The overlord of the gods is interrogating the alien female spy.

　"We can save Kazdel!"

　"Ramallen, tell us what to do?"

　Theresa responded, and the banshee's voice reached everyone's ears.

　"As long as we can leave behind all the Sarkaz who are willing to accept a new life before dawn tomorrow, as long as we don't stop them, Kazdel will not be destroyed."

　Perhaps what the banshee said differed from what they heard, but a glimmer of hope rose in everyone's hearts.

　"Alright. Then let's head to Kazdel now. Those who want to come with us, please follow. Those who don't want to take the risks can stay behind; we'll be back before sunrise tomorrow."

　The blood demons immediately set off. Even if it meant risking their lives back in Kazdel, they were unwilling to stay here and share a room with that terrifying overlord of the gods.

　"Theresa."

　Before setting off, the Blood Demon Prince asked her a question.

　"Demon King, what should we do?"

　The Demon King... a problem that no Sarkaz can avoid.

　"A crown proves nothing. What the Demon King can't do, we'll do ourselves. If he can't lead the Sarkaz and protect Kazdel, then we'll do it ourselves!"

　Sunlight shone on Sarkaz's white hair and into her eyes, giving her an radiance that would never fade.

　Chapter Ninety-Seven: Proof of Immortality

　The team quickly arrived at the battlefield of the carrion eaters.

　This place is far more brutal than the Blood Demon Battlefield. Everywhere is shattered dust, and the land, tainted by death, seems to emit an ominous wail under the sunlight.

　A large number of scavengers still survive here.

　"Watch out, Theresa."

　A scavenger noticed the intruders, but he merely glanced up at them before continuing to wander aimlessly.

　"They...what happened?"

　The situation of the carrion eaters before us is different from that of the blood demons.

　Blood Demon is

　Though broken by the beating, they still retained their sanity, while these scavengers, as if they had lost their souls, became walking corpses.

　"The King of Carrion in the Carrion's Court is to Kazdel the Demon King."

　The Blood Demon Prince withdrew his spell and explained the current state of the Carrion Eaters.

　"Now that the King of the Carrion has been killed by...that great one, it is tantamount to killing their spiritual faith...without new instructions, they do not know how to live."

　"so……"

　"You want to help them? Theresa, carrion eaters are different from blood demons. Among the carrion eaters..."

　Before she could finish speaking, Theresa had already walked out.

　"That's just her personality. Don't worry, I'll go and knock on the door. Those guys... I hope they're not so scared that they can't tell friend from foe."

　Ramallen walked toward Kazdel, pondering how to persuade her mother.

　"..."

　Theresa followed the scavenger.

　She did not speak immediately, but observed the scavengers.

　They wandered aimlessly, but perhaps even they themselves didn't realize that every turn they made was traceable.

　"It seems... they are searching for something. Like a toothed beast sniffing a scent and chasing after it... but the scent stops at one place, and then they sniff the scent elsewhere and chase after it on the other side."

　Based on the appearance of these scavengers and the answer she had received from Anesse when she watched the Wolf Lord and the Sheep Lord play hide-and-seek, Theresa made this deduction.

　"Indeed... there are several scavengers going around in circles on the same route."

　Therese also discovered the same situation.

　"But what does that mean?"

　What are the scavengers chasing? They can't be chasing corpses, can they...? But there are corpses everywhere here. Are they browsing the cafeteria and choosing their favorite dishes?

　Putting aside the Kazdel joke, Theresa saw something... that was easily overlooked.

　"that is……"

　She felt that place looked somewhat familiar.

　"There……"

　The Blood Demon Prince saw where Theresa was pointing, and even she showed a surprised expression.

　A tree...

　Trees are not uncommon in Kazdel, but... this is a battlefield of scavengers, teeming with death, where plants should not grow.

　And now, before everyone's eyes, a tree... which did not exist last night, a lush banyan tree that looks like it has been growing for hundreds of years, has quietly taken root in this land.

　"I... I think I understand."

　Theresa looked at the carrion eaters.

　The carrion eaters roamed the battlefield, but without exception, they all lost their way before getting a certain distance from the banyan tree.

　"Perhaps what they are looking for is this tree that we can see, but they... cannot see."

　Theresa clenched her fists and took a step closer to the old banyan tree, which was already several meters tall.

　"It is still growing. Perhaps it will grow taller than the walls of Kazdel."

　But who planted this tree?

　"I think I know who it is."

　Theresa remembered the history of Kazdel told by the sage Kal'tsit on her way there.

　The branches of a tree, where death and rebirth never cease, with one end forever withering and decaying, and the other end forever growing.

　A scavenger blocked their way.

　She looked around. She was one of the few carrion eaters who had made it this far, but she stopped there, refusing to take another step forward or allow any other carrion eaters to approach.

　"...Kalesa."

　Many blood demons recognized the other party's identity.

　"She was a notorious executioner under the King of Carrion, known as the Witch of the North Wind, a symbol of death."

　The north wind carries the connotation of death.

　The carrion eaters, known for their north winds, are a creature whose very existence is chilling to contemplate.

　She tried to step forward to drive them away, but her nearly collapsing body was not strong enough to make her attack. After a few tremors, she finally just collapsed in front of the crowd.

　"Don't... disturb... the sect leader's... eternal slumber..."

　Even though she only said such a short sentence, after Theresa helped her up, the tear stains on her face were visible.

　“We won’t disturb him… I just want to see him up close. To see this hero of Sarkaz history.”

　Even from the enemy's perspective, the Scavenger King Nezire is entirely worthy of the Sarkaz and can be called a hero.

　"...Don't...disturb..."

　The carrion eater in front of her kept repeating that sentence; she retained some rationality, but not much.

　"Go, Theresa."

　The Blood Demon Prince took the carrion eater, and Theresa thanked her before turning to her sister.

　“I will always be by your side, Theresa.”

　The two sisters walked together toward the huge old banyan tree.

　A symbol of death...

　Carrion eaters should be decaying, withered trees.

　But what is now presented to the two of them is a life full of vitality and hope.

　The wind blows across the wilderness, causing the branches and leaves of the old banyan tree to sway and make a calming sound.

　"Old senior..."

　Theresa's gaze fell

　On the bark of this old banyan tree, these marks are like those etched by the long passage of time by ancient scavengers; each mark is a piece of Sarkaz history.

　"Thank you for everything you've done for Sarkaz... but from now on, the future of Sarkaz will be changed by Sarkaz itself. No more meaningless wars... no more forced plunder and slaughter..."

　She reached out and touched the old banyan tree's bark, which was full of carvings, her own thoughts continuing in her mind.

　The wind blew past her ear, ruffling a strand of her hair.

　“Therese…you…”

　"Theresia...you saw it too?"

　Withdrawing her hand, Theresa and her sister exchanged glances, both understanding what she had just seen and learned.

　That ancient scavenger didn't seem to have truly died... but rather, it had become a completely new life form...

　When they first touched the old banyan tree, it was as if they were conversing with it... and now, the two sisters have each gained a piece of experience... as a sorcerer, as a swordsman... and even... as a leader.

　"Thank you, Lord Niezley."

　Turning around, the two saw the blood demons' surprised gazes, and... the scavengers' stares as they gathered.

　Chapter Ninety-Eight: Entering the City, Conflict

　"What did the clan leader say to you...? Please tell me, please tell us!"

　Kaleza, the scavenger witch as cold as the north wind, knelt on the ground with tears streaming down her face. The scavengers gathered around, all yearning for an answer.

　"Please tell us...how...how can we keep living..."

　Without the leadership of the Carrion King and the rules he established, the Carrion... this race that survives entirely through war, has lost its purpose for living.

　They had no independent thought; they sustained their lives through war and filled their hunger with death...

　Now, they have felt and seen the guidance the twins before them have received... They hope that the carrion eaters' confusion can be resolved through them.

　"...If you don't know what to do, start by looking forward to tomorrow. If you don't know how to live, start by trying today. Do what you want to do, use your life to drive away death, and use hope to fill your thirst."

　The life form of scavengers is quite unique; 'death' serves as their nourishment, stimulating their growth. Even in their current form, they cannot escape the shackles of death.

　If scavengers do not draw nourishment from death for a long time, they will weaken and eventually decay... Therefore, scavengers rely on death to sustain their lives, and thus rely on war to obtain death.

　But now, it seems there is a new path waiting for them to explore.

　"...Please guide...our two...Your Highnesses..."

　The scavengers couldn't understand. They could only place their hopes on the two women before them, hoping they could guide them to survival.

　"...I will do my best. We will do our best."

　After exchanging glances with her sister, Theresa finally agreed to the scavengers' request.

　They are now the only straw these people are clinging to after their beliefs have collapsed. If they are rejected now and told that they don't know the answer to the question either, these scavengers will fall back into that state of confusion and collapse, continuing to wander until they decay and die.

　“But, there’s no need to call us Your Highness or anything like that… I’m Theresia. This is my sister, Theresis. Next, we’re going to Kazdel. We… we’re going to help the Sarkaz who want a new life, to escape this war, to leave behind this torment of suffering. I also believe… the path to salvation lies within it.”

　The carrion eaters had not fully regained their senses, and they simply agreed with Theresa's words.

　It's like... following military orders.

　"Kazdel..."

　The heavy door was only slightly ajar. The banshee had already departed.

　The gatekeeper was a Wendigo.

　He shouldn't have opened the city gates, but... the cries of his compatriots still made him disobey orders.

　"Thank you, sir."

　"...I am not, sir. I am...a soldier."

　warrior……