"Ugh... Sob..."
The faint, muffled sobs echoed above Mountain City like blades that lingered in people's hearts.
In the vast square at the center of town, the Mountain People who had clearly traveled a long way and endured countless hardships before finally arriving here had all collapsed onto the ground, yet every one of them was weeping bitterly.
Some wept because their bodies were covered in wounds.
Some wept because they had finally reached a safe place to stay.
Some wept because they had lost their loved ones.
Others wept uncontrollably because they did not know whether the people beside them were alive or dead.
Watching these Mountain People, the residents of Mountain City either stepped forward to comfort them and offer porridge and food, knelt where they were and prayed devoutly, or helped care for the children, elderly, women, and wounded. Every one of them wore a heavy expression, making Mountain City—immersed in a carnival-like atmosphere until yesterday—seem unbearably oppressive.
Luo Zhen, Mashu, Serenity, Bedivere, and Artoria〔Alter〕were all watching this scene in silence. Even Joan of Arc〔Alter〕had arrived at some point and was leaning against the wall of a nearby building, her face full of displeasure.
Then...
"We've detected the residual magical energy, and there was indeed a powerful force."
Roman's voice came from the communicator on Luo Zhen's wrist.
"It seems that an incredibly terrifying force really did descend upon the mountainous region yesterday, burning down all the villages of the Mountain People scattered throughout the area."
Olga Marie spoke in a somewhat solemn voice.
"That was indeed an extraordinary magical energy reading. Our preliminary estimate puts it at around 3,000,000. For comparison, the reading for the full release of a highest-class Noble Phantasm is roughly 1,000 to 3,000. So, conservatively speaking, the force that burned down the