The relentless rain intensified, shrouding the sky in a blanket of dark clouds, casting a gloomy pall over the day. The ground turned to mud, hindering their march, and as the crimson light barrier loomed larger in their sight, the sun began to dip below the horizon.
“We should reach the barrier by dawn tomorrow. Let’s take this opportunity to assess our situation,” Lionel said, his voice steady despite the encroaching darkness.
Halfway between the territory capital and the barrier lay the ruins of an old church and a fortress. The roof had collapsed, the walls crumbled, and the interior was in disarray, as if it had been ransacked. It was troubling that such a dilapidated church was left exposed so close to the capital, but with night fast approaching, continuing their march was becoming increasingly difficult.
Setting up a rain shelter as a base, Lionel called the others to gather around him. He faced the knights of Jiemeld.
“Count Agreas is in the capital, correct? Have you sent word?” he inquired.
“…Well, the remaining members are mostly the lower ranks of the Jiemeld Knights Order. I sent a few on their own to deliver the message, but they are not official messengers. Most of the higher-ranking knights who were engaged in the command structure have… well…”
The Jiemeld knight hesitated, drawing the attention of those around him.
“For some reason, they have vanished,” he finally admitted.
“Vanished…? They followed Count Agreas to the capital?” Lionel pressed.
“No… I’m not sure, but ever since the Royal Knights Order left this area, one by one, they have disappeared day by day,” the knight explained. “At first, we thought they had set out on Count Agreas’s orders or had some reason to withdraw, but no one knows anything about it, and most of the horses remain in the stables… it’s strange.”
Indeed, upon reflection, many of the knights who had joined from Jiemeld were quite young, some barely more than recruits.
“Before we knew it, there was no one left who could explain the situation or take command. We, too, are left in the dark about what is happening… We have no one of higher rank among us,” the knight continued, his voice heavy with despair.
“It feels as if we have been left behind here along with the barrier. In just this past month, it has all happened so quickly…”
The Jiemeld knights were worn down by confusion and anxiety.
As they listened, a mercenary who had been watching the direction of the red barrier suddenly stood up and shouted, “Sir Lionel! Something’s off—the barrier’s wall is flickering!”
Everyone turned to see the crimson light barrier pulsating erratically, its intensity fluctuating like a flame about to extinguish.
Then, amidst the torrential rain, the red light abruptly vanished, leaving only the dark silhouettes of the surrounding forest.
“This is bad…” Lionel muttered.
“Hey, there are Undead Beasts inside that barrier, right!?” Gilbert exclaimed, rising to his feet alongside Lionel and the others.
“What should we do?” Lionel asked, urgency creeping into his voice.
“Approaching in this rain and darkness would put us at a severe disadvantage. We can’t accurately assess what is happening or what might be inside. For now, let’s use the abandoned church and fortress as a fallback point,” Lionel decided.
If those mutated small Undead Beasts were among them, facing them in the cover of night would only worsen their odds. However, considering the distance, they still had time before an attack could occur.
“What about the capital? There are still residents left, right? From what I heard earlier, it’s questionable whether there are enough troops left to protect them,” Gilbert said, glancing toward the capital.
In the distance, the town of Jiemeld appeared forlorn, its size making it seem even more desolate, but through the rain, a few lights flickered in the gloom.
“That’s where we come in,” Sidney, the priest of the Western Grand Church, declared, stepping forward alongside the clergy.
“Wide-Area Barriers are our specialty. Leave it to us,” he assured, undeterred by the rain.
Ignoring the downpour, Sidney and the clergy stood together, facing the direction of the capital, raising their hands to the sky. In the dim light, they traced the ivy that symbolized the goddess, and a luminous arc of light spread wide across the air.
“How long will it last?” Lionel asked.
“Honestly, with such a vast area, two or three days at most,” Sidney replied, a bitter smile on his lips.
Upon hearing this, Dolf, who had been silent until now, spoke up, “Lionel, Gilbert, I don’t need to tell you, but avoid unnecessary deaths. I know you intend to exterminate them, but we can’t predict what might happen…”
After a moment of silence, Dolf grinned.
“…So, let’s fill our bellies while we still have time.”
Flora and Barbara, who had been quietly listening with serious expressions, widened their eyes. They exchanged glances before promptly getting to work on the cooking.
In the midst of the inclement weather and the sudden camp, they prepared grilled salted meat and a barley and vegetable porridge, devouring it to bolster their spirits before dividing up tasks. They planned to take turns sleeping until morning, while at midnight, they would lure and eliminate the medium-sized Undead Beasts that began to appear nearby.
The rain continued unabated, and as dawn broke, the surroundings lightened, revealing a sight that left everyone speechless.
In the forest where the red light barrier had stood until last night, a dark, ominous mound loomed, resembling a grotesque mountain.