episode_0041

My actions are unknown for a moment.

We headed along the trail.

It was as if what had just happened had never happened from the beginning.

We said nothing, just focused on following the trail.

At the end of the trace I followed was a place where space was distorted.

A thick magic energy that can be felt as soon as you arrive at the location.

I looked at the distorted space and lifted my sword and brought it down lightly.

Hiria and I were speechless at the sight that appeared beyond the space that was being split apart.

“… ”

“… ”

It’s terrible.

No, to say that this scene was terrible was not enough.

Blood soaking the floor.

There were well over hundreds of corpses lying around.

You can see faces that are damaged beyond recognition and arms and legs that are twisted and bent.

“Huh.”

I never thought I would see a scene like this again.

This was a scene that had only been seen during countless wars.

But I never thought I would see this scene again in a world after the war.

That was even more unexpected within the empire.

“Save me… State tax… yo. this… ”

I hear a human voice.

Hiria and I headed to the source of the voice without worrying about who would go first.

There, a man was lying on the ground close to the graveyard, gasping for breath.

As soon as the man saw us, he started talking as if he had a lot to say.

“… excuse me… ”

The man pointed to a place.

In that state, the man continued speaking.

“That guy… went… Bring the kids… ”

The man seemed to have difficulty even speaking.

I looked at Hiria wondering how there was no cure.

She shook her head.

It meant that it could not be saved.

I turned my attention to the man again.

The man continues to cry and speak.

“Live… I want to, but… I can buy… go… no… so… children… At least… Save… please… ”

Every time he opens his mouth, he bursts into tears and blood pours out of the man’s mouth.

Nevertheless, the man did not stop talking.

I feel like I really need to tell this much.

“J… In your pocket… Pendant… there is… ”

I quietly took out the pendant from the man’s pocket.

When I opened the pendant, there was a family photo inside.

And in that family photo, there was the face of a woman who had asked us to please save her children and husband. What kind of amazing coincidence is this?

I was so out of breath that I couldn’t even sigh.

“Please… Children… ‘

After those words, the man could no longer speak.

It was because his life was over.

I quietly reached out to him.

To give him, who could not properly close his eyes even in death, some rest now.

After making the man close his eyes, I spoke to Hyria.

“Hyria. Where is he?”

“Right in front of you.”

“Let us divide here. Hyria, you save the children.”

She must have already realized what I was thinking and nodded without saying anything.

So Hiria left to save the children, and I was left there alone, thinking.

“You… I will tear you to death.”

I pledge to never forgive the instigator of this incident.

I took a step.

***

“It’s about to be completed.”

A magic circle made of blood soaked on the floor.

A being looked at it and let out a bitter laugh.

“The end of this world is coming soon. When that time comes, no one will be able to stop it.”

The man muttered to himself.

As if he knew who was there.

Soon the man’s eyes turn to one place.

There was no one there, but I felt a presence approaching.

Clearly, the power it is emitting is not that great.

I felt as if my soul was being oppressed by the status of existence itself.

However, despite such presence, the man speaks even more provocatively.

“Isn’t that so? Great hero.”

A being appears in his every word.

A man with an overwhelming presence and energy fluttering about.

The eyes were shining with sharp murderous intent, and the hand holding the sword was being held with such force that tendons were sprouting.

“Do you know me?”

The being said.

The man grinned as if it was really fun.

“I know. I know it all too well. How can you meet the heroes of the world without knowing them?”

“Speaking as if mocking.”

“How can you not laugh at someone who is acting like that without even knowing the real truth? I am very curious about whether you will be able to remain as yourself at the end of the journey you are on.”

A man’s words whose meaning is unknown.

However, the being was not at all interested in the man’s words.

This is because we have realized early on that it is unnecessary to listen to what the enemy says.

There is only one thing that is important to existence.

Because the main culprit behind the scene we just saw was the death of the man who kidnapped the children.

The man also knew this, but still showed his composure.

“I’m curious. I’m crazy curious. The end of your journey. And after this incident, you will change. so… Would you join in on my prank?”

At the end of the man’s words.

The hall was covered in great darkness.

***

Hiria figured out the children’s location and was heading quickly.

The number of children that can be felt is well over a hundred.

How long have they been doing this for so long that there are so many children?

I headed on, barely suppressing the anger that was rising.

If things continue like this, it won’t be long before we arrive.

But then someone appeared in front of her.

“Oh my. Where are you going in such a hurry?”

A man wearing a black robe.

However, as soon as she saw the man’s appearance, Hiria frowned.

“It’s an alter ego.”

This is because I realized that the man in front of me was someone’s alter ego.

The man burst out laughing at her words.

“As expected, you know me well since you are the archmage of the old warrior party.”

In that one sentence, it means knowing who you are.

Hiria’s eyes became even bloodier.

“You’re not an ordinary warlock, are you?”

It is true that the original warlock is a being that goes beyond common sense.

But that’s only by the standard of a general wizard.

From her perspective, she is nothing more or less than dregs.

However, a mere alter ego can recognize the essence of the other person who has reached the level of transcendence.

At that time, I couldn’t think of myself as an ordinary warlock.

Hyria recognized the identity of the warlock in front of her.

“You are Jaquel?”

Jaquel.

She was a warlock who went on a journey with her companions and stood in their way.

As he was in a very important position in the Demon King’s army.

It is different from a typical warlock.

He has overtaken the demons who are reputed to be strong and has taken a place in the demon king’s army.

“I never thought my identity would be discovered already. Are you saying you’re an archmage after all?”

The tone and atmosphere suddenly changed.

Hiria had a wry smile on her lips.

“It’s been a while? That damn face is still the same.”

“You are such a dirty person.”

“It’s scandalous. The most filthy bastard is so damn.”

Jacquel chuckled at the murderous voice.

“It’s so dirty. Aren’t you the ones who are truly dirty? Sealed bugs who couldn’t shake off their regrets about the dead warrior.”

“Huh. How did the guy who fell behind earlier know that?”

“There is a way to know. The truth about the hero.”

At those words, Hiria’s expression instantly turned sour.

“Warlock, etc. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

“I know. It’s literally saying that I know all the secrets related to the hero, the goddess, and you guys.”

Hyria thought that Jakel was lying.

That’s because it doesn’t make sense.

Jaquel is the executive of the Demon Lord’s army that she and other party members encounter for the first time.

As such, he was the one who left the fastest.

However, I know everything about the hero and the circumstances surrounding him.

Doesn’t it make sense in common sense?

‘But it’s quite possible.’

In the first place, the guy who died 500 years ago is still alive.

There was nothing strange about knowing the truth about him.

‘so.’

If he really knew the truth about him, there was only one answer.

“You have to make them spit out information.”

They suppress and steal information.

That was it.

A sneer appeared on Jacquel’s lips at Hyria’s confident remarks.

“You’re just as arrogant as before. And then, even though you got hit hard, is it okay to say that you still do that because you don’t have the ability to learn?”

“I’m sorry. It’s not that you don’t have the ability to learn.”

Hyria extends her hand.

Then a magic circle begins to float above her.

Magic circles began to gradually fill the space.

Each one contained enormous magical power.

“It is a thoroughly calculated analysis.”

When she lifted her hand, thousands of magic circles rushed towards Jacquel.

“Let’s see if this is a bluff or not.”

Jaquel tapped the ground with the staff he was holding.

The demonic energy that began to bloom around him surged against her magic circle.