The Forest's Guardians
“What’s going on?”
At her somewhat irritated question, I glanced toward Granbipra.
“Did he not explain anything?”
I do not know the details myself.
I gave them a brief account of the current situation, making sure to mention the cave’s collapse. Her expression grew serious.
“Granbipra? That thing?”
She seemed to know of him.
“Have you heard of him before?”
“Of course. The King of Serpents. Lord of the oldest forest. The exiled beast.”
I was not exiled. The gods commanded me to protect that forest.
Granbipra spoke with an edge I had not heard from him before.
“You look rather pitiful. I heard Thanatos dealt with you, but to think the eternal lord of the forest has been reduced to this.”
It seems we are in similar straits. If what she says is true, you were once a Demon Commander, yet now you are nothing more than a captive.
“Ah, you should be grateful. If things were different, I would have burned you to ash already.”
It had been a long time since I had seen anything like this. Because she had been sealed here, this was the first time since the great war that she had openly clashed with someone. And the first time someone had dared to clash with her.
I had explained to Erill that Rofena was sealed, but she still flinched at every word Rofena spoke. It was partly due to the previous battle, but also because of a phoenix’s instinctive fear and awe toward flames more intense than her own.
“Now, now, both of you, calm down. There is no need to be rude to each other.”
“When was I rude?”
I merely spoke the truth.
The tension crackling between them like invisible flames felt strangely nostalgic. After the great war, living with Rowell and Aegina, the only arguments I had witnessed were over who would make breakfast—each insisting they would do it—or the occasional lovers’ spat that was painful to watch. Seeing open hostility like this was rare.
“Anyway, what exactly are those monsters?”
Such widespread shared consciousness was both rare and powerful. Battle Ents and Wasps sometimes displayed collective awareness, and monsters like Red Eyes occasionally showed similar traits, but I had never heard of so many different types of monsters sharing consciousness at once.
If it was possible, it could only be the work of a being far superior to them. The fact that they had used tactics to draw attention and collapse the cave, even if delayed, confirmed it.
Many in the forest do not wish for my resurrection. Especially the older and stronger ones.
“Is there one among them with such an ability?”
Yes. He does not have a name of his own, but he is called Duru Satal, or Astar Prte.
“What does that mean?”
I looked at Rofena on the off chance she knew, but she shook her head.
In the common tongue once used in this forest, it means “He Who Hides Everywhere” and “He Who Is Always Prosperous.” He was once one of my administrators who followed my commands.
“You must not have managed your subordinates very well.”
At her remark, sparks nearly flew again, but Granbipra pretended not to hear.
“Rofena, there is no need to speak that way.”
“What did I say?”
I knew of the discord between gods and demons, and between their followers, and it had helped us greatly during the great war. Still, being caught in the middle now was awkward.
“…Well, in any case, it is difficult to return right now, so please stay here until you hatch. I will send you back afterward.”
It had not been my intention, but this was the safest option. There would be no real threat here.
That is impossible.
His tone was firm, with no hesitation or room for compromise.
“If it is because you are uncomfortable…”
No. That is not it. It is simply impossible.
When I failed to understand, he continued.
I belong to the Ancient Forest. I can only be reborn and grow within it. The longer I remain here, the more my hatching will be delayed.
“…Nothing is ever simple these days.”
“Just put him back where he was. It is not our problem anyway.”
How very warm-hearted. Your words alone could burn me to death.
“Then burn. If you had properly guarded against that phoenix in the first place, you would not have needed to block the attack earlier. Stop causing trouble and quietly wait for your next chance.”
Was it just my imagination, or was she showing more hostility than necessary?
…I do not wish to blame her, but it was because of the battle with her that my location was discovered. And while it does not matter if I wait for the next opportunity, the ones who will suffer are not me.
His meaningful words caught my attention.
“What do you mean by that?”
I do not only manage the forest itself. I also maintain its balance. During the great war, the Demon King’s army inflicted great damage on the life within the forest. Thanks to that, there have been no major problems for the past few years, but now it is different. They have nearly recovered and are increasing their numbers under powerful administrators. Small-scale territorial disputes have already exceeded their limits.
“So? What does it matter to us if monsters fight among themselves?”
My administrators are beings who have survived for a very long time. After my death, they chose to obey the Demon King’s army even though they knew Nix would eventually destroy them. Their survival instincts are that strong. They know fighting each other is foolish. So what do you think they will choose?
“Territorial expansion.”
It was a simple and common story. Turning outward to suppress internal division and expand territory. If one had confidence in their military power, there was no easier or more efficient method.
“Then you mean they will attack nearby cities?”
They will not attack cities from the beginning, but as they gradually increase their power, it will eventually happen.
There were not many cities directly bordering the Ancient Forest, but the forest itself was vast and irregularly shaped. Because of that, several nations used the forest’s edges as their borders.
I did not know how they would expand their territory, but small nations whose strength had waned after the great war lacked the power to repel large-scale monster attacks. If that happened, not only would people suffer, but it could also create variables in an already unstable world order—nations requesting aid from others or falling under the influence of a great power.
“…Should I bring Rowell even now?”
Watching the situation grow unnecessarily large, I wondered if it was time to seriously consider it.
“How many of these administrators are there? Can we negotiate with them?”
There are three in total. The other two died at the Demon King’s hands while fighting alongside me in the last battle. Negotiation itself is possible, but they will not listen unless we show them a certain level of power first.
Three. It was fortunate that the number was smaller than expected, but if only three beings controlled such a vast forest, they had to be incredibly powerful.
“Once you hatch, can you resolve the situation immediately?”
Of course. My physical body may be relatively weak, but once I can create avatars again and use my power without restriction, dealing with or subduing the administrators will be simple.
Well, the fact that they were trying so hard to prevent his hatching left little room for doubt.
“……”
Without realizing it, I looked at Rofena. Whether it was habit from always looking at Rowell before making decisions, or because I wondered what she would say about my choice, my eyes turned to her.
Honestly, there was no need to do anything right away. They had not yet planned to attack nearby cities, and simply hinting that Granbipra was safe would keep them occupied searching for him for several days.
In the meantime, I could wait and bring Bagloros, or even fetch Rowell, Aegina, or Medrup. Of course, I would have to craft a plausible mix of lies and truth to explain the situation.
Or I could negotiate with the three administrators by offering to seal Granbipra in another dimension. Even setting aside morality, it was a choice that grew more dangerous the longer time passed.
“Very well. Then I will do my best to protect you for the next two days.”
Thank you.
“However, a mere promise not to harm you seems insufficient. I want additional compensation.”
What do you want…?
“Help me form master-servant contracts with those administrators.”
You wish to become their master?
As I had said before, it was nearly impossible to brand the souls of intelligent beings with a contract seal and subjugate them the way I had with the Black Wyvern. Their resistance, whether conscious or unconscious, would be incomparably strong, and even if forced, the seal would eventually break.
But forming a master-servant contract was even more impossible. It required a complex and dangerous ritual, a powerful soul as a witness, a medium to maintain the contract, and the other party’s consent.
Even if all those conditions were met, why would powerful beings willingly become servants?
However, if Granbipra ordered their consent and acted as the witness himself, it would no longer be impossible.
Very well. I wanted to execute the traitors myself, but that punishment would suit them as well.
“Then let us get some sleep for now.”
Although it was a shame that the hatching would be delayed, the forest at night favored them far more than us.
“You are going to sleep with those things?”
It seems we must.
Of course, none of us here, myself included, would be very comfortable.
* * *
Ancient trees that had lived for hundreds of years had been uprooted and piled in layers. Atop them lay a single massive black shadow, reclining like a lazy king. The forest trees were silent, and the monsters that had narrowly escaped tragedy pressed their bodies flat against the ground, holding their breath.
When the clouds covering the moon parted slightly, moonlight descended and chased away the shadow, revealing the lazy king.
Hard-looking scales covered its entire body, with sharp protrusions rising here and there. Its form was difficult to compare to any specific creature, though its overall shape vaguely resembled a giant brown frog.
The creature lay among the felled trees like a person, looking around with a displeased expression. Every time its gaze fell upon them, the monsters trembled in fear and lowered themselves even further.
That fool Satal. If he found out, he should have reported it immediately.
A long tongue suddenly shot out and swept across the ground. The monsters that had been crouching in its path were sucked straight into its mouth and disappeared into its stomach.
Its name was Elde Toguath, also known as Resuwi Kato.
Called the Great Glutton or the Tree Feller, it was one of the three administrators Granbipra had mentioned.
Only a few days remain until the hatching, and we missed it! What have you all been doing? Do you not know what will happen to us if Granbipra returns?
At his irritation, the monsters scattered in all directions as if they had been waiting for the order. Even though Elde Toguath had always commanded monsters to remain nearby to satisfy his endless hunger, he was so impatient that he had forgotten.
Instead of wasting time talking, why do you not search yourself, Toguath?
The creature that emerged from the shadows was so small compared to Elde Toguath that it was hardly worth calling diminutive, yet its presence and demeanor overwhelmed him.
And what about you? Wabutu Hirde. The place where Granbipra appeared is on the opposite side of your territory from here.
Known as the Wind-backed One, he resembled a leopard with red spots. The differences were the sharp spikes at the tip of his tail and the red gem-like minerals embedded in his back.
Well, I thought I would share a more realistic story.
A realistic story?
Wabutu Hirde sauntered over to Elde Toguath, climbed onto his half-reclined belly, and faced him directly.
The sudden appearance of that phoenix gave us a sliver of hope, but this was impossible from the start. Finding and destroying Granbipra’s egg in this vast Ancient Forest? This was practically our first and last chance. Now that we have missed it, Granbipra’s resurrection is inevitable.
So? Did you come to tell us to give up and wait quietly? Do not tell me you have forgotten. We cooperated with the Demon King’s army. Do you think Granbipra will forgive us?
Of course not. But unlike the pitiful Satal, we have one more choice.
What…?
Satal cannot move, but you and I are different.
At that moment, Elde Toguath raised his massive body.
You… Are you suggesting we leave this forest and run away?