Chapter 12

With a scowl on her face, Yuusha violently hands over the bag filled with copper coins to the gatekeeper.

The entrance fee for entering the labyrinth ――the offerings are still being paid. Even now that she has plenty of money to spare, Yuusha is still not content.

Why do they have to pay every time? When she complained about it to the gatekeeper, he coldly answered, ‘If you like it, don’t enter’.

Yuusha didn’t even gasp.

Therefore, Yuusha decided to prepare money the money carefully. She went through the trouble of exchanging 100 coins.

As expected, the gatekeeper has a frown on his face. Yuusha’s petty revenge was successful today yet again.


“What. You should be more cheerful. I’ve given you the offering that you adore so much.”

“…Why do you use coins instead of copper bills? You’ve been doing it every time recently.”

“Know the value of money. You should feel it’s weight.”

“Noisy”


Yuusha watches in amusement as she snorts as Matari stands next to her looking dumbfounded.


“Let them a free pass once in a while. You won’t be punished for missing a few people.”

“I can’t because I hate that kind of misconduct. But you’re welcome to make a personal gift. I don’t mind whenever. Of course that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you pass through here.”

“Like anyone would give you money like that”


When Yuusha twitched her mouth, the gatekeeper grinned at her as payback for what she did earlier.

“Then you should get your search permit. It’s not like I want to do this either.”

“You have a big grin on your face, you cheapskate gatekeeper.”

“That’s rude.”


Today, the usual back-and-forth unfolds again. This gatekeeper would play along with Yuusha’s snide remarks as a way to pass the time.

Her fearless attitude when talking to him was really interesting to watch. Yuusha couldn’t help but get mad and was about to kick his shins, but Matari stopped her. She was begging her with a crying face to stop picking a fight with the church.

Today was a rare occasion where Matari talked to him.


“You had to take a occupational certification from the guild in order to get a permit, right?”

“Oh, there was that. So that means you’re going to be a warrior soon. I will decline though.”

“Why would you refuse!?”

“I’m a hero.”

“Such a. That’s it, let’s get certified. Otherwise, we’d have to pay for the entrance every time, and we could only stay for three hours.”


At Matari’s appeal, Yuusha says yes, yes, yes, and brushes it off. In any case, he’s willing to take the test itself. Even if she’s certified as a warrior, she’s still a hero. Though she certainly wouldn’t like it.


“Basically, if you’re in the warrior’s guild, you’re a warrior. If you’re in the sorcerer’s guild, you can get certified as a sorcerer. Although exceptions do appear sometimes.


The gatekeeper mutters something meaningfully.


“Exceptions?”

“That’s right. When you pass a guild’s test, you’ll usually the guild’s crest stamped on your arm.”

“Warriors have a sword and shield. And swordsmen have crossed swords.”

“That’s right. But every now and then someone gets a special mark. They’re the exception. They will receive their own occupational title from the Star Church. There’s no big benefit, but it is a sign that you have talent.”


After hearing the gatekeeper’s explanation, Yuusha nodded her head in understanding.


“Then I might have a special crest. And Matari will have a boar crest. It is very exciting.”

“I don’t want a crest like that! I’m fine being plain and ordinary.”

“Hahaha, well, we’ll have to wait until then to see what happens. I’d better get going.”


Yuusha laughs off the heated Matari and tells her she’s going ahead and starts walking in the direction of the wards.


“Wait, please wait!”


As Matari begins to run in a hurry, the gatekeeper coughs out deliberately and begins muttering loudly to himself in a blank tone.


“Ah, gohon! Come to think of it, I remember a dangerous person walking into the labyrinth earlier. It’s a bounty hunter with a distinctive green robe. I think that some bounty hunters also came in looking for that guy. If you get involved, it will be dangerous in many ways.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.”


Yuusha turns around and thanks him in return, and the gatekeeper looks away.


“………… this is just me talking to myself. You have absolutely no reason to thank me.”

“Oh, that’s fine.”

“Hm, be careful at all cost. That guy’s a real mess.”

“I knew you were talking to us. You’re arrogant and stingy, but you’re surprisingly nice to people.”


Matari chuckled as Yuusha plunged in. The gatekeeper turns away to hide his embarrassment.


“Annoying”


With the advice in mind, Yuusha heads to the temple-like building where the staircase to the underground labyrinth is located. The reason why adventurers are abuzz around the entrance is also because of the bounty target. They are taking a wait-and-see approach because of the danger involved if they make contact.

Yuusha forced her way through the crowd and went down the stairs.

Matari had suggested that we should also check out the situation, but of course it was dismissed by Yuusha.



◆



In front of the stairs descending from the tenth underground floor. This place has a somewhat different structure from other rooms. In the center of the large room, there is an old altar where some kind of ceremony might have once been held. It is surrounded by four crumbling stone statues holding weapons. Artificial lights shine around them, and there are no blind spots.

Because of the good visibility and the structure of the room, which makes it harder to be ambushed, the adventurers in the upper layers often take a rest here. The only place to be on guard for are the stairs and the entrance to the large room. There are other groups in the area, so it was a kind of safe zone.

But today, instead of a safe zone, it has been transformed into a horrific battlefield with blood splatters and angry shouts.

A group of bounty hunters waited for the puppeteer Russ, the bounty target, and pincered him from the stairs leading down and the entrance to the room.

After easily escaping the surprise attack, Russ takes up position at the central altar and quickly deployed his clay dolls, placing them in all directions with no gaps. He arranged them in all directions with no gaps and smiled with amusement.

The bounty hunters, who had about thirty men in their ranks, also formed a formation and valiantly attacked the clay dolls.

Excel from the warrior’s guild was also a part of the bounty hunters and wielded his sword.


“Shh!”


Gritting his teeth, he unleashes a blow that cuts the clay puppet in half. The puppet, which can no longer support its body, collapses and turns into a mere pile of clay. Since their movements are slow, and their body is soft, the only effective way for them to fight is to raise their arms and swing them down. Excel slaughtered the second one without difficulty and quickly made his way to cover his other allies. The other adventurers are just as skilled, since they are trying to kill a bounty target. Each wielded their spears, swords, and axes at their leisure, and the sorcerer’s ice magic slammed the swarm of mudmen into the walls.

The bounty hunters one sidedly overrun the clay dolls before even ten minutes had passed.

They encircled Russ, ready to attack at any moment, and the leader of the group speaks to him mockingly.


“Is this what the infamous Russ the puppeteer is like? Even if you’re a powerful sorcerer, you’re done for if you’re surrounded.”

“20 gold pieces. Tasty job.”

“The secret weapon I had prepared for the sorcerer is now useless. Well, it’s a good thing I don’t have to worry about money for a while.”


The bounty hunters laugh, confident of their victory. Even Excel relaxes and exhales in relief.

Even Russ, who has weapons pointed at him, begins to laugh. He taps the floor a few times with the staff in his hand.


“No, no, that was a brilliant fight against mere clay dolls. It’s really great. –but you’re really stupid and hopeless.”

“What?”

“It’s unwise to let your guard down against a sorcerer without stopping him.”


Before they knew it, the clay dolls that should have been defeated returned to their previous form. The sorcerer who was holding his staff at the back was embraced by a clay puppet and forced into it. Before he had time to scream, the sorcerer’s body was embedded into the earthen puppet.

The sound of soil churning and the disgusting sound of crunching bones echoes throughout the room. After a while, the clay doll pulls a strange meatball out of its abdomen. As it tossed the meatball at another clay doll, it clapped its hands above its head. Blood and pieces of flesh burst out and splatter on the bounty hunters who were watching, stunned.

The leader of the group senses the imminent danger and issues orders to all of them. He also orders the use of anti-magic weapons.


“Kill Russ! Rangers, fire the crossbow!”

“Die, damn it!”

The three rangers in the rear quickly prepare a crossbow and fire the bolts at Russ. Russ doesn’t panic and catches them with his clay dolls in front of him.

Russ deployed a new puppet behind the rangers trying to load the next round. It is a wooden puppet, each part of it moving in small motions as if to confuse the opponent.

“You said it was a crossbow. As I recall, it’s a weapon created by the academic’s guild. It is a wonderful weapon with power comparable to sorcery, but it’s a bad location and opponent. The underground labyrinth is a sorcerer’s garden, you see. It is to the extent that even you have three people together, it’s completely useless against me!”

“F, fire! Don’t give him a chance!”


The ranger performs a series of shots in succession. An ordinary sorcerer would be dead with this, but it’s a bad match for puppet magicians. Puppets do not feel pain.


“I’ll teach you the horror of a pain-free puppet so much that you dread it .”


As Russ’s mouths distorts with a laugh, the wooden puppets attack the rangers. The warrior from the vanguard slashes off one of the puppet’s arms, but it doesn’t care and catches the ranger’s torso with its remaining hand.


“Hi, hiii!”


He lets go of his crossbow and pokes it repeatedly with a dagger, but it only stabs the puppet. When the warrior cleaves the body to save him, the puppet splits into two halves, the upper and lower body. But it still doesn’t stop moving. The lower half of the body entangles the ranger with its legs, while the upper half of the body clings to him.


“Kihihi, now comes the fun part, the beginning of the puppet show! Brave gentlemen, look upon their ballet performance!”


As Russ laughs loudly, the body of the wooden puppet that holds the ranger begins to heat up and bursts into flames with black smoke.

The other bounty hunters have their hands full with the clay dolls and can’t afford to help.

The ranger scream horribly from the intense pain caused by the burns. The wooden doll bounces around joyfully and spreads the fire. It jumps on another bounty hunter and they scream as they are set on fire. The clay dolls also pounce at once in search of a new target.

Despite his fear, Excel frantically swings his sword. The others fight desperately to keep them from getting close.

The bounty hunters, who were once in a dominant position, are slowly being hunted down. There is no time for a tactic of encirclement.

The burning wooden doll flung out its charred corpse and fell apart on the spot as it spun around, as if it was performing.

The clay dolls crumbled down as well, but it regenerated on the spot and resumed the attack.


“There are plenty more puppets. There aren’t many brave and reckless people as you these days. I’ve been having trouble disposing of them. So don’t hesitate to play with them. There are more than a hundred of them left. Don’t worry, I won’t be burning you alive from now on. You have many uses if intact, you know. Kihihihi!”


As he ridiculed them ominously, dozens of wooden dolls and clay dolls were summoned around Russ. When Russ gave instructions with his staff, the dolls slowly began to advance.



–an hour after the battle began. The thirty bounty hunters had been reduced to nine. The parties that passed by this place while on their way quickly fled, not wanting to get involved.

The survivor’s strength is nearing its limit. Their energy is about to run out as well. At first, they fought on even terms while being cornered, but after all, the strength of the puppets is limitless. Furthermore, a sorcerer’s magic power is never exhausted in the labyrinth. The bounty hunters’ sorcerers were already transformed into minced meat. The crossbows that they prepared for the sorcerer are completely useless against the puppeteer. No matter how powerful they are, they are useless if they can’t hit him.

The bounty hunter have no way to recover from this inferior position.

The exhausted leader of the bounty hunters falls to his knees. Excel and the others use their swords to support their bodies with ragged breath.


“Oh, what’s the matter? The fun and entertaining puppet show is just getting started, right? The ending is still far away.”

“Ha, hah, wa, wait. No, please wait. We’ve lost. If possible, I want to make a deal with you.”

“Did you say something? As you get older, you hearing gets worse. I envy you young people. khihihihi”.”

“Please forgive us. I didn’t think it would go this far!”

“Well, well, well, well. What do these brave bounty hunters have to say for themselves? They attacked me on their own accord and offered to lose on their own. Would such a selfish tricks really work!”

“I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything. So I want to surrender. No, please, forgive me.”


The leader drops his sword and rubs his head against the floor. The other people drop their weapons and follow suit. Excel hesitates, but he doesn’t have any chance at winning. He doesn’t think they’ll be forgiven, but he might do it on a whim. If he can’t—–he decides to give it a shot and sheths his sword and kneels.

He should have listened to Rob’s advice seriously. Regret washes over him, but it’s too late. It was his own fault for underestimating the bounty target.


“Kihihi, it can’t be helped. Then I will forgive you once you give me everything you have to offer. Because I’m in a very good mood today. You guys are really lucky!

Russ laughs and approaches the leader with a smile on his face while the puppets applaud him. The puppets approach the bounty hunters.


— It didn’t take long for the leader regret his decision.


　

◆



After receiving information that Russ had gone into the labyrinth, Edel the necromancer headed for the underground. She heard his whereabouts after somewhat forcefully interrogating a group of people she passed on the way, and then forced her way to the tenth floor.

From the shadows of the passageway, she peeked under her breath to see what was happening inside. What she saw there was a disturbing hellscape.

A robustly built man was being dismantled alive on an altar. He must be accustomed in obtaining raw materials to keep him from dying. And he has gone out of his way to cast a strengthening spell to keep him from losing his reason.

The person performing the procedure is the puppeteer Russ, Edel’s target. He seems familiar with the task and his face wears a insane smile. Around him, adventurers waiting their turn are being held in clay dolls. They seem to have lost consciousness.

Edel tightens the grip on her staff. She chants one of the most powerful and reliable attack spells she can use, and also summons undead to be used.


(Russ…..I’ll finish it. Die here!)


She silently runs out into the room, raises her staff and launches a magical attack. She also deploys the undead and prepares for battle. She doesn’t expect it to end it with a single blow.

A torrent of flames resembling a snake strikes at Russ. Russ, sensing the danger, protects himself by using the warrior he had been dismantling as a shield. The warrior’s body burns up violently, finally free from the long torment.

Russ’s body is also blown away by the blast from the the corpse, but the clay dolls behind him block the are behind and cushion the impact.


“Undead, spread out! Take control immediately!”

“I hear a familiar voice. Puppets, meet the enemy!”


The undead, clay dolls and wooden puppets begin to fight.

The dusty Russ catches sight of Edel. His eyes widen a little, and then he smiles dismissively.


“Oh, well, look who it is, it’s my darling little apprentice, EdelWeiss, isn’t it? I’m glad to see you’re well.”

“I don’t want you to call me a disciple. I’d like you to stop because it’s extremely unpleasant.”


Edel turns a cold glare at her former mentor, Las Nubes. Even as they converse, Edel is filling up with magic and starting to chant. Most likely, so is Russ.


“This is a bit vexing. We used to be as close as a family. The passage of time is a frightening thing. Bonds are so fragile.”


When Russ makes a sad expression, Edel spits out in frustration.


“A bond? How dare you speak to me like that? You’re the one who fell into the wrong path. A poor man who couldn’t accept his daughter’s death.”


“Katarina! …..Katarina is not dead. She’s just sleeping for a little while now. You shouldn’t say something so rude.”


Russ is enraged for a moment, but quickly regains composure. But there’s something unnerving floating on his face that he can’t hide.


“So what is Russ Nubes, the bounty target, doing in a place like this? A nice dismantling demonstration? Or maybe, did you wait for your dear disciple?”

“No, no, these bounty hunters suddenly attacked me, and I was given the materials as an annoyance fee. And I have absolutely no need for you. Don’t flatter yourself. To tell you the truth, I have an important business to attend to with a certain someone.”


Russ taps the ground lightly with his staff, which has a red crystal on the tip. Edel’s chanting is almost complete.

In the meantime, the battle between the undead and the puppets continues. The undead currently have the upper hand. The puppets are trying to drag the undead into their body, but on the contrary, the undead lean into them and destroy the clay dolls from the inside. It damages their flesh, but they are dead, so there’s nothing to worry about.


“Even if you don’t have anything with me, I do with you. ….bounty target Las Nubes. The fallen sorcerer. I’m going to take you down right here.”


Edel slams her skull staff on the ground as hard as she can. The chanting was complete and she was ready to summon again.

No more time is needed for Edel. There’s no need to give Russ any more time.

Edel carelessly tosses the summoning cards into the air.

As the cards hit the floor it penetrates the ground, and dozens of human and demon entities emerge from it. All of them are decomposing, and they are already devoid of life. One of them is the headless Salvadore.

Edel spins her staff and strengthens the bodies of the corpses by giving them magic power. The corpses, who have received the order to attack, surround the puppets and attack all at once. A flurry of attacks that did not allow for a retaliation. The blows are repeated relentlessly, even after they collapse. The puppets must be thoroughly destroyed or they will start moving again.

Russ was astonished that she was able to destroy his pawns in the blink of an eye and revealed his feelings of madness.

“This is wonderful. It’s really wonderful! It’s truly insane to use a corpse up to this point! No, no, I had heard that you had taken to the external forces to take revenge. It’s very moving to see the growth of a disciple. Do I have to respond to that resolve? It wasn’t on my agenda, but it’s been a while since I’ve played with you.”


Russ mutters to himself for a long time, then throws summoning cards from his pocket. A red light radiates from the staff in his hand, and the summoning card changes its appearance.

A dazzling light arises, and at the same time, dozens of humans are summoned. They range in age from a young man who looks like an adventurer to a middle-aged woman in everyday clothes. All of them have empty eyes with no light in them. Their arms hang lazily in front of them, and they move strangely, like a puppet.


“……..It seems your skills as a puppeteer haven’t gone down. Your tastes seem to have deteriorated though.”

“Fufu, puppets are better when they’re alive. Unlike trees and dirt, living puppets have a certain charm to them. Corpses are no good. They are wonderful because they are alive. I’m sure you’ll understand sooner or later. As long as you get rid of unnecessary emotions, You’ll be able to do what you please. There are materials lying around all over the place.”


Russ smiles cruelly. Edel’s expression remains tense.

The large room is in a bizarre state, with undead soldiers and living dolls facing off against each other.

Whoever saw it would be terrified and immediately turn back. Edel also gets a chill when she sees these lifeless humans. She is also afraid of the skill of her teacher, Russ, who can do it while they are alive.

But Edel does not run away. She has trained for this day. She will win.


“You low-life. I’m not like you. If they’re dead, they’re just lumps of meat. I’m just making the most of it. I don’t take away their will and feelings the way you do!”

“Kihihi, it’s the same thing. In the end, it’s no different than desecrating someone’s soul. You and I are the same ilk, kindred. After all, it was I who picked you up and taught you magic. If I am a lowlife, it is reasonable that my disciple is also a lowlife. Hey, isn’t it, khihihihihihihi!”

“Shut up! I am different from you!”

“Say it, my foolish disciple. That’s right, I’ll make you my puppet too! I’ll take good care of you!”


Russ laughs broadly and waves his wand in the air. The living puppets begin to march out, holding various objects in their hands.

Edel also gives the undead soldiers the order to advance.

The dead and the living begin to merge together and start injuring each other’s bodies.

Bizarre cries rise, flesh is ripped, bones are crushed, limbs are torn to shreds, and blood splatters begin to stain the stone floor.

The melee continues. Russ and Edel focus their attention and try to reinforce their pawns.

The undead army, controlled by Edel, were beginning to be pushed back.

Even though they are not afraid of death and will obey orders until the end, a corpse is a corpse. Their bodies are rotting and many of them are missing limbs.

On the other hand, their opponents are fully human and well equipped. The degree of reinforcement seems to be greater as they are alive.

Russ’s puppets unfortunately had the better quality of troops.

Edel calmly analyzed the situation.

The headless Salvadore, who was daringly clinging to a puppet, was stabbed and pushed down by a sword.

A corpse that Edel had purchased from a strange little girl. Several puppets stand around the fallen body. And all at once they swing their swords and axes.


“Looks like the match is almost done. If you give up now, I’ll make sure you’re treated well. ……..Let’s see, how about being my wife?　I’m sure Katarina would be delighted.”


Russ takes off his hood and contorts his mouth.

Edel instantly declines.


“…I refuse. Besides, the match isn’t won yet.”

“Is that so, is that so. Well, I’m kidding about the wife thing. But you’ll be my daughter. I will forcibly take your will away. Fufu, Katarina has grown fond of you. I’m sure you will become good friends and sisters. I’m looking forward to it now.”

“Shut up!　Give me strength, O Mark of Fire. Cover my enemies in fire and consume their sins!”


She finished her chanting and unleashed a huge swirl of fire from her skull staff. Edel’s strongest offensive magic. Its recoil is as fierce as its power. Since it depletes a lot of magic power, even firing a single shot is nearing her limit. If she attempts it when exhausted, she will become a cripple. Nevertheless, this is the only battle that she can’t lose.


“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but with magic of your level, this me–“

“‘Purgatory’!”


Russ opens his eyes wide at Edel’s fire spell. It is incomparably more powerful than before. Russ expressed his admiration and surprise.


“–Oh, oh. It’s really wonderful to see you master such magic. I’m so proud of you as a teacher. You’ve really grown up, Edel.”


Edel returned her mentor’s kind hearted smile.

Eventually, the flames of purgatory burned through the dark green robes and in the blink of an eye, the body started burning. Without raising a cry, Russ was reduced to ashes.

The living puppets around them stood still, losing their master. Edel’s undead army had already been defeated. She won by a razor-thin margin.


“Did I win? I-I defeated Russ. I did. Oh, with this, with this!


Edel lets out an emotional voice. She involuntarily loses her strength on the spot and collapses.

–but.


“A sorcerer must always remain calm, they shouldn’t get distracted. Didn’t I teach that to you. You seem to have forgotten a lot of important things. Very shameful.”


She replies in a dumbfounded tone of voice at Russ’s appearance. It seems he was replaced by a substitute and she hadn’t noticed.


“–that’s ridiculous.”

“You are a fool. You were not observant. You lose points for that.”


He talks like he did when Russ was her mentor. Eden burned some other pitiful human

Since Edel just used a powerful spell, it will take time before she can attack again.

She takes out the magic potion from her leather bag and drinks it one gulp. A intense feeling of nausea comes over her, but she stands up without a second thought. It doesn’t matter how disgraceful she looks.

She doesn’t have the time to fill up with magic naturally. No matter how high the price is, she have to kill Russ. She has to stop him.


“You are being very reckless. You not supposed do that.”

“I’m not giving up yet. I’m gonna surpass you. I have to kill you. I have to stop your sin.”


With trembling hands, Edel readies her staff and begins chanting again.


“Fufu, it’s none of your business I just want to get my daughter back. I will not allow anyone to interfere with that. Then, now it’s my turn.”


Russ snaps his fingers and something appears in his hand. When Edel looks at it, she sees what it is.

A human organ. Probably the heart. It seems to have been enchanted with preservation, as its color is still bright red.

Something basic like this is easy for Russ.


“It’s not just puppets, catalysts are also more effective when they’re alive. My colleague and I have done a lot of research and experimentation. That’s how we found out. The compensation is better when they’re alive. Now, don’t look away, look closely! It still has a pulse. Isn’t it a miracle? Fufufu, great. This is what I call the pulse of life.”

“You call yourself a human”

“Where does the human soul reside? The brain?　Or is it the heart? Or the human body itself?　I think it’s the heart. My colleague denies it, but I am sure of it. See, look at this wonderful pulse of life. How divine it is! In other words, this heart has someone’s soul in it. Fufu, isn’t that exciting?　I can’t help but feel like I ascended one notch.”

“You’re crazy.”

“What are you, who manipulates corpses for her own selfish desires, saying. Keep your eyes wide open and take a good look! The moment this beat is erased. The moment when the soul returns to nothingness! That’s the moment when life shines brightest!”


The moment Russ was about to clench the heart along with the chant. Edel, who was looking down, looks into Russ’ eyes.

The corpses that had fallen down jump up and cling to Russ, preventing his action.


“Wha, what–“

“Go to hell, you madman! ‘Corpse explosion!'”


The dead narrow their vacant eyes as if they are happy to have a companion on their path. Their mouths part, their tongues slacken down, and they begin to flare up violently.

Edel snaps her fingers and the corpses are blown to shreds .

With a flash of light, hot smoke engulfs the room. The center of the explosion should not remain intact.

Even the unconscious bounty hunters are slammed into the wall in the aftermath.

Edel watches the smoke from the explosion with an exhausted body.

When the smoke clears a short time later, Russ appears as if nothing had happened.


“Dangerous, dangerous. If I hadn’t remembered your habits, I would have instantly died. When you’re scheming, you tend to keep your eyes down. And when you execute the plan, you always make eye contact with your target. Fufu, people don’t change.”


Edel hears that voice with a look of despair. She has no trump cards left.

“………..Ku”


“You don’t have to look so sad. The only reason I prevented it is because I am your teacher. I should have been a crumbling mess. It was really a wonderful spell to catch some off guard. It was a real eye-opener.”


Russ compliments Edel. The living puppets applaud and praise her.


“As a reward, let me show you my new magic. You don’t have to worry about anything, because I will adjust it so that it doesn’t kill you. I can’t make you a ‘puppet’ if you’re dead.”

“Give me strength, o Mark of Fi–“


Edel shows her resistance to the bitter end.

Russ laughed at her and activated his magic.


“It’s too late for that. –the living heart, let the cursed lament echo with you precious heartbeat. With dripping fresh blood, give them a red curse!”

“in fire an–“

“‘blood curse’!”


He crushes the heart. A black miasma is emitted. The blood coagulates and expands from Russ’s palm like a tentacle..

They rush in to capture Edel. Sensing this, Edel jumps back, but is unable to avoid them.

Edel is a sorcerer, and physical strength is not her forte. It’s an ironclad rule to not let your opponent get too close.

Tentacles of blood catch Edel’s limbs and cling to her neck.

Her pink robe turns red and her hat, which represents a sorcerer, falls to the ground.

Finally, she even lets go of her lifeline, her staff. The staff’s role is to assist in the activation of magic. It was indispensable in the current situation, as casting powerful magic would be debilitating.

“—ku, Gaaaaah!”

“I’m going to make you slowly lose your strength. It will get easier after a while. Then I shall take my time playing with your brain. In the hands of my friend, it will be done in no time. The next time we meet, you’ll wake up as my daughter. –Khihhihihi!”


As Russ concentrates his consciousness, Edel’s body is lited into the air.

The blood tentacles gradually strengthen the restrains.


“Gu, aaaaah!”

“Don’t fight it. I don’t want to be harsh with the woman who will be my daughter. I am sure Katarina will be sad, too. That kind-hearted girl would cry if her sister’s body was left scarred.”


Edel still tries to resist. It’s over if she doesn’t, so she desperately resists.

But the tentacles do not budge. Even she grits her teeth and uses all her strength, it doesn’t feel like they can be torn.


“So let’s finally finish it. Red curse, take away the consciousness of this person!”

“No, no…”


Russ’s staff glows mysteriously, and the tentacles become even more powerful.

Just as Edel was about to lose consciousness–.

“Disappear!”


A girl’s voice is heard, and then a bright light envelops the room.

Edel involuntarily covers her eyes and loses sight for a moment. Her restraints are released and she is falls on the stone floor. She almost groans in pain.


“Damn it, what’s going on!”


Edel struggled to open her eyes as she held her hips, Russ, who had been winning a moment ago, was bent over, covering his eyes with his hands.

At the entrance to the large room were two women. One of them had her hands forming a strange sign, and one of her eyes are closed. That face was familiar. She recalls that she is the girl who had defeated Salvadore. And an interesting person with strange healing powers.

The other is a well-built female warrior was holding her shield tight with both eyes closed.


“–Matari, you can open your eyes now. Collect Pinkie over there and anyone else who might be alive. I don’t know who they are, but they’re in the way of our fight. The only thing we have to kill is that green guy. I can smell it from here.”

“Pi, Pinky? Oh, oh, that person!”

“Yeah, the one that look like Pinky. All that pink is making my eyes hurt.”

“Certainly, I’m off then!”


As she replies loudly, the blonde with a ponytail -a woman called Matari- approaches Edel. She grabs her by the neck with a firm grip. Moreover, she also carries a young bounty hunter and another person who is lying nearby. It’s a tremendous amount of physical strength.


“Hey, wait a moment!”

“I’ll hear about it later. I have to carry you now!”


Matari didn’t listen and runs towards the entrance of the room.

Near the altar, Russ, who has finally recovered, calls out to the girl who I walking up to him.


“….Are you the one who interrupted my fun? I’m not sure what you did, but you’re a brave young lady.”


Russ speaks to her politely with a probing look in his eyes.


“I just couldn’t help myself. You are a nuisance to me, acting up in this place. Go do it somewhere else. Maybe in a grave where I can’t see.”

“Well, well, well, this is a foul-mouthed young lady. I think you need to be taught some manners. Let’s beat them into that lovely body of yours.”

“You seem like a piece of shit. I can tell at a glance. You also smell like garbage. I’m getting pissed off just being around you.”


She spat at Russ, but the girl doesn’t hold her sword up.

Her only other armament is the dagger at her waist. Is she aware of the dangers of giving time to a sorcerer


“What a terrible thing to say. I’ve decided to keep you alive and make you into a puppet. I’ll make you into Katarina’s toy while you’re conscious. Kihihi, I’m excited to see the expression on your face. I’m sure your materials will have a beautiful red color.”

“It stinks, so don’t open your mouth.”

“Fufufu, then let’s get started! Get the little girl!”


The living puppets that were waiting around turn their gazes to the girl. The puppets hold swords, axes, and spears in front at the ready.

The scene of the unbroken line is reminiscent of a well-led battle line.

Russ looks at the puppets with satisfaction. At the same time, he chants to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Never let your guard down. It’s an ironclad rule of sorcerers.

Edel who was watching the situation, was thrown down. The two unconscious bounty hunters are at her side. Matari reports to the girl with a loud voice. She was about to run out to rescue the other humans.


“I’ve rescued Pinky! I’ll keep going and get the others.”

“I see, then, that’s enough, just get ready there. Some of them might be headed your way. And if they come, go ahead and kill them.”


The girl didn’t look back and instructed Matari. She drew her sword and took a stance.


“But those people are human, aren’t they?”

“If you’re good enough to go easy on them, fine. But if you’re not, then cut them down. If you get injured, those three will be dead too.”

“Okay, okay!　I’ll do my best!”

I don’t want you anywhere near here. He’s a sorcerer, so it’s not a good match up for you.”

“Yes!”


As Matari holds up her shield, three living puppets that have bypassed the girl approach her. Matari draws her sword in her right hand and prepares herself.

Edel also manages to start filling up on magic power. The two bounty hunters next to her won’t do any good. They are completely unconscious and make no signs of waking up.


“The living puppet is a work of art that I put my heart and soul into. It’s not going to lose to a mere warrior. Don’t take me for a fool.”


Russ slams his staff down, revealing his killing intent.


“Hey, didn’t you hear what I said?'”

“As you get older, you don’t remember things as well as you used to, you know. Well, what was it?”


Russ bared his teeth in a mocking manner as he provoked her.


“–I told you to keep your mouth shut, you piece of shit!!”


The girl shouts furiously and attacks Russ head-on.


“You’re so energetic and wonderful! Now let’s get to the second act of our fun and merry puppet show! Ladies and gentlemen, you can look forward to her pathetic and miserable end!”


A variety of puppets stood in the girl’s path. Russ held out his hands to announce the opening of the cursed puppet show.