Chapter 11
Hana Flower Forest I [Entering the Empire]
TL: Of course I get sick as soon as I finish up school. Lucky me! Well, now that both of those things are pretty much done giving me trouble, I should be able to get back on track. Also, hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season!
That night after breaking camp and picking up the Demon Slayer, I started following after the nine-tailed girl who had walked towards Hana Flower Forest.
Although it is only a guess, it also seems that there is a pearl piece inside Hana Flower Forest. One thing though, it covers an area larger than any of the dungeons visited so far. Because of that I was left with a bad feeling so early in the morning.
“…Somehow, I feel the position of the pearl piece is moving.” (Shuten)
I would like to hope that is just my imagination, but in fact it is unlikely. Probably someone had already taken the pearl piece, and is wandering around.
Coming from the Hana Flower Forest, I think it would have been better if a human had taken it, but that seems not to be the case. If it’s wandering around in the forest, perhaps the monsters are influenced by the pearl pieces?
“…How depressing.” (Shuten)
Obviously if the monster that captured the pearl had lost their sanity, then I must defeat it. But just like I was stupidly strengthened by a pearl piece, the monster will also have become stronger. One of the reasons I cannot afford to ignore these is because of the presence of protagonist-kun as they pa.s.s the Alfan Ranges. In other words, since I’m walking through the Hana Flower Forest now, the heroes will be entering the Wendell Plateau.
It’s not my job to clear the story…though if my feelings are taken into account, I would possibly like to grow and help kill the Devil King. As a fan.” (Shuten)
Well, I do not have any kind of selfless intentions. Simply as a fan, I feel like I want to lead the story to completion.
For that reason, I am motivated to try my best.
“Well then.” (Shuten)
I shouldered the Demon Slayer, as I continued to head towards the Hana Flower Forest.
“Well, shall I go?” (Shuten)
From the road of Wendell Plateau, I step into the Hana Flower Forest. In an instant the scenery changes from gra.s.sland to forest, is it not unique to RPGs? Rather than gradually becoming a forest, from this point it just unnaturally becomes the Hana Flower Forest!
How interesting.
The scenery of the ground floor featured a natural path with tree roots growing through the walls of the dungeon. This Hana Flower Forest dungeon makes it difficult to reach the Empire’s territory unless you move along one of the two sides. (この二面をうまく移動しないと帝国の領土にはたどり着けないというダンジョンがこのハナハナの森なのだ)
Since I found it difficult to see, I decided to jump up into the tree branches for the time being to look at the situation.
This dungeon is directly connected to high Wendell Plateau, and boasts a surprisingly low number of layers with two levels. However, its area is vast, and the strength of the monsters is also decent. Well, since it’s weaker than the demons in the lower levels of the Habuil Tower I don’t really care.
There are several types of monsters found in this forest, but I’ll omit it because none of them will defeat the Demon Slayer. The problem is more than that…
“There is a man from the Imperial Academy…?” (Shuten)
Unlike other countries, the Empire has a combat organization stronger than the army. It is an organization known as the Imperial Academy, a “history compilation committee” created under the name of the emperor.
In the Imperial Academy the various groups are categorized into departments, and among those skilled in combat is a member of the Imperial Hall from the Imperial House. (帝国書院の中でも様々に部署が部類分けされており、その中で戦闘に長けた集団が帝国書院書陵部の連中だ。)
In the first game, the main character is a member of the Imperial Academy, and in II one group member appeared from the Imperial Academy. However, the spotlight is not so much on the inner workings of the Empire until after the third game.
Finally explained in III, the Imperial Academy is revealed as the kind of organization that professionally “fights for the good of the Empire by exterminating foreign enemies and compiling information in order to create a convenient history for the Empire” by any means. To create a glorious history for the Empire and emperors, all enemies are destroyed to decorate the history books beautifully.
I remember feeling like giving a reb.u.t.tal at the time.
What do you mean that the characters we used in I and II as the hero and friends were terrible villains?!
So those guys were like that…
Despite the long explanation, there is nothing else I want to say.
“Was there such a development in the story of II?” (Shuten)
This is it. (これである。)
In II, there shouldn’t have been any scenes where the Imperial House comes to the table. It could be said on behalf of the writers that the deployment of the Academy combat experts was unnecessary. But then why is there a human from the Imperial Academy staking out the Hana Flower Forest?
“…No, I know that.” (Shuten)
It might be because of the Pearl pieces.
There is almost no doubt. With the untimely entrance of the silver nine-tails and the rampaging monsters it seems likely that the Imperial House heard of the pearl pieces’ enhancement. (ほぼ間違いない。さすがに九尾の子が入ったにしては情報が早すぎるし、そうなればおおかた、珠片を取り込んだ魔獣が大暴れしていることが帝国書院の耳に入ったのだ。)
“…Though the monstrous pearl-enhanced beasts have not been defeated yet. No, that is only my a.s.sumption.” (Shuten)
It’ll probably be bad if these monsters are defeated by the Imperials who then pick up the pearl pieces. I don’t know what might happen if such a sample of the pieces is studied there. The magic of the Empire is far more aggressive than the magic of the Princ.i.p.ality or the Kingdom.
“So it can’t be helped?” (Shuten)
It seems after all that I will not change my policy of collecting the pearl pieces.
“While searching for signs of the pearl piece, I must move so as not to be found by the people from the Academy…how troublesome. Well, I feel like I will be exposed if that happens.”
Though it could be said to be inevitable that I’d be discovered, there is no choice but to try and not be found.
*Saku* I jump over the trees.
For the time being, let’s just cross the tops of the trees while pursuing the reaction of the pearl piece.
I was discovered.
“A demon…!?” (Imperial A)
“It has extraordinary power…! Is it a variant!?” (Imperial B)
“No, in the first place why is a demon here!?” (Imperial C)
1, 2, 3, 4…? I am surrounded by about ten human people from the Empire. Originally I was up in the tree, but I jumped down to search for the pearl piece and was found out. No, I wonder about that too. It seems the sound of hopping through the tree branches will surely reveal your presence.
Iya~ I did such a stupid thing. Nahahahahahaha. Hahaha…
“Ah, no, I’m not a suspicious guy. Hey, is this the road?” (Shuten)
“To put on a magic resistant Kinagaishi…No, what is that Oni…?! In its body it has a high magical defense otherwise…is such a thing even possible…?!!” (Imperial)
“Eh, is that so? There is even a magical defense in my body?” (Shuten)
“D, Don’t come over!!” (Imperial) (「く、くるなぁ！！」)
Aah, I’m nervous.
I wonder what to do about this situation. It’s my first time to have heard about a natural magic defense in my body, but I’m afraid to test it, so let’s end this here. I don’t think it will be easy, but what else can I do?
I’m close to the reaction of the pearl piece and want to go retrieve it quickly…but it would be annoying if they chase after me.
A dubious group dressed in black surrounding a demon wearing blue. “No, no, it is a demon after all!! It is the enemy of our Empire’s magic! Shoot!!” (Imperial Captain)
“Uottototo!?” (Shuten) (TL: the sound for basically being caught off guard, or losing balance, that kind of thing)
At that same time the surrounding group exceeding ten people attacked from many angles. Flying bullets of flame and water whips are indeed difficult to respond to when spears grow from the ground at the same time.
Ho, yeah, well, haha!
At the moment I am reminded of dodgeball when you are the last remaining person. But you know me, it’s times like these when I shine best in cla.s.s.
No, let’s forget about my previous life. It just makes me sad.
“aaaaAim Properlyyyyyyy!!” (Imperial Captain)
The human who seemed to be the captain signaled them to intensify the attack. I shied away from being hit because it looks painful, but I also think this will surely increase my visual acuity and bodily response. No, I don’t have to answer when asked why I avoid them, but it seems for now I will be relying on the Demon Slayer for a while.
I wonder if it was because I took my time, but as soon as I heard a commotion as if from enemy reinforcements.
Ah- Geez, no more please?
And at that time I placed my hand on the Demon Slayer
All of a sudden flames break through the surroundings. The power of it was enough to instantly turn a person into charcoal. As I still didn’t know what had happened, the blackened men fell like rags. The flames ran, spreading out gradually as it caught up to and killed the people from the Academy.
…Well, I guess it is that. It is fox fire.
“Thanks, you saved me.” (Shuten)
“…I didn’t see you asking for help.” (Nine-tails)
A silver girl leapt down from somewhere to land lightly in front of me. Her fluffy nine tails fell to the ground according to natural gravity. Unlike when we met yesterday, she is dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Academy.
“What are those clothes?” (Shuten)
“Because I cannot stay in clothes made with magical power forever, I changed them. So…” (Nine-tails)
What an awful kind of tribe to be created in. (なんて奴だ。裸族を一人生み出すなんて。
TL: sorry, don’t know on this. Mostly built this sentence from context and merging these sentences)
Once she cut off her words, she continued to look around in amazement.
“Did you also obtain information on them?” (Nine-tails)
“No? I wondered. But I don’t know.” (Shuten)
“Just because you say so doesn’t mean we are the same. You see, I could not ignore a man I owe dying right in front of me. I just thought this was a good way to repay my debt.” (Nine-tails)
“Thanks~ Thanks~” (Shuten)
“You’re a crazy man.” (Nine-tails)
She says so in amazement, wondering why she is acquainted with such a thing. That’s too harsh, tears are coming out.
“Didn’t you go to the Empire?” (Shuten)
“If you want me to say, then first tell me why you came here?” (Nine-tails)
“I have a purpose in this forest.” (Shuten)
“…alright. I tried to go, but who are these guys?” (Nine-tails)
“Oh, the Imperial Academy from the present era.” (Shuten)
“Imperial…Academy?” (Nine-tails)
Most likely I was hindered by the people from the Imperial Academy. Right now these are small fry that can be incinerated like kindling, but there is still a stronger guy coming from the Imperial Academy. That is one from the boss cla.s.s.
“The Imperial Academy is the special forces organization originally founded by the emperor, made to work behind the scenes to create a glorious history by any means for the Empire apparently.” (Shuten)
“tsu…! The emperor who founded it was probably not Talos V…!” (Nine-tails)
“Who is Talos-san?” (Shuten)
“…I was stupid to have listened to you.” (Nine-tails)
Her facial expression changed into a grim one, and then turning back around she leapt away.
Well, whenever I see her irritated face, I wonder what kind of acquaintance she had. Does fate have something to do with it? (何か因縁でもあるのか)
Or, the Emperor really was seduced by her charm, which shook the country under his influence or something like that.
No way.