City Arosel
After being annexed by Fokalore due to Hifumis shocking invasion, the people are passing their days without any major chaos.
Even the guild of the adventurers who are living in this city was managed as it was up until now, with the exception of Hifumi having killed several of its adventurers.
Reshi who is the master of the guilds branch is also doing his job as usual.
At the ti when Arosel was taken from Vichy by Orsongrande, there were so among the adventurers who were defad to have attempted to protect themselves by buttering up to Hifumi of Fokalore. However, once everybody started to actually feel that life was getting better than it was in the ti of belonging to Vichy, those rumours completely settled down.
But, Reshi was more troubled by the grave problem now than he was back then.
Hmmm (Reshi)
What has been piling up on top of his desk are reports and testimonies from the adventurers belonging to Arosels guild. They are docunts which were collected by the guilds staff.
Many of those are argunts among the adventurers themselves, snatching of prey and such. Those were common frictions one might even call daily occurrences, however what is reported in the divided docunts is sothing that hasnt been seen until now.
According to those docunts, there are monsters which havent been spotted so far.
According to those docunts, large specin, which have more than twice the usual size, were observed.
According to those docunts, the groups of monsters decreased while the individuals power went up.
Whats this about, I wonder? (Reshi)
Reshi stroked his white beard.
If pushed to say, Arosel was one of the cities which has too many mouths to feed. After their allegiance changed, it has shown an imnse growth as stopover on the road towards Fokalore. The number of adventurers who are coming and going as escorts increased as well.
It was the common knowledge of adventurers that monsters arent very powerful close to places with many people. Do the monsters avoid those places because there are people there? Did people build their cities in places with weak monsters? No one knows about the truth by now, but presently thats how it is.
Reshis current understanding after reading the reports is that this balance is rapidly deteriorating. There is a considerable number of victims, who were attacked by those irregular monsters, among the common citizens and adventurers.
Should I request the cooperation with other guilds or the country? As Reshi was hesitating about making a decision about this point, he heard the sound of knocking.
Enter. (Reshi)
Excuse .
A single male staff mber enters the room and gives his greetings.
A ssenger from Lord-sama has co, but
Its probably not my imagination that he looked slightly pale at the mont he took Lord into his mouth, Reshi thought. This staff mber is the only person who was personally present at the adventurer killing when Hifumi was in Arosel.
A ssenger from Earl Tohno, huh? Of course we have to et them, I suppose. Let them in. (Reshi)
As you wish.
Dont let anyone enter afterwards until I tell you that its fine. (Reshi)
Nodding a second ti, the staff mber leaves.
Before long two won appeared in front of Reshi.
Walking in front is a girl with unkempt red hair. A woman with a bit more set red hair is standing behind her.
Due to their roles being similar to one being on her first mission and one being the first ones care-taker, Reshi absolutely wasnt able to imagine what kind of business these two might have with him.
The girl smiles broadly.
Im the Military Director of the Tohno* Earldom, Alyssa. (Alyssa) (T/N: author called it Hifumi Earldom, changed that also Alyssa refers to herself with boku, which is a male pronoun, just for your information.)
Nice to et you. Im called Miyukare and am acting as Alyssa-samas exclusive military advisor*. (Miyukare) (she used civil official specialised in military affairs, that sound like a brain fart to , so used sothing more proper :p)
Im honoured to et the two of you. (Reshi)
Alyssas introduction wasnt polite at all, however Reshi faces her with a smile without daring to touch that matter. First of all, his maximum priority is to not provoke troubles.
There you go, please take a seat in the sofa over there. (Reshi)
Thanks! (Alyssa)
Alyssa sat down obediently and Miyukare quietly stood behind Alyssa after bowing. Their roles are certainly a leader and their aide, but with Alyssas appearance of restlessly looking around the room, all of that impression is ruined.
Does black tea suit your taste? (Reshi)
Yea. (Alyssa)
Miyukare firmly watched the sight of Reshi personally pouring the black tea.
And, Reshi pours the black tea while being fully aware of that. Holding unncessary suspicions isnt a good policy.
Here you go. So, is there anything you wish to speak about with ? (Reshi)
Ummm its about the monsters. (Alyssa)
Reshi felt shaken within his mind, but due to his many years of experience he was able to successfully hide that.
Monsters, it is? They are our, the adventurers guilds, main target. (Reshi)
Isnt anything peculiar about those monsters? (Alyssa)
Anything peculiar (Reshi)
He recalls the docunts which caused him headaches not long ago.
However, he isnt given the ti to think it over carefully.
The numbers of strong monsters increased or such, you havent head anything like that? (Alyssa)
It cant be helped, Reshi, who smiled bitterly, stood up quietly, grabbed the docunts from his desk and spread them in front of Alyssa.
This is a collection of reports about monsters which beca large or ferocious and monsters who were seen for the first ti. Even though I have the intention to, there are so points which are troubleso to deal with. (Reshi)
Quickly scanning through the docunts, Alyssa handed them over to Miyukare in her back.
Miyukares red pupils read through the docunts with a speed similar to leaping.
Alyssa-sama, it seems theres no mistake about this. (Miyukare)
Yea, after all? (Alyssa)
Although lord and retainer don comprehending faces, Reshi cant follow.
Do you know sothing about this? (Reshi)
You see (Alyssa)
Please let handle the explanation. (Miyukare)
Stopping Alyssa, Miyukare handed back the docunts to Reshi.
Not only in the territory of Fokalore, the sa state of affairs can be observed in all of Orsongrande and even in Vichy and Horant. (Miyukare)
Miyukare told the surprised Reshi that it was sothing not only independently discovered in Fokalore but in all of Orsongrande Kingdom.
I see. As expected of what Hero-dono said. Others dont have such keen insight. (Reshi)
In reality it was the outco of all of the finer parts being moved by Caims orders, but neither Miyukare nor Alyssa ntion anything about that.
If necessary I will have soone deliver these docunts after transcribing them. (Reshi)
Thats not necessary. I have morized the main points of their contents. Rather than that, theres sothing important to talk about. (Alyssa)
Lets hear it. (Reshi)
The one who addressed Reshi, who put down the docunts and corrected his seating posture, was Alyssa.
There are suspicions that soone has strengthened the monsters. From the fact that its extending over such wide scope while leaving an influence regardless which country it is, theres a low possibility that its soone belonging to the countries Vichy, Horant and of course Orsongrande as well. (Alyssa)
A being similar to a demon lord who appears in fairy tales. Isnt it possible that its a country on the other side of the wastelands? (Reshi)
Earl Tohno has left in order to investigate them. (Alyssa)
That story was true! (Reshi)
Reshi, who unintentionally raised his voice, glossed it over by coughing and saying Excuse .
The matter of Hifumi having left towards the wastelands, and moreover by himself, reached him as rumour, however Reshi was one of those who discarded most of it as re gossip.
If I may speak frankly, given that the witnessing of powerful monsters and the number of actual encounters has risen, I wondered whether Lord-sama has brought up consultations with other countries, but it seems that everyone, who is working as central figure of Fokalore, is looking far more ahead than people like us. (Reshi)
Listening to Reshis words, Alyssa and Miyukare looked at each others faces.
There is sothing wed like to request from you. (Miyukare)
What may that be? (Reshi)
Reshi listened carefully due to Miyukares remark.
Id like you to make the adventurers aware of it, about the matter of fiendish monsters increasing in number and about the possibility of a mastermind existing sowhere. (Miyukare)
Isnt it possible that this will trigger chaos? (Reshi)
If it brings whoever is hiding in the shadows into the light as result, that will be fine. (Miyukare)
If we know who it is, Hifumi will finish them off. (Alyssa)
Oh!, for so strange reason Reshi could comprehend that.
I got it. I shall circulate the information little-by-little starting with those Im able to trust. Id like you to leave it to to deal with the finer details. Would that be alright with you? (Reshi)
Of course, thats no problem. (Alyssa)
Once Alyssa and Miyukare exited the room after thanking for the black tea, Reshi entrusted his body fully to the back of the sofa.
Whats happening? While Im still alive the world is changing in various ways, it seems. (Reshi)
Reshi tasted the black tea he poured for himself, but it had gone completely cold.
Dawn in the elven village was greeted with an uproarious atmosphere.
Many corpses are scattered in a part of the village. Among them, there is the cruelly massacred body of Laboras who rallied the n of the village under him.
Even those, who didnt leave their houses in fright while hearing the turmoil, are gradually erging from their houses once the sun begins to rise. Gathering with their friends in panic once they see the terrible scene in front of their eyes, they begin to discuss at various places without reaching an answer.
Zanga, who foresaw such situation, instructed Shiku and Puuse to make an announcent that there will be a eting to explain the circumstances to the villagers. Then she personally volunteered to act as Hifumis guide while using a wand to prop herself up.
Eh? Z-Zanga-sama!?
At the edge of the village, in a different direction from the place where Hifumi entered, theres a sturdy hut which used big logs although being small itself. The magic squares have been set up in that hut, Zanga explained while mixing in a Sorry for disturbing.
The elves, who were on duty to use their mana for the sake of holding up the barrier, are quite surprised.
W-Why here? Eh, moreover together with a human?
Stay calm. This person, well, wont do anything if you dont do anything to him. (Zanga)
Probably, added Zanga in her mind and then sat down on a chair located in the middle of the hut she led Hifumi to.
Its been a while since I last breathed the outside air ~nee. This might not happen overly often either, but (Zanga)
The elves judged Zanga, who suddenly showed a lonely expression, as odd, but apart from that their wariness has increased due to the human they have seen for the first ti.
Their vigilance was blown away by a brief comnt of Zanga.
For just an instant, we will make a hole in the barrier. (Zanga)
W-We cant do such thing!
A single elf raised his voice, but Zanga waved her hand while laughing with a Hya Hya.
Its not you guys who will do it, but . Even though I may appear to be like this, I was the best elven magician back in the old days. I was completely unable to use offensive magic though. (Zanga)
If its related to protecting sothing, its better to not look down on , Zanga looked joyfully at Hifumi.
Human-san, around when will you co back? (Zanga)
Dont know. But I morized this place here. (Hifumi)
I see. Then I will make my request once you ca back. (Zanga)
Countless scripting, similar to symbols and characters, are lining up within several magic square-like circles and squares.
Heave ho! (Zanga)
Zanga, who stood up by using the wand, sits down in front of a magic square while being supported by the elves.
If you walk for one minute along the path on the other side of this hut, you will encounter the barrier. Since the barrier will be raised open only for the path for about 3 minutes, go inside during that ti. (Zanga)
Got it. (Hifumi)
Human-san, I didnt hear your na yet. (Zanga)
Could you tell ? Zanga asks.
Its Hifumi. (Hifumi)
Hifumi-san? Its a strange-sounding na ~nee. But, its a good na. Hey, Hifumi-san, why did you deliberately co to et the demons this deep in the forest? Even you probably understand, but they are aggressive and will likely attack you. (Zanga)
While asking that, Zanga turned her look towards the magic square.
There isnt enough fighting in this world. There isnt sufficient killing with the life on the line, that whittles down ones life force as if setting ones soul on fire. Soone has to ignite a spark. (Hifumi)
So, that ans that the demon race will be the trigger for that. (Zanga)
Although Zanga is laughing with her shoulders trembling, the elves in the surroundings are baffled while thinking arent they talking about sothing outrageous, though I dont quite get it.
Well, then it wont do, if we dont struggle desperately for survival either. Even if we abandon the forest, the elves have pride. Theres no way that we will perish this easily. (Zanga)
Due to the words of Zanga, who started to focus her mana while facing the magic square, Hifumi turned his back on her.
Thats fine. You wont be able to enjoy life much unless you dont know when it will end. (Hifumi)
Hifumi began to walk outside the hut.
I will be able to observe the techniques, magic and anything of the demon race, his feet hurry to advance with a feeling of impatience.
I wonder what kind of fellow I will be able to et first? (Hifumi)
Taking out the katana, he affixes it on his hips.
I pray for there to be a good demon king candidate. (Hifumi)
His monologue vanished into the wind without being heard by anyone.
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