Chapter 50

- From the Perspective of the 4th Knight Regiment Commander of the Empire of Empelus -

The forest is as silent as it was before.

Occasionally, the voice of a monster can be heard from somewhere.

Yes, it looks and sounds just like it did before.

But, an unpleasant feeling clings to my body, and I can't shake it off.

I have the slave unit in front, set up as a reconnaissance team, with the 4th Knight Regiment behind them.

We gradually enter the forest.

How much time has passed?

The unpleasant feeling continues and turns into fear.

Just stepping deeper into the forest makes the fear build up, creating a sense of tension.

No matter how many times I try to calm myself, it's useless.

From the previous investigations, there are four monsters.

The fourth one is now being attacked excessively by my subordinates.

Due to the tension, they can't coordinate and are just blindly attacking.

There are too few monsters.

In this place, there should be around ten monsters.

Most importantly, the four that appeared are monsters created by our country's magic stone experiments.

They are supposed to transform to attack monsters, not people...

What's going on?

Is there something at the center of the forest?

The fourth monster has been defeated.

I let out a breath.

Fatigue accumulates, and the tension of my subordinates eases.

But here, that could be fatal.

"Take a break."

It might be impossible to take a break in a place where the fear is so palpable.

But we can't leave the forest every time.

There's no choice but to rest here.

I instruct the slave unit to keep watch.

They, who have been slaves since birth, show no expression.

Slaves don't need hearts, and they probably don't feel fear.

Right now, I envy them.

I look around to check the condition of my subordinates.

At that moment, a light streaks through the forest.

For a moment, I didn't know what happened.

It was truly just a moment, with no warning.

There was no way to defend against it.

Screams rise from all around.

Just that moment, it instilled more fear than ever before.

Nothing happened to me or my subordinates; there are no injuries, and no one has fallen.

Yet, in that moment, my heart beats at an impossible speed, and sweat drips from my forehead.

I hold my weapon and look around, but nothing happens.

In such a state of panic, light spreads from the ground into the sky.

Cries come from nowhere, and the sound of someone running can be heard.

I try to call out to stop them, but no sound comes from my throat.

My legs wobble, and I kneel on the spot, breathing heavily.

I have to calm down, I have to calm down!

I somehow gather my strength and stand up.

Looking around, I see people lying on the ground in fear, hugging their knees and crouching.

I take a deep breath and order a retreat.

We have to get out of the forest.

We move to a place slightly away from the forest.

The progress was minimal, but now everyone is running out of the forest as if fleeing.

"Commander, the slave unit is missing."

Looking around, I can't see any of the slaves.

The slave marks, enhanced by magic stones, bind the slaves firmly to the country.

For the slaves to have escaped...

What's happening?

Breaking 50 chapters, I'm so happy!