Kiara quickly continued.

“It’s a small mole-shaped monster, but the number is constantly increasing to the point where it’s impossible to estimate. We’re trying to figure out where and how they infiltrated.”

“Is it possible to pinpoint the location of the monsters?”

“We’ve received sightings from all over the castle. Currently, they are all heading towards Kronen Palace. Fortunately, there are reports that they are not showing aggression.”

“…Understood. I’ll go to Kronen Palace myself. Contact the researchers in the infirmary right away as well.”

“As you command.”

The communication ended. Aspeiran turned to Canis.

“You heard the situation. Go and deal with the monsters that haven’t joined the group yet, along with the knights.”

“As you command.”

Canis, who placed his right fist on his left chest and bowed in a knight’s salute, immediately ran to the training ground.

Aspeiran gritted his teeth and fixed his gaze on the roof of Kronen Palace, visible in the distance.

According to reports, Shuria was scheduled to visit Kronen Palace this afternoon for her appointment with Rumel.

‘Is she still there?’

If so, he hoped she was safe.

Bad premonitions are never wrong, and no matter how earnest a prayer is, it rarely reaches the gods.

This time was no exception.

So, in this current situation where Shuria, whom he had desperately hoped would be safe, is sitting on top of a hill made up of piled monsters, let alone being safe.

“L-Lord.”

“……”

Until he moved near Kronen Palace to exterminate the monsters, he never dreamed he would face such a scene.

A momentary headache rushed in, but Aspeiran quickly gathered his senses.

Shuria was clearly terrified and surrounded by monsters. Then there was only one thing to do.

Rescue Shuria.

Aspeiran lightly drew up mana.

He was an outstanding magician, and mana always obeyed his gestures. Magic had never declared failure to him.

Until this very moment.

Aspeiran’s deep blue eyes were stained with bewilderment.

The mana that had been extended to protect Shuria and bring her to his side disappeared without a trace as soon as it reached near the mole tower.

Aspeiran composed himself and drew out mana again. However, the cast magic repeatedly failed to reach Shuria.

Aspeiran’s thick eyebrows frowned unpleasantly.

“Those monsters have magic nullification abilities, Lord.”

It was then that a calm and clear voice pierced Aspeiran’s ears.

Aspeiran turned around. Researchers from the Veltraum Institute were staggering towards him.

And at the center was Kiri, who rarely had eyes that were fully awake.

Kiri took a step forward and continued her explanation.

“The name of those monsters is ‘Blind Mole’, and they are monsters that live underground all their lives. They have no offensive abilities at all, but instead have the ability to nullify magic.”

“Why are monsters that live underground here?”

“When in larval form, Blind Moles are smaller than a baby’s fingernail. They cling to tree roots, sucking out nutrients and growing. Their reproduction rate is also fast. I think maybe…”

Kiri glanced at Sek, who was constantly coughing.

“They must have come attached to one of the trees collected by that plant-crazed human. I don’t know how they ended up above ground, though.”

“My cuties had such scary things attached to them!”

Sek staggered exaggeratedly, trying to collapse towards Prom. Prom pushed him away mercilessly.

Whether the researchers were fooling around or not, Aspeiran looked up at Shuria with concern in his eyes.

The Blind Moles that formed a small hill were constantly wriggling. The ones at the bottom struggle to go up, and the ones at the top struggle not to be pushed down.

Shuria’s face was gradually turning pale. Unable to suppress his rising impatience, Aspeiran spat out a meaningless question.

“Shuria, are you alright?”

“I-I’m fine. I’m in my right mind. Although from below, they keep wriggling, wriggling, wriggling, wriggling… Ahh, don’t come up!”

The words she blurted out without even breathing ended with a scream at the mole trying to climb up her body.

Veins were clearly visible on Aspeiran’s tightly clenched fist. Aspeiran asked Kiri.

“Then what about aura? Does aura work on them?”

“It does work, but if you cut a Blind Mole, it splits into two. You have to turn them into powder all at once.”

“Damn rat bastards.”

Drawing out enough power to turn them into powder at once wasn’t difficult, but doing so would also kill Shuria.

Aspeiran pondered for a moment, then shouted to Shuria.

“Shuria, can you come down from there yourself?”

“I tried, but I can’t. They keep moving and blocking me from coming down!”

“How did you even end up like that in the first place?”

“Well, I saw something strange outside the window, so I came out to check what it was… Our eyes met by chance, and suddenly they rushed at me, and this happened…”

Aspeiran roughly ran his hand through his hair. But now was not the time to scold Shuria for her carelessness. He quickly racked his brain.

Going directly to get Shuria would only heighten the Blind Moles’ vigilance.

If the frightened ones scatter, monsters will spread throughout the castle.

Aspeiran turned his gaze to Kiri.

“What do you think is the best way to deal with Blind Moles?”

“Burning them with fire. Real fire, not magically created fire. Strangely enough, normal fire works on them.”

“……”

“You have to do it all at once when they are gathered like this. It’ll be a headache if they scatter.”

“But if that happens…”

“Miss Shuria will get hurt too. But there’s no other good way.”

Kiri looked at him as if asking what he would do.

Kiri was a researcher in charge of writing Veltraum-related books, and her brain was like a Veltraum encyclopedia.

If she says this is the only way to deal with the monsters, it really is the only way.

However.

Aspeiran narrowed his eyes. He was a man who had risen to this position by finding answers even in the midst of impossibility.

Even now, he could see a way to safely rescue Shuria while exterminating the monsters at the same time.

It was just very cumbersome and had a low success rate.

While lost in thought, Titira cautiously intervened.

“T-There seems to be another way, Lord. I’m not certain, but…”

“Speak.”

“I-If you look over there… The Blind Moles seem to be obeying Miss Shuria’s orders…”

Just then, a few Blind Moles were trying to crawl up Shuria’s legs. Shuria screamed again, “Ahhh! Don’t come up!”

Then the Blind Moles slid down. At a glance, it seemed like they rolled down because Shuria shook her body violently.

But Aspeiran clearly saw it. The scene of Blind Moles crawling down on their own at Shuria’s scream.

If Shuria’s orders were really getting through to the Blind Moles…

This was worth a try.

Aspeiran quickly drew two communication magic circles.

“Canis, Kiara.”

“Yes, Lord!”

“Yes.”

“Send a large box, oil, and firewood to the Kronen Palace garden. And mobilize magicians and knights to set up a formation around the garden.”

“Is it for dealing with the monsters?”

“Yes. They are troublesome ones that use magic nullification. And they have Shuria as a hostage.”

“Oh no!”

“Canis, come and command them yourself. Use snow to create a dense defense wall around the garden, and have the knights stand by inside and outside, ready to deal with any approaching monsters. Keep in mind that if you don’t turn them into powder in one shot, they regenerate.”

Shortly after the communication ended, a few knights came running with boxes, oil, and firewood.

Following Aspeiran’s directions, the knights stacked the firewood and placed the boxes on top. Then they stood by with lit torches and oil.

With this, the preparations were complete. All that remained was Shuria’s cooperation.

Aspeiran called out to Shuria.

“Shuria, calm down and listen carefully to what I say now.”

“Eek, yes?”

“Order the moles to go inside that box.”

“What?!”

“Trust me and try it.”

Shuria’s face, which had been distorted by fear, became dazed for a moment. Suddenly ordering them, as if they would listen to me?

However, Aspeiran’s eyes meeting hers were endlessly calm and serious. So, Shuria decided to believe the words of her beloved lord and bias.

Shuria opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

“G-Go inside that box.”

“……”

A courageous attempt. But nothing happened. The Blind Moles just kept wriggling and supporting Shuria.

Shuria didn’t give up and spoke again. More firmly than the first time.

“Go inside that box!”

“……”

But again, no response. They really don’t seem to understand…?

At that moment, a Blind Mole crawled up next to Shuria’s waist and sniffed. A damp, sticky, pointed nose……

F*cking sh*t.

“Ahhh! Go into that box right nowww―!”

Shuria jumped up on the spot and screamed at the top of her lungs. At the same time, her body sank down.

It was literally in an instant. An enormous number of Blind Moles simultaneously collapsed the tower and started rapidly crawling into the box.

Thump thump thump thump― The ground shook as if they were at a racetrack.

Everyone was dumbfounded by the unbelievable sight. In the meantime, Aspeiran quickly ran out and reached out his hand towards the air.

Shuria, who was falling defenseless, landed in his arms as if being sucked in. Aspeiran, embracing Shuria deep in his arms, shouted.

“Close the box and set it on fire!”

The last one entered the box. The knights, who finally came to their senses, quickly closed the lid, poured oil, and set it on fire.

For a moment, there was a sound of scratching the box. Then it soon became quiet.

The breath Shuria had been holding burst out at once from her mouth in Aspeiran’s arms. She grabbed Aspeiran’s collar and panted roughly.

Aspeiran held Shuria tightly without a single gap and whispered in her ear.

“It’s okay. It’s all over. It’s okay…”

Let’s go back now, eat lots of delicious things and rest comfortably. I’ll be by your side…

Even as he said that, Aspeiran couldn’t let down his guard of the surroundings.

Why? Even though Shuria was safely in his arms like this, it felt like the incident wasn’t over yet…

At that moment, the snow wall surrounding the garden disappeared. Beyond it stood familiar faces and unfamiliar faces gathered together.

Aspeiran realized they were the lords who had come to attend the summer banquet and their entourages.

One of the people gathered spoke in a trembling voice.

“Just now, did the monsters obey that woman’s orders…?”

Although a snow wall was erected, it couldn’t block the sounds leaking out.

And the sounds alone were enough to grasp the situation unfolding in the garden.

The small murmur soon turned into screams.

“The d-dethroned king has returned! That woman must be the reincarnation of the dethroned king!”

“Damn bitch! How dare she, in this place!”

“What are you doing? Hurry and catch her, kill her!”

Again, bad premonitions are never wrong, and gods cannot look after everyone.

The worst vacation was just beginning.