The commercial city of Magunoria is one of the new cities in the Kingdom of Fiorel in recent years, and it is also the second place where Zela and her sisters are scheduled to arrive.

As early as the time of "Harugion", several people have heard a lot of anecdotes about it, especially the "Caldia Cathedral" and the hot spring town, which are very fascinating attractions.

It is also said that the annual 'harvest festival' will be held there, so Zela and her sisters are specially counting the time to end their practice, just in time for this festival.

It was only when the five of them walked into the city with anticipation that they realized that everything here was very different from what was rumored.

......

"That...... Are you sure we're in the wrong city? ”

Scanning the deserted streets around him, Yuri looked troubled and checked with his companions.

Because as far as the eye can see, it is full of dilapidated buildings, withered billboards, and dilapidated stalls.

Could it be that they ran through the wrong forest to some ruins? This kind of place looks like a thriving town preparing for festivals.

（…… This is...... Traces of magic? And it's relatively new, should it be caused recently...... ）

Urging the wheelchair to the edge of a ruined building, Zela scrutinized the broken parts.

There was nothing wrong with the route they chose, even if they took a long detour, the forest only connected the two cities, and it was impossible to go to the wrong place.

“…… Shouldn't we see the town guide sign when we walked out of the forest? ”

The same confusion haunted Precht, and the sight left them uncertain.

"Everyone!! Look over there!! ”

“——？！”

As he walked down the street and crossed a corner, the sharp-eyed Mebis was the first to notice the biggest anomaly since coming to the city.

Looking in the direction she was pointing, an ominous premonition and a piercing coldness came over her face.

Zela's words sounded behind him, and it also brought out everyone's hearts at the moment.

“…… Looks like something terrible has happened in this city......"

What was supposed to be an iconic location in the center of the city now appears as a church dyed black and objects stuck on top like horns of giant creatures.

(Not keel...... But...... Ghost? ）

……

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"I don't think there's any point in thinking about it, and the quickest way to find out what's going on is to ask the people of the city."

"Of course, it's okay to go directly to the place you found in Mebis, but I don't recommend it."

Glancing at her companions in front of her, the girl in the wheelchair had already considered it and seemed to be completely unaffected.

In this case, it was impossible for them to continue to wander around the streets, so they had to find a hidden corner for the time being to discuss countermeasures.

"But you saw that too, right? There is no one in this city at all! ”

With one hand on his waist, Yuri still thinks that Zela is thinking too simply.

“…… No, the old man thinks that there should still be people living here. ”

Through the earth and the trees, Volod seems to have learned something.

"Ah, from the moment I entered the city, I also discovered that there were a lot of strange atmospheres and sights hidden in those buildings."

Immediately afterwards, Precht, whose perception had been raised, also expressed his opinion.

"Hmmm! I've just calculated that, depending on the extent of the damage and where those buildings fell, there are quite a few places that could have been caused yesterday or today. ”

Nodding his little head, Mebis was undoubtedly more convinced of this.

It seems that with the exception of someone, everyone has come to the same conclusion.

"Forehead ......"

Seeing his companions behaving themselves one by one, Yuri's movements became stiff, and the corners of his eyes kept jumping.

Then the four of them looked at him in unison, and his face flushed.

In the end, he was the only one who was 'kept in the dark'......

"Yuri, your cultivation is not home yet."

With a malicious sigh, Zela shook her head in disappointment.

"That's long-winded! Now that you know, tell me sooner! Let's go! ”

After expressing his dissatisfaction in a restrained manner, Yuri, who felt embarrassed, walked quickly towards the intersection without knowing his head.

As a result, what was even more unexpected was that he was still immersed in shame and happened to collide with a 'passerby' who was walking by.

"Uhh——!h

Touching his ass in pain, Yuri didn't have time to complain when the other party took a step ahead of him and shouted even more angrily.

"Who is so unsightly that he should hit Uncle Ben?!"

Pushing aside his companion who had helped him up, the man with the strange hood glared at Yuri with a gaze that seemed to be a cannibal.

"Huh?"

The forehead burst into blue muscles, and someone was also not to be outdone, who made him feel bad now.

“…… Is this dressed, hum, a passing traveler? ”

He snorted like a mockery, and the big man who noticed Yuri's costume had already guessed his identity.

"Hey bastard golden retriever, now hand over all your things and kneel down for me three times, and let the uncle spare you, haha!"

“……”

With the hooded man, his two companions also surrounded from the left and right with a strange smile, sealing Yuri's retreat.

But looking at someone's face with a very angry smile, he was probably not ready to 'retreat' at all.

By the time Zela and the others heard the fight, it was a completely different story.

……

“…… I don't know why, but I think I can imagine why this place has become like this. ”

Looking at the nameless man who was lying on the ground and twitching, Zela pursed her lips helplessly.

"Ah...... Haha......"

The smile was a little reluctant, and Mebis didn't know what to say.

"Yuri! Can't you change this problem of courage and resourcelessness?! ”

Pointing to the blonde youth's chest, Volod really couldn't stand this guy whose body moved before his brain.

"Why am I bad?! These bastards don't look like good people, do they?! ”

"That's right! But would you like to take a look at the occasion?! ”

"Huh?! So what do you say? ”

The two of them with their heads on top of their heads quarreled on the street, completely forgetting what had been discussed earlier.

I also forgot that this is not a suitable place for them to 'connect' at all.

"There you have it!"

"There!!"

"What? Someone is making trouble on our turf?! ”

It wasn't long before a chaotic shout came from the corner of the street, causing the two arguing men to reflexively turn their heads sideways.

“……”

"I mean, why are we running?"

Feeling that someone was pushing her wheelchair to 'speed' up the next moment, Zela finally couldn't help but complain.

Aren't the five of them all magicians now, what is the theory of running away before the fight starts?

"What nonsense are you talking about! There were only five of us, and there were dozens of them on the other side! ”

The thinking has not yet been transformed, and the blonde young man is righteous and righteous in his words.

Volod and Precht next to him also seemed to take it for granted, only Mebis was snickering.

(sighs...... ）

Just as Zela was about to teach them another lesson, someone suddenly waved at them around the corner, different from the hooded men, who looked like residents of this town from their attire.

After nodding their heads at each other, they followed in without even thinking about it, and the three of them at this time had a tacit understanding.

It's just that this sharp turn is hard for Zela, and she would rather use her magic to urge it, she almost threw her out just now.

Is it too late to 'part ways'?

Looking at the three of them as if they had escaped from their pursuers, this was the only thought of Zela, whose stomach was churning, at this time.