Chapter 26.4 - Dark Fog (1/2)

… … …

I mutter so while walking ahead.

While I searched for Nao’s location with magic, I discovered an entrance to an underground passage near the back street of the capital.

Maybe because it’s usually closed, I felt Nao’s sign coming from the entrance that was opened now.

When I entered the passage, it didn’t seem like a long passage.

「Nevertheless, the consumption of magical power is quite severe」

My fatigue increased at a terrifying pace just by using mere illumination magic.

It might be because of the thick fog that’s enveloping this entire kingdom.

I’m becoming even more anxious about Nao’s safety. I have to find her as soon as possible.

At this time, I discover a door in the middle of the passage. Nao was behind this door.

Opening the door, I find myself inside a capacious room.

The illumination isn’t bright enough for the room and is only dimly lighting it.

And then, I found Nao collapsed not too far away from the door.

I rush over to Nao’s side.

「HANG IN THERE, NAO-SAN!!」

「Chiyuki… san」

Nao replies with a frail voice.

Though her life is spared, her face still pale; I couldn’t feel any of her usual vigor.

I couldn’t hide my shock.

Nao has the best perception amongst us. No one could defeat Nao after we came to this world.

And that Nao is beaten.

「Stop…. Chiyuki-san. Don’t touch…. Nao」

When I taking a closer look, I can see something resembling a dark briar coiling around Nao’s body.

Maybe it’s briar magic. It seems this is the reason why Nao couldn’t move her body.

Though Nao told me not to touch her body, it’s not like I can leave her just like this.

I proceed to tear off the briar.

「Uuh….」

It felt like my power was sapped just with a single touch of that briar.

「What is this?! What’s wrong with this briar?」

Though I’m trying to use my knife, it couldn’t do anything since the thorns of the briar are preventing it.

「Stop it … Chiyuki-san. You must leave this place before that guy … is back」

Nao is shaking her head and urging me to leave this place.

「Who is that guy! The one who did this to you?!」

Though I ask her, it seems Nao didn’t have any energy left to answer me.

「Please…. Run」

Nao isn’t replying with anything but that.

「NAO-SAN! Hang in there!!」

Nao isn’t replying when I call her with her name.

「Hou…. It seems another butterfly was caught again」

Someone is appearing from the inner part of the room.

「WHO?!」

I stand up to face that person.

From the eerie darkness of the room…. Wearing a mask, maybe a man is coming toward us.

An ominous spider ornament is etched on the mask of that man.

「You’re the one who did this to Nao-san? Who are you?」

Nao couldn’t find this guy during the search at noon. Could it be that the one she found is actually his fellow demon?

「Your enemy, black-haired sage」

He clearly said that he is my enemy.

I know that he is quite powerful. And obviously leagues apart from a normal demon.

If he’s at that level, could it be that he’s from Nargol?

「Could it be that……… You’re the subordinate sent from Nargol?」

When I ask that question, the man nods his head.

「That’s true, indeed」

There’s no doubt about it, he’s a subordinate of Modes. We never met this guy when we arrived at Nargol.

Does the demon king have the habit of maintaining a grudge?

「Well then. Allow me to make the two of you, the subordinate of that annoying young goddess, become my offering!」

I can feel a powerful wave of magical power from that masked guy.

It seems that he’s going to use some sort of magic.

So, I decided to disturb him.