The forest of demonic beasts.
In that forest which was ruled by the beast king, there was a young woman walking.
It was a young woman whose appearance was like a boy with short hair. However, that would be completely meaningless if she intended to disguise herself as a man. It was because she wasn't entirely concealing her feminine figure.
The girl was walking with a carefree state in the sunlight filtering through the trees. She was unarmed with the exception of a knife attached to her waist, and she also didn't have any baggage in addition.
It was a spectacle that would make the people who knew this forest doubt their sanity.
This forest itself wasn't very precipitous. The trees were also sparse and adequately colorful, and the ground was even. However, there were demonic beasts in here. It was an area without humans if you stepped into the forest. The likes of people were bitten to death at once.
Despite this, the young woman's appearance was one which completely didn't care about such a thing.
"Why would they draw back into a place like this?" (Young Woman)
『Other than the fellows saying they don't want to have anything to do with troubles while in urban areas and so forth, those fellows say those who want to spend a slow life deep in the forest are still able to understand.』(???)
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It was bothersome. The voice responded to the young woman as if to say so.
There was no one in the vicinity. The voice was audible from the knife around the young woman's waist.
"The matter of the fellow from the other day? He who was looking after his residence in the town while saying such things as 'sorry for the trouble' raised in the world to nobility. Although I certainly don't understand the significance, it's fine with that person being at ease as I¹ am." (Young Woman)
『But, this place would be the most suitable as a hiding place. People don't come to this place recklessly anyways.』(???->Knife)
"So, how do people live inside of a forest like this?" (Young Woman)
『It would be a simple thing. Demonic beasts won't attack people who know they are stronger than themselves.』(Knife)
The forest was full of demonic beasts' presences.
However, they were only watching the young lady from a distance.
An opened space appeared after the young woman walked for a little while.
Paddy fields were the first thing she caught sight of.
As far as could be seen, golden rice was swaying.
"A stupid vacant land like this wasn't drawn on the map." (Young Woman)
『I guess it was cleared. Nevertheless, it means he is the owner of an extraordinary ability if nonaggression was established with the demonic beasts.』(Knife)
"I will say I understand but I don't care about such a thing. But even so, this is fine. This is rice for Japanese people still, right?" (Young Woman)
There weren't just paddy fields in this place, there were pasture lands and fields. It seemed the people who made this intended to be truly self-sufficient.
Naturally, there was no reason they would be able to manage this gigantic plantation alone, and there were the figures of people who were engaging in farm work in the vicinity.
"Why is everyone a girl? Moreover, only elves?" (Young Woman)
There was nothing but good-looking women here. The majority of them appeared to be elves, but some people had beast ears on their heads, and there were also the likes of people with bat wings growing out of their backs.
『It seems to be a preference.』(Knife)
"Every last one of them, they choose an elf for a bride. What is it, to what extent is it okay with people like this?" (Young Woman)²
『I think you are beautiful.』(Knife)
"Thanks. Well, be that as it may. Hey, you. Is there a landlord of this place?" (Young Woman)
The young woman talked to the elf who was in a nearby spot.
"Eh? Uh…how did you come to this place?" (Elf)
The elven girl was severely surprised and spoke rapidly. It seemed she hadn't expected there to be a person who came to this place by any means.
"I walked. But, I think there have been people who came here a few times?" (Young Woman)
A road or something like that wasn't maintained inside of the forest that was ruled by demonic beasts as one would expect, so they weren't able to use vehicles.
"No, I don't know any, but is your business with Master?" (Elf)
"Yup. It's my business. It's fine if you call him, but it's also okay to just inform me of his position." (Young Woman)
"Well then, I will guide you." (Elf)
The elven girl stopped working and decided to guide her.
It was understood even with a distant view they were heading towards was a large mansion. It may not be necessary to be guided if it was this.
"Hey. Although I said to, is it fine to take a suspicious person who showed up suddenly to your Master's place?" (Young Woman)
"Yes, I think there is no problem is particular. Because there isn't a person who is able to do something to Master." (Elf)
The elf floated a smile of composure. It appeared she harboured full trust in her master.
After walking for a little while, they arrived in front of the mansion.
Thereupon, the door opened before they called in, and a young man came into sight.
"Well, how many times was it the same with you coming? A sage, was it? There's no reason for me to do such a troublesome thing." (Young Man)
It was a Japanese man who came out. He was a commonplace man with a medium build whose appearance was both bad and fair. He didn't have gaudy clothes in particular, but he was wearing a longsword on his waist.
It appeared he had noticed an outsider stepped onto the plot of land he ruled already.
"But I've said time and time again it's supposed to be your third time. So, I've come for your last notice. Will you also listen to the story once?" (Young Woman)
"Fine. But, my feelings won't change no matter what you say. Will you quickly go home when you finish the story?" (Young Man)
"First of all, it's confirmation, but I have no doubt you are Saito RikutoSaito Rikuto-kun." (Young Woman)
"That's right. So, you're Aoi HayanoseAoi Hayanose? Heehh, it's a personal appearance of a sage-sama finally?" (Young Man->Saito)
It seemed he had stolen a glance at her status, but Aoi didn't think it could eliminate the time to explain. It was because she knew from the beginning he was able to do this much.
"Although the reason for coming was to invite you, the invitation phrase will be omited because it is the same as the previous time. Let's speak about the only different point this third time. In the case you refuse this time, it has been decided you will be dealt with." (Young Woman->Aoi)
Aoi had been assigned the duty of looking for lost sages.
Lost sages, although they held the power of an ordinary sage, they were people who didn't support the sages. Coming to this world after being given power, they lived selfishly.
Once, they were invited for the purpose of being sages, but most people wouldn't accept it.
Given that it would become a troublesome thing in the distant future to leave them as is, it was decided that they would be dealt with after refusing the invitation for the third time.
"...Bu~, ahahahahahaha!" (Rikuto)
Rikuto burst out laughing because he couldn't bear it. Without stopping his laughter, he continued until he had a coughing fit.
"Dealt with or something. You can laugh, Leila. It's been a long time since it was amusing like this." (Rikuto)
After he laughed a little, Rikuto requested the elf who was next to Aoi to agree.
"No, I cannot laugh...and you! What are you saying! Please apologize quickly! It will become something unthinkable if you anger Rikuto-san!?" (Elf->Leila)
"Well, although this is a confirmation just to be sure, but is it fine with you refusing the invitation? At that instant, it's been decided you'll be a rival." (Aoi)
Without responsing to Leila, Aoi confirmed it with Rikuto. Although it was something obvious already, it was because the result of the invitation still wasn't definite.
"I refuse." (Rikuto)
"Is that so." (Aoi)
Aoi smiled. She intended to kill him from the beginning, and she thought she'd be troubled with him saying he'd become a sage now.
"Ah, wait a moment. It seems you, well, you can't win against me. Do you understand the difference in ability? I received the strongest power in the world from god and came here." (Rikuto)
"If you are talking about statuses, certainly, it makes me quite weak." (Aoi)
Aoi was a sage, and she had power to the extent where she was afraid of monsters at least. However, she was quite powerless among the sages.
"Thinking about the cases so far, I'll be attacked in the end no matter what I say, and it's been decided I'll be dealt with on the spot or something like that, right? Things like obvious bouts would only be bothersome. Or what? Do you want to enter my harem? The majority of those who are here were fellows who attacked me." (Rikuto)
"Although I have the same opinion of it being bothersome, it's because this is also my job." (Aoi)
"Stop it if you plan to possibly take a hostage, okay? Because it will only make me truly angry." (Rikuto)
Rikuto glanced at Leila.
"Aah, you need not worry about that. You are the only target. I don't plan to have unrelated people dragged into it to the best of my ability. Since it's like that, Leila-kun, I wonder if you could go away a little bit?" (Aoi)
Rikuto peeked at Leila's state. Rikuto silently nodded, and Leila left some distance.
"Though, I also don't think it will become a battle that goes that far. Is that confidence because your class is summonersummoner? Is that the reason your called amazing? I think it's futile. Because that's an ordinary and terrible thing. I also saw it before I came to this place. That you are farming somewhere, such things as the beast king being the ruler of this forest, such things as the incarnation of the dragon king, and such things as the demon lord?" (Aoi)
Rikuto appeared to be gradually getting irritated by Aoi's halfhearted attitude.
"Though, it doesn't mean that you can be called an important person like that. Well, because it can't be helped even if we quarrel, let's start quickly?" (Aoi)
Rikuto had refused his third invitation. Conversation after that was meaningless if that's the case.
"Well, I will punish you to the extent you don't die." (Aoi)
Just as she spoke, something grew from the ground around Aoi.
Several things, and they were flesh-colored, cord-shaped things. The skin of them brightened with slime, and secretion was dripping from them.
"The beginning is tenctacles. That's a disgusting idea." (Aoi)
It seemed he intended to snatch away her freedom and capture Aoi with that.
"A cruel worldBalance where onlyOf great efforts are rewardedPower." (Aoi)
Aoi invoked her power.
"What!?" (Rikuto)
Rikuto opened his eyes in astonishment.
It was because Aoi began to walk towards Rikuto with an air of composure while ignoring the tentacles and the like.
The tentacles weren't moving.
Another tentacle which grew in the same way entwined in a spiral shape, and it stopped moving.
Rikuto hardened. It seemed there wasn't the likes of a person who was able to oppose this power so far. 'How do to this', it seemed it was causing hesitation.
"Although I want to settle this quickly, they said a lesson was necessary." (Aoi)
"Don't make light of me!" (Rikuto)
Rikuto pushed out the palm of his hand at once.
A thick beam of light fired from there. It was endowed with a quantity of heat that turned everything it touched into ashes.
His appearance didn't contain concern, and it seemed he wasn't sorry for the safety of the servants who were behind that.
Aoi also turned her palm towards Rikuto in the same way.
It emitted a similar ray, and Aoi counterbalanced Rikuto's technique easily.
"Why do I have to protect your subordinates? Wouldn't you be the person who is making hostages with this?" (Aoi)
With Aoi saying that with an amazed look, Rikuto became dumbfounded.
It seemed he wasn't able to believe in this result. It would be simple to fell that head if it was now, but Aoi felt a little shocked.
She thought he was also this type of guy.
These guys were like this without exception almost.
They held tremendous self-confidence in the power they were merely given. In the beginning they seemed to try their strength timidly, they grow arrogant immediately, become prideful, and usually begin to think it's the same as their own power. And, with that strength without doing any sort of effort, they start to ridicule the people who extert themselves.
"I wonder why all of you are so simple-minded. It is strength you received. Haven't you thought that other people may receive it as well?" (Aoi)
"...what is that....didn't he say he would give me the world's strongest power..." (Rikuto)
"My power isn't something difficult like that. I just don't allow it." (Aoi)
"Silence! Receive this! Bury Flames!" (Rikuto)
Rikuto tried to do something. However, nothing happened.
"Why won't it appear!? Black Centipede! Hundred Ceremony! Dark Scripture! ...What's happening!?" (Rikuto)
It seemed he was able to understand the situation he was put into gradually. Rikuto's voice began to tremble.
"So, it was power you received suddenly. Haven't you ever thought it might disappear suddenly as well?" (Aoi)
"No way..." (Rikuto)
"My power is that sort of thing. But, it isn't something so hopeless. Postscript power cannot be used with eachother. It's a bout of our own strength if that's the case. If you had done effort properly without losing your head over power, you wouldn't be losing to someone like me, who is a frail young woman." (Aoi)
While approaching Rikuto, Aoi unsheathed her knife which was her only arm.
"Ha, haha~! That's right, I have this!" (Rikuto)
Seeing Aoi's knife, Rikuto remembered the sword at his waist and drew it out.
Rikuto appeared to have regained his composure to some extent. Given that the sword was emitting an extraordinary presence, it appeared to be quite a sharp sword.
"Yup, your weapon certainly won't disappear or vanish with my power, nor will that strength abate." (Aoi)
The next moment, Rikuto's neck was torn.
Aoi had gone behind him, embraced him from behind, and slid her knife horizontally against his neck.
"But, there isn't that much meaning if the user is weak." (Aoi)
『Was it expressly needed to use me?』(Knife)
Rikuto collapsed, and an extremely unpleasant-like voice was raised by the bloodstained knife.
"Now then. The subordinates...it seems he wasn't unexpectedly popular, huh." (Aoi)
It appeared that there wasn't anyone who would attack the lord's enemy, and the people who were doing farmwork had disappeared unnoticed.
"However, it's fine if they propogate his cruel manner of death as a warning." (Aoi)
You weren't able to defy the sages. It was one of Aoi's duties to make thus known.
『Well, although it is bad as you just finished your task, there's the next request. The targets are Japanese people called Yogiri Takatou and Tomochika Dannoura, and, curiously, these two people are sage candidates.』(Knife)
The knife was something that could communicate by means of magic. Long distance communication was done rarely as huge amounts of magical power was necessary, but it may be a state of emergency to that extent.
"N? I wonder what that means. It doesn't seem to be significant enough to require them to request me for such things as sage candidates." (Aoi)
『Come now. Go towards Hanabusa first. The detailed data will be delivered there.』(Knife)
"Geez. Hey, I don't even have time to take a short rest." (Aoi)
While Aoi was complaining, noisy footsteps came to be audible from the inside of the mansion.
"Are the subordinates also in the mansion?" (Aoi)
While she was guessing what kind of intentions they had, a plump boy rushed out from the mansion.
While Aoi was taken aback from looking at him, the boy thoroughly slid and prostrated as naturally as he had jumped out.
"I am the person called Hanakawa Daimon! I survived in this forest in one way or another and was picked up by the disgusting cheat harem rascal Rikuto, but given that the great you³ killed Rikuto, I can't be helped anymore! Please take me in one way or another! I have no choice but to die as is!" (Hanakawa)
"What is, this?" (Aoi)
『It's an odd living thing.』(Knife)
Aoi was also nothing but perplexed as one would expect.