「Well then, we’ve spent quite a lot of time at this oasis, so we’ll have to hurry.」

「Is your body really okay? Would it be better to rest a little longer……」

「Gurururu~」

After storing away the corpses of the Goblin bandits and the Goblin Bandit Mage into the Misty Ring, Rei immediately set out to find the Spear Frog again.

Elena and Set were worried about him and asked if he should rest a little longer, but Rei paid them no mind.

「I was knocked out by the impact of magic power, but there are no other side effects. Absorbing the queen bee’s magic stone had no effect on Set either. ……Besides, if we want to confirm if the abnormal species really have strange magic stones, we’ll have to find that out ourselves.」

Magic Beasts absorbed magic stones to become stronger. Rei didn’t feel good about the fact that something had gone wrong when absorbing a magic stone, the foundation of his goal.

(But, well……if I can’t absorb magic stones from abnormal species, Set shouldn’t have been able to absorb the magic stone from the Sword Bee queen either. I couldn’t learn any skills, but the magic stone still disappeared. That did happen. Set and the Death Scythe. What’s the difference……? Is it because the Death Scythe is a magic weapon deeply connected to me while Set exists as an individual? No, that doesn’t change the fact that Set is still connected to me. Then……what’s going on?)

Muttering to himself, Rei lightly washed his face in the spring and regained his composure.

Seeing Rei like that, it was pointless to try and stop him. Elena gave a small sigh as she went over to Rei.

「Okay, I won’t say anything more. Only you know how your condition is. But that said. While looking for the abnormal species, tell me immediately if you notice anything wrong with your body. And, of course, there is also the matter of Set. I’d like you to not absorb the magic stone of the abnormal species Spear Frog, our target, using your Magic Beast Art. Any objections?」

Elena said that to Rei with an unusually strict expression.

It was proof that she was worried about Rei, and because he understood that, Rei nodded silently in response.

「Yeah. I won’t absorb the magic stones of abnormal species. However, who created these abnormal species and how they did it……I want to find out at all costs.」

「Created? Can’t these be natural occurrences?」

「No, they’re probably artificial. In the first place, it isn’t possible to have multiple magic powers inside one magic stone. If it had just been the Goblin Bandit Mage, there might just have been something wrong with the dungeon. Or maybe it happened purely by chance……but I can’t believe that so many abnormal species would appear at the same time.」

「Couldn’t it be……that there is just something wrong with the dungeon?」

Elena asked Rei after hearing what he said and thinking for a few seconds.

Hearing that, Rei thought about it himself before eventually speaking after putting his thoughts together.

「It certainly is possible. But the timing of us entering the dungeon and the abnormal species appearing was just too good. Is it just a coincidence?」

「……Then is this abnormal species situation targeting us?」

「It’s just a possibility. Considering the timing, it could be the case.」

They continued discussing with each other as they walked through the desert.

Perhaps he was worried about Rei, rather than flying in the sky and watching the surroundings as usual, Set walked through the desert behind them.

「I think you’re overthinking this. Very few people knew we were coming to Exil, it would have been impossible……no, I won’t say that, but it would have been very difficult to set a trap for us.」

「You think so?」

Hearing Elena say that he was overthinking it, Rei started to think that might have been the case. He tilted his head and didn’t push his theory that they were being targeted any further.

(If they’re not targeting us, then it can’t be the Bestir Empire? Well, as Elena said, time was tight. In that case, this abnormal species situation isn’t caused by the Bestir Empire. Is it the work of an unrelated third party? But then who could it be? What are the benefits of causing such a fuss in a labyrinth city, that there are only a few of in the Mireana Kingdom? The Bestir Empire would have had more than enough motive……)

Thinking to that point, Rei shook his head. There was something wrong with him if his first thought was that everything was caused by the Bestir Empire.

However, it was still quite possible.

The Bestir Empire’s army had been severely damaged in the spring war, and because it was Rei who had caused that damage, it wouldn’t be strange for his life to be targeted in an attempt to bring down the Mireana Kingdom’s national power at the same time. Thinking that way, it made sense.

(Then, in that case, does someone want to make it look like it’s the Bestir Empire’s work? Or did things just turn out that way? ……No, that’s just a conspiracy theory thinking like that. However, it’s true that abnormal species are abnormal in the literal sense of the word. Considering that……wait.)

As he thought of that idea, the information that he had collected after coming to Exil flowed through his mind.

Abnormal species, the abnormal magic stone he absorbed. The Levisor family, the Marschel family, the magic stones being bought up from the market.

「Hey, it couldn’t be……」

「Rei? What’s wrong?」

As they walked through the desert, Elena noticed Rei’s expression change as he was thinking and asked.

Behind them, Set anxiously followed while keeping an eye on the surroundings.

「No, I was just thinking about the discomfort I felt when the Death Scythe absorbed the magic stone.」

「You must have thought of something right? Tell me.」

「……I’ll just say this first, there’s no clear evidence for this. It’s really just a thought. Keep that in mind.」

Rei was wondering whether to tell Elena what he had just thought of, but decided that it wouldn’t be any good just keeping it to himself as he spoke out.

「Didn’t the Levisor family want magic stones when we were called there yesterday?」

「Yeah, that’s right. We refused though.」

Rei gave a small nod at Elena’s words and continued his explanation. If his thoughts were correct, it was a good thing they had turned down their offer to buy magic stones from them.

「As its name suggests, the magic stones of the abnormal species are abnormal in some way. So, my thought was that either the Levisor or Marschel families have something to do with the abnormal species because of their connection with magic stones……what do you think?」

「Isn’t that……overthinking it? But considering that you fell unconscious earlier, it’s certainly a possibility.」

Hearing Rei’s explanation, Elena frowned under her cloak but acknowledged the possibility.

「Well, that’s just what I thought of.」

「But, as long as that’s a concern, it would be better to talk to Vosk about it after today’s request is over. At first I thought it was a man with a lot of problems, but after seeing how he helped out his subordinates and what happened yesterday, it seems like he’s trying to rule Exil in a respectable way.」

As Elena said that, the figure of Schaffner, who they had met the day before, passed through her mind.

(At the very least, Vosk would pass as a ruler of Exil compared to Schaffner. ……Well, considering the messy incident in the eatery, he’s not without problems either.)

A man who couldn’t even hide his desires and keep up his facade to the end, even in front of someone from a Duchy, a superior to them, that was Schaffner. In comparison, Vosk, who was loved by his subordinates, had leadership skills, and had a secretary who seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, was more promising.

(I haven’t met anyone from the Marschel family yest, but I can roughly guess what they’re like if they are also buying up magic stones without care like the people from the Levisor family.)

Thinking to herself, both Rei and Elena made their way through the desert pondering their thoughts……

「Guru~!」

Set, who had been following behind them, gave a sharp cry as he stared in the direction they were walking in.

Seeing that, no matter how many thoughts they were thinking, the two of them could tell what was going on.

Rei quickly took out the Death Scythe, that he had stored into the Misty Ring back at the oasis. Elena also reached for the hilt of her sword whip at her waist.

「Well, what kind of monster do you think it is? I hope it’s a Grand Scorpion.」

「Spear Frog. If possible, I’d like it to be the abnormal species.」

「……That’s true.」

As they made light conversation, they kept their guard up and looked around. ……The next moment, the sand Set was looking at blew up in an explosion.

「Tch, this of all things. Flying Slash!」

Spotting a familiar monster through the explosion of sand, Rei quickly swung his Death Scythe to launch out a slash.

Seeing that slash fly out, Rei finally confirmed that he was still able to use the Death Scythe’s skills without any issues.

Failing to absorb a magic stone and causing a back flow of magic power. He hadn’t been sure if it would have caused skills to be unusable as a side effect. He had tried to see if he could still use skills back at the oasis, but it still relieved him that he had no issues using skills in combat.

Despite his earlier words, Rei was probably still somewhat confused by the earlier back flow of magic power.

Anyway, without regard for Rei’s thoughts, the slash flew straight out, cutting through the body of the Sandworm without any resistance as it appeared from the sand

At the same time, blood, organs, and pieces of flesh spilled on to the sand. Rei didn’t seem to care, ignoring the scent of blood that started to spread.

Rei took the right and Elena the left while Set flew into the sky.

Each of them confirmed the others’ intentions wordlessly with their eyes before doing what they had to do.

The Sandworm Rei had just killed had just been a decoy, five more Sandworms appeared right around them.

「I’m sorry, but you’re just going to be a target for me to vent my anger!」

Rei bared his teeth and swung the Death Scythe at a Sandworm that was lunging at him to swallow him whole.

「Power Slash!」

Activating the skill, the blade of the Death Scythe struck the mouth of the Sandworm as it tried to swallow Rei……the next moment, not just its mouth, its entire head exploded.

Blood and flesh rained down onto the sand.

He only checked the headless body of the Sandworm for an instant before heading for his next prey.

Opposite Rei, ELena swung her whip form sword whip, cutting off a Sandworm’s head. In the sky, Set spat out fire breath, wrapping a Sandworm in flames before quickly closing the distance. Swiping his claws down onto its burning head that was close to charcoal, he crushed it.

The difference from Rei was that since Set had only swung his claws after the Sandworm had been burnt to charcoal, that was what was scattered around as opposed to blood and flesh.

The result could only be best described as black snow, creating a fantastic landscape.

However, as they were in the middle of combat, it wasn’t something they could leisurely watch.

Although their companions were killed almost instantly, the Sandworms continued to attack without understanding the difference in strength.

Of the remaining two Sandworms, one charged at Rei while the other charged towards Elena.

At this time, if they had run away in different directions, they might have survived with their lives, even if they were injured. However, the Sandworms had taken it for granted that they would overrun their enemies because of their huge size and had never considered escaping.

A small smile floated onto Rei’s face as he turned to look at the Sandworm plunging towards him with its huge fangs exposed.

It was a cold smile closer to a sneer.

Jumping up with that smile, Rei activated the Shoes of Sleipnir to step further into the sky, using the air as a foothold.

He started a magic incantation as he watched the Sandworm pass underneath him, only eating sand.

『Flame, you are a snake. Therefore, burn my enemies as I desire.』

Casting his magic, he confirmed that fire magic power had collected at the tip of the Death Scythe before cancelling the effect of the Shoes of Sleipnir and dropping onto the back of the Sandworm.

『Dancing Fire Snake!』

THe moment the Death Scythe pierced the back of the Sandworm, he activated the magic and a fire snake formed from where the fire magic power had collected, moving and burning up the insides of the Sandworm……before eventually arriving at its head. After the fire snake reached there, despite the Sandworm’s tough vitality, it was burned out without being able to understand what had happened to it as the large Sandworm collapsed to the ground.

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