Published: July 3, 2025
Somehow, in a hurry, I attempted to write about Duke Zlaransu's last moments.
There seemed to be a need for it, so...
It's very short.
Suddenly, I'm sorry for bringing this up now.
The roar that shook the surroundings echoed.
The residents of Aiteke Bo saw it for the first time in their lives.
The sight of the massive castle walls crumbling.
For some reason, people began to run.
Some sat down and stared blankly at the scene.
And others stood there, just shouting...
However, they were not unhappy.
Because they were able to continue watching that scene.
In other words, it meant they had not lost their lives...
They were the residents of the eastern shore.
The collapsed walls were on the western shore.
Those who brought down the walls pressed forward, straight towards the lord of the realm's mansion... and pierced it.
"W-What is happening!?"
The lord of the realm, Duke Zlaransu, shouted.
Even the captain of the guard, Guja, who was always by his side, did not understand what was happening at all.
Naturally, no one could answer the lord's question.
The answer came from outside the door.
"I-It’s a disaster! Monsters are..."
From behind the guard squad member who rushed to report, countless wolfmen were approaching.
"Y-You fool, close the door..."
Guja's shout was futilely drowned out by the group of wolfmen that burst in...
The captain of the guard left this world without any resistance.
What the monsters sought was...
"Ah..."
Duke Zlaransu couldn't even let out a proper scream.
This was because he was surrounded on all sides.
Wolves.
Boars.
Snakes.
And the extending tentacles of the caterpillar...
Their target was the spear that Duke Zlaransu held in his hand.
Needless to say, it was a spear made from a branch of the World Tree that he had ordered to be brought.
At this point, he finally realized.
That the root cause of everything lay in that spear, in the orders he had given, and in his own foolishness.
But it was too late.
"Ah..."
The caterpillar's tentacles seized the spear.
The murderous intent in the eyes of the monsters was still directed at Duke Zlaransu.
They knew.
Who had given the orders that led to the branch being broken.
The 'forest' knows everything.
The activities of the human city.
The structure of the human kingdom.
And who among the people should be held responsible...
Responsibility was demanded...
Duke Zlaransu's life came to an end.
At that moment, all the aggression of the monsters subsided, and a retreat began.
On the western shore, there were quite a number of people who barely survived.
On the eastern shore, both the residents and the members of the kingdom delegation were completely unharmed.
However, the lord of the realm's mansion, which had been destroyed at its foundation, ultimately collapsed.
I thought it might be good to write this down.
Perhaps I might delete or revise it later...
As I mentioned, I will be posting the second chapter tomorrow.