The city was suddenly attacked by the undead. I've been busy dealing with them while leaving the information to Duvraeori.
　However, this is a tricky task, because it's not just a matter of defeating the undead that come into view, but also dealing with the civilians who have been attacked and killed by the undead.
　Those who die as a result of contact with the undead will become new undead due to the magical power attached to them. The area around the wound is treated with cleansing magic, and the body is carried to the shadows nearby.
　If it's an individual corpse, this procedure won't take that much time, but the problem is when the dead person's relatives are nearby.
　You can't just thrust the chain into the dead person in front of the grieving people, and you have to explain to them. But not everyone who has lost a loved one will listen to you easily.

"So he'll turn into an undead if he doesn't. Use the cleansing spell quickly.
Don't touch my wife! Ahh! Why, why is this happening to me? ......, please! Open your eyes, open your eyes!

　You can't just sit here and expect to be attacked by the undead at any moment. And yet, this man is still holding the corpse of a woman and not moving.
　Even if you ignore the man's situation now, you should stick the chain into the corpse he is holding. If we don't move on to the next undead or corpse as soon as possible, the number of victims will increase one after another.

"......
Oh, no! Oh, no! Thank God! Are you okay?
Aah!

　A man who had been attacked by an undead, moving corpse was pulled away by a chain. He was gouged in the shoulder, but it was not a mortal wound.

"She's not the girl you knew anymore. She's become a monster that will kill anyone who looks at her.
"......
We can use purification magic to bring her back with only minor damage to her body. Make a decision.
Let me go. Let me go to my wife at ....... ......

　The man's eyes were vacant, but he meant it. I loosen the chains and set the man free. The man walked straight up to the undead man's wife.
　Without hesitation, the undead bite the man's neck and try to take his life. But the man did not resist and continued to hug the undead.

"......

　After confirming that the man had stopped moving, he thrust the chains into both of their bodies. He then moved them to a nearby alleyway, keeping the two in an embrace.
　At least I'm not that guy. I can't properly measure the value that man holds. But I could tell what he cared about.

"There you are, Ecdysique.
Bellard.
The Blue Demon Lord and Marya are heading this way. Your mission is to act as a ranger, disposing of the undead and assisting in the evacuation of the humans.
Understood. We'll meet up with them soon.

　Don't get your priorities wrong. If you're working with Ao and Marya, your first priority should be to protect them.
　I looked back once at the alleyway where I had just carried the two of them, and went deeper into the city with Bellard. There, I saw Ao and Marya already working together to deal with the undead.

"Mr. Ex-Doik! I'm glad we were able to meet up early!
"Yeah. Ao, what do you think your people will do?
"They're probably out to get Princess Hilmera, that's who. Lakra is going to meet up with Harkdock and the others and coordinate with Mejis!

　This commotion was caused by Princess Hilmera's ....... When I saw the undead, I thought of Rahite, and I wondered if my people had decided that Princess Hilmera was Rahite's collaborator.

"I see. Then we'll do our best to minimize the damage. I know Marya's fighting ability, but ...... how good is your ability against the undead, Ao?
I'm sure you'll be able to use any magic you want to interfere with necromancy without having to wield the power of a demon lord. It's more fuel efficient than purification magic.
That's good to know. Marya and Verrado are beside the blue...?

　The purification spell on the chain has been lifted. No, not just the purification spell. It's not just purification magic, but all sorts of magic has been blocked from working. You can't use any magic to assist in the movement of the chain, although the chain that is being moved by the magic power moves. Marya and Ao have also noticed that their magic has become useless as well. This is...

It's a magic seal stone! And this is ......!

　There's no sign of a magic seal stone lying around. The only thing I can think of is that a huge magic seal stone was brought to Serende.
　It is said that the country keeps huge magic seal stones near the country in case of invasion from other countries. I wonder if Princess Hilmera has taken over the place and had the undead bring it in.

What should we do? What should we do?
Calm down, Marya. You're a holy knight. You're a holy knight. Even if you can't use purification magic, you can handle undead attacks with just magic enhancement.
Right. And you've slowed me down to a surprising degree.

　I'm sure you'll be able to handle the undead attacks because you're still trained in direct combat. However, Ao is basically a magic-based fighting style that does not hold any weapons. If the magic seal stone prevents you from using all magic, you'll lose everything you can do.



Can't you call up the demons under your command?
Yes, we can. Aed should be on his way by now.

　Aed, the skeleton horse demon. It's good to have more mobility when you can't use magic.

Blue Demon Lord, why don't you call Dal'Agestia? I'm sure he can carry a lot of people to evacuate.
You. ....... I'm not sure what to do. They'll all run in the opposite direction of the Daluagestir.
"...... I see. I'm sure you'll be able to tell the difference.

　It's difficult to deal with the undead in this situation. It is possible to capture them with chains, but since the length of the chains cannot be changed by magic, it is not possible to keep so many of them bound at the same time.
　If that happens, rescue operations will be the top priority.

"Aaah!
What's wrong, Ao?

　Ao often yells, but this voice is more of a realization than anger. She must have realized something important.

"Wait a minute! If a warlock is brought into the city, that means that most of the people in this city can no longer use magic!
Yeah, that's right.
It's not good for Lacula!
What?

　◇

Whoa!

　I was running to meet up with Masetta and the others, using purification magic to deal with the undead as I found them, when I suddenly lost my magic.
　I knew from the decomposition of the structure that the spell was canceled by the magic seal stone, but I couldn't find the magic seal stone. There must have been a very large one brought in.
　At any rate, I'm running away from the undead at once. There's no way I can win.

I don't think I've ever trained for a situation where I'd have to use a magic seal stone.

　I'm not sure what to do, but I'd like to know what you think. I should have learned a little more about how to use and be used by the magic seal stone.
　Fortunately, you can run away from the undead by strengthening your magic power. You can't harden your body, though, so you can't fight with flesh and blood. And I haven't learned any fighting skills!
　As I was complaining in my mind, there was another undead in front of me! There's another undead in front of me! What am I supposed to do?

What am I supposed to do?
Who was that voice again?

　When I turned around at the sound of a familiar voice, I saw that the undead man behind me was buried in the wall. The person who did it was ......, well, I think it was ......, who fought a bit around Quama, but I've got a name so far ........
　Before he could answer, he rushed towards the other undead and slammed its body against the wall. I see, so it's convenient to block its movement.

"Jastet, Jastet.
"Ah! Mr. Yastet!

　That's right, it's Ritual's subordinate, Yastet-san! Yugra's bastard, who can deploy wards even stronger than mine, and who excels in concentration!
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it. ......
I'm sorry. ....... I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
I'm not sure what to make of it. You'll feel sorry for yourself for losing, Rakhra Sarf.
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you.

　Also, why does he read you by your full name? I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea. .......

It's a good thing I don't have to calmly provide support behind that sister anymore. We're heading to ...... the facility where Masetta-Neutis and Harkdok-Heliodora are.
"Ah, yes. But why do you call them by their full names?
It's not like we're ...... friends, and calling me by my full name would be too familiar, wouldn't it? I'm not a friend of yours, and I'm not comfortable calling you by your full name, but since you have an older brother named Ecdysius, it's hard to call you Sarf. I've decided that it's best to call everyone by their full name since it would be special treatment to call them differently than the others.
"You can call me Lakra if you like.

　I think he's a serious and caring type of person, but he's probably the type of person who thinks too much and comes off as weird.

"So, Lakra, ....... I'll accompany you to your destination.
I'm glad to hear that, but why are you here, Jastet?
"Arcturial, who was hiding in the vicinity of Serendipity, was attacked. I rescued him, but I was ordered to stake out the area in case a new assassin was sent. As the time for the shift approached, I was on my way to the rendezvous point near the treatment facility where Harkdock ...... is located.
It's very strange that you would go out of your way to set up a meeting place near Harkdock.

　Mr. Harkdock is an expert in detection magic. Even if he's no longer an enemy, what about meeting up near someone who's so cautious?

Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.
Oh.

　As I recall, those two fought under the ruins, didn't they? Is there any conflict between them? I'm sure they'll be fine, but I'll report them to the Shosho-sama next time.

I'll kick the undead to the curb. Lakra-san, prepare for a surprise attack by the undead. I'd rather concentrate on hand-to-hand combat since I can't set wards either.
That's about it. ....... I can't believe how helpless I am when my magic is completely shut down. ......
I've been working in the field for a while now. I've only recently discovered that I have a talent for working in the field.



　I think it's one thing to be helpless when you can't use magic, and quite another to find a talent for working in the field. Still, the expression on Jastet's face when he talks about it seems very soft. I had the impression that he was very sullen before, but did something happen to clear his mind after that battle?

"You say it like you're happy, but are you happy about it?
I can't help but grin at the thought of making Arcreal look disappointed.
I don't understand what you're talking about!

　I'm a little curious, but that's not the point right now. We have to hurry and meet up with Masetta and the others.