The disposable defense barrier given as a reward was thin and transparent like butterfly wings. Despite its appearance that seemed like it would tear apart easily, it looked sturdy and tough, made of a special material like durable vinyl.

“It’s completed through Sienna’s sacrifice. Let’s only use this reward when it’s really urgent.”

I crumpled the defense barrier into my inventory, and Tyrium watched me with considerable interest.

“The Empire’s saint doesn’t just watch from afar but personally takes action. It’s quite different from our country. Our sorcerers are both the king’s troops and weapons.”

Beyond the wrinkled skin, sparkling eyes peeked through.

“…Did Tyrium also do that?”

“No. I refused that obligation. Instead, my son took up the obligation, improved threatening and aggressive magic. Because of that, he ended up being killed in the end.”

It was a heavily burdened story spoken in a voice that seemed to smile faintly.

“…I’m sorry for asking something unnecessary.”
“No, it’s not that. My son, or rather, the guy who was Kirie Waray, a human mentor, was an incredibly unfilial child to me. It’s not a story that will cause harm. It’s more like a shame.”

Tirium’s expression as he spoke was dark and filled with anger. Moreover, he seemed resolute, like a prophet facing a certain fate.

“I have come to find the Duke to atone for the wrongs committed by that lad.”

“…Me?”

Even though Tirium came looking for me, she found me first. If that’s the case, was her entry into the Empire intentional?

In a moment of suspicion, Tirium knelt before me with a bowed back. I ignored the creaking sound coming from the old man’s joints.

Instead, I felt guilty. Kneeling like this in front of an elderly person!

“W-What are you doing? Tirium! Please get up!”

“Duke.”

“Yes.”

“I have been waiting for you. Since the moment my son brought out something terrifying, I’ve been eagerly waiting to meet you.”

Something terrifying. What could that be?

Contextually, it seemed to refer to Kirie Waray, making me swallow hard.

“The only opponent to that is none other than the Duke. You are… not a person belonging to this world, but the chosen one of this world. There is no more suitable warrior than you.”

“How…?”

I wanted to ask how she knew I was a foreigner, but I was too surprised to speak properly.

Looking around, wondering who might have heard, everyone was just resting near the gate, not paying much attention to me. It seemed to be thanks to Zero’s power.

“…If you’re going to bring up such important matters next time, do it in a closed room.”

“Thanks, Zero.”

When I turned my gaze directly to Tirium, she spoke to me alone.

“How I knew is not important. What matters is how you can defeat the one you must eliminate.”

Her words reminded me of something.

“…Does Tirium also think that Kirie won’t remain in the capital Agata?”

“Yes, Duke.”

“In that case, where do you think he might be? I also had suspicions about a certain place.”

We decided to answer simultaneously.

And the answers were, of course…

“Linsted.”

“Linsted.”

After the Waray family was destroyed, Linsted had become a ghost city.

The reason for choosing that place was simple.

“When it comes to alchemy, it won’t offer an ordinary sacrifice.”

After thorough investigation by Sherry and Jacqueline, I learned that among the forbidden sorceries, the one that didn’t hesitate to offer human sacrifices was the technique of completing zombies by pouring in both the body and soul of a person.

Seeing the Waray family, who had all died without resistance, and considering the side effect of souls being devoured when they became zombies, I deduced that the one performing the sorcery inserted both the flesh and the soul of humans to complete the zombies.
“…It seems that what I have in mind might be similar to what the Duke is thinking.”

Tirium chuckled as if she had read my mind. She calmly smiled and shared with me the things I was curious about.

“But it would be difficult to provide concrete evidence as to why he might be in Linsted.”

“…That’s correct.”

It was a kind of intuition. If the sacrifice was offered in Linsted, it made sense not to establish a base there, rather than in Agata.

“Even someone like me wouldn’t want to set foot in Agata, a battlefield.”

So, assuming that the detestable Kirie Waray was hiding in Linsted, I headed towards the White Wood Territory.

I aimed to completely uproot the source of evil.

Was it resonance with such feelings, or did the gods read my heart?

A new quest had been issued.

[Main QuestChase the Traitor of the World 1] [1. Join forces with humans to completely annihilate the remaining zombies in Agata.] [2. Capture Kirie Waray hiding in the hiding place.] [Reward: A divine sword that can kill the undead.]