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It has been quite a while since we entered the forest.

As the sun has risen and set many times, the battles have become increasingly intense, compounding our exhaustion. With our limited supplies running low, this has begun to weigh heavily upon us. We found ourselves isolated in a forest teeming with enemies, all the while drawing closer to the goal we initially set out to achieve.

“Irene, the most crucial moment will arrive soon.”

“I know.”

As she said, we had been rummaging through the demon’s altar, piecing together traces and clues to track them down, leading us to this very place. We were on the brink of slaying the monstrous being—a foul entity comprised of both demon and human—that had claimed the lives of numerous elves.

“Until now, two humans have led our forces, achieving numerous accomplishments, big and small… but with this opportunity, we can outshine them and set the most glorious achievement of all.”

“……”

“Fortunately, your rival Friel has also failed to achieve anything significant. If we can secure a more glorious feat than her this time… Ianette’s stature and position will be solidified.”

“……”

“We must be special above all others. We should use every possible means available—”

“Like decades ago, during the spirit contract ceremony?”

Just as I thought she would drone on indefinitely with her tiresome sermon, she fell silent.

Decades ago, during the spirit contract ceremony.

That was when the once friendly relationship between Irene and Friel began to twist, the day brightness vanished from Irene’s expression entirely.

The discussion of the spirit contract ceremony was not something to be treated lightly, not even by her. That event held a significant responsibility, more than half of which fell squarely on her shoulders. I still remembered vividly when she first showed her hatred towards me.

Caution was necessary. Yet, despite all this…

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

Even if her anger were to turn towards me again, she had to move as she did back then.

The head of our family wanted Irene to act that way, and I was supposed to guide her toward that action.

“……”

Irene closed her eyes and silently mulled over her words several times.

Conflicts arose.

She grappled with the morality of right and wrong, pondering whether her actions could yield the results her mother desired. Moreover, she contemplated how much everyone present had riding on this ambush. Thoughts on how her unexpected actions might snatch away the accolades, leaving her in turmoil, flooded her mind, filling her thoughts with negativity instead of positivity.

But most importantly:

“I can’t even imagine it.”

Irene pondered whether she could summon the courage to strike down the half-demon everyone expected of her. The vision of her own assurance and the future felt elusive.

If there were those willing to kill the demons, wouldn’t they be the two humans who had consistently taken the spotlight rather than herself or Friel?

Was it right for her to snatch their deserved accolades again?

With an internal chaos bubbling over, I poured cold water over my rising emotions repeatedly.

Yet, seeing the woman before her with an utterly composed expression as always, she could only respond like a passive child, moving according to the expectations of her parents and those around her.

“I understand.”

“…That is an excellent choice. From now on, the Ianette family will be remembered as the first to bravely strike down the demon’s head during the most chaotic time in the eastern forest.”

Irene merely nodded quietly in response to those words.

Leaving behind a ripple of deep turmoil.

—

How long have we been living in the forest, camping out, and repeatedly clashing with enemies? Thanks to breaking their altars and collecting clues from the captured subordinates, we finally managed to locate their most crucial base.

“A shrine for the final ritual…”

The cultists, who had been plotting their sorcery here since before we entered the eastern forest, had been diligently and earnestly worshipping the demon, conducting their ceremonies without any sign of slacking off.

“If we hadn’t acted, we might have been too late.”

Indeed, they were almost fully prepared to summon a monstrous demon.

From ahead, a piercing presence of magic filled the air, unsettlingly palpable. Sione, who had maintained a tense and complex expression, nodded at my words.

“…The final ceremony will commence soon. We must sabotage it with a decisive ambush.”

The moment Sione finished speaking, Friel’s voice quietly, yet definitively, reached our ears.

“Our objective is not to eliminate the half-demon or the cultists, but rather to create chaos to delay their ceremony further.”

Facing a massive ceremony just ahead, we needed to avoid becoming too fixated on slaying the half-demon, as this could result in unforeseen consequences.

If we kill their leader but fail to disrupt the ceremony, summoning a higher-class demon would pose a significant issue.

“Those mongrels up ahead are to be handled by Irene and me. And—”

Friel’s gaze shifted toward me and Sione.

However, the weight in her gaze felt different. Sione, though possessing beastly features, lacked the combat capability she needed as the true form was still hidden. Given that this was daylight, when visibility was at its best, she implied that I—who was much more powerful—was of greater importance.

Her fresh, green eyes sparkled as they fixed upon me.

“I will take care of those over there, so you all concentrate on causing a ruckus in the surroundings.”

The most capable individuals in our troop, those with superior combat skills and rapid situational awareness, were tasked with binding the half-demon.

The forest guardians, prepared to unleash their spirit magic at once, awaited the signal.

“We’re moving out now.”

We began to approach the massive altar ahead.

On the expansive clearing created by felling trees stood grotesque statues of demons. In the center lay remnants of something meant for sacrifice, surrounded by numerous cultists bowing in reverence.

I couldn’t help but wonder why they worshipped demons so fervently. Their fanaticism left me speechless.

From quite a distance, I noticed a few among their ranks raise their heads, scanning the area even while trying to suppress their presence.

“…Their awareness is quite sharp.”

It seemed some with good instincts among the numerous fanatics had vaguely detected our approach.

We moved even more stealthily, hiding behind the underbrush and wooden columns, waiting for their interest to wane. We knew we had to wait for their utter complacency to arrive.

In the meantime, I carefully scanned the throng of cultists.

“Those with horns on their heads… are right there.”

There were three, sporting the horns of black goats.

They stood closest to the altar, peering down at the offering with the utmost concentration.

They were deeply engrossed in the ceremony itself. Among them was a figure who had previously attacked me with a sword, wielding a deadly intent under the guise of a welcoming greeting. I couldn’t believe she had failed to notice us approaching, despite her skill.

The lack of any signs of movement indicated she was also deeply immersed in the ceremony, completely oblivious to our presence.

“Honestly, there’s no way this elaborate setup is anything but very well orchestrated.”

Given the significance of the ceremony, distraction would yield disastrous consequences, forcing them to maintain their intense focus.

I quietly gazed at the group while looking down at the ring on my finger.

It was a magical ring gifted to me by Siabel Shianella. This treasure possessed the ability to absorb a certain amount of impact three times in danger.

I had worn it just in case, but it had yet to see any action.

“Let’s be bold this time.”

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to use it and take a daring approach to catch them off guard.

Just as I firmly grasped my bow and steadied my breath, the moment arrived.

“Now!”

In the center of that massive clearing, a man with one horn neatly severed hollered out, urging everyone to bow even lower in prayer.

The tension among all gathered here escalated to its peak.

The moment their prayers began.

“Attack!”

The elves’ greatest weapon.

The bombardment of spirits swept over the clearing.

 

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