Chapter 26
The man kneeling before me says that something strange is happening in the forest.
Strange.
Soon, the entire forest will belong to me, its king.
Yes, just a little longer.
There is no point in doing anything now.
Why should I rush?
Fool.
"Offer blood and strengthen it."
I can't help but chuckle as I watch the mage's back disappear from the audience chamber.
Just a little longer. Yes, in just a little while, this world will be mine.
There used to be detestable kings in the forest, but that was long ago.
Many of them may be dead, but there are probably survivors.
I shall put them to use under my rule until they die.
It is an honor, after all, to be able to aid the king of this world.
...
...
An anomaly in the forest?
It's far away, so they say they can't be certain, but apparently it was faintly glowing.
What's happening?
Is the forest... dying...?
The composite magic-eye spell cast over the entire forest by the Kingdom of Emperas.
Because of this, all order collapsed.
Many of the sacred beasts in the forest vanished, and mindless monsters and magical beasts began pouring out.
The composite magic-eye spell... How was it created?
It's rumored that sacrifices were offered, but...
I don't know the truth, but that country is harsh toward anyone who isn't human.
"If the forest falls under the control of the Kingdom of Emperas..."
...
...
I hear those around me gasp at the report.
It has been nearly 200 years since the Kingdom of Emperas began trying to take control of the forest.
Little by little, the forest has been changing.
What does this latest anomaly mean?
There were two countries surrounding the Kingdom of Emperas.
Those countries disappeared about 200 years ago.
It is said that many of their citizens suddenly disappeared.
The composite magic-eye spell was originally created to control the forest.
There were rumors that they had been offered as sacrifices for the spell.
But everyone thought it was just a rumor.
Of course. If that were true, it would mean that hundreds of thousands of lives and their blood had been sacrificed.
To violate such a taboo...
But it was probably true.
The Kingdom of Emperas had violated a taboo.
We had failed to respond appropriately.