In front of Gazalia's castle gate. In order to keep the rebels in Gazalia from escaping, several times as many troops as in normal times have accumulated here in order to launch a raid from the rear when the opportunity arises.

　There have been no clashes between troops at the border that separates the inside and outside of Ghazaria. There has been no bloodshed between elves, or between man and elf, to stain the earth.

　However, this was undoubtedly also a battlefield. Just like the road in front of the palace, it was a bloody battlefield.

　--Geeeaaaaah!

　The mere sound of his voice seemed to pull out the liver of every soldier in the place. A demon that could kill a small animal with its loud voice alone.

　A monkey-like demonic beast with a large mouth was here, an enemy to all.

　Its appearance is so fearsome. It seems to have been created with an intention far removed from its natural form, but even so, it is nothing short of a failure. Hexenbiests are usually born in such a form.

　That scene is impossible. It wasn't even supposed to happen. No one had seen a hexenbiest attack Gazalia or its gates in hundreds of years, or even longer.

　The captain assigned to guard the gates felt his guts churning with rage and frustration. Why, why this time?

"Fire!　Don't stop your arrows!　If we can survive this, reinforcements will come!

　As if buoyed by these words, the arrows turned into deadly weapons with great speed and landed on the ape-shaped monster.

　In truth, the captain himself knew that no reinforcements would come.

　At the moment, a battle is being fought in the royal palace between Finn Largius and Erdis. The troops in front of the gates were supposed to be sharpening their fangs to be the decisive factor in the battle.

　But what about the actual situation? A single hexenbiest has stolen their momentum, and they can barely keep the gates from being breached. We could ask for reinforcements, but they're in a more important battle than ours. They'll never come.

　But it was still worth it to have more than enough troops to guard the gates. The monsters are definitely under control. The captain's eyes narrowed and his ragged breath became a little more even.

　There is no doubt that he is being pushed around by the hexenbiest's every move. In any case, every time its mighty arm is wielded, the trees around it are snapped, and every time it screams, an overflow of life is lost. It's not an existence that can be taken seriously.

　However, if we can use the armor of the city gate and the flying tools to suppress its momentum, then it's a different story.

　Once again, under a single command, arrows covered the sky and poured into the hexenbiest's body. Many of them bounced off the hexenbiest like pieces of wood every time it swung its arms, but they were definitely starting to catch the hexenbiest's body.

　It should only be possible to keep it under control. The captain nodded as if to convince himself.

　But why? Why is that hexenbiest so excited? This was a mystery to the captain and the soldiers who were staring at the hexenbiest from the castle gate.

　It was not uncommon to see hexenbiests in the forest. However, most of them are threatening, but rarely do they charge at you in such an excited manner. But right now, they are heading for the gate as if they are being followed by something.

　The soldiers' noses twitched slightly. I wondered if someone had stirred the wine to get their attention. The smell of wine was too much.

　--Gee!　GEEAAHHHH!

　And so the repeated screams of the monkeys. It shook the surrounding trees and life, and made the earth creak.

　But the soldiers were quick to respond, as if it was just a bad idea. One by one, they put their bows and arrows in their hands in preparation for the next order.

　Only the captain broke into a sweat.

　That was a different voice from the previous ones.

　It didn't sound like it was trying to intimidate or blow us away like it had in the past. It sounded like a voice that was only trying to convey something to the people around it.

　It was just a hunch, something that intuitively ran through my brain. But now it felt as if it were true.

　Little by little, the faces of the elven soldiers grew pale. One by one, the eyes of those who began to notice the scene turned into astonishment and despair.

　I saw it in the forest. I saw ape-shaped magical beasts gathering in front of the castle gate one after another, as if they were following the cry of the great ape. The obvious agitation licked at the hearts of the soldiers.

　One great ape, who had decided that this Gazalia was his target, did not miss the opportunity. Its huge body shook and leapt, hitting the ground hard. Its large frame raced through the sky.

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　I want a heavy rain to fall. I'm not sure what to make of that.

　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.

　I've always suspected that Rougis thinks that magic is a useful tool that can do anything. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

　Magic is nothing more than the rewriting of the structure of the world with the help of man's art. You may be able to make fire where there appears to be none, but if all you want to do is light a fire, you can just buy a fire stone. It is useful, but it is far from universal.

　This was something that Fialaat knew very well. He understood it all too well. He had licked his lips many times and had watched the backs of those who could not reach him as an ordinary genius.



　By nature, it is not out of the question to make it rain, and rain hard. Thousands of sorcerers would naturally declare it impossible.

　But Fialaat accepted. So naturally, he said, "Leave it to me.

　Fialaat's guts broke out in a cold sweat and his throat narrowed as if it were choked. He could feel the tension and frustration crawling up his spine.

　I didn't want to look like a failure. I don't want to disappoint him. I don't want to be abandoned. These feelings were certainly in Fialaat's heart. It must have been a feeling of dependence that made him step out.

　But now, apart from that, there is a feeling of foreboding in his heart.

　Like the time when I fused Lugis with the Treasure Sword and brought him back to life. I wonder if I can recreate that feeling of twisting reason and bringing the world itself to its knees, if I have enough magic and energy now. Such a thought was in my heart.

　Then it's now. I have to catch up now.

　Magic is building up in my fingertips. I've never heard of or imagined a magic that could control the weather or nature on a large scale. Therefore, I have no idea of the magic form or formation.

　Perhaps that's why, naturally, Fialaert raised his hand to the sky. His hands were as ordinary as lead.

　I've always thought that. Fialaert's black eyes twinkled.

　Kalia, a woman who wields a silver long sword and displays superhuman determination. She is undoubtedly a genius.

　She is a genius, with each swing of her sword, her cool-headed determination, and her ability to act ahead of the ordinary person. All of these are things that make her an outstanding person.

　And Saint Mattia. She is the commander of the heraldry and has a charisma that is almost worshipful. Her captivating presence is something that can no longer be imitated.

　I've felt it. I've always felt it. I'm the only one who has nothing. Even if I force myself to go with Lugis, I'll remain an ordinary man.

　I don't want to. I was afraid that I would be the only one left behind, and that Lugis would abandon me in the end... Such anxiety covered and consumed my heart for some time. I just didn't want that to happen.

　I was the one who decided that Lugis would not be contained by lead. Then I have to follow suit. Then I must follow suit. My body and my person, Fialaat, must become gold to match his.

　With that in mind, I accepted what seemed like a reckless request.

　However, no matter how much I refined my magic, I couldn't come up with a convenient formula that would bring a downpour. Time is running out. If he was not careful, the enemy force could be right under his nose. Impatience burned in my throat and my teeth twisted.

　Ah, here it is. No matter how determined the ordinary man is, the world will never be interested in him. It is only the heroes and the brave that the world is interested in and opens its heart to.

　--How hateful. How crazy! Yes, the world is not interested in me.

　If that's the case, if that's the truth, then there's only one way to go.

　An impossible magical theory that once came to mind. A conceptual thought that bypasses reason. World values without regard to precedent. If the world is not interested in me, then I have no choice but to change the world itself.

　Now, an unknown self in my brain has taken up a pen. What the pen writes on the parchment called the brain is a magical structure that I do not know. An impossible sorcery theory.

　Ah, yes, that's the feeling. You're not being forced into something existing. The pleasure of rewriting the state of the world with your own hands. The refreshing feeling of shaking off the iron that has been holding me down.

　Now a new magic is formed here, drawn in the black eyes of Fialat. I can see the vanguard of the enemy force a few horse lengths ahead.

"Pierce the canopy! Flood, break the world and swing it here!

　I heard the sound of something shattering in Fialat's brain. Not even he knew what it was.

　But right here, right now, there was definitely magic.

　It wasn't a downpour. Just like a muddy stream. They turned into waves and swallowed the vanguard of the enemy troops wildly.

　Fiorato La Volgograd. Today, at this moment, a piece of the lead covering her body has been peeled away. With an unmistakable golden glow inside.