Chapter 12
Hana Flower Forest II [Pearl Piece Position]
After the situation where the people of the Imperial Academy were turned to charcoal, even the Nine-tails had left, leaving me alone. The smell of burnt humans filled my nostrils, but the fact none of the surrounding vegetation was ignited showed the nine-tailed girl’s and skill despite the fire power. Though I still don’t know if the dark uniforms from the Imperials earlier are emblems of the Imperial House. (帝国書院の暗部連中も、先ほどの一件で撤退したのかは分からないが人影一つ見当たらない。)
“It’s quiet. I can’t even hear birdsong…It’s probably because a monster integrated a pearl piece.” (Shuten)
Now, where should I look for it?
I re-shoulder the Demon Slayer and look around again.
In this forest where tree trunks as thick as my arm span gather in crowds there is nothing that could be called a road. Stepping over the roots and bushes, I proceeded by the sunlight filtering through the foliage.
The reaction from the pearl piece is not far.
I think it is better to fight one-on-one with a monster as an opponent. That said, [Ah! There is a demon among the monsters! Let’s fight it together!] It is said that you cannot be thwarted if you have a spear by your side. (なんて横槍を入れられたら目も当てられないということだ。) (TL: in other words, he wants a comrade/companion I guess)
For the time being, not including collateral damage, I’d rather not be disturbed.
Of course, I still need to raise my level, even though just by taking a single pearl piece my ability was enhanced from mid boss to a Las-Dun’ (Last Dungeon) cla.s.s creature.
Even if a small fry enemy around here has taken in a pearl piece, I can’t imagine how strong it will be.
Meanwhile.
I proceed for awhile in response to the pearl piece’s reaction.
“…Uwa.” (Shuten)
Then, as if it were cut off, part of the ground was gouged out roughly. I think it is about 3 meters in radius. Even if three people were lined up end by end, still more could fit. The surrounding trees were also mown down as if by a powerful wind storm.
“…What a terrifying guy.” (Shuten)
I can probably do it if I try. However, there is no trick comparable to an opponent capable of this.
“…the G.o.ddess-chan put it too lightly. It seems the difficulty of collecting the pearl pieces is higher than expected.” (Shuten)
My battle experience was severely lacking, and honestly speaking this scene chilled me.
It is not enough to fear. However, without a doubt the scene before me was definitely overwhelming and especially eerie considering the culprit wasn’t currently visible, and I can only think that I won’t be able to reason with it.
“…It’s no wonder nothing has been done yet.” (Shuten)
Even so, I still have confidence in my ability to escape.
If I hold the Demon Slayer, I can restore my wonder and serenity. It is an indescribable feeling, the settling that comes from a demon holding the Demon Slayer.
Like this, I stepped into the gouged ground.
Hmm, It doesn’t seem to have been cut out by some kind of magic. To put it this way, it seemed as though it was scooped out by a huge excavator…
It was at that time while I was deep in thought. The reaction from the pearl piece rapidly approached. I felt a chill behind me.
“Tsu_____!?”
As I jumped, the ground cracked at the same time. It is not an underground attack, but a crack from something crashing into the ground—- what on earth is it?
While turning through the air I observed my surroundings.
It was there.
Definitely a monster. Behind where I was. A monster with four legs and huge jaws.
The silhouette is similar to the small fry monsters; however, with its huge size it’s like a rocky mountain.
“Gyau…Crunch!”
“F*%*%” (Shuten)
Aiming at me who does not have a reliable foothold, the monster snaps its big mouth as it closes the distance. The strength of the front paws causes the ground to shake even with a single step of its whole body.
At this time I noticed exactly what it was.
“It’s just the shape of a shovel dog…!” (Shuten)
The Demon Slayer was swung back to counterattack.
With one downward hit I intended to squarely cut off the fangs from the attacking jaws.
However.
“Gauu!”
“tch” (Shuten)
Perceiving the danger, it suddenly halted and leapt back. At its combination of the lightness from its original cute shape with its giant monster form, my eyes widen.
Oi oi, that’s foul play.
But seeing how light it is on its feet, I can now understand how I did not even notice it until it was right behind me.
“…Without a doubt this guy has taken in a pearl piece.” (Shuten)
“Gauu….!”
With its natural danger perception instincts it seems to be intimidated by me–no, the Large Chiinu is glaring at the Demon Slayer I carry. (TL: or Dekakuchiinu. As far as I can gather, “Deka (Big) ku(?) chi(little, like from ‘chibi’) inu (dog)” is the name for this monster)
Without moving, it watched me sharply with bloodshot eyes.
Rather than insane, it is totally committed to burying the enemy before it…It’s a feeling like that.
In any case, the G.o.ddess nee-chan said the atmosphere would be crushing but that is probably a mistake.
“Guan!”
“Wait a sec” (Shuten)
After jumping to a thick tree branch, I was finally at the same height as the Large Chiinu.
Opening its mouth like a bridge, it looked upward and crashed its chin vigorously into the tree I was standing on. Although I was able to escape difficulty since I jumped to another tree just in time, it seems like it hitting the tree was considerably painful.
But this is certainly clear. The ground that was gouged previously, that is because of the jaw of Chiinu. Originally the shovel dog uses its protruding jaw as a shovel to dig up the ground and fill with food to last through winter hibernation. Their main hunting strategy is also to push animals up with their chin.
“…First, I need to take care of those jaws, right?” (Shuten)
But this kind of power. If I defeat this guy, the level-up looks delicious.
Also, Crane is currently not strong enough to stand up to these teeth. It would be game over after one hit.
I was really glad I could handle it first.
“And so, die quietly like an adult, shovel dog.” (Shuten)
The main team dispatched from the Imperial Academy agency to subdue the unusual monster was in chaos due to the report from the failed advance party. As head of the subjugation force sent to investigate the unusual monster that appeared in Hana Flower Forest, Grendel the tenth seat of the magic librarians headed over 50 people waiting to enter the forest. Then from the scouts came the report that “a demon and Nine-tails appeared and the advance party was destroyed.”
Since when has the Hana Flower Forest contained such enemies?
It was supposed to be an abnormal species of huge Chiiinu they were looking for. That alone was troubling, but why is there a rare demon appearing in this area? More than that there is the frightful Nine-tails as an opponent that can take out an army alone.
They don’t know why.
As if embodying the reactions of those who heard the report, the trees of the Hana Flower Forest shook tremendously. Even knowing that it was just the wind, it was still eerie.
“What do we do, tenth seat?” (Deputy)
“We do not know the fighting power of the Chiinu, but the reason why ours were annihilated was due to the fox-fire of the Nine-tails… Leave the Nine-tails to me. If it’s a monster, there is no problem so long as you outnumber it.” (Grendel)
“Understood.” (Deputy)
A man who is a deputy of the Imperial agency speaks to a young man wearing different clothing. The young man is Grendel “Glyph Scale,” the tenth seat of the magic librarians, and one of the strongest single martial artists the Empire boasts. As proof as the tenth seat he has the character X engraved on the collar of his black coat. However, he is not necessarily the weakest member of the ten. The strongest magic librarian who died during the incident two years ago with the demons was the second seat.
“Well, shall we go?” (Grendel)
Tying his long golden hair into a bundle so it doesn’t blow about, he begins to walk quickly.
Trusting Grendel and his power as one of the strongest magic librarians, the agency members killed their fear and followed him into the Hana Flower Forest.
“But the monster and the Nine-tails is completely irregular…Did you mean that Nine-tails? The one sealed in Alfan?” (Grendel)
Behind the Deputy an officer reacted to Grendel’s words. Retrieving doc.u.ments from his pocket he pulls up to their side.
If Grendel were to look at the doc.u.ments out of the corner of his eye, it would show detailed information on state secrets, such as a map including the surrounding countries in addition to the strategy on the current mission the agency was on.
Just stopping at the area where the information was written, the officer raised his face and declared it to Grendel.
“Last night before dawn, a high power magical pulse was recorded coming from Wendell Plateau. But that seal is the multiple barrier created by Talos the sixth himself. So easily…I did not think it was a seal that could be solved in just 100 years.” (Officer)
Wendell Plateau. It is a s.p.a.cious and comfortable plateau eastward of the Empire and past the Hana Flower Forest. There are almost no tall plants, while carnivores hide themselves in the spa.r.s.e bushes. In such a place. A magical pulse was confirmed in the Wendell plateau.
The Nine-tails’ seal should have been in the Alfan Mountains. If the rock fell from the Alfan Ranges for some reason…it would not be amusing if someone crazy released it.
“…But there is complete evidence of this situation?” (Grendel)
“Yes. Be careful.” (Officer)
“Hmph…” (Grendel)
The true meaning behind Grendel’s fearless smile, his men had no idea.
Seeing such an expression made the deputy nervous. Surely, there are no words to describe such a feeling.
If the Nine-tails had truly reappeared, then the tragedy that occurred 100 years ago could possibly happen again. Grendel was still silent after listening to the information of the report, but without hesitation he ordered the advance of his subordinates.
To his deputy, Grendel smiled and declared, “No, wait. The only one to hunt a demon from 100 years ago should be a magic librarian. I think this is a good opportunity to prove the greatness of the current Imperial forces.” (Grendel)
“Y, Yes…!” (Deputy)
What a terrifying being.
The deputy thought so frantically. This is a magic librarian. This is the trump card of the empire.
The deputy was filled with both admiration and astonishment.
The threat of the monster and the a.s.sault of the demon somehow seemed more manageable with a magic librarian around. It was more than enough to make him think it was a daring approach.
In the dense forest, Grendel waded through the thorns and bushes and raised his foot over roots before he suddenly stopped.
“Tsu—” (Grendel)
“Tenth seat?” (Deputy)
“Get down, you guys.” (Grendel)
“What!?”
The words of Grendel came quickly just as flames began to attack from the sky.
The screaming blue fire that seemed like a direct hit was prevented without difficulty by Grendel standing in front.
“…It’s not peaceful. What is this sudden attack?” (Grendel)
“For a human being, I suppose you’ll do.” (Nine-tails)
“Ho…?” (Grendel)
A girl landed lightly on the ground.
She appeared to be about twenty years old. Young and feminine with such an appearance…no. Wrong. He understood that she was not human being, even without the tremendous pressure she wore. White triangular ears grow from the side of her head. Further evidence of her non-humanness descended to the ground; silver fox tails, nine of them.
“Are you a Nine-tails? The sealed Nine-tails?” (Grendel)
“You are…soldiers of the Empire.” (Nine-tails)
“Soldiers? No, there is no army in the Empire, only the proud ruling Imperial Academy.” (Grendel)
Is this Grendel’s terrible courage? There is an immense pressure like countless stabbing needles being emitted by this Nine-tails. In spite of this, Grendel retains his usual composure. Behind the Deputy, the people of the agency are already trembling and cannot even cry out.
“Heh. Well, we were heading to subjugate a Shovel dog. If it’s just a gigantic Chiinu, even just you guys will be fine?” (Grendel)
“W, what…?” (Deputy)
“Even without you here, I will be fine. Besides, don’t you think that standing without working hurts the reputation of the of the Imperial Academy agency?” (Grendel)
For an opponent like this, it is impossible for him to move freely while defending his men.
With Grendel, he was still nonchalant about defeating the Nine-tails.
As a famous Imperial magic librarian, his strength had already been determined.
However, it is an opponent he can most likely win against so long as he fights with all his strength. No, rather, there is almost no possibility he will lose.
But his subordinates are in the way. Turning his back, Grendel ordered his men.
What he really wanted to do was to quickly go and subdue the Chiinu.
“Go! That’s an order!” (Grendel)
“Yes!!” (Deputy)
As ordered, the Deputy slipped from the side of Grendel and headed towards the back.
However, the nine-tails didn’t miss this.
“Out of the way.” (Nine-tails)
“Do you think that I will let you?” (Grendel)
However, the fox-fire released by the nine-tails was quickly repelled by Grendel. The nine-tails eyebrows twitched at the intact Grendel’s speed.
“Now, shall we start?” (Grendel)
White, red, and green. Spheres of three colors that felt full of extraordinary magical power began dancing around Grendel.
To Grendel lifting the corners of his mouth, the Nine-tails furrowed her eyebrows.
Grendel of the Magic Librarians appeared! ▼