This was a building that had black walls and was filled with an intimidating aura.
The military section of the Roland Empire, the official residence of the Taboo Breakers Pursuit Squad.
Rahel Miller sat in a room with no decorations, looking at the files that his subordinates had sent him.
“…Urgh.”
A wrinkle appeared between his eye brows.
He had a face with deep contour lines and a strong muscular body.
He had his usual sour expression, making him emanate a sternness that a thirty year old man should not have.
No, it wasn’t only his appearance that was stern. At the same time Miller had results and abilities to be proud of.
He always completed his missions with a firm determination, and he also knew how to reveal soft methods, in different situations.
An amazing ability like this, had appeared from an orphan who had no one to fall back on…
And it had allowed a young man like him to raise to the position of the Major General quickly.
According to the normal standards, this was an outstanding event that could not have been arranged. No, other than the nobles, for someone of his birth to raise to the higher ranks, was near impossible.
But then, no one had expressed displeasure at the fact that Miller had been promoted to Major General.
In the era of the previous king…
Even in the mad era where the authority was held by the nobles, no one had uttered a word of resentment to Miller becoming a Major General.
Perhaps it was because his character and ability was so excellent, that it stemmed all of the protests. Even among those who had just entered the military, the young nobles, there were some who had held him in high regard, and admired him greatly.
Even so, that was not the most important reason.
The real reason laid with…
The profession that Miller willingly took up.
The duty of the pursuit of the Taboo Breakers.
So that the secrets of the country’s magic would not be leaked out, when the people who had learnt Roland’s magic escaped death or smuggled out of the country, this squad would set out to pursue, capture, and even prosecute them.
Among the squads in the Roland army, this squad should be counted as an important part.
Because, once the sequence and structure of Roland’s magic were leaked to other countries, it would be equal to exposing Roland Empire’s weakness. It would be the same as giving those countries a chance to attack Roland.
Providing this opportunity… it was equal to the possibility of creating an explosive war.
So, logically, this department should be in a position to decide the fate of Roland, it should be an extremely important department.
But, the nobles were supporting the idea of disbanding the squad.
The reason was simple.
Because this squad was a job that had a high level of actual battle experience, even though there was no war.
And the missions that were a long way away from Roland, where they could not receive reinforcements, were very dangerous.
So the nobles did not like this job.
So the nobles wanted to push this job, to orphans who did not care about life or death, or the normal citizens. Then mock them, saying that this was a squad were inhuman, lowly watchdogs assembled.
Under this situation, Miller who was an orphan became the most responsible person in the group, and seemed not to attract the nobles’ interest.
Of course Miller could not be called the most responsible person without a title, so, he had been given the position of the Major General.
He had already instilled this working attitude into the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad.
He had an attitude that was completely better than those nobles who had a carefree attitude… who didn’t care about how many people died, a serious attitude that was much better than them by several times to carry out matters…
Miller had borne up the absolute authority of the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad just like that.
But, the nobles didn’t realize that.
They never realized why Miller had chosen this Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad…
If they really knew Miller’s person and ability, they should know, he should not be in the position of the Major General.
But, the nobles didn’t discover.
They didn’t discover that Miller was hiding many capable talents from the searching nobles, giving them more intensive training, keeping them by his side to protect them.
Claugh Klom, Calne Kaiwal, Luke Stokkart.
And numerous other talents were gathered together…
After that, the time came.
A large beam of light was born.
That large beam of light that was Sion Astal.
A light that was large enough to change everything.
Then, that was definitely not coincidence.
That was necessary.
The nobles had slaughtered too many.
The nobles had lusted, and had fallen too greatly.
The more seriously the nobles erred, the more the talented people who gathered under Miller’s wing.
Yes, everything was necessary.
He had seen through everything. He saw that this country would leave the nobles’ grasp, would right itself completely…
He had seen a more distant future.
Only that the nobles had not noticed.
Only they had not noticed, from the stage when Miller had came to the position of Major General, that their destinies had ended…
Following that, the revolution began.
No, that was another matter.
Anyway, now Miller was looking at the file that his subordinate had handed in.
A girl stood in front of him, peeking at his expression.
No, perhaps she shouldn’t be called a girl. She was an elite who was able to become the captain of the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad at the age of sixteen, and she was a first lieutenant.
But…
She was a cute simple girl who suited the word ‘girl’ perfectly.
First Lieutenant Milk Callaud.
She had brown hair tied up in a ponytail, and a cute doll like face. Round eyes, and a slim petite body.
No matter how you tried to phrase it politely… She didn’t seem like a female who could move independently…
Chosen as the captain at the tender age of sixteen, her abilities were above the norm, but…
From the practical magic structures to its theory, from martial arts to various fighting arts, she had abnormal capabilities, and among these capabilities, her most outstanding quality was—
The amazing ability on war tactics and strategies.
Other than that, she had the art of being able to reach out to her subordinates’ hearts in an instant.
That should be said to be a natural talent right?
Miller looked at Milk with a pained expression, and the subordinates standing behind her.
Luke Stokkart.
Lear Rinkal.
Moe Velariore.
Lach Velariore.
These subordinates who were once Miller’s, but were now completely under Milk’s spell… a more accurate description would be, they had a similar protective attitude, swearing to be loyal only to her.
Not only that…
Among this young squad, Luke who was only twenty five years old, and was called the eldest, at the same time was also Milk’s assistant officer whispered:
(Today the major general has a bitter expression again~ Captain Milk.)
In that moment, Miller wanted to tell him “I heard that, Luke?”, but he put aside the idea.
Milk said:
(Urgh~ He must be angry because we failed our mission right…?)
Saying that, Milk peeked at Miller’s face, Miller seeing the situation, immediately turned his gaze to the documents.
So Luke whispered:
(It’s like that, Captain. It wasn't our fault that the mission was a failure, so even if we are scolded, you don’t have to take it to heart.)
Miller hearing this, laughed wryly in his heart.
Yes. The magnitude of Milk’s power could be seen from this.
In the period of the revolution… no, even before joining the revolution, Luke wasn’t a person who would talk like this.
He had a tall thin body, and was always smiling, seeming to be courtly… and he had a deceptively gentle tone…
And, the man called Luke Stokkart had an amazing ability at the same time.
He was always smiling, and he could finish his mission with an unbelievable calmness.
The first time he had seen him demonstrate this ability, Miller had even praised him silently.
That ability could possibly even override the Crimson Fingered Claugh Klom.
Of course, on the matter of fighting ability, he was in the disadvantage.
But, he had the ability to remain calm no matter the situation…
Assessing the enemy’s strength, finding the solution to success under various circumstances.
These fortes were not common.
From this point, no matter how special Milk Callaud was, she could not compare to Luke.
Luke was a kind of genius.
But…
He had become Milk’s assistant willingly.
After coming into contact with Milk, he immediately lost his composure.
And had become very melodramatic.
Now Luke’s face had an expression as if he were looking at his beloved child, a completely unprincipled look…
(It’s because the opponent was too strong. He was really strong that everything became messed up. Ah, after looking at the report, we may be released from our duties…)
Apart from the report that Milk had handed in, Luke had handed in his report too, he had mentioned the person that they were pursuing now, a man called Ryner Lute.
‘To Captain Milk who is flowering, this person is very dangerous. As her guardian I am worried all day and night, and I am unable to rest properly.’
The content on the report, really made Miller confused…
What had happened to Luke…?
Towards this incomprehensible situation, Miller’s face became more and more unhappy.
But, Lear, Moe and Lach were similarly drawn in by her…
Maybe this was the power of the girl called Milk Callaud.
Although this power was a little strange…
At this moment, Milk said in a small voice:
(That, that won’t do. I must capture Ryner. Because, because, I told Ryner long ago. But Ryner eloped with that beautiful woman… so I must capture Ryner that perverted man!)
Did she really think that Miller could not hear her loud voice?
At this moment.
(…But, Captain, although you say that. The current problem is, we can’t defeat him…)
When Luke spoke till here—
“No~ I must arrest him!”
(Ah, shh! Shh! Captain, you can’t be so loud! Do you know where this is?! This is the office of the major general!)
(Ah! Oh yes! Sorry, Luke. He, did he hear it…)
The conversation between the two of them…
Then had been whispering so loudly, Miller had already given up on what was missing from this situation…
He couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Huh… it's good that you’re full of energy as usual… First Lieutenant Callaud.”
“Yes, yes. It’s thanks to the major general! Major General Miller, as always, has a face that's bi…”
At this moment Luke patted Milk from behind, Milk quickly stopped, then—”
“Uh, that, no, eh, that Major General Miller too… has been energetic.”
Luke chuckled as he did these small actions.
It wasn’t his usual smile, but it was chuckling.
He looked at Miller, happily enjoying Miller’s reaction. Luke must have known that their whispered conversation was heard right?
Miller couldn’t help but smile bitterly inside his heart that, in a short period of time, Luke had became an annoying person.
Because he felt at loss of what to do, Miller looked back at the report.
“You can save the pleasantries. Then, the actual problem is, your powers can’t overcome this Taboo Breaker, right?”
Although he said that, but Miller was very clear, of course they could not win this fight.
The king had sent Milk to Miller and said:
“Let Milk arrest this person called Ryner, the situation will definitely progress in an interesting manner.”
Although he had said that, but according to Miller’s research, that man called Ryner Lute, and the swordswoman called Ferris Eris, both had histories that weren’t normal.
Ryner Lute, born in the Roland Special Institute 307—that place where the construction of the strongest military weapon took place, and had survived from the place, and even left extraordinary results in that facility that were said to be legendary.
And he was a person whose forte was to control all magic…
A person who could commit mass slaughter—
The wielder of the Alpha Stigma…
The other person travelling with him, was the daughter of the Eris family…
Although Luke was by her side, but to Milk, the burden was too heavy.
Because, this duo Taboo Breaker depended only on the power of two people, to defeat the Mage Knight Battalion of the Imperial Nelpha.
Talking about the Mage Knights, on the surface they were the strongest squad of that country…
Simply speaking, arresting such an amazing fighting monster, it was really a courageous expedition that had no plan.
This was an abnormal matter.
Yes. Abnormal.
But…
“Then? You can handle it? Or can you not win?”
Milk nodded as if expected, saying:
“Of course! This mission is too simple! The other time it was just a coincidence that the Imperial Nelpha Mage Knight Battalion…”
Luke and the others hearing this, became frantic.
“Wait, wait a moment, Captain? What are you saying?”
Moe said:
“It’s, it’s impossible. Fighting with a monster like that Taboo Breaker… I think we should give up on this mission…”
But at this moment—
“Enough! Please be quiet!”
Milk pointed at her subordinates, saying determinedly:
“Next time we definitely wouldn’t make a mistake!”
“Wu… where…?”
Milk nodded, earnestly saying:
“Because last time I didn’t act seriously… I… if I am serious, Ryner would be dealt with easily! He wouldn’t be dazzled by a woman whose only good point is her beauty! Am not right? Luke?”
“Ah? Ah, that… yes…”
Miller seeing this, smiled wryly. Luke really didn’t want Milk and that man Ryner to meet.
Because of that…
Miller smiled and nodded.
“I see. So if even Luke has the confidence that you will succeed, there should be no problem, right?”
“Ah? Ah, that…”
Luke looked at Miller, with a stupid expression.
That was the first time that Miller saw Luke having that expression. Miller said:
“Alright. If that’s the case, then from now on this mission will be left to Milk Callaud’s Taboo Pursuit Squad to deal with.”
“Ah…”
At this moment, Luke seemed to have discover that Miller was smiling faintly.
So Miller made his smile more obvious, seeming to tell Luke, you want to make a fool out of me? You’re too early by a hundred years! But apart from Luke who'd been acquainted with Miller for the longest, the others probably didn’t realize Miller’s change in expression…
To the normal people, they would probably feel that his usual tight features had relaxed slightly?
Anyway, Luke seeing this, bowed his head in dejection…
He looked at Milk, and only saw the burning determination in her eyes.
“Alright, Ryner! Wait for me! Since we have decided that, then let’s set off for Runa Empire immediately! Runa is our allied country, it’s an easy matter for us to enter the its boundaries! Let’s go!”
Saying that Milk quickly left the room. After Luke watched her leave, he motioned for the other group members to catch up with her.
So the other three nodded.
“Please wait, Captain~!”
“Ah, it’s a rare chance for us to return to Roland, let’s find a place for us to play first, Captain!”
“Ah, I have information about a newly opened food store, so shall we visit it first?”
They chattered, leaving noisily.
After watching these subordinates leave, Luke sighed with an expression that Miller had never seen before…
Miller laughed.
And Luke had a slightly unhappy expression as he said:
“I say Miller-senpai, you’re quite willing to stand by and watch others suffer. Haven’t you seen the report that I wrote? It’s obvious, that man called Ryner Lute is not suitable for Captain Milk? Captain Milk should be suited to a more warm, hardworking, serious…”
He started to talk to himself again, Miller shrugged when he heard this.
“But, that is not decided by me. It was decided by First Lieutenant Callaud… or…”
Luke hearing this, frowned.
“Or Sion-san? That person looks like a good person, but in reality he also likes to mess with others… Next time that I will submit a report on this matter, Major General Miller, you will have to help me hand it in to him then. For Captain Milk, having a romantic relationship now is too early.”
Saying that, he nodded self-consciously a few times.
Luke’s behavior that was like those foolish parents caused Miller to have no idea of how to deal with this.
At this moment, Luke said:
“…Oh yes, how is the situation on Sion-san’s side doing?”
This time, his tone had no indication of his previous lightheartedness, seeming to be very serious.
Miller said:
“…Many things seem to be quite challenging. Last night he came to ask me again if I wanted to be promoted.”
“Eh? What position does he want to promote you to this time?”
Miller hearing this, frowned slightly.
“He wants me to be responsible to leading the whole Roland army.”
“Wow, this time he wants you to be Field Marshal? Isn't that good? Miller-senpai leading the whole Roland army… Aside from the nobles, this is what everyone wishes for. If you become the field marshal, no one would have any objections right?”
The more Miller heard the more he frowned. He said:
“You clearly know that I rejected this offer, and you still continue to speak of it in this way?”
Luke smiled.
“Yes. Because you are not someone who wishes to become outstanding. No, this place definitely needs senpai. If we change to someone who is not suited, allowing the Taboo Breakers to escape… this will trigger another war…”
But, Miller interrupted Luke.
“That is not the only reason I’m staying here. Subordinates who are able to control this department can be found anywhere. You or Lear… The king said this before. He wishes to pass the responsibility of the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad to Lear, I’ll become a field marshal, Claugh and you will be promoted to Lieutenant General.”
Luke hearing this, suddenly stiffened his expression.
“Wow… me, me too?”
“…This isn’t something we’re casually talking about. The lack in manpower has worsened to this degree. But, I cannot leave here, you and Lear too. If you accept a position that will attract everyone’s attention, many things will become troublesome to carry out. But, lowly people should have lowly people’s opinions. We have to stand at the positions at the base of the foundation to support Roland… so, we can only ask Claugh to work harder.”
Luke hearing this laughed.
“Ah, Claugh is becoming the field marshal? He'll definitely sulk, right?”
Miller smiled too.
“Who knows? Because they just spread the news of the newcomers this morning. Well, judging by his personality, he will definitely shout and yell at Sion?”
Luke laughed until he could not support himself, saying:
“Then Sion-san will give him a reason he cannot dispute, so he’ll just simply accept it… it has always turned out this way. Although him becoming field marshal wouldn’t be as good as you, at least he can guide the Roland army in the right direction, right?”
Miller nodded.
“But the problem is…”
“…It is… the nobles right? Sion-san seems to be finally carrying out steps? I personally feel it’s a little late. If we don’t chase those corrupt nobles away soon, this country probably cannot last any longer right? Even if it is eradication or any other methods, it’s fine as long as it is done.”
Luke said heatedly, Miller studied his face.
“…Do you hate the nobles more than you did in the past?”
Luke replied:
“Don’t you hate them just as much, Miller-senpai? Those people only snatch everything away without even thinking. Among those in the Taboo Breaker Squad, there probably isn’t anyone who doesn’t hate the nobles, right? Furthermore…”
Reaching there, Luke’s expression carried anger…
“Captain Milk has suffered completely from their mistreatment! A child with such a happy personality… she only ate breakfast with us and chatted with us happily, then she cried as she said that she “never had a meal while happily talking with people”… What have those people done to Captain Milk… Just thinking about that, I feel such hatred that I want to kill them, sometimes at night I can’t even sleep… But, Captain Milk doesn’t hate her… no, it’s the family that bought her… Ah, it’s really enough!”
He said angrily.
Here it comes again… Miller shook his head in astonishment. Luke had been constantly talking about Milk lately…
But…
“Oh. The elite who graduated from the Cadets’ Academy with outstanding results, First Lieutenant Milk Callaud… although she is the daughter of a noble, but she is easy to approach. Isn’t this something interesting?”
Luke hearing this, nodded expectantly.
“…Because she is the same as us, she used to be an orphan… then she was adopted. She only represented the noble’s own child to come serve in the army, as a puppet… but, she was unbelievably obedient.”
“Yes… you have to protect her properly, Luke. Because this young generation is the pillar to support Roland’s future.”
“Eh? I think that I’m still quite young… Miller-senpai.”
“Compared to sixteen years old, aren’t you an old uncle?”
“Then senpai who is over thirty years old is an old man?”
“You…”
Miller frowned unhappily. Luke stuck his tongue out when he saw this.
“Ah, before I annoy you, I think I should escape.”
“Really, leave quickly! I have a large pile of work to do too. Ah, right, Milk Callaud’s team can have a few days of leave. You haven’t been back in Roland for a long time. Go and stretch your wings properly. But, be careful of the king? If you meet him, you might be dragged off to become an officer.”
Luke shrugged when he heard this.
“I know. I will be cautious of His Majesty Sion. Then, I’m going to chase after our princess now.”
As he walked out of the room, he crossed his arms in thought…
“A vacation… If a vacation disrupts our pace in life, it wouldn’t be a good thing for a child… This is a difficulty. I have to go and discuss with Lear and the others, we have to come up with a plan that can let Captain Milk have fun and benefit her at the same time… That means, it’ll be best to have a camp…”
He muttered to himself, walking further away.
Miller seeing this…
“…Really.”
He sighed again.
After that, under Luke’s plan of having a ‘happy summer break’, Milk spent her days happily by exercising or having a curry feast.
But, in the time that they had their break, the world still continued to change.
The change started from within Roland, it started with the nobles who had a great power—
Assassins attacked the mansions of nobles.
It was a good thing that the nobles defeated the assassins, and no major problem was caused.
After that, the assassins continued to appear around all the nobles…
Not long after, the assassins appeared at Milk’s old house too…
No, it appeared at the noble family Callaud who brought Milk.
The moving air slowly started to expand in Roland…
But, how many people realized, actually those assassins had not killed a single noble?
Many nobles had suffered from attacks from assassins, but nobody died…
There was no casualties.
How many people could discover, that there was something abnormal and strange about these matters?
Yes.
Not a single person died.
There was no one sacrificed.
Then…
Seeing this information, Miller narrowed his eyes.
Then—
“… Has the purging finally started…”
He placed the file on the table, sighing, then called his subordinates over.
“Luke and the rest… no, what is Milk Callaud’s pursuit squad doing right now?”
His subordinate answered:
“Luke-senpai and the others are now in the city buying things…”
Miller nodded.
“Call them back immediately. There’s something for them to do.”
“Eh? But, Luke-senpai’s leave hasn’t ended…”
But Miller shook his head.
“I’ll say it again. Call them back. If they refuse, then tell this to Luke—‘Milk Callaud cannot stay within the country boundaries now. Or else she will be involved in a major commotion.’”
His subordinate hearing this, revealed a confused expression.
“Ah? Commotion? What is going on…”
Miller frowned in reply…
“Yes. Then, I’ll go tell Luke-senpai immediately.”
Saying that, the subordinate quickly left the room.
After making sure that his subordinate had left, Miller picked up the folder on his table again…
He sighed softly.
Turning time back slightly.
When Sion had just received news of Noa’s attack…
Ryner and Ferris were using their fastest speed, rushing towards a mountain that was far away from Roland…
The magnitude of their speed was not normal.
They ran faster than a normal person on a plain without any obstructions, although the mountains had countless growths, the branches were tangled, the path was slightly uneven, and their night vision wasn’t the best, but they continued to run…
Ryner spoke, saying with a slightly angry voice:
“Talking about that, what do you think? Actually climbing the mountain late at night… It’s really bad enough, I’ve definitely been overworked recently. Ah… Sion that guy, he must be misusing his privileges of being a king, lying on his high-grade bed and sleeping comfortably…”
In truth, when Ryner said these, Sion had not slept for thirty hours straight, he didn’t even have the time to think of dozing off…
Of course Ryner knew nothing about this. Even if he knew, he would find some reason to complain…
Ferris nodded too:
“…The best bed and the best dango… Urgh. Earlier I said that it wouldn’t be bad being a deity, but it seems like being a king isn’t a bad deal too. If I feel bored, I can bully a pervert like you, and command you to run around the world.”
“Talking about that, I’m being bullied? Right?”
“Eh? Don’t tell me you aren’t?”
Ferris asked in reply. Ryner hugged his arms as he ran agilely…
“Ah, maybe I’m being bullied… I suddenly feel like my feet are very tired…”
At this moment, they finally stopped, then hid among the trees…
“Huh… finally reached. Really, why is it so far out? Why did they find such an isolated place to conduct their experiments on monsters, why did they take the trouble?”
Ryner peeked out from behind the shade, surveying the front.
He saw many torches lit in front of him.
It was a square that was built on the mountain.
The plaza was quite big. Honestly speaking, just by covering a square in the mountain, it should have taken up a sum of money and labour, right?
Cutting down large amounts of trees, the whole area…
But…
Ferris said:
“But… If that is true, they would need a place like this that would be fine if its surroundings were destroyed, right?”
Ryner nodded when he heard this…
“…That’s right. Based on this point, the mountains may be the most suitable place for this… Then, that brat called Arua…”
He looked at the square again.
There were quite a number of soldiers.
Judging by numbers, there should be thirty people?
And these thirty people weren’t ordinary soldiers. From their actions, it could be seen that they were specially trained soldiers.
Not only that, among them there were a few…
They were wearing different armour… Armour that were made with several circular plates that seemed like that were sharp enough to cut people just by touching them.
An eye-catching armour, and a clearly different aura from them… It was plainly clear. Ryner frowned and said:
“Ah~ Those people are the Mage Knight Battalion…”
The Mage Knight Battalion…
They had a strong power, just by having the battalion appear, was enough to change the tides of the battle…
They were always used to measure a country’s strength… on the surface they were the strongest squad that could change a country.
Even that squad had appeared here…
“This is going to be troublesome…”
Ryner said as if groaning:
Honestly speaking… just by Ryner and Ferris, the enemies weren’t easy opponents. And this time they had to rescue that youth, and as they protected him, they had to fight with the enemy… In addition, because they were allied with Runa, both parties had not fought against each other in some time, so they didn’t know what magic they would use…
If they were unable to use their magic without having a belief in it, then even by using Ryner’s Alpha Stigma they would be unable to steal the other side’s magic…
Furthermore the Mage Knight Battalion… Wait, if he had to list out all the bad points about it, he could list a long list of them.
Ryner suddenly had a defeated expression.
“Ah, impossible. Let’s go back! We definitely…”
But, at this moment Ferris covered Ryner’s mouth.
“Quiet. They’re here. That’s the one, right?”
So Ryner looked in that direction again.
And then…
“…”
He couldn’t say anything.
The scene before him—it was too harsh…
A boy who had the same black hair as Ryner, and seemed to be still innocent appeared.
That boy was chained to a tree that was cut down. Then he was brought out by people rolling the tree.
The boy’s body was crushed by the trunk of the tree that could easily be three times his weight… Every time he was crushed, the boy would scream…
But, the trunk didn’t stop moving.
The only man there not wearing any armour smiled as he kicked the boy’s head, then he shoved his boot into the boy’s mouth.
“Ne, let’s quickly see you lose control, you monster. Really, handing in the report about you to the superiors was a good thing, but then I have to stay in this isolated mountain to carry out research every day… It’s really dismal. Everything… is your fault!”
Saying that, he kicked the youth’s head again.
Blood droplets flew. The boy’s mouth was probably bleeding? Blooding froth flew from his mouth… But, the man seemed to be enjoying himself, again and again, again and again he kicked the boy’s head…
The boy’s consciousness had already blurred slowly… it felt like he was numb.
The man’s servant brought a water bucket over, grabbing the boy’s hair, forcing his head into the pail…
“Ah… ah, ah…”
The boy woke up, starting to struggle… But, the man continued to push the boy’s head into the water…
Struggle.
Fight.
But, his head was still forcefully kept there… The man laughed.
He laughed and said:
“Ah, the demon is struggling. Is it painful? Is it upsetting? Then beg me! Say, the saint that has defeated a cursed demon like you, Tese Chardi, please save me. If you don’t say it I’ll let you die!”
Saying that, he laughed again.
But, the boy’s face was submerged in water, he couldn’t speak at all…
When the boy’s movements became weak, Chardi kicked hard at the person and bucket.
“Heh! This is boring! Lose control quickly!”
The man roared.
It was messy.
The boy was taken away… The girl that they met in the village Kuku said, it had already been eight days.
Eight days.
This matter had continuously happened for eight days…
Ryner seeing this…
“…”
He wasn’t angry.
Only his body couldn’t keep trembling.
It came suddenly.
He knew that feeling.
He had seen that scene before.
Man…
Man…
Torturing him.
Kicking him.
Not feeding him.
Mockingly saying, monsters didn’t need to eat.
Someone threw faeces and urine at him.
His neck had been strangled so tightly that he nearly died of suffocation.
The things happening in front of him.
They were things he was familiar with… Too familiar, too familiar…
Ryner knew too, what would happen next. So, he shook.
By his side—
“Hey, Ryner, calm down. Even if you jump down now you can’t save that kid. We have to come up with a battle plan. First I…”
Then, what was spoken next he couldn’t hear it.
Because, he knew what was going to happen next.
Don’t…
He thought.
I don’t want to see it anymore.
No more.
Save me…
The man said to the boy in front of him:
“Damn, harming you yourself doesn’t have the power to make you lose control? Then… how about this?”
The man had a detestable smile on his face.
Ryner was very familiar with this kind of smile.
A completely nude and injured female’s body was thrown in front of the boy…
After that the boy who would only cry in pain, saw that—
“M, Mother…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh?!”
That wasn’t a scream. It was a deeply devastating cry that was unbearable.
But, the man laughed.
He laughed.
Laughed…
Ryner seeing that, thought again…
Ryner could only tremble continuously.
Those people’s smiles.
It was the same like that time.
So he thought—
He thought of slaughter.
He wanted to kill this person, kill these people, and kill everything in this country…
But…
At this moment, the man laughed again.
“See, because of you, she’s dead. Your mother died because you are a demon. That means, the sinful father of a demon like you has to die too?”
Saying that, the boy’s father was carried forward by the soldiers…
His father was still alive. His body was covered with injuries too, he seemed to be very weak. When he saw the boy…
“A, Arua?!”
“Father!”
The two cried simultaneously.
The youth said:
“M, mother… mother because of me…”
But, the boy’s father shook his head hard.
“It’s not your fault! It’s not… it’s these people. These people are crazy. This definitely isn’t your fault. So you can't do what they want, Arua. Even if I am killed, don’t worry. You’re still alive. You cannot lose control, lose your humanity…”
This conversation.
This scene.
Ryner didn’t want to see it again.
He had seen it many times.
So, please don’t… let me suffer again…
In that moment—
“Ryner!”
A strong impact struck his head.
“Ah! Ouch?! Eh? That…”
Ryner was startled.
Ferris who had pulled out her sword at some point in time, waved her sword down again.
“Good. You seemed like you were about to fall asleep. Even so, next time I will change to using my blade to strike your head…”
Ryner frantically said:
“Urgh, chop? That isn’t the sound of hitting people, that’s the sound of chopping people, right? I will die, don’t mess around!”
Ryner shouted angrily as softly as he could, then…
He looked around again…
“Uh… I… what was I doing…”
Ferris stared at Ryner’s face, falling silent for a moment, then nodding.
“Yes. There’s no problem. That is the day dream that all perverts have. You are that kind of person. Are you imagining things again?”
Ryner hearing this.
“Eh?! Why do you always…”
But Ferris interrupted him.
“Shut up. We’re out of time. The boy’s father is going to be killed by the man who is as perverted as you. There’s no time to decide on our battle plan. We’ll break in by force.”
Saying that, Ferris ran out, Ryner was stunned when he saw this.
“Eh? Ah, hey… Ah, what break in by force… the enemy’s numbers are not small…”
In the end, he followed after Ferris…
As Ferris defeated the enemy, she continued to move forward in a straight line… She had already reached the middle of the square—where the boy was.
“No, don’t leave me behind…”
Ryner quickly followed after her, at the same time he rapidly drew some glowing letters, creating magic, protecting Ferris.
He wasn’t using the magic that belonged to Roland Empire, but he was using the duplicated magic he had learnt, from when he met the deceased Estabul Kingdom soldiers.
This way, even if the origins of his magic was recognized, at least it wouldn’t worsen the relationship between Roland and Runa, right?
The remaining problem, was the armour and weapons that Ryner and Ferris were wearing, that had the mark of Roland… But, they were attacking when the enemy was unprepared, and they were moving at a fast pace.
They shouldn’t be easily recognized, right?
Anyway, Ryner aggressively started to chant the magic verses…
The Runa soldiers were shocked.
They probably weren’t expecting to be attacked?
The team of thirty soldiers were thrown into chaos, even the location of their enemy and what kind of attack they were launching was unknown to them…
“Maybe there’s a chance…”
When Ryner was muttering to himself, he suddenly frowned.
In front of him…
Unlike the other soldiers, the Mage Knight Battalion who had clearly grasped Ryner and Ferris’s movements, according to the direction where they were rushing towards, discovered that their aim was the boy… They gathered at where the boy was…
And they yelled—
“It’s, it’s those people! They’re not using magic from our country!”
The normal soldiers behind started to regroup…
Ryner couldn’t help but groan in his mind.
“Damnit, it seems like ambushing them doesn’t have a good impact. If this continues, we probably may not be able to save the brat and his father…”
At this moment Ryner shouted.
“Hey, the kid’s father! You can’t depend on us to save you! Help us! First push off that stupid noble, and loosen the kid’s chains!”
He shouted, the father of the boy who had been lying limply on the ground…
“You, are you here to save us? …From a different country… Ah, Arua, Father will save you now!!”
The man who was a father painstakingly stood up with his heavily injured body, wobbling as he ran over to the boy.
Luckily, the noble had already run off by then, he was gone.
Anyway, the man desperately ran towards the boy…
Arua seeing this, revealed a happy expression as if he were unable to believe it.
“Father! Father!”
He called for his dad…
Perhaps there will be a possibility for survival. Ryner thought. The father would loosen the chains, escaping with Arua… They only needed to come up with a plan during this period of time to restrain their enemies…
He thought that that was impossible.
If it were only he alone it would be pushing it, and…
He looked at Ferris who had power stronger than other, flying in front of him like a whirlwind…
Ryner thought.
If he moved with Ferris, there should be hope.
Yes.
As long as he acted with this person, it would definitely…
The boy’s father shouted.
“I, I’m going to loosen your chains now. I will definitely save you…”
Then…
At that moment...
With a gurgle, it dropped.
The father’s head dropped with a thump, dropping onto the ground…
The Runa soldier held a bloodied sword…
Arua saw that.
In that second, his eyes widened impossibly…
A five pointed star arose.
The same red five pointed star like Ryner.
Alpha Stigma.
The monster, demon that was cursed… that everyone was frightened of and hated…
Once they felt that everything had become hopeless… losing control…
They would create a mass slaughter ground.
They would attempt to destroy everything. They clearly didn’t want that, but they would have no choice but want to destroy everything.
Every time, in the darkest, darkest depths of their inner hearts…
The boy opened his mouth.
Then—
“Ah, ah, aaah, aaaahh, aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhaahahahaha…”
Ferris shouted when she saw this:
“Ryner, go!”
She hit the soldiers in front of them with a sweep of her sword.
The Mage Knights had already started some sort of incantation directed towards Ryner, but, Ryner didn’t regard that.
He ran straight towards the boy, punching the face of the soldier who attacked him, the one that had killed Arua’s father, striking him to the ground…
Then…
He covered the eyes of the boy who was laughing continuously, his laughter was nearly becoming screaming… wiping away the five pointed star that was slowly multiplying in the boy’s eyes…
Following that he punched the boy’s abdomen…
The boy’s laughter stopped abruptly.
He stopped moving.
Ryner turned back and said:
“I succeeded, Ferris, it’s a success. I stopped him. I stopped him from losing control…”
But, Ferris ran over when she heard this, her long sword gleaming. And the chains surrounding the boy shattered…
“Ryner, carry the child, escape! The current situation…”
Ryner nodded.
“I know. We can’t win…”
A few Mage Knights told them:
“You… going with that demon? That is our research material. If you take it, you will be seen as the demon’s companions and receive God's punishment…”
Ryner hearing that.
“Ah? …You say… God’s… punishment?”
In that moment, Ryner looked at them.
His eyes too… had a red five pointed star like the boy…
The Mage Knights had surprised expressions.
“You, you too… are the demon’s companions…”
But, Ryner glared viciously at them.
“…You people… earlier you said God’s… punishment? Just because we have these eyes, God will punish us…? No matter what cruel things you do, God doesn’t punish you, but because we have these eyes, so God will punish us?”
Ferris interrupted from the side:
“…Hey, Ryner. This isn’t the time to be arguing with them. Retreat immediately. If you don’t keep up, I won’t care about you.”
She started to run again.
Displaying a powerful strength that normal soldiers were unable to approach her.
Ryner on the other hand…
“Damnit!”
He followed closely behind her, starting to run swiftly.
As he ran, he carried the youth with his right hand, using his left hand to cover one eye, cursing again and again:
“Damnit, damnit, damnit, damnit…”
He moaned:
“What the hell is that supposed to be? What the hell are you all… saying that God will punish us? Since we are to be punished, then why did you create someone like me? If God exists, then give me an answer! Why did you create someone like me? Purposely creating me… so to play with me like this, and then give me my punishment afterwards?
“Stop joking!
“I’m not your toy.
“We're… alive too.
“We aren’t… demons because we wanted to be born as that… living as monsters…
“We… don’t like having these eyes…”
The hand covering his eye clenched.
He remembered again.
Being recognized as a monster.
Being called a monster, and being on the receiving end of isolation and hatred…
No.
He had enough of being called a monster.
But, I hurt someone that I liked, I hurt everyone who was empathetic towards me.
That was clearly not because I wanted to.
This was clearly not because I wanted to.
But…
Because I am a monster…
His hand was trembling.
The hand covering his eye was trembling.
He knew, tears were flowing out from the eye that had caused him to be ignored…
His eyes stared at the boy in his arms.
At the moment, his expression was so vulnerable, so sad…
“…Or, is everything our fault? …… If this country really has a god existing here, I beg you, tell me the answer…”
He softly prayed.
This was a building that had black walls and was filled with an intimidating aura.
The military section of the Roland Empire, the official residence of the Taboo Breakers Pursuit Squad.
Rahel Miller sat in a room with no decorations, looking at the files that his subordinates had sent him.
“…Urgh.”
A wrinkle appeared between his eye brows.
He had a face with deep contour lines and a strong muscular body.
He had his usual sour expression, making him emanate a sternness that a thirty year old man should not have.
No, it wasn’t only his appearance that was stern. At the same time Miller had results and abilities to be proud of.
He always completed his missions with a firm determination, and he also knew how to reveal soft methods, in different situations.
An amazing ability like this, had appeared from an orphan who had no one to fall back on…
And it had allowed a young man like him to raise to the position of the Major General quickly.
According to the normal standards, this was an outstanding event that could not have been arranged. No, other than the nobles, for someone of his birth to raise to the higher ranks, was near impossible.
But then, no one had expressed displeasure at the fact that Miller had been promoted to Major General.
In the era of the previous king…
Even in the mad era where the authority was held by the nobles, no one had uttered a word of resentment to Miller becoming a Major General.
Perhaps it was because his character and ability was so excellent, that it stemmed all of the protests. Even among those who had just entered the military, the young nobles, there were some who had held him in high regard, and admired him greatly.
Even so, that was not the most important reason.
The real reason laid with…
The profession that Miller willingly took up.
The duty of the pursuit of the Taboo Breakers.
So that the secrets of the country’s magic would not be leaked out, when the people who had learnt Roland’s magic escaped death or smuggled out of the country, this squad would set out to pursue, capture, and even prosecute them.
Among the squads in the Roland army, this squad should be counted as an important part.
Because, once the sequence and structure of Roland’s magic were leaked to other countries, it would be equal to exposing Roland Empire’s weakness. It would be the same as giving those countries a chance to attack Roland.
Providing this opportunity… it was equal to the possibility of creating an explosive war.
So, logically, this department should be in a position to decide the fate of Roland, it should be an extremely important department.
But, the nobles were supporting the idea of disbanding the squad.
The reason was simple.
Because this squad was a job that had a high level of actual battle experience, even though there was no war.
And the missions that were a long way away from Roland, where they could not receive reinforcements, were very dangerous.
So the nobles did not like this job.
So the nobles wanted to push this job, to orphans who did not care about life or death, or the normal citizens. Then mock them, saying that this was a squad were inhuman, lowly watchdogs assembled.
Under this situation, Miller who was an orphan became the most responsible person in the group, and seemed not to attract the nobles’ interest.
Of course Miller could not be called the most responsible person without a title, so, he had been given the position of the Major General.
He had already instilled this working attitude into the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad.
He had an attitude that was completely better than those nobles who had a carefree attitude… who didn’t care about how many people died, a serious attitude that was much better than them by several times to carry out matters…
Miller had borne up the absolute authority of the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad just like that.
But, the nobles didn’t realize that.
They never realized why Miller had chosen this Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad…
If they really knew Miller’s person and ability, they should know, he should not be in the position of the Major General.
But, the nobles didn’t discover.
They didn’t discover that Miller was hiding many capable talents from the searching nobles, giving them more intensive training, keeping them by his side to protect them.
Claugh Klom, Calne Kaiwal, Luke Stokkart.
And numerous other talents were gathered together…
After that, the time came.
A large beam of light was born.
That large beam of light that was Sion Astal.
A light that was large enough to change everything.
Then, that was definitely not coincidence.
That was necessary.
The nobles had slaughtered too many.
The nobles had lusted, and had fallen too greatly.
The more seriously the nobles erred, the more the talented people who gathered under Miller’s wing.
Yes, everything was necessary.
He had seen through everything. He saw that this country would leave the nobles’ grasp, would right itself completely…
He had seen a more distant future.
Only that the nobles had not noticed.
Only they had not noticed, from the stage when Miller had came to the position of Major General, that their destinies had ended…
Following that, the revolution began.
No, that was another matter.
Anyway, now Miller was looking at the file that his subordinate had handed in.
A girl stood in front of him, peeking at his expression.
No, perhaps she shouldn’t be called a girl. She was an elite who was able to become the captain of the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad at the age of sixteen, and she was a first lieutenant.
But…
She was a cute simple girl who suited the word ‘girl’ perfectly.
First Lieutenant Milk Callaud.
She had brown hair tied up in a ponytail, and a cute doll like face. Round eyes, and a slim petite body.
No matter how you tried to phrase it politely… She didn’t seem like a female who could move independently…
Chosen as the captain at the tender age of sixteen, her abilities were above the norm, but…
From the practical magic structures to its theory, from martial arts to various fighting arts, she had abnormal capabilities, and among these capabilities, her most outstanding quality was—
The amazing ability on war tactics and strategies.
Other than that, she had the art of being able to reach out to her subordinates’ hearts in an instant.
That should be said to be a natural talent right?
Miller looked at Milk with a pained expression, and the subordinates standing behind her.
Luke Stokkart.
Lear Rinkal.
Moe Velariore.
Lach Velariore.
These subordinates who were once Miller’s, but were now completely under Milk’s spell… a more accurate description would be, they had a similar protective attitude, swearing to be loyal only to her.
Not only that…
Among this young squad, Luke who was only twenty five years old, and was called the eldest, at the same time was also Milk’s assistant officer whispered:
(Today the major general has a bitter expression again~ Captain Milk.)
In that moment, Miller wanted to tell him “I heard that, Luke?”, but he put aside the idea.
Milk said:
(Urgh~ He must be angry because we failed our mission right…?)
Saying that, Milk peeked at Miller’s face, Miller seeing the situation, immediately turned his gaze to the documents.
So Luke whispered:
(It’s like that, Captain. It wasn't our fault that the mission was a failure, so even if we are scolded, you don’t have to take it to heart.)
Miller hearing this, laughed wryly in his heart.
Yes. The magnitude of Milk’s power could be seen from this.
In the period of the revolution… no, even before joining the revolution, Luke wasn’t a person who would talk like this.
He had a tall thin body, and was always smiling, seeming to be courtly… and he had a deceptively gentle tone…
And, the man called Luke Stokkart had an amazing ability at the same time.
He was always smiling, and he could finish his mission with an unbelievable calmness.
The first time he had seen him demonstrate this ability, Miller had even praised him silently.
That ability could possibly even override the Crimson Fingered Claugh Klom.
Of course, on the matter of fighting ability, he was in the disadvantage.
But, he had the ability to remain calm no matter the situation…
Assessing the enemy’s strength, finding the solution to success under various circumstances.
These fortes were not common.
From this point, no matter how special Milk Callaud was, she could not compare to Luke.
Luke was a kind of genius.
But…
He had become Milk’s assistant willingly.
After coming into contact with Milk, he immediately lost his composure.
And had become very melodramatic.
Now Luke’s face had an expression as if he were looking at his beloved child, a completely unprincipled look…
(It’s because the opponent was too strong. He was really strong that everything became messed up. Ah, after looking at the report, we may be released from our duties…)
Apart from the report that Milk had handed in, Luke had handed in his report too, he had mentioned the person that they were pursuing now, a man called Ryner Lute.
‘To Captain Milk who is flowering, this person is very dangerous. As her guardian I am worried all day and night, and I am unable to rest properly.’
The content on the report, really made Miller confused…
What had happened to Luke…?
Towards this incomprehensible situation, Miller’s face became more and more unhappy.
But, Lear, Moe and Lach were similarly drawn in by her…
Maybe this was the power of the girl called Milk Callaud.
Although this power was a little strange…
At this moment, Milk said in a small voice:
(That, that won’t do. I must capture Ryner. Because, because, I told Ryner long ago. But Ryner eloped with that beautiful woman… so I must capture Ryner that perverted man!)
Did she really think that Miller could not hear her loud voice?
At this moment.
(…But, Captain, although you say that. The current problem is, we can’t defeat him…)
When Luke spoke till here—
“No~ I must arrest him!”
(Ah, shh! Shh! Captain, you can’t be so loud! Do you know where this is?! This is the office of the major general!)
(Ah! Oh yes! Sorry, Luke. He, did he hear it…)
The conversation between the two of them…
Then had been whispering so loudly, Miller had already given up on what was missing from this situation…
He couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Huh… it's good that you’re full of energy as usual… First Lieutenant Callaud.”
“Yes, yes. It’s thanks to the major general! Major General Miller, as always, has a face that's bi…”
At this moment Luke patted Milk from behind, Milk quickly stopped, then—”
“Uh, that, no, eh, that Major General Miller too… has been energetic.”
Luke chuckled as he did these small actions.
It wasn’t his usual smile, but it was chuckling.
He looked at Miller, happily enjoying Miller’s reaction. Luke must have known that their whispered conversation was heard right?
Miller couldn’t help but smile bitterly inside his heart that, in a short period of time, Luke had became an annoying person.
Because he felt at loss of what to do, Miller looked back at the report.
“You can save the pleasantries. Then, the actual problem is, your powers can’t overcome this Taboo Breaker, right?”
Although he said that, but Miller was very clear, of course they could not win this fight.
The king had sent Milk to Miller and said:
“Let Milk arrest this person called Ryner, the situation will definitely progress in an interesting manner.”
Although he had said that, but according to Miller’s research, that man called Ryner Lute, and the swordswoman called Ferris Eris, both had histories that weren’t normal.
Ryner Lute, born in the Roland Special Institute 307—that place where the construction of the strongest military weapon took place, and had survived from the place, and even left extraordinary results in that facility that were said to be legendary.
And he was a person whose forte was to control all magic…
A person who could commit mass slaughter—
The wielder of the Alpha Stigma…
The other person travelling with him, was the daughter of the Eris family…
Although Luke was by her side, but to Milk, the burden was too heavy.
Because, this duo Taboo Breaker depended only on the power of two people, to defeat the Mage Knight Battalion of the Imperial Nelpha.
Talking about the Mage Knights, on the surface they were the strongest squad of that country…
Simply speaking, arresting such an amazing fighting monster, it was really a courageous expedition that had no plan.
This was an abnormal matter.
Yes. Abnormal.
But…
“Then? You can handle it? Or can you not win?”
Milk nodded as if expected, saying:
“Of course! This mission is too simple! The other time it was just a coincidence that the Imperial Nelpha Mage Knight Battalion…”
Luke and the others hearing this, became frantic.
“Wait, wait a moment, Captain? What are you saying?”
Moe said:
“It’s, it’s impossible. Fighting with a monster like that Taboo Breaker… I think we should give up on this mission…”
But at this moment—
“Enough! Please be quiet!”
Milk pointed at her subordinates, saying determinedly:
“Next time we definitely wouldn’t make a mistake!”
“Wu… where…?”
Milk nodded, earnestly saying:
“Because last time I didn’t act seriously… I… if I am serious, Ryner would be dealt with easily! He wouldn’t be dazzled by a woman whose only good point is her beauty! Am not right? Luke?”
“Ah? Ah, that… yes…”
Miller seeing this, smiled wryly. Luke really didn’t want Milk and that man Ryner to meet.
Because of that…
Miller smiled and nodded.
“I see. So if even Luke has the confidence that you will succeed, there should be no problem, right?”
“Ah? Ah, that…”
Luke looked at Miller, with a stupid expression.
That was the first time that Miller saw Luke having that expression. Miller said:
“Alright. If that’s the case, then from now on this mission will be left to Milk Callaud’s Taboo Pursuit Squad to deal with.”
“Ah…”
At this moment, Luke seemed to have discover that Miller was smiling faintly.
So Miller made his smile more obvious, seeming to tell Luke, you want to make a fool out of me? You’re too early by a hundred years! But apart from Luke who'd been acquainted with Miller for the longest, the others probably didn’t realize Miller’s change in expression…
To the normal people, they would probably feel that his usual tight features had relaxed slightly?
Anyway, Luke seeing this, bowed his head in dejection…
He looked at Milk, and only saw the burning determination in her eyes.
“Alright, Ryner! Wait for me! Since we have decided that, then let’s set off for Runa Empire immediately! Runa is our allied country, it’s an easy matter for us to enter the its boundaries! Let’s go!”
Saying that Milk quickly left the room. After Luke watched her leave, he motioned for the other group members to catch up with her.
So the other three nodded.
“Please wait, Captain~!”
“Ah, it’s a rare chance for us to return to Roland, let’s find a place for us to play first, Captain!”
“Ah, I have information about a newly opened food store, so shall we visit it first?”
They chattered, leaving noisily.
After watching these subordinates leave, Luke sighed with an expression that Miller had never seen before…
Miller laughed.
And Luke had a slightly unhappy expression as he said:
“I say Miller-senpai, you’re quite willing to stand by and watch others suffer. Haven’t you seen the report that I wrote? It’s obvious, that man called Ryner Lute is not suitable for Captain Milk? Captain Milk should be suited to a more warm, hardworking, serious…”
He started to talk to himself again, Miller shrugged when he heard this.
“But, that is not decided by me. It was decided by First Lieutenant Callaud… or…”
Luke hearing this, frowned.
“Or Sion-san? That person looks like a good person, but in reality he also likes to mess with others… Next time that I will submit a report on this matter, Major General Miller, you will have to help me hand it in to him then. For Captain Milk, having a romantic relationship now is too early.”
Saying that, he nodded self-consciously a few times.
Luke’s behavior that was like those foolish parents caused Miller to have no idea of how to deal with this.
At this moment, Luke said:
“…Oh yes, how is the situation on Sion-san’s side doing?”
This time, his tone had no indication of his previous lightheartedness, seeming to be very serious.
Miller said:
“…Many things seem to be quite challenging. Last night he came to ask me again if I wanted to be promoted.”
“Eh? What position does he want to promote you to this time?”
Miller hearing this, frowned slightly.
“He wants me to be responsible to leading the whole Roland army.”
“Wow, this time he wants you to be Field Marshal? Isn't that good? Miller-senpai leading the whole Roland army… Aside from the nobles, this is what everyone wishes for. If you become the field marshal, no one would have any objections right?”
The more Miller heard the more he frowned. He said:
“You clearly know that I rejected this offer, and you still continue to speak of it in this way?”
Luke smiled.
“Yes. Because you are not someone who wishes to become outstanding. No, this place definitely needs senpai. If we change to someone who is not suited, allowing the Taboo Breakers to escape… this will trigger another war…”
But, Miller interrupted Luke.
“That is not the only reason I’m staying here. Subordinates who are able to control this department can be found anywhere. You or Lear… The king said this before. He wishes to pass the responsibility of the Taboo Breaker Pursuit Squad to Lear, I’ll become a field marshal, Claugh and you will be promoted to Lieutenant General.”
Luke hearing this, suddenly stiffened his expression.
“Wow… me, me too?”
“…This isn’t something we’re casually talking about. The lack in manpower has worsened to this degree. But, I cannot leave here, you and Lear too. If you accept a position that will attract everyone’s attention, many things will become troublesome to carry out. But, lowly people should have lowly people’s opinions. We have to stand at the positions at the base of the foundation to support Roland… so, we can only ask Claugh to work harder.”
Luke hearing this laughed.
“Ah, Claugh is becoming the field marshal? He'll definitely sulk, right?”
Miller smiled too.
“Who knows? Because they just spread the news of the newcomers this morning. Well, judging by his personality, he will definitely shout and yell at Sion?”
Luke laughed until he could not support himself, saying:
“Then Sion-san will give him a reason he cannot dispute, so he’ll just simply accept it… it has always turned out this way. Although him becoming field marshal wouldn’t be as good as you, at least he can guide the Roland army in the right direction, right?”
Miller nodded.
“But the problem is…”
“…It is… the nobles right? Sion-san seems to be finally carrying out steps? I personally feel it’s a little late. If we don’t chase those corrupt nobles away soon, this country probably cannot last any longer right? Even if it is eradication or any other methods, it’s fine as long as it is done.”
Luke said heatedly, Miller studied his face.
“…Do you hate the nobles more than you did in the past?”
Luke replied:
“Don’t you hate them just as much, Miller-senpai? Those people only snatch everything away without even thinking. Among those in the Taboo Breaker Squad, there probably isn’t anyone who doesn’t hate the nobles, right? Furthermore…”
Reaching there, Luke’s expression carried anger…
“Captain Milk has suffered completely from their mistreatment! A child with such a happy personality… she only ate breakfast with us and chatted with us happily, then she cried as she said that she “never had a meal while happily talking with people”… What have those people done to Captain Milk… Just thinking about that, I feel such hatred that I want to kill them, sometimes at night I can’t even sleep… But, Captain Milk doesn’t hate her… no, it’s the family that bought her… Ah, it’s really enough!”
He said angrily.
Here it comes again… Miller shook his head in astonishment. Luke had been constantly talking about Milk lately…
But…
“Oh. The elite who graduated from the Cadets’ Academy with outstanding results, First Lieutenant Milk Callaud… although she is the daughter of a noble, but she is easy to approach. Isn’t this something interesting?”
Luke hearing this, nodded expectantly.
“…Because she is the same as us, she used to be an orphan… then she was adopted. She only represented the noble’s own child to come serve in the army, as a puppet… but, she was unbelievably obedient.”
“Yes… you have to protect her properly, Luke. Because this young generation is the pillar to support Roland’s future.”
“Eh? I think that I’m still quite young… Miller-senpai.”
“Compared to sixteen years old, aren’t you an old uncle?”
“Then senpai who is over thirty years old is an old man?”
“You…”
Miller frowned unhappily. Luke stuck his tongue out when he saw this.
“Ah, before I annoy you, I think I should escape.”
“Really, leave quickly! I have a large pile of work to do too. Ah, right, Milk Callaud’s team can have a few days of leave. You haven’t been back in Roland for a long time. Go and stretch your wings properly. But, be careful of the king? If you meet him, you might be dragged off to become an officer.”
Luke shrugged when he heard this.
“I know. I will be cautious of His Majesty Sion. Then, I’m going to chase after our princess now.”
As he walked out of the room, he crossed his arms in thought…
“A vacation… If a vacation disrupts our pace in life, it wouldn’t be a good thing for a child… This is a difficulty. I have to go and discuss with Lear and the others, we have to come up with a plan that can let Captain Milk have fun and benefit her at the same time… That means, it’ll be best to have a camp…”
He muttered to himself, walking further away.
Miller seeing this…
“…Really.”
He sighed again.
After that, under Luke’s plan of having a ‘happy summer break’, Milk spent her days happily by exercising or having a curry feast.
But, in the time that they had their break, the world still continued to change.
The change started from within Roland, it started with the nobles who had a great power—
Assassins attacked the mansions of nobles.
It was a good thing that the nobles defeated the assassins, and no major problem was caused.
After that, the assassins continued to appear around all the nobles…
Not long after, the assassins appeared at Milk’s old house too…
No, it appeared at the noble family Callaud who brought Milk.
The moving air slowly started to expand in Roland…
But, how many people realized, actually those assassins had not killed a single noble?
Many nobles had suffered from attacks from assassins, but nobody died…
There was no casualties.
How many people could discover, that there was something abnormal and strange about these matters?
Yes.
Not a single person died.
There was no one sacrificed.
Then…
Seeing this information, Miller narrowed his eyes.
Then—
“… Has the purging finally started…”
He placed the file on the table, sighing, then called his subordinates over.
“Luke and the rest… no, what is Milk Callaud’s pursuit squad doing right now?”
His subordinate answered:
“Luke-senpai and the others are now in the city buying things…”
Miller nodded.
“Call them back immediately. There’s something for them to do.”
“Eh? But, Luke-senpai’s leave hasn’t ended…”
But Miller shook his head.
“I’ll say it again. Call them back. If they refuse, then tell this to Luke—‘Milk Callaud cannot stay within the country boundaries now. Or else she will be involved in a major commotion.’”
His subordinate hearing this, revealed a confused expression.
“Ah? Commotion? What is going on…”
Miller frowned in reply…
“Yes. Then, I’ll go tell Luke-senpai immediately.”
Saying that, the subordinate quickly left the room.
After making sure that his subordinate had left, Miller picked up the folder on his table again…
He sighed softly.
Turning time back slightly.
When Sion had just received news of Noa’s attack…
Ryner and Ferris were using their fastest speed, rushing towards a mountain that was far away from Roland…
The magnitude of their speed was not normal.
They ran faster than a normal person on a plain without any obstructions, although the mountains had countless growths, the branches were tangled, the path was slightly uneven, and their night vision wasn’t the best, but they continued to run…
Ryner spoke, saying with a slightly angry voice:
“Talking about that, what do you think? Actually climbing the mountain late at night… It’s really bad enough, I’ve definitely been overworked recently. Ah… Sion that guy, he must be misusing his privileges of being a king, lying on his high-grade bed and sleeping comfortably…”
In truth, when Ryner said these, Sion had not slept for thirty hours straight, he didn’t even have the time to think of dozing off…
Of course Ryner knew nothing about this. Even if he knew, he would find some reason to complain…
Ferris nodded too:
“…The best bed and the best dango… Urgh. Earlier I said that it wouldn’t be bad being a deity, but it seems like being a king isn’t a bad deal too. If I feel bored, I can bully a pervert like you, and command you to run around the world.”
“Talking about that, I’m being bullied? Right?”
“Eh? Don’t tell me you aren’t?”
Ferris asked in reply. Ryner hugged his arms as he ran agilely…
“Ah, maybe I’m being bullied… I suddenly feel like my feet are very tired…”
At this moment, they finally stopped, then hid among the trees…
“Huh… finally reached. Really, why is it so far out? Why did they find such an isolated place to conduct their experiments on monsters, why did they take the trouble?”
Ryner peeked out from behind the shade, surveying the front.
He saw many torches lit in front of him.
It was a square that was built on the mountain.
The plaza was quite big. Honestly speaking, just by covering a square in the mountain, it should have taken up a sum of money and labour, right?
Cutting down large amounts of trees, the whole area…
But…
Ferris said:
“But… If that is true, they would need a place like this that would be fine if its surroundings were destroyed, right?”
Ryner nodded when he heard this…
“…That’s right. Based on this point, the mountains may be the most suitable place for this… Then, that brat called Arua…”
He looked at the square again.
There were quite a number of soldiers.
Judging by numbers, there should be thirty people?
And these thirty people weren’t ordinary soldiers. From their actions, it could be seen that they were specially trained soldiers.
Not only that, among them there were a few…
They were wearing different armour… Armour that were made with several circular plates that seemed like that were sharp enough to cut people just by touching them.
An eye-catching armour, and a clearly different aura from them… It was plainly clear. Ryner frowned and said:
“Ah~ Those people are the Mage Knight Battalion…”
The Mage Knight Battalion…
They had a strong power, just by having the battalion appear, was enough to change the tides of the battle…
They were always used to measure a country’s strength… on the surface they were the strongest squad that could change a country.
Even that squad had appeared here…
“This is going to be troublesome…”
Ryner said as if groaning:
Honestly speaking… just by Ryner and Ferris, the enemies weren’t easy opponents. And this time they had to rescue that youth, and as they protected him, they had to fight with the enemy… In addition, because they were allied with Runa, both parties had not fought against each other in some time, so they didn’t know what magic they would use…
If they were unable to use their magic without having a belief in it, then even by using Ryner’s Alpha Stigma they would be unable to steal the other side’s magic…
Furthermore the Mage Knight Battalion… Wait, if he had to list out all the bad points about it, he could list a long list of them.
Ryner suddenly had a defeated expression.
“Ah, impossible. Let’s go back! We definitely…”
But, at this moment Ferris covered Ryner’s mouth.
“Quiet. They’re here. That’s the one, right?”
So Ryner looked in that direction again.
And then…
“…”
He couldn’t say anything.
The scene before him—it was too harsh…
A boy who had the same black hair as Ryner, and seemed to be still innocent appeared.
That boy was chained to a tree that was cut down. Then he was brought out by people rolling the tree.
The boy’s body was crushed by the trunk of the tree that could easily be three times his weight… Every time he was crushed, the boy would scream…
But, the trunk didn’t stop moving.
The only man there not wearing any armour smiled as he kicked the boy’s head, then he shoved his boot into the boy’s mouth.
“Ne, let’s quickly see you lose control, you monster. Really, handing in the report about you to the superiors was a good thing, but then I have to stay in this isolated mountain to carry out research every day… It’s really dismal. Everything… is your fault!”
Saying that, he kicked the youth’s head again.
Blood droplets flew. The boy’s mouth was probably bleeding? Blooding froth flew from his mouth… But, the man seemed to be enjoying himself, again and again, again and again he kicked the boy’s head…
The boy’s consciousness had already blurred slowly… it felt like he was numb.
The man’s servant brought a water bucket over, grabbing the boy’s hair, forcing his head into the pail…
“Ah… ah, ah…”
The boy woke up, starting to struggle… But, the man continued to push the boy’s head into the water…
Struggle.
Fight.
But, his head was still forcefully kept there… The man laughed.
He laughed and said:
“Ah, the demon is struggling. Is it painful? Is it upsetting? Then beg me! Say, the saint that has defeated a cursed demon like you, Tese Chardi, please save me. If you don’t say it I’ll let you die!”
Saying that, he laughed again.
But, the boy’s face was submerged in water, he couldn’t speak at all…
When the boy’s movements became weak, Chardi kicked hard at the person and bucket.
“Heh! This is boring! Lose control quickly!”
The man roared.
It was messy.
The boy was taken away… The girl that they met in the village Kuku said, it had already been eight days.
Eight days.
This matter had continuously happened for eight days…
Ryner seeing this…
“…”
He wasn’t angry.
Only his body couldn’t keep trembling.
It came suddenly.
He knew that feeling.
He had seen that scene before.
Man…
Man…
Torturing him.
Kicking him.
Not feeding him.
Mockingly saying, monsters didn’t need to eat.
Someone threw faeces and urine at him.
His neck had been strangled so tightly that he nearly died of suffocation.
The things happening in front of him.
They were things he was familiar with… Too familiar, too familiar…
Ryner knew too, what would happen next. So, he shook.
By his side—
“Hey, Ryner, calm down. Even if you jump down now you can’t save that kid. We have to come up with a battle plan. First I…”
Then, what was spoken next he couldn’t hear it.
Because, he knew what was going to happen next.
Don’t…
He thought.
I don’t want to see it anymore.
No more.
Save me…
The man said to the boy in front of him:
“Damn, harming you yourself doesn’t have the power to make you lose control? Then… how about this?”
The man had a detestable smile on his face.
Ryner was very familiar with this kind of smile.
A completely nude and injured female’s body was thrown in front of the boy…
After that the boy who would only cry in pain, saw that—
“M, Mother…Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh?!”
That wasn’t a scream. It was a deeply devastating cry that was unbearable.
But, the man laughed.
He laughed.
Laughed…
Ryner seeing that, thought again…
Ryner could only tremble continuously.
Those people’s smiles.
It was the same like that time.
So he thought—
He thought of slaughter.
He wanted to kill this person, kill these people, and kill everything in this country…
But…
At this moment, the man laughed again.
“See, because of you, she’s dead. Your mother died because you are a demon. That means, the sinful father of a demon like you has to die too?”
Saying that, the boy’s father was carried forward by the soldiers…
His father was still alive. His body was covered with injuries too, he seemed to be very weak. When he saw the boy…
“A, Arua?!”
“Father!”
The two cried simultaneously.
The youth said:
“M, mother… mother because of me…”
But, the boy’s father shook his head hard.
“It’s not your fault! It’s not… it’s these people. These people are crazy. This definitely isn’t your fault. So you can't do what they want, Arua. Even if I am killed, don’t worry. You’re still alive. You cannot lose control, lose your humanity…”
This conversation.
This scene.
Ryner didn’t want to see it again.
He had seen it many times.
So, please don’t… let me suffer again…
In that moment—
“Ryner!”
A strong impact struck his head.
“Ah! Ouch?! Eh? That…”
Ryner was startled.
Ferris who had pulled out her sword at some point in time, waved her sword down again.
“Good. You seemed like you were about to fall asleep. Even so, next time I will change to using my blade to strike your head…”
Ryner frantically said:
“Urgh, chop? That isn’t the sound of hitting people, that’s the sound of chopping people, right? I will die, don’t mess around!”
Ryner shouted angrily as softly as he could, then…
He looked around again…
“Uh… I… what was I doing…”
Ferris stared at Ryner’s face, falling silent for a moment, then nodding.
“Yes. There’s no problem. That is the day dream that all perverts have. You are that kind of person. Are you imagining things again?”
Ryner hearing this.
“Eh?! Why do you always…”
But Ferris interrupted him.
“Shut up. We’re out of time. The boy’s father is going to be killed by the man who is as perverted as you. There’s no time to decide on our battle plan. We’ll break in by force.”
Saying that, Ferris ran out, Ryner was stunned when he saw this.
“Eh? Ah, hey… Ah, what break in by force… the enemy’s numbers are not small…”
In the end, he followed after Ferris…
As Ferris defeated the enemy, she continued to move forward in a straight line… She had already reached the middle of the square—where the boy was.
“No, don’t leave me behind…”
Ryner quickly followed after her, at the same time he rapidly drew some glowing letters, creating magic, protecting Ferris.
He wasn’t using the magic that belonged to Roland Empire, but he was using the duplicated magic he had learnt, from when he met the deceased Estabul Kingdom soldiers.
This way, even if the origins of his magic was recognized, at least it wouldn’t worsen the relationship between Roland and Runa, right?
The remaining problem, was the armour and weapons that Ryner and Ferris were wearing, that had the mark of Roland… But, they were attacking when the enemy was unprepared, and they were moving at a fast pace.
They shouldn’t be easily recognized, right?
Anyway, Ryner aggressively started to chant the magic verses…
The Runa soldiers were shocked.
They probably weren’t expecting to be attacked?
The team of thirty soldiers were thrown into chaos, even the location of their enemy and what kind of attack they were launching was unknown to them…
“Maybe there’s a chance…”
When Ryner was muttering to himself, he suddenly frowned.
In front of him…
Unlike the other soldiers, the Mage Knight Battalion who had clearly grasped Ryner and Ferris’s movements, according to the direction where they were rushing towards, discovered that their aim was the boy… They gathered at where the boy was…
And they yelled—
“It’s, it’s those people! They’re not using magic from our country!”
The normal soldiers behind started to regroup…
Ryner couldn’t help but groan in his mind.
“Damnit, it seems like ambushing them doesn’t have a good impact. If this continues, we probably may not be able to save the brat and his father…”
At this moment Ryner shouted.
“Hey, the kid’s father! You can’t depend on us to save you! Help us! First push off that stupid noble, and loosen the kid’s chains!”
He shouted, the father of the boy who had been lying limply on the ground…
“You, are you here to save us? …From a different country… Ah, Arua, Father will save you now!!”
The man who was a father painstakingly stood up with his heavily injured body, wobbling as he ran over to the boy.
Luckily, the noble had already run off by then, he was gone.
Anyway, the man desperately ran towards the boy…
Arua seeing this, revealed a happy expression as if he were unable to believe it.
“Father! Father!”
He called for his dad…
Perhaps there will be a possibility for survival. Ryner thought. The father would loosen the chains, escaping with Arua… They only needed to come up with a plan during this period of time to restrain their enemies…
He thought that that was impossible.
If it were only he alone it would be pushing it, and…
He looked at Ferris who had power stronger than other, flying in front of him like a whirlwind…
Ryner thought.
If he moved with Ferris, there should be hope.
Yes.
As long as he acted with this person, it would definitely…
The boy’s father shouted.
“I, I’m going to loosen your chains now. I will definitely save you…”
Then…
At that moment...
With a gurgle, it dropped.
The father’s head dropped with a thump, dropping onto the ground…
The Runa soldier held a bloodied sword…
Arua saw that.
In that second, his eyes widened impossibly…
A five pointed star arose.
The same red five pointed star like Ryner.
Alpha Stigma.
The monster, demon that was cursed… that everyone was frightened of and hated…
Once they felt that everything had become hopeless… losing control…
They would create a mass slaughter ground.
They would attempt to destroy everything. They clearly didn’t want that, but they would have no choice but want to destroy everything.
Every time, in the darkest, darkest depths of their inner hearts…
The boy opened his mouth.
Then—
“Ah, ah, aaah, aaaahh, aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhaahahahaha…”
Ferris shouted when she saw this:
“Ryner, go!”
She hit the soldiers in front of them with a sweep of her sword.
The Mage Knights had already started some sort of incantation directed towards Ryner, but, Ryner didn’t regard that.
He ran straight towards the boy, punching the face of the soldier who attacked him, the one that had killed Arua’s father, striking him to the ground…
Then…
He covered the eyes of the boy who was laughing continuously, his laughter was nearly becoming screaming… wiping away the five pointed star that was slowly multiplying in the boy’s eyes…
Following that he punched the boy’s abdomen…
The boy’s laughter stopped abruptly.
He stopped moving.
Ryner turned back and said:
“I succeeded, Ferris, it’s a success. I stopped him. I stopped him from losing control…”
But, Ferris ran over when she heard this, her long sword gleaming. And the chains surrounding the boy shattered…
“Ryner, carry the child, escape! The current situation…”
Ryner nodded.
“I know. We can’t win…”
A few Mage Knights told them:
“You… going with that demon? That is our research material. If you take it, you will be seen as the demon’s companions and receive God's punishment…”
Ryner hearing that.
“Ah? …You say… God’s… punishment?”
In that moment, Ryner looked at them.
His eyes too… had a red five pointed star like the boy…
The Mage Knights had surprised expressions.
“You, you too… are the demon’s companions…”
But, Ryner glared viciously at them.
“…You people… earlier you said God’s… punishment? Just because we have these eyes, God will punish us…? No matter what cruel things you do, God doesn’t punish you, but because we have these eyes, so God will punish us?”
Ferris interrupted from the side:
“…Hey, Ryner. This isn’t the time to be arguing with them. Retreat immediately. If you don’t keep up, I won’t care about you.”
She started to run again.
Displaying a powerful strength that normal soldiers were unable to approach her.
Ryner on the other hand…
“Damnit!”
He followed closely behind her, starting to run swiftly.
As he ran, he carried the youth with his right hand, using his left hand to cover one eye, cursing again and again:
“Damnit, damnit, damnit, damnit…”
He moaned:
“What the hell is that supposed to be? What the hell are you all… saying that God will punish us? Since we are to be punished, then why did you create someone like me? If God exists, then give me an answer! Why did you create someone like me? Purposely creating me… so to play with me like this, and then give me my punishment afterwards?
“Stop joking!
“I’m not your toy.
“We're… alive too.
“We aren’t… demons because we wanted to be born as that… living as monsters…
“We… don’t like having these eyes…”
The hand covering his eye clenched.
He remembered again.
Being recognized as a monster.
Being called a monster, and being on the receiving end of isolation and hatred…
No.
He had enough of being called a monster.
But, I hurt someone that I liked, I hurt everyone who was empathetic towards me.
That was clearly not because I wanted to.
This was clearly not because I wanted to.
But…
Because I am a monster…
His hand was trembling.
The hand covering his eye was trembling.
He knew, tears were flowing out from the eye that had caused him to be ignored…
His eyes stared at the boy in his arms.
At the moment, his expression was so vulnerable, so sad…
“…Or, is everything our fault? …… If this country really has a god existing here, I beg you, tell me the answer…”
He softly prayed.
