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KWA-AN─!

The tremendous sound shook the world.

A relentless wave of violence unleashed by numerous spirits began to pour onto the altar, originating from a minimum of mid-level strength. The shockwave from the explosion erupted.

We, on our side, had all tucked ourselves behind thick wooden columns, bracing ourselves solidly, so we fared alright. But those at the epicenter of the blast likely turned to dust in an instant.

As the brilliant flash that burst forth began to fade, a thick cloud of dust started to rise.

I looked at the place where the bombardment had swept through and thought.

‘Really…’

Is this the kind of race that claims elves love peace and possess gentle hearts, unable to easily break even a single flower?

How many fools must there be for people here to consider such nonsense as common sense?

‘What kind of weak-hearted beings are these?’

I could only chuckle at the foolish sayings of the world.

Loving peace might lead them to inner conflicts where things could quickly spiral out of control— such arrogance is simply unbecoming of the nobility. It stems from an ingrained instinctual aversion to the notion that they dread shedding blood just because they dislike exerting themselves.

They are certainly not beings of mercy.

I wiped away my stray thoughts and opened my vision slightly to take in the scenery beyond.

‘They really made a mess of things.’

About 30% of the beautifully decorated altar that the cultists treasured was destroyed, turning it into a complete liability. To make matters worse, about 30% of the crowd that had gathered for the sudden attack was scattered away.

In various ways, this was a disaster for those zealots, while it was a green light for us, making it hard not to feel exhilarated.

For starters, it had completely blown their upcoming religious gathering to bits.

‘But…’

With this alone, they would quickly recover and conduct their cursed rituals again. Some of their truly devout congregants had, the moment the explosion erupted, thrown themselves into protecting various significant items.

In a way, it’s also true that only 30% was destroyed despite such an explosion.

‘This is annoying.’

If this continues, they would soon restore their rituals. I found myself in a situation where I couldn’t take a step back. Unfortunately, the three essential half-demons showed no signs of being touched by the blast.

“…Capture them!”

“Ahh…! So those damn ear-pierced ones have come!”

The zealots, having their sacred prayer time interrupted, were starting to go wild.

“Everyone, let’s break through and retreat!”

The moment Friel’s voice fell, we revealed ourselves from our hiding spots and began to move swiftly.

Those of us, including myself, who particularly excelled in the coordination of attack and defense headed towards the side with the horned ones. The majority of the remaining elves began to flip the remaining structures and altar through unrestrained spirit magic.

A chaotic battlefield unfurled once again.

“Tania, Orna.”

As I summoned my two spirits who had been resting in the spirit realm and confidently pulled back the bowstring at that moment.

A rather unpleasant feminine voice, which I had heard before, coincidentally reached my ears.

“I was really curious about who caused this mess…”

Red eyes. Behind the woman with hair so devoid of life and luster, dense magic swirled.

I thought it was amusing that she could still laugh in this situation, but upon capturing her expression, I sensed a sharpness hiding behind her whimsically turned-up lips.

“You’re here too?”

“Ah, damn…!”

This is truly frustrating. With how many people surrounded me, why did she have to come looking for me again?

While Tania and Orna were being summoned, I hurriedly pulled the mana from my heart and knotted it at the arrowhead’s tip.

The heavy sensation felt at my fingertips.

PANG─!

Even as I slid and released simultaneously.

“Do you think you can scratch me with such a toy?”

She swatted the arrow away with monstrous speed and closed the distance between us.

“Tsk.”

At this rate, she’ll get to me before I can nock another arrow.

─Mya-aang!

“Orna, it’s dangerous, so retreat and support me.”

─Mya!

I gave a simple command to the newly summoned Orna, making my body more agile, and gripped the quiver.

“In the end, a mere archer can’t beat a knight. Whether through aura or magic. What’s the use of putting energy into that tiny piece of iron?”

Her sword was halfway to me in a middle stance, rising even further. I realized.

‘Siabel.’

Her attack resembled Siabel, who always demanded to spar with me under the pretense of teaching me swordsmanship.

‘A thrust.’

I quickly twisted my body to dodge her assault.

“In the end, you’ll just be cut down and fall─ Huh?”

The wide surface of her magic-laden sword whizzed past right next to my face.

As her expectation of my neck rolling on the ground missed the mark, she let out a bewildered sound as our eyes met.

“…!”

I simply swung the arrow I held in my left hand without a word.

A swift movement. The extending arrowhead advanced towards her throat, but.

Her twisted smile as a half-demon caught my wrist, blocking the attack.

“You’re quicker than I expected. Well, if you weren’t, you would’ve forgotten quickly.”

“Your words are really filthy.”

“…What?”

“Tania, go!”

As I flicked my arm away, I casually slung my bow over my shoulder and withdrew my sword with my empty right hand.

With rapid response, just as if waiting for it, Tania tossed a massive fireball without hesitation.

“Park Shin-woo, it might be a little hot!”

…No, I can’t let it be hot for me.

The mystical flames of the spirit, which could burn only what I wished, engulfed the devil adorned with that ominous aura. It was she who hopped back several steps, not me.

At that moment. Another arrow struck her again. Just as she swung her sword to defend, her magic flickered and dissolved away.

“This is─”

“Ray, I’ll support you!”

“Ah, it’s that troublesome girl again.”

It seemed there were quite a few things that, to her chagrin, provoked irritation. The slightest hint of a smile evaporated from her face.

It must be annoying and troublesome after all. None other than Shione, who possesses the power to obliterate her very own source of magic.

As the half-demon’s gaze filled with displeasure landed on Shione, Diolia openly displayed her stance, ready for any threats.

“Honestly, what a bother… Trying this hard won’t change a thing.”

She tangled her tainted hair with her hands, revealing her annoyance.

“What could possibly change if you struggle like this?”

She surveyed the holy altar that had turned into a chaotic mess.

Spirit magic was marvelously extravagant and flashy. To prevent any discovery due to the commotion and block any other foes from piling on. Now that the restrictions on spirit magic that had been tightened till now had been lifted.

The forest guardians were fulfilling their duty with more determination than ever.

The altar was already in complete disarray. A fair number of cultists had lost their lives among the chaos. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of Friel and Airine, the two half-demons caught in a stalemate were unable to divert their attention elsewhere.

“Are they just eager to die?”

While the half-demon in front of me unleashed a dangerous storm of attacks, the chaos far surpassed any previous assaults.

‘Avoid attacks as much as possible, and if not, then minimize the damage.’

I kept my objective clear.

‘When they attack, let it be enough to block the path toward Shione and Diolia.’

My role was to draw the monster’s attention until those pesky ear-pierced ones could wreck the altar and retreat. In the end, my focus would also be on finding an opportunity to escape.

It’s precarious right now as well, but.

‘As long as I can hold my ground.’

As long as Orna and Tania could support me.

This tightrope act feels quite precarious, but it is not something I cannot attempt. And there’s certainly a memory within me of having fought against enemies far greater than this.

It seemed that the other congregants of the cult felt that being involved in this fight would merely hinder the half-demon, as they were hesitating to engage.

Siabel, Shione, and several other forest guardians were holding their ground till the end.

I felt optimistic about the success of my mission.

‘In the end, they are half-demons, not actual demons.’

They can be seen as a heated version of demons.

While they could not directly create and accumulate magic, they possessed the ability to handle far denser magic than monsters.

Thus, without offering continuous prayers or sacrifices after being imbued with demonic power, they could not expand their vessels or gather magic. Additionally, their recovery was also incredibly slow, so without special items or individuals’ aid, recovering expended magic within a short time was impossible.

‘The longer this goes on, the less power they can retain, just like I will.’

Eventually, their dwindled magic would open a route for my escape.

So I held out, and as my allies began to retreat and my turn started drawing near.

“Ray, now!”

Just as I tried to hurry back.

The half-demon gazed coldly at me, her face frozen with anger.

“Where do you think you’re running to?”

“……!”

After unleashing various attacks so far, she must have consumed a lot of magic.

And yet, I perceived an even more intense surge of magic erupting from her.

An instinctive dread coursed through me, ringing alarm bells for my life.

Danger! Now is not the time to escape. I must continue to fight.

“I can’t believe this!”

This cursed enemy is as bothersome as the day the winter blizzards swept over the wrecked Count’s territory.

‘Just a half-demon, yet.’

And having evaded her attacks several times, I had a sufficient understanding of her abilities. Originally, she should be a half-demon wielding profound magic, but she lacked the quality and fervor of a zealot.

But now?

The situation had reversed. Had my eyes gone blind? I misjudged her skills.

That woman is not just a hybrid; she is a dangerous mutation.

“Haah, really…!”

I hurriedly gathered myself and steeled my resolve.

“Tania, prepare!”

Even if it means exhausting all my mana and collapsing here.

For a moment, I must boldly revert to my old self and endure her attacks like I used to.

 

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