Chapter 171

“Form the barrier!”

“District 26 has been breached!”

“Hold the line! Fall back to the District 25 barrier!”

The dwarven city had no walls. There was no need for them.
But the dwarves were not naive.

Even though they lacked walls, they had designed the city to withstand an invasion in case of emergency.

The city was divided into districts and, when necessary, the buildings themselves would rearrange to form barriers.

Creak—

The mechanisms activated with a loud clatter, making the buildings slowly move and form a wall.

─!

At that moment, dozens of Zikrik rammed their massive bodies into the barrier.

The impact caused part of it to collapse, and the dwarves screamed. Behind them, the Envif burst in.

“Damn it!”

“We can’t let them through!”

Amidst the chaotic battlefield, the mayor and the councilors appeared.

Hundreds of citizens who had just been civilians were now armed warriors rushing to join.

“Reinforcements!”

“Uoooooh!”

It was said that most dwarves were warriors, and the councilors were living proof of that saying.

Old and hunched, but with undiminished skill. With precision, they brought down the Envif climbing the barrier.

And they shattered the heads of the Zikrik who made it through with their axes.

But the one who stood out the most was the mayor.

“You think I’ll let the city fall? Never!”

───!
A Turhel, which had been charging in a straight line and crushing everything in its path, stopped for the first time.

The mayor’s muscles swelled as if they were about to burst, his brown aura burst out violently.

The Turhel, surprised, poked its head out of its shell—and the mayor’s battle axe didn’t miss the chance.

With a storm of axe blows, the Turhel let out a heart-wrenching screech.

“Uoooooh!”

“Long live the mayor!”

The monster that had crushed the barrier in an instant was defeated, and the dwarves roared with joy.
The battle wasn’t over, but their morale soared.

“In person it’s even more chaotic.”

“Shall we join in right away?”

“Of course. But first…”

The dwarves were not easy opponents.

The initial damage had been great due to the ambush, but with the mayor and councilors fighting, they would hold the line.

“We can’t let Adguif roam free.”

It would be useless if they didn’t capture Adguif. He could attack the city again at any time.

“Wooden.”

— Kyuu?

He might be relying too much on him, but he didn’t care. What was the point of creating something if you didn’t use it?

“Find Adguif and the dwarves among those monsters. This time do it the other way around—don’t look for corrupted mana, look for those who don’t have it.”

— Kyu?

Me, alone?

“Yes, alone. Can you do it?”

— Kyuuu, kyu?

“For now just locate them. Since we’re connected, I’ll give you new orders depending on the situation.”

Wooden nodded. He took off his collar and, avoiding all eyes, disappeared into the battlefield.

He had acted as a spy many times before—he knew how to move without being noticed.

“Then let’s go too, senior. The more dwarves we save and the fewer casualties they suffer, the more they’ll owe us.”

“As long as no more Turhel show up, I can handle them. Though those giant ants are disgusting…”

“They’re called Envif, senior.”

“Well, they look like cows, but they’re giant ants!”

Ignoring Gismond’s complaints, Fernan headed for the battlefield.

“Wait, don’t leave me behind!”

Hyde and Gismond followed him.

***

— Kyuu.

Wooden solemnly entered the ruins.

Lately, he had found joy in spying, but this time was different.

Corrupted mana was everywhere.

Too many things that shouldn’t exist in this world.

As a forest spirit and heir of the World Tree’s energy, Wooden couldn’t bear such repulsion.

— Kyuu. Kyu.

Monsters. Kill.

Corrupted magic. Erase.

He ran among ruins, avoiding gazes. By minimizing his presence, even the monsters didn’t notice him.

— Kyuu.

There it was. The entrance.

The far eastern end of the city, where the attack had begun.

— Kyu?

What did the dwarves call it? District 30?

The wall was in ruins. The only proof that a city had once stood there was the wreckage.

Wooden entered one of the tunnels dug by the Zikrik.

Since all the monsters had already exited, he didn’t sense any nearby living beings.

He dug a bit, buried himself, and extended his roots.

— Kyuu.

Many presences. Many monsters.

He sensed them in the distance, but they were from the city, so he ignored them.

His roots stretched further into the tunnel.

And soon, he found what he was looking for.

— Kyuu?

Huh? Over here?

He didn’t even have to try. A weakened presence was slowly approaching the city.

— Kyuu?

Now what?

Wooden sent his intent to his master.

‘Out of the more than thirty who disappeared, only one remains. Approach without being detected.’

He obeyed.

“Haa, haa…!”

It was just as his master had expected.

‘Yes, it’s Adguif. But what a mess…’

A dwarf drenched in blood, breathing heavily, clutching his massive axe.

And for a dwarf, he had barely any beard.

— Kyuu.

Death. Soon.

His body was full of holes, one shoulder nearly torn off, blood everywhere.

That he was still alive was a miracle.

Wooden thought no one could save him now.

— Kyun?

What should I do?

‘Wait a moment.’

Then Fernan’s thoughts flooded him.

‘What if Adguif wasn’t the real leader? Or maybe he wasn’t a corrupt dwarf after all?’

‘If he was allied with the corrupt, like Adolf, why would they attack him?’

‘Is there something I don’t know…?’

— Kyuu! Kyuuu!

Enough! It hurts!

— Kyu!

Master, are you dumb?

Wooden grabbed his head, dizzy from the wave of thoughts.

‘Ah, sorry.’

Fernan stopped his reflection. Wooden shook his head to clear the pain.

‘For now…’

Then he sensed another presence. Unlike Adguif’s, it was a monster.

“So here you were, stupid dwarf.”

Footsteps echoed.

The creature looked human, but its pale skin and the corrupt mana surrounding it showed otherwise.

‘Nasgrim, a level 2 monster?’

One of the most intelligent, used by demons as overseers.

‘Did the corrupt summon him to command the beasts? Then everything fits.’

‘Or maybe, like Kimaris, a demon has already been summoned…’

—Kyuuu!

Again!

‘Ah, sorry. Just watch. I’m heading there!’

Wooden, holding his breath, crept close enough without being seen.

“Why did you rebel against the count? If you had kept delivering dwarves, none of this would be happening.”

“And you think I was going to let the city be ravaged?”

“Pfft, when you’ve already handed over hundreds, you’re just being stupid.”

Nasgrim looked at him mockingly. Adguif clenched his teeth.

“You’ll be the sacrifice for a great demon. Unlike the other dwarves.”

“The city will never fall…!”

“Half-dead and still talking, huhuhu.”

Nasgrim snapped his fingers. More than ten Envif crawled out from the darkness.

“Is your body small and your brain even smaller? If you’d just obeyed the count’s orders, you could’ve lived under the protection of the great ones.”

“Shut your mouth, trash.”

Puh— Adguif spat out blackish blood.

“My only regret is not preparing better despite foreseeing your malice, and letting those who trusted me and followed me die.”

“So dignified to the end. But the city will fall. Because of you. Because of your arrogance.”

“What a naïve dream. It’s true this disaster happened due to my mistake, but not even a few hundred monsters can destroy the city.”

Sure, there would be damage, but it wouldn’t collapse.

Adguif’s breathing grew even weaker.

“Do you really believe that?”

Nasgrim pressed a finger into Adguif’s wounds, making him groan.

“The Envif will collect all the bodies of the dwarves who died in the invasion. And with them, we’ll summon more monsters.”

Then, with those monsters, they’ll attack the city again.

They’ll collect more corpses.

And repeat the cycle again and again.

“Do you think the city can withstand all that unscathed?”

“…If you do that, you won’t be able to summon the demon.”

“Everything is already off track. The count is extremely displeased. Instead of a demon, he plans to devour the entire city and create a monster army.”

Adguif’s face turned pale.

“Now that’s an interesting look. Well then, goodbye, stupid dwarf. Making deals with us without even knowing what it meant? Did you really think you could use us?”

Nasgrim raised his hand, which transformed into a massive scythe.

‘No! Wooden, buy some time, no matter what!’

— Kyu?

Time? How?

Hesitating, Wooden picked up a small pebble from the ground and tossed it.

Tap, roll.

The stone rolled with a faint noise.

“…Hm?”

Grr—

But it was enough to catch Nasgrim’s and the Envif’s attention.

“…Who’s there?”

No answer. Not sensing any clear presence, Nasgrim gestured toward the Envif.

The creatures began creeping toward where Wooden had been.

Kill?

Hide?

But his master had ordered him not to reveal his true form.

— Kyu.

Wooden had no choice but to dig underground and hide. The Envif stepped right over the spot where he had been, but found nothing.

Kieeh?

“Nothing? Strange. Maybe the wind?”

The Envif returned to their original position. At that moment, Wooden threw another stone.

“…No. There’s something. Search!”

Nasgrim’s eyes widened and he started approaching.

Wooden, though he had no saliva, swallowed hard.

And then—

Step, step, step.

Firm footsteps were heard.

“The fast sword…”

A voice Wooden already knew well.

“…is explosion!”

The aura flared.

The head of an Envif flew off in a single slash. The decapitated body collapsed.

A moment later—

Rumble!

The ground rose, separating Nasgrim and Adguif.

“Captain Adguif.”

Step, step.

From the darkness emerged a nobleman with red eyes.

“In Pellenberg, we have a saying. Whoever steals our money won’t escape—not even in the afterlife.”

Where do you think you’ll run after betraying your own race?

“The mayor is eagerly waiting for you.”

“…That sounds terrifying.”

Adguif forced a bitter smile, his face pale.