The Forest King's Egg
Summoning Duramino Cordos, I mounted and headed toward the valley. Since the sun had already set, I didn't forget to call forth light spirits to illuminate the surroundings. I also recalled all the Puppet Crows I had scattered for the search and had them wait along my path.
I could have sent the Puppet Crows straight into the valley, but the Ancient Forest at night was danger incarnate. Not only was it filled with monsters rarely seen in other regions and all manner of venomous insects, but some predators were intelligent and cunning enough to set traps using camouflage or protective coloration.
The Puppet Crows, mid-rank monsters themselves, had already lost several during the search. If I wanted to avoid losing any more forces, I had no choice but to keep them together.
The Red Eyes I had sent to search the inner valley were nearly wiped out, but the few survivors continued tracking Erill's trail.
"If I'd known it would come to this, I would've asked Bagloros to come along."
Bagloros would have found Erill by now.
"Speed up."
Duramino Cordos accelerated at my command. As we approached the valley, the scattered Puppet Crows began gathering one by one. The bright lights would surely draw the attention of monsters—especially powerful ones—but Duramino Cordos's massive frame and the ominous aura of the Puppet Crows kept them from approaching easily.
Only ten Red Eyes remained at most. The rest had become monster fodder or been torn apart out of boredom. This meant I'd have to imprint the contract seal on another Red Eye colony in the demon realm later, but that wasn't important right now.
The Red Eyes had thoroughly scoured every corner of the valley before meeting their end. Thanks to them, there weren't many places left to check. Of course, ten Red Eyes couldn't cover everything, but they had bought me enough time.
A whip-like tentacle lashed out and crushed another Red Eye. One was bitten apart by a fanged bird, while another was torn to shreds by a beast's claws. The remaining Red Eyes met similar fates.
Not a single Red Eye was left, but their sacrifice had narrowed the search area considerably. At last, we arrived at the valley.
Even from what the Red Eyes had shown me, the valley was vast. Instead of rising above the ground, it sank deep below it. The trees overhead made it impossible to spot from above. Scattered throughout were caves of various sizes that looked like monster nests, with passages branching in multiple directions.
Some creatures peered out from the caves, their eyes gleaming as they debated whether to emerge toward the unfamiliar light. If I'd had the time, I might have lured a few out to make new summons, but there was no leisure for that now.
Another sigil appeared in the air, and this time massive wolves covered in red fur materialized. Tyrant Marak's Wolves. They were the creatures Tyrant Marak had used to intimidate soldiers and citizens who disobeyed him—the first monsters whose ownership I had seized from an opponent mid-battle.
They might be fierce beasts, but in the Ancient Forest their reputation was somewhat lacking. Still, this was simply to increase our numbers. The more of us there were, the less likely the monsters in the nests would attack recklessly. Beasts like these also left stronger scents and presences than insect-type monsters like the Red Eyes, which was why I'd chosen them.
My choice proved correct. I could feel the presences watching from the caves slowly retreating one by one.
We moved deeper and deeper into the valley at a steady pace. With a group this size, no ordinary monster would dare attack. But if Erill was trapped in some predicament she couldn't escape, I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
Most of the caves large enough for Erill to enter had already been checked by the Red Eyes. Only a few remained. Once we got a little closer, I would be able to sense her directly.
With that thought, I pressed deeper. Faintly, I felt Erill's presence. Her energy felt stable, as if she wasn't in immediate danger or injured. Yet there was something else—an instinctive protectiveness similar to what I'd felt when I first met her.
"There's no way she laid an egg in just a few days, right?"
Phoenixes usually wrapped themselves in flames for over a week when laying eggs, so the mother's energy could pass to the offspring. She absolutely couldn't have laid an egg.
Then what was this protective instinct welling up inside her?
Leading my summons, I headed toward where she was. She could sense my presence as well. She guided me, and we finally entered a cave.
The cave was quite spacious. Erill's presence grew stronger from within. I left my summons waiting at the entrance and walked inside.
After going a little deeper, I finally saw her. She was curled around something, shielding it with her body.
Even without her saying anything, I knew what it was. A massive egg.
"Erill, what is that egg?"
It was enormous—half the size of Erill herself at a glance.
"You're guarding it? This egg?"
I couldn't tell what kind of creature's egg it was. Many creatures laid eggs that size, but one thing was certain: it wasn't a phoenix's. Phoenices laid multiple eggs, and they were much smaller. Judging by its size, it probably wasn't a bird's egg either. At least among the birds I knew, none large enough to lay an egg this size nested in caves or underground.
"Erill. You don't even know what kind of egg this is. It could belong to a monster like a Tarascus or a Tectrias."
Tarascuses were giant lizards, while Tectriases resembled enormous crocodiles—vicious, savage creatures all. They might make decent summons, but none of them qualified as high-ranking summons.
"What?"
She told me to come closer. Then she asked me to sever my connection with her temporarily and focus my senses on the egg instead. I didn't understand, but I decided to follow her instructions. Breaking my link with her, I concentrated my senses on the egg.
—It is an honor to meet you, distinguished Contractor.
A clear, polite young man's voice echoed directly in my mind. I was surprised first by the voice suddenly appearing in my head, second by the realization that the voice belonged to the egg, and third by being called a "Contractor."
Of course, it only sounded that way through mental linkage—he wasn't actually speaking human language—but what mattered was that he had called me a Contractor, not a Summoner, a Connector, or a Dark Priest. The very first title our kind had ever held.
"Who are you?"
What I felt from him was anything but light. Now I could sense it clearly—a faint but unmistakable holiness emanating from deep within that fragile shell, something beyond mere power or mana.
—My name is Granbipra. I am the one entrusted by the great gods since ancient times to protect this forest, its eternal king.
Granbipra. I'd never heard the name before. But I had once heard a legend about a giant serpent living in the Ancient Forest—a serpent so massive that its fangs could reach the moon when it raised its head. Of course, legends weren't the whole truth, but the fact that the tale had been passed down since time immemorial was true.
"Then how did someone like you end up in this state?"
—The Demon King Thanatos demanded that I serve him. But I could not. The great gods commanded me to protect this forest, and the Night Goddess Nyx sought to destroy the surface world. I fought the Demon King Thanatos. I met my death, and now I wait to be reborn in this form.
"Then why is Erill here? The Demon King has been dead for years. There shouldn't have been any need for help at this point."
—Because she killed one of my clones that had been guarding me until now.
Oh, Erill. I looked up at her without thinking, and she averted her gaze, embarrassed.
—It must have been a game to her, but to me it was fatal.
"Why?"
—Because my hatching is near. My power is at its weakest right before resurrection. The connection between my fragile new body and my soul becomes strongest then. That is why I cannot create new clones. Yet I require protection. So I asked her to stay.
Now I understood why she hadn't answered my summons. It was partly out of responsibility, but also because she knew I would come looking for her.
"...You could've just brought me here instead of going through all this trouble."
I'd meant it for her, but it was Granbipra who offered a polite apology.
—Please forgive me. Even a short time would have been fatal in this forest—especially in this valley. If I miss this hatching period, I will have to wait trapped in this shell somewhere in the forest for a long time again.
"Then when will you hatch?"
—If you wait just two more days.
Two days. An awkward amount of time. If I waited and rode Erill back, it would take three days total to reach Peltecheru. But even if I rode Duramino Cordos hard to Peltecheru starting now and summoned Erill after the hatching, it would still take about three days.
There might be a half-day difference at most, but it wasn't significant.
Riding the Black Wyvern would take about two days, but that was dangerous in far too many ways. Setting aside the fact that it was ten times more uncomfortable and perilous than flying with Erill, soaring through the sky on a Black Wyvern—the symbol of the Demon King's wyvern forces—would draw far too much unwanted attention.
Besides, none of my other summons would faithfully obey an order to guard the egg when they were this far from me. Unless I ignored his request, I couldn't take Erill with me.
"Understood. But can you guarantee you won't harm us after hatching?"
He was speaking politely and respectfully now, but there was no certainty he would remain benevolent. From experience, dignity and rationality offered no guarantees. If anything, they made someone more dangerous.
—Distinguished Contractor, the only thing I can offer you is a promise. But I swear upon the names of the great gods. After I hatch, I will never bring harm to you.
"...Understood. I'll take your word for it."
Part of me wanted to imprint a contract seal right then and there, but he possessed the mental strength to speak directly into my mind. Even if he was relatively powerless now, forcing a contract seal onto his soul was impossible.
"Then Erill, I'll be going. See you in two days."
She nodded, then looked away awkwardly.
"I'll see you again after the hatching, then."
After a brief farewell to Granbipra, I turned to leave the cave. I planned to dismiss the summons I'd called and head to the Library of Denatel. Whether I waited or left now, it would take three days either way, so waiting was the wiser choice. But then—
—I am sorry, but returning now will be difficult.
"What...?"
I didn't need to hear the answer. Through the senses of the summons I'd left outside, I could feel the massive horde of monsters heading toward the valley.