Episode 30. Face to face with the world tree (1)
On the day of Chris’s funeral, numerous tombstones were erected in the forest of beastmen. Seri, in the sense of respecting other races equally with humans, applied the method of erecting tombstones and holding funerals for beasts like humans.
Fortunately, thanks to Ariel’s care, most of the graves were able to place the bodies well. However, it bothered me that one of the tombstones had Leones’s.
I felt even more depressing because he was the only person I was interested in even though he wasn’t a hero or an S-class.
“How can so many beasts…… With just one breath…….”
Urca muttered, looking around her in disbelief. Then he found the beasts crying in front of the tombstone and bit his lower lip.
Seeing her expression contort in pain, she opened her mouth.
“…… Prause, you didn’t kill that monster, did you?”
“Yes.”
The two ends of all things have the power to cut through anything. Even so, the fact that it did not work meant that the scale itself had resistance to the skill.
It was a fact I already knew, but it was very difficult because the effect was better than I thought.
“Then can we kill that giant monster? So many casualties with just one breath?”
“It must be worth the name of the corps commander.”
There were nine people like Ekabel in this world.
I removed two of them, so now there are seven left.
It’s still seven.
When the Great War of Man and Demon begins, so many people will die that the number of tombstones in front of you will seem insignificant.
The community also saw various scenes of clearing the game, but in most cases, half of the empire was pushed back.
Especially, Rexton’s estate and Aus’ estate will suffer a tremendous blow.
If the warriors break through their limits and become stronger than they are now, there will be no problem even if they have a daily fight with a corps commander.
But the problem is, we needed beings to block other demons while we were having a diary.
I had no choice but to leave this part to the S-class, the knights, and the exceptional beastmen and elves.
At that time, the spirit world will also intervene and many people will make spirit contracts, so the difference in power with the demons will be offset to some extent.
“This will be an opportunity for you to think that whether you are a beast tribe or an elven tribe, you must join forces with humans to defeat the demon tribe.”
I looked around.
Thousands of prisoners are shedding tears in front of the tombstone. No one wailed loudly, but sobs were constantly heard from all directions.
I glanced back and saw that the warriors were silently following me. All faces were dark. Do you feel guilty about not being able to protect them?
In that case, I would rather feel it.
It may sound selfish and cruel, but this guilt will surely become a great driving force in the fight between demons.
“…… If a human-majeon war breaks out, will I be buried here?”
“No.”
I immediately denied Urca’s words.
Even if you die, you shouldn’t be soaked in melancholy.
No one goes to war thinking he will die. Everyone thinks they will survive and moves on. Even if that’s an absurd truth.
If he had the thought that he was going to die before going to the battlefield, he could be seized with fear and die without even realizing his full potential.
So I had to make sure not to fall into vague anxiety. Of course, one or two words can’t make that anxiety go away.
“From monsters to demons, we will kill them all and survive to see the future. Urca, you will not be buried here. Of course, so are you.”
I looked back at the warriors and said. They look at me and try to smile.
“Yes.”
As I was walking through hundreds of cemeteries, I suddenly found a tombstone with Leones written in the imperial language. It was pretty deep.
“Were you here… ….”
I squatted down in front of the tombstone.
“Leones… ….”
Standing alongside me in front of the tombstone, Urka lifts his nose and sniffs.
“A familiar smell……. That’s it. The smell of the prisoner that emanated from Prause’s body.”
“…… Are you recognizing?”
“Leonesra… …. I guess it was a pretty close relationship? Did you come all this way because of this beast?”
Urca laughed and said, but she couldn’t completely erase her trembling reaction. She must have been displeased with the idea that the person she liked was hanging out with another woman.
“It was not a close relationship. I intended to use this guy as a bridge for continuous exchange between humans and other races.”
“Really?”
“But now that the emperor has changed, there is no need for that anymore.”
As long as Seri remains as emperor, exchanges between humans and other races will continue. Or there could be an increase in the number of people migrating to the Empire.
As you begin to realize the problem with the demons, you must have felt that it was safer to live in an empire than to be independent among the beasts.
“Thank you. For believing in me and following me.”
I got up from my seat while touching the place where my name was dented. There was nothing like consolation that could be given to the dead. If you still have to do it…….
“We will surely kill the demon who killed you. Watch from above.”
I hit the tombstone with my fist and turned around. If you give meaning to what you have to do anyway, the warriors will be more motivated.
“I will go back now.”
“Already?”
“I just came to check if Leones’ tombstone was well erected. And…… Staying here will only make you depressed. You cannot move forward if you cling to sad feelings forever.”
I looked sideways at the warriors and said. We must not stop until all demons are dead.
This world is designed to force the growth of heroes.
“You are strong, Prause.”
How strong…….
I have no choice but to do it because I am dying. If not, I would have let it all go.
* * *
“…… Why are you here for dinner?”
He opened the gate and saw a naked woman coming out and tore off her ribs. Oh, the seasoning is very good?
It seemed that my cooking skills improved as the days passed since I came to this world. Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been feeding the warriors for 5 years, so is it natural?
“Give me some food too, Prause!”
The Spirit King is whining ugly.
“Insectivore, go to the spirit realm.”
“I am not an insectivore! Do you know how hard I worked while being held by Naiad for a year?”
“Isn’t it natural to suffer all year after putting off things that you don’t have to worry about when you do them for decades?”
“Oops! Yeah, how do you know that?!”
Phoenix points at me and shouts. I stammered to the end, as if I was genuinely perplexed.
It’s like a member of the group who turns over the materials the day before in a group assignment at university. It was clear how hard Naiad must have been.
“Did Ariel say that?!”
“No. Prause knows all the things we hide. Pervert, pervert.”
Ariel snorted.
Why am I a pervert? Do you know how much I hold back my lust?
“Everything is better than your business.”
A tear-stained Phoenix looks at Tina. Tina looks back and forth between me and Phoenix and transfers some of her ribs from her pot to her bowl with her tongs.
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“Phoenix, would you like to have this—”
“Tina.”
Tina flinches at my command. She looked at me for a while before setting her bowl down on the table. Then he put his palms together and said to Phoenix.
“…… I’m sorry, Phoenix. If Master is like this, I can’t give it to you either.”
“Tina~! You are my contractor! Aren’t you supposed to prioritize me over that bastard?!”
“I’m sorry. I’m indebted to Phoenix-sama, but nothing takes priority over my mentor.”
Tina smiled and scratched her cheek. Phoenix’s expression darkened even more. Soon she pointed at me again and shouted.
“Prause! The reason I signed a contract with Tina in the first place was to eat lots of delicious things! Why aren’t you giving it?! She gave me strength even when I was trying to kill that damn fat pig demon!”
“…… A fat pig demon? Are you talking about Ekabel?”
“Yes!”
First of all, it’s not a pig, it’s a Leviathan…….
“…… Well, that was the reason. Good night. Then call Naiad.”
“You can ask Iris to do it.”
“Master, can I do it?”
She answered as if she had been waiting. Are you always sincere?
“If Iris wants to call her, she needs to use her strength, so I’m asking you to bring her. If you bring…….”
I held out in front of her the bowl in which Tina had ribbed her ribs.
“All-you-can-eat ribs.”
“Infinite refills!!”
The gloomy face turns bright in an instant. The twinkling of her eyes somehow made me feel more innocent than a lower spirit.
“Just wait! I’ll be back soon!”
She smiled bitterly as she opened her gate and left for her spirit realm. How serious she is about food.
It wasn’t long before the gate opened again, and Phoenix and Naiad appeared. To be precise, Naiad, who did not want to come out, was forced out by Phoenix.
“Prause, I heard you found me.”
“Yes. Now is the time to keep our promise.”
I handed the bowl to Phoenix while talking to Naiad. Then, accepting it as if he had waited, he sat down next to Tina and began to gobble it up.
“…… Is it.”
He looked troubled, but then he understood and nodded his head.
“Mmm~ delicious!”
In the meantime, the phoenix shakes its body and shouts.
“Phoenix…… Are you sure you brought me here to eat something?”
Well, well, well.
Whether Naiad glared at him fiercely or not, Phoenix just gnawed at his ribs with a worldly happy face.
“…… Whoa. Maintain the dignity of the Spirit King.”
“Naiad, you are too tight~ That’s why the spirits below always can’t get close to you. Be a little flexible.”
“You are too loose!”
Despite Naiad’s power tackle, Phoenix was preoccupied with eating ribs.
“Do you want to eat galbi? Is it really good?”
Phoenix holds out a chunk of ribs. Naiad stared at it, and he sat down and started eating.
“…… It sure is delicious.”
“Should I eat in a narrow space?”
“Why is a guy with a lot of money still living in such a cramped place?”
Oh, is it my fault?
It was absurd.
He sighed and glanced at the people sitting around the table eating. Still, being crowded isn’t bad.
“Prause! He said he would refill it! There are only a few ribs left in the pot!”
Phoenix grabbed the pot that hadn’t cooled down yet and showed me the inside. Are you using fire resistance here? It’s terribly practical.
“I got it. Don’t make it soon It’s already marinated in the seasoning, so you can do it right away.”
I got up from my seat.
“Naiad, let’s talk after dinner.”
“Yes. This one is definitely delicious. I won’t be sad that there are more.”
Well well.
Naiad said, putting a handful of meat in his mouth. Where did the gentleman who was asked to maintain dignity a moment ago go?