Ah, look at the color of those eyes~ So pretty~
With a smirk, the Hero, eyeing the minstrel, grabbed her chin.
There was no sense of care in that touch.
It was unlike the man who had thrown himself in to protect her, showing concern for her.
Wait, this isnt the ti for this!
But even such actions would feel frustrating to those who had barely survived.
Soon, the caravan leader, leading the group, urgently started speaking to the guards blocking the way in front of the Hero.
We understand theres a reason that you left the garrison, but we dont have ti to dawdle here! We must hurry and get out of here!
Sorry, but the Hero is currently attending to her duties. We recomnd not leaving until the Hero decides to move.
Are you serious with that!?
Dont you realize where weve just escaped from? The demon army could arrive here at any mont!
Wouldnt it be better to stay by the Heros side for your own safety?
The guards tried to calmly persuade the protesting adventurers.
Faced with their firm stance, the adventurers stiffened, but no one dared to speak out.
Yes, the existence of the Hero was enough to suppress the crisis they felt.
Yeah~ If youre scared for your lives because of the demon army or whatever, just stay by my side~ I need people to attend to various needs on my way back to the empire~
In the tense atmosphere, the Hero, with a sly smile, casually draped her arm over the shoulder of the minstrel beside her.
It wasnt just a mockery.
eting a rchant coming for supplies was a welco encounter for the Hero, especially since they had left in a hurry without proper provisions.
You understand what this ans, right, sis?
If there was also a woman of her taste there, there was even less reason to refuse.
The minstrel, realizing the greedy intentions extending towards her body, started to fix her gaze precisely on the Hero.
Of course, it might be a bit scary at first, but dont worry too much~ Ill make you feel comfortable soon enough
Snap!
Huh?
Take your hands off.
The Heros hand was pushed away by a rough shove.
Even the minstrel herself hadnt realized it.
Before she even thought she should reject her advances, her own had moved first.
Dont touch .
Yes, she felt a shiver.
Unlike the ti she held the hand of the man who ca to mind even now.
She felt a severe repulsion toward the fact that she had to accept the desires of others aid at her.
Wow, look at those fierce eyes~
The Hero was unfazed by her venomous gaze.
Soon, with a sardonic smile, she put strength into her left eye.
So what about it?
Ziiiing.
There was a strange light accompanied by a vibrating sound.
As her body froze in response to the exposure, the Hero started laughing and clapping.
Ahaha~ How is it? Amazing, right? This is called the Petrifying Evil Eye~ Anyone I gaze at with this eye gets frozen in place~
It wasnt a physical petrification.
Rather, it was a power that affected the mind, specifically the unconscious, which one wasnt aware of.
It was a power that could be called absolute authority, applicable to any sentient being, regardless of their strength.
Theres no use resisting, so dont waste your strength. Just stay still. Ill make you feel good from now on~
Of course, she didnt feel troubled.
Even if her physical movents were restrained, it wasnt as if there was no way to kill her.
But
But whats the point?
She still felt a chill from the desire to violate her body, but even that physiological fear seed irrelevant now.
Even if she shook off this detestable vermin, there was no guarantee that the day her mission would be completed would co.
Thus, resisting seed pointless for such aningless matters, and she had lived considering them just part of the journey.
Yes, even leaving the man who tried to save her behind was for that reason
Hyo-sung.
It was just a one-day encounter, as he said.
No matter how much she felt drawn to him, it was odd to think there was sothing special in just a one-day encounter.
You must be dead, right?
Such a hesitation, born of prejudice, led to an irreversible path, and now it has beco regret.
Even though it would be easy for her just to forget and move on as before if it was botherso.
Now, I wont be able to see him again, will I?
Why was her heart
So tumultuously shaken by the fact that she couldnt et him again?
Thud, thump!
Caught in such a sentint, the resignation broke at the sudden thrill.
Imdiately, everyones gaze, including hers, started shifting towards the source of the noise.
Crash!!
Yes, the middle of the forest was turned upside down.
From it, sothing poured out, like scattering among the splintered trees, and fear began to appear on the faces of those who saw it.
What what is this?
What fell among them were dismbered corpses.
They were their comrades stationed at the rear for reconnaissance to protect the group.
Run, everyone, run!!
Following the corpses, the last survivor joined them, bleeding profusely.
Run away from here. Its dangerous! That creature is
Dangerous? Creature? Did the demon army co?
Its not the demons. Its the Furry Tribe, the Furry Tribe!!
Furry Tribe.
A race with the physique of humans but the instincts of animals, a threat to humanity separate from the demon army.
Why would they reveal themselves in an area targeted by the demon army?
Grrrrrrr.
A faint growling sound from the dark forest rendered such questions aningless.
The presence pushing through the trees, coming towards them, overca everyone with an intimidating aura, eventually revealing itself before them.
Its size was so imnse that it could be compared to a house.
A being of origin so different from humans.
Oh, dear. Just when we were about to have a good ti, why did the Furry Tribe have to show up?
As if cooled off by the turn of events, the Hero detached from the minstrel and stared down the ominous shadow with narrowed eyes.
Kill all homosexuals!!!! Uwaaaahhhhh!!!!
The mont that beings hatred erupted.
The survivors, terrified by the display of ferocity, hurriedly turned and began to flee.
Aaaaah! Everyone run!!!
Th-the Hero is dead! She couldnt even fight back!!!
There was no other option but to run.
How could they stand against the beastman, infamous even in the empire and with a bounty on its head, especially when the being that guaranteed their survival had been brutally killed?
Giggle, that crazy bear! Hes lost it and is rampaging again.
But what was more serious was that Phobia wasnt the only one there.
Soon, one by one, beings in the shape of beasts, stirred up by the excited Phobia, began to erge from behind him.
Khihihi! What does it matter!? We ca here to wipe out everyone anyway. If a guy whos lost his motivation starts rampaging, thats good for us!
Tremble in fear, humans! We, the new humanity, have co to conquer these primitive savages!!
In the dark forest, beasts with the instincts of wild animals and bodies surpassing those of humans began to run wild.
The ard adventurers quickly engaged them, but their claws and teeth rcilessly tore through their armor and ravaged their vital spots.
D-damn it!! The demon army was already too much. Why did these beast bastards suddenly show up and go crazy?
R-run! With the Hero dead, how can we face Cough!
In that mont of despair, the body of the fleeing guard was rcilessly sliced apart.
The ones who approached, trampling the dismbered corpse, were beings that could be called monsters, embodying hideous desires.
Oh, look, there are humans here?
It was boring and suffocating behind the barricades, but if they co out like this, were thankful!
The demon army.
The demons aiming to siege the garrison area, upon hearing the turmoil, ca to block their path.
But whats this? There are Furry Tribe mbers here, too?
So what? Just kill them all!
Hahaha! It was boring with just humans, but this is great! Lets have so fun rampaging!!
Their sole purpose was invasion, destruction, and massacre.
This was a concept incompatible with the Anti-Humanity Alliances value of conquering the inferior human race and ruling over them.
How dare these filthy demons target our prey?!
Actually, this is good! We had to prove soday that the demon bastards are below us anyway!
Eat the flesh of those demons! Their blood and flesh will quench our thirst and prove our superiority!
As both sides, driven by different motives, reached the sa conclusion and clashed, the weak humans caught in the ensuing battlefield could only try to suppress their fear and find a way to survive.
Ah, aah. Its all over.
D-dont give up. We can escape while they are fighting each other!
Th-there is a chance. A chance to survive.
The beasts were driven by instinct, and the demons were led by desire.
In the swirling scene where the fear of weak humans gathered, the lone minstrel, standing amidst them all, placed her hand on the lute she held and whispered forlornly.
Really.
Starting to strum the strings, she turned her pumpkin-colored eyes away from the scene.
Then, in the ensuing darkness, she took ti to herself to reflect on the current story.
Such a clich story, really.
The story of heroes, intoxicated with power and victory, blinded by arrogance, thrusting their heads into the jaws of beasts.
The ugly demons, lured by the scent, and humans caught in the resistance against the beasts, dying like trash while yearning for life.
But can this really be called a tragedy?
She aid to sublimate all these stories into one through her performance.
And when even despair mixed with wailing, and sorrow filled with pain, beco stories less than cheap jokes
Its just that you are not the protagonists. For those who are not the main characters, this world is too cruel.
Even though she deed the story unworthy of further attention, she still desired to play her part in this banquet of madness.
Not out of a sense of duty or with any expectation for the future.
Just as she habitually repeated what she always did
Dont worry too much, even if you make a lonely exit from the stage
As she continued to play, uttering words she had repeated countless tis, the desires of all those beings where the sound reached began to bristle.
To ensure that your last monts are not lonely, this humble minstrel will accompany you until the very end.
The aftermath of a fierce festival, fierce enough to stir waves in a river made of blood, seed poised to carry over the forest and far into the distant valleys.
-Ding-a-ling, ding
Yes, the music
At this mont, I could hear faint sounds of music coming from beyond the valley.
It was a timbre I had heard before.
I couldnt rember when, but the familiarity I felt at this mont was enough to awaken my subrged consciousness
Creak, crack!
As my consciousness awoke and my body moved reflexively, I felt my joints creaking and sending signals of discomfort to my brain.
Just one blow.
My body, which had desperately survived so far, was horribly broken by just one punch from a monster that transcended humanity.
If it werent for the armor made by Tachia, it wouldnt have been surprising if I had died right then and there.
Creak, snap.
But even in such a desperate situation, my body was straining to move from where I was.
It happened before I could even think about it.
If I could move even just a little, it couldnt be said that there was no hope.
Yes, just a little bit was enough. Just a little.
Whoong, whoong.
The spear vibrated in the distance and responded to my will.
If I were just given the chance to hold it in my hand once again
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