“Dear Al-sama. I am sorry. I have left my post.”

“No, no, no. It was my fault. I’d rather you avoid it. Well, I did it because I believed Vera could avoid it. …… But more importantly, what is this thing? Even in this state, the black stuff is still moving. ……”

The former Signe, with no top from the chest area, is still standing upright. Even in such a state, black mana has not yet stopped its flow.

A normal creature would obviously be in a dead state. However, some insects in the great forests move reflexively even after losing their heads, but Al considers this to be a very different circumstance.

The only ones who wouldn’t cease activity in this state are generally the undead, but…… It all feels that’s not even close.

“…… In the meantime, Vera, can you contact the royal shadows? …… I don’t think it’s a good idea to touch it unintentionally, and I wonder if the sacred art user can help with that.”

“Yes, that’s right. This one obviously hasn’t finished its activity yet. Al-sama, if it starts to move, please evacuate as soon as possible.”

“I will. If it doesn’t die from blowing up half its body with my trump card “sniper bullet,” there’s nothing more I can do.”

With a single bow, Vera runs to coordinate contact with the royal shadow.

The one who wears black mana.

Clearly an existence that harms the “Divine Child. If so, it is logical that the “apostle,” who protects and guides the child, should be the one to deal with it.

However, Al is not quite convinced. He is an “apostle” himself.

I don’t remember receiving any special revelation or oracle from the Goddess. Of course, I have never met her. I don’t care if I am suddenly called an “apostle” or not.

Rather, it is a good thing that I have a connection with the shadow of the royal family. But in a case like this, it is a bad thing. Collared grief.

(Phew. Is this slime type? Deadly spirit type? …… I’m sure Claire even knows who the enemy is anyway. That’s another thing that ticks me off. Well, this time it would have happened regardless of her, but it’s annoying when she pulls your collar every time. Fortunately, I have enough connectivity with Daryl and his family that it would not be unnatural to talk directly with them, and I would like to keep my distance from Claire, the shadow of the royal family, for a while when Colin arrives. I need to use guilds and backroom organizations to gather information on my own.)

Al can sense black mana, but he has no means of dealing with it. Nor can he purify the impurity force like a high-ranking sacred art user. Rather, it would be correct to use the white mana of the protagonists to deal with them.

From Al’s point of view, it is like rushing to a fire without water. You can do nothing but watch. In fact, it would interfere with firefighting activities, and there is even a possibility that the number of victims would only increase.

Well, if you can destroy and extinguish the fire, you can do it. …… I think it is a nuisance, even if the goddess expects such a thing.

(At any rate, in terms of “fighting,” it is better to know that it is possible to fight each other if you catch them by surprise. The golem was very sturdy, and this creepy kid looked like she would have been in trouble if it had been a head-on fight.

Both the child and the doll were identifiable to me because I could see their black mana. But before entering battle, their signs, gestures, and mana flow were completely normal, like those of ordinary people. On top of that, when it came time to fight, the signs and mana movements were difficult to read, and the physical abilities were more than that of a well-trained mage with a strengthened body. It is suitable for covert sabotage and assassination. Most wouldn’t even notice a normal person next to them, which is perfect for creating …… a ruckus.)

Al waits for the royal shadow, or guard knights, while thinking and watching the thing that was the Signe, but he is unaware of it.

(? There’s a lot of noise. That’s fast for Vera’s response.)

From the streets to the back alleys of the town, the dead bodies and bloodstains of those who are clearly human, albeit with black blood, are strewn about. At the end of the trail, there is the half body of a child standing upright, and beside the child, there is an Al. Completely suspect …… rather than culprit.

“You! Stay where you are!”

“What have you done? You crazy bastard!”

The Guard Knights who rushed to the scene captured Al. There is no possibility of false accusation or misidentification on this occasion only.