We Live in Dragon's Peak

Going back some time ago, we went to the northern part of the forbidden territory with Cefina's guidance.

Sefina led us to the northern part of the forbidden territory.

Soon after, Nimir found us.

"There's a lot of dead animals here!

On the shore of a small lake. What I saw in the deep forest crevices was an odd sight, piled up with the carcasses of beasts.

'Neemiah, go down carefully,'

Meow.

As we lowered our altitude, we also noticed something unusual about our surroundings.

Parts of the dense forest were unnaturally balding. Upon closer inspection, I could see the marks of trees being torn down and ravaged on the ground.

''It looks like a pretty ferocious and brutal monster.

Let's be careful.

Niemiah took me down near the pile of the beast's corpse.

Sephina and I immediately begin to investigate the area where the corpses of the beasts are piled up.

Every carcass has been torn open with what looks like sharp fangs or claws," she says. But there are no signs of predation by the beast. Clearly, it was intended to be killed.

It's a neat pile for what it is. Look, Ernea, look. The beast's head is aligned.

Now that you mention it, all the corpses are lined up in the same direction.

Beasts of all sizes, regardless of species, had been sacrificed.

Some of them were even the carcasses of giant bears that were three times my size. And all of the carcasses were piled in a pile facing the same direction.

"Slaughtered and then neatly piled up?

What is the custom or ritual?

But you've never heard of a hexenbiest performing rituals like a man, have you?　What's up, Oz?

Me and Sefina, looking back to ask Oz the Demonic Beast for his opinion. Then, Oz was snuggled up to the side of the smaller Niemiah.

You're scared!

You're a hundred years too young to ask me for advice.

I see, you don't know, do you?

Nyan has never heard of it.

"Hmmm. If you don't even know Niemiah, this is a difficult question.

Why did the monsters go around slaughtering the beasts? And what was the meaning of piling the corpses together in the same direction?

Sephina and I were about to put down one of the corpses to look for more clues, when the bushes behind us shook with a crack.

With a crack, the bushes behind us shook.

"Who's there!

We quickly turn around and brace ourselves.

But there was no sign of anyone, just a noise.

In the first place, since we had landed in a danger zone, all of us, including myself, had not neglected to be vigilant about our surroundings. Therefore, even if there was a suspicious person lurking around, it would not be so easy to approach.

Nevertheless, one must not be careless.

Cautiously, I'll try to look for signs of the surroundings.

However, I couldn't even read a sign of a beast or a bird, let alone a magical beast. I tried looking for a dragon pulse just to be sure, but again, there was no sign of something suspicious.

I wonder if it was ......-style?

No, it wasn't unnatural, was it?

Nyan also felt a bit uncomfortable.

The dependable Sefina and Nimir say it all together, so I think there is no mistake.

Then, is there still a magical beast lurking around?

Cautiously, I was about to approach a bush when I heard a sound.

With a snap, another bush shook this time.

There it is!

Ms. Safina quickly leapt and ran into the bushes.

But she'll be back soon.

"It was just my imagination. I didn't see anything lurking.

"Strange?　Safina reacted immediately and there was no indication that anything had moved. And yet, there was no magical beast or anything else lurking around?　So what's the reason for the unnatural buzzing of the bushes then?

Did the Hexenbiest come back when she sensed us examining the pile of corpses?

If that's the case, then the magical beasts must be lurking around here. And yet, no matter how much you look for it, you can't read any signs of it.

On the other hand, the bushes make a sound.

'No, no.'

What?" asks Sefina, and I say, wary of my surroundings.

Because, isn't it?　I don't think you'd make the elementary mistake of making a sound when you're so cleverly distracted that we can't read it,

Now that I think about it, you're right.

I'll admit that we can't read the signs of a magical beast that should be lurking around.

However, a cunning hexenbiest would never show any careless movements.

Then why did it unnaturally sound the bushes?

Is this a test of our skills?

If so, they are more terribly cunning than I thought.

There is even an ancient species of dragon race, Niemiah, even though he is a baby dragon here. And yet, they are provoking you and asking you what's going on.

I'm going to have to ask for a warding, just in case. Also, we should consider a temporary retreat in some cases. We might as well call Mistral, Yun Yun Yun and Ling Ling, too.

Yes.

As expected of Safina, she is very cautious this time.

You're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them. I have no white sword or reiki no wooden sword at hand.

I breathe in deeply and quietly, and let it out slowly.

We calm our minds and search for signs of our surroundings.

An unpleasant breeze carrying the smell of dead beasts flowed deep into the deep forest.

The trees sway in a natural, not unnatural, way.

I knew there was no sign of anything. What do we do now?

Mmmm. I guess I should pull out of here and call for backup, after all.

The mistral would be a good enough asset. Besides, if Yun Yun Yun and Linlin were to stay, they would be able to explore the surroundings while disappearing.

''No, wait?　A genie would be able to find it without being noticed by a hexenbiest, right?

"Yon-yon?

I'm not sure if it's because I was expecting it, but with a pop, Ares appeared on the scene.

But at this point, I feel a sense of discomfort.

I'm not a fan of that.　Ares?

Not in adult form Mr. Ares?

We're so vigilant and yet we're still in the form of a little girl?

In the first place, it's strange that Ares didn't interfere until I called her in this situation.

"Hey, Ares,

And that's when I was about to confirm the identity of the discomfort.

"Huh. I didn't expect you to have a genie with you.

"Who are you!

We looked back quickly in the direction of the voice.

And then we saw.

A monster emerged from the depths of the forest, dragging the carcass of a huge beast.

Its gray skin was devoid of body hair. Its skin is so thick that it looks thick.

The way it walks, sluggishly, is dull and dull.

But the length is not big at all. Smaller than me?

But it seems to weigh many times more. Every time you walk, you leave deep footprints on the ground.

Besides, and saw the bizarre appearance.

The head of the monster is huge, and if it is not, it seems to take up about half of its body length.

The gray head had two thick horns on the tip of its nose and near its eyebrows.

But more than its unique appearance, we were astonished by its existence.

Weapons ......?

"Oh, no way!　I've never heard of a hexenbiest wielding a weapon!

The monster walks on two legs.

And with one hand dragging the carcass of a huge beast, and with the other hand clutching a huge war hammer.

'Kukkuk. Two human race children and a small magical beast. And a small dragon. I'm not a fan of this. What do you want to bring in next?

Huge gray face with no expression. A low voice that seems to come from deep in the throat.

The monster, which is small in appearance, but exudes more power and presence than the dragon tribe, steps forward with a lurch. There is no need to be afraid of us.

Sefina-san: ......

Yes, I know.

We might as well pull out of here for now. We should prepare ourselves and make up for the missing information before we face this monster again.

Sefina nodded a small nod. Then, without hesitation, she kicked the ground and rushed forward.

''Nah!''

No, Mr. Sephina!

I couldn't communicate!

Sephina jumped into the bosom of the monster with such speed that it left an afterimage, and released a sharp fist.

A dull and heavy impact sound and reverberated through the forest.

''Kuch.''

But it was Sephina who retreated.

She drew her fist and retreated to my side as fast as she rushed forward.

"Sephina-san!

It's okay. It's all right.

"No, no, more carefully!

And from the side, Sephina moves.

This time, leaping at a speed that does not even leave an afterimage, and close in on the monster.

Sephina firing off a kick.

A spinning kick, reminiscent of a sharp sickle slash, was slammed into the side of the monster.

"Huh!

But again, it was Cefina who retreated this time as well.

Sephina, who lined up beside me, stared at the monster quizzically.

I'm in a bind. ....... I can't say I'm totally unresponsive.

"I attacked with all my might?

Yes. I didn't go easy on him. But that monster didn't even dodge my attacks, it just seemed to be fine with them as if they were nothing.

The monster remained in a step forward stance and did not move. It is a good thing that the fist of Sephina in the abdomen and a spinning kick to the head.

You don't look like you fainted.

Seeing that Safina's attack had stopped, the monster took another step.

"I didn't think it was working at all!

Sephina's martial art of defeating even the dragon tribe is not just a blow.

They are skillfully manipulating their own dragon arts and the flow of their opponent's qi to maximum effect. And yet, instead of being injured, the monster walked forward as if nothing had happened.

"Kuhk. You have some interesting tricks up your sleeve, but they don't work on me. Now, what to do next?　Do you want the little boy to enter the war? Or would you rather rely on the little dragon?

Now, what to show. And the monster gives off a fearless air of fearlessness that makes us retreat involuntarily.

I never thought I would encounter a terrible and powerful enemy in such a place.

When this happens, you have no choice but to somehow create an opening and escape.

But how to ...... and look around. Then, after checking the scene in my field of vision, I finally realize what the discomfort is.

The pile of the carcass of the beast, oriented. The carcass of a beast held in the hands of a monster. War hammer ....... Ah!

We may have been mistaken.

"Ernea, I'll make room for you.

"Sephina, wait!　That monster is not a Hexenbiest!

That's right. I was wrong from the beginning.

"I had a preconceived notion that there were vicious monsters lurking in this forest, but it's not true. But that's not the case.

I hadn't thought about it, coupled with the assumption that no one but us lives in the Forbidden Territories.

But it's not.

Even if we were the only ones living there, there are a few who are able to visit.

And if you walk on two legs, carry a weapon in one hand, and speak the language of people ......!

That's a person!

We don't know what tribe it is. I don't even know if it's a child or an adult. But I can say with certainty that he is not a Hexenbiest.

He's not a Hexenbiest, and he's not the one who went around slaughtering beasts! And he's not the one who went around slaughtering beasts!

That's right. Although he looks like a monster, he's not the culprit in this case, because the weapon in the hands of the mysterious person who confronts us is a giant hammer of war to beat up the opponent. Because the weapon in the hands of the mysterious person who confronts us is a giant hammer of war that is used to beat up the opponent. On the other hand, the carcasses of the beasts in the pile were all dead with sharp wounds.

Weapons and scars do not match.

I said, "Sephina, put your fists away. You with the hammer, please contain yourself.

Do not fight. I had a feeling that I shouldn't.

But contrary to my thoughts, the situation was getting out of hand.

I'm going to say no, kid. I say no, kid. If you want to stop me, go ahead and do everything in your power to stop me. If you don't stop me, your corpses will be part of the pile.

"...... Ernea. I noticed it on my first shot, too. When I jumped into the bosom, I saw it. Behind the head of that creepy beast, I saw a hairy human face. And a hint of death in his eyes.

"What?

What does that mean?　I asked back, and Sephina said, keeping a wary eye forward.

I've had many adventures, and I've seen many adventurers. I've had many adventures and seen many adventurers, and I know. It is not the eyes of one who seeks life, but the eyes of one who is seeking a place to die.

The quest for the unknown. In search of treasure, riches and fame, adventurers are active in many places. But there are some. But there are some adventurers who have realized their abilities and can no longer go on. And it is said that some adventurers emerge from among them, rarely.

Someone who is looking for a place to die.

As an adventurer, I have no hope for the future. But that doesn't mean I can't go back to a normal life with no stimulation now. The tragedy of such an adventurer's final destination.

It doesn't matter if you can't achieve it. No, he sets out on a difficult adventure, knowing that he can't achieve it. So, he goes on the adventure without any regrets, and finally seeks death.

For the honor of having died at the end of the adventure, and for the honor of having died at the end of the adventure.

Sephina assured me that the mysterious figure standing in front of her had the same eyes.

'So, nothing you say will stop that monster. Not until he gets himself killed.

"Oh, no. ......!

I can't accept such an end!

I don't know what made me want to die, but it's definitely not right that I want to die. But the idea of dying is absolutely wrong.

You can't do that, Mr. Sephina. You can't just kill someone just because they want to die,

Once. That's how it was when I first met Lyra.

Lyra, too, was in search of a place to die. She had cursed her fate, and after struggling, she was about to die. The Mistral and the dragon people wanted to give her death.

But I saved her.

You can't get to the point where you are now because of the fact that I was able to save her, even if it was against the Mistrals then. It's a good idea to have a future that is not the end of death.

...... but, Ernea. What are you going to do?　Not so long ago, you could have handled this kind of opponent, but now you don't have a weapon. You don't have a weapon now, you know?

"Yes, it's ......

I want to have a different option than the path of power pursuit. That's why I let go of my precious white sword, even if only temporarily.

So I have to seek non-violent solutions.

But," the mysterious man said, putting my thoughts elsewhere.

Guru. Guru, you fools! You are fools to stand before me without hands! I will abolish you and claim this land as my own!

"Poof!　Ernea, step back. I'll hold them off.

"No!　I can't just leave you here, Sephina!

"Yeah, don't take it so easy. We should get out of here.

"Oz, just don't do that!

There's no way I'm leaving you alone, Sephina. Because she would try to stop this man, even if she had to force herself to do so. You're not going to be able to get away with it.

Besides, I saw the carcass of a beast that the mysterious man confronting me still holds in his hand.

I'm not going to be able to get the same results as you. It's a beast I've never seen before. The beast had been beaten to death with a blunt object.

A different cause of death than the beasts in the pile. And the only one with a non-sharp scar.

'Sephina, Oz. There is no retreat here, and don't take the option to fight your way out, either.

I said with conviction to Sephina, who nodded her head, "Why?

"He's trying to provoke us by being evil on purpose. But he's the one who defeated the monster that was rampaging in this forest, and he's a good person who was trying to mourn the beast that was brutally killed.

The carcass of the beast the mysterious man is holding in one hand is that of a hexenbiest.

He was the first one to enter the forest and defeat the monster beast before we did. Moreover, he also collected the carcasses of beasts that were slaughtered in various places.

I'm sure they were trying to mourn the corpses.

You should not fight or kill such a person just because he or she wants to die.

I intervened between Mr. Sefina and the mysterious man.