一二三は腰にしがみついたシクを蹴り飛ばした。
コロコロと転がっていくシクを一瞥することも無く、鎖鎌を持った一二三は再び進み始めた。
その足取りはゆっくりだが力強く、何者にも止められない圧力を発している。
「闇魔法だと......」
「狼狽えるな! 弓と魔法で畳み掛けろ!」
声がかかったと同時に、石や風の刃に加え、圧縮された水流までもが一二三を狙う。
「おおっと。こいつは激しいな」
軽いステップを踏むように、一二三は飛んでくる魔法を避けていく。
10名程が半円状に囲むように立っている中、鎖鎌を振り回しながら右へ左へと動く一二三に、エルフたちは苛立ちを隠せない。
「周りとタイミングを合わせろ!」
「遅い!」
一二三が放ったのは、分銅の方ではなく鎌の方だ。
「ぎゃっ!」
一人のエルフの首筋、鎖骨に引っかかるように鎌がざっくりと刺さる。
驚愕に目を見開いたエルフは、引き抜く間も無く一二三の方に引き寄せられた。
軽い掛け声で、鎌を抜きつつ首を切り裂く。
手足をばたつかせたエルフは、風魔法に対する盾にされて全身をズタズタにされて絶命する。
くたり、と力を失った身体を、一二三は一人のエルフに向かって投げつけた。
「うわっ?」
騒ぐエルフに突っ込む一二三に、今度は矢も含めて魔法が次々に飛んで来る。
隙間なく打ち出される弓と魔法を正面から迎え撃った一二三は、流石に全てを避ける事はできず、腕や頬に少しずつ切り傷が増えていく。
だが、一二三は笑っている。
「そうだ、そうだそうだ! 必死で抗え! 俺の命を狙え! 自分の命を守るために! 誰かの命を守るために!」
ザッ! と砂を撒き散らして滑り込むように一人のエルフに肉薄し、分銅を握り締めた拳で思い切り顔面を殴りつける。
振り向きざまに握った分銅を投げつけ、もう一人の顔も潰した。
「ふふっ......ふふふふ......」
頬に指を滑らせ、指先に絡みつく熱い血を感じる。
「死ぬ事を想像しろ。それでこそ生きている実感が味わえる。最も......」
鎖鎌を収納し、一二三は腰の刀を抜く。
僅かに顔を覗かせた太陽の光が、木々の隙間からほんのりと刀を照らした。
「死ぬことから目をそらした時点で、お前らはろくな死に方はしないだろうな」
自分とエルフの血に両腕を肘まで染めながら呵呵と笑う一二三に、エルフたちは魔法を放つことも忘れて戦慄した。
残ったエルフたちに、一二三が切っ先を向けた。
「諦めて死を受け入れることにしたのか? 木偶を斬ってもつまらんのだがな」
ピリピリと痛みが走る傷の感触を愉しみながら、刀を左肩に背負うように構える。
「ふざけるな!」
残ったエルフは7人。充分に圧倒できると判断したエルフが叫んだ。
再び、魔法の一斉射撃が行われる。
人間たちが使っていた魔法よりも遥かに早い発動と弾速は、一二三にとっても見切れはしても全ては躱すことができない。
姿勢を低くして、滑るように前に出る一二三は、肩を切られ、石を腹に受けながらも、速度を落とす事は無い。
「温い!」
走り抜けた勢いそのままに、指示を出していたエルフを袈裟懸けに両断する。
短い悲鳴を上げ、エルフは二つに別れた身体を地面に落とした。
見た目には既に満身創痍だが、その顔は晴れ晴れとしている。
「あの人間、不死身か......」
誰かが呟いた言葉に、一二三は口を尖らせた。
「失礼な。不死身なんてつまらないだろう。死ぬかもしれないから、戦いは心を震わせるんだ」
柄頭を左の腰に当てるように構えた一二三は、一足飛びに次のエルフへ近づき、撃ち出すような勢いの突きで殺す。
刀を引き抜き、別のエルフが土魔法で無数の礫を打ち出して来るのを背中で受けながら近づき、振り向きざまに首を刎ねた。
「あと、4人か」
刀を振り、血を払う。
「他の魔法は無いのか? もっと見せてくれ」
「くっ......この!」
一人のエルフが放ったのは、炎の矢だった。
他のエルフが驚いたのを、一二三は視界の端に捉えた。
森の中で生活しているということもあり、火魔法はほとんど使われない、というより、使えないのだろう。
「それでいい」
敢えて火の矢をギリギリで避ける。
右脇を灼熱の火が焦がし、道着が黒く焼ける。
「必死で生きた。そんな実感がするだろう?」
一二三が突き出した刀は、エルフの胸を貫き、背中から切っ先が顔を出している。
「そん、な......」
かすれた声に血が混じり、倒れた拍子に刀が抜ける。
切っ先から滴る血が、地面に落ちる。
「あと3人」
その呟きは小さい。だが、全員の耳に死刑宣告として正しく聞こえていた。
一二三襲撃の前に、動きがあったのは指導者ザンガーの家だった。
「邪魔するぞ」
夜明け前、一言だけ形ばかりの断りを入れて踏み込んで来たのは、村の男衆をまとめるラボラスという男だった。
エルフというイメージとはかけ離れた、背が高く筋肉質で、ナイフの扱いが得意な大男だが、見た目に反して魔法も得意だった。
「なんだいラボラス。突然だねぇ」
「突然なのはどっちだ」
勝手知ったるという雰囲気で、囲炉裏を挟んだザンガーの向かいに座ったラボラスは、全身から剣呑な空気を漂わせていた。
「人間を、この村に入れたと聞いたが」
「ああ、入れたね。というより、来てもらったと言ったほうがいいかもねぇ」
「......なぜ、そんなことをしたのか、聞かせてもらおう」
「個人的なことだよ」
火が弱まった囲炉裏に、ザンガーは小枝を放り込む。
「あんたにゃ、関係ないことさ」
「人間が必要な事とはなんだ? しかも、村の空家を貸してまで泊める必要がある事とは?」
次第にラボラスの声が低くなっていく。
「......何をそんなに必死になっているんだい」
「俺は、な」
ラボラスは、自分の膝を掴んでいる指に力を込めた。
「指導者としてのあんたは尊敬しているつもりだ。村人を良くまとめていると思うし、あんたの言葉なら、と聞く奴も多い。だが......」
言葉を切ったラボラスが右手を上げると、外から二人の男性エルフに両腕を掴まれたプーセが入って来た。
「掟を破ったというなら、それを許すつもりはない」
たれたようで、左の頬を腫らし、両目からポロポロと涙を流していた。両腕を掴まれているのは、魔法で癒さないようにするためだ。
「プーセ......! あんた、同胞に手を出すなんて、何を考えているんだい!」
「掟を破る者を、同胞とは呼ばない」
男たちが手を離すと、プーセはヨロヨロと歩きながら崩れ落ち、ザンガーの横で膝をついた。
「も、申し訳ありません、ザンガー様......」
何を謝ることがあるのか、と思うザンガーに、ラボラスが怒りを滲ませた声を上げた。
「プーセと共に人間を迎えに出た者たちが、死体で見つかった」
ラボラスは、目を覚ましたシクから状況を聞いて、荒野側の結界の近くを捜索したという。そこで、動物に食い荒らされた同胞の死体を発見した。
「それは、あたしの指示を無視して、手荒な扱いをしようとした結果だろうに。残念だとは思うけれど、それが掟に反したとは言えないんじゃないかねぇ」
「相手が、人間で無ければな」
目を見開いたラボラスは、ザンガーを睨めつけた。
「問題はそれだけでは無い」
ラボラスは状況を知る人物としてプーセを呼びつけ、事情を話させる事にした。そこで、ラボラスはプーセに聞いたという。
「シクが朧気に話し声を聞いていた。掟を破り、死にゆく同胞に話しかけ、あろうことか穏やかな死を迎える前に殺したというではないか! 俺はその話を聞くためにプーセを呼んだのだがな」
そのことについて、怯えて口を割らないプーセを殴りつけ、ラボラスは無理やり聞き出した。
「......指導者ザンガーよ。あんたが呼び寄せた人間が、同胞を殺し、この村の重要な掟すら傷つけた。これでも、“個人的な事”で済ませられると、本当にそう思うか?」
ラボラスは、口を引き結んだザンガーから視線を外し、泣き崩れているプーセを睨みつけた。
「少なくとも、同胞の死を汚した罪はプーセにもある。こいつは村の掟に従って、森へ追放するべきだろう」
「......たまたま、人間がやった事に居合わせただけだろうに。それはあんまりじゃないかね」
プーセの背中を右手でさすりながら、ザンガーは擁護の言葉を並べた。
だが、そのどれもがラボラスを納得させることはできなかった。
「残念だが、俺はあんたの言葉を聞く気は無い。明日の朝には村人たちに事態を説明し、あんたを指導者から外すことになるだろう。......人間の死体を見せて村人を安心させ、プーセを追放して掟の厳しさを示すことも必要だろう」
「あんた、あの人間を殺すつもりかね」
「当然だ。あれは異物であり、災厄だ。さっさと処分する以外に無い」
「俺の下で動いている者たちも、掟の重要さをしっかり理解している。そのために、人間を始末することも納得している」
言葉に自信を滲ませたラボラスだが、ザンガーの返答は皮肉な笑みだった。
「そういう意味じゃあないよ。村の男どもで、あの人間に勝てるのか、と言っているのさ」
「俺たちが、人間一人に遅れを取るというのか?」
「遅れを取ったから、迎えに行った連中は死んだんだろうよ」
しばらく、沈黙が室内を包んでいたが、ラボラスがやおら立ち上がった。
「とにかく、朝には村人の総意としてあんたの解任とプーセの追放を行う。それまで、二人ともこの家から出ることを許さん」
プーセを連れてきた二人の男を見張りとして残し、ラボラスは出ていった。
「......相変わらず、口で負けるとすぐ逃げるね、あいつは」
「ザンガー様......」
「ほら、涙をお拭き。あんたは可愛い顔をしているんだから、そんなふうに涙でくちゃくちゃにしていたら、勿体無いじゃないか」
傍らに積んでいた布を一枚掴むと、プーセの顔をそっと拭う。
「あたしは今更、指導者なんて地位に興味は無いんだけれどねぇ。プーセや、あの人間に、とんだとばっちりが行ってしまったね......」
本当にごめんね、とザンガーはまだ動かせる右手で、そっとプーセを撫でた。
ザンガーの家の前で聞き耳を立てていたシクは、プーセが追放されると知り、慌てて助けを求めようと一二三の所へ走ったのだ。
自分がラボラスへ話したせいなのだが、まさかプーセが責めを負うとまでは考えが回らなかった。村の誰に話しても、掟を破ったとラボラスが言えば、プーセが許されることはないだろう。
あれほどの強さを持った人間なら、プーセを救い出してどこか安全な場所まで連れて行ってくれるかもしれない、と考えたのだ。
あの恐ろしい人間に会うのは怖かったし、同胞を殺したときの笑顔を思い出すと膝が震えるのを抑えられないが、他に良い方法が思いつかなかった。自分だけでは、番として残った男たちに勝てるとも思えない。
そうして、助けを求めたシクと、ラボラスが放った刺客がほぼ同時に一二三が止まっている小屋に着いたのだ。
そして今、再び気を失う羽目になったシクがようやく目を覚ました。
「......あれ?」
ぼんやりと見えてきた視界は、天地が逆さまだ。
「あう、いたたた......」
逆さまになった状態で木の幹にぶつかって気絶していたらしい。
もぞもぞと身体をひねって、ようやく座った体勢に戻ったシクは、自分が気を失う前の状況を思い出した。
目の前には完全に潰れた空家があり、その向こうにはいくつもの死体が転がっている。
「うぅぶっ......うぇええ......」
身体が二つに別れた死体からはみ出たものを直視してしまったシクは、胃が空になるまで吐いた。
気を取り直して、死体を見ないように一二三の姿を探したが、まさにその死体に囲まれて、しゃがみこんで何かをやっている後ろ姿が見えた。
綺麗な紺色だった奇妙は衣服はあちこちに穴が空き、何か赤黒いシミで染められていた。
「な、何やってるの?」
意を決して近づいたシクは、一二三が握っているのが誰かの腕だけだと気づいて、白い顔を青くする。
「......お前らエルフが樹木と同化する理由な。やっぱりこれだ」
死体の指先を二つに切り割った一二三は、その断面に指を這わせてから、シクの目の前に突きつけた。
一二三の指先に、白く粘つく何かが張り付いている。
「なに、これ......」
「知らん。何人かを割って調べてみてわかったのは、足や手の指先から少しずつ溜まっていくということだけだ」
一二三は、ここまでの解剖で仮説を立てたが、ほぼ間違いないと確信した。
「食い物なり飲み物なり、あるいはこの森に漂う空気の中の何かが、体内に溜まって変質を促すのだろうな。死にかけの方は首まで粘液が来ていたから、手足からで身体に溜まり、最期は頭の中まで入る。いや、溜まる」
末端から変質し、頭部が最後に侵食されるため、意識がはっきりしたまま身体が変質していくのだ。まるで恐怖を与えるためにそうしているかのような悪質さである。
「じゃ、じゃあ、森で樹木と同化した人って......」
「身体の機能がじわじわ止まって死ぬんだ。相当苦しいだろうな」
「そんな......」
良いことだと信じきっていた風習が、180度違ったと肩を落としたシクは、ようやくプーセとザンガーの事を思い出した。
がばっと顔を上げたシクは、一二三に向かって叫んだ。
「助けて! このままじゃプーセ姉ちゃんが追放されちゃう!」
死体を触っていた両手を懐紙でゴシゴシと拭った一二三は、両手両足を失った死体を掴み、潰れた家の方へ放り捨てた。
「別に興味ないな」
一二三はあっさりと、シクからの涙の願いを断った。
Hifumi sent Shiku, who clung to his waist, flying with a kick.
Without a single glance at Shiku who's rolling on the ground, Hifumi who held the kusarigama, began to advance again.
His stride is slow but powerful releasing a pressure of it being unstoppable by anyone.
"If it is Darkness magic..."
"Don't falter! Shower him with spells and arrows!"
At the same time as the voice resounded, stones, wind blades and even compressed water currents are aimed at Hifumi.
"Uuh-oh. Those are intense." (Hifumi)
Hifumi avoids the spells, which come flying, as if performing a light dance.
The elves can't conceal their irritation due to Hifumi moving left and right and brandishing his kusarigama while being surrounded by 10 of them in a semicircle.
"Match your timings with your companions!"
"Too slow!" (Hifumi)
What Hifumi threw wasn't the counterweight but the sickle part.
"Gyaa!"
The sickle deeply pierces into the nape of an elf's neck getting only stopped by the collarbone.
The elf, who widely opened his eyes in shock, without time to pull it out, was dragged towards Hifumi.
While pulling out the sickle with a light yell of encouragement, he tears the neck.
The elf whose limbs were flapping about, dies having his entire body shredded by wind magic while getting used as shield.
Hifumi threw the body, which lost its strength, at another elf.
"Uwaah?"
Next, spells with arrows mixed in-between come flying at Hifumi who plunges towards the clamouring elves.
Hifumi who was directly assaulted by spells and arrows being hammered out without a single break, is naturally unable to dodge all of them. The cuts on his cheeks and arms are slowly increasing.
However, Hifumi is laughing.
"Yes, that's right, good! Resist me desperately! Aim for my life! For the sake of protecting your own lives! For the sake of protecting someone else's life!" (Hifumi)
Closing in upon a single elf as if sliding upon scattered sand with a *thud*, he drives his fist which tightly grasped the counterweight, into the elf's face with all his power.
Throwing the grasped counterweight over his shoulders, he crushed the face of another elf as well.
"Fufu... fufufufu..." (Hifumi)
Wiping his cheek with a finger, he feels hot blood wetting his fingertip.
"Imagine the instance of your deaths and you will be definitely able to savour the actual feeling of being alive. To begin with..." (Hifumi)
Storing away the kusarigama, Hifumi draws the katana at his waist.
The light of the sun slightly peeked through the gaps between the trees and faintly shone onto the katana.
"At the time you avert your eyes from death, you guys likely won't die in a decent way." (Hifumi)
Due to Hifumi laughing while dyeing the elbows of both his arms with the blood of the elves and himself, the elves shuddered to the degree of even forgetting to release their spells.
Hifumi turned the point of his katana towards the remaining elves.
"Did you decide to surrender and accept your own deaths? Killing wooden dolls is boring as well though." (Hifumi)
While enjoying the tingling feeling originating from the pain of his wounds, he takes a stance with the katana being carried on his left shoulder.
"Don't screw around!"
There are 7 elves remaining. An elf who concluded that it was plenty to overwhelm him, shouted.
Once again a volley of spells is fired.
Even for Hifumi it's impossible to avoid all the fast bullets which are invoked far quicker than any spell used by humans, and thus he gives up on that.
Lowering his stance, Hifumi who moves forward as if sliding, doesn't decrease his speed even while getting struck in the stomach by stones and cut at the shoulders.
"How lukewarm!" (Hifumi)
Using the momentum of running through, he bisects the elf who gave directions, with a slash diagonally from the shoulder.
With a short scream the elf's body split in two parts and dropped to the ground.
He's already covered in wounds all over, but his expression is cheerful.
"Is that human... invincible...?"
Hifumi pouted due to the words muttered by someone.
"How rude. I will be at a loss with something like invincibility. Battles make my heart tremble since I might die." (Hifumi)
Hifumi who took a stance of holding the pommel against the left side of his hips, approaches the next elf in one bound and kills them with the force of a thrust similar to shooting it out.
Pulling out the katana, he closed in on another elf while receiving a barrage of countless pebbles, made with Earth magic, with his back and chopped off the elf's head while turning around.
"4 left, huh?" (Hifumi)
Swinging the katana, he clears away the blood on it.
"Don't you have any other magic? Please show me some more." (Hifumi)
"Kuu... This!"
What one of the elves released was a fire arrow.
Hifumi perceived the other eves' surprise in a corner of his sight.
Being people who live within the forest, they mostly don't use fire magic, or rather, they probably can't use it.
"That's good." (Hifumi)
He deliberately evades the fire arrow at the last second.
The scorching heat of the arrow chars his right side and the dougi turns black.
. It's such a feeling, right?" (Hifumi)
The katana which Hifumi thrust out, pierces the chest of the elf and its point stabs through the elf's back.
"Su...ch a..."
The elf's hoarse voice is blended with blood. The katana slides out at the moment the elf collapsed.
The blood, which is dripping from the point, falls to the ground.
"3 more to go." (Hifumi)
His murmur is small. However, all of their ear's have surely heard it as death sentence.
Before the attack on Hifumi there was movement at the house of the leader Zanga.
"I'm going to intrude."
The one who came entering with a brief comment as warning for form's sake before dawn was a man called Laboras
He was quite different from the image of an elf. With a tall and muscled body build, he was a giant who's good at handling knives, however, contrary to his appearance, he was also good at using magic.
"What is it Laboras? It's quite sudden, you know." (Zanga)
"Who of us is sudden?" (Laboras)
Laboras who sat down opposite of Zanga with the sunken hearth between them with an air of familiarity, emitted a dangerous aura from his entire body.
"I heard you allowed a human to enter this village." (Laboras)
"Indeed, I did. Or rather, it might be better to say that I had him come here." (Zanga)
"... I want you to tell me why you did such thing." (Laboras)
"It's something personal." (Zanga)
Zanga throws a twig into the sunken hearth as the fire grew weak.
"It's something that has nothing to do with you." (Zanga)
"What do you need a human for? Moreover, is it something that requires to give him shelter to the point of lending him the village's vacant house?" (Laboras)
Laboras' voice gradually becomes lower.
"... What's making you so frantic?" (Zanga)
"I'm... not." (Laboras)
Laboras put strength into his fingers, which are grabbing his own knees.
"I intend to respect you as our leader. I believe that you are keeping the villagers together well. If it's your words, there are many who will listen to them, too. But..." (Laboras)
Laboras, who paused, raised his right hand and two male elves who seized Puuse's both arms, came entering from outside.
"If you broke a law, I don't intend to forgive that." (Laboras)
Puuse was apparently hit badly a dozen times, her left cheek was swollen and large drops of tears ran down from both her eyes. Seizing both her arms is in order to make sure that she doesn't heal herself with magic.
"Puuse...! You, what are you thinking to raise your hand at your own brethren!?" (Zanga)
"I don't call someone who has violated the laws, a brethren." (Laboras)
Once released by the hands of the men, Puuse walked unsteadily and crumbled down on her knees next to Zanga.
"I-I'm very sorry, Zanga-sama..." (Puuse)
As Zanga wondered what she was apologizing about, Laboras raised his voice which was blurred by his rage.
"We found the corpses of the people who left to greet the human together with Puuse." (Laboras)
Hearing the situation from Shiku who woke up, Laboras investigated close to the barrier on the wastelands' side. There he discovered the corpses of his brethren who were devoured by wild animals.
"That's probably the result of them attempting to treat him violently while ignoring my instructions. I believe that to be regrettable, but isn't that fine as you can say that they acted against the law?" (Zanga)
"If the opponent isn't a human, that is." (Laboras)
Laboras opened his eyes widely and glared at Zanga.
"That alone isn't the issue." (Laboras)
Summoning Puuse as the person who's aware of the circumstances, Laboras had her explain the situation. What he then heard from Puuse is,
"Shiku heard vague talking voices. Breaking the law, they started a conversation with a brethren heading towards death and of all things killed him before he could welcome a gentle death! I called Puuse for the sake of asking her about that!" (Laboras)
Beating Puuse who didn't reveal the matter in question out of fright, Laboras forcibly extracted the information out of her.
"... Leader Zanga. The human, you invited, killed our brethren and even broke an important law of this village. Do you really think that even this will be finished with 'it's a personal matter'?" (Laboras)
Laboras removed his gaze from Zanga who pursed her mouth, and glared at Puuse who has broken down crying.
"At least Puuse has committed the crime of having dishonoured the death of her brethren. In accordance to the laws of the village, this person should be banished into the forest." (Laboras)
"... She likely only happened to be present at the incident caused by the human by chance. Isn't that a bit too much?" (Zanga)
While placing her right hand on Puuse's back, Zanga lined up words in Puuse's defense.
However, Laboras was unable to agree to either of them.
"It's regrettable, but I have no intention to listen to your words. Tomorrow morning I will explain the circumstances to the villagers and that will likely result in you being removed as leader. ... Soothing the villagers by showing them the human's corpse, it will probably be also necessary to demonstrate the strictness of the laws by banishing Puuse." (Laboras)
"You, do you plan to kill that human?" (Zanga)
"Of course. That being a foreign body, it's a disaster. There's nothing else left but disposing of it quickly." (Laboras)
"Even the people moving under my leadership understand the importance of the laws. For that reason they have also agreed to get rid of the human." (Laboras)
As Laboras' words revealed his confidence, Zanga answered with a sarcastic smile.
"That's not what I mean. I've asked you whether you can win against that human with the village's men." (Zanga)
"Are you telling me that we are falling behind against a single human?" (Laboras)
"T guess the lot who went to greet him, died because they fell behind." (Zanga)
For a short while the room was wrapped in silence, however Laboras suddenly stood up.
"Anyway, in the morning we will carry out Puuse's banishment and your dismissal upon the consensus of the villagers. Until then both of you aren't allowed to leave this house either." (Laboras)
Leaving he two men who brought Puuse, behind as guards, Laboras went away.
"... As usual, he immediately escapes once he gets defeated by arguments, that guy." (Zanga)
"Zanga-sama..." (Puuse)
"Look, I will wipe away your tears. Since you have such a cute face, isn't it a waste to mess it up with tears?" (Zanga)
She grabs one sheet of cloth off the pile nearby and gently wipes Puuse's face.
"By now I have no interest in the status of something like leader but unexpectedly I ended up getting Puuse and that human involved..." (Zanga)
"I'm really sorry", Zanga gently brushed Puuse with her still movable right hand.
Shiku, who pricked up his ears in front of Zanga's house, learned of Puuse being banished and ran in panic to Hifumi's place to request his assistance.
It was himself who told Laboras the truth, but by no means did his thinking reach the conclusion of even Puuse having to take the blame. Even if he talks to someone from the village, they likely won't forgive Puuse, once Laboras tells them that she broke the law.
If it's a human who possesses that much strength, he might be able to rescue Puuse and take her to somewhere safe
He was scared of meeting that dreadful human. He wasn't able to suppress the trembling of his knees as he recalled Hifumi's smile at the time he killed Shiku's brethren, however no other good idea came to his mind. He doesn't believe that he can win against the men who remained as guards, if it's only himself.
And, Shiku who sought his assistance, and the assassins who were sent by Laboras, arrived at the hut where Hifumi is staying in, at the same time.
And now, Shiku who once again ended up fainting, came to his senses at last.
"... Huh?" (Shiku)
In the visual field, he saw in his absent-minded state, heaven and earth were upside down.
"Agh, ooouuch..." (Shiku)
As the current situation was inverted, he apparently fainted being hit by a trunk of a tree.
Twisting his body in a squirming motion, Shiku who finally returned to a sitting posture, recalled the situation before he lost his consciousness.
In front of his eyes there's the completely broken hut. On the opposite of that there are several corpses being scattered about.
"Uubuh... Ueeeh..." (Shiku)
Shiku who ended up looking directly at something sticking out from a corpse, which had its body cut in two, threw up until his stomach became empty.
Pulling himself together, he searched for the figure of Hifumi in order to not look at the corpse, but he saw the back of someone doing something while crouching down while being in fact surrounded by those corpses.
The strange attire which had a beautiful deep blue colour, was riddled with holes all over and was dyed by some deep red stains.
"W-What are you doing?" (Shiku)
Resolving himself and getting close, Shiku notices that Hifumi is holding an arm of someone and his white face becomes blue.
"... The reason why you elves get assimilated and turn into arbour is this after all." (Hifumi)
Hifumi who cut a corpse's finger into two, thrust his finger in front of Shiku after running it across the cross-section.
A white sticky something is clinging to Hifumi's fingertip.
"What's... this...?" (Shiku)
"Don't know. What I understood from examining some of the people who were cut apart is only that it's little-by-little accumulating at the ends of the fingers and feet." (Hifumi)
Hifumi built a hypothesis upon the autopsies up until this point, but he believed in it with almost no doubt.
"There's something in your food, your drinks or possibly in the air drifting through this forest, however it probably quickens the transformation by accumulating within the body. Since the way of dying is by the mucus arriving at the head, it piles up in the body starting with the limbs and at the time of your death's it even enters the head. No, it accumulates there." (Hifumi)
As result of transforming from the tips of the limbs and having the head encroached last, the body changes while the senses are still clear. It's a viciousness as if it is for the sake of causing complete dread.
"Th-Then, the people, who turn into arbour and are absorbed by the forest, will..." (Shiku)
"Their bodies' functions will slowly cease and they will die. It's probably quite painful." (Hifumi)
"Such a..." (Shiku)
Shiku who dropped his shoulders as it was 180deg different from the custom which formed a belief that it was a nice thing, finally remembered Puuse's and Zanga's situation.
Quickly raising his face, Shiku faced Hifumi and exclaimed,
"Help! At this rate Puuse-neechan will get banished!" (Shiku)
Hifumi who scrubbed both his hands which touched the corpses with a paper, grabbed a corpse which lost both hands and feet, and tossed it into the broken house.
"I'm not particularly interested." (Hifumi)
Hifumi easily refused Shiku's teary request.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido