Surging Blue Coral first wiped his face wearily at the urgent news delivered in the dead of night.

Then he rang a bell, announcing the news to everyone in the Magic Tower.

Having a thought process like 'The sky toward the coast is flashing with five-colored flames and there are explosion sounds, so surely they must know?' was absolutely unacceptable.

Even he himself had only grasped the situation and said, "Is that so?" after an attendant came running to deliver the news, making it all the more so.

At this hour, the Mages were either sleeping (a minority) or so engrossed in their research that they couldn't even look out a window (the majority). It was strictly one of the two.

"Pipi, you go bring the Meister."

"Yes."

"Great Sage! If it's a summon order...!"

"Good that you're here, Liam. But there's no need to shout. Move as usual. However, they say the scale is larger this time, so take more Mages with you. If they know how to use attack magic, just take them all."

"Yes, sir!"

An ordinary Master of the Magic Tower would have immediately rushed to the castle if only to prepare large-scale magic, but Surging Blue Coral was different.

Magic that saw into the essence of things was far removed from attack magic, and Surging Blue Coral's specialty was the former, not the latter.

If it was the number of known formulas, it might be a different story, but when it came strictly to casting attack magic, other Mages were better.

In short, rather than forcing someone who had spent 70 years of their life only doing subtraction to do addition, it was better to have someone who had done both addition and subtraction for 40 years do the addition.

"The remaining Mages, prepare to transport the magical artifacts."

He calculated the inventory of specific items the castle would have in stock, deciding what needed to be moved first.

Indeed. Magic arrows or stones engraved with explosion magic were good, but it was currently night. The priority right now was to deliver things that could illuminate their vision.

"What weapons should I take charge of?"

Had he been commanding and leading for a while? His grandson finally showed his face.

As a bonus, perhaps having grasped the whole situation on his way here, he skipped the greetings and cut straight to the point.

"That... monster-like thing you made."

"Things must be pretty bad. To even consider using that failure of a piece."

"The money poured into that is a whopping hundred million. It's meaningless if we don't use it at a time like this."

"True."

However, this very attitude was pleasantly comfortable.

Having a good grandson who was easy to communicate with, Surging Blue Coral sequentially recited the tasks his grandson rightfully had to do.

Most of them were tasks moving equipment that required precise and meticulous care. Including the job of staying there to repair them once everything was moved or if an urgent situation broke out at the castle.

"More importantly, Grandfather."

"What is it?"

"Did you order anything from the merchant company?"

"Hmm?"

"Since they're moving so many things today of all days."

"I haven't really ordered anything."

But was this a strange occurrence? Well. Merchants making a fuss wasn't just a day or two's affair, and their overreactions weren't incomprehensible either.

After all, on the days they fought the Mermen when the water flooded into the city, wouldn't they always hear at least one piece of news about an underground warehouse bursting?

"It's probably because a lot of goods have been coming in lately."

"Well, I guess. The price does drop if the materials get wet."

Even if the buildings didn't collapse, they could leak. In fact, they leaked often.

In addition, there were truly many goods in the world whose value depreciated if they got wet.

But put them on a higher floor? That was impossible.

Because with the risk of ground collapse from frequent flooding, Bemurhen regulated the height of buildings and the total weight of items that could be placed per floor.

"Hmm..."

So there was nothing strange about it. There wasn't.

Wasn't there?

"... Karl."

"Yes, Lord Surging Blue Coral."

"You are to command the Magic Tower while I am gone."

"Pardon?"

"Didn't you say you were setting up a laboratory? Consider this a dress rehearsal. And be prepared to lose your chance at the next Great Sage position if you ruin it."

"... Yes, sir."

Just in case, he called for the mercenary residing within the Magic Tower.

Since they produced and sold expensive magical artifacts, this was a mercenary hired for cases where the use of force was necessary—such as unruly customers or thieves.

"Did you call for me?"

"You're going somewhere with me. We have to go secretly, so wear the most modest outfit you can."

"Understood."

He may have been a dropout from the Knight Academy, but as a guard for urgent use, he was more than enough.

Surging Blue Coral stepped out of the Magic Tower with his guard. It was time to investigate the strangely bothersome feeling.

* * *

Was it due to a unique trick of the Mermen that the sea level began to rise exclusively in this area? Thanks to this, the creatures, now able to come and go freely, attempted a very quiet and insidious sneak attack.

Starting with completely obstructing vision first and foremost.

"Lighting the fires!"

However, was it that they had no intention of going down easily, or was it the result of wisdom squeezed out from fighting for so long?

Three soldiers ran this way and that, lighting the lanterns all over the turret, then adjusted something installed next to them. It was a mirror.

"We can see them!"

"Fire!"

It was just like a lighthouse. The light of the lanterns reflected and reflected off the mirrors until it finally shot out in a straight line, brightly illuminating the sea.

CREAK!

Furthermore, there wasn't just one such installation. As all the equipment installed at regular intervals along the rim of the circular turret spewed out light, the perimeter of the turret was perfectly illuminated.

At the very least, they were now able to visually confirm the Mermen targeting the turret.

"Kill them! Before they tear it down!"

Well, in truth, it wouldn't have been a problem even if they weren't there.

Still, it was better to have them than not. I flicked my finger, ignoring the adventurer shouting at me about why I wasn't holding a bow.

It wasn't a particularly necessary preparatory motion, but maybe because I wasn't very smart, doing this made me feel like it fired better.

"What the hell are you doing not attack—"

SWOOSH.

With a clear sound, a magic spear flew out. Even though it was night, thanks to the lighthouse, I could clearly see it flying.

Every time I perceived an enemy, the generated magic spear pierced through the sea surface and blew a hole in a Merman's body.

"Fuck, you were doing it."

Of course, of course. I've never once done anything like slacking off on the job to steal a paycheck.

Of course, this was only possible because I had never been employed at a company and had always been a freelancer. After all, for a freelancer, the moment you play around, your livelihood gets cut off.

"They're coming!"

Right then, something caught on my senses and came flying all the way to the turret I was on. Of all places, it was on the side opposite me, and since I was late to notice, I couldn't do anything about it.

CRASH!

"Aaaaargh!"

Along with someone's scream, the turret shook. It seemed it got struck by something similar to magic.

"Don't chicken out! It won't collapse from just one hit!"

However, just as a certain adventurer said, the wall showed no signs of collapsing. It would be a different story if it kept getting hit, but for now, there didn't seem to be a need to worry.

BOOM!

The surface of the sea erupted from something the soldiers threw, indiscriminately scattering chunks of Merman flesh into the sea.

"They're climbing up!"

At that moment, a Merman clung to the wall of the turret. It was in a position barely visible from the window I was stationed at.

"Shoot the ones climbing up first!"

The clinging Legless-type Merman wildly worked its throat as if trying to induce vomit. It was absolutely not something to just sit back and watch.

It was a fact I knew from my experience with the reconnaissance squad, but Legless-type Mermen knew how to spit acid.

CRACK!

"It's dead...!"

"I'll handle the ones clinging to the wall."

Due to the angle, a Merman clinging to the wall could only be shot by leaning out the window. That meant it was both uncomfortable and dangerous.

So it was better for me to take charge of the clingers and handle them. I didn't need to expose my body outside, and since I only needed to fire a single shot, I also had a time advantage.

"... I'm definitely making it back alive this time."

Aside from thinking that was somewhat of a death-flag remark, I hoped so too.

Because it's sad when someone you fought alongside dies.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

However, in the meantime, the naval battle grew even fiercer. The sea surface erupting with explosive sounds was a given, and despite it being a night sea, I could see it taking on a strangely red hue.

Not far away, a turret had a section of its wall crumble down with Mermen plastered all over it.

AAAAARGH!

The sound of someone falling into the sea was chilling.

"It's coming!"

At that moment, one of the adventurers let out a cry filled with a radiant expression. "Give 'em a hot shot!" Following where his words came from, you could see the lights now flashing brightly on top of the castle walls.

"Mages, go!"

RUMBLE, RUUUMBLE.

Dark clouds gathered between our turret and the turret over there. The flashing white glare was exactly that of a thundering sky.

CRASH!

And the moment it struck down into the sea along with a sound—likely heard simultaneously because the distance was so close—something leaped up.

No. There was no way a creature with a speed capable of reacting to light existed, so it didn't soar up upon seeing the lightning strike. It was simply that out of the dozens continually leaping in anticipation of the lightning, one happened to get caught.

POP!

"Uh...?"

However, that wasn't what was truly surprising.

What was truly surprising, what was astonishing, was...

"What, it just kills one and that's it?"

Instead of being roasted by electricity, it exploded with a pop, as if a bomb had gone off inside its body, making me swallow a groan.

That was probably... not killed by being struck by electricity.

"What is it, what the hell is it!"

I recalled a fact I had learned while eavesdropping on a call between the Archmage and White Wind before I distanced myself from my party members—it wasn't my fault. It was the Archmage and White Wind's fault for talking on the crystal in a restaurant.

Another characteristic newly uncovered by White Wind, who had been continually experimenting with the Jahukaya.

For creatures capable of eating magic power, there was a limit to the amount of magic power they could consume at one time. In other words, if they overate, they died.

By their bodies exploding exactly like that.

"... So they were here too."

Right. It would be a bit disappointing if a mob that appeared once didn't continue to show up. But could you please have just disappointed me?

It truly was a goddamn world.

* * *

[Damn snake bastard.]

Pandemonium expressed a great deal of regret over the derailed plan. He had originally intended to take more time, but it was because the other party had arbitrarily moved the schedule forward.

"I apologize."

[Shut up, you incompetent bastard. You're annoying me.]

That regret was not directed solely at the 'damn snake bastard.'

At the sharp tone, the woman shut her mouth. The loyal servant and contractor stood silently right next to her, receiving the same punishment.

The thorns embedded all over their bodies endlessly drew out blood.

DRIP.

And the drawn blood turned into jewels as it fell to the floor. The space at Pandemonium's feet was filled with countless red stones.

[Go out and guard the door. Make sure no one interferes while I draw up my power.]

"Yes."

When his mood had somewhat improved like that, he withdrew the thorns.

[Keep in mind, this is your last chance.]

"... Of course."

Having lost too much blood, the person stumbled a time or two before bowing their head. The pearl swung, emitting a smooth luster.

CLICK.

[Kyle.]

Once one contractor had left like that, he called out to the one remaining.

Even though they had been made to bear collective responsibility simply because of his displeased mood, not a single trace of complaint surfaced on the other's face.

It was fitting for the only one he had contracted based solely on loyalty, whereas he had chosen all his other contractors based on greed.

[Come here.]

"Yes."

Pandemonium stroked the head of the servant, which had purplish-black feathers, a large beak, and massive wings. It was what he loved most.

[I told you once, the moment would come when you must sacrifice your everything.]

"Yes."

However, his affection was not greater than his own interests. Pandemonium spread his long fingers wide, their joints jutting out like spider legs.

The fingers, which were already long, became even longer and sharper.

[That is now. May I kill you?]

"Yes."

The sharp fingertips severed the contractor's life under mutual agreement. Because it was a permitted killing, he didn't even receive the contract's penalty.

Blood endlessly flowed down from the spot where the heart was plucked out. Instead of a blazing crimson, it was the color of something dying.

A color less beautiful than a certain flame he knew of, but aside from that, the most beautiful color.

[Haa.]

Pandemonium proceeded to eat the heart of his cherished one just like that. The power he had distributed through the contract returned, and the power of one whole human filled him up further.

SWISH.

Meanwhile, the flowing blood gathered toward him and climbed up the hem of his clothes. The hem of his dress vanished as if burning away, revealing the true body of Greed to the world.

It draped a veil made of melting, flowing gold and jewels, but where a face should have been, there existed only an endless void; it was the flesh of one grasping wealth with three pairs of hands. Six ears, brought forward to hear all the desires of the world, twitched along with a massive tail.

A heat that swallowed everything around it, even the corpse of the being who had been its contractor, was spreading in all directions.

'Kill them.'

But then, wait. The body that was about to melt the door to head outside stopped abruptly. The voice that echoed like thunder was currently dominating Pandemonium's brain.

'Along with the Hero, that thing, without fail.'

'... Fucking King! Inconsiderate bastard!'

[... Damn it.]

While on his knees, he squeezed his trembling hands tightly.

He was grateful to have received the right to use the entirety of his original power, but he really wished he would stop speaking directly into his head. Did this crazy bastard think this was their homeland or that they were currently in a state without power restrictions?

[Even a bastard with nothing but a soul left is enduring this...]

Even though he thought he had drawn up quite a bit of power by purging his useless contractors, it was still only at this level. Pandemonium gritted his teeth in displeasure and stood up.

[Even so, I will win this time.]

"Huh? What the, there's fire coming from inside..."

"What? Fire?"

"Bring water right now...!"

Through the door that was blazing and melting away, hundreds of boxes could be seen. All of them were gold, silver, and jewels.

[Open Pandemonium.]

"What the hell is that!"

"Run, run...!"

"Hwaaaaagh!"

Tens of millions in wealth gathered toward him, and the King's seal dropped to the floor.

The bodies of the porters, who had been working even in the dead of night under orders to move the cargo, were swept up in the flames.