'An instinct to devour whatever comes its way. The first discovered place. And the amplification magic circle of the Western Mage Union'

A few words were continuously spinning in his head, as if they were biting each other's tails.

While Yuder had locked up the assassins in the basement of the next building, he had been alternating between thinking about what had changed during his Western subjugation mission in his previous life and this life, and the new information he had discovered today.

As a result, a hypothesis floated in his mind.

'In my previous life, Pethuamet appeared later than now. It was in the midst of receiving significant damage within the western borders of the Empire. So, the mages of the Western Mage Union who were staying at this base at the time must have already been dead.'

Chronologically, Pethuamet appeared after some time had passed since the death of the Western Mage Union mages and the base had collapsed. If the mages had died unable to properly respond due to the onslaught of monsters behaving abnormally, what had happened to their research subject, the Magic Spring?

Even now, when it had only been under attack for about a day, it was so destroyed. It was an unvisited place where recovery efforts had been abandoned; there was nothing more to see.

This was the Great Sarain Forest, where huge trees mysteriously grew so much that, left alone even for just a day, there was not a single spot for a human to step foot, let alone after a week. The mages of the Western Mage Union had forcibly suppressed its power using magic to build structures and open paths, but magic wasn't eternal.

All spaces that lost their caster and controller would undoubtedly return to dense forest. There might have been Union mages left in other cities, but how many would have the courage to come here as the entirety of the West crumbled due to monsters? Even if they somehow managed to come, the chances of them surviving for long were slim.

The Pearl Tower, their only hope for assistance, had also given up expectations regarding the research of the Magic Spring. No one would have wanted to help with what happened here, and the poorly amplified Magic Spring must have been left neglected.

But while humans couldn't survive here, it didn't mean monsters couldn't. What if monsters capable of absorbing magic power happened to appear near this base and the Magic Spring Ruins, absorbing remnants of the broken magic circle, or perhaps the concentrated magic power flowing from the spring?

And if that had proven effective...

What would have happened?

""

The magic circle remaining on Pethuamet's tongue had been an amplification circle. The strange power of the monster, which kept growing and swelling despite all attacks, fit perfectly if one assumed it wasn't inherent, but originated from the absorbed amplification circle.

'This is an excessive conjecture.'

For now, it was just a hypothesis. In this life, he couldn't be certain about something that hadn't even occurred yet. However, it wasn't entirely implausible either.

Yuder recalled the magic stones and all sorts of medium materials that had been embedded countless times in the trees, land, and rocks surrounding the Magic Spring to draw and maintain the magic circle. Suddenly, a cold breeze blew down his spine.

'What a pity. If only I had looked more closely at Pethuamet's severed tongue in my previous life.'

At that time, Yuder, without even realizing that it resembled a magic circle, had quickly forgotten everything while rushing toward Kishiar. When he retrieved Pethuamet's corpse after everything was over, he couldn't find the once-shining blue light anymore.

Yuder looked around at the various destroyed buildings that were once strongholds of the Western Mage Union. When he first learned about the mages of the Western Mage Union, he had merely assumed they were unfortunate souls who had died prematurely in a previous life. However, everything seemed different when he speculated that perhaps more things had started here than he initially thought.

The Cavalry members from his past life, Yuder, as well as Kishiar, were all so busy dealing with the situation at hand that they had no idea what they had missed. When the scenes he'd seen in his dreams suddenly overlapped with his current vision, a bitter taste filled his mouth.

'I still don't know why I keep having these dreams... but no matter how much I think about it, they can't just be simple dreams.'

After being pierced by the power radiated from the Red Stone, Yuder's body and power began to undergo unprecedented changes. It was around that time when the dreams began. Perhaps, those dreams signified another change taking place within him, not in his physical body.

Humans have a mind in addition to a physical body. Priests often referred to this as the soul. Although no one has ever seen or proven the existence of the soul, there was no more appropriate term to explain how Yuder Aile, who came back to eleven years before after dying, managed to retain all his previous memories.

If the changes initiated by the power of the Red Stone were occurring in both the physical body and the soul, where would they lead? Yuder wasn't fond of the fact that, unlike the body, it was impossible to know what and how the soul changed and what its original state had been.

It would be a lie if he said he wasn't anxious, but it had already started. No matter how many times he revisited the past, Yuder wouldn't change his choice to surround others with a protective power just before the Red Stone's power was unleashed. What had happened had happened, and there was still no change in the resolution he made when he realized he had been given another chance after death.

He would prevent the recurrence of disaster. Even the smallest thing not repeating the past was crucial. Considering this, he could say that his current situation was going extremely well. Yuder looked at his hand in the black glove and clenched it into a fist.

'I need to learn more about that amplification and the surrounding situation until the others come back.'

---

"It looks like we're about to reach the promised place."

Kishiar, who had been looking at the distant sky, turned his gaze towards Gakane, who was reporting. They had stayed up all night and had finally reached the trade route in the Great Sarain Forest where they were supposed to meet Ejains men. Although they hadn't seen anyone else on the way due to the recent mass monster outbreak, the morale of the group was boosted merely by reaching their destination.

As they approached the meeting place, the silent Prince Ejain began to give detailed directions.

"It seems we're going the right way if we follow the color of the flag hanging on that branch. There should be a small mountain hut nearby where merchants and mercenaries rest. Those who came to pick me up should be there."

"There's a wooden house over there!"

The Eldore siblings who spotted the mountain hut pointed it out shortly after. Kishiar raised his hand to momentarily halt the group and looked around. He didn't sense anything unusual, but his intuition found the excessive tranquility somewhat strange.

The situation differed from the numerous encounters with monsters they had faced during their journey. The cool gaze hidden within the depths of his cap swept the surroundings before pausing on Ejain, whose expression had notably hardened.

"This place reeks particularly strongly."

"..."

"How many people did you say we would meet here?"

"I was told around 20."

"Considering that, the surrounding area is suspiciously quiet. We should check it out. Gakane, scout ahead."

"Yes."

"And Emun. Remember, your mission is only just beginning."

"Yes, yes. Excuse me for a moment, your Highness."

As the shadowy figure rose and silently ran towards the lodge, Emun Philang prepared his abilities to potentially conceal the Prince within the darkness at any moment, staying closely by Ejain's side.

Just as Gakane's shadow clone reached the lodge and opened the door, a barrage of sharp arrows erupted from within, as if they had been waiting for this exact moment. Had he merely approached and opened the door, he would have been seriously injured.

Kishiar laughed softly as he watched the arrows pass harmlessly through the shadow clone and embed themselves in random spots. A moment later, those who emerged from the open door wore baffled expressions.

"There's no one there. Who opened the door?"

But their bewilderment was short-lived; it didn't take long for their eyes to change as they spotted the Prince and the Cavalry members standing at a distance.

"...No, your Highness!"

"Modi, Clein. It's good to see you both here after so long. I didn't expect you two to be among those who made it this far. Jean and Vellentin are here too."

"Do you think we value our lives over serving you, your Highness? But why did you come here alone instead of sending the other attendants first as promised? We thought you were a monster or an intruder and attacked... We are truly sorry."

Between those who were uncertainly apologizing, suspicious gazes flickered toward the Cavalry members.

"But your Highness... who exactly are those with you?"

Ejain's subordinates wore common mercenary clothing, but their eyes were extremely sharp. At first glance, they all seemed to be of exceptional skill. But Kishiar's gaze easily caught the impure glint hiding within the welcoming expressions of those who had been waiting for the Prince.

'There isn't just one suspicious aspect.'

All the Cavalry members and Prince Ejain seemed to have noticed the strange element that Kishiar had picked up on, and were hiding their tense expressions.

"The other attendants will follow soon. These people have done me the favor of protecting me on the journey here, so do not treat them lightly."

"Understood. Everyone, please come in. You must have been exhausted from traveling through these treacherous lands."

"Before that, I have a question."

"Yes?"

Ejain turned to his subordinates with a bitter expression.

"Where are the others who were originally supposed to come, and why are only you here?"