Almost no monsters or bandits appeared near the Imperial City of Zebuldia.
Although the Zebuldia Empire boasts a vast territory, the safety of its streets is maintained at an unusual level as a country of its size by the majestic Knights and Hunters.
It was impossible to destroy everything on the Rock, but at least there weren't any giants with dangerous levels, even if they were escorted.
It was a while since Kurus was the main field around the Imperial City, but he hadn't encountered any strong enemies during his travels.
Yes... until that day when I followed the Emperor's escort.
Under orders from Klein to relax, he jumps out of the carriage.
There are rarely any bandits around here, but even if they do, this time they are strong enough not to lose. Compared to the Emperor's escort, the emotional burden was incomparably smaller.
Let's get this over with and get back to the carriage.
After checking the front of his nose, Kurus unexpectedly shouted out a fervent voice at the group that was coming toward us.
"!? What, is that?!"
”... my legs are trying to escape...”
Eliza crawled out in the same way and said as if she was fed up.
There is no place to hide near the street. If there is a shadow approaching us, we will know immediately. A bandit who chooses such a beautiful place to raid passers-by would be a fairly confident man or fool.
In Kurus' common sense, there are far more patterns that are the latter than the former.
However, the shadow coming towards the carriage was obviously not just an idiot even in the distance.
Perhaps there's still a few hundred meters between him and me. You can still hear the footsteps, the vibrations, the smell.
It wasn't a human silhouette. But it wasn't just a group of monsters.
I can see why Citri is a thief, even though I'm this far away. An unfamiliar chill ran up my spine.
The group had a mixture of monsters and humans.
At the head of the group is a huge crimson pair. I can see several people above me and see their luggage stuck together.
On the left and right, I was able to follow a variety of monsters, from monsters that Kris had fought before to monsters that I didn't recognize.
Although Anthem's body was out of line, some of the group included monsters larger than Anthem's. It moves much faster than our horses.
In any case, it was an unbelievable sight. I've heard that there are people who can follow the beast, but it was only a limited type. However, the group also included monsters that were obviously not intelligent enough to obey people.
"Are you riding a monster...?"
”Just a thief looks at my brother Anthem, and there's no way he won't escape... hmmm, that's funny.”
Next to her, Liz clenched her fist and clenched her tongue, without fearing the strange sight.
The carriage had already completely stopped. They're coming at us with tremendous momentum.
Lapis, who was riding in the carriage behind him, stepped down from the carriage and said with an eyebrow.
"There's Cyclops, too. Hmm... it's bigger than [immovable]."
"Hmmm..."
"That's not just a cyclops. It's a sub-species...."
Citrix, sitting on the dresser table, gave a relaxed voice and paused the used notebook with a small sigh.
"After all, it looks like no arrangements have been made." But I've heard rumors. Recently, there was a thief who could follow monsters in another country, causing damage. It looks like the regular army has been killed. "
I mean, Citri-sama, that 's--
"Without a single survivor, it's hard to make arrangements... it's a rumor in my brow that I can obey a monster."
"...... that's a complete 'detachment', isn't it?"
Normally, the Hunter's target is ranked by the Explorer's Association, but of course there are still bandits out there who weren't asked to do it.
With no rewards, no ranks, no details, and no unknown targets, Marauders are called “out of the way” by Hunters.
"...... obviously they're coming this way, right?"
There was still a long way to go, but they should be able to see us. Not to mention the fact that some of the group are flying. From the sky, we can see the number of people here.
The winds blowing through included the will to fight. There was a dense hostility that could be sure they would come after me even if I ran off the street in a blink of an eye.
”Oniichan, you're so prominent and famous... the other person has noticed who I am”
"There are more of them...... Hmm. There is plenty of time to practice magic at this distance. I don't mind if we fight each other, but let me show you how it works."
Lapis, the leader of Krus' party, says in a calm manner.
Holy Thunder of the Stars was a mage party. At the same time that everyone is a Spirit Man, he is a natural mage, and it is only by attacking from a distance that he demonstrates his true nature.
This unobstructed space is an excellent field. I didn't think there was anyone like that who could withstand the spirits' magic.
”............ I was telling you to do it, Yowanningen”
"...... what?"
Lapis turned his white eyes to Kurus, who was only prepared to sneak up on magic.
At that time, a cold wind blew on the wipe.
Inadvertently, I stare.
At some point, a small tornado struck the plains.
The sparkling tornado, which contains grains of ice, slowly grows and progresses toward the target without obstructing the earth.
Water Attribute Wide-Area Attack Magic. I didn't have to think about who released it.
Even the Spirit Man is good at the magic of water and wind, but he's not so fast. Not to mention that Lapis and Kriss were just talking.
Lapis opened his eyes and looked at Lucia.
"...... Are you going to emit magic at this distance......"
"Well, it's my job to reduce the number, so..."
"Lucia, onee-san... even though she hasn't even run yet..."
Certainly, magic has a lot of ranged attacks, but in that case, it has the right range. If it was far enough away, it would also attenuate its power. Even the Mage Kriss party didn't attack from this distance.
Lucia's offensive magic - "Hailstorm".
Even though it is magic seen in the church, what was released this time is different from what I saw last time, it was obviously customized for ultra long distance.
The tornado had grown enormously quickly in the past, but this time it was very slow. In other words, the magician named Lucia Roger has acquired magic in two ways, even for the same magic.
Lucia...... even though it wasn't decided that you were a 100 percent thief......
The tornado that was approaching us with a line of earth smoke was very disruptive.
Hailstorm wasn't originally a magic spell that attacked a wide area. But that Hailstorm had already grown so large that one army was out of sight. That amount of power would have fallen, but considering the purpose of reducing the number, there wouldn't be any more magic.
In an instant, a thief is swallowed up by Hailstorm. The sparkling tornado is interspersed with black grains.
Liz sighed tinyly and called her a sledgehammer.
"If I get shot first, it's hard to jump in... my skin will get cut."
"Lucia learned such magic because onee-chan and Luke jumped in first!" Huh? Besides, I've used it many times, so I'm getting more and more familiar with it-- "
"...... Attacks from a distance will be the magician's privilege!"
"In that case, I can't remember the magic that will remain for such a long time..."
Ah, a member of the [Ghost of Mourning] who is not nervous and is arguing. Hailstorm was rapidly shrinking. Apparently, I burned up all my magic energy.
The line of bandits swallowed up by Hailstorm, astonishingly, was still in shape. It's half the size, but it's amazing that it's still half the size of the attack.
The first giant hundred pairs were also well-established. Apparently, it was quite a powerful monster.
An army that had endured the magic once again began to move. The momentum was growing, not fading.
"Ah, I survived-"
And it came to pass, when Citrix had spoken out, that Lucia, who was quarrelling, cried out.
"Hailstorm! Hailstorm!"
Again!?
Two silver tornadoes emerge, sprinting through the plains as they grow bigger again. Inevitable speed range, even if you know it.
Three times in a row, Lucia did not disturb her breath. As usual, it was terrifying magic power.
The amount of magic was the same, but the use of great sorcery depleted my mind accordingly. It was impossible if I hadn't dived into a pretty dead end, such as releasing advanced magic three times in a short period of time and not changing my complexion one by one.
There shouldn't be many opportunities for ultra-wide attack magic, but did you participate in the war somewhere?
"Ugh... let's go, Tee!" If you keep this up, Lucia will take it from you, and you'll end up doing nothing! "
"!? Hah, yes, sister!"
Liz raised her voice and a gust of wind blew. After the two masters and brothers, Anthem continued to make footsteps that sounded like the sound of the ground.
One of the [Holy Thunder of the Stars] mumbled as if shocked by his remaining will to fight.
"What a savage...... I wonder if this is a human being......"
"But it may not have been enough for us." Hmm... The Spirit Stone was in the Imperial City. If we were so desperate, we might be able to recover it with our hands... "
"Maybe that's not true..."
Lapis narrowed her eyes for a moment as she said Eliza with a fuzzy expression. It's a habit to get ahead, but you probably think it's too ugly to complain.
And Lapis shouted with a big clap of hands.
"Let's go, Chris, let's go!"
"!?! I'll take care of it!"
With those words, Lapis and the [Holy Thunder of the Stars] started casting spells at once. It was a thunder spell.
Kurus, who was still unable to use the thunder spell, chased the ansems with all his might while casting a water spell.
§ § §
"Oh, my God... are you serious?!"
”Nh...... Ahh, it's over?”
There is a unique air on the battlefield.
Screaming with rage. I've been a hunter for over five years, from smells to vibrations to light, and I can't count it, but I don't like it no matter how many times I taste it.
However, I'm a little used to experiencing this. Not to mention that this time, [Ghost of Mourning] was almost a full party, and it even had a powerful Spirit Man Mage party. The kind of opponent that can't do anything with this preparation is a vicious thief who smokes a lot of treasure temples and mana materials at level 8 or higher. Usually, he does not go outside.
What I want to say is that the sense of security is different this time.
Not to mention we're not even in Yggdra right now. If you're nervous here, your body can't hold on.
Raise your head from the pillow you took out of Mikkun and wake up.
I'm still a little drowsy, but I feel much better than my usual trip. I can't afford to take my pillow with me when I'm traveling in a horse-drawn carriage, but with Mikun's power, I can!
As I rubbed my eyes, I saw the face of Krus who called out to me.
"... oh?... what happened?"
Kurus was very stubborn. There are no noticeable injuries, but my body is dirty and my hair is messed up. It was as if we had plunged into a storm.
I shouldn't have been asleep long. He said to me, frowning, as Kriss trembled.
"...... Yowanningen, you, get out."
I couldn't help it, so I got up and pulled my head out of the carriage.
― ― What was spreading there was scorched soil where the carcasses of countless monsters rolled.
Zebuldia's flat and even streets were admired by the nations, but there was no shadow to be seen.
Something like a black thorn about a meter was pierced there. If you look closely, you can see something like a black insect human corpse rolling down there.
No, that wasn't all the monster's corpse. From familiar objects such as orcs to pieces of meat in unknown colors, there were countless monster carcasses rolling around.
This sight would not have been possible without a fairly fierce battle. It's no wonder that Kriss shouted angrily at me while I was taking a nap.
Get out of the carriage and check the back.
"...... Huh? The carriage was also attacked? These marks...... Thunder? ughh....."
The [Ghost of Mourning] carriage is specially made. In particular, measures against lightning with a high probability of falling are adequate.
However, even among the monsters, it seemed like they were a very large group when they attacked with lightning, which was only used by particularly powerful opponents.
Kriss looked away as he observed the surroundings of the burnt carriage and nodded.
"... y-you know, it's not an enemy, it's a trace of our magic."
"!? Why, eh?"
No, no, no, no, Lizzies, we've got this place to ourselves, and we're chasing after the enemy!
Such an idiot...... It certainly seemed like a very fierce battle, but Liz, who boasted of speed, allowed the enemy to escape...
There, the sound of a monster crawled out of the shadows of the monster's corpse.
Like Citrix, she was covered in mud. He holds a wide sword decorated with blue and gold on his arm.
"Keh, Keh... you're awake!" Good morning, Mr. Klee. "
Citry's smile blossoms as she ignores the situation.
Even though I wanted to ask a lot of questions, my smile caught my nose and I coughed up a little.
"Oh, good morning. Looks like you've had a rough time." Kill, Kill, what about you? "
"I'm letting you chase me with my sister." There's no harm to us, but it's more powerful than I thought... I don't know if Lucia's magic will make me move that far, but considering the quality and number, the certification level 7 is strong-- "
Unexpectedly rounds his eyes to Citri's unprecedented appreciation.
There are many bandits and clandestine organizations in this era, but they are quite big if they are certified level 7. Does the Arc or the Arnold Class know how horrible it is?
But before that, is it anonymous, maybe it was a human being??
Sure enough, Citrix said he was a thief, but because the bodies of monsters were scattered around, they were attacked by monsters.
"Perhaps, onee-chan won't be able to stop." I think Luke could have done something about it - there was a monster led by a bandit. The thief is the monster of the [ancient species].
”Huh... ancient species?”
No, in the first place...... leading a monster......? Isn't that impossible?
I didn't know what it was, but I nodded with my arms crossed and frowned, and Citrix said with a smile in her mouth.
"Yes, the bandits called themselves." The seed of the ruler, and the guide of the devil, Adler the Devil. Adler Disrad of the Thousand Demons Night Train (Night Parade)?
Demon King...... Demon King Adler. Nowadays, there were a lot of people who called themselves Demon King, but the market was decided that they were not even Roku.
I was often not a big opponent, but I wouldn't expect to see any traces of this battlefield.
When I was about to head for Yggdra, I got a kick out of it.
I said that I would cough small, and I checked Kriss and Citry in turn.
"When Liz and the others come back, let's go to Yggdra." I don't have time to play... but Luke is a stone. "