63 — What Is Heard Is Not By God

“Gefu, gefu, gefu… You foolish black pigs.”

From the building surrounded by Barrier Stones, a figure with a vulgar grin appeared… Zarichu, the cadre of the Demon King’s army known as Hunger.

“Zarichu…!”

“Gefu… Oh, if it isn’t the white pig who sided with the hero. Coming all the way to be swallowed into my mouth—what a commendable attitude.”

“Silence!”

Quylindra directed a stern expression at Zarichu, who opened his large mouth and licked his lips.

In the battle against the Demon King five hundred years ago, the Elf paid a heavy price in sacrifices. It was natural for her, the chief of the Elf, to harbor resentment toward Zarichu, a cadre of the Demon King’s army.

But more than that.

“Die.”

Titancia quickly readied her bow and fired an arrow at Zarichu’s ugly face.

Not just one, but one after another.

However.

“Gefu, gefu, arrows taste bad after all. I’d rather devour a white pig.”

“…!?”

Zarichu opened his enormous mouth and swallowed everything.

“Cia, calm down.”

“Mother, but!”

“Zarichu is confined by the ‘Barrier Stones’ and cannot move. Besides… even if you shoot into that man’s mouth, it all ends up in his stomach.”

As Quylindra said, the abilities of the Hunger Zarichu consist of evil-attribute magic centered on poison and that large mouth that devours everything.

That mouth devours anything—swords, spears, bows, even magic—without discrimination.

In the battle five hundred years ago, many of their former kin, the Elf, were sucked into that mouth. Quylindra knew this better than anyone.

“Gefu, gefu, gefu. Indeed, as you say, I cannot leave this barrier. However… if the Barrier Stones were to disappear, that would be another story.”

“Wha…!?”

Unbeknownst to them, the Swart Elf had surrounded the building, Titancia, and Colette, raising both hands.

Ready to unleash their specialty, dark-attribute magic, at any moment.

That said, with five Barrier Stones deployed, the Swart Elf could not release dark-attribute magic within the settlement.

They must know this, yet they had no choice but to show a confrontational stance against the Elf for Zarichu’s sake.

“Everyone! Stop!”

“There’s no choice… There’s no choice! As long as our demonic contract with Lord Zarichu continues, there’s nothing we can do!”

“Chief… What are you thinking…!”

The chief of the Swart Elf, with a pained expression, directed both hands not only at Quylindra but also at his own daughter, Zeria, as if to cast dark magic.

Unlike the other Swart Elf, as the chief, he might be able to cast dark-attribute magic even under the influence of the Barrier Stones.

And he seemed to have chosen the lives of many Swart Elf over his daughter’s life.

“Is that really okay!? Isn’t she your precious daughter!?”

“I know! But… to preserve the Swart Elf, this is the only way…”

Beyond the chief’s gaze were the frightened young children of the Swart Elf.

She felt only anger toward Zarichu for tormenting even these children through the demonic contract, but as a fellow chief, she could say nothing to him for choosing to sacrifice his own daughter.

Quylindra racked her brain for a way to escape this dire situation, but no solution came to mind.

Then.

“…Lady Quylindra, it’s enough.”

“…!?”

“Zeria!?”

Quylindra gasped at Zeria, who shook her head with a resigned expression, while Titancia, confronting Zarichu and the Swart Elf, cried out.

“I, Zeria Grassbrook, willingly offer my life for the future of the Swart Elf.”

“You can’t give up yet! Why… why would you say that!”

Titancia pleaded, tears spilling from her fresh green eyes.

Zeria averted her eyes from her and nodded to her father, the chief of the Swart Elf.

—To fulfill the demonic contract, kill me.

The chief of the Swart Elf also shed tears and muttered something in a voiceless whisper.

It seemed to reach Zeria, as she closed her eyes with a satisfied expression.

But.

“Don’t joke… Don’t joke around!!!”

“…!? Cia!?”

Cia, unable to accept it at all, fired arrow after arrow at Zarichu.

Even knowing it wouldn’t work, she believed that if only this vile demon weren’t here, Zeria wouldn’t have to die.

“Gefu, gefu, gefu. As expected, the white pig clan is stupid. If you kill me, the black pigs will die too due to the blood contract.”

“What… do you mean…?”

“Gefu, gefu, it’s simple. When I made the contract with the black pigs, in addition to not betraying the Demon King, I added one more clause: ‘When Zarichu meets death, the Swart Elf shall also die.’”

“Wha…!?”

“Gefu, gefu, gefu. That’s why the black pigs have no choice but to protect me.”

The moment they heard those words, the Swart Elf stepped between Titancia and Zarichu, standing like shields to protect him.

In this situation, Titancia could no longer fire her arrows.

Even so, how utterly despicable Zarichu was.

Faced with this inescapable truth, Titancia collapsed to her knees.

She had been striving all this time to save her precious childhood friend.

The Barrier Stones, their last hope, could not dispel the demonic contract, and if Zarichu were defeated, all the Swart Elf would die.

Of course, including her precious childhood friend Zeria.

No longer knowing what to do, Titancia pounded the ground with all her might.

“Someone… someone, please help…!”

It was the anguished cry of a single girl suffering in despair.

Unfortunately, that plea does not reach God.

However, their fate will not end here.

Because.

“Phew… I almost didn’t make it in time.”

—A single boy who has descended upon the Stygian Forest will save them all.