103.Dare
「ひとつ、聞いておこう」
ラボラスは、ナイフの柄を握りしめたまま、抜かずに問いかける。
「なぜ、この森へ来た?」
「魔人族がこの森の奥にいる、と聞いた。そいつらを見に来た」
「魔人族に会うつもりか」
「そう言った」
一二三の返答を聞いて、ラボラスは素早くナイフを抜く。
「なおさら、ここから生かして返すわけにはいかなくなった」
一二三は正眼の構えのまま、動かない。
「魔人族は危険だ。何をするつもりかは知らんが、我らがこの世界のために奴らを閉じ込めているというのに、無用の騒動を持ち込む事は許さん」
ナイフ逆手に持ち、左手は魔法を放つ為にフリーにしたラボラス。
その動きを見た5人のエルフが、同様に弓やナイフを構える。
「逃げたい軟弱者は、さっさと失せろ! ここに残るのは、この森、そして世界を守る覚悟があるエルフだけでいい」
ジリジリと逃げ始めていたエルフたちの足が止まった。
一二三も、彼らがどちらを選ぶかを待っている。
「俺は......無理だ」
「俺もだ」
立て続けに二人のエルフが逃げ出したが、残った三人の若者は、意を決して武器を手にとった。
「役者は揃ったな。始めようか」
初手はラボラスの魔法攻撃だった。
鋭く先が尖ったこぶし大の石礫が、立て続けに何十発も弾けるような速度で一二三を襲う。
刀を添えるように当てて弾道をずらしながら、身体を半身にしながら避ける。
そのまま猛進して突きを見舞うが、ラボラスは乱暴にナイフで弾いた。
ナイフを振った勢いで、素手の左手が一二三の腹に叩き込まれる。
当たる瞬間に地面を蹴り、身体を浮かせた一二三は、殴られた勢いをそのまま距離を取るのに利用した。
再び、同じ距離で対峙する。
突然の接近戦に、周囲のエルフたちは援護も何もできず、魔法や弓の構えをとりつつ見守るしかない。
「速いな。打撃もできるのか」
一二三は、再び刀を構え直した。
殴られた腹は、内臓までは問題なさそうだが痣くらいは付いているだろうと思えるくらいには痛い。
「魔法一辺倒の無能では、男衆のまとめ役は務まらん。今のはうまく避けたようだが、次はそうはいかん」
ナイフを順手に持ち替え、ラボラスが背中を丸めるようにして構える。
右手に持ったナイフを突き出し、左手はすぐに魔法を放てる形で添えている。
「変わった構えだな。だが、馴染んでいるようだ」
「そうだ。これがこの森で培われた我らエルフの技。貴様ら人間とは、魔法も武器も、技量のレベルが違うのだ」
足を滑らせるようにして、ラボラスがジリジリ距離を詰めてくる。
一瞬、ラボラスが視線を外した事を一二三は見逃さない。
一二三が一歩だけ身体をずらしたところで、風の魔法が足元ではじけた。
「......避けたか」
「わかりやすい合図はやめろ。興ざめする」
「ふん......やれ!」
ラボラスの号令で、矢と魔法が一斉に一二三を襲う。
その速度は先ほど一二三を襲ったエルフたちよりも一段と早く、威力も高い。
一二三は刀で弾き、身体を振って避けるが、飽和攻撃に合わせる形で、絶妙なタイミングでラボラスのナイフやくさび型の石で攻撃を加えてくる。
「避けているだけではな!」
さらに速度を上げて攻撃を重ねてくるラボラス。
そのうちの一撃、突き出されたナイフを素手で払った一二三は、背を向けて駆け出した。
「逃げるか!」
ナイフで傷ついた腕を振り、一人のエルフの視界を血で塞ぐ。
「うっ?」
矢を放とうとしていたエルフは、急に赤く染まった視界に一瞬だけたじろいだ。それがその男の最期の瞬間となった。
握られた木製の弓ごと、腰の部分で一閃して身体を両断する。
「なんとなく、だが」
飽和攻撃を加えた相手に仲間が殺されたせいか、ふと、攻撃が止む。
「魔法より矢の方がわかりにくい。いや、逆だな。魔法はなんとなくわかるようになってきた」
言いながら、背後から迫っていた風魔法を刀の柄で叩き散らした。
「......貴様、本当に人間か......」
一筋の汗をこぼしたラボラスの、押し殺したような声に、一二三は笑顔で答えた。
「あたりまえだ。俺もお前も、お前らも、斬られれば死ぬ、普通の人間だ。あんなふうに」
身体を二つに分かたれた死体を指差す。
「だから、やり直しの効かない殺し合いにワクワクするんだろうが」
傷ついた左手を気にすることなく、両手でしっかりと刀を握り、八相に構えた一二三。
「お前は、どうしてもここで殺さねばならん」
「そうか、頑張れよ」
他人事のように呟いた一二三に、再び魔法の攻撃が集中した。
先ほどまでと違い、一二三は縦横に駆け回りながら魔法をやり過ごし、並ぶエルフたちの間を
「ぐああっ?!」
方々から悲鳴が上がり、血煙を噴き上げて倒れるエルフたち。
同胞が邪魔で狙いをつけられずにいるうちに、さらに三人が殺された。
ふと、何かに気づいた一二三が、一人のエルフの背中を押した。
「えっ?......え......」
一瞬、何をされたかわからなかったエルフだったが、激しい衝撃に視線を落とすと、自分の胸に突き立つ大きな石の楔が見える。
「なんで......」
理由もわからないまま絶命したエルフが倒れると、魔法を放ったラボラスの視界に、笑顔の一二三が映った。
「ら、ラボラスさん!?」
同士打ちに驚いたエルフは、一二三からラボラスへと目を向けたところで刀に心臓を突かれ、即死した。
ラボラスは串刺しになった仲間ごと魔法で一二三に次々と石を飛ばす。
刀を引きつつ、死体を蹴り飛ばして盾にした一二三は、膝の力を抜いて倒れるような極端な前傾姿勢で駆けた。
ラボラスではなく、別のエルフに向かって。
「く、来るな!」
驚愕し、慌てて魔法を向けようとするが、遅い。
一二三が逆袈裟に切り上げようとして、今度は後ろに転がった。
助かった、とエルフが安堵したのは一瞬で、ラボラスが放った細かく、先の尖った弾丸のような石弾が全身を穿った。
「チッ」
「俺の獲物を横からさらうなよ」
散弾を避けられ舌打ちするラボラスに、一二三は口を尖らせた。
ラボラスは答えない。
足が止まった一二三に向け、ナイフを手に轟然と迫る。
エルフのイメージとはそぐわないその強靭な肉体と同様、愛用のナイフも肉厚で重厚だ。
対して、その攻撃は繊細で隙がない。
「いい腕をしている」
的確に急所を狙う突きと、逃げ道を塞ぐように振られる斬りつけが混じると、周囲からの魔法を捌きながら対応する一二三は、ジリジリと下がりながら小さな切り傷を増やしていく。
だが、一二三は手を出さない。
そして、余裕の表情をしているのは一二三の方だ。
「速い。だが、素直すぎる」
その瞬間、ラボラスを含めたエルフたちは、信じられないものを見た。
一二三が構えた刀が、ナイフの突き全てに切っ先を当てていく。突きで突きを迎え撃っている。
「信じられんことを、する!」
必死で突きの速度を上げるが、一二三はそれに余裕で付いて行く。
「読みやすいのがいかん」
ギシギシと金属音が、テンポを速める。
「ぐ、この!」
「それがいかんのだ」
しびれを切らしたラボラスが、防御を突き破る勢いで体ごと突きを繰り出す。
だが、一二三はそれを迎え撃つ事なく、前のめりになったラボラスの脇を通りすぎる。
想像していた衝撃が無く、前に向かってたたらを踏んだラボラス。その膝を一二三は横から踏みつけた。
バランスを崩したラボラスは、素直に倒れず、無理に身体をひねってナイフを振るった。
だが、伸ばした腕は刀に切り飛ばされる。
「クソがぁああ!」
「うるさい」
腕を失い、叫び声を上げたラボラスの喉を、するりと入り込んだ刃が切り裂く。
熱い血液を喉と口から溢れさせたラボラスは、一二三を睨みつけたまま、死んだ。
「ら、ラボラスさんが......」
未だ生き残っているのは一人の若い男のエルフのみ。
手に持った弓を捨てたエルフは、頭を下げて許しを乞うべきか、どのような言葉を並べるべきか、迷い、口から息を吐くばかりだ。
膝をついたエルフに、一二三は刀を提げたままで近づく。
「ま、参った......」
「選択の機会はあった」
だから、これはその結果でしかない、と一二三は刀を振り下ろした。
ザンガーが木戸の外れる音に顔を上げると、血まみれの一二三が立っていた。
「......あたしを、殺しに来たのかい?」
プーセとシクは、ザンガーの両脇に寄り添う。
「まだ死にたいと思うなら、それはそれで構わんが」
一二三が放ったナイフが、囲炉裏の灰に突き立つ。
「これは......ラボラスのナイフだね」
時折、丁寧に手入れをしたナイフをじっと見つめているのを、ザンガーも何度か見ていた。
「ラボラスは、死んだんだね......それで、あんたに敵対したエルフに、報復をしたいと思うかね?」
プーセとシクが、身体をこわばらせた。
「......怒っているんじゃないのかい? この村のエルフは、あんたを襲ったんだよ?」
「戦いたいなら殺す。そうじゃないならわざわざ弱い奴を殺しても楽しくもなんとも無い。それより、魔人族を見に行く方が優先だ。俺は一眠りしてくるから、昼には案内してもらうぞ」
一二三が踵を返すと、ザンガーが慌てて手を伸ばした。
「ま、待っておくれ」
勢いよく腰を上げたザンガーを、プーセが支える。
「シクに聞いたよ。エルフの最期について、何かを見つけた、と」
「その事か」
一二三は、先ほどのエルフたちに話した事を説明した。
体内に入った何かが溜まり、身体の末端からじわじわと固まって変質する様を説明され、プーセは青い顔をしているが、ザンガーは頷きながら聞いていた。
「......ようやく、納得できたよ。あたしが妙に長生きできた理由が」
ふぅ、と息を吐き、ザンガーは消えかけた囲炉裏の火に枝を放る。いつもより丁寧に、そっと落ちるように。
「あたしはね、小さい時からあまり外に出なかったんだよ。森も、怖くてあまり近づかなかった。森の木々からの“何か”が理由なら、あたしが変質するのが遅いのもわかるよ。思えば、よく森で過ごした者ほど、早く死んでいった気もするけれどね。今更言っても、どうしようもないけれど」
話ながら、ザンガーは涙をこぼしていた。
顔をくしゃくしゃにして、歯を食いしばりながら、ただただ泣く。
「森の民と言いながら、森の恵みで生きながら、あたしたちは森に殺されていたんだね......。こんなに虚しいことはないよ......おばあちゃん......」
幼い日、見捨ててしまったあの祖母は、どんな気持ちだっただろうか。
死の瞬間が安寧ではなかったという絶望に、見捨てられたという絶望が重なった心境は、どれだけ悲痛だったか、想像することすら出来ない。
「ザンガー様......」
不安げに声をかけてくれるプーセやシクを見て、ザンガーは傍らの布で乱暴に涙を拭った。
「ひっひ......恥ずかしいところを見せてしまったね。......人間さん、一つ、お願いがあるんだがね」
立ち上がり、無表情に見下ろす一二三に、ザンガーは頭を下げた。
「あたしを始め、この村から出て行く者を募るから、どこか別の土地へ連れていってくれないかね?」
「ざ、ザンガー様?」
驚いたプーセが声を上げるが、ザンガーは頭を下げたままだ。
「この村の、エルフの指導者として、この挑戦だけはやっておきたいのさ。この森に、いつかエルフは取り込まれる。いや、もう取り込まれているんだろうね」
「俺は、魔人族の所へ行くと言ったはずだが?」
「そこから戻ってからでいいのさ。村の希望者をまとめるにも、時間がかかるからね。無茶なお願いだというのはわかっているけれど、あたしにできる事はなんでもするよ」
それが、指導者としての義務だ、とザンガーは一二三を見た。
「エルフは、魔法が得意なようだが」
唐突な質問に、ザンガーはひゃっひゃっと笑った。
「そうだねえ。あたしも得意だし、このプーセも治療魔法はたいしたもんだよ」
「それを、異種族に教えたことはあるか?」
「無いね。でも、できるかもしれないよ......いや、やるしかないんだろうね。それが人間さんの願いなら」
返答を聞いた一二三は、顎に手を当てて唸った。
「......なら、やってもらおう」
話は戻ってからだ、と言い残し、一二三は出ていった。
「ザンガー様、私はついて行きます。......私も、あの森の光景が怖くなりました......」
「いいのかい? あんたはまだ若いから、無理に森を出ることはないんだよ?」
プーセは、微笑みながらそっと首を横に振った。
「ザンガー様は私に魔法を教えてくださった方です。その方が何かに挑戦されようというのに、お手伝いしないなんてありえません」
「ぼ、ぼくも手伝うよ! ......魔法は、難しいけれど......」
シクの頭を撫で、ザンガーはありがとう、と呟いた。
「なんだか、ワクワクしてきたねぇ」
同胞が殺されたというのに、自分は本当に残酷なんだろうね、とザンガーは内心で思っていた。
Chapter 103: Dare
"I want to ask you one thing." (Laboras)
While grasping the haft of the knife tightly, Laboras asks without drawing the blade out.
"Why did you come to this forest?" (Laboras)
"I heard that the demon race is deep within this forest. I came to visit them." (Hifumi)
"You plan to meet the demons, huh?" (Laboras)
"That's what I said." (Hifumi)
Hearing Hifumi's reply, Laboras swiftly draws his knife.
"That means there's even less reason to let you leave this place alive." (Laboras)
While having a stance of aiming at the eyes with his katana, Hifumi doesn't move.
"The demons are dangerous. I don't know what you intend to do, but even though we are imprisoning them on behalf of this world, you are only bringing unnecessary turmoil." (Laboras)
Laboras kept his left hand free to use magic while holding the knife in a backhand grip in his right hand.
The five elves who saw that change, similarly set up their bows and knives.
"Get out of my sight, you weakling who want to escape! The ones who are to stay here are only the elves who have the resolve to protect this forest and world." (Laboras)
Having started to retreat bit-by-bit, the elves stopped their feet.
Hifumi is also waiting to see which choice they will make.
"For me... impossible."
"For me as well."
One after the other two elves ran away, however the remaining three elven youths readied their weapons.
"The actors have assembled. Let's begin?" (Hifumi)
The beginning was a magic attack by Laboras.
Several tens of fist-sized pellets which had sharpened points assault Hifumi in succession at a speed similar to a machine-gun.
Taking a stance with his legs in a L-shape, Hifumi evades those while using the katana as support to shift their trajectory.
Although Hifumi dashed forward swiftly and greeted with a thrust, Laboras roughly repelled it with his knife.
Laboras drives his free left hand into Hifumi's abdomen with the momentum of the swung knife.
Kicking the ground at the moment of being hit, Hifumi who became unsteady used the force of being struck to take some distance.
Once again they face each other at the same distance.
Due to the sudden close combat, the surrounding elves are unable to give cover or to do anything else. Even though they have readied their spells and arrows, they have no choice but to watch attentively.
"You are quick and you are even able to hit me, huh?" (Hifumi)
Hifumi fixed his stance once again.
The hit abdomen is painful to the extent that I can at least expect a bruise though it's unlikely to have reached as far as my internal organs.
"An incompetent person who completely relies on magic isn't fit to act as mediator between men. It seems that you avoided it skilfully just now, but next time that won't work." (Laboras)
Changing his hold of the knife to an overhand grip, Laboras takes a stance of curling up his back.
Holding out the knife he held in his right hand, his left hand supports in a style of enabling him to release magic at any time.
"It's a different stance. However, it looks like you are familiar with it." (Hifumi)
"Indeed. This is an elven technique we have fostered in this forest. It's at a different level in skill, weaponry and magic in comparison to you lowly humans." (Laboras)
Making sure to slide his feet, Laboras slowly closes the distance.
Hifumi doesn't miss the instant Laboras shifted his sight.
A wind spell burst open underfoot the spot where Hifumi moved away from with a single step.
"... Avoided, huh?" (Laboras)
"Don't leak such easily detectable signs. It's a kill-joy." (Hifumi)
"Humph... do it!" (Laboras)
Upon Laboras' command arrows and spells attack Hifumi all at once.
Their speed is much faster than that of the elves who attacked Hifumi a while ago. The power is higher as well.
Hifumi avoids them by shifting his body and repelling them with his katana, but in a style of matching the saturation attack, Laboras adds attacks with his knife and wedge-shaped stones with a perfect timing.
"You are doing nothing but avoiding!" (Laboras)
Laboras increases the speed by stacking up even more attacks.
Hifumi, who knocked aside the thrust out knife among those blows with his bare hand, turned around and ran off.
"Are you running away?" (Laboras)
Swinging his arm which was wounded by the knife, Hifumi steals the sight of an elf with his blood.
"Ugh?"
The elf, who tried to fire an arrow, faltered only for an instant due to his abruptly dyed red field of vision. That became this man's final moment.
Alongside the wooden bow he grasped in his hands, his body was was bisected into two parts at the waist in a flash.
"It's only vaguely, but..." (Hifumi)
As result of their companion being killed by the opponent who was showered with a saturation attack, they unintentionally cease their attacks.
"The style of the archery is harder to grasp than the magic. No, it's the other way around. I reached the point where I can somehow understand the magic." (Hifumi)
While saying that, he struck the wind spell approaching from behind with the hilt of the katana and scattered it.
"... You bastard, are you really a human...?" (Laboras)
Due to the subdued voice of Laboras who spilled drops of sweat, Hifumi answered with a smile,
"That's obvious. You, me, you guys will die if we are cut by a blade. We are normal people. Just like him." (Hifumi)
He points at the corpse which had its body split in two.
"That's probably why we get thrilled by killing each other, because starting over is not possible." (Hifumi)
Without minding his injured left hand, Hifumi grasps the katana tightly with both hands and assumes a hachisou* stance.
"I will kill you here by all means." (Laboras)
"I see. Do your best." (Hifumi)
Once again the magic attacks concentrated on Hifumi who muttered that as if it was someone else's problem.
Different to before, Hifumi lets the spells go past while running around as he pleases. He slips through the spaces between the lined-up elves just like a whirlwind.
"Guaaa?"
The elves in all directions raise screams and collapse in fountains of blood.
While being hindered by their brethren making them unable to take aim, three more got killed.
Suddenly noticing something, Hifumi pushed the back of an elf.
"Eh...? Eh..."
The elf didn't comprehend what was done to him for an instant, but once he lowered his look due to an intense impact, he saw a large wedged stone piercing into his own chest.
"Why...?"
Once the dead elf collapsed without even understanding the reason, Hifumi's smiling face was reflected in the sight of Laboras who released the spell.
"L-Laboras-san!?"
An elf, surprised by the friendly fire, shifted his attention from Hifumi to Laboras and was instantly killed by the katana stabbing directly into his heart.
Laboras fires one stone after the other at Hifumi with magic while including his companion, who got skewered, in the line of fire.
While pulling out the katana, Hifumi, who decided to use the corpse as shield and kicked it flying, dashed in an extremely forward-bent posture, as if falling, by drawing out the power of his knees.
He doesn't head towards Laboras, but to another elf.
"D-Don't come!"
Although he tries to face Hifumi with magic in panic and fright, he is too slow.
As he tried to finish him with a reversed diagonal shoulder slash, Hifumi fell onto his back this time.
At the moment the elf felt relieved with a "I'm saved," his entire body was riddled with holes by the stone bullets, similar to finely sharpened shells, fired by Laboras.magic
"Tsk." (Laboras)
"Don't sweep away my prey from the side." (Hifumi)
Hifumi pouted at Laboras who clicked his tongue due to Hifumi avoiding his shots.
Laboras doesn't reply.
Facing Hifumi who stopped his feet, he approaches him with the knife in his hand while roaring.
Similar to his strong body, which doesn't suit the image of elves, his knife is also thick and solid.
In contrast to that, his attacks are precise without any gaps.
"You are quite skilled." (Hifumi)
The thrusts are accurately aiming at the vital spots and the blended-in slashes are swung in order to close possible escape routes. Hifumi, who deals with those while handling the spells from the surroundings, is slowly retreating while getting more and more small gashes.
However, Hifumi doesn't take the initiative.
And, Hifumi has a composed expression.
"Fast. But, those attacks are too straightforward." (Hifumi)
At that moment, the elves including Laboras saw something unbelievable.
The katana wielded by Hifumi counters all of the knife thrusts with its point. The thrust are met with thrusts.
"I can't believe that you are doing this!" (Laboras)
Although Laboras frantically raises the speed of his thrusts, Hifumi calmly follows up on that.
"Easily readable attacks won't work." (Hifumi)
The tempo accelerates accompanied by creaking metallic sounds.
"Guh, this!" (Laboras)
"That won't do." (Hifumi)
Laboras, who grew impatient, unleashes a thrust entrusting the weight of his entire body into it with a force to break through Hifumi's defence.
However, Hifumi passes alongside the flank of Laboras who pitched forward without meeting the attack.
Laboras stumbled a step or two forwards as the impact he expected was missing. His knee was stepped on by Hifumi from the side.
Losing his balance, Laboras forcibly twisted his body without collapsing obediently and swung his knife.
But, his outstretched arm is sent flying after getting cut by the katana.
"Damn iiitt!" (Laboras)
"Shut up." (Hifumi)
The throat of Laboras, who raised a scream after having lost an arm, is torn open by the blade which pierced into it in a smooth and unhindered motion.
Laboras, who spilled hot blood from his mouth and throat, died while glaring at Hifumi.
"L-Laboras-san is..."
There still one young elven man alive.
Throwing away the bow he held in his hands, the elf just bows while only breathing out from his mouth as he is puzzled whether he should beg and what kind of words he should use.
Hifumi approaches the elf, who fell to his knees, while holding the katana in his hand.
"I-I give up..."
"You had a chance to choose." (Hifumi)
"Therefore this is nothing but the outcome of your choice", Hifumi swung his katana downwards.
Once Zanga raised her face due to the sound of the sound of the wooden door being lifted, the bloodstained Hifumi stood there.
"... Did you come to kill me?" (Zanga)
Puuse and Shiku are nestling close to Zanga on both her sides.
"If you still believe that you want to die, I won't mind." (Hifumi)
The knife, thrown by Hifumi, pierces into the ashes of the sunken hearth.
"This is... Laboras' knife." (Zanga)
Intently staring at the knife which she had sometimes carefully maintained, Zanga had seen it several times in the past.
"Laboras is dead... so, do you yearn to exact your revenge upon the elves who were hostile towards you?" (Zanga)
Puuse's and Shiku's bodies stiffened.
"... You aren't angry? This elf village attacked you, didn't it?" (Zanga)
"I will kill if I'm challenged. If that doesn't happen, I have no hobby of going out of my way to kill weaklings either. Rather than that, I prefer to go visit the demon race. I will have you guide me there at noon after I got some sleep." (Hifumi)
When Hifumi turned on his heel, Zanga extended a hand in panic.
"P-Please wait." (Zanga)
Zanga, who got up vigorously, is supported by Puuse.
"I heard from Shiku. He told me that you discovered something about the final moment's of an elf." (Zanga)
"About that, huh?" (Hifumi)
Hifumi explained what he told the elves from before.
Explaining the accumulation of something that entered their bodies and the way it changes by slowly hardening from the extremities of the body, Puuse's face turns pale. But, Zanga listened while nodding.
"... Finally I'm able to understand, the reason for my strangely long life." (Zanga)
Zanga tosses a twig into the fire of the sunken hearth which was about to vanish and blows at it with a "Fuu~" Politer than usual, she lowers her body softly.
"I didn't go outside much since I was small. I didn't get too close to the forest either because I was scared. If that "something" from the forests' trees is the reason, then I can understand why my transformation has been slow. Now that I think about it, I have a feeling that those, who spent a lot of time in the forest, died early as well. However, even if I say that now, it cannot be helped anymore." (Zanga)
Zanga shed tears while talking.
She only weeps while enduring the pain with a dishevelled expression.
"While living with the blessing of the forest and being called the people of the forest, we were getting killed by that very forest... It can't be something that empty... Grandma..." (Zanga)
What kind of emotions did her grandmother, she ended up abandoning in her childhood, bear, I wonder?
Her mental state, which was burdened with the despair of having abandoned her and the despair of her grandmother not having had a peaceful death; just how heartbreaking was it? I'm not even able to imagine it.
"Zanga-sama..." (Puuse)
Looking at Shiku and Puuse who is uneasily calling out to her, Zanga roughly wiped away her tears with a cloth at her side.
"Hii hi... I ended up showing you something embarrassing. Human-san, I have a single request." (Zanga)
Standing up, Zanga bowed towards Hifumi who is looking down on her expressionlessly.
"Since I will recruit those who want to leave this village, can you please take us, including me as well, to some other place?" (Zanga)
"Za-Zanga-sama?" (Puuse)
The shocked Puuse raises her voice, but Zanga remains in a state of bowing.
"As leader of the elves of this village I only want to popularize this attempt. One day the elves will be imprisoned by this forest. No, they already are, I think." (Zanga)
"Didn't I tell you that I'm going to the demons?" (Hifumi)
"It's fine if it's after you come back from there. Also, gathering the interested people of the village will take time. I know that I'm making an unreasonable request, but I will do anything for it." (Zanga)
"That's my duty as leader", Zanga looked at Hifumi.
"Aren't elves good at magic though?" (Hifumi)
Zanga laughed with a "Hya Hya" due to the sudden question.
"They are. It's my strong point. Puuse is quite skilled at healing magic, too." (Zanga)
"Is that something which you were taught by another race?" (Hifumi)
"I don't think so. It might be possible... No, I guess there's no other choice but to do it, if that's your wish, human-san." (Zanga)
Hearing her answer, Hifumi placed a hand on his chin and groaned.
"... If that's the case, I will have you do it." (Hifumi)
"Further talks are after I come back", leaving those words behind, Hifumi went away.
"Zanga-sama, I will accompany you. ... I have also become scared of this forest's scenery..." (Puuse)
"Are you sure? It's not like you have to force yourself to leave the forest since you are still young." (Zanga)
Puuse softly shook her head while smiling.
"It's my way of thanking you for teaching me magic, Zanga-sama. Even though that method will be some kind of challenge, something like not helping you is impossible for me." (Puuse)
"I-I will help as well! ... Magic is difficult, but..." (Shiku)
Stroking Shiku's head, Zanga murmured a "Thank you."
"Somehow it got exciting, didn't it?" (Zanga)
Although my brethren got killed, I guess I'm truly cruel
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido