My waist acts up when I overexert myself. That’s the age I’m at…
“Thank you for your hard work, good person.”
Thinking of a beautiful wife and delicious home-cooked meals waiting for me when I get home is a single man’s dream, an illusion…
It’s been a little over ten days since we escaped Klinshberbach. I should have arrived sooner, but even if the beautiful wife’s nights were passionate, it’s a dream, an illusion…
On our way to Shidenzach, there were people who couldn’t keep up with the king’s march. Many women, children, and the elderly, including some who looked like mercenaries and knights.
It seems there was no looting. In fact, the knights seemed to be helping proactively, but the mercenaries… useless.
To all you knights. Please survive and become great. If people like you were in charge, more would survive battles.
I couldn’t bear to abandon these refugees and knights and head to Shidenzach, so I rounded up all the seemingly healthy mercenaries and gave them work tending to the elderly. Having work is a good thing.
Of course, it made me happy when they eagerly cooperated upon learning that I was under Duke Anneliese’s command and was the Captain of the Annihilation Brigade, not the White Lily Corps. For some reason, they seemed afraid…
The number of refugees increased the further we advanced, slowing our march and proportionally accelerating the depletion of our supplies. We could manage the water with magic, but there was nothing we could do about food for so many people.
“Now, work, mercenaries! It’s time to work! Go into that forest and hunt for prey. Secure food for the refugees.”
“Alright, we’re entering the forest now. Our objective is to secure food, so hunt anything edible, from rats to wild boar.”
Giving a speech in front of a group of rough-looking mercenaries, the kind you’d deliberately steer clear of on the street, you’d expect at least one person to object.
“Why the hell should I listen to you?”
Don’t stand right in front when you’re that huge. People behind can’t see. Tall people should sit in the back at the movie theater.
“I am giving orders because I am leading these refugees, for now.”
For some reason, I ended up in charge of these refugees. After gathering children and the elderly, I found myself in command. There were also official knights, but perhaps they are mostly shy.
“Why should I take orders from a brat like you?”
It’s nice to be seen as young, even if it means being underestimated. Was it my outfit too? There isn’t even a commander in an Aloha shirt in Hawaii. I was starting to grow on it, though.
“You may see me as young, but I am the Captain of a mercenary group. Do you know the White Lily Corps?”
“Never heard of such a crappy mercenary group. What a cute name. Why don’t you just plant flowers, hahahaha!”
End of discussion. My Godspeed punch pierced his solar plexus, bending his body into a ‘U’ shape. Oh, please don’t vomit, it’ll stain your clothes.
“One person has declared their non-participation, so we’ll let them rest. If anyone else is not participating, please say so soon.”
I said that while dodging the large man trying to tackle me. It seems there are no other dissenters, so we entered the forest. I wondered how I was going to transport this large man.
“Shin-san. Are you really going into this forest?”
It’s novel to be called “Shin.” It’s rare that I’m just called “Shin.” Usually, it’s “Mikael,” or when I’m called “Shin,” it’s followed by “Captain Shin” or “Baron Shin.” Being called “Shin-san” makes me sound like a playboy.
“Yes, we are. We’re running out of food. There are more refugees than we anticipated.”
Harmonia’s king not only fled himself but also abandoned those who followed him. He wouldn’t be king if he did that. If there were elections, he’d be voted out immediately.
“There are rumors of Ents here. They’re dangerous.”
Hm? Ent-san? Who? Throw them far away? That’s long-distance throwing. …Ridiculous! Someone please explain.
“Ent-san, who are they? What are they?”
“Ents are giant tree monsters called ‘Sages of the Forest.’ They kill anyone who enters their forest without permission.”
“But they say they are knowledgeable and kind to people, just like sages.”
“No, they’re monsters. They say the forest moves when an Ent moves.”
“That’s because you did something to anger the Ent in the forest. I’ve heard they’re usually docile.”
Sorry to interrupt while you’re all getting excited over a common topic… So, are Ent-san monsters that are okay as long as you don’t anger them? Hunting is our objective this time, and Ents aren’t involved, nor do I want to meet them.
“If we encounter one and have to fight, since they’re trees, I guess we can burn them?”
Right now, I only have the thin Short Sword I borrowed from Iris. It’s fine for a wild boar. If it’s anything bigger, I’ll dump the work onto the mercenaries. That’s the privilege of a superior.
“Ents are weak to fire. But if you bring fire, the prey will flee. What do you do, Shin-san?”
We won’t easily encounter Ent-san. You’re all worrying too much. Besides, Ent-san are ‘trees,’ right? They have roots, so if things get dangerous, we can just run away.
“…Sorcerer over there, what element do you use? Are you fire-based?”
Necromancer robes are always black, but there’s no set style for mages of other schools. You can’t tell what kind of magic they use just by looking at them.
“I can use the Water Element.”
If I splash Ent-san with water, will they grow? Of course, I’ll gift them some fertilizer too… That’s no good. Why would I want them to grow?
“…If we encounter an Ent, let’s try to negotiate first. If that doesn’t work, we’ll run… Let’s go.”
My lack of foresight is unavoidable. Especially since I don’t have adequate equipment and I’m wearing an Aloha shirt. The point is not to meet them. This forest seems vast, and you don’t just bump into them easily.
The thought of not wanting to meet them lasted only five minutes after entering the forest. To them to come out and greet us… As expected of the Sages of the Forest, they are polite.
“You too have brought calamity…”
It’s a woman. Her form, her shape… but she’s a tree.
And she’s naked and has a great figure… but she’s made of bark.
Did the doll-like Ent, who emerged from a large tree resembling a pine, think we were bringers of calamity?
To accuse such a handsome man of wrongdoing is an insult. Or perhaps she was looking at the mercenaries behind me? If so, I understand.
“Sage of the Forest, Ent. We have not brought calamity. We have come here to obtain food.”
As planned, let’s talk. If that fails, we’ll run. We must remain humble and avoid conflict. The refugees’ food situation depends on our success.
“Oh, if that’s the case, I shall take you to a place where you can find food.”
What a good person! What a good ‘tree’! Ent-san is a good ‘tree’ despite her appearance. But she could use a little more care with her skincare. The cracks in her bark are severe.
“Shin-san, this is a trap. She intends to lure us in and eat us.”
“Ents don’t do that. She’s a Sage of the Forest.”
They’re already getting excited over a common topic again. The problem is the lack of reliable information to determine who to trust. Someone once said to choose the fun option when you’re lost. …Alright, let’s go back.
“Please. Take us there.”
We’re struggling to even have today’s meals, so we can’t afford to pick the fun option. Ents are just ‘trees,’ after all. If things get dangerous, I’ll burn her and turn her into charcoal to warm my stew.
“Let’s go! Don’t fall behind!”
I’d prefer to be at the very back, but I can’t let myself fall behind after suggesting it. We followed the Ent-san.
The Ent didn’t use her feet to move. Her form moved from tree to tree. Now, the female Ent from this tree rose up, waved, and disappeared, and then from a distance, she floated up and beckoned. We followed the Ent deeper and deeper into the forest.
“Shin-san! What is that!?”
Far in the distance, far ahead of the Ent guiding us, an unfamiliar flame flowed from right to left. I knew, because I was using Wide-Area Mind’s Eye.
“Stop! —Ent! Ent, that’s a Black Flame Dragon, isn’t it!? Why did you stay silent!”
With Mind’s Eye, I saw about twenty Black Flame Dragons fighting the giant Ents, and the flames appeared simultaneously. Black Flame Dragons are supposed to be rare creatures, but since when did they become so common?
“I told you I’d take you to a place where you can get food. You can eat that.”
They’re delicious when roasted crisp… If I can hunt them without a scratch! Why are Black Flame Dragons appearing? Give me something easier to hunt.
“Why are there so many Black Flame Dragons!? Twenty is abnormal!”
Do Ents secrete hormones that attract Black Flame Dragons? If so, we want to turn back. There’s no need to fight unnecessarily with creatures like that.
“It’s probably because of the Demon Lord. It’s rare for Black Flame Dragons to confront us.”
The Demon Lord again! Does the mere existence of the Demon Lord make Black Flame Dragons aggressive! Is the Demon Lord like those male enhancement supplements made from snakes and turtles! Is it a ‘eel pie’ for a nighttime companion!?
“Triggered by… What happens if you leave them alone?”
“We Ents will suffer greatly, and humans will also be harmed.”
If Black Flame Dragons appear outside the forest where the refugees are lined up, the remaining knights won’t be able to protect them. We’re in a bind…
“Hey, you and you, get out of the forest and let the refugees go first. One of you, bring a knight and come back for reinforcements. —Let’s do this! If we retreat now, it will render meaningless why we helped the refugees escape.”
There’s no refusal. It’s rather fortunate that the mercenaries’ eyes are shining, intoxicated by the prospect of battle. Fortunately, there are Water Element mages. Black Flame Dragons’ outer shells become brittle when wet.
“Ten people per group. Water Element mages… there are two of you. Follow me. Let’s go! We hunt the Black Flame!”
The Black Flame Dragon’s weakness is water, and its soft pink flesh from its throat to its belly. I have reliable mercenaries and two Water Element mages.
I’ll kill them. My easily breakable Short Sword makes me uneasy, but I can’t return without the refugees’ safety. Especially, I absolutely must protect the carriage carrying those prostitutes.
