The Blade That Cleaves the Barrier

Having made their way out of the forest, Simon and his group stopped by a small mountain village nearby. It was a tiny logging settlement whose people carved out a living felling trees and selling them to the cities. The thick scent of tree sap hung ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heavy in the air everywhere, and the crack of falling timber echoed from every direction.

Fortunately, the villagers welcomed Simon's group warmly. The village chief, once he heard their situation, even offered them an empty house, so they were able to rest in comfort.

"Hahaha! Jackpot! Absolute jackpot!"

Dick had returned from "gathering information"—which mostly meant gossiping with the locals—his arms loaded with money pouches in both hands. Meilin, who had been lounging on the sofa picking at her nails, shot him a withering glare.

"Hey! You caused trouble again, didn't you?"

Simon chimed in. "You didn't steal that money, did you?"

"...Why is this always how I get treated?"

After a moment of theatrically lamenting his lot, Dick flashed a grin and explained. "It's a logging village, remember? Everyone here was struggling to chop trees with chipped old axes, so I showed them some of my cutting-edge tools! A few of them tried the samples, and boom—they sold out in no time. That's not a scam, that's a 'win-win'!"

Meilin's eyebrow twitched. "These are kind people who even gave us a place to stay. Surely you didn't rip them off?"

"Relax, I paid them plenty of rent on the way out."

"You con artist!"

While the two born rivals went at it, Simon turned his head away. Seywir was still bedridden, suffering from the aftereffects, and Camibarez sat alone on the sofa with her knees drawn up to her chest. She seemed worried about Sasha, yes—but even more, she seemed consumed by a deep self-blame for having failed to protect her. Meilin and Dick were forcing a bright, cheerful atmosphere, but in truth, every member of Group 7 was weighed down by the sting of defeat.

"Don't worry too much, Cami."

Simon said it with a strained smile. "I'll save Sasha. I promise."

"You will?"

When Dick blurted it out, Simon quickly backpedaled. "I mean—Vengeance is moving, so she'll probably be rescued soon."

"Haha! Listen to you, talking like you're the one doing the rescuing."

Just then, the communication crystal sitting on the table began to hum and glow. All four of them reacted instantly and crowded around it.

"Hello, this is Simon."

Simon lifted the crystal and answered. A man's voice came through—by now a fairly familiar one.

"Thank you. By the way—did you find anything out about that 'godfather' who took Sasha?"

"Yes. In fact, all of Vengeance's combat teams are currently deployed in an operation to apprehend him."

Simon shot to his feet. "All of the combat teams? Why?"

"W-well, that's classified information, so I'm not sure I can share it with outsiders..."

"Are you kidding me?! Just tell us!"

Meilin exploded, snatching the crystal right out of Simon's hand. "Agent! Why are you suddenly drawing a line now? We're Vengeance dispatch students, and this whole thing was OUR assignment from the start! We have every right to know this much!"

"Um, ah, y-yes, you're absolutely right. My apologies if that came across poorly! That was careless of me."

For a moment, a very tiny mutter drifted through the crystal—'Kids these days really are terrifying.'

"The man calling himself Sasha's godfather is named 'Figaro.' He is a priest working in the Neutral Zone on behalf of the Holy Federation. At present, Figaro and Sasha are at a place called Kelso Village."

"Kelso Village?!"

Camibarez reacted immediately. "That's Sasha's hometown—the second place we visited!"

Meilin nodded, then pressed on. "Why would Figaro take Sasha to Kelso?"

"We don't know the specifics ourselves. A powerful holy barrier currently covers all of Kelso Village, making approach impossible. It appears Figaro is using Sasha to carry out some plan from within."

The moment he heard that, Simon stood up abruptly and headed outside.

"Hey, Simon! Where are you going?"

"And one more thing—when the carriage arrives, please return directly to Vengeance Headquarters and stand by."

Meilin made a face like, huh? "Why?! Aren't we going to fight too?!"

"Vengeance cannot yield on the matter of your deployment. This was never part of your dispatched mission to begin with, and the situation has become far too dangerous. We promised Kizen we would keep you safe, so please wait just until things settle down."

And with that, the call ended. Camibarez covered her face with her palms, her worry clearly deepening, and Meilin let out a long sigh.

"What do we even do? It's not like we can walk all the way to Kelso."

Dick propped his chin on his hand and let out a long, troubled "hmmm." "Or hey, we could sweet-talk the driver when their carriage shows up. Either way, we can't just sit here while Sasha's trapped inside that barrier."

Camibarez looked up at the ceiling with pleading eyes. "Please be safe, Sasha."

Thud.

Just then, Simon walked back into the room.

"Hey! Where'd you run off to all of a sudden?"

"None of your business."

Simon answered flatly, flopped down onto the sofa, and crossed his legs. Dick looked at him. "Agent Block just told us—we're supposed to stand by here and then head to headquarters."

"I know."

Simon waved a dismissive hand and turned away. Dick and Meilin exchanged glances.

Something feels... off about him, doesn't it?

Is he mad about something?

DU-DU-DU-DU-DU!

Simon was riding hard on the back of Akalion, the Divine Beast he had only recently gained. His legs braced against the fall, while his hands held a map spread open before him.

"Kelso, Kelso... the fastest route to Kelso Village would be..."

Just as Simon was poring over the map, Pier's laughter rang out inside his head.

[Keh-heh-heh! I never thought you'd leave Erzsébet behind! She'll be sulking for days over this one.]

"...I'm sorry to Erze, but I had no choice."

He had no pretext for splitting off alone from all three of them—and above all, dealing with that holy priest who had casually subdued Camibarez and Dick would require the power of a Legion Commander. Naturally, he couldn't let the three of them find out about that, so he'd asked Erzsébet to shapeshift into his form and stay by his teammates' side, protecting them while he was gone.

In the meantime, Simon planned to slip over to Kelso and quietly bring Sasha home.

[But tell me, boy!]

Pier spoke up again. [That girl, Sasha—you barely know her, and yet she weighs on you that much?]

"..."

Simon bit his lip lightly. "I honestly don't know. If I said I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't feel responsible, I'd be lying."

He had captured the Saintess of Purification at Kizen. But in doing so, he had put Anna through hell—and now Sasha had been caught up in the Saintess affair and was suffering for it. None of it was intentional, yet every piece of it had rippled out from Simon's own hands like a butterfly effect.

[Or is it that girl, Camibarez? You can't just stand by and watch her and the others drown in their defeat?]

"Yes, that's an important reason too. And one more thing."

Simon's eyes turned serious. "That man—Figaro, Sasha's so-called godfather. He bothers me. A lot."

[Keheheheh!]

Pier laughed, sounding thoroughly delighted. [If a fool like you has three whole reasons to move, that's reason enough!]

"Glad you approve."

Simon stroked the head of the charging Akalion. "Run faster, Akalion!"

-Uuuung!

A job was a job. He had absolutely no intention of letting it end on a bitter, unsatisfying note like this.

[By the way, boy.]

"Yes?"

[Look ahead.]

Simon's eyes snapped wide open. There, planted squarely in the middle of the road, stood a girl.

"Stop, Akalion."

Akalion pulled up short. Simon looked at the girl blocking the road and spoke. "You don't look like you're in any condition to fight. Are you planning to go all the way this time?"

The girl in the pristine white uniform of Efnel was none other than Lirinet—the same one who had fought Simon at the very beginning.

She raised both hands in the air and said flatly, "I have no intention of fighting you anymore. I came to deliver a message."

Simon tilted his head. "What message?"

"A message from Sister Lethe."

Simon's eyes went wide. That name, out here of all places!

"The situation has grown far bigger than you think. The Holy Federation's 'Paladins' are on the move. If you're headed to Kelso, give it up and turn back. ...That's what she said."

"..."

Judging by the look of utter disgust on Lirinet's face—disgusted by her own words—it didn't seem like a lie.

"That's all I was told to pass along. Satisfied?"

"Then could you deliver something back to Lethe for me?"

Simon broke into an easy smile. "You know as well as I do that there's no stopping me, no matter what she says."

With only those words, Simon spurred Akalion onward. Lirinet, who had suddenly been drafted into letter-delivery duty, pouted her lips.

"Oh."

Simon glanced back over his shoulder and waved. "Tell your friends I'm sorry for borrowing their Divine Beast!"

"Huh?"

The moment she noticed Akalion, her eyes went huge.

...What on earth IS that guy?

Hours of continuous travel later, Simon arrived at Kelso—Sasha's hometown.

His mouth fell open.

A semicircular holy barrier loomed over the entire village, and vines that had grown without end coiled around it. It looked like a picture of a cursed monster's vines swallowing the whole village whole.

What in the world is happening in there?

He needed to get inside, and fast. Simon sent the exhausted Akalion back into his subspace pouch—then this time, he summoned Pier.

[KEHAHAHA! So I finally get to come out!]

A towering skeleton draped in a cloak stretched luxuriously, cracking joints that had no need of cracking.

Simon extended his arm. "Bone Armour, if you please."

[As you command!]

The moment Pier grasped Simon's hand, his body seemed to pour into Simon's, breaking apart into hundreds of strands that snapped and locked into place across Simon's frame. Pier's cloak unfurled behind his back, and the Sword of Ruin settled into his right hand. Soon, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Pier's helmet came to rest atop his head.

Okay.

Simon pressed Pier's helmet down over his face like a mask, then pulled out the white robe he'd bought in the Holy Federation, sweeping it over his whole body and tugging the hood low. With the greatsword slung over his shoulder, he started walking toward the barrier.

KWAAAAAANG!

"Good grief! What is even WRONG with this barrier?!"

"I'm telling you, it's useless."

Following the racket, Simon came upon a crowd of people making attempt after attempt to break through the barrier. He recognized them at a glance: the same green-patterned ties as Seywir's, the same gray uniforms.

Necromancers of Vengeance.

"My son! My son is in there!"

"Mom!"

All around them, villagers were crying out in despair. These were people who had been outside the village, or who lived on its outskirts. The barrier had suddenly severed the town center from the outside world, and now they were desperate for anyone trapped within.

"Please, you have to do something!"

"Shouting won't break it, madam."

As wails rose from every direction, Simon strolled leisurely forward, greatsword over his shoulder. The Vengeance operatives were exchanging frantic words.

"What about support from the other teams?"

"They say it'll take two days!"

"Unbelievable. Contact the Alliance and the Carlos ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kingdom as well."

"Yes, sir!"

Simon reached out and, with a casual motion, touched the barrier wreathed in its monstrous vines.

"Hey, you there! What do you think you're doing! It's dangerous to touch it!"

A necromancer in a Vengeance uniform hurried to stop him. Simon turned to look at him.

[Who is in charge here.]

When a warped, bone-chilling voice rasped out of Simon's mouth, the necromancer flinched.

"That would be me."

A man built like a bear, shoulders spread wide, came walking over. "Block—Vengeance operative, Alliance-certified 3rd-Tier Necromancer. And you are?"

Beneath the skull helmet covering his face, Simon's eyes glinted. So this is the man who was supposed to be our mentor.

Simon answered the question simply. [A wanderer.]

"A 'wanderer,' is it..."

Block clearly didn't believe a word of it. Granted, the world had no shortage of wandering necromancers—but was a monster radiating this level of Jet-Black and this killing intent really just some drifter? He was strong enough that it was strange his name wasn't known everywhere.

"Ohhh, my lord, please!"

Just then, an old woman with a face full of wrinkles seized Simon by the leg. "My grandchild is in there! Such a little one! Please, save our grandbaby!"

"My husband's in there!"

"I want my daddy!"

The moment someone who looked strong appeared, another wave of chaos broke out. Simon gave a light nod, then stepped up to the barrier.

"You'd best not waste your strength."

Block advised. "We've tried everything we can, and it hasn't budged an inch. This is a barrier of at least an Archbishop-class—or Saintess-class—priest."

Saying nothing, Simon raised the Sword of Ruin above his head and drew in a slow breath. Hsss.

At that reverent sight, everyone fell silent and turned to watch him.

Space itself—

Simon's greatsword fell, trailing a white arc.

—the sensation of cleaving it away.

KA-BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The vines and the barrier were severed together, and a gap tore open.

"OOOOOOH!"

"H-how did he—?!"

Simon immediately kicked off the ground and darted through the breach. Block and the other necromancers rushed in right behind him—but the barrier had been open for barely an instant. It slammed shut, and the vines swallowed the gap once more.

"Ghk!"

Block, bounced back out of the barrier, wiped cold sweat from his brow. "Who... who IS that man?"

The moment Simon passed through the barrier, a horrific scene unfolded before him.

The entire village had been reduced to ruins. Collapsed buildings, a sea of blood staining the ground red, the corpses of villagers visible wherever he looked—and from the sky, ash-like debris was drifting down. Not a trace of human presence, not a single spark of life to be felt.

At some point, the entire village had become a realm of death.

[Boy.]

Pier's voice rang out.

[There is not a single living soul left in this village. They are all dead.]

"..."

Simon swallowed hard and pressed forward. In the silence at the heart of the dead village, only the steady crunch of his own footsteps rang out, loud as gunshots. He walked carefully, greatsword held upright and ready—when he heard it: a sound like something gnawing, chewing.

"!"

He turned his head—and saw a moving flower devouring a human corpse.

It wasn't the only one. Tree-trunk-like tendrils were coiled around the bodies of the dead, draining the fluids from them.

What in the world...?

He swept the greatsword in a wide arc, slicing through the writhing flower and the tendril both.

Simon wiped his brow lightly, then lifted his head to look up at the sky.

"...!"

Rising from the very center of the village stood a tree—an indescribably colossal tree, towering beyond all reason.