A Dark Elf village was attacked by magic beasts.
Lunaria, the supreme being of the Dark Elves, who rushed to the scene after receiving the report, tried to grasp the situation of the village, and found several possibilities.
“It’s too uniform for a mutation of magic beasts. It’s possible that it’s the work of the leader of the magic beasts with such great intelligence, but something feels off.”
The strategy room was in a state of turmoil, with various information flying around. While calmly handling it on the surface, she was thinking intensely on the inside.
“Tree King! We have successfully defeated the group of monsters we encountered in the northern forest! Three soldiers were injured, but all are light injuries!”
“Then, after one day of rest following treatment, they will be put on alert duty for three days.”
“Yes!”
She gave instructions based on the report from the messenger, focusing on stabilizing the current situation and investigating the cause.
“What about Himusumi and the others?”
“Yes! They are currently marching in the western direction and have engaged in combat three times, with minimal losses in all cases.”
“Understood. However, maintain close contact.”
“Understood!!”
In parallel, she aimed to allow Himusumi to gain experience in the Demon Lord’s Army’s military affairs, not just as a tester.
This was a seemingly dangerous act, but it was precisely why she worked tirelessly.
Although Lunaria appeared to be a delicate woman, her inner strength was that of a warrior, capable of matching any of the seven generals. She possessed the physical ability and magical power to rival battle-crazed individuals like the Demon King and Dragon King. She could endure a month of sleepless work with only slight fatigue. Therefore, her subordinates did not advise her to rest. They all knew and trusted that Lunaria would not neglect the fundamental basics of health management.
“I considered it might be the scheme of nobles from anti-Demon Lord factions, but there’s too little profit to be seen for that. The methods used to control the magic beasts are too obvious. Why this village? Whether it’s to create new magic beasts or obtain experimental data, the cost-effectiveness doesn’t add up.”
Carrying the trust of her subordinates, she calmly proceeded with dealing with the magic beasts without being overwhelmed. Information was sent to her not only verbally but also through written reports. The reports compiled in documents indicated a gradual decrease in the appearance of magic beasts since the military began its intervention.
“It’s the ‘who’ rather than the ‘what’ that bothers me.”
This was a welcome report. It was a cause for celebration as results were being achieved. However, Lunaria couldn’t shake the feeling that the report was intentionally making it seem like the magic beasts were withdrawing. Based on the confirmed reports, the enemy must have had some objective. Wild magic beasts sometimes attack villages to secure food, or clash with human settlements when their territories overlap. But.
“I need to confirm, there were no damages to the fields, livestock, or granaries, correct?”
“Yes, the report states that the village guardians prevented them.”
Lunaria found this to be odd. If the goal was to secure a living space, displacing humans would be an absolute requirement. And the reward for that displacement would be related to food. If they were bandits, it would be understandable to steal valuables or take women, but magic beasts would attack relentlessly. In the process, they would rampage and damage buildings, fields, and crops. However, none of this had happened. While it could be attributed to excellent guardians, Lunaria suspected that given the scale of the attack, it was strange that everything remained so intact.
“They prioritized minimizing damage to their group over securing food.”
With this impression, Lunaria turned her eyes to the map of the village surroundings displayed on a board. The map, with hastily scribbled notes about where groups of magic beasts were spotted or defeated and their types, was chaotic, but she focused, extracting only the information she needed without issue.
“As always, their movements are too human-like.”
From the comprehensive information obtained, she could discern habits and subtle traces that magic beasts could never replicate.
“Then, who could it be?”
She cautiously moved her soldiers, stirring things up to gradually extract information, but no plausible suspects emerged. The species that held animosity towards the Dark Elves would be the Elves. While it was true that the Elves had attacked alongside heroes several times in the past, there were no survivors capable of forming a settlement of this scale and commanding such a number of magic beasts on this continent. It was impossible. Lunaria herself knew this better than anyone.
“Then, if not the Elves, who could it be?”
She carefully untangled the knotty problem, like untying a tangled thread without breaking it, but the possibilities she could eliminate were quickly replaced by other uneliminable possibilities, leaving Lunaria perplexed. Lunaria failed to realize that her fundamental premise was flawed. She was considering only beings present on the continent and had become fixated on the common knowledge that only the Demon Lord’s Army engaged in such large-scale aggressions. While angels had recently attacked via a dungeon, the fact that the current attackers were types of magic beasts already existing on the continent led Lunaria to exclude the possibility of manipulation by someone operating secretly from Isal.
Therefore, she didn’t notice.
Or rather, she couldn’t notice.
She believed that only she could perform such feats. It was difficult to deny the facts presented by history. This became a clear opening for the Demon Lord’s Army. That was why Lunaria could not comprehend the enemy’s intentions. And she still hadn’t realized her own mistake at this point.
Himusumi, gleefully defeating magic beasts and making a name for himself at a location west of their base. Someone was watching him. Lunaria, unable to foresee the future, never imagined things would turn out this way.
“Oh my, I didn’t expect to see humans on this continent.”
Dazzlo was observing the investigation team dispatched by Lunaria through his familiars. A certain presence caught his eye: a human man who was defeating the magic beasts that Dazzlo had manipulated to attack. His gaze was fixed on Himusumi Toru. In the middle of the forest, he swung a sword of flame, cutting through the bodies of the magic beasts, and without hesitation, thrust his sword into a bear-like magic beast that attacked after he trampled over its corpse.
“He doesn’t seem to be fighting reluctantly, judging by his appearance.”
At first, he thought he was a male slave from the Demon Continent, but he seemed to be treated more like a noble. In other words, they were treating him with extreme caution. Even if he were a slave, it was strange to have one human man and one woman. It was also odd that the surrounding Dark Elf soldiers were supporting the two humans.
“So, the owner of that voice earlier is that man then…”
Dazzlo stroked his chin, pondering. He did not let his observation waver. He observed the human man’s demeanor, speech, and the gazes of those around him. The, presumably, captain-rank man was admonishing him not to be careless, even as the man struck a triumphant pose after defeating a magic beast.
“Hmm, he looks human, but is he a Dark Elf noble?”
Such an attitude would normally be impossible in a hierarchical military. If it were possible, he would have to be the child of an extremely high-ranking noble.
“This is… a bit unsettling.”
Dazzlo considered this, along with the eavesdropped information, concluding that this line of thought was incorrect.
“Then, shall I take action?”
Next, he sensed an atmosphere of opportunity. With a swift gesture, a small familiar waiting nearby dug into the earth and burrowed underground.
“This is one of my trump cards, but it should be sufficient reward for resolving this commotion.”
The absence of wolves was simply because wolves were easier to use. It was significant for them to scout the surroundings in packs, act as messengers, and communicate information with each other through howls. That was why they were being reserved. Therefore, while there was no one to substitute them, he would play one card. Thinking that he would have to restart his schemes from scratch, he decided to finish his work while the forces he sent towards the village were still rampaging.
“Now, everyone. I know it’s unpleasant, but it’s time for work.”
Turning around, he shook his head with a sigh, and a pack of over a hundred wolves appeared behind him.
“Your job is simple. Attack the group of Dark Elves over there and capture the humans alive.”
He declared it a simple task. Then, Dazzlo pulled his hood deeper, obscuring his face, and raising his staff, he swung it down, ordering them to advance. The pack moved towards their destination without hesitation.
“Well, well, this is going to be troublesome, but I suppose I should go too.”
He then mounted one of the remaining magic wolves and followed at a distance, intending to command them. Within five minutes of mounting, he reached their destination.
“As expected, war is about numbers.”
Below Dazzlo, he could see Dark Elves desperately resisting and attempting to retreat, summoning spirits. Against such a unit of Dark Elves, the magic wolves, which were one to two times larger than their normal size, bit at their arms and legs, tore at their throats, and reduced their numbers one by one. Naturally, the wolves were also met with resistance and died in greater numbers than the Dark Elves, but Dazzlo seemed unconcerned. The number of Dark Elves, including the spirits, was less than forty. Although there was one user who appeared problematic even to Dazzlo’s eyes, he did not consider it an issue. He believed that if they could kill the Dark Elf summoner with a suicidal attack from a dying magic wolf, the contracted spirits would also disappear, and if three wolves could take down one Dark Elf, it would be more than enough. He commanded the wolves. Once he judged that there was no chance of winning, they left a rearguard and the humans began to escape, but there was no way he would allow that.
“Leave twenty behind, and pursue the rest who are fleeing. Do not let them escape.”
Dazzlo calmly issued instructions to the magic wolves as if moving pieces on a board, preparing enough wolves to overwhelm five Dark Elves, and then summoning other magic beasts. He positioned them in front of the fleeing group, creating a pincer attack. Wounded soldiers became casualties, and the Dark Elves fell one by one. Although magic signals that appeared to be for emergencies were fired, reinforcements would not arrive anytime soon. Among the desperately resisting Dark Elves, only the human man was shouting hysterically, which Dazzlo found convenient. He blamed the opponent for harboring a source of unrest within and further exploited their weakness by feigning an attack on the human man, thereby reducing more Dark Elf soldiers.
“Heroes can be crushed by numbers, as long as you don’t consider the risks.”
Dazzlo’s expression was cold as he said this in a playful tone, as if feigning fear, without any emotion. Even from a distance, it was clear. That human man was the existence Dazzlo loathed the most. He understood and was convinced that this was a typical example of someone whose ideals involved killing people. However, he was only keeping him alive based on the reasoned suggestion that he could be of use. The battle concluded when the captain-rank Dark Elf, who had been resisting to the end, was taken down by ten magic wolves.
“Thirteen. There were fewer left than I expected.”
The surrounding area was stained with the blood of magic beasts and Dark Elves. It was a raw sensation, unlike a dungeon. Standing there were the magic wolves awaiting further orders, Himusumi trembling with his sword drawn, and Kawasaki, lost in thought beside him.
“For my enhanced magic beasts to be reduced to this extent, they must have been quite an elite group.”
What kind of person would such beings protect? Still, concealing his personal aversion, he felt the presence of the forces he had sent into the village, still active through their magical path, and slowly moved to confront them.
“Yo, nice to meet you. The lazy black mastermind with no motivation or sense of mission has arrived.”
He paid no mind to the sticky sound emanating from the feet of the magic wolf he rode. Dazzlo appeared from the dimly lit forest illuminated by the moonlight. How was he perceived by the survivors, Himusumi and Kawasaki?
“As you can see, our time is very limited, but I hold the right to your life and death. In such a situation, I’ll dare to say this.”
However, Dazzlo, as if he had something to say, cut in without preamble, ignoring the words Himusumi was about to shout.
“It’s too bothersome to fight you and subdue you any further, so won’t you discard your weapons and surrender? I’ll spare your lives.”
There was no way Himusumi would accept such a one-sided announcement.
“Who would do that! I have no intention of losing to you!”
It sounded like a grand declaration, but to Dazzlo, it was nothing more than the loud, emotional outburst of a child who couldn’t grasp the current situation.
“Yes, as an old man, I prefer not to do troublesome things, but this is my job. Well, I don’t have much time, so I’ll proceed.”
From Dazzlo’s perspective, if possible, he wanted to capture them unharmed. However, he was prepared to break an arm or a leg if they resisted.
“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you so you can still talk.”
Even to Dazzlo’s eyes, the man before him was no more than a weakling. Just as he was about to incite the magic wolves because fighting was too much trouble.
“!”
“Midori! Leave this to me and escape!”
Himusumi shouted at Kawasaki, urging her to flee. There was no way he would let her do that. He thought, “This man is making useless efforts again,” and then indifferently ordered the magic wolves to proceed.
“!”
However, the magic wolves’ movements stopped. It wasn’t due to any immense power, nor did he suddenly awaken such power. Suddenly, Kawasaki unleashed a magic spell. Dazzlo recognized it as an act of resistance, but its direction was strange.
“What do you mean by this?”
Dazzlo himself stopped the magic wolves, and the scene before him changed. The person standing there changed from two to one.
“Young Lady.”
Then, Kawasaki, who had rendered Himusumi unconscious with her magic, smiled and addressed Dazzlo.
“Let’s negotiate. My dear sir.”
“Oh?”
Her demeanor reminded Dazzlo of his own master.
Today’s Word
If you were to be headhunted, the criteria used would be important.
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*The first volume of the book is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. The second volume was released on December 19. The third volume was released on February 20, 2019. The content has been revised and expanded from the original novel posted on Shosetsuka ni Narou, with the addition of an unpublished interlude. Please check out the new releases!
The comic adaptation is serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third”. We hope you enjoy that as well.
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