Hector watched this scene take place from a distance.

Hundreds, no, thousands of spikes shot up from the previously empty ground. The spikes were all black, but they were not shadows. They were all wriggling as if they were alive, and each spike seemed to be covered in black keratin.

[Don’t get too close,] the voice inside his head seemed full of excitement as it warned Hector. [Even if it’s you, if you were to get close to that, your body would rot away and die.]

“Have you confirmed any signs of life?” Hector eventually asked.

[There’s nothing to see, but if you want to check, go have a look yourself. However, Hector, despite your abilities, if you get close to any of those with your bare body, you will definitely rot away and die,] the voice repeated with emphasis.

Hector’s face contorted into a frown at these words. It wasn’t like he suspected those words were unfounded, as the speaker didn’t have any reason to lie to him, but he still felt a need to check it out. Hector picked up a few stones lying near him and threw them forward.

Psssssh!

The moment that the stones touched the black thorns, the stones turned black and disintegrated into ashes. Upon seeing this happen in front of him, all thoughts of going closer vanished. Shaking his head, Hector stepped further backward.

“He must be dead,” Hector agreed with some regret.

[We have enough sacrifices in any case. Wasn’t it just Eward’s selfishness that made him obsessed with having that guy as an offering?]

“Well… with the relationship between them, he has a reason for his obsession. Or perhaps it’s because of Eugene’s value as a sacrifice?” Hector speculated.

[Hm. I’ve heard that blood relations like siblings or parents are of higher value as sacrifices, but… strictly speaking, Eugene Lionheart isn’t blood-related to Eward, right?]

Hector just shrugged in response to the voice and turned around. What kind of reaction would Eward show to the fact that he had been unable to capture Eugene and bring him back? Would he be angry? Or perhaps disappointed?

Hector recalled the usual look on Eward’s face. Eward looked as if something had been emptied out of him… no, he looked as if he had been emptied and that void had been filled by something else instead....