The stronger the monster, the more it can prey on others, so the monsters in this area were either very strong or weak.

Gradually, higherlevel monsters appeared and as Lucia drew up red energy and ran with her sword,

“Let go, let me go!! Please!”

A desperate and sharp cry from a child was heard nearby.

As Lucia rushed there, she hid her body in a situation different from what she had imagined.

Through a space filled with the torn bodies of monsters, she saw the appearance of children caught by people in black robes, who looked rather human.

Holding onto Len, who was still energetic, was one thing, but the smaller Pin, who couldn’t even feel the meaning of being caught, was lamenting pitifully at their feet.

‘Be careful. It seems we’re not the only ones looking for that decision.’

General Helbert’s words came to mind.

So, the suspicious people surrounding the mound containing that decision seemed to be those whom Helbert warned about.

Let’s watch a little more. Among the people in black robes, a person dressed in a white robe from head to toe carefully excavated the mound.

And finally, something sparkled in the moonlight.

A smooth stone shining like obsidian holding poison.

A black crystal, much larger than what was contained in the holy water.

But did they not know that without containing it in the holy water, it would vaporize?

The person in the white robe rashly reached out to touch the crystal.

‘We will fail the mission if this continues.’

She ruthlessly created a small red blade and thrust it towards the white robe, intending to just disable their hand.

Then,

“Ugh!”

The one in the white robe groaned, and the people in black robes hastily put up a defense barrier.

They seemed to be magicians.

But when the defense barrier broke with another thrust of her sword, it seemed they were the ones who were taken aback.

“Let go of this! Pin! Come here!”

“Whaaa! Hungah……!!!”

Len, who had been struggling, recognized Lucia and grabbed his younger sibling, starting to run.

Lucia also stood, surrounding the children.

As she stood before the children, her face was revealed in the moonlight.

“……Lucia?”

The one in the white robe who was mumbling her name began to hastily cover their face.

And the blackrobed magicians also began to layer defense barriers as if preparing for anything.

‘Again with the defense barrier?’

As they hastily spread the defense, the person in the white robe brought their hand close to the crystal, absorbing the gas in a manner that looked like absorption.

“……!”

What on earth is happening here?

If you absorb the energy of death into a human body, you might become like the surrounding trees, turned to black charcoal.

But the person in the white robe accepted that power, enduring the pain even as their hand turned pitch black with the energy of death.

Who is this author, and why are they doing this?

Lucia, who had decided to break through the defense first, began to ruthlessly thrust dozens of sword lights.

It looked as if an angry heaven was delivering punishment, and the tremendous noise began to press the defense.

“It’s impossible! This is Lady Inua’s power, how……!”
His face was not visible, but the sound of a cry from someone in a white robe, as if surprised, was heard, and the solid defensive barrier began to crack immediately.

Then it happened.

“Sisis! Help me! Finn!”

“Aaahh!! Heongah!!!!!”

The 3yearold child, frightened by the loud noise, was trying to run away but was caught by the monsters that had followed Lucia.

“……!”

I must save the child.

Although she knew it in her head, Lucia did not stop dispelling the defensive barrier.

A knight’s duty comes first.

If the children had been her priority, she would have saved them without hesitation.

But she didn’t, as if it were a matter of course.

She nearly made the same regret again, like participating in the saint’s sacrifice that she would have found suspicious if she had looked a little closer, out of habit.

A mechanical loyalty etched into her body through a long war and life as a knight.

If she attacked the defensive barrier a little more, she could stop it before it was absorbed, and she would know both the black crystal, her mission, and its identity.

Then, all her duties would be accomplished, and her work as an honorable knight of the empire would be over, a thought that is not easy to overcome even after decades.

But then,

“Mommy!!!”

The pouring red sword energy disappeared, and the black monster’s arms and neck, which were trying to twist the child, fell to the floor and rolled.

Somehow, Finn, who had lost consciousness, was in Lucia’s arms.

A miraculous word blew her hesitation away in one blow.

But of course, if you have something, you lose something.

The crystal that had almost been absorbed by the one in the white robe.

Soon, Lucia handed the unconscious Finn to Ren and drew up the red energy again to break through the defensive barrier.

But attacking both the monster rushing toward the children and the defensive barrier was not easy.

Just then,

“Lucia! Don’t worry about this side!”

It was Leon, who had run to the sound.

When he floated dozens of small fireballs and attacked the monsters, Lucia finally entrusted the children to him and rushed toward them.

The power of the Grand Sword Master was great.

With no one to protect, the black wizards were being slashed terribly in just a few seconds.

But strangely, no scream was heard.

He had only inflicted minor injuries to find out their identities, yet not a single small moan was heard.

When Lucia looked around, she saw the sight of black robes all falling to the ground, and ashes scattering.

“……What is this…….”

While she was confused by the sight she had never seen before, the person in the white robe disappeared with a flash of light.

Thanks to that, the unabsorbed crystal was left, and the mission was completed, but she felt a sense of disappointment as she did not find out its identity.

Leon, who approached her, looked at the floor.

“This is……, black magic.”

“Black magic is…….”

“Yes. A magic that disappeared a thousand years ago and was no longer found. But these are definitely liches. Cursed wizards.”

Wizards who foolishly became immortal beings by dabbling in black magic to live forever, but forgot themselves in return.

A night where unique black ash flies.

The two headed silently to the inn with the children, each thinking different thoughts.