“Well, we’ve spent quite a while at the oasis. We should pick up the pace.”
“Are you really sure you’re feeling okay? You should probably rest a little more...”
“Guruuu.”
After storing the carcasses of the Bandit Goblins and the Bandit Goblin Mage into his Misty Ring, Rei prepared to resume the search for the Spear Frog.
Elena and Seto both voiced their concerns, urging him to take a longer break, but Rei showed no sign of listening.
“The blackout was just a side effect of the magical shock; there aren’t any lingering aftereffects. Besides, even though I absorbed the Queen Bee’s magic stone, it didn’t affect Seto. We have to uncover the truth behind these Anomaly Species and why they’re interfering with magic stones.”
Beast Magic, the art of growing stronger by consuming magic stones, was the foundation of Rei’s power. The fact that abnormalities were occurring within those stones filled him with a quiet indignation.
(Still... if I can’t absorb the magic stones of Anomaly Species, it makes me wonder how Seto managed to absorb the one from the Queen Bee of the Sword Bees. He didn’t learn a skill, but the absorption itself was successful. Seto and Death Scythe... what’s the difference? Is it because Seto exists as an independent entity, whereas Death Scythe is a magic item deeply bound to my own magic power? No, even in Seto’s case, he still uses me as a medium. So, what exactly is going on?)
Muttering to himself, he washed his face in the oasis spring to clear his head.
Seeing his resolve, Elena likely realized that further attempts to stop him would be futile. She let out a small sigh and stepped closer.
“Fine, I will say no more. Only you can truly know the state of your own body. But listen well: if we find an Anomaly Species and you feel even the slightest discomfort, you must tell me immediately. And naturally, given the risk to Seto, I must insist that you refrain from using Beast Magic to absorb the magic stone of the target Spear Frog Anomaly Species. Do you object?”
Elena spoke with a severity that was rare for her when dealing with Rei. It was a clear sign of just how worried she was. Understanding this, Rei gave her a silent, appreciative nod.
“Yeah. I won’t absorb the magic stones of any Anomaly Species. However, I definitely want to find out who—and what—was behind the creation of these things.”
“Created? Is there no chance they are mere products of nature?”
“No, they’re almost certainly artificial. To begin with, it’s impossible for multiple types of magic power to exist within a single magic stone. If it were just this Bandit Goblin Mage, I might believe it was a mutation or some freak accident within the dungeon... but I can’t believe that so many different Anomaly Species would appear all at once by chance.”
“Could it not be that some fundamental abnormality has occurred within the labyrinth itself?” Elena murmured, falling into thought for several seconds.
Rei considered her point before organizing his thoughts aloud.
“The possibility exists, I suppose. But the timing of these Anomaly Species appearing and our arrival in the city is just too perfect. Is that really a coincidence?”
“...Then, are you suggesting this Anomaly Species Disturbance was orchestrated to target us?”
“It’s just a possibility. But given the timing, it’s hard not to look at it that way.”
They continued their conversation while treading across the shifting sands. Seto, seemingly worried about Rei, chose to follow them on foot rather than scouting from the sky as he usually did.
“I personally think you might be overthinking it, Rei. Very few people knew we were coming to Exil. To set a trap that coincides so perfectly with our arrival would be... well, I won’t say impossible, but it would be remarkably difficult.”
“You think so?”
As he listened to Elena, Rei had to admit that the timeline was indeed tight. He tilted his head slightly but didn’t voice his suspicions about a targeted ambush any further.
(If we weren't the targets, then maybe it’s not the Bestia Empire? Elena’s right; the timing is difficult. In that case, is this the work of some third party? But who? What benefit is there in throwing a Labyrinth City into chaos? Exil is one of only a few such cities in the Kingdom of Mireana. The Empire would have more than enough motive, but...)
He shook his head slightly, clearing the thought. He realized that whenever something went wrong, his first instinct was to blame the Bestia Empire.
Then again, it wasn't an unreasonable assumption. The Bestia Imperial Army had suffered heavy losses during the Spring War, and since Rei was the direct cause of their defeat, it stood to reason they would want him dead while simultaneously weakening the Kingdom of Mireana. The logic was sound.
(So, is someone trying to frame the Empire? Or did things just happen to fall into this pattern? ...No, it’s no use. Right now, this is all just conspiracy theory. Still, the fact remains that Anomaly Species are exactly what the name implies: abnormal. Which means... wait.)
As his thoughts reached that conclusion, the various pieces of information he had gathered since arriving in Exil suddenly clicked into place.
The Anomaly Species. The unstable magic stones. House Rebisole and House Marstchel. The shortage of magic stones in the market.
“Hey, could it be...?”
“Rei? Is something wrong?”
Elena noticed the sudden shift in his demeanor and called out to him. Behind them, Seto watched with concern while keeping a sharp eye on their surroundings.
“No, I was just thinking about that sense of wrongness I felt when I absorbed the magic stone with Death Scythe.”
“You’ve realized something, haven’t you? Tell me.”
“...I should warn you, I have no clear evidence. This is just a hunch. Keep that in mind while you listen.”
Rei hesitated for a split second, then decided there was no point in keeping his theory to himself.
“Yesterday, when we were summoned to House Rebisole, they were desperate for magic stones, right?”
“Yes, they were. Though we refused their offer.”
Rei nodded. If his hunch was correct, he was glad they had turned down the deal.
“Anomaly Species stones are, by definition, abnormal. Since magic stones are the common thread here, I suspect that either House Rebisole or House Marstchel is involved with the appearance of these Anomaly Species. What do you think?”
“That is... quite a leap. And yet, given what happened when you lost consciousness, I suppose it is a distinct possibility,” Elena said, frowning beneath her hood as she weighed the idea.
“Well, like I said, it’s just something I came up with on my own.”
“Even so, since there is a risk, perhaps we should speak with Bosk once we finish today’s request. I thought him a troublesome man at first, but after seeing him yesterday and how he treats his men, he seems to be a reasonably capable ruler for Exil.”
As Elena spoke, the image of Shaffner, whom they had also met the day before, crossed her mind.
(At the very least, Bosk is a far better candidate to rule Exil than Shaffner. ...Though, given that incident in the dining hall, he certainly has his flaws.)
Shaffner was a man who couldn't even hide his own petty greed, failing to maintain a polite facade even toward a member of a Ducal house. In comparison, Bosk had the loyalty of his men, genuine leadership, and a clever secretary to manage the finer details. He was the more promising choice by far.
(I haven’t met anyone from House Marstchel yet, but if they’re buying up stones with as much disregard for the public as House Rebisole, I can imagine what they’re like.)
Lost in their respective thoughts, the two continued their trek through the desert... until—
“Guruu!”
Seto gave a sharp cry and stepped forward, his eyes fixed on their path ahead. The change in the griffin’s behavior immediately snapped both Rei and Elena out of their reverie.
Rei reached into the Misty Ring and retrieved Death Scythe, which he had stored before leaving the oasis. Elena’s hand flew to the whip-sword handle at her waist.
“Any guesses on the monster? Personally, I’m hoping for a Grand Scorpion.”
“I would prefer the Spear Frog. An Anomaly Species, if we are being lucky.”
“...Fair enough.”
Despite their light banter, neither lowered their guard. An instant later, the sand directly in Seto’s line of sight erupted.
“Tch, of all things, it’s these guys! Flying Slash!”
Spotting the familiar shapes within the rising sand, Rei reflexively swung Death Scythe, unleashing a blue shockwave.
As the slash flew, Rei felt a wave of relief. His skills were working perfectly. He had been worried that the failed magic stone absorption or the magic power backflow might have caused some lingering damage to his abilities. Though he had tested them briefly at the oasis, seeing them function in actual combat settled his nerves.
For all his talk of being fine, even Rei had been shaken by the unprecedented phenomenon.
His Flying Slash cut through the air and slammed into the lead Sandworm Body, severing it without resistance. Blood and viscera sprayed across the desert.
The trio didn't wait for the sand to settle. Ignoring the sudden scent of blood, they split up to cover more ground: Rei to the right, Elena to the left, and Seto into the sky.
They didn't need words. A single look was enough to coordinate their movements.
The first Sandworm had been a decoy; five more of the massive creatures burst from the dunes to surround them.
“Sorry, but you’re about to become the targets for all my pent-up frustration!”
Rei faced a Sandworm charging him with massive fangs bared. He planted his feet, raised Death Scythe, and swung.
“Power Slash!”
The skill took hold, and the blade of Death Scythe collided with the creature’s open maw. In a single explosion of force, the Sandworm’s head and fangs were pulverized.
A rain of gore drenched the sand. Rei didn't linger to watch the headless carcass collapse; he was already moving toward his next target.
On the other side of the battlefield, Elena’s whip-sword lashed out in its whip-like form, neatly decapitating a Sandworm in one fluid motion. Above them, Seto unleashed a Fire Breath that engulfed another worm in a pillar of flame. The griffin closed the distance instantly and brought its forepaws down on the charred head, shattering it into blackened fragments.
Unlike Rei’s kill, Seto’s victim didn't spray blood; instead, a cloud of fine soot drifted through the air like black snow, creating a strangely beautiful, macabre sight.
The remaining Sandworms, seemingly unable to grasp the overwhelming difference in power despite their fallen kin, continued their mindless assault. One lunged at Rei, the other at Elena.
Had they fled in different directions, they might have escaped with their lives. But as apex predators of the desert, the concept of retreat didn't exist for them.
Rei watched the creature charge, a cold, derisive sneer playing on his lips.
He leaped, activating Sleipnir's Shoes to kick off the air and propel himself even higher. The Sandworm lunged through the space he had occupied a second before, its massive body passing beneath him. From his vantage point in the sky, Rei began to chant.
“O Flame, thou art a serpent. According to my will, reduce my enemies to ash.”
Flame magic power gathered at Death Scythe's butt end. Rei deactivated the boots and plummeted toward the creature’s back.
“Dancing Flame Serpent!”
The moment the butt end of his weapon pierced the Sandworm's hide, the spell ignited. A serpent made of pure fire burst from the point of impact, burrowing through the monster’s internal organs. It raced toward the head, incinerating the brain instantly. The creature, despite its legendary vitality, didn't even have time to realize it was dead before its massive frame slumped lifelessly onto the sand.