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Coldly analyzing the situation.

This place is both his domain and hunting ground. The Mined Creature T-1000 may have been temporarily incapacitated, but in this space with its dense magical energy, it will undoubtedly recover its wounds in no time. Daniel’s combat power is also quite significant. While his archery skills aren’t on par with the Archery Master Erwin, they are still formidable, and his ability to manipulate magic is exceptional.

On the other hand, we have two people who are completely out of the fight.

“Emily, can you regenerate mana?”

Seeing Emily shake her head, I bit my lower lip.

Just a moment ago, Emily had used a multi-casting mark to escape the magical prison. As a result, she had expended an astronomical amount of mana.

Right now, Emily’s condition is akin to a gun without bullets—merely a useless shell.

Moreover, Erwin, who is slumped on Azar’s back, shows no signs of waking up.

It wouldn’t be a problem if we only had five of us, but now I have to protect them while engaging in battle.

“Wuzmund, focus on protecting your chieftain for now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wuzmund nodded as he received Erwin from Azar, and I turned my gaze to Ophelia.

“Ophelia, please protect Emily.”

“What about you?”

“Well, I have to kill that creature.”

In situations like this, it’s common even in games and mercenary groups.

If the rear guard, which includes archers, is wiped out by a surprise attack, the only ones you can rely on are yourself and your immediate comrades.

“From now on, it’s time for the front lines to take action.”

In simple terms, it’s time for the meat shields to step up.

The Hero’s Divine Mark has about five minutes left.

We need to wrap this up quickly.

“Is it really possible?”

“Well, who knows how much magic power that thing has left, but it’s worth a shot.”

“If you’re thinking recklessly, you’ll die.”

“I can’t afford to die, especially not with Ophelia around.”

The stakes are our lives.

It’s nothing great.

I’ve wagered my life countless times, and I’m relatively confident in this kind of gamble.

Exchanging glances with the Sword Saint, the Golden Lion, I drew my Holy Sword and charged forward.

*

A space enveloped in mist.

In Erwin’s hallucinatory landscape, it wasn’t a city.

Instead, it was a place from his memories. A small village near the Vinheim Tribe. A location arranged by the former chief of Vinheim, his father, to hide and raise the illegitimate siblings.

“Is it really you, brother?”

In that place, Erwin spoke to the man before him with a trembling voice.

The man had the same green hair and blue eyes as Erwin.

“No, I’m merely an illusion created by magic,” Mereba said, shaking his head.

He acknowledged it himself. There was no need to hear more.

Erwin summoned his bow and aimed, but Mereba’s expression remained calm.

“Originally, I should keep you here.”

“Then why not just capture me? I’ll shoot an arrow right between your eyes without hesitation.”

“You still have that fiery temper, as always.”

“Don’t talk as if you know everything, you fake!”

Erwin shot the arrow.

The arrow, redirected by the spirit magic, grazed Mereba’s cheek and returned to Erwin’s side.

“No, I know all about you.”

Mereba said casually.

“You cried a lot when you were a child. On days when your father mistreated you or your birth family oppressed you, you would come to me and cry.”

“…”

“At that time, I told you this.”

Mereba stood and approached Erwin, mimicking the act of brushing his cheek in midair.

“This too shall pass.”

Erwin shuddered.

It was undoubtedly a memory with his brother.

“It doesn’t stop there. You first used spirit magic when you were fifteen. The first time you were hit by your father was when you were eight. I had to go all the way to Nua Diel to find you after you ran away.”

“How the hell do you…?”

“How? Well, I don’t mean to brag, but I am the spirit of Mereba.”

Mereba smiled awkwardly.

Every single detail mirrored the image of Mereba that Erwin remembered.

It’s confusing.

That’s why he lowered his bowstring.

Seeing this, Mereba smiled faintly.

“Though just a simple fragment, my soul resides within this body now.”

“Your soul is still here? In this world?”

“Not quite. It’s not in this world. But that doesn’t mean it’s completely gone.”

Mereba continued.

“It’s with the Demon King, isolated with various souls he has collected from beyond this world.”

“Then… how are you able to speak to me?”

Erwin asked without erasing his vigilance.

“Because the Demon King came here a little while ago and generated a domain.”

“…What?”

“It’s a long story. But thanks to that, something real has taken root in me, who should have only been an illusion. In a sense, you ought to be grateful to the Demon King.”

Mereba looked at Erwin with a chuckle.

“So, Erwin. You’ve grown a lot.”

“…Brother.”

“I thought you’d remain a spoiled child, yet you ended up becoming the leader of Vinheim.”

“…It’s all because of you, brother. Why did you do such a thing?”

He asked, half-interrogating.

Of course, Erwin already knew the answer to that question.

If Mereba hadn’t spared the family…

“You would have died. I valued you, whose blood is completely mine, more than family with mixed blood.”

“Blood ties mean nothing to an Elf…”

“Not necessary. But, as you know, I’m a little… different for an Elf.”

Mereba calmly placed a log into the fire.

The crackling flames danced. For a moment, Mereba stared at the warm light before turning his head.

“Are you feeling guilty about me?”

“There’s no way that could be. Brother, you’re the trashy bastard… so there’s no way I’d feel that way. You left me with baggage and just disappeared, you godforsaken scum.”

“I’m glad you think that way.”

Mereba opened his arms wide.

“If you hate me, you can kill me without any hesitation, right?”

“Kill… you?”

“Yes. The master of this space is me. So, to leave, you must kill me. Stop holding onto the delusion of staying here. You need to go outside and help your comrades.”

“Aren’t you supposed to keep me here?”

“That’s my body’s will. And this is my soul’s will.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You’ll understand in time.”

Erwin frowned.

It’s all so confusing.

He realizes it’s an illusion. But it looks just like the way he remembers.

The difference between Mereba and the possessor, Daniel, is like night and day, even stirring the heart of Erwin, who has lived a long life.

“Hurry, kill me. Your comrades are struggling outside. Without you, they cannot win.”

“…”

Slowly, Erwin raised his bow.

“Can I ask you one last thing, brother?”

“Of course.”

“I heard your soul is still around. If that’s true, would you be able to return to your original body if you kill the Demon King?”

“Well, I’m not quite sure.”

Mereba thought about that, then winked.

“That’s something the living should ponder, not a spirit like me.”

“Humph.”

As expected, infuriating.

“Alright. Since I’m alive, I’ll be hunting the Demon King for the sake of the pathetic body you’ve been trapped in.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll bring your soul and put it back into that body. So don’t even think about refusing.”

With a bold ambition laid out, Mereba’s eyes widened for a moment before breaking into a warm smile.

“Yeah. That’s how it should be, Erwin.”

“Stop pretending you know everything. I don’t know anything about my brother at all.”

With a snort, Erwin pulled the bowstring tight.

The Mereba in front of him looks just like the infuriating brother he knows, making it easy for him to release the bowstring without hesitation.

Thwack!

The arrow struck Mereba between the eyes, and he dissolved into black smoke.

At the same time, the magical constructs surrounding the area began to collapse.

The last thing Erwin saw in that moment was the bright smiles of his brother and sister.

*

The situation was unfolding just as Daniel intended.

The Archery Master Erwin was incapacitated. The one he was most wary of, the Archmage’s apprentice, Emily Barried, was now completely drained of mana. Even in the game, her reputation was that of a glass cannon. Without the cannon part, she was merely a fragile glass.

Lastly, the Saintess was entirely focused on protecting those two.

The key is to restrain those three warriors with magic while supporting the Mined Creature.

Boom!

Every time the Mined Creature T-1000 swung its fist, the ground shook and the entire area trembled.

Thanks to Daniel pouring magic energy without reservation, that creature’s strength could easily withstand the Golden Lion Azar’s blows.

“Ha ha ha! It’s better to give up!”

It’s nearly impossible for them to break through the creature.

More importantly, they have no time left.

Though the Saintess is providing them with Holy Magic support, the magic accumulating on that creature cannot be underestimated.

Most importantly.

“Elliot, we have about a minute left, right?”

Daniel grinned.

The Hero’s Divine Mark, which grants extraordinary physical abilities for ten turns, was nearing its end.

“It doesn’t matter what the Demon King said.”

Daniel stopped manipulating magic and drew his bow.

The magic poisoning was something even Daniel couldn’t cure, but with arrows, he could incapacitate without killing.

He could hear the details later.

Moreover, if he captures the Hero and brings him before the Demon King, he would surely receive even greater power.

He would be able to enjoy this delightful world even more.

Daniel slowly pulled back the bowstring, aiming for Elliot’s legs.

There was no fear of missing; the spirit’s assistance would ensure that.

“Let’s finish this.”

With a twisted smile, Daniel shot the arrow.

However, the arrow veered mid-flight, redirecting from Elliot to suddenly rain down on Daniel instead.

“What…?”

An unexpected turn of events.

Daniel’s eyes widened, and before he could react, the arrow pierced through his hand and side.

“Cough!”

Blood surged up his throat.

Why did the arrow return?

The question was soon resolved.

He had lost control over the spirits.

Why had the spirits turned against him? Naturally, it was due to the presence of someone in this place with overwhelming control over them.

“…Archery Master, how did you…?”

Before he knew it, the Archery Master Erwin had awakened and held a handful of magical arrows.

Her deep blue eyes were now ablaze with a light green fire.

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of killing you.”

Erwin said with a smoldering gaze.

“You just need to rot in a corner until I beat the Demon King.”

 

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