Ankoku Kishi Monogatari ~Yuusha wo Taosu Tameni Maou ni Shoukansaremashita~-Chapter 26.2: Dark Fog

… … …

Though not to the degree of Nao’s far sight, I can see faraway places by using this magic.

「That gate isn’t destroyed!」

I saw the invading zombies coming from the south main gate.

「The situation is… rather dangerous」

I return to our mansion immediately.

=== === ===

◆ Freedom Fighter of the Rox Kingdom, Gallios

「What’s the matter, Kuro? 」

Walking beside me, Kuro suddenly stands still.

We were on the way to my home after we parted with Rember who left to the royal castle to report the results of our investigation.

When I gaze at Kuro, he’s looking at a certain direction. Kuro’s current state of mind was strange.

But then, this is the first time I saw him in this kind of state since the first time I met him.

I recall the first time I encountered him.

It was when I, unable to move my legs, was crawling my way to return home in the middle of the pitch-black darkness of the forest.

「Are you okay?」

When I twisted around to the direction of the voice, a youth was standing there. That was the moment I met Kuro for the first time.

Though I failed to notice him till he spoke, once I noticed him, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

I was even more surprised when he carried me on his back with a frame far slender than mine.

Maybe Kuro isn’t a human. And he is an extremely powerful person on top of that.

Even in the tower a while ago, the only one who advanced without a hitch amongst us was Kuro.

I wonder why he’s pretending to be a human.

I just couldn’t ignore this youth. Thus, I invited him to my house.

And then as a result of my observation, I couldn’t think of him as a bad person.

「Gallios….」

Kuro is calling my name. Though he seemed a bit distant at first, calling me with “-dono” all the time, now we were close enough for him to call my name without any formality.

「Maybe we have to call all the freedom fighters that just parted ways with us a while ago…. I have an eerie premonition」

Kuro is saying so with a flustered voice.

I wanted to ask Why do you think so? at that moment.

「I can’t tell you about the details, but it seems something bad is going to take place…. Please believe me….」

Kuro is saying so as if preparing for something.

His eyes were serious. I have just known him for a while, but I don’t think Kuro is the kind of person who will spout that kind of a joke.

「Understood」

I decided to trust Kuro.

Kuro can see something that can’t be seen by us. Something big might be happening soon.

「Thank you, Gallios」

Kuro expresses his gratitude.

「Me too!!!」

I turn around to call back the freedom fighters who just parted ways with us.

=== === ===

◆ Citizens of the Rox Kingdom

「ZOMBIEEE!」

「WHO! JUST WHO LEFT THE GATE OPEN!?」

「SOMEONE SAVE ME!! 」

The surrounding people descend into panic.

The sun has set, and the day just turned into night. The zombies pouring out from the gate are rushing toward the citizens.

「WHAT IN THE HELL ARE THOSE GATEKEEPERS DOING RIGHT NOW?」

The gatekeepers are the one responsible for closing the gate when demons approach the city.

Those gatekeepers aren’t doing their duty.

「INFORM PALACE GUARDS AND KNIGHT-SAMA RIGHT AWAY! ! ! 」

The slowly moving zombies are only at the plaza near the gate. But they’re large in number and will be a huge trouble if left alone.

At that time, a squall occurred at the plaza.

「What is….」

When they look again, the zombies are no longer at the plaza.

They’re replaced by a girl with wings growing from her back.

「ANGEL-SAMA!」

「ANGEL-SAMA HAS COME TO SAVE US!」

The people start shouting almost at the same time.

「LEAVE THIS PLACE TO ME AND GO FIND A SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!」

The girl smiled when she turned around.

=== === ===

◆ Black Haired Sage, Chiyuki

「It seems we made it in time, huh」

Shirone is restraining the zombies packed around the gate.

And then, I look toward the north. The Rox Kingdom has a back gate in the north direction, in addition to the main gate in the south. Maybe that place is also in a similar situation. That’s why Kaya and Kyouka have been dispatched to that place.

Rino and Sahoko are traveling around the city – treating the wounded.

As for Nao, she’s on her way to capturing the disguised demon who might be the culprit of this zombie outbreak.

As for me, I’m on standby to give aid in case something unexpected happened anywhere.

After that, we swept away the zombies in one go by using Reiji’s sunlight magic.

「Everything is smooth-sailing so far, but…」

I mutter so.

What caused all of this?

Could it be that our surveillance has been exposed?

Is it because of a blunder from Lucullus and his team?

I think the demon decided to take action since our movements have been exposed.

Maybe it was for the best to eliminate her as fast as possible. I’m starting to regret my decision.

Maybe she’s no longer in her place. It’ll be good if she’s found right away.

「Sorry to make you wait, Chiyuki」

Someone calls my name from behind.

「No, it can be considered rather fast in your case」

I cast a glance at Reiji while replying to him.

I don’t know when he will come since Reiji moves at his own pace. Sometimes, he’s too slow.

Even though I said those words with a tinge of sarcasm, Reiji is as nonchalant as ever.

「Well, what shall I do then?」

Reiji’s hand starts to shine brightly.

Thereupon, I, who’s close to him, have a hard time seeing my surroundings.

Reiji tosses that shining light high into the sky.

That sphere of light is shining in the night sky like a sun ascending from its eastern throne for the second time.

It’s sunlight magic at maximum power. It’s a Reiji’s unique spell since he possesses light attribute.

That sunlight is shining upon the entire Rox Kingdom. With this, the zombies might be swept away in one go.

I gaze at the scene below me.

「Eh, no… way」

The kingdom is wrapped in something that resembles black fog.

I just noticed that due to the brightness of the sunlight magic.

「That’s night robe」

As Reiji mentioned, the thing that resembles a thick black fog is night robe, a magic that can protect the user from sunlight magic. But, this is the first time I’m experiencing a night robe that can cover the entire kingdom.

With this, Reiji’s maximum sunlight magic won’t be able to reach the zombies.

「Using such large-scale magic…. Is the culprit really just a mere member of the Striges? 」

I couldn’t think that the culprit is the same Striges whom we fought in the past. Maybe the culprit is an even more powerful demon.

If that was the case, then Nao is in danger. Maybe I have to go to save her immediately.

「Reiji-kun. I’ll go to save Na-….」

I’m saying so while looking at Reiji. However, Reiji is looking toward the royal palace.

His look is strange.

「Reiji-kun?」

「Chiyuki!」

Suddenly, Reiji shouts toward me.

「What’s the matter, Reiji-kun?」

「I’m going to save Almina! I’ll leave the aftermath to you」

「Wait a minute, REIJI-KUN!」

Reiji has already vanished without me managing to stop him in time. It’s movement tracking magic. Maybe he went to Almina’s side.

「Geez…. Acting at your convenience….」

I complain to the vacant space where Reiji was a moment ago. What do you think about our side?

I noticed that his treatment toward us is a bit sloppy after we came to this world.

Though I want him to listen to the complaints of mine in the royal palace, I didn’t have the time to do that. I have to go to Nao’s location right away.

Nao’s offensive ability is low in exchange for her high evasion rate. That’s why she’ll be put through a hard battle.

Though it wasn’t that much of a threat if the demon caught in her search before is a Striges, it will be a different story if it’s a stronger demon. I have to hurry.

Thus, I scour for Nao’s position with magic.

=== === ===

◆ Rox Kingdom’s Knight, Rember

Clanking sounds are heard when my sword meets with another sword.

「No way…. Lord Lucullus. Why…?」