Chapter 115
－POV: Commander of Emperas Kingdom's Fifth Knight Order－
The magic circle is nearly complete.
We were told we'd be attacked if we entered the forest, but nothing has happened.
Did they flee after seeing how strong we are?
How boring.
If they attacked us, I'd have some fun with them.
The magical beasts trying to attack the trash we used as bait are being beaten back by our order.
They may be strong, I suppose, but they're no match for us.
The magical beasts attacking us may indeed be ones released by our country, but they shouldn't pose a problem.
Anyone who fears them is the one who's crazy.
...That piece of trash is no good anymore.
The slave we used as bait is convulsing.
Try being a little more useful, damn it.
I was about to have them prepare some more bait when...
The forest is beginning to glow.
At last, it's attacking!
Come on, I'll beat you back.
"Here it comes. When it shows itself, attack! But don't finish it off until the very end!"
Laughter comes from somewhere.
Come on, show yourself.
I'll make a bloody spectacle of you.
Light gushes forth, and the scenery around me begins to blur.
My vision grows hazy, irritating me.
"Stop hiding and come out!"
It probably wasn't responding to my voice, but...
The mages' screams come from the magic circle meant to burn down the forest.
The bastard targeted the mages instead of us?
I won't let that happen.
I run through the light toward where the magic circle has been deployed.
I can see an eerie black light emanating from the magic circle.
When I look for the mage who was screaming... the mage is on fire.
I hurriedly try to put out the flames with water magic... but they won't go out!
My subordinates rush over and try water magic over and over, but it has no effect at all.
"Damn it! What's going on?!"
Flames also leap from the magic circle, spreading to the subordinates near it.
My subordinates' screams echo all around us.
We hurriedly move away from the magic circle, but the flames attack the subordinates nearby as though they were alive.
Black light shoots from the magic circle toward the sky.
The next moment, the flames vanish, and silence descends.
The mages and my subordinates vanish completely, without leaving even ashes behind.
As I stand there dumbfounded, screams come from the magic circle meant to break through the barrier as well.
The cries are probably from mages, just as before.
I order my subordinates not to approach, wondering if the same thing will happen again.
I stop at a point some distance away...
"What... is this?"
Chunks of flesh that must once have belonged to the mages and the subordinates guarding the magic circle are scattered around.
The magic circle shines blue and fades away as if being absorbed into the earth.
At the same time, the scattered remains are sucked away and disappear.
Even the large amount of blood spilled disappears.
"..."
Not a single person says a word.
The light vanishes completely, and the forest returns to the way it was before the light appeared.
...as though nothing had happened.
Just as I am about to shout out to rally the order...
My body is slammed into the ground.
The air is forced from my lungs, and blood sprays from my mouth as well, as though I'd injured something inside.
Terrifying, rage-filled magical power bears down on my entire body.
I cannot move even a finger.
When I crack open my eyes, the deputy commander is right in front of me.
But with blood gushing from their mouth, the deputy commander no longer looks alive.
The agony is so great I cannot even scream.
My body is slowly crushed.
I cannot breathe, and my vision grows hazy.
I hear bones breaking inside my body; the sound echoes in my ears.
A great deal of blood spills uncontrollably from my mouth.
In my blurred vision, I see a small foot.
...My consciousness fades. What happened...? We are the King's...