Rest looked down at the sand castle, now in a miserable state, as he flew through the sky using magic.
"He should be dead after that... I think. Probably."
The sand castle was collapsing due to the massive amount of water that had burst out from inside.
Rest narrowed his eyes as he watched the sight, like a sandcastle on the beach being crushed by a wave.
The moment he unleashed [Water Calamity], Rest escaped outside through the hole he had opened in the ceiling.
Due to the dozens of tons of water gushing out with explosive force, the sand castle created by the Curse Caster was collapsing.
The Curse Caster was nowhere to be seen. He should have been crushed by the water or drowned to death.
"It shouldn't have been a timing that could be avoided... but I'm not certain. Maybe he's still alive."
If he covered his entire body with sand to guard.
After that, if he escaped underground, it's possible the Curse Caster could be alive.
There was no way to confirm. There was no reaction from the [Presence Detection] magic, and it was impossible to search.
"Well... for now, I should consider this my victory, right...?"
"Lord Rest, over here!"
"...It seems everyone is safe too."
From a spot a little away from the collapsed sand castle, Diebl was calling out.
Beside Diebl were Vareiya, Lubeth, and other soldiers. For some reason, an oni tribe warrior was also with them.
Before blowing up the sand castle, Rest had used a spell called [Communication] to urge them to escape.
[Communication] was a state secret spell that wasn't even registered in the magic compendium. It was a spell taught only to a few court magicians.
Rest had been specially taught this magic due to the trust he had earned from the royal family.
Is everyone all right?
"Yeah, more or less. Did you get the curse caster?"
Vareiya asked Rest, who had just landed on the ground.
"We succeeded in bringing him down... but I'm not sure if I finished him off."
"Well, look at this mess. It can't be helped."
Vareiya sighed as he surveyed the collapsed remains of the sand castle.
"A terrifying spell. Could a single strike like this wipe out a fortress?"
"Well... who knows? I've never tried it."
"It seems my little sister's judgment was reliable... I feel a bit relieved."
The gaze Vareiya directed at Rest softened compared to before.
It seemed he had finally, just slightly, acknowledged Rest as Yuri's husband.
Whether he was acknowledged or not, the result wouldn't change, but even so, the lack of friction was a small relief.
"Now then... what about you lot? Are you still going to fight us?"
Vareiya shifted his gaze to the side.
At a slight distance from the Kingdom of Aiwood's surprise attack unit stood the oni tribe.
They were staring this way, as if shielding the children they had rescued.
Among those oni was Lou. He stood close to his little sister, a white-haired girl.
"We've rescued the children who were taken hostage by that so-called curse caster. Don't you think you should show some goodwill too?"
"You don't need to tell me. I know."
One of the oni tribe... an enormous man over two meters tall, spoke solemnly.
"From this point forward, we will end our battle with you. On the honor of our clan, I will stop the other tribes from attacking as well."
"You won't go back on that?"
"You're persistent. I swear in the name of our ancestor... the 'Sandalwood Oni God'."
The man of the oni tribe placed his fist over his heart and declared loudly.
He couldn't understand the meaning behind that gesture, nor the meaning behind those words.
However, the fact that they were serious came across loud and clear.
"As for your intrusion into the forest… I will overlook it this time. Leave immediately."
"We'll do just that… Everyone, pull out!"
A deal was struck with the oni tribe.
He wasn't sure if he could trust them a hundred percent, but the foreign tribes should have no strength left to pursue them either.
There was no way they would chase them any further.
"Please wait!"
But… amidst this, Row's younger sister, who had been taken hostage, stepped forward.
"You over there… I heard from my brother. You're Lord Rest, aren't you?"
"That's right… Did you need something?"
It seemed she had business with Rest.
Rest stepped forward cautiously until he stood before the girl.
"I am Sara of the White Oni. I offer you my deepest gratitude."
The girl who introduced herself as Sara took Rest's hand and, with a soft *paku*, put the tip of his thumb in her mouth.
Her small lips wrapped around his finger, and the tip of her tongue stroked it in a bewitching manner.
"Sara!?"
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!"
Rou and the oni tribesman raised their voices.
Sara's lips parted from his finger. She looked up at Rest with a bashful expression.
"I hope we meet again."
"Ah... yes. Indeed."
Rest, for some reason, answered using polite language.
The bob-haired girl who looked up at him seemed strangely mature, and his heart gave a jolt.
"Pull back! Return to the fort immediately!"
Vareiya declared, and the members of the assault squad fled the dense jungle.
In the end, things had taken an odd turn... but Rest and the others had accomplished their mission and returned safely.