Chapter 168
－From the Perspective of the Giant Spider Big Boss-san－
I enter one of the rooms in my home, carrying the food my master asked me to bring.
Core is there, fast asleep.
Chai, nestled beside Core, notices me and looks over, but seems calm.
For the past few days, Core has been suffering greatly, unable to forgive itself for attacking my master.
But at last, it seems to have calmed down.
Its disordered magic has settled, too.
A few days ago, Core suddenly tried to attack my master.
No, it would be more accurate to say that something was controlling it.
I recognized that state.
It was like my former companions who had been controlled by Evil Eye Magic.
But I couldn't sense the magic of Evil Eye Magic, and, like the companions of other species, I was baffled and didn't know what to do.
My master immediately created a new barrier and wrapped all of us in it.
The barrier restored Core's senses, but its dejection was so profound that it was painful to watch.
When the barrier spread to every corner of my body, I noticed something felt wrong.
To think I hadn't sensed the slightest oddity in my own body...
This must be whatever it is that allows someone to control others.
The other Kings of the Forest seemed to be in the same state. If things had gone a little differently, they might have attacked my master just like Core.
It wasn't as if I had let my guard down, but...
Still, what was that?
The barrier made the strange sensation disappear in an instant, so I couldn't examine the magic. But I hadn't sensed any magic from Evil Eye Magic at all.
Even so, I was faintly able to sense a presence that seemed familiar from somewhere.
But I can't remember where I sensed it.
Phew... My memories are no help at all.
My master seemed quite worried about Core, but once Core has calmed down, my master's worries should ease a little.
But we can't relax when we don't know what's happening.
I've had my children investigate the changes in the forest, but they haven't found the cause yet.
I hope nothing happens to make my master anxious.
Come to think of it, my master has been lost in thought these past few days. I hope they don't do anything reckless.
...
The children who had gone into the forest returned.
It seems they couldn't find anything wrong with the magic flowing through the forest.
However, they reported that a group of about ten monsters of different species had been heading toward our home.
Monsters of different species would never gather together.
My children also sensed something was wrong, so they apparently killed the monsters before they could get near our home.
But they thought we needed to investigate, so they captured one alive.
That's my child for you. Good judgment.
After hearing their report, I hurried to where the captured monster was being held.
Shuri and the Fenrirs, who had listened to the report with me, seemed to be coming along, too.
A Killer Rag lay there, tightly bound in rope.
When I stood in front of it, it threatened me without showing any fear.
Fluffy sensed something was wrong and came down from the sky, but the monster continued to threaten it without cowering at the sight of it.
"This one's acting strange."
Fluffy seemed a little surprised to be threatened.
That was only natural. Killer Rags are weak monsters, even in the forest.
A monster this weak would normally be frightened by a dragon's aura and cower in fear.
But the Killer Rag before us kept threatening us instead of showing any fear.
"It must be controlled."
"But I can't sense any magic from Evil Eye Magic—or any other magic, either."
Just as Fluffy said, despite being controlled, I couldn't sense any unusual magic apart from the Killer Rag's own.
If some kind of power were affecting it, I should be able to sense its magic for certain.
I looked at Shuri and the Fenrirs, but it seemed they had the same results.
The Killer Rag raised its leg high and continued to threaten us, so I killed it.
Its limp body collapsed, and I engulfed it in flames until it turned to ash.
I don't even want to look at something like this.
I was frustrated that I couldn't figure out the cause.
Still, it would be a little troublesome if all the monsters in the forest were controlled.
We need to do something about this as soon as possible, but...
To do that, we need to find out what the cause is.
Could there be magic that can't be sensed?