CH 68

The knight defeats the last monster.

Even after the battle is over, Ash-sama remains vigilant and asks Fusaki.

“Fusaki, is there anyone else approaching?”

“Just a moment, please,” replies Fusaki-kun as he listens carefully.

His senses are much sharper than those of an average person.

He can hear sounds and feel the dangerous atmosphere on his skin.

“It seems to be okay. This seems to be the last one for now.”

“I see. Aria.”

“Yes.”

“We’ll only have a few minutes, but I need you to examine their bodies.”

Ash-sama points to the relatively intact body of a black wolf that he had killed.

“Thank you.”

Reluctantly, I approach the dead body and squat down to examine it.

It’s still scary even though it’s dead.

However, since I had asked for this opportunity and it had been prepared for me, I can’t back down now.

“Okay.”

With determination, I touch the wolf’s body.

The fur and texture are rough, but it’s not much different from that of a dog.

The blood is also red.

Including its black appearance, it almost looks like a normal animal.

If we eliminate its ferocity, where does the difference between a monster and an animal lie?

As I ponder this, I part its fur and examine its skin.

Then——

“――This is a thorny pattern…”

The same thorny pattern that spreads as a strange illness in the territory is also visible on the monster’s skin.

“Did you find something?”

“Look, Yuren-kun.”

“Is this… the same pattern?”

“Yeah.”

It’s almost certain now.

The thorny pattern disease is related to monsters.

“Thank you, Your Highness Ash.”

“Are you done?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Return to formation! Let’s move on!”

Under His Highness Ash’s orders, the knights reform their formation and continue walking in the same state before the battle.

Amidst their trained movements, I feel like I am a bit out of place.

“But it’s strange.”

“What is it, Brother?”

“That monster from earlier. Normally, it wouldn’t attack such a large group like us.”

Monsters move on instinct.

Instincts for survival and sharpened senses.

They would not hesitate to use any means necessary to survive.

That is why they do not challenge opponents they believe they cannot beat instinctively.

“Black wolves are monsters that move in packs and do not attack opponents that outnumber them. But this time, they attacked without hesitation. It’s abnormal.”

“I see… it may be related to a strange disease. Perhaps it’s a disease that originally only affects monsters.”

“I don’t think so, Yuren-kun. If that were the case, there would be no reason for it to spread to humans. The symptoms probably vary depending on the source of infection.”

If it infects a monster, it becomes violent, and if it infects a human, it becomes weak.

That’s what I suspect the disease is.

“If that’s the case, it’s a troublesome story. It’s like someone is doing it to keep the monsters alive.”

“If it’s intentional… then it’s frightening.”

An ominous atmosphere hung in the air.

Perhaps because of the scary story being told, I felt the air turn cold.

My body trembled involuntarily.

At first, I thought it was pathetic that my body was trembling with fear.

But in reality, it was different.

“…Mist.”

I murmur quietly.

Before I knew it, a thin mist had appeared in the forest.

The chill was not fear, but a drop in temperature that had actually occurred.

◇◇◇

“Brother, the fog has started to appear.”

“That’s strange. Fog never appears in this forest… Be careful not to get separated. Try to stick together――Hey, where’s Aria?”

“Huh?”

“What, she was just next to me a moment ago!”

Fusaki and Yuren start to panic.

Both of them were always worried about Aria.

Despite this, she disappeared without anyone noticing.

“Aria!”

“What the hell is this fog! I can feel something coming from everywhere, but I can’t pinpoint it.”

“Could it be that this is also the work of the monsters?”

A bad feeling crosses everyone’s mind.

However, the fog around them thickens, and they are unable to move.

If they go looking for her, there is a danger of getting lost.

That’s why they can’t move.

“Aria… Where did she go?”

◇◇◇

“Yuren-kun! Everyone!”

I let my guard down… no, I don’t think I was that careless.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by fog and standing alone.

There was no one nearby.

Even when I called out, there was no response.

I started walking towards the direction I had followed through the trees.

“Where did everyone go?”

Anxiety overwhelmed me.

It’s been a while since I truly felt so alone.

It’s scary.

I’ve been living alone for a long time.

So I thought I was used to it.

But I’m not.

I always wanted to be with someone.

I felt at ease when I spoke and received a response.

But now, that’s gone.

I realize once again the fear of being alone.

The fog in my sight covers my heart.

I can’t see anything.

No one is there.

I wish I could hear someone’s voice.

Thinking like that, I continue walking —

“Where is this…huh?”

Before I knew it, there was an unfamiliar wooden house.

It was built by a beautiful lake.