Chapter 25: You Want to Control Your Magic, Don't You? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25: You Want to Control Your Magic, Don't You? (2)
“So this is the Black Forest…”
Outside, the sun was still blazing in the middle of the day, but the Black Forest lived up to its name, shrouded in total darkness.
It wasn't just that the sunlight couldn't penetrate the dense canopy.
For some reason, it felt as if something was writhing within the shadows of those woods, and even the blowing wind sounded like the laughter of evil spirits. I found myself unconsciously gripping Sitri tighter.
“It’s even more dismal than the rumors suggested…”
“I agree, Teacher. Now that we’re actually here, I’m starting to wonder if this is really okay…”
Helena and I won't die unless we’re beheaded or have our hearts ripped out.
To put it another way, it means we will die if we sustain injuries of that magnitude.
And… in this world, injuries like that aren't exactly rare.
Orcs, the quintessential mid-sized monsters, possess the monstrous strength to crush a human head with their bare hands, and Ogres, the quintessential large monsters, can quite literally tear a person apart.
“What is this? Are the heroes who forced Us into submission actually afraid of mere Orcs and Ogres?”
As we hesitated to step into the forest, Sitri’s voice reached me through telepathy from the sword in my hand.
Since Sitri’s physical body—the one I dote on every night—has zero combat capability, she currently remains inside the Demon Sword.
“Wouldn't an Ogre be scarier than a pathetic Demon King who trembles just from having air blown into her ear?”
“Who are you calling a pathetic Demon King?! Helena is the same! She trembles when you blow on her ear too!”
“Th-That… I…”
“Teacher is different. She enjoys having her ass smacked, unlike a certain pathetic-cunt Demon King who cums just from having her cheeks stroked.”
“Ugh… I-I could handle a smacking too… No, is that a bit much…?”
“Young Master…!”
In truth, I wanted to kiss Helena’s flushed earlobes right now and grope Sitri’s snow-white ass…
But unfortunately, this wasn't the time or place for that.
Something unspeakably terrible was about to happen.
“In short, I have no choice but to move forward. No matter what kind of monster appears ahead.”
“Come to think of it, they say a Witch lives in the Black Forest.”
I wasn't scared at all, but I stopped in my tracks when Helena mentioned the Witch.
A Witch. An evil mage who freely wields forbidden black magic.
I repeat, I was not scared.
“Just a Witch? Back when I roamed the world, Lycanthropes used to prowl about in packs.”
Lycanthropes—commonly known as werewolves.
They are purely powerful monsters. They are strong enough to prey on Ogres, creatures that human soldiers and knights struggle to defeat even in large groups.
And those terrifying things roam in packs…
I was definitely not scared.
“Hmm…”
“Why have you stopped? Surely you aren't frightened?”
“No, I’m definitely not frightened… I just think the risk might be too high…”
“You’re definitely frightened.”
“I told you I’m not! It’s just… monsters are living things too… and killing them just because I need to practice strength control feels a bit…”
“Oho, what an interesting perspective. I never expected to hear such words from the man who pulled out a Demon Sword containing a sealed Great Demon capable of destroying the world, simply because he ‘wanted it.’”
This dimwitted, pathetic-cunt of a Great Demon really has a mouth on her.
It was even more annoying because she was right.
Perhaps because I had stopped walking again, Helena was suddenly standing before me with a very familiar expression.
…The expression of the demonic swordsmanship instructor who once said that fractures were a necessary part of guidance and discipline.
“Young Master.”
“Don't hit me!”
“Wh-Who said anything about hitting the Young Master! Unless… the Young Master were to hit me instead…”
“You’d like that, wouldn't you? Especially on the ass.”
“W-Well, that is true… but regardless, that’s not what I was going to say…!”
I cut the jokes and straightened my posture.
There’s a time and place for laughing and chatting.
Seeing my attentive attitude, Helena continued her explanation.
“I don't know if you’re aware, Young Master, but there is a saying among groups and families closely associated with the military or the knight orders.”
“What kind of saying…?”
“The only good monster is a dead monster.”
“Hmm… I’m not unaware of the threat monsters pose… but I can’t help but think that’s a bit of a hasty and extreme generalization. I’ve heard there are monsters you can talk to.”
“I understand. You’ve never encountered a monster until now, Young Master. Personally, I truly respect that way of thinking… but please, forget it while we are inside this forest.”
If you don't, you will surely die.
Helena’s sharp gaze, a look I had never seen before, said those words clearly.
It’s strange… I’m sure the Milfgard I knew was an R-rated romance fantasy harem game… not a dark fantasy…
Despite those thoughts, I hardened my resolve.
If I had to kill, I would kill.
I would kill them before they killed me.
“Understood. Let’s go, Teacher.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
*
The air inside the Black Forest was damp and carried a foul stench that made me wrinkle my nose.
Moreover, it was much darker than it looked from the outside.
It felt as if Helena, walking ahead of me, was slowly being swallowed by the darkness.
“Young Master, be careful not to wander too deep.”
“Right. It feels like if I just wander in blindly, I’ll never find my way out.”
“Indeed.”
Even though I knew my body was nearly immortal, I couldn't help but shrink back.
Sweat kept pooling in the palm of the hand gripping Sitri.
Lack of experience… there’s no way around this one.
Forget this life—even in my past life, I had no experience killing anything, let alone actual combat experience.
If I had to count, maybe I’d killed mosquitoes or flies… but you can’t count killing annoying bugs with pesticide as experience.
Even in the army, I had never once pointed a gun at a living thing.
I had made my resolve, but in that moment, doubt began to bloom: Can I actually carry out that resolve?
“Young Master, get ready. Enemies.”
“…Right.”
I took the most familiar stance, the Chudan-no-kamae, and stood back-to-back with Helena.
I thought I heard a snickering laugh from somewhere.
I thought I heard the rustle of something stepping on fallen leaves… wait a second.
“It doesn't sound like just one or two…?”
“Yes. There are quite a lot of them. Furthermore, they are surrounding us.”
“…How do you know all that?”
“I was trained to sense presence. Focus, Young Master. You don't know when, where, or what will appear.”
The training Helena received was likely ‘training’ in name only, and infinitely close to actual combat.
The kind where if you failed, you didn't just try again next time—your life was forfeit.
The Sword Saint family was a place that churned out human weapons like that… Just as I was thinking that—
“Kikikik!”
A sound like a child’s snicker rang out, and an arrow flew from somewhere.
—Thwack!
Fortunately, the arrow didn't pierce Helena or me.
Even to my untrained eyes, it was clear the arrow was incredibly crude.
“Goblins. They’ll make for perfect opponents.”
“Ugh, Goblins.”
I dare to declare this: the greatest enemy to humanity in this world isn't Dragons or Great Demons—it’s Goblins.
Of course, a single Goblin isn't much of a threat.
Their physical build is about the size of an eight-to-ten-year-old child, their strength is proportional to that, and their intelligence is at the same level.
The problem is that Goblins form swarms.
Furthermore, they have an unnaturally high sexual drive and reproductive instinct, so no matter how many you subjugate, a new swarm appears before you know it.
To put it simply, they’re no different from cockroaches. Cockroaches the size of children that eat meat and pounce on humans instead of running away.
Just as I was getting goosebumps, the Goblins hiding in the forest shadows began to reveal themselves one by one.
“Gyagyagyak!”
“Kieeeeek!”
One, two… ten… twenty… shit.
There were over thirty just at a glance.
Why are there so many? And they’re even equipped with weapons like bows, clubs, and short spears.
However, Helena’s voice as she stood back-to-back with me didn't waver in the slightest.
“Young Master, please watch my back. I will cut down the enemies in front of me.”
“…Yes!”
“Fortunately, the enemies’ equipment isn't very high-level. Even if you take a few hits, let’s use this time to reflect on and check each of your movements. Now, here I go!”
Without a word on who went first, Helena and I both charged toward the enemies in front of us.
…Or at least, that was the plan.
—BOOM! BOOM!
“Gya…ak…?”
“Ah, dammit.”
“Ugh…”
Helena was buried in a shallow mound, and I was stuck inside a rotting, broken old tree.
I had intended to leap at the Goblins… but because of my magic-enhanced leg strength, I had literally been launched like a projectile.
I was now drenched in the guts and blood of the Goblins that had been in my path.
“Ptooey, ptooey… ugh… what is this smell… urgh.”
“It seems you have a much longer way to go than I thought.”
“If you know that, give me some tips, Sitri.”
“How can I teach you the knack for breathing easily? To Us, magic and mana are just like that.”
I managed to pull myself out from between the wood and took my stance again.
I didn't know if it was good luck or bad, but the Goblins were still surrounding me.
Helena, who had pulled herself out a step ahead of me, had already turned three Goblins into piles of meat.
“Hmm, I’m starting to get the hang of it.”
“Already?!”
“Yes. Young Master, let’s meet back at this spot in one hour. If there is no progress, I will proceed with the Special Course immediately, so please do your best.”
“Dammit…!”
Helena instantly swept away the Goblins surrounding her and leaped away somewhere.
It was a speed and distance that couldn't possibly be considered human.
Hell, if I stay like this, I’m definitely going to end up taking that Special Course.
“Absolutely not. Anything but that.”
“Is it really that terrifying?”
“Yes! It makes the guerrilla training I received in my past life look like child’s play!”
And so, I began to burst the Goblins in front of me, one by one.
The ones who finally realized the situation and tried to run.
The ones who were so terrified they aimed their bows at me.
The ones who tried to bite and scratch me—every single one of them.
“Goblins, Goblins! Exterminate all Goblins! Death to the Goblins!”
“Aieeee?!”