"Does it contain any records about the stars returning to their positions?" Sean asked.
"I'm not very clear on that. I've never actually seen the so-called Necronomicon myself—only heard about it through various oral accounts... To be honest, it's not that interesting. When I was an apprentice, I was really into studying forbidden arts, alchemy, the Truth Gate, and so on. These stories came from books that were copied or passed down." At this point, the usually taciturn alchemist showed an emotion of [Awkwardness!].
Everyone has their cringey phase...
"Many breakthroughs come from pursuing interests. Without that hobby of yours, you probably wouldn't be telling me about this today."
"True enough..."
"Actually, when I first heard about the incident in the Tacoma region, I didn't think much of it—just got curious and wanted to come see for myself... But then yesterday..."
What happened yesterday was enough to overturn many people's perceptions. Not just Alphonse, but even Sean himself probably needed to seriously reassess this world.
A long time ago, he was just a lord in an ordinary small town. Though his arrival here was unusual, at least his impression of the world had seemed normal—just a different civilization with a bit of magic added in. But after the Koga City incident, his worldview shifted...
Yet it wasn't until he saw everything yesterday that Sean realized this world might be far more complex than he'd imagined. Demons, half-orcs—all of these had appeared, and who knew what other unknown life forms existed?
He'd thought the Empire's defenses were unbreachable, but two similar incidents had occurred in such a short time, and the entire nation couldn't muster much of a response.
So for a moment—just a fleeting thought—
Sean felt this country might be dragged down by these inexplicable attacks in the near future. Though both incidents happened in the Empire's remote regions, if the same Chaos Eye and the same demonic goat-men appeared in the capital, he wondered if the "King's Guardians" could protect the nation.
Deep down, Sean didn't want this country to fall. Sure, in many of the time-travel novels he'd read, the protagonists usually dominated a region—either through war or by declaring independence.
Either way, they ended up unbound, solitary figures with harems. Everyone wanted that life... but who could truly achieve it?
He remembered the Grand Duke and Ashue mentioning the rebels before, even hinting that the Immortal organization might be made up of rebels the Empire had failed to wipe out back then. The world was never short of jealous and hateful people—those who complained at the slightest dissatisfaction, gradually turning it into an obsession they couldn't let go.
So no matter what position you held, there would always be people opposing you!
Even without rebels, there would be enemies...
So if Sean had to choose, he'd want this country to keep going, and he'd just be a leisurely noble.
Of course, it'd be better if he had a bit more power—being too small a noble made many things impossible.
Alphonse, walking beside him, noticed Sean wasn't responding and occasionally pressed for more details about the goat-men, but the answer was always the same.
Unknown.
How they appeared, how they got here, and where the original residents of the Tacoma region had gone?
No one present could truly answer.
They could only keep moving forward, deeper into Tacoma City...
The mist had mostly cleared by now, no longer as thick, but there was still a foggy feel—like a winter morning.
At least they could see farther now...
Sean kept an eye on the time. Only half the daylight remained, and anxiety crept in.
If those things showed up again at night, how would they deal with them?
Fight?
Maybe one or two would be manageable, but if that biggest one came along, Sean wasn't sure if their current combat strength could handle it.
Logically, they could have chased them down yesterday, but after killing a batch of mercenaries, the goat-men had stopped—like gatekeepers, only guarding the entrance to the Tacoma region, letting people in but not following after.
It seemed they wanted to lure people here...
Very methodical, as if someone was orchestrating it from behind.
Thinking this, Sean suddenly felt a flash of recollection, but just then, a scream came from behind.
"Ouch!"
"What was that?"
Everyone quickly turned around. After last night's events, nearly all of them were on edge.
"Here... help me..."
The voice came from behind a haystack in an abandoned farm.
By now, they were nearing the small towns around Tacoma City. Like Koga City, big cities had many small villages nearby, including towns and residential areas along the roads.
Farmers were among them. On both sides of the road were unripe wheat, some likely dead from being soaked in the heavy rain.
The voice was behind the haystack—probably some mercenary who'd gone to relieve himself.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Quick, come help me."
He hopped out on one leg, pants not even fully pulled up, muttering nonstop.
"Damn it, who sets a trap in a place like this... Holy shit~ this f*cking @#$, it's a death trap."
Seeing one leg caught in an iron trap, already bleeding, he kept cursing...
Realizing it was just an ordinary trap, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Who told you to go looking for a spot on someone else's property? Farmers set traps around to keep out thieves and livestock. You barging in like that is just asking for trouble," someone in the group said irritably.
At the same time, a prompt appeared in Sean's vision: [Someone approaching...]
"Someone's there!"
He turned his weapon toward the direction of the prompt.
"Who goes there?!"
"Who are you... put down your weapons."
A clatter of weapons shifting.
"If you're smart, don't move. We've got people all around you, you..."
Several ranged soldiers with bows suddenly jumped out from the farm's wheat fields, then stopped.
"Mercenaries?"
"You are... Black Feather Knights?!?!"
Their gear was distinctive—all black metal armor, with black feathered crests different from those in Koga City. But anyone who'd lived in Rietis could recognize them at a glance, and they could recognize this group just as quickly.