Part Forty-Two — Trespassers

　I heard it before I saw it――the distinct, pained snarl of something large, followed by the crackle of magic being thrown in numbers.

　Six figures had a wolf-like creature cornered against a rock face.

　It was easily twice the size of an ordinary wolf, silver-furred and clearly built to be genuinely dangerous.

Huh. That's an Aetherfang. High-level magical beast, if I recall right.

So why does it look like it's losing?

<「They are using a spell called 『Primal Infusion』,」> Anti-Subconsciousness supplied. <「It temporarily infuses the caster with monster energy, elevating their combat capability well beyond their natural baseline.」>

「Ooh. No wonder it's losing, then.」

　I studied the six of them properly for the first time.

　Same plain armor Eris had described.

「That's not the Church people, is it?」

　I was already pretty sure of the answer.

<「It is.」>

　My expression shifted.

　Something cold slid quietly into place beneath the surface.

「They've got the guts to hunt in my domain.」

　My gaze settled on the wounded Aetherfang.

「Hurting one of the monsters I protect, no less.」

<「Correction.」>

　Anti-Subconsciousness remained entirely unbothered by the drama of the moment.

<「Hunting your food supply.」>

「Why do you have to ruin the moment?」

　No response.

　Again.

　By then, I'd come to understand that silence perfectly well.

　It considered the correction accurate――and my complaint beneath addressing.

＊

　I flashed into the clearing, placing myself squarely between the wolf and the six of them.

「Hey,」 I said, pleasant as ever. 「You guys are from the Church, right?」

　The six looked at me.

　There it was.

　That specific, overconfident arrogance I'd already come to expect from anyone wearing that particular symbol.

「Back away from the monster!」 one of them barked.

「If you want to get to it,」 I said, 「you'll need to get past me first.」

　They hesitated.

　Barely.

　Then, foolishly, they decided to attack anyway.

　I didn't move.

　Not even an inch.

　――