Sivan: 「Recently the barrier has had little effect. The Desert Tortoise turns violent with even the slightest stimuli. Once angered, its violence will not subside until some time has passed. Yet, if we left it alone, there is a possibility of it coming over here. Thus, those of us that can fight attempted to redirect it to another place, but...」

    Hiiro: 「There were times where it failed, leading to this result...I guess that about sums it up.」

    Upon hearing Sivan’s words, Hiiro spoke as he was somehow convinced. As if the monsters were unaware of their existence, they faced the other direction. Even though the 『Ashura Tribe』 seemed to be drawing the monster’s attention, the monsters that were asleep noticed they were under attack.

    Sivan: 「Indeed. Even though I said that there were various reasons, the most important one is that we don’t want to leave Rigund. Everyone thinks as such.」

    Hiiro: 「But if you think about the future of your brats, don’t you think this choice is wrong?」

    As the man with the topknot(1) grew irritated at Hiiro’s words, he glared at him while clenching his teeth. Appearing in front of such a man, Camus opened his mouth instead.

    Camus: 「Yes......it is as you say...I believe. But...dad is family.」

    Hiiro: 「...then I’ll ask this. Your father was eaten by that Desert Tortoise, right? Although one of the Desert Tortoise’s characteristics is that it can take the form of your father. Even so, it just looks really similar to him. Can you really say that your father is alive?」

    Camus: 「That’s...」

    Camus drooped his head with downcast eyes.

    Hiiro: 「Furthermore, didn’t your father say it as well? That he’d entrust the tribe to you. Yet, the one who exposed that tribe to such risks was non other than you, Chief of the 『Ashura Tribe』」

    Topknot Man: 「What the hell would you know, bastard!?」

    The man with the topknot unsheathed his Shamshir(2) as he approached Hiiro with tremendous velocity.

    Hiiro: 「Shut up.」

    As Hiiro said thus, he pointed his finger tip towards the man as something flew out of it. What had shot out was, of course, a word.

    The topknot man’s movements instantly froze. Not knowing what had occurred, he was startled. Even if he poured all of his strength into his body, it remained immobile. It wasn’t paralysis. It was just that his body refused to move, as if it was completely frozen.

    「Stop」 | 『止』

    By using 《Word Magic》, Hiiro had robbed him of his movement. While the others had a blank expression, unsure of what Hiiro had done, Liliyn stared at him while hummed 「Hohou(3)」 with interest.

    Although he would not normally use 《Word Magic》 in such circumstances, Hiiro was currently in a slightly foul mood. This became quite apparent after he had listened to their story. Thus, he took such action with little concern for the potential consequences.

    The reason for this may have been because he did not care about the 『Ashura Tribe’s』 current circumstances. Even Hiiro himself was frustrated as he was unsure himself.