Chapter 148: A Fateful Encounter

The Demon Continent.

This land was known throughout the world as one of unparalleled danger.

Even within the Demon Continent, there existed a forest region where the environment grew harsher still—where violent mana storms swirled unseen between ancient trees, and the air itself felt heavy with malice.

Only chosen beings were permitted to live within this forest.

And who, one might ask, determined which creatures were worthy?

Deep in the heart of the woods dwelled a certain tribe of demons.

…And the one who made that decision was their chieftain.

The chieftain stood in silence, gazing toward the direction of the Veiland Continent. His eyes were sharp, unblinking—like a predator sensing distant prey.

“………………”

“Is something wrong, Chieftain?”

“…Red and Blue are dead.”

“What? Those two scouts? Surely at least one of them survived? Even within our tribe, they were considered fairly capable…”

“Their ‘factors’ were severed simultaneously. A factor accompanies life. Which means they no longer live.”

“…How unfortunate. We must notify their kin before the day ends… What will you do, Chieftain?”

“If they died just now, then the strong one who killed them is likely still near their corpses. Though it is regrettable for Red and Blue… I shall offer their funeral rites by slaughtering the enemy along with their remains—using large-scale magic.”

The chieftain casually raised one hand, mana gathering and intensifying around him like a coiling storm.

Then—

He clenched his fist as if gripping the sky above the Veiland Continent itself.

“Die. —Black Star Sirius.”

◇◇◇

GOGOGOGOGOGO.

A colossal black meteor tore through the sky, descending toward the forest.

There was no need to explain its destructive force.

If it struck the forest directly, the shockwaves alone would obliterate even the distant port town.

The only mercy was that, being formed of magic, its descent was slower than a natural meteor.

Before an attack that resembled not a spell, but a natural disaster itself, Lily and the swordsman Louise stood frozen.

Ryu, meanwhile, wore his usual ambiguous expression—the kind that made it impossible to tell whether he was serious or simply bored.

“Can either of you do something about that?”

“Uhh… yeah… that’s definitely impossible…”

“There is no possible way. I am currently enjoying the life-flashing-before-my-eyes experience.”

“I see.”

(Ryoma dealt with something like that before. He unleashed thousands of slashes and dismantled it midair. Of course, fragments rained down afterward—but it was over a distant plain far from Edo, so there was no damage.)

“Hey, Lily. What do you think would happen if we shattered it?”

“The fragments would rain down over the forest and the port town, I guess…”

“Yeah.”

(Then there’s only one option. Erase it completely.)

Ryu turned toward them.

“To be honest, I could grab Esther and Homura and retreat before that meteor arrives. You probably could too, Lily. But unlike me, you’re kind. You’re planning to stay, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I can’t abandon the people in town… So I’ll stay. If it comes to it, I’ll die with them.”

“…Then I’ll save you all. In exchange, forget everything you’re about to see. Understood?”

“………………”

They nodded silently.

The overwhelming aura radiating from Ryu now was nothing like before. It crushed their ability to speak.

In this hopeless situation, Ryu stepped forward.

“Well then. Time to erase it.”

((E-erase…? That meteor…?))

He reached into his item bag and withdrew Kurikara.

(That’s a long sword from Hinomaru… Is he going to cut the meteor?!)

(Is this man a samurai? Now that I think about it, he does resemble someone from Hinomaru…)

Both assumed he would slash.

Both were completely wrong.

“It’s your turn, Kurikara Dragon King.”

The moment Ryu muttered those words, Kurikara transformed—

into a black Eastern dragon.

“GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

“—!”

Lily and Louise trembled instinctively.

Ryu placed a hand upon the dragon and poured mana into it.

Absorbing its master’s power, Kurikara grew larger and larger—becoming a being worthy of the title Dragon King.

—And then.

“Do it, Kurikara Dragon King.

Cannon Thunder — Break.”

Kurikara opened its enormous jaws and unleashed Ryu’s spell.

The aftershock alone bent the trees of the forest and churned the sea into violent waves.

Lily and Louise could do nothing but cling desperately to the ground.

The lightning beam of annihilation struck the massive meteor—

and erased it in an instant.

The beam converged and vanished.

Silence returned.

Fragments of what had once been the meteor shimmered like stardust as they drifted downward, blending with the majestic aura of the Dragon King to create a scene almost fantastical.

“Kurikara. Good work.”

“Gwooo.”

The dragon returned to its sword form and slid naturally back into Ryu’s waist.

It likely no longer wished to be confined inside the item bag.

“Before we leave… I should properly return the favor.”

(After using magic on that scale, the mana trail connects clearly from the sky back to its caster… Fool. Die.)

Ryu raised his hand toward the Demon Continent and casually lowered his index finger.

(What… is Ryu doing…?)

But they had promised to forget.

…They could not ask.

Moments later, Ryu clapped his hands lightly to brush off dust and extended one to the two kneeling figures.

“Alright. Get up. We’re heading back.”

“Y-Yeah… thank you…”

“You have my gratitude…”

Lily wobbled slightly as she stood.

“Lily. If something like this makes your legs give out, you won’t be able to fight the Demon King.”

“…Yeah… sorry…”

Louise’s mind appeared completely blank as well. He walked stiffly, like a wind-up doll.

“And Louise.”

“…What is it?”

“You now know about demons. That information is classified within the Kingdom, isn’t it, Lily?”

“Yeah. Only certain military personnel know.”

“Which means you can’t live as a normal adventurer anymore. So join the First Special Division and support this idiot, scrap-heap captain.”

“You called me an idiot scrap-heap! Just idiot is embarrassing enough!”

Louise wiped nervous sweat from his brow.

“…This is absurd.”

“You encountered demons and a meteor, and we saved your life twice. Don’t complain.”

“…Very well. Understood.”

(My adventurer career was reaching a turning point anyway… If I consider this a new challenge, perhaps it’s not so bad.)

“So, Lily. You’ve gained a new piece on the board.”

“You can never have too many strong subordinates! I’m happy! Nice to meet you, Louise!”

“The pleasure is mine. I am clumsy outside of swordsmanship, but I take pride in having a reasonably sharp mind.”

“Then you’re my left-hand man! Sound good?”

“Yes. Understood.”

“I like obedient boys~”

The three returned to the port town as if nothing had happened.

Or perhaps, for Lily and Louise, they were forcibly pushing the memory out of their minds under Ryu’s unspoken pressure.

Someday—who knew when—they would remember and turn pale all over again.

◇◇◇

The chieftain frowned.

“…Hm? Black Star was erased?”

“What? Is that even possible?!”

Without warning, thunderclouds gathered overhead.

““…?””

They flashed with dark light.

Only then did the chieftain realize.

“Lightning magic—!”

At the moment the black lightning descended, he twisted his body violently to the right, barely avoiding a direct hit.

DOOOOOOM!!!

…But the lightning struck the settlement instead, destroying buildings and igniting a massive fire.

The chieftain’s face twisted in fury beyond measure.

“You dare… you inferior species—human!!!”

—Thus began the first encounter between Ryu and the man who would later become the Demon King.