---

Ordinary magic tends to gnaw at the human body, consuming it from within. That was the case with the demons we’ve encountered so far, just as it was with those from the Demonic Realm. Long-term exposure would lead to symptoms of poisoning, perfectly fitting the expression that it corrupts life.

However, the Gluttony Demon displays somewhat more peculiar tendencies.

“Struggling desperately to devour anything in sight. That’s for sure.”

The magic sprinkled by the Gluttony Demon goes beyond mere consumption; it’s more fitting to say it engages in acts of devouring.

It actively attacks the mana that blocks its path and ultimately feasts upon life itself, which is one of the major reasons it proves to be such a nuisance.

“Especially to wizards who haven’t reached a high level, it must be like poison.”

In the past, the hunters who had teamed up with me. The current wizards have already reached a mastery level and don’t face significant issues, but.

Simply put, this mana acts similarly to Shione’s magic, performing the role of a heated version. While the knights’ mana is mostly manifested internally or at best through their swords, their miracles generally occur when mana gathers in their external environment, not within their bodies.

This gluttonous mana wouldn’t just sit idly by regarding the wizards’ mana. If their mana manipulation ability is lacking, it becomes a disruptive hindrance.

“…It’s a chilling feeling. It might even be worse than the Demonic Realm.”

“I see that image now. What do you think of this magic?”

“Hmm… It feels like being trapped in a room full of cockroaches?”

Just a room full of cockroaches doesn’t quite capture it.

“But they’re all carnivorous ones. If surrounded, you’d just end up having your flesh gnawed away.”

If they were indeed carnivorous cockroaches, that would change the conversation.

Just as expected of our Shione. To perceive in an instant what I’ve experienced firsthand. Truly a specialist in this field.

Moreover, her clear explanation seemed to resonate with everyone, not just me.

“It has a malicious aura, but it’s not overwhelmingly thick. Given that many priests participated in this training, they should be able to endure this level of magic.”

Still, while it may disrupt mana, it wouldn’t be able to toy with Divine Power at this level.

However, the problem lay elsewhere.

“Still, that scream we heard earlier is concerning. It seems there might be some traitors among the professors going in as supervisors.”

The burst of magic alongside the scream indicated that the confrontation between enemies and allies had begun.

“I don’t know if someone who infiltrated here got caught or if it was a student participating in the training. We need to pick up the pace.”

We increased our search speed.

The wizards used their detection magic and spirits to thoroughly search the area, and since there might be some kind of enemy lurking, Shione heightened her senses and pressed forward.

The wizard dispatched by the royal family seemed to have sensed something first.

“Northwest, I feel an unstable energy.”

From our position to the northwest, it was quite close to where the scream had come from, and following her suggestion led us to finally spot the individuals we had been looking for.

‘They don’t seem to be in good shape.’

Through my enhanced vision, their appearance wasn’t promising.

One priest was limping as if injured, and two inexperienced swordsmen held swords with their edges completely chipped away. I could read intense confusion from their disheveled young faces.

From those youthful faces and urgent emotions, I could confirm they were students caught up in the incident, and their injuries suggested they were likely the source of the previous scream.

Moreover—

‘They keep glancing back.’

They resembled herbivores fleeing from predators.

Their anxious expressions as they turned their heads back and forth could only mean one thing.

“It looks like they’re being pursued. Royal knights should go immediately and escort the students while our wizards intercept the enemy.”

The moment the headmaster’s words fell, the royal knights kicked the ground and rushed forward.

Those students would now be protected by the strength of two knights, swords drawn.

“It’s too messy around for archery, so Sir Ray and the young lady don’t need to overexert themselves.”

However, the Headmaster’s words ended up unintentionally digging at our archers.

Shione quickly shook her head at his comment.

“No, rather… It might be better for me and Ray to quietly eliminate them. We’ll assist as well.”

After saying this, Shione took a moment to catch her breath and quietly drew her bow behind the wizards who were channeling mana.

These days, I had felt a bit proud of Shione being hailed as the kingdom’s finest archer, but it seemed she was a bit bothered by the Headmaster’s words, as her lips slightly protruded.

Her typical brusqueness, which only I might be able to recognize, contrasted with her momentarily dampened spirit.

But regardless of her slight discomfort, her aim with the bow remained steady and focused.

I asked her, as if she had been waiting.

“Looks like you found the enemy.”

“Yeah, I think they just drank some potion. There are about three of them, just beyond that thicket and up in the trees.”

“With the distance and being somewhat obscured by the other trees, it’s hard to see. Wizards have their own methods… Let’s move.”

No further conversation was needed; we swiftly moved into action.

Indeed, as the Headmaster said, the terrain was quite rugged and there were many obstacles, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t shoot.

“That’s why those obnoxious ear-attached ones are experts in forest battles.”

Elves, who overwhelmingly excel in archery. They’re not simply called the reapers of the enemy for nothing in the lush greenery.

Creating angles from which to shoot by seamlessly switching positions and using cover is the basic hunting method of skilled archers.

Now, having been mostly attacked until now, Shione’s body movements while hunting were remarkably fluid and devoid of unnecessary motions, adding to my own excitement as I quickly moved as well.

‘The distance ─’

About 200m.

Hidden among the branches and foliage atop the trees.

The enemies were now distracted by the suddenly appearing royal knights, surveying their surroundings.

This was the opportunity.

‘There’s no need to even use spirits.’

Feeding magic to the lackeys who had just gained some small magic power from a single potion would just be a waste of mana.

Silently blending in with nature, I adjusted my aim to shoot an arrow.

Once the angle was right, I leaned against a wooden column, nocked an arrow, and pulled back the bowstring.

‘…The bowstring feels off.’

Feeling the bowstring even slightly tugging indicates something’s wrong with its state.

Unlike the bowstring tested back at the academy, the slight vibrations I felt while pulling it now felt different than usual. It seemed it had taken some damage during our movement.

In this world, high-quality bows are all magically treated to have excellent durability. I had used the bow without issues up to now, but it seemed its life was nearing its end.

‘Knowing this, I’ve set aside a replacement in my quiver, so let’s focus on the current moment.’

Thinking that this one shot should definitely hold steady.

Before the enemy in the trees moved, I quickly positioned myself.

I stealthily sidled out from behind the tree, lowering my posture.

Kneeling on my right knee, my left leg was positioned forward along with my left arm gripping the bow. My gaze, calm from the scent of earth rising, focused on the tip of the arrow.

Fwip─!

I succeeded in hitting the target I aimed at calmly with the shot using the Dead Release.

But there was a problem.

Thud!!

The bowstring snapped.

Immediately, I took cover behind the tree and reached into the leather pouch attached to my quiver to retrieve another bowstring.

I placed it on the upper part of the bow and solidly struck the knotted section to tie it together, then kept an eye on the situation.

‘Looks like they’re trying to pinpoint my location.’

Given that both of the remaining two were looking in my direction, they were likely trying to find where the arrow had come from. However, it wouldn’t be easy.

Unlike the typical wizards, who would leave a gap in their attacks after casting, Shione and I were always ready to shoot arrows without any sound or sign. They couldn’t help but feel tense.

And sure enough, another arrow shot by Shione pierced the opponent’s forehead.

Having bent down and re-knotted my bowstring, I had nothing to worry about.

‘Now, there’s only one left─’

I quickly threw my body behind the next wooden pillar, promptly pulling back the bowstring.

Fwip─!

With a swift Sliding Release, I shot the last enemy through, concluding the situation.

We regrouped around the students who had been fleeing.

“Before we could do anything, it’s already over… Your skills seem to be much better than I heard. Well, that’s why the princess values you and the young lady so much. If what I said earlier was rude, I apologize.”

“No, not at all. It was only consideration, wasn’t it?”

Although I said this, now seeing Shione’s previously brisk demeanor had been subdued made me realize.

That proud expression of hers, whether she recognized it or others did, signified that she thought she looked awesome just now. I decided to tease her about it later.

The students, who had been in a panic, furrowed their brows at us.

“The old man in the black robe… he, he ate someone.”

*

The boy with black hair rolled on the ground.

The attire symbolizing the Pure White Priest was caked in dirt and dust.

The lips he had chewed through now turned to survey the surroundings.

“Ah….”

The spot where one person had been fleeing just moments ago, but now all that remained was a pool of blood in the place they should have been.

He glared incredulously at the withered priest who had just slain one of their own, aghast at the horrifying scene laid out before him.

“Yelin, take a look at this. Becoming a priest might not be such a bad idea after all?”

The shaman, infused with magic, held a weak yet definite divine power in his hands.

 

---