Book 14 Chapter 42
Episode 45
Flesh Collection, Appearance of Friede, the Priestess of the Fire Dragon (2)
"Monster appearances have become frequent in this vicinity."
Simon, who had been to the city, said.
"Even though a subjugation team was formed, only the number of missing persons increased. In that case, there's only one guy. The monster tamer, Zola."
Simon, being an erotic artist, had many connections in the underworld. In short, he was unrivaled in obtaining information.
"Zola?"
"He was originally a madman called a beast tamer. I've talked to him before; he apparently got tired of hunting beasts and started hunting people? Even the guards were astounded."
"!"
"But thanks to the flesh, he became able to handle monsters, and now he's called the monster tamer in the underworld."
"I don't know if I can trust him. Isn't he leading us into a trap?"
"I only drew erotic art; I was a pure soul who had no connection with such cruel and atrocious fellows from the beginning!"
"Then let's set off immediately."
The mountains and rivers in the central part of the Holy Human Empire were clear.
The green and water colors were distinct, and the rustling sounds of the forest and water were also clear as the wind brushed past.
As the mountains receded, the horizon opened wide, and within it, rivers swelled full, making the lands vast and fertile.
"The scenery is completely different from the north."
I, traversing that landscape, was riding in the back compartment of an ox cart.
Although it was full of rice straw, my build was small like a child's, so three people could sit with me in the middle.
Each time I turned a page of the grimoire, as if the wind's texture changed, the deep scent of the sun infused in the rice straw stimulated my nostrils.
"The central part of the Empire is famous as the richest and most beautiful land on the Akrad Continent. Do you know its nickname? It's the Continent's Flower Garden!"
Lista explained in an excited (I don't know why she was excited) tone.
"Flower Garden? So that's why."
Large and small tributaries flowing towards the Eleonor River opened up a vast plain, and farmlands were abundant between the waters.
A scene quite different from the North, where it snows all year round, farming alone cannot sustain, and hunting and gathering are combined.
More than anything, it wasn't just crops being harvested. Many people were picking flowers that colored the plains in five hues or digging them up by the root and putting them into baskets.
"Fresh flowers, artificial flowers, taxidermy… It's safe to say that 60% of the continent's flower business has its headquarters in this central region. There are so many pretty flowers, aren't there?"
"Kyut!"
"See! Even Sbal thinks they're pretty!"
The beauty of those flowers felt diminished in front of Lista, who was innocently chattering with Sbal, tucking her water-colored hair behind her ear.
I thought that, but didn't say it. The strongest never carelessly state their impressions. Because I am [the strongest].
Simon, the erotic artist, seemed to think the same, as he had been drawing a landscape with a brush on drawing paper since earlier. Even a quick glance showed his skill was quite outstanding.
"Sir, you seem quite skilled?"
I pride myself on having basic drawing skills due to my study of magic circles and geometry. Even by those evaluation standards, Simon draws well.
"Of course. Who do you take Sir Simon, the world's best erotic artist, for?"
"Couldn't you have made a living with such drawings without necessarily drawing erotic art or whatever? Then you wouldn't have become a criminal."
At that, Simon put down his brush and gave a bitter smile.
"If I could have been the best in my desired field like you guys, I would have. But art doesn't work that way. The gods are truly unfair."
"Wasn't it a lack of effort and perseverance?"
"Sigh, what would a young master born with everything, like you, know? You'll never understand common folks like us."
Common folks?
For a moment, in the silence, only the creaking sound of the ox cart's wheels moving along the field path could be heard.
After getting off the ox cart and walking for a long time, we finally arrived at a forest path.
"This is it."
As the vegetation became more diverse, the forest also grew dense, and I didn't want to go into that place where not a single ray of sunlight shone.
"Hmm~ It looks suspicious at first glance."
Lista said, leading the way.
As a magpie moved to perch on a branch of an old tree and cawed, the ominous aura intensified.
"I… won't go."
"What's wrong, Rin?"
"Bugs…"
"Bugs?"
"Seems like there will be a lot of bugs."
I… hated bugs ever since I was little. Bugs in the north are at least small because their growth isn't fully achieved due to the cold, but I don't know why the bugs here are so big.
Then Simon chuckled.
"Oh? Oh my? You call yourself the strongest magician, yet you're afraid of mere bugs? A passing bug would laugh at that!"
"Shut up. This is instinctive disgust, okay? By nature, [the strongest] hate bugs."
"[Die, you bug-like scoundrel]" is also one of the bucket list lines I must shout when I become the strongest magician.
"You're going to send only this delicate and frail me, and this pervert, into that gloomy place? That's too much! I'm disappointed in Rin."
Amidst their mockery, I, who ultimately couldn't abandon my pride as the strongest, moved my steps.
"This feels bad. It smells like a tomb, too."
"Hmm, I smell monsters. Shirpen is reacting too."
Lista said, looking around. The holy sword Shirpen on her back subtly emanated a sword light. Simon nodded.
"They said Zola is in the deepest part of this place. Everyone be careful."
"Couldn't we just sweep everything away with area-of-effect magic from here?"
"What are you talking about, you idiot! We must cherish nature! It's not nature that's bad, but that Zola guy!"
Simon suddenly shouted urgently.
It was strange. I never imagined Simon would be such a nature-loving man. Lista nodded.
"Yes, perhaps the monsters are also innocent and just being deceived by that bad Zola. Couldn't we persuade them well?"
"?"
"Sir, how do you communicate with monsters, exactly?"
Lista confidently extended her hand.
Where that finger pointed…
There was a being that would surely rank high if there were a [Ranking of the Most Useless Beings in the World].
"Gyung?"
At that moment, rustling sounds were heard from various thickets that were not just damp, but soggy.
And soon, devils appeared.
Goblins, the lowest class of monsters… though their intelligence is low, they can form stone age civilizations and use poisoned weapons to inflict considerable damage on humans; they are harmful pests.
"Hmph, shall I go goblin hunting for the first time in a while? I wonder if the goblins in the central region are a bit different from those in the north."
In the north, there are Snow Goblins. Unlike these guys whose camouflage is green, they are white, but they are the same species. They were also harmful pests, so they made good punching bags for my magic in my childhood.
As a magic circle was being woven on my palm, something blocked my way. It was Sbal.
"Gyung, Gyugyung, Gyugyugyung!"
"What? You're going to try to persuade them? Cut the crap and move aside, you idiot."
"Gyung!"
Sbal ignored my command, snorted, and advanced towards the goblins. Specifically, towards the one among the goblins with superior armament… wearing wooden armor and something resembling a crown.
"Gyung, Gyugyung, Gyugyugyugyu, Gyut, Gyut, Gyugyugyugyugyugyugyu!"
Simon looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"What is Sbal saying right now?"
"If you make way, I won't harm you. Move aside before [the strongest magician] behind me personally shows you, who are worse than bugs, what [the strongest] means."
"Really? Did he really say that?"
"Do you really think so?"
"?"
"?"
I don't know what Sbal said, but… it was true that the goblins were in a panic.
"Oh, Sbal, I misjudged you!"
Simon clenched his fist.
"Sbal's sincere heart got through!"
Lista also nodded.
"That useless fellow, really?"
Only I harbored doubts.
And my judgment was correct.
The goblins were about to scatter for a moment, but then dark blue eye-beams flashed from their eyes, and they surrounded Sbal, commencing a ferocious attack!
"Keuk, that Zola guy used his monster taming power!"
As Simon was startled, Lista stepped forward.
"Skill name: 'What are you doing to our cute Sbal' Punch!"
"Kkiak!"
But what meaning could taming possibly have in the face of such overwhelming violence, where dozens of creatures were swept away by the wind pressure created by a single punch?
The goblins, having come to their senses, started squealing and fleeing.
Sbal, battered and bruised, returned to me with a dejected expression. I rebuked him.
"Ugh, this useless Sbal. I really thought for a moment it might work."
"Gyung…!"
Did that ignite some spirit of challenge in Sbal? He began to charge recklessly whenever monsters appeared.
"T-That's a Taurus! It's a D-rank monster that only silver-grade mercenaries can barely subjugate! To think such a big shot would appear right at the start!"
"Finally, it's my turn."
"Wait, Rin! Sbal has gone to persuade them again!"
Sbal appears! Indeed!
"Gyut gyugyut, gyuwooowoong!"
"Kwoaaaah!"
"Gyuwooowoong!"
Sbal exits! Fast!
"I knew it. He got bounced off by its snort, not even a bug."
"Skill name: 'Who are you to discourage our Sbal' Kick!"
"Kueo-eoeong!"
The result of the humble negotiation was the corpse of a Taurus, miserably collapsing with a foot-shaped hole punched through its chest.
"Wow, insane, I mean, how can you take down a Taurus with just one kick? I've seen mercenaries practically bleed themselves trying to catch one…"
Simon shook his head in astonishment.
So we advanced deep into the forest where not a single ray of sunlight penetrated.
There was nothing new in that process. The above events merely repeated themselves similarly.
"Keut, that's a Werewolf! Be careful! They're monsters with three layers of teeth, like a shark!"
"Gyuwooowoong!"
Sbal, reappears!
"Oh, Sbal! Will you show us something this time?"
"Kyaoooooh!"
"S-Sbal got eaten!"
Sbal, exits forever!
"Ugh, that useless fellow."
"Skill name: 'Don't you dare get your spit on our cute and adorable Sbal' Elbow!"
"Kkaengaeng!"
There were a total of six such attacks, and all were easily subdued by Lista's violence.
In that process, my trust in Sbal plummeted two levels, hitting rock bottom. Conversely, my trust in Simon rose quite a bit.
"You know what each monster that appears is. Are you an expert?"
"N-No, only monsters I coincidentally knew appeared."
As the sixth attack concluded, the forest's miasma grew thicker, and then a clearing appeared. In its center stood a suspicious man.
"You're finally here, Simon. I was getting tired of waiting. Do those guys have a lot of flesh?"
Lista's eyes narrowed.
"What's going on, Simon?"
Simon profusely sweated at those words, but his body moved swiftly with crab-like steps towards the suspicious man.
"Hey, don't move. Do you know what this is?"
"That's… surely…!"
"Yes, this is an erotic drawing of your little companion!"
"?!!"
"!!!"
"Gyung!!"
"Simon completed it and handed it over to me. For your information, it's explicit enough to make noblewomen with boyish tastes nosebleed quite a bit."
"You perverts…!"
"Kukuk, if you don't want this spread all over the world, you'd better not move."
That wasn't all! From all directions, demonic energy began to surge. As if all the monsters until now were just a taste, countless monsters surrounded us.
"Hoho…"
I laughed at that situation.
"Hoohohoho…"
[The strongest magician] is lonely because they are the strongest, and naturally, there must be situations where they are betrayed by those they trusted.
A situation that only existed in my fantasies is unfolding before my eyes with infinite possibilities.
But I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't think of anything to say as the strongest magician, so only laughter came out.
"Kid, what's so funny?"
"Hoohoho…"
"Be careful, Zola! That kid is Rin! The monster who became a Glados (4-star) at thirteen!"
"Hoohohohoho…"
"What? Then does that laugh mean he already knew Simon had conspired with me to betray him, but pretended not to know to catch me?"
"Hoohohohohohohoho…"
"Argh! Dammit! My cute monsters, finish off that arrogant little brat and bring me his flesh!"
What magic should I use?
What lines should I mix in?
As I said before, infinite possibilities are unfolding before me now. I can do anything.
"I'm sorry, but that's far enough."
At that moment, a voice was heard from above, and suddenly, a surge of flames swept across the entire forest with an unreal amount of heat.
It wasn't magical flames. That nature-friendly power, which burns only the impure, is the power of sorcery. Lista, looking up at the wielder of that power, shouted affectionately.
"…Friede!"