◆ Bears Forest – Northern Region ◆
The massive Gigas Horse-drawn carriage could only make it to the entrance of the forest, so now it was just Kirkton, Mugen, Roel, and me—four of us walking on foot. I had never realized it while living in the village, but Ikana Village seems to be located near the vast Bears Forest. The area I entered while searching for Mii was in the western part, adjacent to Bees Forest.
The roads maintained by the kingdom around here are relatively well-kept, but this is still Bears Forest. With a Danger Level exceeding 30, only a limited number of people are allowed to enter, making it a perilous zone.
“I’m sorry, Lua-dono. Normally, we should have more companions with us, but… unfortunately, the others are out. Thus, the investigation will be conducted only by us,” Kirkton explained.
“That’s fine; it actually makes me feel more at ease.”
“Still, to think only a select few can enter here—Ikana Village must be quite a dangerous place, huh?” Roel remarked.
“One of the reasons for the restrictions is this Bears Forest, Roel-dono. The shallow areas have a Danger Level of around 30, but deeper in, it exceeds 50, making it a hazardous zone. Well, it is somewhat distant from Ikana Village, but there is always the possibility that monsters from here could emerge.”
So my village was situated in such a dangerous place. I couldn’t believe we had managed to stay safe. Perhaps that was the reason we were never allowed to leave the village. My parents always warned me not to venture outside because it was dangerous.
Just then, Eeks arrived. As expected, he was strong enough to reach us all on his own.
“Having Mugen here is a great help. Thanks to him, monsters haven’t approached us at all,” Kirkton said.
“Hahaha, it’s nothing,” Mugen replied with a hearty laugh.
“Oh, now that you mention it, we haven’t encountered any monsters at all. Is it because of you, Mugen?” I asked.
“My skill, ‘Prison Pressure,’ keeps weak monsters at bay. In this area, we are unlikely to be attacked,” he explained.
“Wow, that’s impressive!”
I had a vague sense of it, but being one of the Five Elites, they possessed various skills. Shinbu had his skill to become invisible and create clones. Laurel had his harp that produced enchanting melodies. I, on the other hand, had no such skills at all.
While I appreciated having Roel with me and felt no inconvenience, I couldn’t help but feel envious. Azuma’s Demon God Clan could walk on water; that had to be some kind of skill. I was frustrated after practicing in the pool on the Leopardess Guild’s ship, but I couldn’t manage it at all. I tried to follow the advice of lifting my left foot quickly before my right sank, but Amane and the others just looked at me in disbelief. Even Roel had turned red and looked down in embarrassment.
Later, when she pleaded with me not to attempt that again, I was genuinely shocked.
“Don’t you have any skills, Lua-dono?” Kirkton asked.
“I can only use Sonic Ripper and Sonic Spear… I can manage a bit of fire and lightning magic, but I can’t use healing magic no matter what. Maybe I just lack talent for skills,” I admitted.
“If you undergo a class change, Lua-dono, you might acquire a variety of techniques. It’s possible to discover your own unique class, just like I did. But there’s no need to rush,” Kirkton reassured me.
“Well, we should be arriving soon.”
Kirkton pointed ahead, where an old wooden sign stood. “This way to Ikana Village,” Roel murmured, and I shivered with anticipation. Finally, I was going to the long-awaited Ikana Village. No, I was going back home.
What had changed in my hometown after ten years since that blazing red scene?
“Alright, I’ve confirmed four individuals! Please proceed!”
A girl with freckles and glasses, an A-Rank Adventurer named Kiki, spotted us from above while riding a large bird and swooped down.
Given the entry restrictions, it was explained by Kirkton and Mugen that A-Rank individuals frequently patrolled this area. Of course, unauthorized people were not allowed in, and if anyone tried to force their way through, they would be killed on the spot without complaint, which Kirkton said with a serious expression.
“This is Ikana Village…”
Ikana Village finally spread out before me. For some reason, Roel stepped forward ahead of me. As I hesitated to enter, Roel was inexplicably stroking an old fence.
◆ Ikana Village – Ruins ◆
The log houses had turned to ashes, leaving only the walls standing. The abandoned fields were indistinguishable from ordinary ground. The only thing that remained unchanged was the river’s flow, where we had once shared stories.
I took a deep breath, surveyed the area, and then lay back on the riverbank, gazing up at the sky. Ignoring Kirkton’s warning about unidentified monsters, I simply immersed myself in the feeling of being back in my hometown after ten long years.
“It seems they are not here, Kirkton-dono,” Mugen said.
“Yes, but they might be lurking somewhere nearby,” Kirkton replied.
The “they” Mugen referred to must be the unidentified monsters. They were going to investigate those creatures, but to me, all monsters were essentially unknown. A giant dog that breathed fire, a massive snake that swallowed everything, and Vandalsia, which erased everything in its path. I wasn’t even sure if Vandalsia could be classified as a monster.
I couldn’t imagine where or how they came into existence.
“Father, Mother, Eeks, Kurinka…”
Despite my efforts to hold back, tears spilled from my eyes. Being here made me feel as if I had returned to that time; this place had not changed at all. The sound of the river and the gentle breeze were the same.
“Looks like they aren’t around, Kirkton-dono,” Mugen said.
“Yes, but they might still be hiding nearby,” Kirkton replied.
The “they” Mugen mentioned must refer to the unidentified monsters. They were going to investigate those creatures, but to me, all monsters were essentially unknown. A giant dog that breathed fire, a massive snake that swallowed everything, and Vandalsia, which erased everything in its path. I wasn’t even sure if Vandalsia could be classified as a monster.
I couldn’t imagine where or how they came into existence.
“Father, Mother, Eeks, Kurinka…”
Despite my efforts to hold back, tears spilled from my eyes. Being here made me feel as if I had returned to that time; this place had not changed at all. The sound of the river and the gentle breeze were the same.
“Lua-chan, how are you doing?”
I realized Roel was sitting next to me, gazing at the river. Thinking about it, Roel had no connection to Ikana Village, yet I had dragged her along. Still, she sat beside me in silence.
She gently wiped away the tears flowing down my cheek with her finger. Roel smiled softly, a gentle smile that made me feel warm.
“…It feels nostalgic,” I said.
“Nostalgic?” she asked.
“I feel like I used to live in a village like this when I was younger. It just feels that way.”
Roel had no memories of her childhood. I had never noticed it before, but that must be incredibly painful. I still had those memories, and I could immerse myself in them. But Roel couldn’t do that. She had lived alone in Queemil all this time.
It was a huge mistake to think I was the only one suffering. Why hadn’t I realized it sooner? Why hadn’t I thought to help Roel? Why hadn’t I reached out to her to help her regain her memories? I was truly hopeless. I didn’t understand people’s feelings or anything like that.
Just being with Roel didn’t mean I was happy; that was a misunderstanding on my part. It was a one-sided assumption. Roel must have been suffering too. But she never showed it in front of me.
Now that I had returned to Ikana Village, I had made up my mind. Instead of chasing after a past I could never return to, it was time for me to help Roel.
“Haha, it’s funny how something completely unrelated can feel so nostalgic. I read somewhere that it might be because we had some connection in a past life. Is that true?” I mused.
“Past life?” Roel asked.
“Yeah, it’s about yourself before you were born. They say some people remember a little bit of their previous life when they are children. But as they grow up, they forget. It’s sad, isn’t it?”
“Hmm, I wonder if I had a past life too.”
Just talking about trivial things made me feel happy. Roel held my hand, and I squeezed it back. Suddenly, tears began to overflow again. I blinked repeatedly, but they wouldn’t stop.
“Lua-chan, shall we go now? Staying here any longer will only bring more pain… We can leave the investigation to Mugen and Kirkton…”
“No, no… I don’t know why, but that’s not it.”
Roel looked troubled for a moment, but eventually, she lay down beside me, silently offering her presence. Her kindness and warmth enveloped me.
“Thank you, Roel.”
“Uh…?”
I simply said that and savored the moment.
Memories from that time.
The recollection of playing with my friends was vividly resurfacing. The parts that had been vague until now were connecting, and I was about to remember everything—
“…?!”
I jolted awake, just like when soldiers came to my hotel room in the morning.
Killing intent.
In just a fleeting moment, not even a second had passed. But in that brief instant, I felt a murderous aura.
Where was it coming from? What was it?
I wasn’t dull enough to hesitate. Even while sleeping in the Abyss Cave, I couldn’t let my guard down. There was no way I would be swayed by such a crude killing intent now.
“Lua-chan…?”
As I stood up, the two who had been emitting that murderous gaze began to wander around as if nothing had happened. I decided it must have been my imagination.
“Hey, I understand that you’re feeling nostalgic about your hometown, but make sure to do your job properly too, alright?”
Mugen’s deep voice called out to me. I wanted to believe it was just my imagination. It was impossible that Mugen and Kirkton had directed killing intent at me. Right now, there was no sign of it at all.
“…? What’s with that scary face, Rua?”
“Well, I sensed a killing intent…”
“What?! But there’s no one else around here but us…”
Was that surprise genuine or just an act? I wanted to trust Kirkton, who had drawn his sword and was seriously scanning the surroundings. Mugen seemed to want to say something about it, absentmindedly stroking his head.
“Perhaps Rua has detected the presence of that creature. Everyone, stay alert!”
At the same moment as Mugen’s words, I felt an unusual presence coming from deep within the forest. The sound of branches snapping underfoot, followed by a slow, deliberate pace. Each step seemed to take about two seconds.
That was the moment “it” appeared. Crawling out from behind a tree, it was a creature entirely cloaked in black, walking on two legs like a human. However, it was nearly twice our size, with silver horns jutting from its back and shoulders. Its round eyes glowed red, and its mouth was split open, drool dripping from the corners.
“M-Mugen, what is this monster?”
“This is the unidentified creature, Roel. For safety’s sake, please cast support magic. Even I cannot afford to underestimate it.”
【The Black Beast has appeared! HP 13800/13800】
Instead of letting out a beastly roar, the black monster simply stared at us in silence. It exuded an intimidating aura, yet for now, it showed no signs of attacking. Still, Roel followed Mugen’s instructions and cast defensive enhancement magic on everyone present. Kirkton drew both his swords, while Mugen rolled up his sleeves, striking a fighting pose.
“Mugen, should we defeat it?”
“No, we need to capture it alive.”
“Capture it? That thing? Is that part of the investigation?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just do as I say for now.”
I couldn’t understand. If there was a dangerous monster, we should defeat it—that much made sense. But it wasn’t attacking us, and capturing it alive? What was the reasoning behind that? Of course, Kirkton said nothing.
The black monster remained still, showing no signs of aggression. At this point, it seemed less dangerous than the killing intent I had sensed earlier. That had definitely been aimed at me, trying to kill me. Between that and this capture order, something felt off.
“That thing isn’t attacking us.”
“Indeed, normally it would be charging at us with those claws… It’s strange.”
“…Aah…U…A…”
The monster let out a low growl. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but it seemed to be in pain. Yet, the two of them held their ground, and I took a step closer to the creature.
“Rua, that’s dangerous! That thing has killed two A-Rank adventurers in the past! It’s called the Black Beast, named for its dark exterior. If it swings those powerful arms, it could tear a human’s body apart, bones and all!”
So they were trying to capture such a dangerous creature? What could possibly justify that? If it came out into a populated area and attacked, we could just defeat it. I couldn’t understand why Mugen and Kirkton were so fixated on it.
“The Black Beast, huh…”
Even as I approached, the creature’s powerful arms did not swing down. Mugen and Kirkton watched in disbelief, murmuring to themselves. Roel gripped her Fire Rod tightly but did not attack.
“…U…A…”
The Black Beast’s fingers twitched slightly. I thought it might be preparing to attack with its long-clawed fingers, but it still showed no hostility. I had moved closer, but I hadn’t thought about what to do next.
To capture it alive, I would need to restrain its movements and consciousness. If I were to do that, I would have to thoroughly incapacitate it. It was as simple as that. Yet something held me back. This was a monster, one I was supposed to defeat. Yet here I was, facing the Black Beast without being able to act. I didn’t even know what I wanted to do.
“…Who?!”
I felt something from far to the left of the Black Beast. It was a presence that could only be described as ominous, a chilling killing intent that seemed to freeze the air around us. An evil aura that could suffocate even the very atmosphere enveloped Ikana Village.
“Th-that black knight…!”
I couldn’t think of any other words to describe it other than what Kirkton had called it—a “black knight.” Clad entirely in black armor, I couldn’t even discern its face or gender. Despite the presence of us and the Black Beast, the black knight began to walk slowly toward us, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
“Could it be…? But why would it be here…?”
“Mugen, do you know that one?”
“I only know rumors, and I can’t be certain if that is it. A close aide of the Demon Lord clad in black armor…”
“It is said that he single-handedly destroyed the Clarks Empire, which possessed the world’s highest military power, in just one night, even though the Twelve Demon Generals struggled to breach its defenses… He has only been seen on the battlefield once, yet that single battle has become a legend in its own right… The monster known as the Funeral Knight!”
“Kirkton, should we retreat?!”
Before we could gather our thoughts, the Funeral Knight was already close. The shape of the armor, which had been vague from a distance, was now clear. It was pure black, evoking images of darkness. Most importantly, the helmet obscured any hint of its intentions. Did it plan to fight us or not? Why had it appeared here?
“Are you… ready to fight…?”
The Funeral Knight approached Kirkton, who was gripping his two swords tightly. Ignoring Kirkton entirely, the Funeral Knight turned its gaze toward the Black Beast.
“At last, I’ve found you.”
“Wait! What do you intend to do with it, Demon Lord Army! No, Funeral Knight!”
“…If you interfere, I will kill you.”
That single word pierced through Kirkton. Cold sweat broke out, his breathing became ragged, and his grip on the sword began to tremble. The sound of his teeth chattering echoed in the air. He was trying to act tough, but deep down, Kirkton likely understood the gap in their abilities. The difference in power was too vast. It was like a Cave Rabbit challenging Vandalsia.
Yet, it was impressive. Kirkton still hadn’t dropped his sword. Normally, he would have lost the strength to even grip his weapon in the face of such overwhelming power. Even before an opponent so far beyond him, Kirkton maintained his composure as the captain of the kingdom’s soldiers.
Roel stood beside me, unafraid, staring down the Funeral Knight. Mugen still had his fists clenched.
“With this…”
“Wait!”
I called out from behind as the Funeral Knight reached out to touch the Black Beast. The knight’s hand halted, and after a brief pause, it slowly turned to face me.
“What does the Demon Lord Army intend to do with it?”
“You need not concern yourself with that, Rua.”
“Huh…? Why…?”
The fact that my name had come out of its mouth startled me. After all, I was known even to the Comet Wolf Brigade. I had defeated the Twelve Demon Generals, so it wasn’t surprising that my name had reached them.
But there was a sense of unease that couldn’t be dismissed.
“If you do not interfere, I will do nothing. Leave this place at once.”
“That won’t do, Funeral Knight. We can’t just abandon our investigation. We will capture the Black Beast.”
“Capture, huh? Heh…”
The face hidden beneath the black helmet smiled. In the next moment, it felt as if the taut air had exploded.
Birds in the sky, moles and insects in the ground—every living creature in the vicinity would have fled in terror from the overwhelming killing intent.
Kirkton stood frozen, nearly gasping for breath, while even Mugen took a step back from the fury contained within that aura. Anger—that meant the Funeral Knight had shown its intent to attack us.
“Enough of this, barbarians.”
“That voice… I’m certain of it! You… why are you here?! First, remove that grotesque helmet! Show your face!”
【Mugen has enveloped himself in the aura of a Rakshasa! All of Mugen’s stats have risen to their maximum! As a consequence, Mugen’s health is gradually being depleted!】
Mugen’s body was surrounded by a yellow light. It was a self-enhancement skill, and not a trivial one at that. If he wasn’t careful, he could obliterate the entire area with his overwhelming presence.
Mugen was serious about challenging it. By the time I realized this, he had closed the distance to the Funeral Knight at a speed that Roel and Kirkton could barely track. Without losing that momentum, Mugen’s fist was about to strike the knight’s helmet.
“Heh…”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t move; it was that he didn’t need to. The Funeral Knight smiled once more beneath the helmet.