The Death Mage that doesn't want a fourth time

84 Mountains don't move... so they're simpler than people

The knight Karcan, who had managed to successfully repel the sudden monster rampage before the city suffered any damage, was in a peculiar predicament.

"Why was there a monster rampage and the appearance of a new Dungeon at a time like this?" he wondered.

Some of the company that he led were heavily wounded, but fortunately, none of them had died. The lord of the region, Viscount Niarki, had also thanked him.

However, many of the achievements had gone to the Blue-flamed Sword Heinz, the one who was rumored to likely become the Orbaume Kingdom's second S-class adventurer. The monsters had chanted, "Kill Heinz," as if it were an incantation and all aimed for him, after all.

With that being the case, Heinz might have been blamed for being the man who had summoned the monsters and brought a disaster to the city, but he had already gained a good reputation and was adored by many.

Rather than being blamed, his reputation has only improved for being the "champion who faced the large pack of monsters without running away." The people were also praising the fact that Heinz had been targeted by the monsters, saying that this must be a sign that the evil gods who were surviving servants of the Demon King were after him – in other words, Heinz was a hero who was feared even by the gods.

As it was Heinz and the other members of the Five-colored Blades who had defeated most of the monsters, it was only natural that they received praise.

With that being the case, one might wonder why the adventurers and Karcan's men had participated in the defense, but... that would only be in hindsight. There had been no proof that the monsters would actually only aim for Heinz. Even if there was, there was no way that they would have been able to say, "Well then, it has nothing to do with us," and look unconcerned.

And so, Karcan's company had exhausted themselves in a fierce battle. Heinz and his party were now clearing the ominous Dungeon that had been discovered in the forest near the city.

And Karcan had been told that the next expedition for his company wasn't necessary.

"In fact, it's true that it's not the time to be doing things like an expedition. The men of the company are being completely healed by Froto's healing magic, but they're not in a state where they are able to move around so easily."

The source of this monster rampage was almost certainly the newly-formed Dungeon, but it still wasn't completely certain. Until Heinz and his party returned, Karcan and his men, who had been assigned to be part of the city's defenses, couldn't move.

Even after Heinz and his party returned, it would take time to set up a system to control and watch over the Dungeon. Karcan didn't have any obligation to cooperate in this, but if he flatly ignored the expectations of Viscount Niarki who was relying on him, his social position would be jeopardized.

But with that said, that didn't mean that Karcan would necessarily be valued highly even if he did meet the viscount's expectations. After all, the cultivation project to the south that he was supposed to be in charge of had been left alone.

"The earliest we'll be able to move is winter..." Karcan sighed. He had lost count of how many times he had done so.

The city of Niarki still hadn't received news that the duke's castle built by Nineroad had sunk or the scandal that had shaken the Orbaume Kingdom, or that the Guild Master of the Mages' Guild as well as several noblemen had been revealed to have connections with Vampires.

_______________________________

Luciliano, the Degenerate. He was a human C-class adventurer, and when he first encountered Vandalieu, he had been working in the Mirg shield-nation.