We moved through the ruins with Ebelheid in the lead.

On the way, there was an attack by a large swarm of large rat-like demonic beasts called Sufis, but the humans of the investigation team cut them all with a slash.

If I used my magic poorly, I will hit the people in the survey team, and they didn't seem to be struggling much. So I basically didn't help with them.

…… However, only to find out that when Maizen, who had joined the investigation team, was almost kidnapped by the Sufis and carried by the Sufis, as expected, though, I covered them with magic.

Overall, it can be said that the situation was resolved without any major injuries.

"Hahaha! How's that, did you see that? I stabbed three of them to death. Three! Maybe I'm the one who killed the most."

"You were trying to stab after a weakened Sufi in the back, so I ended up having to carry you around wasn't it?"

"…N, no, you saved me earlier, yes. Bu-, but, look, it is important in a group fight to ensure that a weakened enemy is rendered incapable of fighting. Sufis, especially, have high regenerative powers."

…… That's certainly true, but I think Maizen keep on targeting a damaged enemy just to earn merits.

I think there was a scene where the sword clashed with the investigators one time.

"W-What's that look in your eyes? I-It's true! Be-, because, look, I got a compliment from the investigation team…"

It was like the same number of other members of the team were pissed off at him…

W-well, I guess it must have been a good contribution.

"Anyway, nice fight. You're not really injured or anything, are you? I heard that Sufis have a lot of germs, so if you get a scratch, I'll sterilize it with my magic."

"Thanks for asking. But I'm fine. I don't know why I wasn't attacked much. But …… why did they try to take you alive?"

Maizen tilts his head in wonder.

I look at the Sufi corpse lying on the floor.

Pale brown body hair, a forked tail like a prickle.

I'm sure it's a Salop Sufi.

I remember reading about it in a book about the eccentricities of monsters.

——————————————————————

Every now and then, a species of magic beast will evolve into something that can only be considered irrational.

For example, the Salop Sufi is one such example.

The female Salop Sufi is one size larger than the male.

The female looks for food, eliminates potential enemies, defends the nest, and gives birth to her child.

What does the male do? They do nothing. When the female is pregnant, the other females in the herd protect her.

While the female is busy hunting, the male nibbles on a nutrient-poor tree root and waits for her to return.

This act is considered to be particularly not meaningful.

The males do nothing in particular during their lifetime.

This is why in some regions, Sufi's husband is used as a synonym for lazybones!

Now, here's the real thing.

Salop Sufis are far fewer in number than males.

This may be why female Salop Sufis have a habit of carrying males to the nest when they see them.

And although it is rare, adventurers who have been bathed in the blood of a Salop Sufi will be carried to the nest.

This is similar to the general human physique and the physique of the Salop Sufi male, which is similar to that of the same species' odor. It is believed that this is to distinguish the ingrained adventurers from the males.

No one was carried to the nest and returned safely alive.

However, when one group of adventurers exterminated a Salop Sufi nest, there have been reports of a person who lived for a long time traces and human remains being found in the past, so maybe the treatment isn't as bad as it seems.

The author would like to be transported to try it if he has the opportunity to do so.

(Quoted in Edna Elbert's book, "Magic beast Have Strange Habits.")

——————————————————————

"It's an unusual thing. I've never heard of a Sufi carrying his prey alive, but…"

" …ye-, yeah, that's right. Strange things happen."

…… Perhaps it's better not to know.

After investigating the other parts of the wards, as originally planned, the core of the most superficial part of the wards, we go back to the place of the gryphon statue.

I touch my hand to the statue, letting my magic flow through it, and from the echoes of that magic, I go to explore the interior of the statue.

With my opposite hand, I roll up Ebelheid's notes and check the relevant items.

"What do you think, Abel?"

Ebelheid calls out to me.

"Hmmmmmm…… Indeed, it seems impossible to use human magic power to do so with a straightforward attack. This seems to be another nasty trick…… It's going to take a little time to prepare it. Would you rather smash it with magic to destroy it? But in that case, the ruins would be severely damaged."

"Haha, that's a trivial joke. To use magic that would destroy this statue directly, that's what exactly you need to prepare for."

Ebelheid tapping the wall as he says it.

This statue seems to be made from an ore similar to the wall.

"No, but maybe using brute force would be less of a struggle…"

"It's reassuring, but I do not intend to hurt the site intentionally."

………Well, that's true.

To Ebelheid, these ruins are his roots.

"But even if it's to block its function, how could they create such strong wards……"

It just hasn't been solved for 2000 years.

If it weren't for Ebelheid, I wouldn't have been able to get my hands on it.

I've heard that there are many cases of putting a seal on a weapon that is no longer in use temporarily to prevent others from using it, but still, that's too much.

I guess they didn't intend to open it again.

Perhaps it also serves as a tomb of a great man of Zeshum.

It was said that there are treasures in the back as well.

Even the pyramids of the prehistoric era are like buildings designed to prevent people from entering the back of the building, and somehow I feel a connection.

Then it makes sense that they don't want to break the sealing technique.

If the hypothesis is correct, then the returns are quite promising.

"Shouldn't we turn back to the carriage and go to bed soon? We're in a building, so my sense of time is crazy, but it's already a good time for that."

Mea called out to me, rubbing her eyes.

In her hand, she held a lantern of lights.

It's a magic tool that can illuminate quite a large area. It seems to have been borrowed from the people in the investigation team.

"No, I'll have to do some more research before I can do that. Or better yet, I think I'll sleep here."

"Ehhhhh…… it won't take that long, and as expected we should turn back."

"The investigators are probably ready to sleep in here too. It's okay, it's okay. ah, and if you're going to sleep, lend that to me."

When I reach out my hand, Mea hugs lantern with her arms and protects it.

"…… If Abel's awake, then Mea's awake too!"

"Is, is that so. Don't be too hard on yourself."