The imperial investigation unit, which was handling the village situation, carried logs on their shoulders and erected support structures.

“Be careful of falling rocks. If all of you get hurt here, it will only further delay the disaster relief.”

The investigation unit carefully cleared the dirt and moved the casualties to a safe area.

“My child is inside, please tell me whether they’re alive or dead. Please… Oh, no!”

“Sorry. Please move to a safe place as we will examine it in detail.”

The area was a danger zone for falling rocks.

The ground was still unstable. The cliff that collapsed into the village covered the area below.

“When the mercenary band evacuated people to the side, they felt the presence of monsters. Due to the urgent evacuation of civilians caused by the earthquake distorting the ground, further investigation couldn’t be conducted.”

“Their spider nests.”

“It’s been a while since we captured the lair here. It’s hard to find because the core is hidden.”

Spider silk was entangled, creating a web-like pattern between the earth.

“Avoid it!”

The creature spat out fluid, spraying spider silk.

“Darn it! The rescue is getting slower because of the spider silk!”

“If you cut the spider silk wrong, the soil will collapse. Divide into the extermination team and the search team!”

The knights cut the spider silk with their swords. When the creatures reconnected their severed legs with the spider silk, the extermination team cut off their legs again.

“Here’s the monster trap.”

The sense of strangeness approached.
The quick-witted response to that sense of strangeness came from the warhorse. As the black horse rolled its hooves, the knights fixed their grips on the sword handles. The blade cut through the monster’s throat.

Swish!

A deep purple aura filled the air.

With the punitive force of Pofuta joining, Benjamin sheathed his sword. The Emperor, covering his shoulders with a cloak and deeply pulling the hood over, narrowed his black pupils. His gaze became thin, as if tearing.

“It’s a spider nest.”

“Torn apart.”

“The cliff above collapsed. Then, is it because of the collapsed ground?”

“In that case, instead of saying I was torn, I would have said it collapsed. This is torn.”

Someone deliberately tore it apart.

The investigation unit also realized this fact.

“Someone took away the baby spider nests.”

“…If it’s a spider nest, is it the shell of baby monsters?”

“Yes. It’s also called a monster nest. It collapsed while tearing it apart, causing the collapse of the cliff. Also, some monster traps seem intentionally twisted. It seems someone stole the babies.”

“…The number of them.”

“Three were torn apart. Traces were left on the seams of the monster nest where the shell was torn.”

Benjamin turned the handle of the sword into the grip. The fingers collided, making a clicking sound. The calloused inside of his palm clashed, and it grinded.

“Your Majesty.”

Commander Pofuta approached.

“The search for survivors inside is complete.”

It was a small village. Since the internal villagers already knew each other, a large number of personnel were deployed, and the search operation was completed.

A child crawled out from under the logs.

The child brushed off the dirt and cried.

“Mom!”

Long hair covered the sight.

The child’s footsteps somehow felt like they thudded heavily on the ground.

The guards cheered as they collected all the monster traps.

“All the spider nests have been removed.”

“We also identified and dismantled the sand graves. After that, relief efforts will be left to the guards, and the ground work will be finished by the afternoon.”

As the day brightened, merchants opened their shops. Passersby on the street gradually increased. Broken bricks would be replaced, and the ground would be leveled with the help of hired labor.

“Is it true that there are no more spider nests?”

“Except for two, there were none.”

Sharlof looked down at the old man lying on the ground.

The old man lost one arm.

A body tainted by dark magic was different from an ordinary human. The old man smashed his arm and tied the guard’s foot.

“You! Even if you tear my body apart, a new arm will keep growing!”

Only after losing both arms did the old man collapse to the ground.

His body stiffened, movement became awkward, and his irises were transparent, appearing alien.

“In the past, followers of dark magic gods said they would elevate my body as an offering to recite their spells.”

“Ah, you’re a soul standing close to death.”

The whites of his eyes became thin. Reciting spells while offering his body continuously, his eyes were also one of the offerings.

“Why didn’t I know?”

Why did I not know any of those around me?

The threads of past lives slowly intertwined.
The connection between past and present intertwined. Their fate also connected.

“Why, death, the scent of soil… strange. To lose one’s eyes and not recognize, who are you? Where did we meet?”

The old man lay flat on the ground.

“Gold hasn’t been involved this deeply before. Is this the extent?”

The old man bit the staff, bending at the waist.

The connection from the past life was very different from this life.

What is this strangeness?

“To fasten a blade to this old man’s neck, is it a command to die on an iron stake?”

“That would be a more elegant way for you to die.”

The blade of the royal guard emanated vitality.

Unlike the ominous aura of black magic, the blade was rough and fierce with the knight’s determination. The vitality was honest. Since the punitive force killed monsters, not humans, there was no need for deception.

“Haden Cricor, is it really you?”

“You know this old man’s name. I didn’t expect this name to be remembered in this era. I’m pleased that someone remembers when this old man is about to die.”

“…”

“A name not recorded anywhere.”

Sharlof spotted the old man across the alley.

“He’s a person, but there’s no aura typical of a person.”

Perhaps, this is why the sense of strangeness was strong.

“How did you know the name?”

“Wasn’t it in the intelligence report?”

“There is a record.”

“…I happened to see the report next to Your Majesty.”

There was no occasion where I saw the report.

He, who hated the fact of his involvement, wouldn’t show me such a report.

However, I remember that name.

The old man gritted his teeth.

“The limits of gold end here.”

Is it soil?

Is it wood?

It was like a hard piece of wood.

“Ggh! Kkuick!”

The old man approached death, and his skin lost its color and withered.

Thud.

The old man recited the black magic spell, offering his body to detonate the entire Hwangseong area.

“Get away from the body!”

A loud explosion erupted. Hazy smoke rose, and heat quickly enveloped.

That was it. The hard chest touched the arm.

“Are you okay?”

“…”

“…Sharl. Sharlof?”

Strength drained from his body.

It became somewhat vague.

His vision gradually reddened.

Like submerging in a distant lake. Even more. Continuously downward.

The body crumbled.

It felt like sinking into the water.