The Maw Awaits
Thud. Thud. Thud.
In the darkness where even moonlight was blocked, strange tremors echoed across the ground. With each massive boom the earth shook violently, startling birds into flight and sending animals scattering in panic.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The heavy impacts sounded as though something enormous was falling from the sky, repeating in rapid succession. Yet when one listened carefully, a smaller vibration could be felt between each larger one.
As the clouds parted, creatures that had been holding their breath beneath the half-revealed moonlight saw a single colossal black shadow rise into the air. It traced a parabola before plummeting toward another location, and once again the ground trembled with a thunderous crash. Immediately afterward, a comparatively smaller sound and tremor followed as the black shadow launched itself skyward once more.
Wherever the shadow landed, trees snapped and toppled, and the earth was gouged deep, leaving behind unmistakable scars.
Hirde. Are we still far?
The identity of the black shadow was Elde Toquas. Known as the Great Glutton or Resuwi Kato, the Tree-Feller, he was one of the three managers who had ruled the Ancient Forest in Granbipra’s absence.
How much longer until we reach the place you spoke of?
Elde Toquas had always been famous for his lack of patience and his capricious nature, but the fact that he was now fleeing, abandoning his subordinates and territory, made his mood even more foul.
We’re almost there.
The one running leisurely ahead of Elde Toquas despite the powerful, destructive impacts was Wabutu Hirde. Called the Wind’s Shadow, he resembled a crimson leopard and was likewise one of the three managers, just like Elde Toquas and Duru Satal.
They had now left the Ancient Forest and reached the Zodik region, where southern mountain ranges stood like a wall. Though not comparable to the Ancient Forest, the area was covered in dense jungle threaded by wide rivers like veins. Before the Great War, numerous tribes had lived here in settlements of varying sizes.
But during the Great War, Ryburn and his demonic beast legion had occupied the land, and now not a single settlement remained. Only wild demonic beasts and monsters roamed according to their instincts.
How many times have you said that already? I haven’t even had a proper meal!
The things you’ve eaten on the way here should be more than enough to match what you ate in the forest.
You expect me to be satisfied with such tasteless, low-grade prey?
Toquas had devoured countless demonic beasts and monsters on the journey here. Yet as he said, the unfamiliar food did not suit his palate, and the unchanging reality that he was fleeing only inflamed his gluttony further.
Just get to that point over there.
Hirde gestured with his chin toward one of the mountains. Two ranges overlapped there, and behind them rose a single high peak. The place Hirde sought lay at its center.
That place? What could possibly be there? What could possibly satisfy my appetite?
This land was once ruled by Ryburn, one of the Demon King’s commanders. Fierce beasts far beyond anything you’ve eaten so far once filled this place. But the truly important thing lies over there.
Over there?
Yes.
Hirde offered no further explanation, but the certainty in his voice made Toquas swallow his complaints for the moment and follow in silence. Of course, he never stopped stuffing anything that appeared before him into his mouth.
With Hirde’s speed and Toquas’s immense leaping power, they soon reached their destination. At the center, surrounded by mountain ranges and peaks, lay what appeared to be an ordinary plain. Though trees and plants grew there, the vegetation was far less dense than the areas they had passed through, and no special creatures could be seen.
Toquas could no longer contain his disappointment and rage.
Is this what you promised? This worthless place has nothing special about it at all!
Toquas reached out, uprooted a nearby tree, and hurled it at Hirde. Of course, it posed no threat to Hirde. He lightly stepped on the flying tree in midair, launched himself upward, and landed behind Toquas.
Have patience. I never said this was the end.
Hirde passed him and headed toward a certain spot. When he stopped before some ordinary-looking rocks, the red stones embedded in his back began to emit light. In response, strange runes rose from the ground in front of the rocks.
When the runes vanished, a massive staircase leading downward appeared. It was so large and wide that even Toquas could enter by simply lowering his body slightly.
Let’s go in.
Hirde quickly descended the stairs made of black obsidian, and Toquas followed.
…What is this place?
He bent his massive body and crawled down the stairs on all fours. While not impossible, the space was far from comfortable.
It is the place Ryburn, the Demon King’s commander, valued most.
After arriving on the surface, Ryburn had considered this location of utmost importance. He had never cared about the surface world’s destruction or the descent of the goddess Nyx. He had merely followed the Demon King’s orders according to an ancient pact.
What he truly desired was only one thing: to strengthen his own power. And this place was the key.
He gathered countless demonic beasts and monsters here.
Oh? Why?
Even as he asked, Toquas instinctively licked his lips. Thick, toxic saliva dripped from his jaw onto the stairs, and wherever it touched the obsidian surface, the luster gradually faded.
He wanted to increase his own power. But ordinary methods were impossible, so he eventually devised a different approach.
For some reason, Hirde said no more. His deliberate silence clearly hid something, yet the foolish Toquas was no longer paying attention. He was simply imagining the prey that would fill the space below, moving his limbs faster and drooling even more onto the floor.
So, how much prey is down there? There’s more than just enough for one meal, right? If not……
Hirde knew full well what the unfinished threat implied: Then I’ll just eat you instead. Of course, if they actually fought, Toquas could not be certain of victory. Still, it was a threat he could make because he had always looked down on the other managers deep in his heart.
Don’t worry. That won’t happen.
Despite the rude remark, Hirde showed no reaction. Without the slightest sign of displeasure, he simply continued descending the stairs ahead.
…Come to think of it, you’ve changed a lot.
This time, even the usually oblivious Toquas noticed something was wrong.
What do you mean?
You used to be so proud they called you a king. But ever since you left the forest and returned, there’s been none of that.
Hirde remained silent, and within that silence lurked something ominous. Yet Toquas did not stop his hands and feet from carrying him downward. True to his name, his gluttony and arrogance continued to drive him deeper.
Besides, your attachment to your territory and kin was stronger than anyone’s. You cooperated with the Demon King’s army for the sake of your tribe’s safety. And now you’ve abandoned both so easily to come here.
Nothing is more precious than one’s own life.
Before they knew it, they had reached the bottom of the stairs. A large door stood there, forged of black iron. At its center was a relief of what appeared to be Ryburn—a massive beast—with countless grotesque shadows spreading across the entire door.
Of course that’s true. But bringing me here instead of your own kin wasn’t purely out of goodwill, was it?
…I’ve already brought far too many.
The intense anger in those words—carrying deep sorrow, contempt, and murderous intent—made Toquas freeze mid-step without realizing it.
What do you mean……?
Only then did Toquas realize something far more serious than he had imagined was happening. But regardless, the jewels embedded in Hirde’s back glowed once more, and the heavy black door slowly began to open from both sides.
W-wait!
Toquas tried to stop Hirde. An indescribable sense of dread poured from the widening gap, and his wild instincts belatedly screamed in warning.
It’s already too late.
The moment Toquas tried to retreat with his massive body, a black shadow shot out from between the doors and engulfed him. Like a swarm of vipers, the shadow sank its fangs into every part of his enormous frame and dragged his bloated body forward with irresistible force.
W-what is this?! Hirde! What have you done?!
Toquas swung his arms with all his might and twisted his body. He shot his tongue like a cannon and spewed venom-filled saliva. But none of his struggles could shake off the shadow pulling him in.
As the door opened wider, more shadows poured forth. Toquas was helplessly dragged inside, where he saw an even larger shadow. It resembled the maw of a predator he had never encountered before. Elde Toquas—the name “Great Glutton” was nothing compared to this cruel, absolute hunger that could never be satisfied. Now that maw was about to swallow him whole.
Wabutu Hirde!
Toquas accepted his fate. No—he had no choice but to accept it. There was no escape. Soon he would be sucked into that mouth and vanish without a trace. No miracle could save him from death. He could only scream Hirde’s name, filled with curses and rage.
Farewell, Toquas.
Hirde pressed himself against the wall beside the door, avoiding the venom and shadows, and quietly watched the scene unfold.
Finally, Toquas’s massive body was pulled completely inside and disappeared into the darkness. After even the last trace of his life had vanished, more than ten voices—alien yet strangely similar—spoke as one from among the shadows.
Well done, Hirde. As promised, I will no longer order you to bring more of your kin. Besides, now that Granbipra has been revived, it would be impossible anyway.
…Thank you, Commander Ryburn of the demonic beast legion.
Hirde bowed toward the countless eyes glittering in the darkness, his gesture filled with fear, rage, contempt, awe, and gratitude. The jewels embedded in his back glowed even brighter, resonating with those eyes.
* * *
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
The next morning had arrived. It was time to leave the study and head for Peltecheru, where Bagloros was.
“All right. Take care.”
……
Yet I couldn’t bring myself to take a single step. Ever since last night, every conversation between us had been like this. We had talked about many things, but everything remained superficial. Nothing truly important had been said.
“Why?”
She looked at me standing there and asked. Come to think of it, for the past few years she had always held the initiative in our conversations. Trapped here, she would speak to me out of boredom or ask questions, and I would simply answer. That was how every conversation had gone.
What was I supposed to say? In a situation where nothing I said would change anything, what words could possibly matter?
Just as I had always done—however cowardly and irresponsible it was—I could only take one step back and hope that time would somehow resolve everything. But for her, time in this place had stopped.
The unchanging surroundings. The body that never aged. And the only person she could ever meet was me. No other existence existed here. The passage of time changed nothing. Even if I pushed all responsibility onto her and she reached some kind of conclusion on her own, could any true resolution ever emerge from this environment, under these conditions?
She would not forget. In this stagnant space with no other stimuli, whatever conclusion she reached would leave behind traces and remnants that would torment her endlessly.
It could never be resolved.
…No, this was all nonsense. The reason I was so concerned wasn’t because of these twisted, self-serving thoughts. If that were the case, why had I not immediately corrected the deception and illusion I had created for her, instead of hiding behind time and meaningless guilt?
The reason I cared so much, the reason I was trying to solve the problem through this unworthy pretense, was simply the premonition that if things continued like this, our current relationship would change. It was nothing more than my own selfish anxiety.
“Is it because of what Granbipra said that’s bothering you?”
At my question, her expression stiffened slightly. It wasn’t that she had intended to hide it; rather, she seemed surprised that I had asked at all.
“That guy… told you?”
I wished I hadn’t been able to read the small hope hidden in that cautious question. Then I wouldn’t have felt the disappointment that followed quite so sharply.
“No, I didn’t hear exactly what he said. But I could tell it was weighing on you.”
“…I see.”
“I don’t know what Granbipra told you. And even if I did, I probably wouldn’t have anything useful to say or any way to help.”
She looked at me as though she wanted to argue, but despite her gaze, the words remained trapped behind her lips.
Taking advantage of that moment, I spoke.
“But there is one thing I hope you’ll understand.”
My voice trembled slightly, and beneath it lay a desperate plea. Using the form of deception, I spoke to her with sincerity. And just as a seasoned beggar might hide a triumphant smile while mixing cunning with his misery to beg for sympathy, I was already certain of my success.