"Waaaaaah~! So this is a forest!"

Yep. This is a forest.

The forest itself, wasn't anything special. It was just a bunch of trees that the humans decided to keep for some or other reason.

What 'was' kind of cool, was the clear boundary between the mountain and this forest. As soon as the slope of the mountain becomes noticeable, the plant life stops.

It's like the mountain was cursed to be barren.

Just what happened, so long ago?

No. There's no point thinking about those kinds of things.

[So, you've never seen one before, child?]

"Nope!"

[Of course, you haven't...]

Haaah... I should really stop asking you, these kinds of questions, huh? Even I'm starting to pity you.

But, there's no way I can allow such a thing. Even from me.

The moment, that the person I 'endorse', begins gathering pity instead of fear and respect, I'd have already failed.

Which is why... I'm afraid there's no other way around it. I'll have to 'metaphorically' drown her in so many, different experiences, that she has no choice but to shed her innate 'foolishness'.

But, how do I go around doing that?

No! How is doing that, any different from how that spirit was trying to isolate her, forever!?

But then... my goals... what would I do, then!?

Arrrrrgh!!!

"Ah! A thingy!" Even though I was painfully torn between my pride and my name as 'Pride'; this child was chasing a butterfly while starry-eyed. Oh... how I wish, I was still young... not that I ever experienced being 'young'. 'Fresh off the enchantment table', though - now that, I've experienced.

But, I'm digressing too much.

[Hey, child - watch where you're going.] You almost tripped on a tree root there.

"No, thingy! Come back! I promise, I won't hurt you! I just want to put you in a bottle!"

[Oi. Listen to me.]

"I am listeni- thingy! Don't go there!"

[At least finish it, if you are going to lie! No, wait! Stop! Stop! STOP!]

"Almost... got ya-!" The child took a leap of faith. Sadly, she was just an inch short of reaching the bright yellow butterfly.

And now, comes the result of that faithful leap.

*splash*

[I TOLD YOU TO STOP, DIDN'T I!?] I 'yelled' at the top of my 'lungs'. [NOW, LOOK AT YOU! DRENCHED IN DIRTY, STAGNANT, POND WATER! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY KINDS OF BACTERIA ARE IN THIS SLOP!]

"Oh, Hel-nee-chan. You're being crazy. It's just water, even I have taken a bath you know?" She said with a smug look. "Plus, what's some vak-ter-ya going to do?"

[You have no idea, what bacteria is, do you?]

"N-no..."

[Bacteria, is those really, teeny-tiny things that live in dirty water. When they enter your body, they start multiplying inside of you. When that happens, your entire body will become their food.]

"...eh...?"

[You'll get sick. So sick, that you wish you would die. But, the bacteria won't let you, because they need a live host. So they'll constantly keep you is a state of being inches from death, and you'll continue to be their seedbed until you grow old -]

"YAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! NOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! GET AWAY FROM ME, VAKTERYAAAA!! HEL-NEE-CHAN! PLEASE! PLEASE, HELP ME! PLEASE GET RID OF THE VAKTERYA! I'M BEGGING YOU!"

[Hmmmm... let me think about it..]

"PLEEEAAAAAAaaAAAAAAASSSSEEE!!"

[Will you listen to me, properly, next time?]

"YESHHHh!!"

[Will you stop chasing after butterflies, now?]

"YESH! Yesh I will! Hel-nee-chan!!"

[Good] I 'nodded' and spoke the words of power... [Heat Haze]

Mana began gathering above us and collided with the other molecules in the air, including one another - thus, generating heat. Normally, this spell is a cheap wide-area disorientation spell. But, that won't be enough to get rid of the muck sticking to her, much less the bacteria.

First, I began collecting it into a small ball. After a while, sounds of *fwiiish* *fwiiish * became a whole lot more noticeable...

Now this should be... enough!

"Kyaaaah!! It's hot! Nou!"

[Stand still!] Why're you overreacting!? It's not that hot! [Don't worry, child. Heat haze was originally designed to be used in conjunction with 'Stupor' for taking out armies.]

"Is that supposed to make me feel better!?"

[I limited the temperature to just the point that you'll feel like you're in a sandy desert, so, yes.]

"But... I- I can taste... the sand... Hel-nee-chan..."

[That means, its working child... and there, all done!] The haze slowly began weakening - fading away as quickly as it came.

Seeing that, "Yay!..." she began patting herself all over. Why are you doing that? "I really am clean! Thank you, so much, Hel-nee-chan! Now the vakterya is all gone!"

[Ah. So you were checking. Well, hate to break it to you, but they're still there. Heat of that level won't have any effect on microorganisms. That means, you still have to take a bath, while I disinfect your clothes. Understood?]

"O-ok."

[Good. Now, I think we passed by a small spring earlier. Why don't you take a bath there? There ought to be some soap inside the bag... wait! Where's the bag!?]

"Oh no! I left it!"

Is it fortunate or unfortunate, that I can't facepalm? Because, if I could, I would.

[Haaaaaaah... alright. Go on. Let's go get it back. You remember where it was, right?]

"... ... no..."

Haaaaaaah... what would this girl do without me...? Is this how that spirit regularly felt?

Parenting is a pain.

Children are a pain.

[Well, don't worry. I know where it is.]

"Hel-nee-chan, really is amazing!"

[Yeah, yeah. Come on, get moving.]

Well, at least they're cute.

"Okay!" Nodding exaggeratedly, she began running.

[You're going the exact wrong way, child.]

"I- I knew that... I was just checking if you were paying attention."

[Child, you are a terrible liar... -!?]

"What's wrong, Hel-nee-chan?"

[Get down!]

There was no way she could react that quickly, so I detonated a small heat blast - blowing her down the ground.

"Kya!"

Like lightning, a silver flash sliced through where the child's neck was, just a split-second ago.

It was an Light Attribute attack! What’s more - is it’s a ranged type...

And this density...

[ It's Holy Smite!?] One of the strongest light attribute attack!?

No...it was too small... shouldn't it be a lot flashier? That one seemed just like an assassination attack! What in the -!?

"Hel-nee-chan... what was that -"

[Quiet child! Now, take me out of my scabbard!]

"Huh-?"

[QUICKLY!]

"Y-yes!"

Her unsheathing of me, was amateurish. But, it was good enough to get my entire blade out.

That was all that I needed.

[Heat Haze!] A huge amount of heat concentration, the kind, that not even Charles was able to pull out of me - because of his 'impairment' - blasted the surroundings to oblivion.

The trees, moss, insects, wildlife - even the moisture in the air - immediately exceeded their evaporation point and disappeared into the atmosphere. It feat that was normally impossible, without a large mana pool and a powerful tool.

The tool was obviously me - that means... this child seems to be hiding quite a lot under her foolish surface.

With the immediate surroundings clear of obstructions, the attacker was now in plain sight.

"H...Hel-nee-chan... is 'that person'... sen...pai?" Her fearful voice was transmitted to me. But, seeing that thing, it was perfectly normal to be quivering in your boots.

[No. I told you already. Your senpai is a male...] Not letting my focus off it, I glared at the figure garbed in a loose and suggestive white outfit. On its head, was a nun's habit and covering its left eye was an eyepatch with the Ioman Cross on it. [That... is the Sword Maiden, Seria V. Litzerbach.]

Although I say 'Sword Maiden', it doesn't actually have sword.

"I-is it normal for 'Sword Maidens' to be missing their right breast? A-and parts of their bodies, l-like their tummies? Please, please tell me, it’s normal for sword maidens to be bathed in their own blood... its normal right? It normal for them, to be bleeding from the top of their head to their toes, right?"

[You know that's impossible.]

"T-then how is she still alive!? And-and why does she seem to be targeting us!? D-did we do something wrong!?"

[Child. Calm down.]

"But!"

[Calm down. She doesn't seem to be trying to do something, but even in that case - I'm here. So, calm down. Breathe deeply. In... out]

"Huuuuuuu... haaaaaaaa... huuuuuuuu... haaaaaaaaa"

[You calmed down, now?]

"U-umu."

[Good. Now get rea- Magma Rampart Defense!] Following my words, a gigantic wall of magma rose from within the earth. And, that wall was immediately brought down.

White hot magma began raining everywhere and blazes began in all directions. But, thanks to having me in her hands, the child was still safe.

Her clothes on the other hand, were a different story. They were slowly burning, but it seems the child is too scared to sense the strangeness of having flames touching you, yet feeling none of it.

And... I'm not that much better than her, either.

Fuck! I knew the Sword Maiden was strong! But, this is too much! How can a simple Lux Ballista reduce my wall to puddles!?

It’s not impossible to do so, but... shit! Having 'this thing' as the child's first opponent, is way too much of a jump in difficulty, isn't it!

"Hel-nee-chan... w-what should I do!?"

[JUMP TO THE RIGHT!]

Even when focused, she just barely dodged the incoming Lux Ballista.

But damn! judging from how much mana was, once again collecting on its now raised arm - it was preparing another one.

[Swing me at her!]

"But, I don't know anything about -"

[JUST DO IT!]

"E-ei!"

Using the timing of her swinging me - [Obsidian Dust!] I yelled - compressing my malice-filled mana into countless, tiny black shards.

With a speed producing countless sonic booms, they quickly approached 'it', planning to tear it to shreds.

Thanks to this child focusing on the swing, she subconsciously transferred a lot more mana then normal, into me - likewise, the explosive speed and density of the shards were greatly improved. It was to the point, that I can probably even pierce through tanks, using these.

But...

[Of course, that wouldn't have any effect.]

As if it didn't even notice them being around, it was just standing there, with gray shards all over its body!

Then, "raaagh!" It lunged at us, shards and all!

[Swing me again!]

"Yaah!"

[Mana Clad!] The pitch-black mana that was already covering me, became even stronger. With that, I was barely able to block her arms and... cut through them completely!?

[Again!]

"Ei!"

This time, its body was cut apart. And, the two halves fell down lifelessly.

No! Its upper body is still moving!

There's no heart, so... [Child! Stab me in its head!]

"Hei!"

*shaku*like that, any sign of movement had disappeared completely.

Impossible... this is just impossible.

How did we win?

I don't want to sound mean but... we shouldn't have had any chance.

Because... even when turned - I knew - this Sword Maiden still had its sanity. Or maybe, a part of it. Otherwise, how would it be 'smart' enough to parry only the shards that were aiming at its head?

How could it use Mana clad all over its entire body, to escape the effects of my Heat Haze?

And... how would it always know, the perfect moment to attack? Ergo, when our focus lapses for one reason or the other.

If the trees were still nearby, I have no doubt that it would have also used those as cover. It did the first time.

But... it didn't seem to have the intelligence to run. Not 'run away', but rather, run around us in circles. If it did that, there was no way, this child could react in time when it made that last lunge.

No... it wasn't that it didn't have the intelligence... it did possess it. But, it’s almost as if, she became dumber soon after I used [Obsidian Dust].

"H-hel-nee-chan... is it... is it over, now?"

Still gripping me - who was stabbed into this thing's head - tightly, the child asked. Her face was pale, her gait was frightened and tears were welling up in her eyes.

[Ah...] How could I be so stupid! Who cares about whatever happened just now! What matters... all that matters, is this child! This scared child... [It's okay, child. It’s all over now.]

"R-really? It really is over, right?"

[Yes.] That's a lie. It didn't take a genius to figure that out. There's obviously a reason why someone like the Sword Maiden would be reduced to such a figure. But... [It’s all over. You can rest now.]

"O-oka~y..." The mental fatigue she undertook must have been too much, because as soon as she lost focus, she fainted, falling to the ground.

"Suuuu... suuuu..." The faint sound of a little girl sleeping was all that could be heard, where a quick, but devastating battle had just occurred.

[Rest easy, child. I'll make sure to protect you.]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"The following events I'm about to tell you all, occurred roughly ten days ago"

"Late in the night - at 2200 hours of the sixteenth of October, 1031 - a large army began sieging the Fortress City of Durandal.

It was an army comprised of many different species. From goblins, to dragons and even humans.

While we're not sure if the sporadic monster attacks that started a month earlier, is connected.

We are sure of one thing."

"What's that?"

"This is not a simple monster lord."

"It never is a simple 'anything', whenever we're involved."

"Hahaha... sadly that's the case. So? Is it really a Demon King?"

"Yes. Sword Maiden Seria has described it as such. Most likely, it is one with the ability to corrupt the mind and flesh."

"That means it'll be weak to a frontal assault. Hahaha! This might be a whole lot easier now. Especially with the Sword Maiden already on the scene!"

"Let me guess, the only reason we’re going there is for morale, right? Not that I'm averse to getting paid for just showing up."

"Umu! It'll be nice to see ane-ue once in a while. I've been itching for a rematch ever since that day, I left home."

"Ufufu... while, it would be a nice change of pace... I do feel a bit peeved being deployed for an army of dumb monsters and delusional heretics. Nevertheless, it would be -."

"I'll stop you all, right there."

"Hm? What's wrong Gil? Why the grave face? Come on, have a bit more faith in us."

"I do. I have put a great deal of my faith onto all of you. But... I'd appreciate it, if you take the gravity of this situation more."

"Okay? What?"

"Sword Maiden, Seria V. Litzerbach, is dead."

"... ...what?"

"Fortress City Durandal, fell in a single night. Together with the Gold-ranked Adventurer, 'Sword Maiden', we've also lost 'Strongman', 'Flashy Slash' and the 'Four Valkyrie Sisters'. That, along with every other adventurer and citizen in the city - 100,000 thousand people - whom now either lie dead, or are massacring every other settlement in the surrounding area. Although, the feudal militaries are able to contain them for now, every casualty we incur, is a reinforcement for them."

"THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE! Take back those words, Gilgamesh! You may be an Emperor now, but I won't think twice about beating you up, if you say another lie about ane-ue!"

"If this was faulty information, then I'd gladly take that beating. But... I've confirmed it myself. The south... has been overrun."

"... ... no... im...possible..."

"Meria-kun... please sit down. The emperor is not done speaking."

"But..."

"It's okay, Mitch."

"So then, 'Em-pe-ror'. Why doesn't anyone know of this yet?"

"Because anyone who tried to disseminate the information, is dead."

"You killed them..."

"The repercussions of this going out-"

"You and your shitty politics."

"It’s those 'shitty politics' that's keeping this country afloat. We all have to grow up, sometime... now, will you take the job or not?"

"Haaah... it’s almost as if, nothing's changed with you... well, hell, there's no way we can just walk away now, can we?"

"..."

"We'll take the job and kill that shitstain for you... and for Seria-ane-san. You're welcome."

"..."

"...standard Demon King Subjugation fee, is four-hundred million Euros. Make sure to have our reward ready, when we get back."

"...yes."

"And stop squeezing your fists so tightly. Being tied to the throne, may be hard, especially with how you were before - but that's what we're here for."

"Ah... ... I didn't notice..."

"The bleeding palms or us?"

"... I don't know."

"Hah. You never did. Well, wish us luck."

"...Good luck... [Heroes of Pandora]."