Author: Yume Neiji

Sword and scythe clashed, creating an unpleasant metallic sound. Flame of anger were burning fiercely inside me. The reason for this is the enemy in front of me.

“Gugegege!”

“I’ve never forgotten that day!”

I tightened my grip in anger. However, my state of hostility continues.

“Why Tokyo!? Why me and Shigeru-san!?”

The guy in front of me just keeps laughing, the corners of his mouth turning up sharply. It seems like he doesn’t intend to answer my questions.

“I already know you’re a demon! I’ll make you talk no matter what!”

I activated all of my enhancement skills. In the next moment, the competition between us was broken.

My sword pushed back the scythe. Judging that he was at a disadvantage, he quickly moved backwards. I followed suit and fired a horizontal slash.

Shiiiiiiiiiiing.

With a high-pitched sound, the sword was repelled by the scythe. He uses the recoil to spin in mid-air. He also aimed at my neck with the same momentum.

“Fuu!”

I instantly arched my body, and the enemy’s blade sliced through the air. I managed to dodge it with a thin sliver of paper.

“……Gugegege,  you’re good.”

“Are you finally ready to speak? Tell me, who are you?”

The small shinigami lazily puts the scythe on his shoulder.

I raised my vigilance one more level while holding my sword.

“There’s no way I can tell you. If you want to know, kill me. Gugegege.”

“Then I’ll do that!”

I approached him with instantaneous acceleration. I unleashed a slash attack in anger, but he deftly deflects the attack with his scythe each time. Although there was no decisive blow, I was pushing the battle.

I can win. Everything is different from the time I was killed. Now is the time to avenge Shigeru-san and Kanzaki. I’ll clear the grudge of being killed in the previous life here.

The angrier I am, the higher the sword speed and sword pressure. Unable to handle the attack, the Shinigami had cuts on his body.

“What’s wrong!? Looks like you can’t even make a move!”

“You’ll have to push me further before you say that, human.”

He then disappears before my eyes. Immediately afterwards, the danger prediction skill sounded the alarm, and the danger detection skill alerted an attack coming from behind me. I parried it with my sword, but the impact that I could not escape knocked me to the ground.

“Stealth skill huh. You’ve done it.”

I stood up and brushed the dust off my clothes. The shinigami also descended softly and landed his feet on the top of the tree.

“Your sturdy. Is it because you’re resistant to impact…… Or, was it nullified?”

“If you want to know, answer my question. Who are you?”

“Don’t tell me what to do. I don’t care about that either. More than that, fight harder!”

The shinigami, got close to me in an instant and he immediately wields his large scythe. I avoided it by taking a back step. I also quickly released a dragon slash flash across his side.

“Gugegege! You can’t hit me!”

A yellow-green light emitted from the blade of my sword, mowing down the trees in the straight line in an instant. However, he ducked down and dodged the attack. He smiles and puts his left hand forward.

“Cross Explosion!”

Green flames emanating from two directions intersect towards me. At that moment, the ultra-high heat and shock wave blew away an area about a kilometer square and scorched the ground. As expected from an unidentified demon.

“You’re using magic that I’ve never seen before.”

“I don’t think you can do it at this level.”

Shaking off one of my hands, the flames surrounding me disappeared. In front of the black robe, no magic can hurt me. When the Shinigami realized that I was unharmed, his attitude changed abruptly.

“That robe…… Change of plan. I’m going to kill you now.”

“That’s if you can do it. If you think I was serious before, you’re greatly mistaken.”

Right after saying that, I activated Dragon Transformation and Superhuman Transformation. The powerful energy surged within me, forming a purple aura that enveloped my entire body. I can say this with confidence, there is no one who can beat Shinichi Tanaka in this state.

“Let me start by cutting off your limbs and immobilize you!”

I kicked the ground and jumped forward. In less than a second, I swung the bull king sword at the enemy in front of me. First, I will get rid of that right arm. However, the shinigami easily blocked the powerful sword attack with his scythe.

“Gugegege!!! Are you serious? Don’t make me laugh!”

“Uh!? My attack…..?!”

A light flashed through my field of vision. The next second, I felt an intense pain. The impact sent my body far backwards. I shattered dozens of trees before finally slamming into a large tree that stopped me from moving. The intense pain that I hadn’t felt for a long time brought my consciousness back to reality.

What happened? Why do I feel pain? Isn’t it possible to nullify the impact?

A number of questions run through my head. Then blood leaked out of my mouth. It looks like some of my ribs were damaged and I had a rupture on my internal organs.

“Tsk, you’re a human after all. You really believed that nullification skill was invincible.”

He swooped down in front of me. I stood up with the help of my sword as a cane.

“What do you mean……?”

“Gugege. From the way you look, you don’t know about it. I’m referring to the skill that cancels nullification.”

“W-what……?”

I was so surprised that I was at loss for words. I didn’t think there was such a skill that can cancel it. If that’s the case, then both slash and impact nullification are useless skills in front of this guy. I need to fundamentally rethink of a way to fight.

“Still, that’s far from the reason why you could overwhelm the strengthened me to this extent. You… you’re not just a demon, are you?”

“That can’t be true. I’m a demon that can be found anywhere in this world. It’s just that I’m ridiculously strong. Gugegegege.”

I want to say don’t bullshit me.

Even the vampire, who was relatively high ranked among the demons, did not have a chance to fight in front of me. No matter how I look at it, his strength is extraordinary. It has reached a level that he can no longer be called a mere demon.

A moment later, the self-regeneration skill completes my physical repair. I raised my sword to indicate the continuation of the battle.

“You have self-regeneration huh. Seems like it’s going to take a lot of time to kill you.”

“That’s something you can only say after you’ve cornered me. Demon.”

“What are you—!?”

Countless spider silks stretched out from the ground, restraining and binding him. I immediately activated the Eye of Stone (Improved) and releases a petrifying beam from the eye on my forehead.

“Not go—!? Aaaaaaaaaa!!!”

“You let your guard down. While we were talking, I was burrowing the threads into the ground. As for the petrification, it was a gamble, but it seems to have worked.”

The body of the shinigami is petrified. Finally, the scythe slipped from his hand and it fell to the ground.

“I wanted to capture you and ask you a question, but I couldn’t do that huh. Anyways, I think I can still get some information with my analysis skill.”

The information of the shinigami displayed in front of me shocked me even more.

【Analysis Result: Zazi: Ordered by the main god, Gohma, to eliminate the Six Key Sacred Beasts. Rarity: SL, Overall Ability: SL】

【Status】 Name: Zazi Race: Second-class Angel Magic Attributes: Fire, Light, Holy Magic: – Skills: Analysis (Intermediate), Scythe (Intermediate), Disguise (Intermediate), Stealth+ (Beginner), Danger Detection (Intermediate), Enemy Search+ (Intermediate), Limit Breakthrough (Intermediate), Awakening (Intermediate), Nullification Cancellation, Ultra-Speed Flight (Intermediate), Universal Adaptation, Intimidation (Intermediate), Leadership (Intermediate), Great Slash (Intermediate) Evolution: Conditions are not met < Evolution Condition: Analysis (Beginner), Limit Breakthrough the Limits (Special), Awakening (Special), Virtuous Spirit>

……Second-class angel? He’s not a demon?

I checked the race column many times, but there is no change in the character display. It clearly says Angel.

What the hell was I fighting? Can someone tell me?

“You can see it huh. My status.”

Speaking those words, the body of the guy who should have been petrified, cracks. Fragments spilled out, and a dazzling light leaked through the gaps. The explosive wind that came from inside blew away the stones that covered him. Gusts of wind send dust flying and it even shake the entire forest.

Something manifested in this world. I knew this instinctively.

He calmly picked up his scythe. Then, the thin metal covering the surface of the weapon peeled off, revealing a distinctive holographic pattern from underneath.

“I didn’t expect to expose myself so soon. I have to change my plans drastically then.”

“I-impossible…… you …… you’re really an angel!”

A white short-haired Caucasian male with a pair of pure white wings and a fearless face. His body is dressed in white and he is equipped with a silver armor that seems to be a work of art. He is truly an angel. The appearance as imagined is divinely beautiful in itself. There is a sacred aura around him as well. Even if I don’t like it, his image tells me that there is an imposing and noble superior here.

“By order of the Lord God, I will exterminate the sacred beasts, but before I do so, I must punish you.”

“Punish? What sin am I guilty of?”

“The sin of attacking me, a servant of God. And your greatest sin is possessing a sacred artifact. In accordance with the laws established by the Divine Clan, I will return you to the stream of samsara.”

I don’t understand it at all. The guy I thought was a demon was actually an angel and his purpose was to kill the sacred beasts. What’s more, he is saying that I have committed a sin and that he will return me to the flow of samsara.

There is so much information that I don’t really understand that my head hurts.

“Die obediently!”

“Uh! I refuse!”

The scythe swung in an instant, and I reflexively rolled on the ground to dodge it.  The large tree behind me was cut and it fell with a thud. His appearance has changed but his abilities don’t seem to have changed much.

Then I can fight.

The only thing that bothers me is his weapon. Perhaps that scythe is made of adamantite. On the other hand, what I got is the Bull King’s sword. Considering the intensity, this is a tough situation.

“Explosive Sword Dance!”

“Great Slash!”

Our skills clashed with each other. The resulting roar and shockwave shook the forest.

“Why is an angel attacking sacred beasts and humans? Does it have something to do with your appearance in Tokyo?”

“I don’t know what you are trying to say.”

“Why do you want to hide the fact that you are an angel by pretending to be a demon? What exactly are the sacred beasts? Why did I reincarnate in this world?”

“……A monkey that talks a lot huh. As expected, human beings are unnecessary.”

Between the crossed scythe and sword, I continue to question Zazi. But he doesn’t want to answer anything. He only looks at me expressionlessly, with disgust and contempt.

In order to break out of this frustrating situation, I must first defeat Zazi. I activated growth promotion and plant manipulation while we are fighting. I interfered with the surrounding vegetation. The roots of the trees begin to grow rapidly, wriggling and entwining Zazi’s arms and legs. Plant manipulation skills are originally designed to be remotely controlled in this way. Breeding is not actually its main ability.

“Huh? What is this!? Damn it!”

“It looks like you thought you had figured out what I’m capable of. Naive.”

One after another, the plants became denser and they enveloped the angel’s body. This will give me some time. I activated the Full Division skill to create another version of myself. The main body, me, hides using stealth and my clone flies into the sky.

Immediately afterwards, the plants were torn apart and he appeared.

“Did you really think you could kill me like this, you filthy human!? I’ll make you suffer to death and then plunge you into the vortex of samsara!”

Oblivious to me in stealth state lurking in front of him, he flew off, pursuing my clone. In the sky, the battle resumes again, and my clone with the Bull King’s sword slashes to the ground. In the meantime, I prepare for the biggest attack. The scorching heat moves from my abdomen to the chest and I repeatedly compress it in place. What I am about to release is the wide-area, high-power skill, Emperor Dragon’s Breath. With this, which can be called a strategic skill, he shouldn’t be able to escape unscathed.

“Eye of Stone!”

My clone casts a paralyzing eye at him. Unlike the petrification beam, it is an invisible attack. For a moment, he stops. Instantly, my clone released a purple electric light with the magic jewel.

“Gugaaaaa!?”

He screams at the scorching lightning strike. It’s a great opportunity. Now is the moment to shoot the biggest attack.

“A human is trying to kill me!? Who are you kidddding!!!”

Zazi released a glowing aura and blew away the lightning strike. The paralysis is also lifted and the target moved away from where I was aiming.

Damn! I’m almost at the limit of how much I can hold my breath. Somehow, we need to stop him from moving. That’s what I conveyed to my clone.

“Ugh!?”

The next moment, Zazi bent his body into a crook and spat out gastric juice. It is my son, Pero, who sinks his fist into Zazi’s solar plexus.

“Freya-san!”

“I understand!”

Pero falls to the ground. Behind him, there was Freya with countless spears floating in the air. The spears that were shot at high speed hit Zazi’s body like an arrow and pierces his shoulder and sides.

“Liz!”

“I know.”

Liz, who descended from directly above, dexterously twisted her body in the air and threw a series of shurikens. As it is pierced into the body of the enemy, it exploded as it may have been fused with gunpowder.

“Rival!”

“Finally my turn! Flame Burst!!”

Liz lands in the dark cloud and leaves the area. Erna appears and unleashes her magical power. An outrageously sized huge fireball hit Zazi. The explosion of flames stirred up the wind and caused black smoke to rise.

“Silva-sama!”

“Oooh! This is my thanks for cutting off my arm!”

From directly under the enemy, the sacred beast Silva burst out of the ground. A hard, huge fist struck Zazi’s charred body and a crunching sound was heard as he was launched into the sky far above.

It’s now or never. This is the last and biggest opportunity. I exhaled all my energy into the sky. The thick flash of light blows away the clouds, and after a few seconds, it causes a storm on the ground. It’s twice as powerful as the breath that the sacred beast Doran once spat out.

“Fuu……”

I exhaled and sat down on the ground. My throat is hot and I can’t get any strength into my body. Dragon breath is a powerful skill, but it’s a double-edged sword that can drain all my vitality if I get it wrong. From now on, it is better not to use it unless it is super necessary.

Suddenly, I noticed a black mass falling from the sky. It fell to ground with a thud. The wings, which were once beautiful, were in a miserable state to look at. Pink flesh was exposed from under the charred skin. And half of his body had disappeared cleanly. For the time being, I need to check whether he is alive or dead.

The heartbeat had ceased, and the white, cloudy eyes had dilated pupils. He’s dead. In Zazi’s terms, he returned to the flow of samsara.

“I took my revenge…… but the mystery has deepened.”

I lay down on the ground. In the end, I couldn’t hear what I wanted to hear. On the contrary, I was focused on winning.

There is no one who can beat the current Shinichi Tanaka. It was just plain arrogance and ignorance. There is still someone far above me. I have to pull myself together.

I just looked up at the sky, unable to soak in the afterglow of our victory.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Erna has a sullen expression and Liz is smiling. Accompanied by two contrasting figures, we were walking down the main street of the city.

“I don’t understand. Why would you go on a date with her?”

“It can’t be helped. She brought me adamantite you see. It is as promised so I can’t go back on words now.”

“But-, what about my feelings then?”

“I…… You were the one who suggested that clause for going on a date. Don’t forget that you are the one who started it.”

“Uuu…… It’s because Shinichi is so insensitive! I thought you wouldn’t notice unless I forcefully make you promise……”

I let out a big sigh as Erna drooped her head. I’m indeed insensitive. I’ll have to admit that. I’m even angry at myself for not noticing her feelings earlier. But that doesn’t mean she should be given special treatment. For just one date, Liz went underground and searched for adamantite while getting muddy all over. In order to reward her efforts and results, I cannot afford to break my promise. Perhaps Erna knows that, too.

“It’s not too late now! Just throw that adamantite! Hurry up!”

……I’d like to think so, but the reality seems to be different.

But what kind of thoughts does Liz have when she wants to go on a date? She had always said that she wanted to get married, but I just thought it was some kind of joke. But if I think about it, it’s impossible. I look young, but inside, I’m already a 56-year-old man. The middle-aged spirit that I exude should not be preferred by a young girl like Liz. Then I came up with one thing. I think she was stimulated by Erna, who she considers her rival. She couldn’t lose so she also asked me on a date. It was easy once I figured that out. In that case, let’s end the date quickly.

“I want a rich and exciting date.”

“O-okay. Let me think about it……”

It’s odd. She’s surprisingly enthusiastic about this. Moreover, I felt that I could even see the flames of spirit behind her.

Don’t tell me…. Is she really serious about  me……?

No, no, no, she’s a fifteen-year-old girl. It would be ridiculous. Perhaps it is only further fueled because of her rivalry with Erna.  I almost completely had a weird misunderstanding. This is bad, very bad.

“So, are you ready to meet the king?”

Rodman cuts the conversation casually. I quickly changed my mind as I remembered what I was supposed to do.

“I’m ready. I can go anytime.”

“Then, shall we go see the Dwarven King?”

We walked straight down the main road to the castle where King Dartan lives.

“What are you here for in the royal castle? You are not allowed to enter this place without permission.”

Two burly gatekeepers stood in front of the entrance with their spears crossed. I took out a letter from my pocket and asks them to confirm the sender.

“This is…… It seems to be from His Majesty’s friend, Dhal-sama. Then we will take responsibility for delivering this letter to His Majesty.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. The letter is supposed to be handed over directly by me to His Majesty.”

“But we can’t let someone who we don’t know the identity t—”

“Let him through.”

It was the man who came out of the royal castle who spoke. His embellished armor and brown cloak signaled his high status at a glance, and the giant axe he carried showed that he was a man of great stature.

Joy welled up when I saw that familiar face.

“General Grill! It’s been a long time!”

“Tanaka-dono seems to be in good spirits.”

We walk up to each other and shake hands. I haven’t seen him since the war against the Empire.

“Please pardon me. I didn’t know you are an acquaintance of His Excellency.”

“You idiot. This man is a hero who served as the commander-in-chief of the Allied forces. If you’re a soldier of Dartan, you probably heard of that battle.”

“I didn’t expect it to be that human who is rumored to be on a par with the Beast King! Please forgive me for my rudeness!”

The gatekeeper kneels on the ground and begs for forgiveness. What kind of rumors are circulating here? I’m a bit scared to know.

“I don’t want to talk to you in a place like this. Let’s go inside first and tell me what you need.”

“I’ll gratefully take that offer.”

Led by the general, we walk into the castle. We were led to a room that looked like a waiting room, then each of us sat down on the sofa.

“So, why don’t you tell me why you got here?”

“I have only one request. I would like to borrow the dwarf’s wisdom and skill in making great treasure.”

“…… Are you saying that you want to go to the basement of the royal castle?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I wonder if I can ask you a favor for that? Of course, I’ll pay for it.”

The general, leaning against the backrest, crosses his arms and wrinkles his brows. From the atmosphere, it can be seen that entry there is quite difficult.

“This is a matter that I can’t decide on my own. Hey, someone go call His Majesty.”

He called out to the soldiers who were outside the room.

In a normal kingdom, it’s impossible to casually invite the king to a room. I guess that rule doesn’t really apply here. Soon after, Dodol, the King of Dartan appears. He dropped his heavy hips onto the sofa and the legs of the chair creaked.

“It’s been a long time. I’ve heard about your performance against the Empire.”

“It’s thanks to Dartan as well. I am very grateful for your help. Then, let me get straight to the point. I’m wondering if you can lend me the wisdom of the dwarves, which is said to be in the basement of the castle? To that end, I’ve also kept a letter from Dhal.”

After receiving the letter, the king confirms its contents. After reading it, his brows furrowed.

“I understand that you need the treasure, and you need the wisdom of the dwarves to do so. But what will you do with it? Who do you want to fight against?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh-, I see. You don’t understand why the Five Great Treasures were created in the first place. Why do you think they have to create such extraordinary weapon? Think of what they have to defeat. Why took all effort to create them.”

Now that he mentioned it, it is certainly true. The great treasures are very powerful weapons to be used just to fight against powerful magical beasts. Compared to others, their performance is too outstanding. If so, it is inconceivable that there was a suitable enemy. At that time, there were circumstances in which it had to be built.

“Do you know about the Human-Demon War?”

“No, not the details…… please tell me about it.”

“To put it simply, it’s a huge war between demons and humans. It seems to have been a battle that took place during the elven reign. The number of people who died is said to be in the hundreds or tens of millions.”

“I can’t imagine that. Then, are you saying that it is the reason why the great treasures were made?”

“That’s right. The Five Great Treasures were born in this world for the purpose of resisting the demons. It is also a decisive weapon to fight against the great Demon Lord.”

Demon lord…… It is understandable that it means the king of demons.

I don’t really feel it though. But, why does he tell this story? I want to know the true meaning why he’s telling it to me now.

“It is said that the Demon Lord who led the demons was a monster that could not be matched even if the six races worked together. The demons want to exterminate all sacred beasts. Their target are the sacred beasts of this world. It seems that by killing all the six key sacred beasts, they could exterminate mankind.”

“Are those six sacred beasts special?”

“I can’t say they are special. Those sacred beasts also protects the world and its race. Having said that, I don’t know much about them either. Anyway, the six races joined forces early on to resist the demons. Of course, there are sacred beasts that have been killed, but only the six key sacred beasts have been protected.”

Six key sacred beasts huh. There is no doubt that among them is the sacred tree of Sanargia and Silva of dartan. I know from experience how important they are to their kingdom and race. I don’t know how they came to be though. There are still many mysteries in this world after all.

“I have one question, the Demon Lord…… Where did the demons come from?”

“One day, they just came out of nowhere and they attacked us. It seems that at that time, there’s no six kingdom like now. There were countless small kingdom and most of them were destroyed.”

Hmmm, I’m curious about the source of the demons. The vampire I had defeated in the past was also stubbornly trying to keep his origin a secret. In the end, I couldn’t help but force him to speak, but maybe the information was far more important than I thought so I wasn’t able to know.

Dodol continued talking.

“That’s right. The six races successfully defeated the Demon Lord, and the Great War ended with the victory of the humans. After that, the great treasures that had been used were sealed and kept by the various races.”

“Wait, there’s only five treasures now. There were six then, right?”

“You noticed a good point. Yes, there was actually a sixth piece of great treasure. That said, it didn’t have the power of the other five, and it wasn’t like it was choosing a wielder.”

When I heard the words, something crossed my mind. I’ve always wondered. How did the kingdom have such technology? Now it’s clear, it had been given by the dwarves as the sixth treasure.

“…… Is it the man-made skeleton?”

“Oh, you know of it huh. Yes, it was our ancestor, the Progenitor Dwarves, who gave the artificial skeleton as a weapon to the helpless humans.”

It finally connected. Humans were given a sixth treasure, the Artificial Skeleton, and after the war, they turned their fangs on other races. Then came the era of human rule.

“We hate the royalty of the Logas Kingdom because they are the descendants of those who have returned the favor with vengeance. Moreover, they still feel like they’re rulers and look down on us. That’s why we dwarves learned. Don’t give anything to humans.”

“So you want me to give up creating a great treasure?”

“Yeah. In order to avoid repeating the same mistake, I can’t allow you to make a great treasure.”

I see. Dodol is a kind man. He went out of his way to explain from the beginning when he could have simply said no. That’s so that I can properly give up after understanding their feelings. I now understand the meaning of his question.

“Sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just can’t bear it when I think of what will happen after your death.”

“Because if the owner changes, the way it is used will change, is that right?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Well, if a Demon Lord showed up, things would probably be different, but that’s not the case right now. We now live in a peaceful world you see.”

“That’s right, I understand. I’m giving up on creating a great tre—”

The door of the room is thrown open with a bang. One of the knights who entered the room quickly knelt before the king.

“I’m here to report. The Sacred Beast, Silva-sama, has been seriously injured by an unknown person!”

“Whaaaat?! Bring out the horse! We’re heading there right away!”

The king gets up and runs out of the room. I followed them out of the castle and saw Dodol jumping on his horse.

“Maybe I can help in some way. Where should I go?!”

“It’s the Eastern Forest. Silva-sama is said to have fallen there!”

King Dodol departed with his knights. Each of us shifts to a flying form in order to head to the eastern forest.

“Rodman should stay here. In case we don’t return, I want you to go back to the inn first.”

“Understood. Be careful.”

I waved lightly to Rodman and General Grill before soaring into the sky. We’re in a hurry this time so I had Freya fly with Pero in her arms. As we traveled east from the city, we began to see a large forest. In the center of it, the trees have been knocked down and there are traces of battle.

When we went further east, we saw a huge person-like object falling.

It’s Silva, the sacred beast of Dartan. It is about 50 meters tall. The fiery vermilion hair is characteristic, and the toned body has an overwhelming presence. Yet it also wore a sacred air. However, the left arm of such a giant monkey is missing from the shoulder and it can be seen lying on the ground. Countless wounds were left on the body, and it appeared to be bleeding profusely.

“It’s terrible…… Who would do something like this….?”

“We’ll keep our eyes on the surrounding area. Erna and Pero should do the healing with magic. The enemy may still be nearby.”

“Yes. We’ll do everything we can.”

Both Erna and Pero went to the sacred beast. We also surround Silva and stand guard.

“Uggh. It’s heavy!”

“Hey, bring it here, hurry! We need to stick it together quickly!”

On the ground, Pero was frantically carrying the severed arm of the Sacred Beast. It’s like he is laboriously dragging a few tons of chunks of meat and is gradually bringing them closer to the main body.

What caught my attention was the cross-section of the arm. The flesh and bones are neatly cut as if they had been sliced. At the very least, it can be seen that the enemy was in possession of a knife. Or something close to it.

“I’m doing it! Please support it properly!”

“Hurry up, I can’t lift it all the way.”

Shivering, Pero places his arm on the cut part of the sacred beast. Then, Erna activated a water-type healing spell.

“Aquarius Recovery!”

The torrent of light emitted from the staff envelops the sacred beast and it quickly heals its arms and wounds. Gradually, the pale face, which had been distorted by pain, changed to a serene one.

“Little ones…… Thank you.”

Silva muttered. As expected, it also seems to understand human language, just like other sacred beasts. Erna flies to the tip of its nose and asks.

“What happened? I didn’t expect a sacred beast like you to be hurt like this.”

“I was suddenly attacked by a demon I had never seen before. Although I managed to resist, as you can see, it was still like this.”

“Demon……? It’s not a magical beast?”

“It spoke a distinct human language. It also knew that I was the Sacred Beast Silva so he attacked me.”

Hmm, is it a demon that targets the sacred beast?

Maybe there are descendants from the remnants of the Human-Demon War. But Silva said it was a monster he had never seen before. That part gets me stuck.

Jiriririri!!

An alarm sounded in my brain. The danger prediction skill was activated. I draw my sword and check the surroundings with the enemy search(+) skill. A red light spot that seemed to be an enemy was coming towards us at a breakneck speed.

“It’s the enemy! Everyone, be on alert!”

At the same time as the urging alarm, my sword crossed against the enemy’s scythe and sparks flew.

“Gugegege”

A familiar voice.

It’s also a familiar figure!

The enemy wore a black cloth covering the body and only a pair of yellow eyes peek out of the gap on the cloth. A hand with green skin extended from the cloth and is holding a large sickle. It was floating in the air, like a small shinigami.

The one who killed me and Shigeru-san was laughing right in front of me!

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“How about this? Isn’t it cute?”

“It’s not bad. I think it looks good on you.”

“You’re saying the same thing! Are you really looking at me properly!?”

Erna puffs out her cheeks and gets angry. Even if she said that, there is really no other way to say it. To be honest, she is a beautiful woman and she looks good no matter what she wears. That’s why I could only say the same line again and again.

After leaving the brewery, we came to the clothing store. Many of the items in this store are elaborately designed, and the one she is currently trying on is a long-sleeved front-opened gown that resemble the traditional Moroccan kaftan.

“Of course I did. But the usual outfits are more like you so I like it better.”

“Does that mean it’s better for me not to dress up? As expected, Shinichi doesn’t understand a woman’s feeling!”

“That’s not what I meant….…”

“You don’t understand. What I want to ask you is not about fashion, but about how Shinichi feels when looking at me now. You should check the atmosphere and compliment me more on how I’m different from usual!”

She’s asking for an impossible task. I wonder why women are so particular about how they dress. From my point of view, I think it’s much more efficient to buy the same clothes and wear them around.

For now, I’ll rack my brain for words that seem to satisfy Erna.

“You’re like a flower blooming in a dreamy land.”

“Huh? What did you say??”

“Your beauty is beyond the reach of all the gold of the world, and one day, people will bow down to Erna Frederia and praise her beauty for a thousand years. Along with the legend that a great mage has descended.”

“A thousand years…… Legendary beauty……”

“To a great mage, clothes are just clothes. It is nothing more than a way to hide your ultimate beauty. Your brilliance is too dazzling for others. Now is the time to keep it concealed.”

“Uhe~uhehehe. Being too beautiful is a sin, isn’t it? If I show off my charm unnecessarily, the world will be a mess. I get it. It’s best to dress in the usual plain style.”

Erna hastily began to change into her original outfit. I complimented her appropriately and she seemed to be in a good mood. Her face is completely relaxed.

I was saved by her simple personality. After that, when we left the store, Erna’s carefree look did not return to normal for a while.

　◇◇◇

“So, what are we going to do now?”

“Hmm…… It’s time for lunch. It’s my long-awaited time. I want to taste the specialties that I couldn’t eat last time.”

Me and Erna went to a suitable restaurant and take a seat. When I opened the menu, I saw an unfamiliar dish name. I ordered the “rock mole steak” from the waiter. Erna ordered a “honey-filled toast and salad.”

“What is a rock mole?”

“It’s a large mole that lives only in Dartan and likes to nest in solid bedrock. Dwarves seem to like to eat it.”

While talking like this, our food is brought to the table. The chunks of meat have aromatic smell and it even made a sizzling noise on the iron plate. There was little fat and it seemed to be chewy. In contrast, Erna’s toast is topped with sweet golden honey, and the bowl is heaped with leafy vegetables.

“Can you get honey around here?”

“Yes. It is a very sweet nectar that is excellent in nourishment, and I hope you will enjoy it in the memory of Dartan.”

The female waiter smiles after saying that and then she left us alone. When people say things like that, I became curious about the taste. So, I decided to share the food with Erna.

“Mole meat has a peculiar taste. It’s a bit tough. But if anything, it’s delicious.”

“Hoho~, this honey is delicious. It has a strong sweet taste and a good flavor.”

“Hey, I said just a little bit. I’m going to run out of food!”

“Wait, wait. Just a little bit more.”

“No! This is mine! Eat your steak!”

The plate with honey toast on it was forcibly taken away from me. I eat my steak while thinking it’s a pity. This is also pretty good though. The drink after is even better.

“…..But I was imagining a more romantic date.”

“Hn? What’s the matter all of a sudden?”

“I mean…… this won’t be any different from usual.”

“Now that you’ve mentioned it, I guess so….”

There is nothing special about this. But isn’t that what dating is all about? I recognized that there is meaning with just the two of us spending time alone, but for Erna, it seems to be sublimated into something special. Speaking of which, my wife who broke up with me said the same thing. She said that I don’t know what a date should be.

“You’re looking for something extraordinary huh.”

“Yes! I want a heart-pounding moment. I want you to make me feel that.”

……She asked for another difficult task. What does she mean by heart-pounding anyway? It’s too abstract to understand.

“I get it! I’ll take you to that extraordinary place once we’re done eating.”

“For real? If it’s not a big deal, you’ll have to give the adamantite back!”

“It’s fine for you to have high expectation. I’m a man who does what I say.”

I said so, taking a sip of my drink.

　◇◇◇

After eating, we came to a meadow not far from the city. This is to lead Erna to a certain place from here on.

“An empty meadow? Well, the flowers in bloom are very beautiful though.”

“This is not the place where I want to take you to.”

“Then where?”

I grinned and pointed up. Then Erna looked up at the blue sky with a stunned face. I placed my hands around her waist and then I quickly spread the large wings on my back. In the next moment, we moved away from the ground with tremendous force. I flied far into the sky.

“Ueeeeeeeeeee!?”

“We’re still going up. Don’t bite your tongue.”

I went beyond the sea of drifting clouds and even went higher. The temperature drops, and the breath we exhale turned white. Not yet. It’s still on top. Then, the sky gradually turns into dark blue and the land below becomes more rounded as it recedes into the distance. We reached about 50 kilometers in the air. The temperature also rose sharply from before. Erna is breathing fine though. But as expected, if we go out into the outer atmosphere, we will die. This area is still a survivable area. I’m impressed that I’ve become a ridiculous monster.

“Is this the world we live in?”

“Yes, this planet is where we live.”

It’s a blue shining star. It resembled Earth, but there was a ring around it. Far beyond, the sun continues to shine. This is the true state of the world. It is a sight that can never be seen on the ground. Erna was silent on the size and beauty of the world.

In the same way, I am also taken aback by the scenery I see for the first time. In the previous life, if you’re not an astronaut, you wouldn’t be able to adore the planet you live. This is one of those things that makes me glad that I was reincarnated in another world.

“We’re so small, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, if you look at it from above. Hey, look, I can see the World Tree of Sanargia.”

“It’s true. The Sacred Tree is also so small.”

She was completely obsessed with the gigantic gem that was called the planet. On the other hand, I look up at the universe and is excited. Countless stars are so close to the big moon that they are within reach. Perhaps the brilliance of Earth is included in it.

“…… Hey, what’s that?”

Suddenly, Erna points to a phenomenon. A green light seemed to ripple slightly around the star.

Don’t tell me….

I fly even higher. Then, I hit an invisible wall.

“Are you okay!?”

“Yes. I just hit my face a little bit.”

I reach for the place where I hit my face. There was indeed an invisible wall there.

What’s this? Barrier? Is this planet blocked?

Questions run through my mind, but I can’t get answers.

“It’s time to go back. It’s too cold here.”

“……You’re right. Let’s go~”

I descend at once with her in my arms. From there, it’s skydiving. The two of us made a free-fall far above the sky.

“I’ve never done anything like this before! It feels ama~zing!! Yahoo~o!!”

“Me too! What a shame, I should have experienced it in my previous life!”

We enjoyed this moment together, holding hands and twirling around, or swimming in the air. Well, I’ve been flying so much that I now gotten tired of it. But I haven’t had much experience of falling. It’s a surprisingly addictive feeling. When we approached the ground, I spread my wings and made a sudden brake. Both Erna and I slipped and landed in a meadow near the city.

“Aah, it was fun! My heart is pounding in excitement!”

“I don’t really get what you’re talking about, but I’m glad you’re satisfied. I had fun t―”

I felt a soft touch on my lips. Then Erna’s face moves away from mine, leaving a sweet scent in the air. Her cheeks were dyed pink, and she stared at me with moist eyes.

“I love you Shinichi. I want to be with you forever.”

“……..…”

“But I know there’s someone in Shinichi’s heart and I don’t know who. I’m going to wait until you turn around.”

“Erna……”

“No matter what your past is, I’ll accept it. So, tell me all about it one day.”

Receiving such a strong gaze, I nodded, albeit slightly. I didn’t notice it. I didn’t know that Erna had a liking for such a man like me. I felt confused, but I was happy and scared at the same time. She is right, I still have my wife and child in my heart. The two people, who were more important than anything else, are living inside me with vivid memories.

“……I won’t tell you to wait. But I’m going to do my best.”

“Un.”

Erna smiled meekly as she was surrounded by flowers.

　◇◇◇

“Oiii! You’re late!”

In a corner of the city dyed in the setting sun, Rodman, who looks tired of waiting, waves his hand at us. Me and Erna walked up to him, keeping a delicate distance.

“I’m sorry. We were talking about a lot of things.”

“Heh~, I wonder if there was any progress.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You can tell by the look on Erna’s face.”

Erna’s face was eerily smirking. Perhaps she thinks she had her usual expression, but the corners of her mouth naturally rise up, creating a smirk on her face. No wonder Rodman guesses things up.

“Oh, I’m not going to ask you anything nonsense. The relationship between a man and a woman is not something that other people should meddle with.”

“Aren’t you misunderstanding something? Erna is—”

“Fine, fine. Rather than that, why don’t we have a drink while we wait for the other three?”

“……Sigh. Okay, there’s no other choice so let’s start first.”

When we entered the tavern, we were greeted by a warm and humid air. There was the sound of dwarves and beastmen laughing and the smell of alcohol mixed with various dishes. We sit by the window and then we ordered drinks from the waiter.

“Cheers then!”

I lightly raise my mug in time with Rodman’s voice. I drink the liquor in one gulp. There were so many things going on that I felt like getting drunk today. It’s about the wall that covers the planet and about Erna.

“Ah, as expected, you’ve already started!”

Pero and the others came inside the tavern. The three of them are dirty, especially Liz, who is muddy and badly dressed.

“I’ll give you some replacement clothes so change your clothes first.”

“Okay, I’m going to the bathroom.”

Liz replies quickly as she took the change of black clothes. Still, it’s strange. She was usually expressionless, but at this moment, she was smiling. I asked Pero and Freya, who had finished ordering from the waiter, about the situation.

“Where have you been?”

“We went in a mine ruin. There is a closed place near the city.”

“A closed mine? Why would you go to such a place?”

“Oh, about that, I think that it is better to hear it from Liz-san.”

After getting dressed, Liz sits down and eats a sausage with a fork. I took her dirty clothes and asked her why she had gone to the mine.

“I had a hard time finding this.”

She rummaged through her backpack and found a lump of metal the size of a softball. On its surface, a distinctive holographic pattern stands out clearly. It’s adamantite. Intuitively, I thought so.

“T-that’s a lie, right!? Did you really find it?”

“It’s true. I got it with tenacity and guts.”

“No, no. I won’t allow that! I’m going to wipe it out right now!”

“It’s foolish to turn away from the facts. I’ve got the right to date.”

Grabbing the adamantite, Liz runs out of the pub. Erna followed with her staff. The two of them went on a rampage, flipping the table and pushing the customers away as they went out. The only saving grace is that Erna doesn’t shoot magic, but it’s still a terrible thing to look at.

“You’re a nuisance! Shinichi and I are the ones who’s going to be together!”

“Don’t make me laugh. Oniichan and I are connected by the threads of fate. A woman with long ears should be united with a man with long ears.”

“Ha! Then I’ll tell you, Shinichi isn’t interested in a woman without boobs!”

“What a joke! Oniichan is looking at my butt a lot. You had accumulated so much fat in your chest that your brain has turned in fat too!”

“I’ll definitely blow you up!!”

Erna snapped.

I felt that it was bad, so I hurriedly paralyzed them. I had Pero and Freya retrieve the two who have fallen down, while I sit down with the shopkeeper and the customers. I paid for the repairs on the tables and other things. I also promised to pay for all the food and drinks of the guests who were caused such inconvenience. As a result, both the restaurant and the customers forgave me, but the awkwardness caused us to eat quietly as if it were a wake.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Mountains with exposed rock surfaces. They towered like giants supporting the world, and the sunlight cast a rainbow over the waterfalls pouring down from the mountaintops. Occasionally, a griffon or an unfamiliar bird would fly nearby, but if they saw us, they would panic, circle around and run away. They were scared of the black griffon. But among them, there was also some griffon who were not wary of us.

“A few of them keep following us. They chirp so noisily.”

“Hmmm…. Oh-, I get it. It’s probably a courtship call.”

Liz looks annoyed as she looks at the griffons behind her. It has been following us ever since we entered the territory of the Dartan Kingdom. It’s a nuisance for her, who enjoys sleeping.

“You can summon a new one.”

“Are you telling me to switch to another homeless griffon? Hmmm, you’re right. In this case, it can’t be helped.”

We descended to the ground and then I summon two new ones. When I ordered the griffons Pero and Rodman had been riding to “live freely”, they rubbed their heads against my face before taking off into the sky. Even though they are my familiar, they also have the right to have offspring. That’s why I have to let them go at some point. I felt lonely, but at the same time, I felt somewhat relieved when I thought that my child had left the nest.

“Homeless griffons are very intimidating. I think they may have been attractive to the female birds around here.”

“I think so too. If possible, I want them to live happily.”

We set off again and headed for Dartan. Then, after a few hours of flying, something that looked like a city began to appear on the horizon.

“It’s been a long while, Perun.”

“Mmm, the sound and smoke of blacksmithing are still rising.”

“Ah! Right. I have to hide the fact that I’m an elf.”

Erna used light magic camouflage to cover her body with an illusion of her being a human. After the illusion took effect, she doesn’t have long ears anymore, which is kind of strange.

We landed not far from the city and then I ordered the two griffons to go free until they were summoned.

“As expected from the capital of a great kingdom. It is incomparably bigger than the Royal Capital.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I wonder what kind of things they sell.”

“It’s too hot! I’m against staying in that city.”

Freya and Pero seem to be having a good time looking out over the city. Liz complains about the ping-pong-clang sound the blacksmiths were making during their work.

“Woah, this is the city that our ancestors built. It’s so moving to see it with my own eyes.”

Rodman kneels on the ground and prays. If I recall correctly, I think he said he was of dwarven blood. When I think of it as the hometown of my distant ancestors, there is indeed something deeply moving about the place.

“My plan is to stay for about a week. There will be plenty of time to sight see here then.”

“I feel like I’ll have to stay here for a month. This is like a sacred place that blacksmiths from all over the world admire. There’s so much to gain.”

I see. He intends to use this as an opportunity to expand his knowledge as a blacksmith. I admire his greedy ambition.

“Alright. Let’s all have our own time today. I also have to prepare to meet the king.”

“I’ll appreciate that. You decide on a meeting place and I’ll be there by evening.”

“Okay. Then, let’s meet at a tavern in the center of the city.”

After a short meeting, we head to the city. After that, we passed through the entrance without any problems, and we all stepped inside the Rock Capital, Perun.

　◇◇◇

“Why is it only Rival? Unfair!”

“If you’re feeling frustrated, you should find adamantite too. Ohohoho~”

“Some nerve! I’ll definitely find it.”

In one of the rooms at the inn where we checked in, there were sparks flying between Erna and Liz. I really don’t get it. I am just about to go on a date, which is what I promised Erna.

Liz, who was provoked, seemed to be quietly angry and she looked at us with her eyes squinted.

“We’re going sightseeing. Liz-san is going with us too.”

“I’m not going to give up. I’m going to get the right to ask for a date.”

She was dragged out of the room by both Pero and Freya.

Hmmm, I wonder if dating is that good.

It feels like I missed something.

“Now that there’s no one in the way, let’s go~”

“Oh- right. Then, I’ll be in your care today.”

“Yeah. We’re going to make it a memorable date.”

We left the inn and started walking. Although the kingdom of Dartan has blacksmithing as its main industry, it is still the capital where the king lives so it is quite lively. When we arrived at the commercial district, we find a number of fashionable shops. Me and Erna decided to go into what seemed to be a general store for the time being.

The interior of the store was based on white, and the products were also available in white and bright colors. Perhaps because of this, most of the customers I saw are women. While feeling a slight nervousness, I start selecting some products.

“This is a cute plant pot. It might be a good idea to grow flowers in it.”

“Hmm, gardening huh. Not bad. They seem to be selling seeds too. Why don’t you try growing them?”

I decided to ask the owner of the general store what kind of seeds they have. A middle-aged woman about 150 centimeters tall graciously answered my question.

“I recommend the rose variety. They have small, beautiful flowers and their scent are captivating.”

“What else?”

“Maybe daisy or petunia. They also have beautiful little flowers. I also recommend Cosmos.”

“By the way, what is the ratio of soil? How much humus and gravel should be mixed in?”

“Blending several types of soil to match the flowers is the most basic of the basics, but it’s rare for a man to know this. You’re well informed, young man.”

I started talking about flowers with the shopkeeper, and before I knew it, we were chatting for nearly half an hour. Finally, I noticed that a grumpy Erna is waiting for me on the side with her arms crossed.

“Uh-, which flower do you prefer Erna? I’ll buy it for you.”

“……Sigh. Nevermind. Then, give me this magic carousel.”

Magic carousels are a type of so-called miniature roses. It is a plant of the rose family that is relatively suitable for potted plants. However, it is also a flower that is difficult to grow and is said to be for advanced planters.

“It’s quite difficult to grow, but can you do it? It looks like this is your first time gardening…”

“It’s okay. I have an environment that will never let it wither.”

“?”

The shopkeeper tilted her head in confusion and thinks about something. She must be thinking about the meaning of Erna’s words. Of course, there’s no way she’ll get it. The soil on the dungeon could easily grow any vegetation. Eventually, Erna bought a plant pot and plant seeds.

We then decided to head to the next store.

“Do I really have to do it?”

“Of course! This is what dates are all about. If you don’t want to, give my adamantite back.”

Feeling embarrassed, I hold hands with Erna. The small, slender hands were soft and felt good.

“Shinichi’s hand and mine are at last…… Mufufu~”

Erna smiles creepily as she looks at our linked hands. If this makes her happy, then I’ll just go with it. However, it is limited to a place where it is somewhat private. This time, she decided to enter a certain store. The shop is crammed with carved wooden figurines and furniture. Apparently, this is a store that specializes in interior design.

A dwarven male shopkeeper greets us while rubbing his hands together. Suddenly, a certain figurine caught my eye.

“Shopkeeper, this is……?”

“This is Jilva-sama. The sacred beast of this kingdom.”

It was a wood carving of a monkey. With thick arms and legs, and a fearless face, it looks like a monkey, but it also looks like a gorilla. Yet, the rough hair that covered its whole body expressed strength. It is a figure worthy of a beast that protects a kingdom.

“Is that Jilva you are talking about around here?”

“Who knows? He’s free-spirited and I don’t think anyone knows where he is. Sometimes he comes to see what’s going on in the City, sometimes he’s fishing in the river, sometimes he’s taking a nap at the top of the mountain. There is no fixed place.”

That’s exactly what a monkey is. It seems like it appears at its own pace, like the death god.

Then Erna brought a figurine.

“Hey look, don’t you think this is cute?”

“……..…”

It is a bipedal pig with a wine glass in one hand and it got a fearless smile on the face.

Is this cute? She’s kidding, right?

Is there something wrong with my sense of art? Or is Erna just weird?

As expected, there are too many things that I can’t understand about women.

“I’ll get this figurine of the sacred beast.”

“Thank you for your purchase, and the young lady—.”

“Not buying.”

I didn’t buy the pig figurine chosen by Erna. This judgment must be correct.

She was frustrated and quipped, “Shinichi doesn’t understand this wonderful sense.”

After leaving the store, the next step is to head to the sake brewery. Dwarves are notoriously fond of drinking. Naturally, there are alcohol breweries everywhere in the city, and I can see countless alcohol breweries. When we entered a random shop, I saw a few dwarves with red faces chatting.

“So, that human single-handedly slew five generals. Or maybe it was four. Anyway, that guy is amazing. Even General Gril couldn’t fight back.”

“Is that for real? You must have mistaken him for the Beast King.”

“It’s not a lie! There is a human in the kingdom who look like a demon! I’m the one who went to war, so I won’t be mistaken!”

A man who appeared to be a soldier seemed to be telling the other dwarves about the war. We pass by them to meet the shopkeeper.

“There’s no way that humans, the most powerless of the six races, could have led the Allied Forces. You must have been forced to hold onto money and say things like that. It’s something a cunning kingdom would do.”

“No! I saw it with my own eyes! That’s right, someone just like that guy over there—”

The man points vigorously at me and then his eyes widens. He must have remembered my face. His hands trembled slightly.

“What that person said is true. I am the man who led the Allied Forces. I’m Shinichi Tanaka.”

I activated the Crushing Skill, which is the highest level of intimidation. The dwarves fell to the floor in a cold sweat, unable to breathe as the pressure of my presence weighed on their entire bodies. As expected from a determined dwarf. A standard human would have fainted by now.

As soon as I stopped the skill, they all run out of the store at once.

“You shouldn’t have scared them.”

“But now that man will no longer be called a liar.”

Well, this is just a bit of a whim. I just happened to hear the story and thought I’d tell them the truth. When I went to the back of the store, I found the owner sitting on the floor. Moreover, he is trembling while holding a bottle of liquor. It seems that he was barely within the sphere of influence of the Crushing Skill.

“Y-you, please don’t let that horrible presence out in the store. Thanks to that, I fall on my hips.”

“I’m sorry, my bad. Let me help you out.”

I lend my shoulder to the shopkeeper and let him sit on a chair. When I looked closely, the bottle he was holding was a dwarf killer.

“I would like to buy this liqour, but would it be possible for me to get the whole barrel?”

“I don’t mind…… but we specialize in high-strength liquor. I think it’s too tough for you humans.”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s our dwarven friends who’ll drink it, not us.”

“In that case, it’s fine. Wait a minute. I’ll prepare it right away.”

The shopkeeper had a young clerk help him prepare ten barrels of Dwarf Killer. I bought them with gold coins and stored them all inside the bangle. This secured the tribute to King Dartan.

“Well, now that we’ve finished Shinichi’s errands, let’s continue our date.”

“Oh-,right. Let’s go then.”

After thanking the owner, we left the brewery.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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