By the Grace of the Gods

Today, two chapters are posted simultaneously.

This is the second chapter.

"This should be fine for now. Please make sure to receive proper treatment at the hospital."

"Ah, thank you. You saved me..."

"Store manager, we're done here too. Fortunately, it seems there are no seriously injured."

After Ryoma and Eudam subdued the adventurers who were attacking the townspeople, they used light magic to create illumination and administered first aid to the injured on the spot.

"Thank you for your help. I wasn't watching closely, but you handled things quite efficiently."

"I was aspiring to be a knight after all, so I can manage basic treatment."

As the two were talking, the sound of horses neighing came from afar.

"Are they here?"

"Looks like it. Three carriages, I think."

Ryoma saw the lights of carriages approaching from a distance.

As the three carriages drew close enough to be faintly visible, the lead coachman raised his voice.

"We're from the security squad! Is everyone safe!?"

"Somehow, we're safe!"

"Hurry and come!"

At the coachman's words, the people responded with relief and guided the carriages.

The personnel who arrived in the carriages promptly dealt with the situation on site.

"We received a report that there is a mob here. Those down there piled up are the ones?"

"That's right! These two subdued them!"

"Understood. We will take custody of them. Anyone needing treatment, please board the following carriages. Also, you are Ryoma-kun, right?"

"Yes, Ryoma Takebayashi."

"This is a message from the security company headquarters: 'The fire incidents are decreasing, but there are many injured. Requesting participation in hospital treatment.'"

"Message received. We'll head to the hospital immediately. Please take care of the rest."

Thus, Ryoma and Eudam headed to the hospital attached to the security squad headquarters.

■　■　■

Meanwhile...

Inside the garbage disposal site, a covered carriage and five men had sneaked in.

The five men took out jars filled with oil from the carriage one after another and poured oil onto the grated trash chute on the floor and the unprocessed garbage stacked beside it.

"That's all of it."

"Now all that's left is to set it on fire. Everyone, move away from the hole."

One of them said this, and after confirming everyone had moved away from the chute, he cast fire magic.

A small fireball appeared in his palm and ignited the oil-soaked garbage pile and inside the chute, quickly spreading flames.

"Let's get out of here—huh?"

The men confirmed the rising flames and tried to flee immediately.

However, the sudden surge of the fire made them stop in their tracks.

"Hey, what's with the way the fire rages?"

"I-I mean, even if we poured oil, should it burn this way?"

"Maybe there's something flammable inside the chute? Or maybe the slime inside is burning. Some plant-type magical beasts store oil in their bodies occasionally."

"Doesn't matter. We did what we were told. Let's get the hell out of here quickly. Someone might come, and god forbid we get caught in the fire we started ourselves—"

The man urging retreat suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

At the edge of his vision as he climbed into the carriage, he saw a 'translucent tentacle' writhing.

The tentacle was as thick as a log, stretched so high it nearly touched the ceiling, then coiled sinuously like a snake raising its head.

The next moment, it licked the blazing flames, carving through the garbage pile and swallowing the burning objects.

"—Get away from the carriage!!"

"Ugh!?"

"Guh!"

The tentacle then attacked the men.

They narrowly avoided a direct hit, but various pieces of debris falling from the giant tentacle struck their bodies like gravel.

The carriage taking the full force of the tentacle's mass had its cover and framework crushed, cracks appearing everywhere.

"“Hiiiiiiin!?”"

"Hey! Calm down!"

The two horses tied to the carriage were startled by the noise and impact.

Though unafraid of fire, they instantly panicked, and in their thrashing, the damaged carriage's shafts broke.

One man tried to catch a horse running straight toward the door leading outside, reaching out to grab the reins, but...