As Aldis explored the magic around him, there were multiple reactions.
　There were more than ten of them.
　The strength of the magic power wasn't much, but it was rare that they wouldn't notice him until he got this close.


''Demon......, isn't it?''

　In the darkness, the figure emerged around Aldis and the others.

　It had a crimson humanoid shape.
　It was the same size as a human. If the shadow of a human was dyed crimson and made three-dimensional, it would surely look like this.

　I didn't feel any hostility.
　In the first place, it was doubtful that they were even living things.

　An oddly shaped humanoid with weak magical power moved its body wavering in silence.
　The only thing that could be heard in the silent ruins was Kirill's sleepy breathing, still asleep.

　How long had he been doing so?
　The humanoid forms that had been shaking their bodies up until then began to move violently.
　Some cradled their heads in their hands, some hugged themselves, others folded their hands together and looked up to the heavens.
　While each of them moved differently, the humanoids jitterily approached Aldis and the others.

''Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!''

　At the same time, anguished cries of anguish began to be emitted from the human figures.
　You can find no mouths to speak, but the voice clearly reached Ardis' ears.

It's a good thing that you're able to get your hands on a ......, what--

　As expected, the voice wakes Kirill from his sleep.
　Kirill looks around with his sleep-deprived mind, and when he recognizes the crimson deformities that surround them and the voices they emit, he jerks his body away with a start.

'What ......?　What?　What!　What is this?!

Don't try anything. Stay put.

　Without caution, while holding the 'Sotensaika' at the ready, Ardis said to Kirill.
　I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.

(Well, what is to be done?)

　Without saying it, Aldis ponders.

　There is no hostile reaction at the moment.
　However, the situation of being surrounded by an unknowable, odd-shaped entity, and also being kept at a distance, would not be desirable.
　It's doubtful that they have any intentions, or even if they have any intentions at all, but we can't just sit back and let them approach us.

''Stop right there. If you come close, I will cut you.

　Aldis uttered a warning.
　His voice echoed in the high-ceilinged ruins.

'Noaaaaaaaahhhhhh!'

　But all that came back was unintelligible anguish.
　It wasn't going to be possible to communicate with them.

'I can't help it,'

　I gave up on the negotiations early and Aldis unleashed the Tokiharugasumi and the Tsukishiro Blizzard.

　He himself stood at Kirill's side with the Sotensaika in his hand and sent the other two swords flying towards the human form.
　One of the swords goes straight to the person in front, while the other goes overhead and aims at the hind end of the person next to it.

　The two swords split in midair and attacked the odd shaped humanoid.
　The humanoid doesn't even show any sign of avoiding it.
　In the next moment, each sword sliced through the body of the targeted humanoid.

　If it is a human being, it is cut right across the body, and the humanoid form disappears like a haze.
　It was as if there was no response to the attack, but the moment their companions were attacked, the appearance of the humanoids changed dramatically.

''Ahhhhhhhh!''

'No, no, no, no!'

'Oooohhhhhhhh!'

　An incomparably louder cry than before reverberated around them.
　The humanoid, which was bitingly fast, suddenly rushed at Ardis at breakneck speed.

''Chi!''

　Ardis clicked her tongue and sent 'Kikuharukasumi' and 'Tsukiyo Fubuki' straight to another humanoid shape.
　At the same time, he deployed his wind magic and intercepted the other humanoid forms.

''Pale white is nurtured by the distant void, the flash of condemnation (sengeki) ---- the blade of the fierce swiftness [sti-grol elmate]!

　A strong wind was created inside the ruins, which were separated from the outside world by a wall.

　In an instant, a roaring storm blew up, engulfing the crimson deformity.
　Small pieces of debris were scattered by the wind pressure, and dust and dirt that had accumulated over the years flew up.
　The humanoids were torn to pieces as their bodies were torn to pieces by a decent amount of such wind blades.

''Noaaaahhhhhh!''

　A deafening scream echoed around them.

　The humanoids were blown up to the ceiling by the wind, and when they lost their momentum, they faded away, falling to the floor this time.
　Just before their bodies collided with the floor, they disappeared to a point like being sucked into an unnatural trajectory.

　What was at the end of the human form's disappearance was a sword that was obtained from this ruin.
　If you look at the sword that no one should have touched, it has been pulled out of its scabbard to reveal its sword barrel.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

''Ya, I knew this sword ...... is cursed, isn't it ......?

...... Maybe so.

　A painful silence once again settles inside the ruins, which are faintly illuminated by magical light.

'What do we do?　I still don't want to take it home with me, do I?

　Kirill's head shakes from side to side after a long silence at Aldis' question.

''I can't give up after coming this far. I want to take it home with me if I can - or I'll definitely take it home with me. But .......

　Kirill slurred his words.

　That's probably true too.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get to the top.
　I'm sure it's not the only one.

　If Ardis says no here, Kirill's fate is as good as done at that point. You can't blame Kirill for feeling depressed.
　Ardis lets out a small breath and makes an expression that resembles a bitter smile.

It's a long shot. I'm not going to abandon you. If I say so, I'll stay with you until we return to King's Landing.

　As he said this, he moved the red glowing sword with his magic and sheathed it.

''Well ......, it's still too early to leave. Let's take another nap.

'What?　What?　After all that's happened: ......!

"Sleep when you can. That's the basis of being a mercenary: ......, I thought you were a mercenary. Well, if it comes up again, we'll just send you away again. Well, good night...

　When I replied in a tone of voice that said it was no big deal, Aldis quickly wrapped herself in her cloak and lay down.
　Kirill looked like he wanted to say something, but eventually he gave up and went to sleep for the second time, just like Ardis.




　The next morning.
　In the end, the deformed humanoids had not appeared since then.

　Neither Ardis nor Kirill were able to completely relieve their fatigue, but that was inevitable given the circumstances.
　They quickly prepared themselves and left the ruins at sunrise.

''That ghost, will it come out again?''

I wouldn't want you to get out of there.

　It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with your own family.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to do with it.
　It is a sober burden because it consumes magic power at all times, but there is no substitute for safety.

　The place where the ruins were located is about two days' walk from the entrance of the forest.
　I'm not sure how much time I can save by flying or running with my "Fuho", but with Kirill as a companion, that's not possible.
　As a result, it took me three days to get out of the forest, as I was forced to match Kirill's strength and stride.

　As for the beasts and demons that attacked them in the forest, it was nothing to worry about now.
　For Aldis, fighting off the demons in the Caucasian forest is no problem for him, even with a cursed sword and one limpeted boy.

　The problem was the deformed humanoid that appeared every night at every encampment.
　After all, for the two nights they spent in the forest, the red figures appeared exactly in the middle of the night.

　Of course, it's easy for Aldis to get rid of them.
　But as long as the root cause of the problem is not removed, they will reappear at night.

　That's fine if you want to get to the royal capital, but after that, there's the problem of what to do.
　After King's Landing, it honestly seems reckless to take this sword back to the city where the client is, with Kirill alone.

''I wish there was a way to break the curse in King's Capital: ......

　Kirill himself seems to be well aware of this.
　He shows an unflattering expression even though he says he has obtained the desired sword.

　With such a delicate air in the air, Aldis and the others finally pass through the forest.
　Kirill's eyes narrowed into a glare as the sun's rays filled his body.

''We're almost there, aren't we?''

　As long as you can get through the forest, it's only a day's walk to King's Landing.
　Although there is still the question of what to do about the sword curse, it can be said that we have returned to safe territory for now.

　Of course, even though it is safe, it is only compared to the Caucasian forest.
　Even in the grasslands, there are still beasts that will attack humans.

　And it wasn't just the beasts that attacked us.
　Merchants who don't have any guards, and mercenaries who are just starting out are good targets.

''Oh, monks!　Just shut up and leave everything you have!

　These weak people are attacked by a human being who is unlike any other.
　On the one hand, a child before adulthood, and on the other, a boy who looked like a sorcerer who was only about fifteen years old.
　As prey for the hunt, they must have looked very attractive.

If you listen to me quietly, I won't even take your life.

　It takes a few minutes to start walking out of the forest.
　Multiple shadows appear around Ardis and Kirill.

　It's the first non-red humanoid shape I've seen in a long time.
　It had a face, wore clothes, and spoke a human language, and it was in the form of a wildlife thief.