"Huh…?"

The princess and the prince widened their eyes in surprise at my words.

"Summoning is akin to kidnapping…? What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Summoning barbarians from some unknown land—how does that qualify as kidnapping?"

...Seriously? Is this guy for real? The sheer lack of basic human decency is staggering.

"Barbarians? What the hell? Of course, we’re citizens of a proper country."

"Hmm. Let’s assume you’re from some country. But can that country lodge a formal protest against us?"

"No, they can’t. But just because no one can call you out doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. That’s exactly what barbaric behavior is."

After all, this is another world. Even if covering distances might be theoretically possible, crossing dimensions is impossible.

"…Hmph, barbarians do love to bark."

"Why are we specifically being targeted? You’ve enslaved the rest of our classmates, haven’t you?"

"Hehe, even I didn’t anticipate this. I never thought Rio Yuzuki would follow you this far."

"Is it the transfer device to the Demon Forest? You mean she wasn’t alone?"

Hmm? Demon Forest? What’s that supposed to mean? Is the reason we’re being targeted somehow connected to us being sent there?

"Yes, that’s right, Brother."

"Oh, I see… But with the two of them, it might yield even more potent results."

Yep. I’ve got no clue what they’re talking about.

"What the hell are you even talking about?"

Rio, indignant, interjected, but the smug royal bastards just looked at us with sneering grins. Even though the princess no longer had any tricks up her sleeve, the prince and his entourage must have some means to turn the tables here.

"You still possess that thing, don’t you?"

"Indeed. Judging by their reactions, it seems they still have it."

That thing… Oh, that thing!

Realizing, I pulled the brooch bearing the royal family’s emblem out of my spatial box.

"Just as expected, its effects are still active."

"Yes. Which means killing them should yield the desired results."

"Haha, you look clueless. Allow me to enlighten you, so even a barbarian like you can understand."

Ugh, this guy’s tone is so grating. Can’t he just explain normally?

"Walking through that transfer device curses the brooch, you say?"

"Indeed. As evidenced by the fact that you still carry it. If you discarded it, we’d lose the ability to track you. Even if you fled the country, it would become much harder for us to send pursuers."

Apparently, when someone cursed by the brooch dies, all their life force, magical power, and every essence of their being gets absorbed into it. That energy is then used to defeat the Demon King.

"I see… So that’s why we’re being targeted."

"Although the curse weakens you and subconsciously keeps you tethered near this castle, I didn’t expect you’d actually invade it."

Haha, they didn’t see that coming, huh? Well, yeah, having intruders storm your castle must be quite a shock.

Wait, this curse supposedly weakens us? I’ve never felt that at all. Must be thanks to my overpowered growth-rate skill.

"How does it feel, knowing the reason? Have you despaired at being hunted by a nation?"

Ah, I get it now… We’re "barbarians," so it’s perfectly fine to enslave our classmates.

Though I won’t sympathize with my classmates for looking down on us, I do feel sorry that they were treated like slaves.

Placing my hands on my hips, I looked up at the sky.

I took a deep breath, inhaling deeply, and exhaled it all at once.

When I shifted my gaze back, the princess had moved closer to the prince, putting more distance between us. Not that it matters; I’ve already set up a magic disruption field around us and a gravity field blocking the exit. You’re not going anywhere.

"Now that you know the reason… it’s time for you to die. —Do it."

"Yes, sir!"

The knights who had been silently observing sprang into action. Their armor and accessories looked more elaborate than the ones we’d fought earlier. Their magic power felt stronger too, though that’s a relative comparison.

"This is ridiculous…!"

Rio, fed up with the royals’ absurdity, seemed unable to contain her frustration. Honestly, I’m at my limit, too. I want to blow away everything—royals, knights, the whole lot—but I might be a bit low on magic power.

"Rio."

"What?"

"Lend me some magic power."

"Sure."

As the knights closed in, encircling us, I reached out to hold Rio’s hand, letting her transfer her magic power to me. A soothing flow of magic surged into me, though the knights were closing the gap faster than I’d like.

"Huh?"

Wrapping an arm around Rio’s back, I leaned down slightly, pulled her close, and kissed her.

"Mmph!"

As our tongues entwined, an overwhelming surge of energy flooded in. The more I deepened the kiss, the stronger the flow became, until Rio’s knees gave way beneath her.

Supporting her waist, I held her up until finally parting our lips.

"Ah…"

She looked at me with longing eyes as I gently set her down. Then, with a light peck on her lips, I whispered:

"Let’s finish this quickly and pick up where we left off."

Blushing fiercely, Rio nodded and turned her sharp gaze toward the knights surrounding us.

"I’ve had enough of you. I’m going to obliterate you—and this kingdom with you."

"Hah, have you said your goodbyes? Be grateful for our mercy."

"Dual Bind."

While they blathered, I unleashed the magic I’d been charging. Combining the dark magic Dark Bind with the earth magic Earth Bind, I created a spell that drained vitality while encasing the target in earth hardened to its maximum density.

"What?!"

Pouring vast amounts of magic into the spell, I manipulated the storm clouds growing above us. Using the heat of the earth to create water vapor, I cooled the upper atmosphere to form ice particles. Updrafts intensified, causing the ice particles to collide and generate static electricity.

With an added magical boost, I amplified the lightning’s power.

Raindrops began to fall, and soon hail mixed in. The sky swirled ominously, and thunder roared in the distance.

I had never poured this much magic into a spell before. What would happen next didn’t even cross my mind.

Almost ready now.

"W-What is happening?!"

What’s happening? Watch and find out.

Pointing my right hand skyward, I gathered the remaining magic into a final strike.

"Thunderbolt!"

With my command, lightning surged down, engulfing everything in blinding light and deafening thunder.