Midnight on the first day of the Great Orir Forest Magic Training. Around the time Yu was unable to sleep and gazing at the blue moon in the night sky.
The Masked Woman was shouting instructions to five subordinates at a location slightly away from the campsite.
"Numbers 1 through 4. Go attach the usual things to a total of twenty Rhinos."
The four instructed subordinates nodded, held round mechanical devices in their hands, and dispersed. After a while, the sounds of Rhinos rampaging could be heard in the distance. The subordinates were doing their job.
What the Masked Woman gave them were Brainwashing Magic Devices. If it is a creature with relatively simple intelligence like a Rhinos, it is a terrifying item that controls them at will.
Before long, obedient Rhinos walked toward her one by one. Having confirmed that the work was proceeding without delay, she called out to the remaining one.
"Number 5, come with me."
"Yes."
Where they headed was deep in the forest. There was a sheer cliff only there, and a huge hole was open at the top. And on the side, a cave opened its mouth wide.
The Masked Woman and Number 5 nodded to each other and stepped into it. The width of the cavity was quite wide, and there was no trouble for people to walk.
Mixed with dampness, an air that seemed to pierce the tense body drifted somewhere. Around them, water dripped pota pota from stone icicles, creating muddy puddles here and there.
As they proceeded to the depths while illuminating the area with Light Magic, they suddenly came out to a wide-open space at once. Standing there was the strongest creature in the forest, boasting a huge body that must be thirty meters long.
Voldrakron. It was a Flame Dragon.
"There it is. The main target."
The dragon, noticing the intruders, got angry at having its territory invaded unreservedly. It glared at them and breathed a powerful fire breath.
The flames spread in the blink of an eye and easily burned to death the man called Number 5 who was slow to escape. The man burned out completely, leaving neither charred meat nor bone. The proof that he existed in this world was now only the steam rising from where he had been.
Glancing at that, the Flame Dragon turned its sharp eyes to the remaining one, the Masked Woman who was hiding her body against the rock surface. She had retreated instantly and barely escaped the disaster.
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The Masked Woman was confident in her magic skills, but she realized that she could never win if she fought head-on. After all, the opponent is not a person, but that mighty dragon. Normally, it would be a desperate situation.
However, she who dared to go challenge such an opponent could not be without a plan. She had a special weapon.
"Oops. You're going to be my pet! Obey me. [Skoltepera]."
The Lost Magic of subjugation exploded. This was a magic effective only in a one-on-one situation between the user and the subject. While it is less convenient to use than the device, it has a powerful advantage that it works even on creatures with higher intelligence.
The dragon resisted desperately, but eventually, the light faded from its eyes as if it had lost proper reason. Finally, it bowed its head to the Masked Woman.
Satisfied with that, she took out something like a communication device. In fact, it was a communication device. This is also one of the lost relics of Edel, and a valuable item that only executives are allowed to possess even in the masked group.
The person she calls is that Master Megil.
『Master. Securing of twenty Rhinos and the Flame Dragon is complete. We will carry it out tomorrow midnight as planned.』
『Umu. Good work.』
『Who is heading to the Ozbein residence?』
『It is the elite led by Mr. Selenberg. There should be no worry.』
『I see. With the completion of the plan imminent, has the time finally come for him to discard his public face and move?』
『Ah. The rest is to cut off the legs. Once Edel revives, it won't matter, but it would be troublesome if the people from the capital came before that by any chance.』
『I have already arranged things for that. I will blow up the railway between Sacris and Orclock. Sacris will fall into a state of isolation and helplessness for about a week.』
『Is that so. That much time is enough. You are truly capable.』
『Ha. I am honored. However, more than us, I am impressed by Master's foresight to firmly crush the obstructive buds before the completion of the plan.』
『Thank you for that. Since we're at it, let's go to the sky with a refreshed body without being disturbed by anyone.』
『My dream will come true soon too, right?』
『Of course. No need to worry.』
『Then, since I still have work left.』
『Umu. Let's meet again in Sacris.』
Disconnecting the communication, she puts the device into her bosom. Then, she closed her eyes and looked back on her footsteps so far.
Ordered by the Master, she really did various things. She dyed her hands in evil deeds that can never be forgiven. And what she is going to do now is the same.
It's not that she didn't question his ruthless methods at first. It's not that there was no rebuke of conscience. Rather, there was considerable amounts of it. Still. For her, it was already a path of no return.
If she stops now, the lives of the humans she has killed so far will be wasted. Above all, the wish she wanted to grant even by going that far will not come true.
Before she knew it, she came to believe that what she was doing was right. She couldn't go on unless she thought so. She came to play the role of the Master's faithful servant. Only when wearing a mask can she hide her true nature underneath.
She opened her eyes and spoke quietly.
"You've interfered with us enough until now. Yu, Alice, Milia."
She muttered each name as if biting into it, and clenched her fist tightly giri giri. The expression behind the mask was filled with sad determination.
"I will erase anyone who blocks my way, no matter who they are. Your lives, too, should burn out together with the trees of this forest."
