Ch.207207. Disturbance (3)

A considerable amount of time had passed since we entered the forest.

As the sun rose and set multiple times, the increasingly fierce battles accumulated our fatigue. Our limited supplies were being rapidly consumed, becoming a significant burden. While we became increasingly isolated in this forest teeming with enemies, we were also getting closer to the objective that brought us here in the first place.

“Lady Airine, the most crucial moment will soon arrive.”

“I know.”

As she said, we had been tracking them by investigating demon altars and piecing together clues and traces. Now we were here, on the verge of reaching their stronghold to behead the ominous half-demon, half-human being who had killed countless elves.

“Until now, those two humans have led the troops and achieved numerous accomplishments both large and small… but this opportunity could allow us to surpass them and claim the most glorious achievement.”

“…”

“Fortunately, your rival Friel hasn’t accomplished much either. If you can achieve something more honorable than her this time… the status and position of Ianet will become even more secure.”

“…”

“We must be more special than anyone else. If possible, we should use every means available—”

“Like at the spirit contract ceremony decades ago?”

The woman who seemed ready to continue her endless sermon quietly closed her mouth.

The spirit contract ceremony decades ago.

That was the turning point when the relationship between Airine and Friel, who had been ordinarily close friends until then, began to twist. It was also after that day when the brightness completely disappeared from Airine’s face.

Even she couldn’t treat Airine’s mention of the spirit contract ceremony lightly. After all, she was half—no, more than half—responsible for what happened then. The memory of when Airine first showed hatred toward her still remained vivid in her mind.

She needed to be careful. Nevertheless.

“…Yes, if necessary, you must act as you did then.”

Even if Airine’s anger might be directed at her again, she needed to act as she did back then.

Because the head of the family wanted Airine to act that way, and wanted her to guide Airine to move accordingly.

“…”

Airine closed her eyes and quietly mulled over her words several times.

A conflict arose.

She contemplated what was morally right and wrong, and whether such actions would produce the results her mother desired.

She also deeply considered how much everyone here had invested in this ambush. She thought about what kind of chaos she might cause by taking unexpected actions to steal credit. As her head filled more with negative thoughts than positive ones.

Moreover, and most importantly.

‘I just can’t imagine it.’

Airine couldn’t easily envision herself doing what they wanted her to do—beheading the half-human, half-demon. She couldn’t confidently see her future.

Rather, if anyone were to kill those demons, wouldn’t it be more fitting for those two humans who had always played the leading roles, instead of herself or Friel?

Would it be right for her to once again take away the achievements that rightfully belonged to them?

She poured cold water on her rising emotions several times.

Nevertheless, looking at the woman standing before her with an utterly cold expression, she could only respond like a passive child who always moved according to the expectations of parents and those around her, as she always had.

“I understand.”

“…An excellent choice. From now on, Ianet will be remembered forever as the house that bravely stepped forward and was the first to behead the demon when the eastern forest was in greatest turmoil.”

Airine simply nodded quietly at her words.

Leaving behind deep turmoil.

* * *

How long had we been living in the forest, fighting and slashing enemies while camping out? Thanks to destroying the altars they had built and collecting clues from the minions we captured as prisoners, we were finally able to find their most important stronghold.

“An altar for the final ritual…”

The cultists had been plotting here in the eastern forest even before we arrived. These insane bastards had been diligently worshipping demons and performing rituals.

“We almost arrived too late.”

Indeed, they were nearly ready to summon a monstrous demon.

Strong Magia that could pierce the skin was constantly felt from up ahead. As we hid here waiting for an opportunity, Sione, who had been wearing a stern face with a complex expression mixing anxiety and fighting spirit, nodded readily at my words.

“…The final ritual will begin soon. We need to disrupt it completely with a decisive surprise attack.”

The moment Sione’s words fell.

Right on cue, Friel’s voice began to reach our ears, quietly but clearly.

“Our goal is not to hunt down the half-demon or cultists, but to create chaos around them to delay their ritual.”

With a massive ritual imminent.

We should avoid fixating on beheading the half-demon when facing a ritual with unknown consequences.

If we focus too much on killing them and fail to properly disrupt the ritual, allowing a high-ranking demon to emerge—that would be a major problem.

“Those hybrids up ahead will be handled by me, Airine, and—”

Friel’s gaze turned toward Sione and me.

But the weight of her gaze was different. Sione showed monstrous abilities in tracking and detection, but her combat strength was still lacking. Since it was daytime and visibility was good, I was more important with my superior combat strength.

Her clear green eyes were gazing at me brightly.

“I’ll handle them with these people here, so the rest of you focus on creating chaos around the area.”

The task of holding back the most troublesome half-demon was assigned to those with the most outstanding combat abilities and quick judgment within the troop.

The other forest guardians prepared to unleash all the spirit magic they had been saving to create complete chaos.

“We’ll move out now.”

We began heading toward the massive altar ahead.

In the wide clearing created by cutting down surrounding trees stood statues in demonic forms. At the center lay the remains of something to be used as a sacrifice. Numerous cultists surrounded it, bowing their heads.

I couldn’t help but wonder why they worshipped demons so fervently. Their fanaticism was bewildering.

From quite a distance, despite our efforts to suppress our presence, some of them raised their heads and looked around in our direction.

‘They’re quite sharp.’

It seemed that among the many fanatics, a few with good instincts had vaguely noticed our approach.

We continued to hide behind bushes and tree trunks, suppressing our presence even more, waiting for their interest to fade and for them to completely lower their guard.

Meanwhile, I scanned the crowd of cultists.

‘The ones with horns on their heads… there they are.’

There were three with black goat horns.

They were closest to the central altar, looking down at the sacrifice placed upon it.

They were deeply focused on the ritual itself.

Among them was the one who had swung a sword at me with killing intent while offering a “welcome greeting.” Given what I had glimpsed of her abilities then, she couldn’t have failed to notice so many of us approaching.

Yet she showed no reaction, suggesting that she too was so absorbed in the ritual that she hadn’t noticed our approach.

‘Well, they’re performing something they’ve prepared so thoroughly.’

Given the importance of the ritual, dividing their attention could have major negative consequences. That’s why they had to focus so intently.

I quietly looked at the ring on my finger while observing the crowd.

This was the enchanted ring Siabel Sianella had given me as a gift. It had the ability to absorb impacts up to three times, a valuable artifact.

I had been wearing it just in case, but it hadn’t seen any action until now.

‘Let’s move decisively this time.’

It might be good to try it out now.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to make bolder moves to catch them off guard, trusting in this expensive artifact.

Just as I firmly gripped my bow and steadied my breathing.

“Now—!”

At the center of the vast clearing.

A man with one horn cleanly cut off raised his booming voice, and everyone bowed down even lower to offer prayers.

As the tension among everyone gathered here reached its peak.

As their prayers began.

“Attack!”

The elves’ greatest weapon.

A carpet bombing of spirits swept across the clearing.