Chapter 5 – The Elf, the Sacrifice, and the Divine Beast
I summoned Merlin later that night. We then began our exploration deep into the elven forest.
The revival of the divine beast Fenrir—a possibility I’d been aware of from the beginning—was close. At this rate, it would likely break free from its seal within a matter of days.
“We shouldn’t get any closer than this.”
We could only observe Fenrir’s sealing ground from a distance, high up in the trees, but that was fine. All I needed was to confirm the flow of magic.
My only goal was to gauge the progress of its revival, so, mission accomplished.
“Ephthal-sama… aren’t you being a little too partial to Maria?”
“I told you before, I’ve already decided to support her.”
“Let me rephrase. Why, then, are you not saving her life? The ‘Monster Parade’—the great stampede that will be triggered by the divine beast’s revival. And the clan of sacrifices meant to stop it. If we do not intervene, the only possible outcome is that girl’s death, is it not?”
“I believe I told you. I cannot act because of that old pact.”
“I heard that long ago, you and Fenrir fought to a draw and formed a non-aggression pact.”
“Correct. To break the promise I made as the Ephthal of the past would be to deny my former life. That is why I cannot act.”
“Then why investigate? If you have no intention of saving her, isn’t that a contradiction?”
I just shrugged at Merlin.
“I believe what I said at the time was, ‘I cannot act right now.'”
“Hm? What do you mean by that?”
And then, Merlin clapped her hands together.
“A non-aggression pact… mutual non-aggression. Ah, I see. So that’s what this is about.”
“Yes. The timing is perfect. I’ll be able to make my move very soon. That’s why I need to speak to my master and get her involved first.”
“Are you going to ask Sasha-sama to exterminate Fenrir?”
“How could I ask her to do something so humiliating? This is my mess, after all.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”
“I’ll have my master handle the stampede itself. I’ll ask her as soon as we get back.”
☆★☆★☆★
All that was left was to clean the old school building. After the weekend, it would be time to leave the camp.
“Well, the camp is officially over. All that’s left is to go back to the academy.”
“Yeah. Looks like it.”
“…Guess this is goodbye to the forest for a while.”
It didn’t seem like she had many fond memories of the forest where she grew up, but she still must have felt something.
Just then, Maria’s long ears twitched. An instant later, my own ears caught it—a faint sound from the direction of the World Tree.
“An elven calling-whistle?”
Maria nodded.
“And it’s the emergency signal for the Daumier clan… Remember those men who brought us food when we stayed at the village? I bet it’s them…”
Maria walked to the doorway, then stopped and looked back at us.
“Ephthal, Anastasia, you two wait here. I’m going back to the village. I should be back by tomorrow…”
“But are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”
“It’s not like there are any powerful monsters here. This part of the forest is practically my backyard.”
And with only that, Maria headed back to the elven village.
Well, there were no signs of powerful monsters nearby. I was sure she wouldn’t be in any danger.
And sure enough, Maria returned the very next day. She summoned the three of us—me, Anastasia, and Merlin—to the classroom.
I understood why she’d call us, but why Merlin? Before I could ask, she spoke, her expression icy.
“So, here’s the deal. I’ve been offered a great position back in the elven village. I’m withdrawing from the academy.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“You know how I showed Françoise my magic? Well, it looks like they finally recognized how skilled I am.”
And with that, Maria shouldered her bags—which she must have packed at the dorm—and gave a small wave.
“So, this is goodbye. I never wanted to get friendly with other races anyway. I’ll send a letter to the academy later to formalize my withdrawal.”
Her words were so sudden that I, Merlin, and Anastasia just froze.
Anastasia, clearly flustered, stammered, “Um… well…”
“…That’s… That’s awful. How can you just…”
“I admit it’s sudden. But this is what’s happening, so it can’t be helped, can it?”
Maria said it without a hint of remorse. Merlin thought for a moment before speaking.
“This entire situation, including getting Ephthal-sama involved… it all started because of your selfishness, did it not? If you’re going to leave, the least you could do is apologize.”
“Apologize? Why? He’s the one who agreed to it, isn’t he? It’s not like I threatened him.”
Anastasia, looking timid, asked her.
“…But why are you acting like this all of a sudden? We… we were getting along, weren’t we?”
At that, Maria answered with a completely nonchalant expression.
“Oh, that? That was just an act.”
“A-An… act?”
“Yep. For a human, he seemed useful. And, you know, I’m cute, right? Be a little nice, and any guy will get the wrong idea. It was easy to wrap him around my little finger.”
“Huh…?”
Maria then spat on the floor and glared at Anastasia.
“Oh, and since this is the last time, I’ll just say it. I’ve been thinking this for a while, but what’s with that ‘Master’ crap? You’re just… disgusting.”
“Disgusting…?”
“You’re a slave and he’s your master! Normally, no matter how you act, you’d be seething with hatred underneath, right? But you… you’re genuinely devoted to him.”
“…Is it… wrong… to adore my Master?”
Maria shrugged, as if to say, “Give me a break.”
“It’s not about ‘wrong,’ it’s about being disgusting. That whole slavery system you outsiders have is disgusting to begin with. And on top of that, the slave is genuinely devoted to the master? Are you a complete idiot?”
“…You… you were just using us this whole time?”
“Not just you. All of you outsiders are disgusting. Always at war, that huge gap between rich and poor, having systems like slavery… You’re all savage, idiotic, and foolish races. That’s what humans and demons are!”
She glanced around at all of us, puffed out her chest, and gave us a scornful smile.
“And you’re human… and you’re a demon. The only decent race in this world is the elves. Ah, I’m so glad. I can finally get away from all you savages.”
Just like that, Maria turned her back and started walking toward the door, waving.
“So, that’s that. Bye-bye. I doubt we’ll ever see each other again.”
————
Maria’s Perspective
Long ago, this forest—no, the countries in this entire region—were plagued by a forest god.
──He was called Fenrir, a divine wolf considered to be a god in his own right.
His power was immense, and his appetite, even more so.
Since ancient times, we, the people of the forest, lived in constant fear of being devoured by Fenrir. More clans than I can count on one hand were annihilated by his whimsical hunger.
Then, a thousand years ago, the Great God-Demon War began.
Fenrir joined that nightmarish conflict, a war fought by all the strongest beings in the world. …And he returned to the forest, wounded and fleeing. Seeing the wounded Fenrir, the forest people saw their chance. They gathered their strength and launched an assault on the god’s lair. They did it to end their lives of cowering in fear, of being devoured at his whim… to seize their freedom and safety by force.
But even wounded, Fenrir was still a god.
The divine wolf subjugation force instantly lost half its strength. Just as they fell into chaos, another being appeared—the Divine Fox, Ninetail.
Ninetail had chased Fenrir from the battlefield, intent on landing the finishing blow on the deserter. The battle between the two divine beasts was beyond fierce.
In the end, no victor was decided. The wounded Ninetail was forced to wager her own life to seal Fenrir deep within the forest. The sealing barrier Ninetail created was immensely powerful. However, once every few decades, when the ley lines of the earth fall into disarray, the barrier’s power wanes.
If the barrier were to break, it would be the end. So, the Divine Fox granted us, the people of the forest, a trump card. She imbued the soul of the holy woman who founded the Daumier clan—my clan—with her own power. From then on, our very blood became a magical poison to Fenrir. That is why, whenever the barrier weakens and Fenrir threatens to revive, we are the ones who must stand against him.
This poison, however, is not just a poison; it is also an irresistible, sweet spice to the divine wolf.
As the seal nears breaking, Fenrir, trapped in a state between dream and reality, is consumed by a ravenous hunger, like a beast waking from hibernation. And at that very moment, an elf appears before him, exuding a rich, sweet, and fragrant aroma. But the moment he eats, the poison spreads. Fenrir is weakened and forced back into his slumber. That is how it works.
Furthermore, when Fenrir’s barrier weakens, the miasma it releases drives the monsters from the depths of the forest, causing them to flood outwards in a great stampede—a Monster Parade.
──In short, that is our clan’s entire raison d’être.
For ages, our clan has detected the signs of the Monster Parade before it could begin, and we have continuously offered our own kinsmen to the slumbering Fenrir. We weaken him with the poison in our blood, and the seal is restored. An outsider, hearing this, might think it tragic or foolish. But we were proud of it.
──To protect our clan.
──To protect all the people of the forest.
──To protect the surrounding nations.
To die bravely for that cause—that was the greatest honor for us as guardians of the forest.
All of us, not just the direct bloodline but also those who served as our protectors… we all truly believed this. But ten years ago, a Monster Parade occurred with no warning, and our clan was decimated.
In a state of total chaos, all of my relatives, along with every guard they could gather, marched to Fenrir’s lair. And the Monster Parade subsided.
Yes, I believe my mother and father fulfilled their duty magnificently. Because the stampede was stopped before it could truly begin.
But the cost was enormous. Our clan was destroyed. The few survivors were scattered, taken in by other clans. We were treated as failures—guardians who couldn’t even stop the stampede. And to top it all off, our sacred duty, sealing Fenrir, was mocked as being nothing more than a dubious legend.
──What did my mother and father die for?
I thought about that every day as a child, and I cried. I cried and cried until my tears ran dry. And by the time I realized it, I had thrown myself into the study of magic, so much so that I earned a scholarship to the demon academy.
──I stopped crying. I won’t cry anymore.
──I will silence them.
──I will prove the excellence of the blood that flows in my veins to all those who mocked my parents, my clan, and my people.
And so, I’ve pushed forward relentlessly.
There are plenty of amazing people among the other races. The student council, and Ephthal… every one of them is actually far more talented than I am.
But I will not lose. Hard work never betrays you. I will hold on to my ambition, look only upward… and I will never stop reaching.
I believed that if I just kept doing that, I would one day reach my goal. That’s what has driven me all this time.
But that, too, is over now. It seems that before I can prove them all wrong, I must first fulfill my duty as the last survivor of my clan.
☆★☆★☆★
“Young Miss?”
“…Hm? What is it?”
“Were you lost in thought? I called your name several times, but you didn’t answer…”
This forest path… no, this isn’t even an animal trail. It’s just a deep, dim forest that even elves dare not enter.
I’m amazed at myself for not tripping on vines or roots while being so lost in thought.
“Yes, I’m sorry. It was all so sudden. I just… have a lot on my mind.”
“The resurrected Thunder God Emperor… is that it?”
“Yes. If he had been here… things might have turned out differently.”
“He’s a legendary hero, after all. He might even have been able to defeat Fenrir. But… he only revives during his death month, and only on Fridays, correct?”
“That’s right. I knew it was a long shot, but I went to his cabin again and again, just in case… but he wasn’t there.”
“Young Miss, time is short. There’s no use worrying about what we can’t change. But what could have happened? The last sealing was only ten years ago.”
“We’re dealing with a god. Our common sense was never going to apply.”
“Even so, it’s strange. Normally, the gap is fifty to a hundred years.”
“In any case, the orb glowed. That’s all that matters.”
The orb, passed down through generations, said to be a gift from Ninetail. It’s an alarm that warns us when Fenrir’s barrier is weakening. It didn’t glow ten years ago, but for some reason, it’s glowing now.
I ground my teeth. If it had only glowed then, the sacrifices could have been kept to a minimum.
“But last time, the orb didn’t glow, and only the Monster Parade nearly occurred? That is strange indeed.”
I shook my head.
“There’s no point thinking about things we don’t understand. Right now, we just need to focus on fulfilling our mission.”
At my words, the three men nodded grimly.
“…We, the survivors of the clan, have lived in shame.”
“I was away in another village. My only regret is that I did not die with them. As things stand, I can’t possibly face those who were lost.”
“We failed to die when we should have, and we’ve been scorned by the other clans. If this orb finally gives us a purpose and a place to die, then so be it.”
“Yes.” I nodded firmly.
All of us, including me… we are all truly Daumier, to the very bottom of our hearts.
Our village is gone, and we live in the lands of other clans, but our spirit hasn’t changed.
Thinking about that, I felt strangely at ease. I’m about to die, and yet… it all seemed so absurd that a dry laugh escaped me.
“But this means the direct Daumier bloodline ends. What happens after that?”
“When that time comes, we’ll just have to leave it to whoever is still alive to figure out.”
I thought for a moment, then sighed.
Well, as a practical matter, we did what we could. We have no other choice. It’s a shame that the duty we’ve upheld for so long—protecting this forest—will end with my generation. But they were the ones who persecuted us, the ones who dared to question our sacred duty. I have no obligation to worry about their future.
In a way, maybe this is just self-satisfaction. But at the very least, I cannot turn my back on the duty my ancestors died to protect.
Even if there’s no future waiting for me on the other side.
And so we walked on, pressing forward in total silence.
“…”
“What’s wrong? You look pale. Is it because you weren’t able to ask the Thunder God Emperor for help?”
“…No, I’ve already given up on that. It’s just… something else.”
“Your school friends, then?”
I said the cruelest things to them.
At first, I really did just plan to use him. But it seems I have normal feelings, just like anyone else.
I think I was just… happy. Happy that Ephthal, who’s too nice for his own good, was willing to do so much for me, even though I’d done nothing but drag him into my mess.
After I was taken in from the Daumier village, I was persecuted. I was desperate to prove them all wrong. But even at the demon academy, my classmates kept their distance just because I was an elf.
But he was the only one who treated me like an individual. He treated me without any prejudice, with that open smile, and on top of it all, he was just… nice. He didn’t abandon me; he stuck with me.
Around him, I… who had spent my entire life tensed and on guard… I feel like I was able to laugh from the bottom of my heart. It was almost like we were friends. Like comrades. No… if we’d had just a little more time, I think we really could have become friends.
That place, with Ephthal at its center… it was a warm place. A place that I, who had only ever known persecution, was just beginning to grasp. That must be why Anastasia, despite her slave crest, adores him and smiles so genuinely. But that place… the first home I’d found outside of the Daumier village… I threw it all away.
No. I had to.
To fulfill my clan’s mission, that place would only cause hesitation. It would get in the way. Connections to the outside world only make you reluctant to leave. As proof, I’m agonizing over things I have no business agonizing over.
My heart aches. And it’s precisely because it’s such a warm place that I have to protect it.
──Even if I won’t be there to see it.
If the Monster Parade breaks out, it won’t just destroy the training camp. It will swallow the entire city where the academy is. That much is obvious.
“…No, that’s wrong, too. I don’t care about them. I was just using them.”
And even now, I’m still posturing, saying things I don’t mean. I really do have a difficult personality.
“Then what is it?”
“My clan’s stained reputation… I wasn’t able to clear it in the end.”
I mean, that is true. But it’s not what I’m truly feeling in my heart right now.
“Is that what was troubling you, Young Miss?”
“Hm?”
“We are guardians of the forest. In the end, we are fated to live in the shadows.”
He said it with a laugh, and I nodded.
I’m done looking back. I’m done thinking about the place I abandoned. Right now, I will look only forward. I will fulfill my mission.
“Let’s hurry. We don’t have time.”
————
Ephthal’s Perspective
A short while after Maria left, I met Merlin’s gaze, signaling her to get ready immediately.
“It looks like it’s starting. You’ve noticed, haven’t you, Merlin?”
“I must admit, I only noticed partway through her speech.”
Anastasia tilted her head, confused by our exchange.
“…What are you talking about?”
“It just means we were deliberately choosing not to act until now. We’ve had a pretty good idea of Maria’s situation for a while.”
“Ephthal-sama, can you pinpoint the location?”
“Yes, easily. It’s distant, but with a magical vortex that massive, you’d have to be crazy not to notice it.”
“Yes, that is unmistakably reviving. Which means it’s inevitable that Maria intends to fulfill her duty as a guardian… as a living sacrifice to the forest god.”
I clenched my fists tightly.
When Maria was spewing all that venom, there were so many things I wanted to say right then and there. She was only acting that way to push us away, to sever her ties with the world before becoming a sacrifice.
But I held my tongue. Because Fenrir… he’s my own failure from the past. A dark chapter from my days in the Adventurers Guild.
“Anastasia? I’m sorry, but I need you to stay here.”
“Um… What exactly is happening? I understand that Maria-san is in danger, but…”
“This Fenrir we’re going to face… I fought him to a draw once before, back when he was known as the forest god. I’m sorry, but I need to minimize any liabilities.”
“Huh? Master… fought to a draw with him… long ago?”
Merlin met Anastasia’s anxious gaze and nodded firmly.
“It’s true. The Ephthal-sama of the past fought Fenrir to a draw and formed a non-aggression pact.”
“M-Master? What is really going on?”
“It’s a non-aggression pact. I promised I wouldn’t interfere with him, as long as he didn’t interfere with my domain. That’s why I’ve stayed out of this forest’s problems until now… even though I knew Maria was involved.”
“However,” Merlin added with a sharp nod. “Maria is already under Ephthal-sama’s protection.”
“So, that means…?”
“If the forest god attempts to harm Maria, who is under Ephthal-sama’s protection, it will be a violation of the pact. And at that very moment, the non-aggression treaty will be void.”
Anastasia seemed to grasp the situation, her face turning pale. “But… an equal to the Master of old…”
“In any case, we have to hurry, Merlin.”
“Yes, I will accompany you.”
“Master?”
“What is it, Anastasia?”
“What about the Monster Parade?”
“Maria likely believes she can prevent it by sacrificing herself to Fenrir. But it’s going to happen regardless… In fact, it’s already started. This place is in danger, too.”
“Then shouldn’t we all evacuate—”
“There’s no need. This is probably the safest place in the world right now… That’s why I need you to stay here.”
“The safest place in the world? Even without you here, Master?”
At my words, Anastasia’s eyes widened in realization, and she clapped her hands together lightly.
“Ah, I see.”
“Yep. That’s it.”
And with that, our conversation was over. As we turned to run, Anastasia’s voice called out to us.
“Um, Master… well… um… Good luck!”
In response, I just gave her a thumbs-up.
————
Sasha’s Perspective
“Well, it’s a request from my idiot disciple.”
I left the training camp and activated my detection spell. The number of raging monsters within a ten-kilometer radius… looks to be about fifteen hundred.
“It’s hardly a challenge.”
The construction of two spells… is already complete.
The Level 10 is one thing, but that other one takes even me a ridiculous amount of time to prepare.
“First… Level 10: Undead Emperor Sasha.”
With a snap of my fingers, I manifested a gate of darkness before me.
“It’s a bit regrettable to use it like this… but if the goal is to annihilate the monsters flooding the forest, this is the most suitable method.”
This was the same gate I summoned when I faced Ephthal. But its purpose is different.
This time, I used the dark energy drawn from the underworld not as a cannon, but as a lure to draw out the underworld’s restless dead. It’s not a Level 10 attack spell, but rather, an ultra-large-scale necromancy summons.
—Although, given the name ‘Undead Emperor,’ this might just be its most fitting use.
And what emerged from the gate was a thousand skeleton knights. Mounted on half-rotted horses swarming with flies and maggots, the legion of the dead charged toward the monster horde, each trying to be the first into battle.
Roughly speaking, one skeleton knight possesses the power of two of those monsters. If that’s the case, this should be more than enough to wipe them out completely. And with that, I clapped my hands together.
“Now then, thank you for waiting.”
I turned my gaze. The hound of hell was waiting patiently, sitting obediently.
“A mage in this day and age… who can wield a lost Level 10 spell. I never imagined such a powerful being was here…”
“And you are Fenrir’s brother, I take it?”
“Yes, Fenrir is like a younger brother to me. I came to offer my congratulations on his full revival… but I ran into you instead.”
“I see. So, you two also have something of a master-disciple bond.”
“Disciple?”
“Ah, just talking to myself. Pay it no mind.”
“In any case, I am the three-headed king, the hound of hell. If you intend to defile my brother’s celebration with your undead, I will show no mercy.”
“Ho…” I held my breath.
The reason being, four new Cerberuses had just emerged from the shadows. For them to get this close without me sensing them… I’d wager all of them have reached the level of gods.
“I am the King of Cerberus. And these are my attendants, each possessing power on par with Fenrir himself. Even for one who wields Level 10 magic… you have no chance of victory.”
“Well, if my power was only limited to a single Level 10 spell, that might be true.”
“…Regardless, this is the end for you. You will be eaten alive by us, your organs torn out, your brains splattered, and you will become nothing but flesh and blood for us, the Cerberus—Wha?!”
My, for a beast, he speaks so politely. It’s… unsettling. It doesn’t suit him at all. Oh, well.
“Level 11: Fantasia of Old.”
Dealing with five opponents of this caliber with standard magic up to Level 10 would be a pain. It seems too troublesome, so I’ll just end this instantly.
“That light… What is it? And… Level 11?”
I looked behind me.
Mmm, yes, it’s just as breathtakingly brilliant as I remembered. You could say I look just like an angel with a halo at my back.
A vampire like me, wreathed in light like an angel. Yes… I do LOVE this spell.
—The contrast is so important, after all!
What appeared behind me was a glowing, honeycomb-like structure. It had over a hundred lattice-like holes. And in each of those holes… was one of my ‘collections.’
And the things lurking within those lattices are—
“What… is this…? Oberon, the Faerie King… and Queen Titania…?”
As if to spearhead the attack, streaks of light shot from the hive. The faerie king and queen descended upon one of the lesser Cerberuses.
Looks like it’s an even match, those two against one Cerberus.
“High-level summoning? You’ve certainly summoned mythical-class spiritual bodies, but their spiritual rank is, at best, equal to a Cerberus. We have five… one or two of yours won’t change anything.”
“Kuhaha!” I couldn’t help but laugh. The reason being—
“Are you a fool? Can you not see all the lattices of light?”
“You don’t mean… in every single one of these…?”
“Go forth, dwellers of illusion! Sun Wukong, Cú Chulainn, Hanuman, Unicorn, Kresnik! All my children of the glimmering, magical illusion—my beautiful, and boundlessly powerful servants!”
“What, what is this?! You’re summoning beings… even higher-ranked than us?!”
“Kuhaha! This is the Fantasia of Old! A carnival of illusory beings! Out there, a filthy brawl between monsters and the undead! And in here, a beautiful banquet between you god-beasts and my servants—the Phantasma! Kuhaha! Bwahaha! The contrast between the ugly and the beautiful! Is it not just exquisite?”
The Cerberus that had been fighting the faerie king and queen was suddenly swarmed by the Phantasma reinforcements and, in an instant, was torn to pieces.
“What is this?! Is this the return of the Great God-Demon War?!”
I just cackled at the terrified Cerberus king.
“Speaking of returns… I also have this in my collection. It took an incredible stroke of luck to get it… and it’s not quite a Phantasma, so it breaks the artistic unity a bit, but…”
I snapped my fingers.
Immediately, a war-maiden, wreathed in a golden, sacred aura, shot out of the hive. Feathers scattered from her unfurled silver wings, and the mere sight of it transformed the simple forest into a priceless painting.
“S-S-S… Seraph… Gabriel?!”
“Just summoning Gabriel alone is normally equivalent to a Level 10 spell. Of course, even I can’t pull this off without the right materials…”
“Materials…?”
“During the long eons of my life… there was a time when I took up ‘collecting’ the dwellers of illusion.”
“Well…” I smiled brightly.
“It’s just a hobby. A collection. Tell me, Cerberus… don’t you agree? All beautiful things in this world deserve to be preserved and adored by me. In my supreme Level 11… the Fantasia of Old.”
“Impossible… Impossible! Even for the Great Sage… this kind of power shouldn’t…!”
“I am Sasha. I am no ‘Great Sage.’ I am merely… an ancient vampire and magic-user, who lived in the age of the gods.”
And so, I raised my right hand, calling out to my entire collection within the glowing hive.
“Now, my children of the fairy tales! If you desire freedom, then seize it! The one among you who ends his life… will be released from the bonds of this spell!”
At my command, countless shooting stars poured from the hive. An entire gallery of illusions, Seraph Gabriel included, streaked past me.
—A land of fantasy, flooding into the real world.
At this magnificent sight, one I had not seen in ages, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.
“Ah… It truly is… beautiful. …Though, of course, I’m still the cutest.”
And then, the Cerberuses were engulfed by the swarm of high-level Phantasma. With a final, choked “Gyubuh!” they fell silent.
————
Maria’s Perspective
And just like that, we arrived at the deepest part of the forest.
It was my first time seeing it in person, but the place was exactly as I’d heard from the stories passed down through my ancestors.
In a wide clearing, a gravel plain stretched out for about five hundred meters in every direction, with a single, massive boulder in the center.
The entire area was barren. The gravel must have been the result of Fenrir’s miasma, which kept any plants from growing.
Anyway, setting that aside, there was a hole in the great boulder, forming a cave—or maybe just a hollow.
—That was Fenrir’s lair.
The moment I stood before the opening, I saw it. In the darkness of the hollow, an enormous wolf—its body easily over twenty meters long—was lying there.
Fenrir, who was curled up as if cramped, snorted, having sensed my presence. He opened his eyes and, this time, his gaze fixed on me. As Fenrir grinned, I met his stare with a defiant one of my own.
I stuck my chest out as far as I could, glaring at him, displaying the pride of the prey with all my might.
—Go on, Fenrir… No, God of the Forest! Your favorite meal… an elf… has come to be eaten!
I am not just some pig, trembling in line at the slaughterhouse. I am the poison bait that’s going to deal a blow to your stomach!
Seeing my defiance, Fenrir grimaced, clearly displeased.
“How boring.”
“Boring? What’s boring about it?”
“Those who are prepared for death are not delicious. The flesh I eat is merely an appetizer; the main dish is the soul. And for the soul, the emotion of ‘despair’ is the ultimate seasoning. If you simply accept death… it’s just so boring. I can’t enjoy my meal when it’s not delicious.”
I see. So my pride is, at least, a small annoyance to him. In that case, I will never be afraid. I will not submit to you, not even at the very moment of my death.
Just then, Fenrir began to chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
“But this is truly amusing.”
“…I asked what you’re laughing at.”
“The orb? The ‘Ninetail’ fox? My, my. How very amusing. To think that every single generation would fall for such a ridiculous story.”
“Wait… a ‘ridiculous story’…?”
Just then, Fenrir’s form was suddenly enveloped in smoke that appeared from out of nowhere.
“Huh? Smoke? What’s going on…?”
As the smoke slowly cleared, I almost screamed. “No… It can’t be!”
“Is that… Ninetail?!”
Sure enough, where the smoke cleared, a divine fox with nine tails lay curled up against the cave wall.
“From the very beginning, I was never sealed. And, ‘Fenrir’ and the ‘Ninetail’ fox have never once appeared before you elves at the same time. I’ve said this much; surely you understand?”
“It was an illusion? You were Ninetail and Fenrir?”
“Precisely. There just happened to be a clan in this forest that was hopelessly earnest and burdened by a sense of responsibility. I must admit, I never expected the trick to last for this long.”
“No… That can’t be… Does that mean… we were…”
The world was spinning, and something sour rose in my throat.
Stop. Stop. I can’t. I can’t listen to any more of this.
I tried to stop, but my feet were frozen to the spot. And Fenrir didn’t stop talking.
“Back then, my body and… my very soul as a god… had suffered grievous wounds in the Great God-Demon War. I was seeking rest and nourishment. To be honest, I was near death. In fact, your ancestors’ subjugation team… they almost had me.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I gathered what little strength I had left and slaughtered half of them in a single blow. But at that moment, my power was completely spent. Yes… if only a few more elves had pressed the attack, they probably could have finished me off. But seeing half their number killed in one strike, they grew wary. They stared at me with terror, and we entered a stalemate. And that’s when I had an idea.”
“…”
“A story… about the evil beast Fenrir, and the righteous beast Ninetail. A story of their fierce battle, and its dramatic conclusion.”
And at that, as if a dam had burst, the words poured out of me.
“Lies! It’s all lies! Lies, lies, LIES! Then what… what does that make us?! My ancestors receiving power from Ninetail… that was…?!”
“It means that rest requires nourishment.”
“…Huh?”
It was all… a fabrication?
It was all a lie… Is that what you’re saying?
“Having tricked you with my little story and ensured my safety, I began my rest to recuperate. And I entrusted your ancestors with an orb… one that just so happened to glow in response to my hunger.”
Without even knowing it, we were just… feeding Fenrir?
It wasn’t a seal… He was just here of his own free will, resting to heal his wounds?
We weren’t even pigs trembling in line at the slaughterhouse… We were a pack of idiots, eagerly leaping into the slaughterhouse ourselves?
Something inside me crumbled. It was everything. My pride, my purpose, my very reason for existing. And at that, my spirit completely shattered. I fell to my knees.
“No…”
“But I must say, you elves have the most amusing reaction every time I tell this story. Hehe… hehehe… How can I not laugh? It’s amusing. So very amusing! Bwahaha… BWAHAHAHA!”
“Every… time?”
“Before I tell them, all the elves act bravely, just as you did. They come here with such magnificent resolve. But… after they hear the truth, every single one of them makes the exact same face of despair you’re making right now. Ah, it’s just so delightful.”
“A face… of despair?”
Fenrir chuckled again, clearly enjoying himself.
“Did you not realize? Right now, your face… it’s stained with the color of despair.”
“No… That can’t be…”
“Now then, I actually intended to make my full recovery last time. I figured I no longer needed to worry about ‘thinning the herd’ for breeding, and I was just going to slaughter you all without warning. But… perhaps due to those old wounds, the nourishment was a little insufficient. I was so disappointed when my familiar reported that a survivor had, for some reason, gone off to study in the demon lands. After all, the blood of the one who inherited the ‘Ninetail’s gift’ is my most exquisite delicacy.”
Fenrir stood up and stepped out of the hollow.
—He passed the threshold of the cave, where the barrier was supposed to be, as if it wasn’t even there.
Of course he could. Because a barrier had never existed in the first place.
“Well then, eating you should complete my recovery. My thanks. Thank you… for a thousand long years of service.”
Fenrir laughed, a hideous sound, as drool dripped from his jaws. Every single tooth was longer and thicker than a sword, and his fangs were larger than giant battle-axes.
This divine beast tearing through my skin, scattering my insides… it was a certainty. An unavoidable fate, moments away.
“Young Miss! Run!”
“Don’t you touch her!”
“This is our place to die! We’ll buy you time—Gahk!”
A claw flashed, and flesh flew. Eyeballs and organs scattered. Sickening, wet thuds echoed around me. In an instant, the three Daumier men collapsed to the ground in a heap.
“—A… ah… ah… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
It was then that I learned for the first time…
—the true meaning of the word ‘despair.’
And then, Fenrir’s jaws slowly closed in on me.
Convinced that this was the end, I closed my eyes. No… I had no choice but to give up and close my eyes.
My heart no longer held any trace of the pride of the prey. I was just… food on a plate. All I could do was tremble.
Inevitable death. An injustice I could not fight.
In the face of such overwhelming violence, I had no way to resist. I may have gotten stronger, but in the end, I’m just a girl. No, that’s not right. It wouldn’t matter. No one could beat this thing.
Not the elite mages who protect the king.
Not the high-ranking adventurers who hunt monsters for the Guild.
Not the Holy Knights, not even a master hailed as a Sword Saint.
—Not even if Merlin-sama were here.
No one alive could handle this alone. But… if he were here… I found myself praying for the one person who could not possibly come.
Help me. Help me—
…Thunder God Emperor!
And at that moment—
—A heavy THUD echoed through the clearing.
“Sorry I’m late, Maria.”
“…Huh?”
When I opened my eyes, Fenrir had been blown back about twenty meters to the side. And standing in front of me, his sword drawn, was Ephthal.
“Haha, unbelievable. Even my blade couldn’t cut it; just sent it flying. Guess this is pointless without a magic-infused sword.”
“Eph… tal?”
“Maria. I told you before.”
“Told me…? What?”
“That you should be honest.”
“…Huh?”
“You were scared, weren’t you? You felt all alone. But you put up a front, acted tough so you wouldn’t drag us into it… Just how much of an idiot can you be?”
“…W-Wait, Ephthal? What’s going on?”
“Hey, I told you back then, didn’t I? To treasure your own life. To never throw it away like that again. I made sure you felt how much that hurts, didn’t I?”
Ah… And just like that, everything clicked into place. I see. So that’s how it was. Of course, illusion magic would be child’s play for him.
Merlin-sama’s attitude toward him… Even Sasha-sama… thinking back, so many things were strange. But if that was true, then everything made perfect sense.
“You… Are you…?”
“Yeah. There’s no point hiding it from you anymore. I’m the reincarnation of the Thunder God Emperor… No. I am him.”
And with that, Ephthal turned to Fenrir and grinned.
————
Ephthal’s Perspective
Maria looked like she was about to collapse, the tension finally broken, perhaps from relief. I scrambled to catch her. She flinched for just a second, then finally, honestly, buried her face in my chest. But she couldn’t stop shaking.
She was already so small, but the trembling on her shoulders made her seem even smaller, more fragile.
“Jeez… You’re tiny, but you’re still trying to carry the whole world on your shoulders. You idiot.”
She looked up at me, her gaze timid.
“Hey, Ephthal? Is it… is it really okay for me to… rely on you? Is it okay to ask you… to help me?”
“If you can ask me honestly, then I promise I’ll give it my all.”
I placed my hand on her head… and just like that, her trembling stopped.
“It really is… so warm… and big.”
She nodded, and then shouted with all her might, “Please… help me! Lend me your strength, Ephthal!”
I grinned. “Alright. I’ll take this fight off your hands.”
I turned back to Fenrir and raised my right hand, giving him the middle finger.
“This is going to cost you. You made our… stubborn, strong-willed elf cry.”
Divine Enhancement, complete.
I readied my sword in my right hand, held my left toward Fenrir, and began my incantation. Then, I yelled at the top of my lungs,
“Hey, you! You ready for this?”
Fenrir, glared at by me, just laughed.
“Ephthal… is it? I see. That explains your power. You were one of those adventurers who fought me to a draw, weren’t you?”
He’s a divine beast, alright. Figured me out quick.
“You laid a hand on one of mine. That non-aggression pact we had? It’s void.”
“Let me ask again. At that time… you were a high-rank adventurer… a member of the ‘God Hunters,’ if I recall. Is that correct?”
“Yeah. That pact is a dark part of my past. One of the swordsmen in my party was half-dead. I’ve regretted not being able to finish you off back then ever since. And look what happened because I didn’t.”
“No, that’s not what I’m asking. It was a draw when it was four-on-one. And now you intend to face me alone? And unlike then… I am almost fully revived.”
Fenrir leaped at me with, quite literally, god-like speed. He closed the distance, slashed with his claws, and in the same motion, passed me, landing instantly behind me. Even with the Divine Enhancement I’d outsourced to Merlin right at the start, he’s still no joke. I thought I dodged, but that claw just… gouged out my right eye.
Fenrir’s voice came from behind me.
“Hehe, hahaha! I thought I took your head off… Divine Enhancement, is it? I see you’ve grown!”
His voice was suddenly right at my back— “Gah!” A sensation like my left arm exploding… This time, he’d taken the arm.
“But you’re too optimistic! Far too optimistic! You can’t beat me like this!”
Now his laugh came from my left. A chill ran through me from the blood loss.
“My, my. Was all that tough talk just for show?”
And then, Fenrir leaped again. I was hit. Claws and fangs tore into my limbs, one after another.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAH! Run… Run, Ephthal! Get out of here! RUUUUUN!” As Maria’s screams echoed, I was rapidly turned into a bloody mess.
Losing the eye first was a bad move. My depth perception was shot, and I was taking too many clean hits. The damage… The big ones were my right eye and my entire left arm, both gone. My stomach was sliced wide open… my insides are hanging out. Besides those, I took at least ten other hits, none of them shallow. Blood is gushing from them like fountains. I’m already dizzy.
Still, illusion and brainwashing-type magic is really something. Even with this much damage, my nerves are numb. The pain is zero.
“Kuh… Kuhahaha! It was a draw when there were four of you, and you came back alone? How utterly foolish! Are you an idiot? Perhaps a complete moron?”
Just then, I started to laugh. “Kukuku… Hey, dog? Did you just… call me a ‘high-rank adventurer’?”
“Yes. What of it?”
“I met you when I was just a kid in my early thirties. You’re missing the most important part of the story.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“I’m not with any Guild. That S-rank adventurer grew up and mastered even greater magic. I am Ephthal of the Four Emperors—I’m the Thunder God!”
Fenrir processed my words, then started laughing again.
“In that case, you should have hit me with a Level 10 spell right at the start, as a surprise attack. You might have had a chance. But now you’re at death’s door… There’s no coming back from this.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Level 10: Perfect Heal.”
The flesh of my wounds writhed, and in an instant, the injuries mended as if a video were playing in reverse. My missing left arm… flesh just bulged out and… regrew. A few seconds later, I was completely healed.
“Healing magic…? Perfect Heal…?”
Fenrir’s jaw hung open. He looked back and forth at my ‘wounds’ again, and his jaw dropped even further, like it was about to unhinge.
“…Huh?”
While Fenrir was frozen, I nodded.
“It’s embarrassing, but I have zero aptitude for high-level magic. My casting time for the big stuff was always slow. I had to do a lot of things to keep up with the other Emperors. So… I mastered healing magic, which doesn’t belong to any of the four elements.”
“Wounds like that… gone… as if they never were? Impossible! That’s… impossible!”
“No, it’s possible. It’s why I climbed to the rank of Emperor. I’d be a disgrace to the name ‘Thunder God Emperor’ if I couldn’t do at least this much.”
“I don’t accept it! I… I will never accept this!”
Fenrir leaped at me again, and again, my left arm was torn off.
“Level 10: Perfect Heal.”
A repeat of before. My flesh writhed, my arm regrew.
“Impossible! Impossible! Impossible, impossible, IMPOSSIBLE!”
With my newly grown left hand, I gave Fenrir the middle finger again.
“This is the power of an Emperor. Even a dog’s brain should be able to understand that by now.”
To be honest, I based this fighting style on my master, Sasha. Sasha’s undead regeneration lets her do something similar to this. I just replicated it with healing magic. Of course, even back then, everyone called my fighting style a heretical, cheating tactic.
“Sorry, but you can’t kill me with just physical attacks.”
To kill me, he’d need to use massive magic to vaporize my entire body in an instant.
Or… healing magic works by restoring the body according to the soul’s blueprint. Which means… he’d need a special attack that could damage the soul itself.
And this mutt… is a muscle-head who only knows physical attacks.
Theoretically, he has no way to land an effective blow on me.
“Come on. Play with me, Dog God-sama.”
I took a step forward. Fenrir took a step back. And just like that… Fenrir’s eyes were clearly filled with fear. Well, no surprise. If I were in his position, I’d be terrified too.
“Hey, hey. Scared already? What a buzzkill.”
I took another step. Fenrir… didn’t step back.
“Do not mock me, human! I am the absolute ruler of this forest! I am a God! Do not mock me!”
“That’s more like it. I’ve been holding back my attack magic for a reason, you know.”
“A reason…?”
“I’m aiming to become a magic swordsman. And since you’re so insanely fast, you’re the perfect partner.”
Fenrir’s eyes went wide, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I figured… if I practiced on you… my sword skills would improve.”
“You… human… YOUUUUUUU!”
“Haha. This is going to be great magic sword practice.”
His eyes burning red with rage, Fenrir leaped at me. But his movements are sloppy. My eyes have adjusted, and his anger is making his attacks linear and easy to read.
I dodged his claws and—
“Level 6: Evil Fire Sword.”
I slammed the blade into his flank. The smell of burning flesh and blood filled the air.
“Smells delicious. Maybe we’ll have hot pot tonight. I wonder what a god-dog even tastes like.”
“GUGA-AAAAH!”
With a spirited roar, Fenrir’s claws tore through my body. Blood scattered. My right hand went flying.
“Level 10: Perfect Heal.”
—And the flesh writhed, my missing parts instantly regenerating.
“GAAAAAAAARH!”
Fangs this time. Blood scattered. Guts spilled out.
“Level 10: Perfect Heal.”
—And the flesh writhed, my organs instantly sliding back into my abdomen.
“What… What… What are youuuuuu?!”
“Your voice is getting rough. You okay? Even a Guild rookie knows that losing your cool creates an opening.”
Half-crazed, Fenrir lunged and bit down on my head. Ah! I realized it too late. I was caught, and he began to chew. Gurch, gurch.
“Ha! Haha! Hahaha! If I chew you to pieces and digest you, even you can’t come back from that!”
I was relentlessly chewed, bloodied, and swallowed. Seriously, is it a good idea to swallow me? Fenrir gulped me down—
“Level 10: Perfect Heal.”
—And my flesh writhed. My shredded body regenerated as a whole… inside Fenrir’s stomach. I grabbed my weapon, which had been swallowed with me.
“Level 6: Lesser Ephthal Sword!”
The moment I sent electricity through his stomach wall, I felt Fenrir recoil. I ignored it, sliced his stomach open from the inside, and clawed my way out of his belly.
I wiped the slime off my face and backstepped away from him.
“Come on. Let’s play some more.”
Hearing my words, seeing my smile, Fenrir froze. And at that moment—
—I swear I heard the snap of Fenrir’s spirit breaking.
Hey, hey. Is it over already? That’s no good, I barely got any practice.
“Guboffa… M-M… Mon… ster…!” Fenrir spat blood, his eyes filling with tears as his body trembled.
But I know. Fenrir is also a being who calls himself a god. His regeneration is beyond human. As proof, the wound on his belly is already closing. The bleeding is already slowing.
“Come on! I’m going to carve you up until you hit your limit! The real fun is just getting started!”
I kicked off the ground, closing the distance instantly. I leaped up at his feet, an upward flash of my blade.
Fenrir’s head was severed and fell. His headless body toppled sideways, as if punched. Thud.
As the heavy, lung-shaking sound echoed, I spoke to the severed head.
“Come on! Regenerate your head! Devour my body and my soul and destroy me! Show me what you’ve got, Forest God!”
But no words came back. Fenrir didn’t move.
“Hm…?”
No way… Wary, I approached the head. I cautiously checked for any life signs. And I came to one conclusion.
“What the hell. He’s already dead…”
That was barely any sword practice at all… I sighed.
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