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I was heading to the facility where Haakudoku and the others are in while dealing with the undead in order to regroup with Rakura, and we encountered a beast with a strange appearance.

An appearance that’s clearly different from your regular beast, and judging from the fact that it has been affected by necromancy, I could tell that it was one of the pawns of Princess Hilmera.

“It is not a monster, right?” (Ekdoik)

“Yeah. It has been resurrected as an undead, but it is a bit different from normal necromancy.” (Blue)

“Different as in?” (Ekdoik)

“Necromancy is an advanced technique that entraps the soul into their corpse. But that…has only had its body reconstructed and is moving by pure instinct?” (Blue)

Raheight didn’t use it in this way.

Then, I should think of this as Princess Hilmera utilizing necromancy in a way she learned herself.

If an animal of that size has no limitations and can freely unleash their strength…it would be a bit difficult to restrain it with just chains that had mana strengthening on them.

In the first place, it would be difficult to change the length and volume of my chains as long as magic is sealed.

I can’t run my weapons dry just to restrain that.

Belard, who was checking things in the sky with Eido, returned while I was thinking about this.

Eido can have 2 people ride it, so it should be fine to use Eido as a ride for Blue and Melia.

“From what I could see, there were no sights of a giant magic seal stone. Also, I managed to see several of that beast over there. It seems like they were set off free intentionally, but the direction they are heading to is strange if their objective is simply to kill people.” (Belard)

“So it would be better to assume…they are searching for something.” (Ekdoik)

If they still have their traits as animals, it would mean that they are undead with better senses than the humanoids.

Princess Hilmera is searching for someone in this chaos… It may be Prince Nuphsa or the Serende King whose whereabouts are unknown.

“Are we going to defeat them?” (Belard)

“No. We can’t use purification magic, so we have no means to incapacitate an undead of that volume. Even if it turns into a fight, it would be better if we just destroy their legs and retreat at once.” (Ekdoik)

What we have to do first is to regroup with Rakura and the others.

After that, we will search for the magic seal stone and get rid of it.

If we were to carelessly act separately, there will be some who will be caught off-guard in a battle against those beasts.

“That would be for the better. Good grief. I could have pummeled them all with Daruagestia if there was no need to care about the place.” (Blue)

“…Right. We might have to keep Daruagestia in mind.” (Ekdoik)

We barely saw any residents of Serende to rescue on our way here.

I thought there would be more casualties with this degree of calamity, but…Prince Nuphsa probably acted far better than I imagined.

“Anyways, we have to get out of the magic seal stone’s effective range. Rakura and the others probably haven’t gotten in contact with Mejis—?!” (Blue)

We heard the roar of an unfamiliar animal from afar. I could tell that it was the roar of one of the beast undead that we were wary of.

The roars steadily increased as the one that was observing us began to dash.

It is not over here but to the direction where the roar came from.

“Looks like they have found something and have told their comrades.” (Ekdoik)

“…Then, there must be someone from the royal family in that direction.” (Belard)

The normal undead didn’t react.

The special undead are gathering at one point.

If we are to hurry and regroup with Rakura, we should ignore this and move ahead…but if Rakura heard that roar just now and thought the same, she might have headed in that direction.

If Rakura were to be attacked by that beast undead, she definitely wouldn’t be able to win since she can’t use magic.

They might even catch up to her in a mana strengthened state.

“Are we going there?” (Belard)

“There’s the possibility Rakura will be heading there. Judging from the direction, Rakura will get there first. Then, there’s meaning in heading there even if it is going to be a bit of a detour.” (Ekdoik)

“Won’t it be dangerous?” (Belard)

“It is dangerous, but it is a situation we can’t ignore. Let’s split in two. I will go alone—” (Ekdoik)

My back was smacked hard as if cutting off my words.

When I looked over there, Blue and Melia were looking over here with the same expression.

“Don’t take command on your own. I am above you, I will have you know. In the first place, I always end up in trouble when we act separately, so learn a bit.” (Blue)

“…It would mean that you will be heading to clear danger though.” (Ekdoik)

“Then you protect us. You can fly, Belard, so head to the place of Haakudoku first and confirm whether Rakura has already regrouped with them. Come on, Melia, get on.” (Blue)

“Y-Yes!” (Melia)

Eido begins running with the two riding on it.

I have no way to say anything now that it has come to this.

I have no choice but to do what I have to.

◇◇

“What was that roar just now…?”

I safely arrived at the facility thanks to Yasutet-san, but it seems like Haakudoku-san and the others have already moved.

It looks like they were fighting undead in the middle, but I can see traces of the two of them having rampaged here and there.

“It is not from a person. Is it not from a subordinate of a Demon Lord on your side?” (Yasutet)

“No. The monsters of Purple-san don’t roar to begin with, and the monsters of Blue-san have a bit more cuteness…” (Rakura)

“Then, it would be better to assume this is the next move of the culprit that caused this. Judging from the direction the roar came from, it was most likely a call to the others for when they had found their prey…” (Yasutet)

I thought that too.

If Princess Hilmera is searching for something…no, someone in this situation, it would be Prince Nuphsa.

A roar unlike that of a person… I have a real bad feeling about this, but…uuh, there’s nothing I can do even if I head there…

“…Alright, let’s regroup with Masetta-san and the others first! I can’t increase your burden, Yasutet-san.” (Rakura)

“A wise decision… Rakura-san, I have good news and bad news… Which one would you like to hear first?” (Yasutet)

“Uuh, that way of putting it makes the bad news win… Can you praise me and increase the good news?” (Rakura)

“I shall refrain from that. Well then, I will go from the bad news first while you think. About the two who fought here, it looks like they were attacked by an assassin.” (Yasutet)

Eeh…

The corpses of the two aren’t lying around somewhere, right? I don’t want to see the corpses of two people I know…

“I am impressed that you can tell.” (Rakura)

“The traces around point that one of them were attacking with magic while the other was fighting in close quarters combat. And their enemy…seems to be the one that defeated Arcreal before.” (Yasutet)

Yasutet-san looked at the gouged ground and made a complicated expression.

This is a footprint? Just how much strength do you need to leave a print like this one…?

Wait, Arcreal-san is the person that’s super strong, right?!

“U-Uhm, those two…” (Rakura)

“The good news: the two of them are alive. The bloodstains of the two overlapped, and moved in that direction. Judging from the amount left on the ground and the drops left sparsely, they suffered deep wounds, but they have used mana strengthening to stop the bleeding as much as possible. I don’t know the reason, but it would be better to assume they were allowed to live.” (Yasutet)

“Phew. That’s a relief…” (Rakura)

“Also, your posture is good.” (Yasutet)

“Ah, you really complimented me. Thank you very much.” (Rakura)

“I would like you to teach Molari how to be more feminine. That protegee of mine is a maiden in love, but she is way too much of a ruffian on the inside.” (Yasutet)

Molari-san is a super scary person.

Mix-chan said she is really cute, but I would like to not get involved with those eyes as much as possible.

But what to do now.

It seems like Haakudoku-san and the others are wounded, but they are alive.

The direction they headed to is moving away from the Serende Castle, and it feels like they are heading to a safe place.

If they can’t walk properly, I think I would be able to catch up pretty quickly if I were to hurry… Hmm…

“Mumumuh…” (Rakura)

“You are not heading to your comrades?” (Yasutet)

“I really want to, but the situation seems to be dire…” (Rakura)

There were several roars.

If they are heading to the place of Prince Nuphsa who is commanding the evacuation, it would be a pretty dangerous situation.

Ekdoik-niisan should have noticed too, so I am sure he went there to assist.

But everyone should be limited in what they can do in a situation where they can’t use magic.

That’s especially the case for me…

“I can’t use magic, so I can’t go with you to the direction where the bunch roaring went.” (Yasutet)

“That’s alright. There’s no way I would go to that place when I can’t use magic. I wouldn’t want to even if asked to.” (Rakura)

“…Then, is there anything else you can do aside from helping your wounded allies? If you have time to be pondering here, it would be better to hurry and regroup with them though.” (Yasutet)

“I feel like I can do something, and it is bothering me…” (Rakura)

I hold my head and groan, but there’s no ‘this is it!’ surfacing from me.

I am sure Counselor-sama would think of one or two great ideas in an instant if he were in my shoes…

“…Fumu. Molari and the others still haven’t come, so I can lend you my head for a bit, but…I am not really someone intelligent either.” (Yasutet)

“I feel like I really will be able to think of something here… Please praise me for now.” (Rakura)

“…Your nails are nicely cared for. Molari would normally use knives, so they are pretty messy.” (Yasutet)

Since when did I begin feeling this?

If I remember correctly, it was when my magic was erased… Right, I am familiar with that feeling somehow. Let’s see…when was it…?

“Hmm.” (Rakura)

“…Your skin is pristine. It looks like you sleep well. Molari spends all nighters often.” (Yasutet)

“Hmm… Hmmm…” (Rakura)

“…You also take good care of your hair. Looks like you take baths often. That woman finds it a pain to take baths on any days aside from when she is going to meet Ritial-sama.” (Yasutet)

“Yasutet-san, you must love Molari-san!” (Rakura)

I thought that maybe I would be able to think of something if I felt good about being praised, but that is instead distracting me.

The things he is praising are awfully detailed. I would like to be praised more for my personality instead of whether I take baths… Hm? Baths? Right, that’s it!

“She is a protegee that has been with me for years after all. I don’t hate her. But well…I think she would be a bit cuter if she were to listen to me a bit more… Oi.” (Yasutet)

I enter the facility and search for where I want… There, the bath!

There’s no firewood, so it is cold, but…I can’t be picky here.

I will jump in with my clothes on.

“I think the way people take baths differ for each other, so there’s no need to actually show me… Or more like, you jump in with your clothes on?” (Yasutet)

“That’s not it! Uuh, for now, let’s try it out one more time…” (Rakura)

I spread my hands on both sides and deployed my barrier… I tried to, but the construction disintegrated.

But this is it. This is the feeling.

One more time… One more time…

“It is the effect of the magic seal stone. You shouldn’t be able to use magic. What in the world are you—” (Yasutet)

“There! The magic seal stone is in that direction!” (Rakura)

“…What?” (Yasutet)

The thing I did when I pinpointed the location of Blue-san in the Nether. The talk about the density of mana being less in water, so the speed in which the wavelengths of the mana are slower.

The construction is nullified the moment I form it, but…there’s a slight shift on the position in which it is nullified.

I don’t know if it is the wavelength or the density sent from the magic seal stone because I didn’t listen seriously, so I don’t remember, but there being a shift means that there’s a direction.

“If we can do something about the magic seal stone, everyone can act freely, so that’s something we have to deal with at once, right?!” (Rakura)

I got up from the bath and wiped my hair with a towel, but this time Yasutet-san jumped into the cold bath.

And then, he tried to activate magic a number of times, and the construction was disintegrated.

“…I see. So that’s how it is.” (Yasutet)

“Eh, you can tell too, Yasutet-san? …Ah, speaking of which…” (Rakura)

“I am an Illegitimate that excels in concentration. If it is in an environment with no magic, it is not that difficult to pull off the same thing as you.” (Yasutet)

This person has talent that matches the legendary hero in one point.

But it is a bit sad that he can imitate something that I thought only I could do.

Yasutet-san stood up from the bath, took a towel, and began to wipe himself, beginning from his head.

Speaking of which, what should I do about the clothes…?

More than just catching a cold from being drenched, it is that our movements will be hampered…

“I heard Masetta-san came here practically every day to keep an eye on Haakudoku-kun. She would carry stuff lately and made plans to sleep here to keep her surveillance air-tight. The luggage has probably been left here with this chaos.” (Yasutet)

“Ah, now that you mention it! …Uuh, your brain turns faster than me to the point I can’t even compare…” (Rakura)

“I don’t know what you are getting all depressed for, but this is your achievement. I think you should be more proud of it.” (Yasutet)

“I don’t feel like that…” (Rakura)

Yasutet-san opened the door of the room nearby and began to rummage around the luggage.

Looks like he is going to be putting on the clothes of someone.

Right, I have to hurry and change too…

“…I was born with my talent. Moreover, it was something given to me by someone else. But your concentration is something that you yourself polished. The crystallization of your hard work. You could even say your hard work is comparable to the Hero Yugura. I at the very least don’t think I would be able to get talent comparable to the other Illegitimate if I were to work hard. The way to find the direction of the magic seal stone also came because of your past experiences. I may be able to imitate it, but you are the only one who can create the results.” (Yasutet)

“Yasutet-san… Uuh, even though Ekdoik-niisan and I made you taste such a bitter experience before…you still evaluate me like this… Counselor-sama should also praise me more like you!” (Rakura)

“Sorry to give my opinion there, but the role of your close ones is to point out your bad parts too.” (Yasutet)

“Ugh!” (Rakura)

—–

Yasutet: (If I had one more little sister, would she be a troublesome one like this one?)

Author: Is what I think he would feel.

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