“...What an unpleasant night.”

Talion Armand muttered as such while narrowing his eyes.

This was supposed to be the time to celebrate the birth of a new Hero and he should’ve toasted to his heart's content with Iliya, considering that he had come here to cheer for her.

But, since last night, they had been idling away without announcing the winner of the Ordeals. Of course, Talion didn’t know what happened exactly.

And now…

Somehow, everyone had turned mad and started attacking each other.

Retrieving his spear, he took a deep breath.

Around him were rows of people he had knocked down prior to this.

All of them were ordinary people who weren't trained in Magic, Divine Power—anything at all.

They seemed to have lost control of themselves and began to display extreme violence, as if they had been brainwashed.

As for the reason, he guessed that it was because of that.

He turned his gaze to see a column of fire soaring magnificently towards the sky. Its heat wave had even reached the place where he was at, even though it was quite the distance away.

A sight that all of the Imperial Citizens couldn’t help but recognize.

The Crimson Night Incident.

The worst disaster that turned several cities into ashes in a single night.

The exact same incident as back then was happening right now.

…So many people just straight up lost their mind just by looking at it. Crazy.

“...You’ve got some amazing skills, huh?”

Suddenly, someone called out from behind him. He turned his head while resting the spear on his shoulder.

Warrior Luca, Mage Falco, Archer Grid, and Priest Trisha.

They were familiar faces. Iliya’s friends, the ones who were called the ‘Hero Party’ back in the town.

“Did you overpower this many people by yourself?”

“...You admitted it so coolly.”

Falco raised his glasses before looking around dumbfoundedly.

There were at least dozens of people scattered around here.

Even though they were ordinary people who hadn’t trained in any kind of special abilities, they were still in a state of madness due to the thick Demonic Aura in the air.

Their physical abilities should’ve been amplified several times than normal, but he was still able to overpower so many of them?

“...Well, I’ve gone through more absurd things than this. Too many of them at this point.”

Talion replied with a bitter smile.

In hindsight, he really had gone through all sorts of things while hanging around that man. From Demonic Humans to Ancient Gods.

That was why, even though the Crimson Night Incident happened for the second time, it felt natural for him to think of how to deal with it rather than panicking.

“Anyway, we’ve found a way to deal with this thanks to you. We’d like to express our gratitude.”

“You found a way? What did you mean?”

Hearing what Warrior Luca said, Talion tilted his head.

“The way to resist the Demonic Aura. You know, the thing that you’re wrapping around you right now.”

“...”

Yes, Dowd did tell him that ‘there would be a day to use it someday’.

Still, for them to copy it and utilize it the moment they see it?

“...You guys aren’t ordinary monsters either, huh?”

Now he knew why Dowd and Iliya had their eyes on these guys.

Though they didn’t possess amazing power or anything, their potential was absurd enough for even Dowd to watch them carefully.

But, still…

“Uh, I don’t know about being called that…”

Falco’s gaze turned to the thing that was far away from them.

To be exact, towards the place where the ‘Dimension Gates’ were opened thanks to the Demonic Aura.

Even from this distance, it was clear that it was the place with the thickest Demonic Aura and they could see those ominous life forms—they didn’t know what those guys’ identities were—kept pouring out of the Gates.

“...That term suited them more than us, don’t you think?”

Also…

They could see a few people leisurely blocking such beings, which numbers were comparable to an army.

Actually, calling it blocking wasn’t entirely accurate. Talion wasn’t sure if it was even the right way to put it.

In fact, he almost pitied those beings when he saw them get crushed into powders as soon as they came out of those Gates.

“What the hell are those guys? Are they really students like us?”

“...Yes and no, I guess.”

“Hm?”

“Like, they’re definitely students, but whether they could be considered humans or not, I don’t know…”

“...”

Hm.

That was a little harsh of an evaluation, but seeing the unfolding scene, anyone should be able to understand.

…There are only people like that around Senior Brother.

Also, once again he realized that he wouldn’t last a single month if he was in Dowd’s position.

All those people clung to him alone. When considering that, how many people could bear such a burden?

“Still, things had calmed down to some extent thanks to them at least, no?”

It was Grid, who always wore sleepy eyes, who said those words.

“...Grid. Please stop saying such ominous words, I beg you.”

“I mean, just feel it. The Demonic Aura is decreasing—”

-!!

-!!!!!

“...”

“...”

Before Grid could even finish his words, the column of fire grew bigger, as if it was letting out an ear-splitting scream.

Everyone narrowed their eyes as they glared at Grid.

“...What did I tell you?”

Falco said while gripping his head.

In the meantime, the red column was expanding its force even more fiercely. The Demonic Aura that was pouring out an extremely red color, just like blood, covered the whole sky.

Seeing that, Talion unknowingly let out a voice that resembled a groan.

“...Oh my God.”

A mysterious and terrifying aura, filled with curses, was steaming out there—it made the Demonic Aura they had been dealing with so far felt like a child play.

And the night…

Was gradually turning blood red…

It was as if this was just the beginning.

●

“244 of them.”

“...Really?”

“Yeah.”

Seras and Riru exchanged such a conversation with their backs facing each other.

The atmosphere around them made them look like they got along well after all this time, but it wasn’t actually the case.

Rather than them actually getting along, it was more like they were forced to act that way since the number of ‘enemies’ approaching around them had become overwhelming to them.

“...I’m asking this again as a confirmation.”

Riru said while stroking down her shoulders, which were starting to throb.

She couldn’t even tell how many of those beings she had destroyed. While she had trained her body to an extreme level, she’d still become exhausted if she were to fight for so long.

Her exhaustion must have influenced her to have the friendly conversation she had with this woman, who she beat each other with a while ago, putting half their lives on the line.

After all, you would have a mixture of both bad and good feelings for each other when you fought with someone.

“You’re saying that the number of Dimension Gates that ‘have just been created’ is 244, right? Not the number of monsters coming out of those Gates?”

“Yes, you muscle-headed bitch.”

“...”

Correction.

She felt like she would not get along well with this woman until the end.

“Why can’t we just crush these things and leave?”

Riru asked while shaking off the black scraps of flesh that were on her hands.

The sticky feeling didn’t feel very pleasant to her. Those life forms of the Pandemonium didn’t die easily and it was hard to hurt them. They would barely stop moving after she completely beat them to pulp.

Of course, she would have been able to grind them all to dust if she were to use all the aura of the ‘blue thing’ inside her body.

But, a certain someone always precisely stopped not only her, but everyone here, whenever they were about to let out the colored aura from their bodies.

“Seriously, this is slowly becoming too much even for me! I’ve been following your orders even though we're a ragtag group of people, but I can’t keep enduring it like this!”

Facing Riru, who was confronting her as if she was screaming, Eleanor quietly swept her hair while letting out a sigh.

Then she said in a quiet voice.

“...You.”

There was a sharp glare on Eleanor's eyes. Her red eyes shone terrifyingly.

“Did you put on makeup?”

“...What?”

“I asked, did you put on makeup? Your face looks brighter than usual.”

“...”

That question did not fit the occasion at all.

However, after she heard that, Riru started blushing furiously.

It seemed like Eleanor had hit the nail on the head.

“W-What does that have anything to do with—!”

“...Wait, you really put on makeup?”

Even Seras turned to look at her in bewilderment upon hearing Eleanor’s question.

“Really? For real? The Warrior of the Tribal Alliance? In a fight?”

“...”

“Are you crazy…?”

Oh God.

It was hard for her to believe that a female warrior of the Tribal Alliance would enter a battle after cutely putting on makeup on her face.

After all, those people regarded that fighting was almost as sacred as a religious ritual.

This was like her basically saying that instead of the battle, she was more interested in ‘something else’ from the very start.

“The answer is clear from the excitement you express throughout your whole body. Just say it straight that you didn’t come here to fight, but to do things with Dowd tonight as soon as you receive the First Night Ticket.”

“...”

Riru’s body started to tremble as she pursed her lips.

Seeing how she was blushing up to her ears and her eyes were filled with tears due to the shame as they wandered around, it was clear that she couldn’t deny those words.

“Also, just be honest. You didn’t say all those things because you’re feeling overwhelmed, rather, it’s because you want to be in the lead.”

“...”

“Were you thinking that you are carrying some sort of secret weapon? Incredible.”

“...”

“Also, in the first place…”

Eleanor continued with a sigh.

“This is not really a battlefield for us.”

“...”

“That Ghost had told me something before. Using this…’Authority’ too many times around here would be dangerous, and that man wouldn’t be happy if we were to do so.”

Hearing that, Seras, who was listening quietly, sighed while sweeping her hair.

“...Even if our lives would be in danger if we don’t use it?”

“Of course.”

“...”

Seras bit her tongue, looking sick of it upon hearing the answer that Eleanor gave her without any hesitation.

Her blind ‘possession’ of this man was so great it was terrifying.

To the point that she sometimes thought it didn’t make any sense.

…Well, not that I can say anything since I also went out of my way to come here.

The feeling she harbored towards that man wasn't exactly a positive one.

But, at the very least, she’d feel uncomfortable if another woman were to take the ‘First Night Ticket’ or something else away from him—

“Speaking of, you’re also wearing quite the impressive underwear.”

“...”

“Frills, laces, and hmm… It’s too embarrassing to put the details of the design into words.”

“...”

“In any case, you are not in the position to berate the Tribal Chieftain’s daughter. What kind of cunning thought did you possess to wear such underwear out here on the battlefield?”

With that, Seras also went silent.

Her face instantly turned red.

“...”

I got caught.

She thought so while stammering her words out.

“A-Aren’t you the same as us?! T-There’s no way you came here purely to help Dowd…!”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“...”

“I did my makeup perfectly and wore lingerie. I move as simply as possible when I deal with the enemies so it does not ruin all my effort into dressing up.”

“...”

“If I may speak honestly, I came here with the intention to suck out his everything from the start.”

“...”

What a crazy bitch.

No, wouldn’t calling her crazy pervert suit her better instead?

Seras and Riru looked at Eleanor dumbfoundedly at the same time.

Meanwhile, however…

Please finish it as quickly as possible, Dowd.

Eleanor muttered as she adjusted her grip on the sword.

We won’t be able to hold on for that long.

Though they seem to be able to talk leisurely now…

The number of Dimension Gates opening around them was unusual. It definitely felt like more powerful creatures would be summoned in a large number in the near future.

If Dowd and Iliya were dragging it out for too long…

“...”

‘This thing’ inside her body.

She would have to think of using it.

Even if she would have to pay the price for it.

As she thought so.

-!

-!!

Not too far from where they were, a ‘bright light’ soared up.

It was not too far from the column of fire that had turned the sky red.

“...Huh?”

“That’s…!”

Amidst the exclamations of surprise and wonder, Eleanor narrowed her eyes and whispered to herself.

“The Holy Sword?”

Someone…

Had been chosen as the Holy Sword’s master.

It was definitely the phenomenon that proved it.