Kays Translations

Chapter 22: Deep within the Forest

The three of them continued walking through the forest as usual.

Today marks the third day in this forest.

Thanks to Matilda's accurate detection of monsters, they were able to pass through without much trouble.

Occasionally, the monsters would notice them first and launch an attack, but being able to anticipate the attacks in advance was reassuring.

At this moment, Lucius had just slain a wolf-like monster that had attacked them, after diverting its attention.

"Indeed, Lucius-sama. It's impressive. Not many adults can fight against monsters without even using a sword," said Matilda.

"Do you think so? I believe my father is much stronger," replied Lucius.

"Your father is exceptional. He has been managing this Silverwood Forest for a long time," said Matilda.

"Yes, that's true. I also want to become a distinguished Baron like my father."

Olivia, interjecting into the conversation. "Lucius, is your dream also about establishing yourself as a noble?" her voice was filled with anticipation.

"In a way, yes. To become a Baron who can protect the people of the fief, my family, and my vassals," replied Lucius.

"I see..." Olivia pondered for a while.

"In that case, aim for the king together with me," she said.

"The king? I'm not interested in that," said Lucius.

"It's not about your interest. The northern region is in danger right now. If I don't become the king..." Olivia's words were undoubtedly correct, but they seemed somewhat abstract.

However, the mention of the king reminded Lucius of the old man he had met during the "Appraisal Ceremony." He wasn't a bad person; rather, he seemed noble and respected by everyone.

But Lucius didn't feel drawn to that path.

He wanted to become someone like his father, protecting the livelihoods of his subjects and being needed by everyone.

"Sorry, but I'm still not interested," said Lucius.

"...I see. You're just that kind of person. But I will become the queen with a griffon by my side," said Olivia.

"Olivia, that's impossible. We haven't even found the griffon, and right now, we've even lost our way back home," said Lucius.

"No, I'll do it," insisted Olivia.

"It's impossible!"

"...If I manage to make a contract with a griffon, what will you do for me?" Olivia asked.

What a child, Lucius thought.

Well, Olivia is still a child after all.

In Japan, she would be like an elementary school student in the fourth or fifth grade. That's why she doesn't see reality clearly.

Lucius, feeling tired, decided to end the conversation casually.

"At that time, I'll do whatever you ask. As long as it doesn't cause trouble for our home or the people," he said.

"Promise, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it."

Lucius cut off the conversation with Olivia, who pursed her lips, with his indifferent attitude.

Any further discussion would be futile.

As Lucius turned his gaze forward, he noticed something resembling a moss-covered rock.

It was a flat object that seemed impossible for a natural formation.

"What is that?" Lucius approached closer.

Gradually, its true form became apparent.

It had a shape that he recognized.

"A tank?"

In his previous life, it resembled the tanks he had seen on television. It wasn't exactly the same, but it was remarkably similar, to the point where it didn't seem like a mere coincidence.

"A relic from the Red Era," muttered Matilda, who had come from behind.

"The Red Era?"

"Yes, it was an era that existed long before this country came into being. It was a terrible time. People were constantly engulfed in war, and the sky and rivers were stained with the color of rotten blood."

"Such an era..." Olivia followed up.

"In the Blue Era, people once lived in the sky, but they found this land. Our ancestors descended to this paradise and flourished. However, much blood was shed over control of this paradise, leading to the Red Era. The Hero King bore the weight of all the calamities and brought about the current Green Era. It's a famous creation myth."

Lucius, who had been studying subjects such as politics, law, arithmetic, and language, was not particularly knowledgeable about history.

He had read a few books, but they were all about the history after the founding of the nation.

"Why is this relic here in the first place?"

"Well, it could be found anywhere, not just here. Relics are valuable, so most of them have already been excavated. It's just that no one has investigated this forest because it's infested with monsters."

"That makes sense."

The two of them agreed, but Lucius felt a sense of unease.

Something was off.

Indeed, this forest had many monsters, and apart from the locals, not many people entered.

But that didn't mean there were none at all.

Would such a large relic have been left untouched near the village for a long time?

According to what he heard, relics were valuable items. Why wouldn't the struggling Dragon family or the subjects turn them into money?

Could it be that it was located so deep within, where hardly anyone had ever set foot?

He harbored a slight sense of unease, but he had no choice but to trust the sunlight and Matilda's spell. There was no other landmark to rely on.

Even though I walk and walk, the village remains out of sight.

Rather, the number of silver trees, the symbol of Silverwood, has increased, giving it an appearance that can be called a fantastic deep forest.

Lucius hesitates to speak several times since morning, but finally utters the words.

"Are we really on the right path?"

The two women following behind Lucius don't answer anything.

Because both of them share the same thoughts.

"Let's organize the situation once."

Fortunately, it's summer, and there is no shortage of edible fruits, plus clear water springs from various places in the forest.

However, that doesn't mean it's comfortable.

Walking is tiring, and it's necessary to be on alert for monsters. The only day they were able to sleep soundly in the hollow of a tree was the first day. Gradually, fatigue has been accumulating.

"First, it's certain that there are fewer monsters in this direction, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Matilda, visibly tired, responds.

"It's still cloudy as usual, but occasionally, the sunlight peeks through for a moment. I saw it this morning too."

The direction should be correct.

All the information indicated that they were heading out of the forest.

However, they still haven't been able to see the village at all.

"That's strange. But since there are no monsters, it should be the right way."

"Yes, I believe they are likely absent."

"Likely absent? What do you mean?"

"As monsters climb up the ranks, they become more skilled in manipulating magic power. I can't detect higher-level monsters with my abilities."

Matilda, with an expression as if saying "What's the point of bringing this up now?" responds.

"Huh?"

Lucius couldn't believe his ears. It was the first time he heard this.

"Matilda-san... Let me ask again. Can you sense any magic power in this vicinity?"

"No, I don't sense any at all around here."

A chill runs down Lucius' spine.

The deeper they go into the forest, the higher-level monsters appear.

And if there are powerful monsters, it's only natural for weaker monsters to hide or flee.

-- Could it be?

This might not be a place without monsters.

Perhaps they have been chasing after the location where powerful monsters reside.

With that thought, everything falls into place.

The position of the sun is the only thing that doesn't make sense, but it explains why they haven't reached the village no matter how many days they walked and why there are more silver trees.

"As if that matters now—"

Before Matilda could finish her response, a gigantic head emerged from between the trees.

It extended its long tongue, displaying a cold gaze.

The sight was familiar.

A massive serpent with a spiked shell and covered in dense green fur needles.

-- Peruda!

It was a second-class monster that had attacked Lucius and the others recently.

Whether it was the same individual or a different one, they couldn't tell.

Matilda's scream continued at the sight of Peruda's appearance.

Lucius channeled all the magic power he had into his sword.

Suddenly, a dazzling light enveloped the surroundings, erasing the shadows of the forest trees.

"Run!"

Lucius knew that the light from his sword wouldn't deliver a fatal blow to Peruda. It was merely meant to dazzle and disorient.

In the blinding light, as Lucius hurried to escape, someone's hand overlapped with his.

"What's this!?"

Something flowed through Lucius' hand. It wasn't his own power. It was the unfamiliar magic power of someone else.

A blend of heat and coldness surged into the sword through his hand.

"Take this!"

It was Olivia's voice.

The sword infused with the magic power of Lucius and Olivia emitted an unprecedented radiance.

A scorching flame-like light enveloped the entire area, piercing the skin.

The sun-like brilliance lasted for a moment.

Then, it immediately transformed into flickering phosphorescence.

Due to the intense light, the surroundings were difficult to see clearly.

As Lucius blinked repeatedly, his vision gradually became clear.

"Where is Peruda!?"

The giant serpent that was in front of them moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

There was no way they had defeated it.

--Where did it go!?

Looking behind, they saw a scorched rocky mound.

It didn't take long for them to realize that it was Peruda's shell.

Unharmed head and tail emerged from it.

--Did it retreat into its shell to survive?

They had run out of options.

Just when they thought so, Olivia's prosthetic arm, the "Beast Rider's Prosthetic," which she had stubbornly kept on for the past three days, caught Lucius' attention.

"Olivia, lend me the 'Beast Rider's Prosthetic.'"

"...No."

"Because I won't steal."

"What are you going to do?"

I already know what can be done with the "Beast Rider Prosthetic Arm."

"I will make a contract with Peruda."

I don't want to.

A Hippogriff that soars in the same vast sky as my father is preferable.

In secret from my family, I have also been practicing the technique of manipulating the wind through image training.

Why must I form a contract with a snail-like poisonous snake?

But there is no other choice.

"Peruda is a Class 2 monster. My magic core is Class 1. If the compatibility is good, we should be able to form a contract."

Peruda's eyes hold anger.

It was irritated by being treated as inferior, merely a sacrifice, and having its own shell burned. That fact must be frustrating.

When Olivia placed her hand on the "Beast Rider Prosthetic" she had put on her left hand, the surroundings suddenly brightened as if the sun had risen.

I quickly checked my sword, but it wasn't glowing.

Then, a loud noise, as if a meteor had fallen, echoed throughout the area.

"What!?"

In the center of the explosion, a monster stood amidst the scorched earth.

That monster emitted an intense light.

As the light gradually subsided, its form became clear.

A creature with the head of an eagle, the body of a lion, and shining white wings.

The dignity of a king.

It was engulfed in a burning presence.

Although its form resembled my father's Hippogriff, the feelings it emanated were from a different dimension.

It was two sizes larger than a Hippogriff, surpassing the stature of a brown bear.

"...Griffin."

Olivia murmured.

"That is the King's Beast."

I thought the name suited it.

It is the mightiest monster with the same feathers as the one adorning Lucius' sword hilt.

Peruda, sensing the abnormality, began to flee, eager to escape first.

Perhaps it was offended by Peruda's attempt to flee, the Griffonswiftly traversed the ground with its lion legs.

In an instant, it closed the distance between itself and Peruda, raising its front leg.

Then, with its claws, it tore through Peruda's shell.

Gradually, life faded from the eyes of the giant snake that had been alive just moments ago, and its head drooped to the ground with a loud noise.

A Class 2 monster, which Lucius and the others could do nothing but run away from, was crushed in a single blow.

It wasn't even a real battle.

"Impossible. What... is this magic power..."

Matilda, the only one among us who can sense magic power, muttered like a whisper.

She was completely drained of color.

The griffin, seemingly unaware of Lucius and the others, seemed to be searching for something in the surroundings.

The griffin's feathers shimmered and occasionally emitted a strong light.

I recognized that light.

It was the same light as the one emitted by Lucius himself.

Because of that, I completely disregarded it as a product of my own thoughts.

—I didn't see the light of the sun.

The light I had seen several times in the early morning was not from the sun but from the light emitted by the griffin.

And it was now confirmed.

—We are currently in the deepest part of the forest.

"We need to escape quickly."

It's not because Peruda is no longer here. It's even worse.

By calling forth a mighty monster capable of easily slaughtering Peruda in a single strike, we have summoned something beyond our control.

The griffin, which took a step forward, was overflowing with dignity,

――I am wounded.

The thought crosses my mind: Is there something strong enough to harm this powerful monster?

However, I don't have the luxury of thinking about the Griffin's well-being at the moment.

I need to put distance between myself and the Griffonas quickly as possible.

Olivia, who boasted that she would definitely form a contract with the Griffin, is frozen and unable to move even a step.

Olivia's legs are trembling.

Upon closer inspection, her mouth is making a clattering sound.

It's no wonder.

This creature is beyond human control.

I wonder if there was ever a person who truly succeeded in taming it.

I almost suspect it to be a fairy tale from a picture book.

The Griffin, who was scanning the surroundings, turns its gaze towards Lucius.

Its eagle-like eyes are fixated on the sword.

Gradually, its cold eyes become filled with anger.

"No! I didn't take the feathers from your companion!"

As the Griffon's lion-like body sways, it slowly takes a step forward.

Approaching Olivia, who was closer to Lucius, it raises its front leg as if swatting at a fly.

"Watch out, Olivia!"

It clearly intends to strike her on the top of her head.

She would be crushed, just like Peruda earlier.

At that moment, Lucius, strengthening his trembling legs, tries to take a step forward.

Suddenly, the Griffonis blown away.

"What?!"

A crack appears in the ground as if it had been torn apart.

I have no idea what's happening.

Lucius catches Olivia, who was blown away by the aftermath.

There is something where the Griffon was standing just moments ago.

I can see black, no, black-silver scales.

A thick neck, a mouth lined with teeth reminiscent of a dinosaur, and four sharp-clawed legs.

A long tail.

Two wings extending from the back covered in black-silver scales.

A deeply intertwined existence with the Dragon family.

"...A Dragon."

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