Chapter 91

This is an event that took place a few days before the raid.

Hauzal, the leader of the Hauzal Mercenary Corps, had a dream. For five years, ever since the days when he had no choice but to engage in bandit-like activities, he gathered fellow adventurers who were in similar straits and formed a mercenary corps. They repeatedly drove away bands of bandits and protected villages from monsters, gradually improving their equipment and gathering more comrades.

And now, as their reputation slowly grew, a major job suddenly came their way. The request, passed through several intermediaries to avoid tracing back to the source, was to assassinate the Holy Princess.

He wasn't without hesitation. Even so, he had always tried to take jobs that helped people as much as possible.

However, this time, he was swayed by the reward amount.

The advance payment alone was enough to buy quite high-quality equipment. Moreover, it seemed that another mercenary corps had also been commissioned, but if they could get there first, they would receive the full reward. With that, they could recruit capable adventurers and knights. As their strength as a mercenary corps increased, they could take on better-paying jobs from high-ranking clients.

By building up such a track record—eventually, it might even be possible to negotiate with a developing town and be officially hired as a knight corps, serving as both guards and patrol officers. Then, they wouldn't have to live a wandering life anymore. They could spend the rest of their lives peacefully, as part of the town, with their comrades. Hauzal's dream, which had seemed so distant and uncertain, was now within reach.

Until just a moment ago.

Now—his dream is shattered.

In a forest not far from the road leading to the capital, Hauzal, drenched in cold sweat, watched the final scene unfold.

"Hmm, human warriors are so fragile. They're good to eat, but they're too boring to fight."

The one speaking, holding a blood-soaked club, was a demon with a body far surpassing that of a human, with a copper-colored skin.

Lying before him were Hauzal's former comrades.

Some had their heads crushed, others had their torsos snapped in half, and still others had their chests caved in by footprints.

The bodies of his former comrades, now twisted in ways no human strength could achieve, lay scattered on the ground.

There were other impossible bodies as well.

Several of his comrades had turned into stone statues, standing in the forest. This was not a metaphor; their skin, hair, and even eyes had hardened to a gray color, while only their clothes and weapons retained their original colors, looking absurdly out of place.

"Mmm, what are you eating, fishy... Mnya... That's a star... Suh..."

In the distance, a small woman was curled up, floating in the air with dark magic.

She wore a frilly outfit that didn't fit the forest, with long, wavy, withered-leaf-colored hair. The words that spilled from her mouth were incoherent and meaningless. Her eyes were closed, as if she were sleeping, but the third eye on her forehead—the red evil eye that had turned her comrades to stone—was moving restlessly, scanning the surroundings. Even among the three-eyed people, this was an unusual appearance and power.

There were still some who were still breathing.

However, it was clear they wouldn't survive.

Two shadow wolves were playing with the bodies of the groaning comrades.

These were fearsome monsters with sharp fangs and the ability to hide in shadows. Sitting at the center of the pack, laughing, was a small beastkin boy with a burnt-brown coat and long ears.

"Ahaha, Dee and Tes are doing great! ...Hmm, are you giving that to me? Thank you! You're a good boy!"

The rabbit boy happily thanked the minotaur who offered him a human corpse.

The minotaur was a monster that had been tamed by one of his comrades, the trainer. The corpse he was now offering was that of his former master, whom he had strangled. The sudden betrayal of the minotaur left the trainer dead with a look of surprise on his face. The rabbit boy's ability to instantly tame and command even others' monsters was no longer a skill but a natural talent as a trainer.

To the right, one of his comrades was spewing fire.

Flames were erupting from his mouth, nose, and eye sockets, which had been burned away. He had staggered around for a while but eventually collapsed as the fire spread from his torso to his abdomen. Nearby, a black demon spat in disgust.

"Tch, he's already dead. What a miscalculation... The flames were too strong. The position I transferred them to wasn't good either... Damn, my precision is still too weak! At this rate, I'll never catch up to my brother...!"

The demon, with black fur and goat-like horns, twisted his face in frustration.

He had transferred magical fire to burn his targets from the inside, turning his comrades into charred corpses one by one, but he was now furious at his own immaturity.

"Why...?"

Hauzal muttered emptily.

"Why are demons... in a place like this... and such... abnormal ones at that..."

"Are you the leader?"

A demon standing in front of him asked Hauzal.

And yes, this man.

Black hair, black eyes. Though his form resembled a human, his skin was as white as a corpse, with black lines like tattoos running across it.

"Why is a divine demon... here..."

"Answer me. What was the purpose of hiding your troops in this forest?"

Pierced by eyes like the abyss, Hauzal had no choice but to answer honestly.

"The assassination of the Holy Princess... We were supposed to be waiting ahead..."

"Hmm... A human political conflict. Then, it's not related to us."

"You worried for nothing, Captain."

"Can't help it. If there are mysterious troops around, anyone would be cautious."

"Mnya... Confusing..."

The rabbit, demon, and three-eyed beings spoke in unison.

"Hahaha! Unexpected reinforcements, how fortuitous! However, Zolmnum—"

The demon, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly turned to scold.

"That human male is a warrior, and a leader at that. Wasn't it too careless to approach him so recklessly?"

"Eh? The Captain won't lose to a human. He seems scared, so he's probably just a nobody, right?"

"No... This one is not weak."

The man called Zolmnum, a divine demon, looked at Hauzal with his abyss-like eyes. In a voice so low that even his comrades couldn't hear, he muttered to himself.

"His stats are high for his level. Especially his [HP] and [Durability] are outstanding. Most importantly, his [Skills] in luck and incitement are rare. As a leader of a mercenary corps, he is very useful... Your 'status' is not bad at all."

"H... ha... ha..."

Hauzal had no idea what the divine demon was talking about. He could only sense the praise in the words and forced a strained smile.

"Ah, thank you..."

His head was severed.

In Hauzal's vision, as he lay on the ground, he saw his body from the neck down instantly engulfed in flames.

Sword techniques so fast they were invisible, and magic cast without incantation.

As his consciousness and blood drained away, the last thing Hauzal heard was the cold whisper of Zolmnum, who held a holy sword.

"——But, you are nothing compared to me."