I picked up the split magical tool and examined it while speaking.

“This is the cause. We need to hurry and check the other magical beasts.”

“You were warning Baron Rotten earlier. Do you know something?”

“Magical tools with their safety features removed are dangerous. They often go berserk like this suddenly.”

I looked straight at Lynen.

“Soon the other magical beasts will go berserk too. Every single one of them.”

“Are you saying all the magical tools will malfunction simultaneously? That seems like too much of a coincidence.”

“It’s not a coincidence.”

I shook my head.

“When you set the same command for all of them, the magical tools become connected.”

“Connected?”

“Yes, it’s a feature that allows simultaneous control of multiple magical beasts. You can activate all the illegal magical tools here with a single command.”

Regular magical tools would be fine since they have safety features.

But these are illegally modified tools.

Which means, if one tool with the same command malfunctions, the other tools will malfunction together.

“The other magical beasts might be rampaging already. If we can quickly subdue the smaller ones first, we’ll have some breathing—”

Just as I was saying that.

Woooong!

“…?!”

I felt the pouch tied at my waist vibrating.

Right after, unlike before, ominous black sparks flew from the illegal magical tool.

Bzzt!

“W-what? What’s happen… kyaah!”

Crash!

The back of the stage collapsed and the magical beasts from the matches came pouring out.

They had transformed into hideous forms, abnormally large with teeth and claws sprouting all over their bodies.

“Stop them! Just destroy them!”

The mercenaries stepped forward, but they could barely even contain the beasts, let alone destroy them. Strangely, the beasts seemed even more ferocious than before.

‘This is worse than the accident in the original story!’

Lynen stepped forward.

“Escape with the others.”

“You’re going to face all those magical beasts alone?”

Instead of answering, Lynen wrapped his aura around his sword. It was an icy blue containing both a chilling and heavy presence.

His firm resolve to stop this situation alone was evident. I stepped back hesitantly, knowing that my presence here wouldn’t help with anything.

“Alright. B-be careful.”

“Is the mouse worried about the cat?”

“I hope you get hit a few times by the magical beasts before you win!”

I pretended to punch at Lynen’s back, but seeing the approaching magical beasts, I quickly ran away.

Though that didn’t mean I was really going to hide.

‘Is the silver-haired man somewhere else?’

He might be among the people who escaped. I should hide for now and then look for him when I get the chance.

“The exit is this way!”

As I was running mixed in with the nobles.

Crash!

The side wall crumbled and several magical beasts burst through.

“Kyaaah!”

“Help!”

The nobles who had been running in one direction screamed and scattered in all directions down the corridor.

“Ugh, d-don’t push!”

I had no choice but to run along with them if only to avoid being trampled.

Moreover, one of the magical beasts was chasing after us.

‘This isn’t the time to worry about the silver-haired man!’

I ran for my life, but quickly ran out of breath due to my physical limits.

This was dangerous.

“Let’s go in here!”

Someone shouted while opening a door, and the nobles who were in similar situations as me rushed inside.

Bang!

Right after we locked the door, the magical beast that barely missed getting in crashed loudly against it.

“Huff, huff…”

We survived for now, but.

Boom! Boom!

“C-can we stay here like this?”

“The magical beast looks like it’s going to break down the door!”

As they said, we had only bought a little time.

That’s when it happened.

Ding!

[Sudden Quest!]

[Help the ‘silver-haired man’ resolve the magical beast rampage at the banquet hall.]

[Reward: ‘Silver-haired man’s’ goodwill, Helper of the Grand Council ??? obtained]

[Time remaining 00:59:58]

What is this?

There weren’t any sudden quests like this in <Marino>?

But telling me to focus, the countdown of the remaining time was steadily decreasing before my eyes.

‘Less than an hour left!’

Within that time, I need to escape from this place blocked by magical beasts and resolve the situation.

‘How can I do it alone?’

No, wait. There are other people here too, right?

Looking around quickly, fortunately I saw some faces among the nobles who knew how to use a sword.

‘Good. I’ll have to make them step up.’

Of course, I wasn’t planning to push them to their deaths.

I’ll provide the best support with the items I brought in preparation for banquet accidents.

‘But in this ruined atmosphere, they won’t listen to anything I say.’

I decided to boost the spirits of the dejected people first.

“Hey. You’re knights, right?”

“Y-yes, but…”

“What are you doing sitting around pretending to be civilians when you’re knights? Do you have any conscience? Get out there and fight.”

“D-do you even understand the current situation!”

Those who had been scared suddenly flared up. Even in this situation, nobles will be nobles, protecting their pride. I crossed my arms crookedly and provoked them further.

“Knights are supposed to step up at times like this. Don’t tell me you’re scared? When there are three knights here?”

“Don’t talk so recklessly when you’ve never even held a sword!”

“What’s that? That’s why I’m asking you sword-wielding folks. Are you chickening out?”

“…!”

“Did you become knights just to hide with a dress-wearing me?”

“…!!”

Their faces turned red and blue as their pride was scratched.

Good. They’ve regained their spirit.

“How dare you talk like that! If even one of the three falls, we lose our chance! We’d need a priest who could heal injuries—”

“I can take care of that.”

“What…?”

I took items from my pouch and lightly shook them.

The nobles’ eyes wavered at the sight of the items.

“Could that be… healing potion?”

“That’s right. Top-grade healing potion produced by the magic tower. It can restore even bone-deep injuries in seconds.”

Moreover, this wasn’t a normal potion.

‘Since it was modified by the eccentric merchant Dovion.’

I didn’t know the exact effects, but he said it would work better than top-grade potions.

But the nobles who thought these were genuine potions had their eyes wide open.

“H-how did you get such precious items!”

“Forgot who I am? I’m Calliphe Offensa.”

The nobles were shocked when I pulled out four more top-grade potions.

I smiled gracefully.

“Well? Now it seems we have enough of a chance, don’t you think?”

* * *

Roaaar!

“D-dodge!”

When the magical beast leaped, it was like a mountain falling from above. The mercenaries scattered like ants in panic.

However, towards the side of the beast trying to crush them.

Crash!

Blue aura mercilessly struck and tore apart the magical beast.

The mercenaries were dumbstruck at the beast’s flesh and blood scattering like snow in the air.

“I-is that really aura?”

Unlike normal aura that cuts like a blade, Lynen’s aura was violent like a mace.

Of course, he could use it sharply if he wanted to.

The problem was that Lynen’s condition wasn’t good enough for that.

“Everyone get out of here.”

“W-we’ll help too!”

“With Duke working with us, we can surely defeat them!”

The mercenaries, excited by the tremendous destructive power, volunteered one after another to help.

But aura instantly shot past their sides and shattered the wall.

Lynen politely requested with a murderous look.

“I said get out because you’re in the way.”

“…Yes sir!”

“Go escort the guests outside… They’re already gone.”

Lynen clicked his tongue lightly and immediately shifted his attention.

Just dealing with these magical beasts required his full concentration.

More precisely, he had to endure his eyes becoming blurrier and more painful with each use of aura.

‘Mana consumption is fast.’

Mana, the force essential to living beings, was connected to almost all power that humans could produce.

The same was true for aura.

Lynen tried to reduce the number of magical beasts while using as little aura as possible, but…

“Huff, hah.”

He couldn’t stop the maddening thirst caused by mana deficiency.

Finally, having trouble controlling his body, Lynen escaped from the performance hall and hid elsewhere.

The sound of magical beasts scattering uncontrollably from the hall felt distant.

“Hah, urgh.”

His eyes felt burning hot, and his whole body felt like a fireball.

Lynen clutched at his collar with his hand, veins bulging.

The terrible heat and pain made him wonder if he was going to die like this.

“Ugh…”

Please stop.

His consciousness gradually grew hazy.