Chapter 115: Welcome to the Lustful Elf Forest (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: Welcome to the Lustful Elf Forest (1)
After riding non-stop for two days and nights, we finally reached the western border of the Empire.
The first thing that hit us was the smell.
The acrid stench of burning wood and grass stung my nostrils from every direction.
“…”
The atmosphere turned grim. It wasn't just me; Helena, Natalia, and even Andrasta wore expressions of dead seriousness. It wasn't just the smell anymore—thick, black smoke was staining the distant horizon.
“…Let’s go.”
Irene muttered the words through gritted teeth, her eyes brimming with tears.
According to Irene, the Great Forest is the homeland of all elves…
Since all elves call themselves the children of the forest, they are born in the Great Forest and meet their end there. In other words, the forest is their cradle and their grave—a home and a sanctuary they return to regardless of where they are or what time it is.
And that place had been turned to ash overnight.
We spurred our horses, following Irene in silence as she led the way. Words of comfort or encouragement felt meaningless. I didn't mean to say they were entirely useless, but in the face of the reality before us, warm sentiments didn't carry much weight.
What was needed now was a plan to solve the problem and the guts to execute it.
I pulled my horse up beside Irene and brought up the topic she likely wanted to hear most right now.
“Your Excellency, let’s do a final check of the operation.”
“Yes.”
This dragon hunt was divided into two major stages.
The first stage… came from Irene’s lips as she stared straight ahead.
“I will bring the dragon down, no matter what it takes.”
This was assuming we encountered or sighted the dragon while it was in flight. Irene’s words felt less like a plan and more like a vow—a desperate resolution. It was as if she were saying she would burn her very life force to drag the beast that turned her home and kin to ash down to the earth.
I’ll step in if the situation demands it, but…
Otherwise, I intended to stay back. At least for the first stage. It might be a bit late for this, but it was a form of self-preservation.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down; that’s the way of the world. If it became known that my magic surpassed even an Archmage’s, let alone my martial prowess, my future would likely become incredibly troublesome.
So, I gently took Irene’s hand and spoke.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Yes. I will bring the dragon to the ground. So everyone… please, I beg of you.”
Cut off the head of the dragon that trampled my home and my people.
Irene’s violet eyes, shimmering with tears, pleaded desperately.
I gripped her hand with both of mine, looked her straight in the eye, and declared, “It shall be done.”
I glanced back slightly, and Irene followed my gaze. Behind us were the women who had made Irene feel that this force was more than enough. They were discussing the dragon subjugation—or rather, the butchering process.
“Once the Archmage brings the dragon down, my sister and I will focus on severing the wings first. Your Highness…”
“Panthera and I will distract the head and tail to buy time. Once the dragon’s mobility is neutralized…”
Andrasta looked at me with eyes that said, The finishing blow is yours. She seemed to be demanding that I show the true value of that Demon Sword this time.
Of course, with the Demon Sword Sitri, I could cut through a dragon or anything else, but I reached out to Sitri via telepathy anyway.
Is it possible?
‘Did I not tell you before? There is nothing in this world this blade cannot cut.’
Haha, right. Still, I’m a bit nervous. It’s a dragon, after all.
‘No matter how powerful it may be, a dragon is ultimately nothing more than a creature created by a Great Demon. You are a contractor who has made a direct pact with the 9th-ranked Great Demon. That gap in status can never be bridged, no matter what.’
Haha… By the way, what rank is Astaroth?
‘Probably 3rd… somewhere around there. Well, there is no need to worry. The ranking of Great Demons does not denote a hierarchy of power, but merely the order in which we were born.’
Then there was really nothing to worry about. Besides, a dragon’s corpse was said to be worth more than its weight in gold.
It’ll certainly catch the Empress’s attention.
Perhaps because of that thought, I found myself slightly drawing the Demon Sword Sitri from its scabbard, making sure I could unsheathe and swing it at a moment’s notice.
Immediately, Irene’s intrigued voice reached me.
“That sword… I can feel an immense amount of magic power from it. It could be considered a national treasure… no, an artifact from the Age of Gods…”
“Haha, is that so?”
“If I could, I would love to analyze it with all my effort… but it’s a pity.”
Hmm, it seemed even an Archmage didn't know much about the history from 500 years ago. She was looking right at a Demon Sword containing a sealed Great Demon—the source of all magic—and didn't recognize it.
Well, I suppose she is around 90 years old now…
For the record, Irene was 91. It was the same age as the wrinkled human grandma Irene from my memories… however.
Despite being nearly a century old, Irene was a stunning woman, no less beautiful than the others following me. Elves really were something else.
“Anyway… it’s about time…”
Before we knew it, we were crossing the western border. This meant we had entered the elven Great Forest, a protectorate of the Empire.
In other words, the massive pile of ash that used to be the Great Forest was now right before our eyes.
*
The black smoke was so thick it was hard to see even a few feet ahead. The acrid smell of burning paralyzed my nose instantly. And the forest, now a landscape of ash, filled my vision.
The Great Forest, once a cradle of life, had been transformed into a wasteland of skeletal remains.
And then.
—■■■■■■!!!
A roar that sent an instinctive shiver down my spine echoed from across the sky. Turning toward the sound, I saw a Red Dragon breathing a massive torrent of fire toward the ground.
“If it looks that big from this distance, it means its actual size is quite substantial.”
Andrasta remarked as she pulled up beside me. Indeed, the distance from here to there was considerable, yet the Red Dragon appeared as large as a giant bird.
While I was gauging its size, Helena and Natalia were already moving ahead.
“It seems we don't have a moment to lose! Master, Lena and I will go ahead and take our positions!”
“I’m counting on you!”
“Yes! Lena, let’s go!”
Immediately after, Andrasta and Panthera also dismounted. They must have decided that running would be faster than riding from this point on.
“I’ll head out as well. Leon, I leave the Archmage Marshal to you.”
“Got it. Oh, and don't kill it all by yourself, okay?”
“Hahaha, fine. As long as the beast doesn't strike first.”
With that, Andrasta and Panthera vanished into the black smoke.
Well… technically, deploying forces piecemeal is a major taboo in warfare, but…
They’re all basically one-woman armies, so it should be fine.
With that thought, I moved to Irene’s side.
“Let’s go. The situation is urgent, but do not rush.”
“Yes. I understand.”
I will kill you, no matter what.
Irene’s violet eyes were filled with nothing but murderous intent and hostility. Hmm, usually when people are that tense, things don't go well.
I might actually have to step in…
Regardless, Irene and I moved forward toward the Red Dragon that was still burning the forest at this very moment.
*
“Kuaaaaaa!!”
It was the roar of the Red Dragon that had attacked the Great Forest. The creature that had looked like a large bird now appeared as massive as a large building. Every time the dragon flapped its wings, casting a gargantuan shadow, a wind gusting like a helicopter's rotor wash swept over us.
Thanks to the wind laden with ash and heat, Irene’s face and mine were already covered in soot despite having done nothing yet.
The horses bolted a long time ago. Tsk… I see why Andrasta ditched hers early.
Given the conditions, Irene’s breathing had grown ragged.
“Haah, haah… ugh…!”
Unfortunately, this wasn't a situation where we could rest, nor was the environment suitable for it. With every step, embers that hadn't yet died out flared up, and the thick smoke made it difficult even to breathe.
Since I was unaffected by such an environment, I immediately swept Irene up into my arms.
“L-Leon?!”
“We don't have time. Bear with it.”
“…Yes.”
“Are the scrolls and spells all ready?”
“Almost… done.”
“Good.”
I sprinted through the ashen forest with Irene in my arms. Naturally, my hands were firmly supporting her ass and breasts.
What an incredible feel. I want to finish off this dragon quickly and take her straight to the esthetic room.
With those thoughts, I climbed a small mound that was now just a charred shape. It wasn't nearly high enough for anti-air fire, but we weren't in a position to be picky.
After reaching the high ground, I set Irene down and asked, “Are you ready?”
“Not… yet…! I need to gather more magic power…!”
“Understood. The dragon doesn't seem to have spotted us yet, so make sure you are fully prepared.”
Leaving Irene, who nodded silently, I scanned the surroundings. I was communicating via telepathy with Helena, Natalia, and Andrasta, who had gone ahead.
Helena, current position?
‘Right beneath the dragon!’
Good. Andrasta, you?
‘I’m also tracking the dragon. I’m a bit further away, but I have it in my sights.’
That meant they could strike whenever the time was right. All that was left was for Irene to ground the dragon.
I manifested a greatbow and arrows out of magic power and looked at Irene.
“I’ll lure the dragon and buy us some time. Ready?”
“Yes!”
“Good. Then let’s begin.”
I notched an arrow of blue magic power and aimed the greatbow toward the sky. The target was the Red Dragon. Luckily, it was circling back toward us.
I poured even more magic power into the arrow, imbuing it with several properties.
Homing, explosion, flash… this should be enough to get its attention.
—Crackle, crackle…!
The blue arrow on the string glowed with an even sharper, more piercing light. Just then, the Red Dragon spotted me aiming at it and began flying our way.
“Kyaoooooo!”
“Just a little more…!”
The lure was already a success. All that remained was to buy time for the Archmage to bring the dragon down. Finally, the moment the dragon’s yellow eyes and hideous fangs came into clear view.
I released the string I had been holding tight and fired the arrow of light at the dragon.
—BOOM!
“Kuaaaaaa!!”
The blue arrow, flying at the speed of thought, struck the dragon squarely in the chest. Simultaneously, an intense burst of blue light blinded it, and the impact of the explosion against its chest held the dragon suspended in mid-air for a moment.
In that instant, Irene tore all the scrolls we had modified the other day and began chanting the Great Magic spell she had prepared for this very moment.
“O thou who art darker than twilight, thou who art redder than flowing blood! In the name of thy greatness buried in the flow of time, I here swear to the darkness!”
…Wait, that chant sounds suspiciously familiar.
Regardless, the spells triggered by the torn scrolls all flew toward the Red Dragon. Fireballs like blue suns, blades of compressed water, sealing swords of light… and more.
“Grrr…!”
The dragon, having recovered from its confusion, gathered crimson flames in its maw to counter the incoming magic. And the moment the spells were right in front of its face, the Red Dragon opened its mouth and unleashed its Breath of Destruction.
—FWOOOOOOOSH…!
“Tsk, to think it didn't take any damage at all.”
The wave of fire erupting from the dragon’s mouth instantly swept away all the spells and bore down on me. I simply swung Sitri to brush aside that level of flame.
However, that seemed to provoke it even more, as the Red Dragon flew toward me again… but.
There was still one shot left.
Irene, now literally crying tears of blood and coughing up red, recited the final line of the incantation.
“Upon the wicked dragon that burned our kin and our home, let us show a great destruction with our combined power!”
Dragon Slave!
As a chant that brought that very name to mind echoed out, black lightning erupted from the tip of Irene’s staff, aimed straight at the dragon.
Immediately, Sitri’s intrigued voice echoed in my head.
‘Oho… it seems modern magic still has some redeeming qualities.’
Do you think the power is enough?
‘Hmm, I wonder. It looks like that spell consumes all of the caster’s magic power… but will the strength of a single human really work against a dragon?’
Just as Sitri questioned, the situation wasn't great. The black lightning from Irene’s staff did hit the dragon. It even coiled around its body like a snake, burning scales and melting flesh.
That was all well and good, but…
“Kyaaaaaak!”
The dragon’s pained shriek was short-lived. It forcibly tore away the black lightning binding it and once again gathered the Breath of Destruction in its mouth.
Because of that, Irene had to force herself up even while coughing up blood.
“Cough, cough… Not… yet…!”
Tsk, this can't be helped. I wanted to avoid revealing more of my power if possible, but…
I had no choice but to grip the magic greatbow again and notch arrows of light. This time, I prepared ten arrows. Each was a divine warhead-class projectile imbued with homing, piercing, and explosive properties.
“My god…!”
I could even hear Irene’s shocked voice from right beside me. Normally, I’d give her a relaxed smirk, but instead, I loosed the arrows of light at the dragon.
—BOOM! BOOM!
Ten arrows of light streaked toward the dragon. Every single one pierced through the scales on its back and exploded simultaneously.
Predictably, the Red Dragon plummeted to the ground with a harrowing scream.
“Kuaaaaaak!!”
—THUD…
Even so, a dragon is a dragon. It is the apex of the ecosystem, a creature that wouldn't die even if it wanted to just from having its back blown open and falling to the ground. The dragon immediately shook its head and stood up, spreading its wings to take flight again… but.
“Sister!”
“Right!”
The Sword Saints charged in from both sides.
“Panthera, let’s go!”
“Roar!”
The Overlord and the King of Beasts pounced from the front and back.
Once grounded, the dragon would never fly again.
“I-I…!”
“Stay here. That’s an order.”
“Ugh…”
I made the Archmage, who had exhausted all her magic, stay put.
Now, it was time for the protagonist to step in.
Let’s go, Sitri.
‘Hehe, very well.’