Using Presence Concealment Magic, I approach the Extermination Squad again. As expected, I’m still not noticed—but I’ll remain cautious.

Garuku

I call out in a low voice. The Extermination Squad has finally reached the forest just before the cave.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just to confirm again, everything’s alright, right?”

“Our magic is working. It doesn’t seem to have been exposed to the Demon Race either.”

“Understood.”

Immediately after I responded, the knight at the front—the traitor—spoke up.

“According to the familiar’s report, it’s just ahead. There are undoubtedly many monsters in the forest. Everyone, get into combat formation!”

The others quickly respond—and with that, growls that seemed to threaten the Extermination Squad could be heard from within the forest.

“All units—commence combat! Leave not a single monster alive!”

They enter the forest. Immediately after, the monsters attack the Extermination Squad.

The first to respond were Arete and the frontline humans. It seems there are others besides her who can perform magic attacks using weapon vessels; they activate attacks from their weapon vessels without incantation. The monsters receive a series of these attacks—and perish.

The magic-users in the rear also begin their attacks. It’s a battle in a forest with poor visibility and many obstacles, but they still coordinate and deal with it splendidly.

Their training is quite high. The magic used by those other than Arete may be lower-tier magic, but it is well-honed. Also, multiple people collaborate to cast magic, so the effects are high, and they are steadily defeating the monsters.

“Hmm, if it continues like this, we should be able to break through easily if there are no traps.”

Garuku says—of course, it could also be interpreted as the Demon Race luring them in, but the speed at which they are defeating the monsters is quite impressive, so Garuku’s remark is understandable.

The Extermination Squad advances. Arete is also fighting hard, swinging her iron staff to intercept the monsters approaching her.

Her skill is undoubtedly considerable—if they continue at this rate, it’s only a matter of time before they reach the Demon Race.

However,

“—Lord Ruon.”

Garuku’s voice. Just as I thought it was time, a figure appeared in front of the Extermination Squad. A blond-haired man dressed in black robes. That presence, which gave off a dandyish impression, opened his mouth after showing a courteous bow.

“Welcome to my domain.”

It must be the Demon Race using the cave as a stronghold… I thought they wouldn’t show themselves, but perhaps their goal is to appear to use a trap and keep Arete and the others in the forest.

The Extermination Squad naturally shows caution. The knights and magic-users in the rear pay attention to the surrounding monsters… and before they know it, the Extermination Squad is surrounded by monsters.

“My name is Daniele. I am here to defeat you.”

“—On the contrary, it seems we are being attacked, aren’t we?”

Arete asks. Then Daniele gives an ugly smile, and

“Of course, this is as expected.”

—Immediately after his words, some of the magic-users in the rear showed suspicious expressions. Could it be that being lured here was the trap…? They seemed to be wondering.

“Even if that’s the case, it’s just a matter of breaking through your strategy.”

Arete steps forward. At that moment, Marion and the knight flinched slightly.

Is it like, they can’t let Daniele be defeated here? But the Demon Race itself is aloof, even making gestures as if to welcome Arete’s challenge.

“Hmm, perhaps you won’t understand until you’ve suffered a little.”

After speaking, Daniele spreads his arms to his sides. There’s no sign of a magic circle activating yet. Is he waiting for the right moment?

“You will eventually regret coming here… though, after repentance, only death awaits you.”

“Want to try me?”

Arete asks confidently. I keep quiet and shift my gaze to Marion and the knight, the traitors.

They’ve probably received various instructions as well. A person who should have been an ally has betrayed them… it’s the perfect situation for a surprise attack.

The target is Arete, who stands at the front… Considering her fighting ability against the monsters, she is undoubtedly the central force of this Extermination Squad. In other words, if her presence can be undermined, the Extermination Squad will fall into great disarray.

The attack by the magic circle should be adjusted so that it’s not a problem even if they try to defend against it with magic barriers, but if it’s used after they’ve panicked and become confused, the outcome of the battle will surely be decided.

“—Garuku”

“What’s wrong?”

“Temporarily take over the Magic, like you did for Richard.”

“I understand, but it’ll only last a few minutes. Is the timing okay?”

“Yes… I probably won’t even need a few minutes.”

I watched as Arete glared at the Demon Race warily. Marion and the Knight were also trying to step forward, but from my perspective, it was obvious what they were going to do.

They would undoubtedly aim for Arete… the moment her attention was fully on the Demon Race, they would strike from behind.

“Then, let me teach them a lesson.”

Daniele spoke politely—immediately after, Arete opened her mouth.

“Marion.”

“I know.”

She probably wanted to say to leave the command of the Extermination Squad to her—I instructed Garuku again and had him take over the Magic. Then I began the Incantation, and

“—Go ahead.”

Immediately after Daniele let out a confident voice, Arete charged forward fiercely.

In an instant, Marion and the Knight moved. Marion’s staff glowed, and the Knight’s sword delivered a horizontal slash. Their target was undoubtedly Arete—and she, too, seemed to have noticed the killing intent from behind.

But she couldn’t react in time. The other Knights and Magic-users were watching, but they couldn’t move.

In other words, I was the only one who could save her here.

“—Oh Wind.”

I unleashed Magic there. Wind attribute Intermediate Magic, “Spear Wind.” It’s Magic where wind, sharpened like a spear, blows through the target. If I wanted to, I could form a sharply pointed wind and pierce a hole in a Monster’s body, but this time I changed my approach.

The wind caught the weapons of the two traitors, blowing them and their arms away. Marion and the others couldn’t resist the Magic from the side, and their bodies were blown far to the side.

“Ugh—!!”

After groaning, the two fell into the bushes. Arete, meanwhile, stopped and glanced at the blown-away Marion and others, holding her Iron Staff.

“…What’s the meaning of this?”

“—Seriously, I thought they would be a little more useful.”

It was an extremely cold voice. Daniele looked at the two blown-away traitors with eyes that seemed to be looking at trash on the ground in a Town.

“If they can’t even do something this simple, then I misjudged them. However, in this case, it seems there was an additional Army besides the people I had heard about.”

Well, if Magic is unleashed from an unexpected place, it’s bound to be exposed… there was an option not to show myself, but—

“…It seems I was right to come along.”

I deactivated the Magic. The members of the Extermination Squad looked at me suspiciously, but there was one exception: Arete.

“You are Kuuza’s—”

“Marion, is it? I thought something was suspicious about her at first glance, so I followed her and this is what happened.”

“…I’ll commend you for reaching this far without being noticed by the Monsters.”

Daniele spoke, looking at me with scornful eyes.

“By the way, let me ask. How did you know?”

“Let me give you some advice: I don’t know what your intentions are, but don’t hand out Devices that reek of the Demon Race. As for how I found out… I also have a Device that can detect such things.”

“…An Angel Artifact, then.”

The Demon Race said with a look of understanding… In reality, it was wrong, but it would help me if they interpreted it that way.

“So, the existence of traitors has been exposed. What are you going to do now?”

“—Indeed.”

Daniele stared at Marion and the others. The two traitors showed somewhat frightened eyes.