Azuma – Deep in the Mountains – Day 3
In the end, the villagers chose to abandon the village they had painstakingly developed. Perhaps they would not suffer any harm. But as I had known since our arrival, this country is abnormal. Those people might truly massacre us for harboring the disrespect towards Lord Daigami. Furthermore, if the people pushed deeper into the mountains under the pretense of development were killed, no one would even notice. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were already thought to be dead. Thus, the final judgment that there was a significant possibility of being killed was made by that young man, Eikichi. Sixty-four villagers, and here we are, trying to escape the mountains.
“The path we took to get here is no good; they’ve probably secured it by now.”
So, we deliberately chose a rugged route that would deter people from approaching. Fortunately, thanks to Lord Daigami accompanying us, we were able to traverse the shortest route through the mountains. However, unlike Mount Daigami, there were naturally no well-defined paths. Trees, grass, and bears surrounded us. Even with a large number of villagers, bears were not a problem. If they got in the way, we could simply toss them far away. As for insects, Roel’s defensive magic could completely ward them off. We both regretted not realizing this sooner.
The real issue was the dense underbrush. I cleared a path as we moved forward, with the lined-up villagers following behind. Roel was at the very back. Our top priority was to avoid being spotted by Azuma’s samurai and the Demon God Clan.
“If my power were complete, we wouldn’t have to endure such hardships.”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being blamed. This fox deity was currently a normal-sized white fox. Although he had lost most of his power, thanks to his Clairvoyance, he seemed to have a grasp on the general positions of the samurai. Moreover, to be extra cautious, we were guarding our front and back.
I suggested that if we were discovered, we could just defeat them, but if they called for reinforcements loudly, that would increase our risk. After all, there were villagers without any fighting capability. Naturally, we couldn’t let a single one die, and among them were children and the elderly, so we had to be careful not only of the mountain paths and the samurai but also to avoid burdening these people too much.
The large cliff we encountered before reaching the village was insurmountable. I had to carry each villager up one by one. It could be crossed with time, but if we dawdled, we would be found, so I avoided overly treacherous terrain.
“I wonder how long the food we brought will last…”
I understood Konoka’s mother’s worries. The food I had bundled up in a cloth to lessen the burden on the villagers was not much. Even if shared among all the villagers, it would only last a few days.
“With Lord Daigami here, I doubt the samurai will attack us.”
“If they believe this old, rare white fox, then perhaps. But they might just chase us down, calling us monsters.”
“It’s strange, considering how much we believe in Lord Daigami.”
“Humans tend not to believe in things that don’t suit their convenience.”
Saying this, Lord Daigami skillfully leaped from branch to branch. Indeed, without speaking, he looked just like an ordinary white fox.
“The sun is setting. We’ll stop here for today.”
Though we had made considerable progress in three days, Lord Daigami said it would take us another two days to descend the mountain. Since he knew Azuma well, I believed him without question.
Of course, we would be camping for the night. I was used to it and could sleep anywhere, waking up immediately if anything attacked. But the villagers were not the same. I needed to clear enough space in the forest for them to sleep comfortably.
Lord Daigami repeatedly warned that prolonging this forced march would burden the children and the elderly. In fact, some were starting to weaken, and Roel’s healing magic, along with the weakened Lord Daigami, couldn’t cover everyone completely.
Even after everyone had settled down for the night, I decided to keep watch. The samurai, who were said to be hunting in the mountains, had only progressed a short distance, so it seemed we might escape safely.
“Rua, Rua…”
“Nanoka, are you still awake? You need to sleep.”
“You know, I want to go to the Kingdom of Avangarde after hearing about it from you two.”
“R-Really? Right now, the only safe place is around that kingdom, so we have to head there anyway…”
“We’ll start a business there. We can cultivate the fields again, and even if we don’t know the climate there, I’m sure we can grow great vegetables.”
“…That sounds nice. I’ll help you make your dream come true.”
“Hehe, thank you…”
With that, Nanoka wrapped herself in straw and began to breathe softly.
In the quiet night, the sound of unknown insects filled the air. I sincerely wished to provide the villagers with the peace of this forest as soon as possible.
Azuma – Deep in the Mountains – Day 4
“Hmm, from here we can descend to the west.”
We followed Lord Daigami, who was guiding us. He glided effortlessly through the trees. I focused on clearing the path, while Roel gripped her Fire Rod, scanning the surroundings. If we were attacked by the samurai, would she use it without hesitation? With Roel’s current magical power, she could undoubtedly incinerate them in one blow, but I wondered if she had thought that far ahead.
“Are we there yet? I’m starting to get tired…”
“Grandpa, I’ll carry you on my back.”
Roel supported the villagers who were beginning to tire. She put away her Fire Rod and walked while carrying the elderly on her back. Though she was somewhat fit from farming, walking through the mountains for days would exhaust anyone.
“We’re getting out faster than I thought.”
Ahead, where Lord Daigami pointed, the trees thinned out, and the path opened up. That must be the mountain’s exit. It would still take time for all of us to reach there, but once we got past the mountain, we would be in the clear.
The next concern was whether we could board a ship at Tsukiba Port. According to Lord Daigami, they still believed the villagers were deep in the mountains, so as long as we didn’t reveal ourselves openly, we might manage.
“If it comes to that, I can use my divine powers to deceive the crew.”
I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but it seemed that worry was unfounded. It was truly reassuring. I never expected our guardian deity to go this far for us.
“Just a little more patience, Konoka-chan, Nanoka-chan.”
“You don’t need to worry. Rua will protect us… and Lord Daigami is strong enough to defeat them, right?”
“Uh, well, not that strong…”
Being relied upon wasn’t so bad. When I had thrown a bear away with one hand, instead of cheers, there had been murmurs of surprise, but now everyone depended on me.
“We’ve made it through the mountain. This is the crucial moment.”
There was a slight drop ahead, so I helped each person down one by one. In the distance, Tsukiba Port appeared, standing alone. We were about to head there towards the Kingdom of Avangarde. It had been a long time since the villagers were pushed into the mountains, and since no one would recognize their faces, Lord Daigami assured me that we had nothing to worry about. Moreover, if we spread out a bit from the large group, we wouldn’t raise suspicion while walking through the port.
Even if the ship to Avangarde had already departed, Lord Daigami would manage somehow.
“Well, it’s only natural for a guardian deity to do such things.”
He was a refreshing guardian deity, far removed from the image of a warrior. Though he was a white fox now, I hoped he would regain his original power soon.
Azuma – Tsukiba Port – Onboard the Ship
Once everyone boarded the ship and we celebrated our safe departure from the land, it happened. A row of iron tubes was lined up on a nearby ship, all aimed at us. To make matters worse, several ships surrounded ours on the sea.
The crew, unaware of the situation, began to panic, shouting questions towards the other ships.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Among them stood several figures at the forefront of one ship. The Demon God Clan was lying in wait. Then, samurai with bows emerged from the ship.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Lord Daigami had been unaware of the situation. We were surrounded, and if arrows were shot from all directions, the villagers would surely be caught in the crossfire. Not to mention, those iron tubes were likely weapons of some sort. I couldn’t gauge their power, but if they fired in unison, this ship could very well sink. It was a dire situation, to say the least.
“I see, you were lying in wait disguised as a passenger ship. To deceive me, Daigami, is quite impressive. I commend you.”
“A fox spoke?!”
“How bizarre!”
“Is it a monster?!”
When I first laid eyes on the ship ahead, I thought it was just another vessel that had traveled from a distant land, and Konoka and the others were excitedly speculating about it. I never imagined it would be filled with such dangerous individuals.
“I am Daigami, the guardian deity of this land.”
“Everyone, do not be deceived! How dare you, a mere monster, impersonate Lord Daigami!”
As expected, the reaction was just as Daigami had predicted. No one believed that this white fox was truly Daigami. The Samurai’s bows were now aimed with even greater precision. Come to think of it, there was a fox statue at the shrine. Yet, despite that, here we were in this predicament. Daigami seemed to shake his head as if to say, “What a hassle.” I wondered if they would trust him if he returned to his original size.
“Hey, look over there…”
One of the villagers pointed, and I followed their gaze to see a figure among the demons wearing a mask I had never seen before. I recognized the red, blue, and yellow masks, but what was that black one?
“The head of the Demon God Clan, Anki…”
At the forefront of the ship stood the red, blue, and yellow demons. Behind them, with arms crossed, was Anki. His imposing demeanor made it clear he was the boss. The murderous intent radiating from him was enough to paralyze the villagers with fear. They all paled, unable to tear their eyes away from Anki, their teeth chattering in terror.
He was far stronger than the other three. And his gaze was fixed directly on me.
“I have no intention of engaging in pointless banter. I will say this only once. You can either submit and be bound, or you will die here. Choose.”
Each word from Anki’s deep voice sounded like an invitation to hell for the villagers, and one of them finally collapsed, clutching their head in despair.
“If we bombard from all directions, this ship will become nothing but flotsam. There is no escape.”
So that was their plan. It was indeed the perfect scenario for cornering us at sea rather than on land. I had to think carefully, especially since I was responsible for the villagers. If I made a wrong move, someone could die. I could easily sink their ships with my Sonic Ripper, but I didn’t want to cause any fatalities.
“Silence will be interpreted as a death sentence. Choose.”
“…What is that?”
The red demon pointed to the right front, where three ships were approaching. They were different from the passenger ship, with silhouettes of cats or something similar painted on their sails. They lined up parallel to the demon’s ship.
“What the… No way, could that be?!”
The demons turned to face the incoming ships. The Samurai and everyone else on the sea focused their attention on them. The three ships stopped to the right of the demon’s vessel. All the crew aboard were women of various builds and ages, some dark-skinned, others fair, all wearing bandanas.
And at the forefront stood someone I recognized. It was Amane, the strong woman I had fought in the Combat Tournament.
“Hey! Can you hear me? This is the Leopardess Guild! We’re here to protect the passenger ship you’re surrounding! If you interfere or harm that ship, we will consider it an act of aggression and retaliate!”
“The Leopardess Guild… Amane, the Hundred Emperors’ Heroine? How brazen of her.”
“The dogs of Avangarde…”
Did those demons know Amane? I never expected to run into her here.
“How dare a mere thief challenge my Azuma’s fleet!”
“Please, don’t call me a thief. Just refer to me as a righteous bandit. But I still haven’t heard your answer.”
“There’s no need to ask… All ships, open fire on the passenger vessel!”
【Roel cast the Twinkle Barrier! The entire ship was enveloped in light!】
The black iron balls, released with a sound akin to an explosion, missed the passenger ship entirely. Roel’s Twinkle Barrier, an advanced magic that drastically mitigates physical impacts, had worked perfectly. While it couldn’t completely block everything like the Rainbow Barrier, it was more than enough to handle that level of attack. The black balls collided with the Twinkle Barrier and fell harmlessly into the sea.
“Lua-chan, now’s your chance!”
“Aim for the ship’s hull, Lua! If it sinks, they’ll shed their armor and swim to safety!”
I was grateful that Amane had come to our aid. With that in mind, I wouldn’t hold back. There were a total of six ships, including the one with the demons.
【Lua unleashed the Sonic Ripper!】
Of course, I had to be careful not to overdo it, or the ship would be utterly destroyed. Unlike the Sonic Spear, the Sonic Ripper could be fired repeatedly, so taking out six ships was a piece of cake. With a deafening blast, the hulls of all the ships were shattered, and they began to tilt dangerously.
“W-What just happened?!”
“The hull is damaged! We should escape!”
“We’re sinking!”
Panic erupted on the ships. Most were scrambling to escape in small boats, while some were still floundering in the water.
“Amane! That person is drowning?!”
“I don’t care! It’s their fault for venturing into the sea without knowing how to swim!”
“They’re going to die!”
“…Are you really that worried about the enemy?”
“We don’t need to kill anyone!”
I thought I heard Amane click her tongue from a distance. What was she talking about? She was the one who said to do this. Thanks to her, I was about to become a killer.
“Help… ugh!”
Several drowning individuals were pulled from the water, suspended in mid-air. Of course, nothing was physically holding them. They flailed their arms and legs, but one by one, they were gently lowered into small boats.
Everyone except Roel and me was stunned by the sight. Not long ago, I would have reacted just like them. But there was only one being capable of such a feat—no, a Divine Being.
Looking up, I saw Lord Daigami floating in the air, gazing down at us.
“I am Daigami. Lower your weapons. No further conflict will be tolerated.”
His solemn words didn’t come from his mouth; they echoed in my mind, just like before. He had said his power wasn’t fully restored, but judging by his presence, it seemed nearly complete. Yet, just moments ago, he hadn’t seemed that powerful. Could it be that he had recovered in just a few minutes?
Surrounded by light, Daigami appeared in a form befitting a god. And in this situation, I began to understand.
“Could it be… the real Lord Daigami?”
“Lower your weapons. Do not harm those individuals.”
“Oh, Lord Daigami… to think you would protect us and reveal yourself like this!”
“What a divine appearance…”
The Samurai all lowered their weapons and clasped their hands together in prayer. Incredible; they were completely captivated by Daigami, showing no interest in us anymore.
“Those individuals are recognized by me, in other words, children of the gods. Should anything happen, divine punishment will swiftly follow.”
“I-I apologize for not knowing!”
The Samurai began rowing their small boats toward the port. By the way, what did it mean to be a child of the gods? I certainly wasn’t a child of any deity.
“Convenience is a means to an end, as they say.”
The voice of the god resonated in my mind, answering my question. In other words, it was nonsense. This god might not be as divine as I had thought.
“Now, I must strive even harder. May you all remain well.”
With that, Lord Daigami moved through the air, sitting in a meditative posture as he followed the Samurai. Rather than divine, it felt more eerie.
“Isn’t it amazing? Normally, no one would trust something like that. Yet everyone is praying.”
“But why did Lord Daigami’s power suddenly return? Did he deceive us?”
“I think he could do that from the start. But if he revealed his true identity like before, no one would believe him. So, he saved us while we were drowning. The people of this land already blame everything good and bad on Lord Daigami.”
“I see…”
As the Samurai rowed toward the port, they listened intently to Daigami’s words. From the looks of it, the Samurai of Azuma wouldn’t be pursuing us any longer. I was worried about what would happen, but now I felt relieved.
“Hey! You all must have a lot to discuss, so why don’t we regroup?”
Amane’s ship was approaching us. I was still a bit irritated about what had just happened, but it seemed best to let it go for now. Finally, it looked like I could reassure the villagers.
“…You guys should just go over there.”
Not yet. Even with the real Lord Daigami appearing right before me, those guys continued to direct their killing intent at me, completely ignoring my words. What surprised me more was that all four of them were standing on the surface of the sea. They remained unfazed by the swaying waves, as if it were solid ground beneath them.
“…Fine. If you really want to fight me, I’ll oblige. But if you harm the villagers—”
“I’ll kill you,” I added. I thought I had threatened them enough, yet they showed no signs of fear. Especially Anki—why didn’t he understand? He couldn’t win against me. The fact that he didn’t realize that before even starting to fight showed just how weak he was. Enough already.
“I’ll finish this quickly, so if you’re satisfied, just go home.”
With that, I slowly fixed my gaze on the four demons.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Shin! Repo!
Shin! Repo!
What is Shin? It is not a god!
What is a god? It is something that can actually be defeated!
No, gods are ultimately beneath the Demon Lord’s feet.
If they can be defeated, they are definitely not gods.
If that were the case, then that dream would become reality.
Rua, that brat, tore apart the god along with its light and killed it—what a dream.
Dreams are dreams, so I won’t write any weaknesses.
But still, just to be sneaky,
Rua’s weakness? Her insults are terrible—what a fool.
The land of the gods, Azuma.
If Lord Daigami truly exists, he must be greater than the Demon Lord.
No, that was a dream, so he doesn’t actually exist.
Somehow, today’s report is a total failure.
Speaking of Azuma, the fox udon is delicious—slurp, slurp!