then a townsman approached Amadeus with blood pouring from his arm.
A human. He was bleeding badly and his legs were wobbling.

''Hmm?''

Then Amadeus slowly turned around.

'You ... were ... our ... hope!　My daughter adored you!　My son my wife....why?　Why did you kill him, ah!

A man complains with a sad look on his face.

'Huh-hah-hah-hah!　Arghhhhhh!

Then, in response to the man's distressed cry, Amadeus lets out a vigorous laugh.

'If you don't want to die, then die once!　What did I tell you?　I'm supposed to lead you guys?

Amadeus asks the townspeople.

'I will give way to those who despair, and I will guide those who seek it. But what in the world can I do with someone who is incapable, if not incompetent?

....

At that moment, the man who was supposed to be beside him burst out without a trace.
In an instant, the townspeople turned to blood.
But next time, even that blood tide was gone.

".........

Without speaking, Amadeus checks the area.
Then he muttered a little.

'Don't ask me stupid questions, humanity is still stupid....

Then a large number of non-belongers (Machabel) gathered to Amadeus.

'Master Ankh!　The townspeople are running out of town!

One of the assembled non-belongers (Machavelle) said as if in a panic.

I see ... it's a vicious circle.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

Then a non-belonger (Machavelle), who was in the lead, bows his head and apologizes.

There's no need to apologize. You don't need to apologize; I'm the one who told you not to pursue it. You are special. Cherish your lives. And let me take care of all your mistakes.

Then Amadeus held his hand up to the heavens.
Then, softly, he chanted something.

At that moment, a magic circle unfolded around Amadeus and expanded with tremendous speed.
It engulfed the town in an instant, and as it expanded further out of the town, it even engulfed the townspeople who were desperately fleeing.
Then, suddenly, the townspeople, many of whom had been swallowed, came to a halt.

That's it! Now they can no longer escape.

Then Amadeus raises his hand and gives a command.

'Kill them all!　Every last one of them!　Kill the humans!　And save our people!

At that moment, the men who obey and shout "Machiavellian!

"Instructions for the 'adapters' will be given. Wait for word and secure, not kill. Otherwise, it's annihilation!

And those who do not belong (macabre) scattered with vigor.
The white ones ran around the town again.

And Amadeus also moves.

Amadeus blows them away at random from anyone who catches his eye and turns them into blood.
It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can see the "familiarity" of working on a murder, which is beyond abnormal.
Every time Amadeus sees it, as if it were invaded by something, its body turns into a blood stream that could be mistaken for ash.
It gradually changed from visibility to sensing, and the next thing he knew, the people around him were blown away unnaturally, even though no one had touched them.
All that was left was a fine bloodstain on the ground, as if a shower of blood had been poured over it.
There was no more life there.
And Amadeus, in the midst of a scream, slowly wandered the town.


----And then...


And then there was a frightened human being.

--a woman.

The woman wasn't begging for mercy, nor was she afraid, she just stared at Amadeus with eyes like a dead fish.

''Well do you want to die?''

Then, without conversation, Amadeus suddenly asks this question.

''........''

The woman does not answer Amadeus' question.

'Dying is not a bad thing. If you accept death, then you will be just like me...

....

But the woman doesn't answer.

"No need to speak. I know your heart. Just remember, if you let it in. That's all I need to know.

Amadeus speaks to her, but she is not sure if the woman hears her.

'Then I ask you, do you intend to abandon the mortal?'

Then a gentle breeze blew.
Gradually, the screams faded from the town, and the town became quiet enough to hear the sound of the wind.

At that moment, Amadeus pointed his hand at the woman.

'You've passed--'

Amadeus tells the woman that she has only "passed".
The woman does not answer.

"Your anger and regret," she says, "have been received. You are the only one here who understands. When you cease to be human, you will find that you are not a part of it. But the benevolent bloodline serves as a receptacle and provides a place for those who do not belong. You will be saved better than you are now. From now on, what awaits you is a new world.

And then a little belonger (Macabel) appears.

'Master Ankh!　I'm done cleaning up the townspeople who fled out of town!

His voice is young.

"And now, Todd, send for Gudflugka. And tell them to gather all the Brethren and Adjusters they can find in the square."

All right!

He replied briskly and ran away, a little belonger (Macabre).
Then the figure disappears.

Then Amadeus turns his gaze again to the woman in front of him.
But the gaze cannot be seen from that mask, which seems to be a fusion of a beast and a human skull.
It's just that the two twisted horns extending towards the back of the head, emitting an oddity.

''We will now perform the 'Rite of Reincarnation'.

Then Amadeus put his hand on the woman's head.

'Don't worry, for a moment. And you will be our people from this day forward.

At that moment, the woman's skin changes color, and the shape of her face begins to subtly change.
The body begins to move in small, bumpy movements.
Then the movement gradually settles down towards stability, and then subsides.
----.

"Reincarnation is over. You are now a Machiavellian, and you will become one of our own. But you will not be forced to leave. You can leave now, or you can come with us, it's all up to you. What will you do?

I'll follow you.

Then the woman replied in a blur.
Her eyes were still weak, but they were more full of strength than before, and above all, full of hope.

Hmmm... it's settled.

The woman's appearance was distinctly different from the one she had just seen.
Her skin, which had been close to brown, was white and translucent, and her ears were faintly pointed.
Her black hair had turned gold, and her black eyes were blue and sharp like a snake, not a human's.

Then a group of non-belongers (macabre) joined them.
Behind them were many of them, each with a different appearance.
Are they beastmen?　There appears to be more than one of them.
It is these "brethren," as Amadeus calls them.

--They are the people of this town.

And they are frightened, scurrying around, wary of their surroundings.
But they were not the only ones there, and a few humans were also visible.
Those would be the 'adapters'.

"No need to go to the square, we'll do the ritual here.

Since there were fewer than expected, they decided there was no need to move the location.

'I understand!'

Then, following Amadeus' words, the Maccabees lined up the humans to facilitate the Rite of Reincarnation.

"Then we will finish the Rite of Reincarnation first before I explain.

Then, just as before, Amadeus touches the heads of each one of them.
Instantly, the figures of those lined up change.
----.

Then the "Rite of Reincarnation" ends, and Amadeus begins to explain in the same way as before: "You are free.

"You are free. I will not force you to do anything. Those who want to follow me can stay here, and those who don't can leave. But I will not betray those who follow me. I promise you that.

Amadeus speaks with slow inflection.

Then there was not a single person who left the place.

'Then!　Well done, my fellow countrymen, for staying behind!

At that moment, a cheer echoed through the town as Amadeus' voice answered.

'For a little while from today, we will make this our base!　Our leader is Gudowka. And tomorrow, we will begin our invasion of Pasquantin from here.

'What?　Pascantine?!

Then a certain stranger (Machabel) came to him.

That's right," he said, "I have information that the king of that country is collecting beastmen as slaves. Yes, I have information that the king of that country is collecting beastmen as slaves. I have information that the king of that country is collecting beastmen as slaves, and I'm sure it's disastrous. If you don't want to see it, you don't have to come. Besides, it's not the same size as Cattleya. That country was a small one, but Pascantine is a large one, and above all, one of the eight kings of the Yamata. Mainly I will be the first to lead the charge and everyone will have to follow behind me.

Although the expressions of those who do not belong (Machavelle) were not visible, no small amount of agitation could be seen from them.

I will tell you one more thing. After Pascantine, it's Utopia. This country tolerates the sale of slaves, including human beings. Think of it as akin to Cattleya becoming a great power.

I mean, do you have to do it in rapid succession?

And a stranger (Maccabre) asked, "What do you think?

A man asked: "It depends. It's only a matter of time. I'm telling you this so as not to alarm anyone. We've already sent someone else to Pasquantin, but what's the latest plan?　I'm going one way or the other. I'll do the reconnaissance first. I'll do that. After that, I'll only transfer those willing to participate. You'll hear from me tomorrow. We'll go tomorrow. I want you to make up your mind by then.

Then another one (Maccavel), who does not belong to

''But Ankh-sama, originally I would have started by checking on you first. Well ... what kind of a change of heart is that?

....

Then Amadeus explained to everyone who was puzzled.

'Surely, so far, you've stayed there first, getting close to the townspeople and the people, and from there gathering information about the state of the country and the town?

Everyone nodded in response to the question.

'But not Pasquantin. We have no time to give grace regarding this country. While we are doing this, our people are being cruelly killed, and it is worse than the Empire. The eighteen kings have left these two countries without taking any measures against them. Whatever their respective heartfelt intentions are, they are tolerating it. In other words, until someone takes action, our people will continue to be killed in this country.

Each of the death masks drooped at the words.

'Good?　Humans are cruel. They don't have any feelings for us, even if we reach out to them, because we are not human. They probably think we are monsters in human form. But the monster is the human one. They have to be killed. Somebody has to kill them. We don't have time to hesitate for the sake of our fellow countrymen who have been so cruelly scattered. Tomorrow, we will take this country down. And then the nut king. I will not pursue it too deeply. Lord, I will judge you in person.

The white ones gathered there heard the words of Amadeus in silence.
And there was not a single person there to deny it.

There seemed to be some things between Amadeus and them, like a master-servant relationship, but the essence of the relationship did not seem to matter.
There was no compulsion; they all seemed to be there of their own volition.
And Amadeus seemed to be guiding and, above all, protecting them to the point of insatiability.
But the reality of the situation was not yet known.

Then the meeting ended there, and Amadeus moved everyone to the tavern.
It's a relatively large tavern with a sign that says "The Rock King's Spring Wine".

And on this day, the 'Stop of the Drifter' became the base of the 'Bloodline of the Jishi'.
There were no more townspeople there.

Fires raged throughout the town, buildings collapsed, and houses that were no longer needed were burned to the ground.

By the hands of the benevolent bloodline--