kscans

Chapter 62 - The Monsters' Arrival, a Battlefield of Betrayal

The air on the magic island of Never Island was peculiar. The sky was clear, yet the density of the mana clung to the skin. Mixed with the fragrance of the blooming flowers was the faint, raw scent of decay.

"...Something's not right here."

Mamoru, the Goblin Knight, furrowed his brow. Behind him followed Emily the Lizard Sage, Koni-chan the Flame Troll, and Defray the Orc Paladin.

They were on a white sand beach along the coast. It was an island like paradise, but...

"Wha, what's with... their faces..."

Smiles graced the faces of the people. But their eyes were weeping. The smiles on their lips were strained, as if they were being forced to laugh.

"H, help us..."

As they passed, an old woman whispered in a small voice. Immediately after, the old woman's head snapped to the side with a "pachin" sound, and she put on a smile as if nothing had happened.

"This island, the people's hearts are rotting... The magic has eaten its way into their very minds..."

Emily's voice trembled.

And so they arrived before the mansion. The mansion was covered in white roses, looking like something out of a fairy tale. But at its gate...

"Yo, glad ya could make it, extermination squad!"

Hero Ares stood there, smiling.

"...Huh?"

Mamoru's brow twitched.

"You're the Demon Lord's elite troops, right? The 'Mel Aria Extermination Squad,' I take it?"

"Don't mess with me...!"

The moment Mamoru took a step forward, Ares spread his arms wide and grinned.

"This island is the best, ain't it? A human puppet show, a crazy doll princess, a smiling hell... I've really taken a liking to it."

The door behind him creaked open.

"Good day to you all."

What appeared was a beautiful magic girl with flowing golden hair. The queen of dolls, Mel Aria.

"Ares-sama, more new guests, I see."

At her voice, Tiris took a step back.

"These people... may I turn them into 'dolls'?"

Mel Aria tilted her head and reached a hand toward Tiris. The moment her fingertips touched, a magic circle appeared, and threads of restraint shot out.

"Tch!"

Tiris's eyes wavered slightly. As if she feared something.

"Stop it...!"

A roar echoed. Mamoru kicked off the ground.

"Don't you dare touch Tiris!!"

In an instant, the air split. Koni-chan's iron fist shattered the ground, and Emily's magic cleared the fog.

"Mel Aria... are you the source of this hell!"

At Mamoru's cry, Mel Aria let out a small laugh.

"Fufufufu... so you're going to 'fight'? Good. I wanted to give my dolls some 'living teaching materials.'"

From behind her, doll soldiers in black robes appeared. Their eyes were lifeless, their mouths fixed in smiles that looked forcibly stitched on.

And then...

"Whoopsie-daisy."

Ares drew the sword at his waist and blocked the path to the mansion.

"Sorry, but I'm on Aria-chan's side. After all, the entertainment here is the best!"

Now, before the mansion of madness, the curtain was about to rise on the rematch between the monster party and the Hero. The sky rumbled low. And somewhere, thunder rolled.

"The air is damp. ...A downpour is coming."

Emily, the Lizard Sage, made her weather forecast.