With the battle decided, Sofia and Sylvie caught their breath. Perhaps due to the drain on their Magic Power, both of them slumped their shoulders, showing their exhaustion.

“Oh dear… we somehow managed to defeat it.”

“Ah, is this the end?”

Kuuza agreed, sighing just like them.

The battle was over—the battle with the Mercenary was over, but there was still more.

Suddenly, the cries of Monsters echoed around them. Sofia and the others immediately readied their swords. Immediately after, the Monsters that had been in the Forest appeared.

“So, it was indeed the Demonized Mercenary from earlier that was controlling them?”

“It seems so.”

I agreed… and tried to step in front of the two. Then, Sylvie tried to stop me.

“Hey, Ruon—”

“The Monsters aren’t that strong. Even if they’re tired, Sofia and the others should be able to handle them.”

After saying that, I quickly cast an Incantation—and generated a spear constructed of Magic in my hand.

“In other words, even if I don’t intervene here, they can handle it without problems… but you must be tired, right? Leave the rest to me.”

“Do you need backup?”

“No need.”

I checked the surroundings with the Familiar above. There were Monsters in the Forest, but all of them seemed to be behind the Mercenary we had defeated.

And perhaps because a considerable amount of Magic Power was expended in the previous battle, the Monsters’ eyes were without exception directed at us. There were many of them, so there was a non-zero chance that some might slip past and reach the Town, but at this rate, it seemed fine.

“I’ve certainly seen the three of your skills. Now it’s my turn to act.”

“But with these Monsters, you don’t need to go all out, do you?”

Sylvie asked. I nodded as if it were obvious,

“Indeed. But I think I can get a glimpse of my own abilities.”

With those words, I readied my spear… To be honest, watching Sofia and the others fight had made me a little excited. These opponents were sufficient to vent that excitement.

The Monsters charged. I, like the Monsters, began my charge, intending to fight them head-on.

The battle was completely one-sided, causing me no trouble at all. I cut down the approaching Monsters with a single sweep of my spear… it might have been a satisfying sight even for Sofia and the others watching.

“Ha!”

With a single strike of my spear, I defeated several Monsters at once. Regripping my spear, I made another sweep, and the attacking Monsters vanished in an instant.

I recall hunting Monsters in the Underground before. Compared to that, there are fewer of them, and they’re easier to deal with. However, considering Sofia and the others are behind me, I need to make sure they don’t break through.

Well, that itself isn’t a particularly difficult task—and while I was thinking, I defeated even more Monsters. I let out a thought.

“It’s surprising that he had so many under his command.”

“Even if he possessed that much Magic Power, it can’t be explained without some principle.”

Sylvie said from behind.

“But Ruon… it feels good. To defeat them so easily.”

“I’m telling you, I’m not doing anything special. With the strength of these Monsters, Sylvie and Sofia could do the same.”

I explained while blowing away Monsters. About fifteen minutes after I started swinging my spear, their presence was definitely diminishing.

“Garuku.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Just to confirm, there isn’t a Monster spawning point anywhere, is there?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Alright, then we’re fine.”

I said aloud, intercepting even more charging Monsters. Perhaps because the Demonized Mercenary’s brainwashing had been broken, they were quite aggressive, aiming straight for us. Normally, there would be some that move in accordance with our movements, but their manner of abandoning all reason and charging at us made me question it.

“—Perhaps it’s the aftermath of that Mercenary’s manipulation.”

Kuuza analyzed from behind. In response, I raised my voice.

“Could you explain what you mean?”

“I don’t mind, but it’s just a conjecture, you know?”

“That’s fine.”

“Then… what I mean is that the Mercenary, who was controlling such a vast number of Monsters, might have been implanting his own Magic Power into them.”

After his conjecture, he explained after a brief pause.

“Sofia and Sylvie had their Magic Power absorbed by those Monsters… considering they were ‘eating’ the Monsters, it’s presumed they can’t consume us who have complete physical bodies, but they can steal power if they touch us. So, I think it might be possible to, conversely, send Magic Power into the Monsters.”

“So, he sent Magic Power to stop their movements?”

Kuuza responded to my question with a “Yes.”

“In other words, the Mercenary is gone, but his Magic Power remains. If the Monsters are under the influence of the infused Magic Power, then it makes sense that it’s running wild and attacking us.”

“…Hey, can I ask one question?”

I forcefully blew away a Monster and turned my head towards Kuuza.

“Is there a possibility that it has the same ability as the Mercenary?”

“The ability to steal Magic Power? That’s probably a unique ability.”

I sensed Monsters approaching. When I looked back, Monsters were still attacking intermittently.

But I calmly swung my spear—and after about five more minutes, the battle was finally over, and all the Monsters were annihilated.

“…Well, it’s better for the Town that they attacked us here in the Capital City.”

Taking a breath, I said to Sofia and the others.

“It would have been troublesome if they had scattered after we defeated the Mercenary.”

“They are such aggressive Monsters… if they had escaped, it would have been very difficult to exterminate them.”

Sofia agreed. I then looked at her and asked.

“That technique just now… did you combine the three Spirit’s Powers you have a contract with into one?”

“Yes. It’s a method Amaria devised… but I haven’t been able to fully converge the Spirit’s Power, and more importantly, I’ve barely been able to add my own strength to it.”

“And that’s the power it has… In any case, this will be a considerable weapon.”

In the game, it wasn’t possible to fuse Spirit’s Power. Furthermore, it’s something I’ve rarely seen even with the knowledge I’ve gained in this world. It’s not completely unheard of, but only truly skilled users should have been able to do it.

“Is being a Descendant of a Sage really making a difference here?”

When Kuuza said that, I replied, “I wonder.”

“What I can say for sure is that it’s not a technique anyone can imitate… To have that much power without even having a contract with Salamander yet. If she refines it further, it will become something incredible.”

“Enough to defeat the Demon King?”

Sylvie asked. I then thought about it.

A technique that combines the power of the four Spirits and Sofia herself… If there were a sword created by combining Divine Spirit Power with that, it would undoubtedly be the strongest attack against the Demon King.

“…Another thing to do has been added.”

“Indeed.”

Sofia spoke happily.

“So, I’ll study about Spirits at the Academia. And while doing so, I’ll further pursue this technique, right?”

“That’s right. First, it’ll probably be about forming a contract with Salamander.”

I said, looking at Kuuza, and he nodded.

“Probably. Within the Nateria Kingdom – around the Capital City – I can guide you quite well. Leave it to me.”

“I’m counting on you… Then—”

I was about to say “let’s go back” when I remembered something important. The Hunter’s Cabin. Information about Sylvie’s revenge target is hidden there.

“…Speaking of which, I have a question.”

Before I could speak, Sylvie opened her mouth.

“Why was that mercenary here earlier? According to what I heard in town, the house was destroyed quite a while ago… So, he must have been using this as a stronghold, devouring monsters and growing stronger, right?”

“Shall we investigate?”

Sofia suggested. Sylvie and Kuuza both nodded, one after another, and headed towards the Hunter’s Cabin.

What kind of reaction would Sylvie have when she learned the information? In the game, she didn’t show much reaction when she found the information, but—

Sylvie led the way inside. The room was quite dusty, but Sylvie began to search without hesitation.

What kind of reaction would she have…? While we remained silent, Sylvie discovered something.