Boundary
A word that refers to the limit that divides objects or regions based on certain criteria.
However, in this world, it also meant the front line dividing the lands of humans and demons.
Inside a tent set up in the middle of that battlefield, a man was receiving a report from someone.
“So, you’re saying a large-scale teleportation reaction was detected near the border by the Holy Kingdom?”
Ash-gray hair, as if everything had been burned away, and golden eyes like those of a raptor.
The man, shirtless, revealed his well-trained muscles and the red tattoos engraved upon them.
As he spoke, the soldier delivering the report tensed up and answered.
“Yes, Warrior Deimos.”
Warrior Deimos.
One of the seven warriors, known by the alias ‘Mad Warrior.’
Spending every day on the battlefield, continuing to fight on the front lines, he was considered the most insane among the warriors.
Anyone who had fought in a war for an extended period would naturally become exhausted, yet he showed no such signs despite constantly throwing himself into battle.
If anything, it seemed like he was enjoying it.
A combat maniac so famous that when he heard the report, he simply remarked, “It wouldn’t be those stuffy humans from the Holy Kingdom, so that leaves only the demons… Have we identified them?”
“There are reports that a scout returned in a trance and committed treason. It is suspected to be the work of a succubus or something similar from the Incubus lineage.”
“Those weak temptresses who toy with people’s minds, huh… Not exactly the kind of opponent I was hoping for.”
Even as he said this, Deimos’ eyes gleamed as he rose from his seat.
“But… the truth is, there haven’t been enough enemies swarming in lately. Prepare the teleportation.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the soldier saluted and withdrew, Deimos followed.
The Mad Warrior had begun to move.
***
Some time had passed since the Holy See summoned Saint Ellen.
Since Ellen had declared that she would use her authority to give Warrior Ain priority in the Holy Sword Trial, the other warriors who had been present at the meeting had quickly begun searching for Ain.
However, their efforts had ultimately been in vain.
The Holy Kingdom itself had likely already gathered experts to track Ain down, so no matter what strategies the three warriors employed now, it wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Of course, given their status, they had each formed personal search parties to look for him, but the results remained the same.
Perhaps Ellen had anticipated this outcome, which was why she had chosen to grant priority to Ain in the first place.
At any rate, there was no trace of Ain in the human lands.
Golden Sun scratched his head in frustration.
“Ugh, where the hell did that bastard go? Did he crawl into demon territory or something?”
Even for the warriors, investigating demon territory was no simple task. Infiltrating enemy lands was never an easy feat.
“He might have. Honestly, I think that’s the most likely scenario.”
At Golden Sun’s words, another warrior, Mark Patricks, responded.
The towering, bald Black man spoke, prompting a question from another warrior, Ludric, a tall young man.
“And why do you think that?”
“To be honest, I don’t believe Ain could have hidden himself so well that both the Holy Kingdom and we failed to track him down. That means the most plausible scenario is that he went somewhere difficult to pursue—like demon territory. The Holy Kingdom is probably thinking the same thing.”
“Tch, and that idiot somehow managed to get into demon territory and survive? Yeah, I don’t buy it.”
Golden Sun scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.
Though he had suggested the possibility himself, he clearly didn’t believe Ain would still be alive if he had actually gone there.
“So, did we all gather here just to reach that conclusion? Huh? If he’s in demon territory, tracking him down is nearly impossible. There’s no point.”
The three warriors had gathered to check on the progress of the other search parties investigating Ain’s whereabouts.
Though they were rivals, none of them wanted to fall behind if someone else had discovered something useful.
However, despite trying to gauge each other, they had gained nothing.
Mark spoke up.
“Then do you have any other ideas? From what I heard, Ain’s party members had known him for quite some time.”
“That dumb girl doesn’t know a damn thing. She gave us a few places where he might be, but they were all dead ends. Useless idiot… just like her damn former leader.”
“Unless you have a different opinion or evidence, stop complaining, Golden Sun. None of us have found anything either.”
“Tch, then what about that priest girl who joined your party, Mark? Did she know anything?”
“If she did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
“Same goes for the mage who joined us.”
“In the end, their party members are all idiots, huh. Honestly, now that I think about it, was there ever a need for us to divide them up like this? At first, I thought our lack of progress was because Ain was just incompetent, but his party members are just as useless. You guys agree, right?”
Ludric and Mark nodded.
Ain’s party members… objectively speaking, were weaker than the ones they had originally led.
Since Ain himself had a tendency to avoid fights, he hadn’t grown much in terms of combat either.
There were plenty of shortcomings, even aside from that particular reason.
“That idiot girl. When she first joined my party, she treated me like some kind of babysitter. It was ridiculous. Oh, of course, I understand that as a leader, I need to take care of my party members. But every little thing—‘Do this, do that’—at first, I thought she was my superior or something. At least now, she knows her place and stays quiet.”
“So it was the same for you. She definitely expected more than just leadership from us.”
“That wasn’t the only issue. She didn’t even understand her own capabilities and was lazy with training. Lack of battle experience is one thing, but improving one’s personal skills is purely a matter of effort and talent… Yet, she seemed to think I would somehow push her to grow. She’s just an incompetent fool who can’t even take care of herself.”
They began sharing their complaints about Ain’s former party members.
They had initially trusted that those women might have useful information about Ain’s whereabouts, but when they turned out to be useless, the warriors started voicing their frustrations.
The problem was…
The three warriors weren’t the only ones present.
Their party members were also in the room.
The setting was a circular room, with a central table where the three warriors sat, while their party members stood around the perimeter, waiting.
Naturally, among those party members were the very women being insulted.
Even as they were openly called incompetent fools, they could only lower their heads in silence.
They could feel the mocking glances from those around them.
The other party members held no goodwill toward them either.
Just as the warriors had said, their first impression of these women was that they were arrogant idiots who thought switching to a different party would somehow change their worth.
Besides, they weren’t even original members of these parties.
They had abandoned their former leader and switched sides, so there was no reason for anyone to treat them well.
“Well, it’s fine. At least they’re decent-looking, so they’re fun to have around. I haven’t had my turn yet, but once I have some free time, I’ll make sure to enjoy myself.”
At those words, a woman with blue hair stiffened.
She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, but no one paid her any attention.
“How vulgar.”
“So what? Are you telling me that the noble young lord from the Empire’s ducal family doesn’t have any desires? Come on, we both know we didn’t bring them in purely for their skills, right?”
“You’re not wrong.”
At that, Mark simply shrugged.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he glanced back with a sly glint in his eyes.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really matter if that one stops being a priest, does it?”
A brown-haired woman in priest robes trembled, her face turning pale as she lowered her head.
Ludric, who had been watching Mark and Golden Sun with a look of disdain, finally spoke.
“I’m not like you bastards.”
“Oh? Then why did you take in that red-haired one?”
“One of my party members was interested in her, so I brought her along. She turned out to be more useless than I expected, but honestly, I don’t really care.”
At those words, the red-haired woman bit her lip and hung her head low.
“Anyway, forget about them… Where the hell has Ain disappeared to—”
“Y-Warriors!”
At that moment, someone burst into the circular room, their voice urgent.
Given that they were inside the Holy See, it wasn’t unusual for officials to enter, but—
“What’s the matter?”
Barging in without even knocking while warriors were present was a serious breach of etiquette.
However, since the person seemed to be in a panic, they didn’t bother reprimanding him.
But when the Holy Kingdom official finally spoke, their expressions darkened.
“T-The thing is… Warrior Deimos has found Warrior Ain!”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.