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The screech of the maddened monster and the sounds of our allies’ attacks filled the forest.

A blood wind blew. The echoes of rusted iron spread like a hazy fog, weaving into the magical aura that disoriented my senses, amplifying the chaos.

An instinctive discomfort crawled on my skin, and the scent of blood filled my nostrils, causing me to wrinkle my brow.

─Myaow!

The wind stirred.

It was not a moth but Orna, creating a breeze that began to assist Diolia’s movements.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

With no hesitation, while taking in the sight of the sword-wielding heroine, Shione drew her next arrow.

She positioned the arrow between her index and middle fingers, preparing for the split finger technique all the way to her ring finger─

“Princess Shione, I’m counting on you to the right!”

“Got it!”

No, it was coming closer than I expected. I needed to secure my aim even better.

The split finger technique Ray had taught me. But unlike the Split method, I set my ring finger on the string, readying the Flemish Draw.

Swoosh!

I heard the taut bowstring vibrating in my ears.

“Orna!”

As I pulled back the string, I called out the name of the spirit gliding gracefully above my head.

─Kung!

The path of wind that Orna wove. Currents gathered at the tip of my arrow, forming a gust that, while weaker than Ray’s, was still significant.

Fwoosh─!

The arrow left with a whoosh, lodging itself confidently into the enemy’s neck, and Diolia quickly finished it off.

“…No matter how many we take down, it feels endless.”

“Still, should I be thankful? They’re not swarming us like before.”

Nodding silently, I prepared once more along with Diolia. Shione also drew another arrow from her quiver.

She scanned the surroundings. I could definitely see fewer monsters than before, and the elves were still moving about with the same spirit.

How in the world could they move so swiftly? Perhaps most of them were the elite forest guardians vying for supremacy in the Great Forest. It was as if they were unbothered by the chaotic terrain, effortlessly leaping between trees as they slaughtered foes.

Moreover, they were likely all contracted with intermediate or high-level spirits. The spirits seemed busier aiding them and occasionally joining the fray against the monsters.

‘…They are truly something else.’

Shione found herself convinced of why the elves were called the masters of the forest.

They were precise.

Since the magic of the spirits tended to be quite raucous, they restrained their own power and combat to minimize revealing their location and presence to the enemies. Even so, their individual strength was remarkable. Their strange swordsmanship and particularly graceful archery were mesmerizing.

‘Especially Friel Arielte.’

Though the fortress was somewhat better now…

Even without showing it, I still found the elves rather displeasing.

She stood out even amongst the other forest guardians with her exceptional skills.

‘Her combos flow so naturally.’

Each gesture switching from shooting arrows to swordplay was noble. The elegant steps and smooth movements brought an ephemeral beauty to the chaos around us. It was impossible not to steal glances.

Not only was her presence striking, but there was also another woman equally as eye-catching.

‘Surely, Young Lady Kalia had mentioned that it would be wise to keep an eye on her.’

The eldest daughter of the Ianette family, Airine Ianette’s fighting style was incredibly unique.

Unlike the other elves, she never moved much from her spot.

‘Spirits…’

She perfectly controlled her surroundings with three spirits while shooting arrows with her usual stoic expression, as if caught in a monotonous routine. Standing still made her an easy target for the blood-crazed monsters, inevitably drawing them in. Yet, she effortlessly kept them at bay, skillfully delivering lethal shots one by one.

In the midst of the battlefield, her entirely disconnected approach to hunting seemed foreign to me, drawing my gazes more keenly.

And then it happened.

─Kung!

“Ah…!”

As if Orna were questioning where my attention lay, she swooped down and crashed into Shione’s face.

It wasn’t a strong collision, but given how much Orna had grown recently, it was a bit painful…

─Kung Kung!

“I got it… I got it!”

With Orna pressing down on my head, I shook her off and once again drew back my bowstring.

While searching for any enemy I could hit, a man clad in armor emblazoned with a familiar family crest came into view.

Ray.

He moved with a skillfulness that rivaled even the forest guardians, releasing arrows deftly.

Just with his gaze, he exchanged unspoken words with Tania, conjuring flames that radiated the deep connection he shared with spirits. The arrows he fired were just as sharp and precise as Friel’s, no matter how awkwardly he stood.

However, unlike the elves, he displayed a wild and instinct-driven agility that was something else entirely.

Diolia also eyed Ray momentarily, her voice tinged with awe.

“He’s like a monster.”

Indeed, it was just as she said.

“Do you see? Even now, sharp claws brush past me, and he doesn’t even blink.”

The moment his position shifted from long-range to close combat.

In the blink of an eye, Ray dodged a monster’s attack and without hesitation, plunged an arrow beneath its jaw.

“Such a fierce demeanor for a mercenary… Most men wouldn’t even dare to attempt something so daring.”

Diolia was likely witnessing his prodigious talent that surpassed ordinary limits.

But Shione felt differently.

Rather than his genius, she thought about his original profession he had once mentioned. Imagining the countless hours of blood and sweat he must have endured to become so adept at battling monsters every day, she pondered just how much hardship he had faced.

This was a secret that deepened the bond between them and proved his reliability.

At that moment, while Shione turned her gaze back to Airine, to fend off the oncoming monsters, she noticed something peculiar.

“……?”

She lowered her bow for a moment, turning her head elsewhere, seemingly lost in thought.

This was an unusual behavior for her, who typically maintained an indifferent attitude.

After neatly shooting an arrow into an enemy, when Shione redirected her attention to where Airine was focused, her icy blue eyes narrowed as she drew another arrow and gazed at Airine.

“…Tsk.”

Airine was looking at no one other than Ray.

*

The battle came to an end.

The wave of monsters that had surged forth was quelled, littering the ground around us.

Thanks to the capable forest guardians, it felt like the situation had been wrapped up quite smoothly.

After moving about so vigorously for the first time in ages, I was slightly fatigued.

“We’re heading out immediately! Grab only the arrows we can reuse and let’s move swiftly!”

The thick scent of blood permeated throughout the forest.

If we wanted to avoid the countless maddened monstrosities drawn to this sticky aroma, moving quickly from this location was our best option.

I migrated close to Shione as we made our way further.

But just what had happened during the recent chaos?

“Princess Shione.”

“Uh…what?”

“Nothing important.”

“Hmph… how careless.”

I could see Shione becoming increasingly aware of Airine’s presence, a departure from her previous demeanor.

‘Airine, certainly…’

Had been stuck shooting arrows at the monsters rushing toward her, so she shouldn’t have had much overlap with Shione.

Perhaps when we got a chance to rest later, I might be able to ask her what transpired.

Following Piel’s renewed guidance led us deeper into the woods once more.

“…It’s right ahead.”

Shione whispered, shivering slightly.

It was not a tremor of fear. She seemed to be grimacing, facing something unpleasant and disgusting right before her eyes.

“Let’s go.”

“I’ll follow.”

At this moment, the leadership of our party shifted from Friel to Shione.

Finally, we spotted the traces of the cult that we had been searching for.

“…How horrific. Those madmen…”

Tania’s murmurs echoed my thoughts.

As we drew closer, an intensifying stench invaded our senses. Just as expected.

Remnants of past life forms, from the bones of animal carcasses to signs of something beginning to decay, littered the soil.

In the center lay a gem stained black, just like the one we had seen in the Beltlin Mountain Range—a chaotic artifact contaminating the area.

“It seems they intended to make this zone a Demonic Realm.”

Shione quietly whispered as she stood before the gem.

“Just how many sacrifices have they made…?”

Her voice trembled with cold fury.

At that moment, as Friel slowly approached with the intent to touch the gem…

Shione stopped her from acting.

“Do not touch that. The powers of a demon can ensnare people’s minds. Without the priest’s Divine Power or special devices, it’s best to avoid contact. Touching it may lead to hallucinations and illusions.”

“Hallucinations and illusions, you say?”

“Yes, we once dealt with something similar back at our Count’s House. Even after sufficient purification with Divine Power, some among those who transported the gem heard whispers from demons.”

“Then, what should we do about this…?”

Shione pondered, glancing down at the gem.

“The most certain way is to purify it using a priest’s power…but right now, it might be best to shatter the gem or seal it, and deal with the cult’s sorcery that’s polluting the surroundings first—”

It was at that moment.

With wide eyes and a tightly shut mouth, Shione proclaimed, “…The spirits have been unsummoned!”

“Me too…!”

At that instant, the elves felt the spirits they had previously summoned swiftly return to them. An unsettling silence began to envelop us.

Suuuu─

With a chilling breeze, Shione turned her head, and the rustling of the nearby foliage caught my ears. Just then, an eerie voice cut through the stillness.

“Not so fast. Why would you disturb the altar, with the ritual nearly complete?”

 

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