Chapter 11

Mother

Daylight came, which means it’s time to put my hood on.

Sallis burned all the corpses at dawn after saying something about demonic necromancy, even the ones from the slaver incident. I don’t what he meant, but I think he used some kind magic to burn the corpses because the flames only produced white vapor instead of smoke.

They did some kind of ceremony after that, something about honoring Thalvos. Bleh.

Latasha wakes up after smelling breakfast. She seems especially happy to see me for some reason.

“Well, fuck me. Not even a scratch on you?”

All thanks to you, fiery princess, I give her a grateful smile.

She has yet to fully recover, yet she keeps insisting on having her meal outside with the others. Once again, the girls huddle around in groups and engage themselves in small talk. It’s okay, I guess. They need the distraction – distraction from the monsters lurking in the woods.

I find out more things about the girls during this time. Most of them had been victims of targeted kidnappings, but not all of them had it that easy. Aira, for one, had her home raided and her family killed, just like Farica did. Kaelyn’s case seems to be difficult as well, but she refuses to tell, and we don’t want to force her to.

When the convoy is about to depart, a drifter comes to fetch me and Farica to the “command” wagon. Latasha opts to go with, but Farica is objected to the idea.

“You’re injured. You should be resting,” she said.

Latasha rolls her eyes in objection, “We’re in the wilds. Beasts don’t wait for injuries.”

“Latasha, I know how to make really hot spices, you know?”

“Huh? So what? I don’t even like them. I told you, I hate hot spices…” Latasha trailed off as she realizes what Farica meant.

“I know,” the other girl makes a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “I also happen to know which bowl you always use.”

“You mean…”

“I heard they’re good for your health. Don’t you agree?”

By the gods. Farica, you are one scary mother.

Latasha finally gives up with that.

When I arrive at the command wagon, I notice that it is being dragged by a certain scurry.

Hey, Fanny!

“Quack…” he replied, for some reason refusing to meet my eyes.

The officers have a questioning look for a moment when they see me dragging a certain reluctant luphaen with me, but they decide to let it be. After all, I can’t tell them about the “voices”, but Aira can.

Now in this wagon, riding with me are Commander Orlev, the bear chief Aldwan, Luise, the magus Sallis, the rep Lain, Farica, and Aira.

The bear chief is the one who speaks up first, his words aimed at the rep beside him. “I’m sorry about Del’More. If I knew, I wouldn’t have... you know...”

“We all got the short end, chief. He was a good guy. A bit quiet, though.”

“Ah, yeah... he was pretty quiet.” 

 Del’More is… was the other rep? Come to think of it, I think I saw one with a rep uniform in the pile of bodies burning earlier.

Later, a signal is given and as the convoy begins to move, the commander starts the... meeting? Briefing? Whatever it is we’re doing here.

“I’ll get to the point. We need countermeasures against the demon threat. Any ideas?” Orlev started, but he is only met with silence. The wrinkles on his face seems to multiply as he concluded, “I figured not.”

“We don’t even know why they retreated,” Lain said.

“It’s not just that. They were also holding back on us,” the avlark claimed, drawing confused looks from the guys.

“What makes you say that?”

“I can sense more of them last night, just hiding in the shadows and not attacking.”

“Well, that makes it weirder.”

Aldwan nods in agreement. “A demon does make it so much more complicated.”

“Heh, you talk like you’ve fought one before,” Luise said with a sneer that says ‘smartarse’.

“As a matter of fact, I have. The commander too, in fact. It was more than twenty years ago. The last known demon encounter.”

“The Freak of Ballistar? No bloody way. You never told me, Ald,” Luise expressed his shock.

“Well it’s not exactly a memory I’m fond of, Luise. Frankly, I never expected to run into another in my lifetime. Just my cursed luck.”

“...What was it like?” Sallis, who has been quiet all this time, suddenly asked.

“In all intents, an abomination,” Aldwan answered bitterly. “It kept on rampaging no matter how many men were thrown at it, and then there’s how it amassed an army of beasts. It was practically a small war. A small and terrible war. You wouldn’t believe it unless you’re there.”

The group went silent after that, probably reconsidering the danger we’re all in.

Eventually, we did come up with a defense plan. While it may not be perfect, with luck, it may hold.

Basically, we’ll have a defense circle with the girls and prisoners in the center. The next part of the plan is where I come in – while Sallis is to focus on his barrier, I would be maintaining my own barrier. A barrier of fire. Sounds cool enough for you? We decided that our lives take more priority than nature preservation, so there will be no holds barred. I’m sorry, trees and all the critters that live beneath them; I might have to burn some of you tonight. 

“I deeply apologize for pushing this onto you. We understand if you refuse,” Orlev said with a sincere look on his face.

I shake my head to let him know that I don’t mind.

“Can I count on you, then?”

I nod, and Aldwan chuckles at this for some reason. “Blow some of them up, while you’re at it,” he said.

--- --- ---

“Battle plans? Is that it?” Latasha seems flabbergasted after hearing Farica’s report.

“I think they’re pretty good plans, though,” Farica opined, a finger cutely placed on her chin.

“So it’s really a... demon?” Kaelyn joined in.

“They said it might be. Do you know anything about them?”

“Just what most drifters know....”

“Well we aren’t drifters, ruddy,” Latasha snarked at her.

“Umm...” Kaelyn starts rubbing own her arm, realizing the girls are all looking at her. “They’re like demonic beasts. You know… beasts that can use magic, but it goes beyond that. Be it monstrous strength, unbreakable magic, or untouchable body...” the red-head explained.

“It almost sounds like you’re describing an all-powerful being.”

“Actually, yes. They’re one of the most feared menace in the continent since the dawn of history. The drifters’ guild classified their threat level at category S. I think it’s been a long time since the last one is subjugated.”

“Category... Ess?” Farica raises her eyebrow.

Kaelyn starts explaining for us as she seems weirdly knowledgeable about this drifting business.

The guild apparently classifies beasts and the like into threat levels, going from category F to A. According to her, F is for unaggressive beasts like rarebits, scurries, and livestock. Demonics like the unseen hydras last night would fall to category C, same as the treewalker. B is the really dangerous ones, while A is reserved for the monsters of monsters. I think that’s the gist of it.

“Category S is an exception that doesn’t fit into any of those. Demons fall into this because not only are they hard to kill, they also affect other beasts, making them do stuff that are otherwise not normal. Moving in a pack and coordinate with each other, for example.”

“Uwah... that’s nasty. Like the boss of the beasts or something?” Latasha remarked.

“Uh… I think so. There’s alpha beasts as well, but a demon’s control goes even beyond,” Kaelyn said, going along with her. “Other than demons, there’s only a few beings that are classified as category S, like the mythical dragons, or the dreadful dark-watchers.”

Wait, did you just say “watchers”?

“Pfft. So these drifters actually believe in dragons?” Latasha said, barely holding herself from breaking into a laugh.

“I–It’s part of their mission statement to asses all possible threats, so…”

“Just admit it, ruddy. They’re a dreamy bunch.”

Defeated, Kaelyn gives her a sullen nod.

More importantly... she said something about watchers, didn’t she? Could it be the same as those watchers? They’re no threat to me, but it also means that his web is spun wider than I thought. I’ll have to take care not to encounter one.

--- --- ---

Something incredible happened.

Because the injured tend to eat less, there’s leftovers from lunch and the bloke who distributed it is now at lost on what to do with it. I feel sorry looking at him standing there confused, so I decide to help him and walk up to the pot.

“Umm... miss magus?” he said on noticing me.

I walk closer to him so that I’m looking up from a lower angle and stare at him in the eyes. Finally, I give him a pouty smile, and his cheeks turn red, so much that they’re like tomatoes now.

“...Here, you can have it.”

But of course, kind sir.

I accept tomatoes’ kindness since it’s rude to refuse. As I walk back with a new bowl of stew, I notice Latasha giving me the stink eye.

“I know you’re hungry, but that’s just awful, whitey,” she said, so I offer her some, but instead she runs away screaming, “Don’t make me an accessory!”

What a weird girl.

Again, I ride on the command wagon with the usual entourages. They give me weird looks, but I ignore them and eat my scrumptious stew anyway. They continue from what we left; discussing battle plans, escape plans, battle plan b, escape plan b, and so on.

“So when they’ve converged on us, Sallis and the little magus will open up a point of the barriers to let the buggers in. Then, we can unleash all the ivv’yok kivmai’luk we can give them–“

“Commander Orlev!” ‘

A drifter on his horse interrupted the Aldwan’s passionate presentation.

“Is something wrong, drifter?” Orlev calmly asked him.

“T‒They all collapsed, commander.”

“Who did?”

“The drifters, sir. They just passed out, fell flat from their horses.”

“...Say again?”

--- --- ---

A new situation has unfolded.

Over half of the drifters has, for unknown reasons, fallen unconscious. Like what the man earlier said, they seem to have suddenly lost consciousness while riding on their horses.

Sallis is checking the bodies right now. According to him, they merely seem to be sleeping, but no one seems to believe him. Of course, it’s hard for anyone to believe that eleven people fell asleep on the back of horses, at the exact same time. What a mystery. 

However, it’s not just the drifters that passed out.

“What do you think is wrong with her?” Farica asked.

I won’t be able to tell you even if I knew.

“It’s really like she’s just sleeping. It’s weird... she was just talking with us at lunch, not an hour ago,” she rambled, worry apparent in her voice.

Maybe you should’ve given her that hot spice?

Among the girls, Latasha is the only one who is afflicted. Including her and the three wounded, there are a total of fourteen people who have, for inexplicable reasons, fallen “asleep”.

Against this new circumstance, Orlev has no choice but to stop the convoy.

“We’ve confirmed that they all have some kind of injury from the battle last night,” Chief Aldwan stated.

“Is it poison?” Commander Orlev turns to the magus.

“...Not that I know of,” Sallis answered. 

As they discuss what to do, I quietly slip away and find somewhere I can be alone. I won’t be of any help to them, anyway. Things just keep happening, and I can’t seem to catch up. The situation is dire, yet I don’t feel like it is. Farica and Luise is at Latasha’s side being really worried for her, so why don’t I feel the same?

Huff... what happens now…? 

…Eh?

This is… the nexus? It’s been quite a while since I last interacted with it, but what–

“……”

“……”

This voice... it can’t be.

...Thalvos?

How did… is the nexus doing this?

My body turns rigid, my hands trembling as I make an involuntary gulp. Suddenly, the fear that I’ve forgotten is coming back to me.

...What do you want?

I grind my teeth, trying to control the emotions storming in me; fear, anger, and plain hatred – all directed to this person.

You could’ve had me fooled, I snarked at him.

You shoved me up here without any sort of preparation. “Wouldn’t want me dying.”

< I’m sure you’ll be fine. You adapt fast. You know how to use what’s around you, and you know how to think outside the… conventional boundary. That said, if there’s anything I can help you with, don’t be shy to ask. >

So you say, but I still don’t know what exactly it is I’m supposed to do.

Bastard. He’s doing this just to spite me.

Another thing then. There’s a “demon” here that’s threatening to kill everyone, and…

How am I supposed to “handle it”? I don’t even know what they are!

Eight? You mean… lifers? Lifers are demons?

I snort at the revelation. Then we’re already dead.

After all, there’s no way these guys stand a chance against a bloody lifer.

It’s all because ‘they’ helped me. But they’re not here now, are they?

Something I didn’t have…?

…The drifters?

What is it, then? Magic?

“……”

He left. 

From the way he spoke, he must only think of me as a tool. That is all I am to him; a disposable pawn. 

But he will pay. I don’t care if it took years or decades, I will make him pay. After I free my friends, I will make him feel the hell he put me through.

--- --- ---

With the recent happenings, the drifters no longer have the men to execute the battle plan. In addition, it’d be hard to be in a battle where we have to protect a large number of people with so few.

In the end, it’s decided that we stop for now to save strength for the night. Instead of defending against the beast, we’ll be departing at sundown and keep moving until the sun rises. This decision is what I expected – if lifers really are demons, than you might think of me as an expert, and the best, most effective strategy I know of is what I call run-for-your-life strategy. Basically, run whenever you can. I did that a lot and survived, and it seems the plan right now is to do exactly that; to run the entire night with swarms of beasts on our back. Sounds fun.

There’s a lot of things to consider. First, we would have to force the horses to run for fifteen hours hours straight in total darkness. Secondly, we now need the wagons to carry the unconscious men, which means an increase in load. That also means more spare horses to pull the wagons with, though.

“I want Sallis at the front with me. Light the road, and blow anything that gets in the way,” Orlev instructed.

“...Surely.”

“And also, I’m hoping for the little magus to guard our back. Can we ask you of this? Like I said earlier, we understand if you want to refuse.”

I agree, of course. This concerns my own survival.

As the evening grows late, we prepare for the coming onslaught. Some wagons are emptied and to be used as the head of the spear, or back of the horse, while some others are discarded.

I’ll be at the furthest back with Luise and one more drifter to coach the horses. The commander and two other drifters will be spearheading along with Sallis. Chief will be guarding the rescuees, and the rest are distributed to man or guard the wagons.

As the sun sets, the convoy begins to move at a steady pace. Darkness creeps, and I summon a “firebulb” like I did yesterday. I summon three in fact, and ready to summon more because I will also be using these bulbs as explosives.

Let the waves turmoil, let the river run. Be it beasts or demons, I dare you come, for I am ready. With my firebulbs, I will blow you to a million burning smithereens.

◊ ◊ ◊

Hours of riding in darkness, and still no sign of the beasts.

I guess this is to be expected, remembering that the raid started late in the night yesterday. I tried to remain vigilant, but between the darkness, the rhythmic bumping of the wagon, and the dull need to focus on the bulbs, I’m starting to feel sleepy...

...That is until I hear an explosion from the front. I look at Luise, and we both know that it’s time.

“It’s Whitey, is it, missus?” he said to me, somehow still with a comforting smile adorning his features.

Heck no.

“Never worry. I won’t let those cursed beasts lay a claw on you.”

Back to you, I smile back. I’ll burn them before they can scar your pretty face.

A screech came. From the back, and the flanks, all kinds of beasts give chase. Most of them can’t really catch up, and the ones that do are immediately hit with a bolt in between their eyes.

Some of them get really close but get a bolt to their knees.

“Nice shooting, eh?” Luise winks at me, before suddenly his expression turns to dread. “Treewalker!”

I follow his finger and indeed, the creepy monster is just standing there in the darkness, like some creepy stalker. A creepy, giant stalker with bark growing out of its skin. Then it starts moving in a manner I’ve seen before.

“Gods, it’s going to throw a boulder,” Luise muttered with horror.

Well, then… here it is. My time to shine. Hopefully I won’t kill myself with this. If I do, then... I won’t be going back to that place.

You hear me, Thalvos? I’m not going back there, and that’s my prayer! 

Then I launch one of my firebulbs at it.

There’s a bright flash, followed by a shockwave that nearly causes the wagon to fall over. I look back at the fiery hell I left behind, feeling the heat and tremor even at this distance. I kind of expected this, but it’s still quite amazing – my supercharged firebulbs, that is.

Meanwhile, Luise blankly stares at me with his mouth agape. I lightly tap his shoulder to get his focus back.

The chase goes on. Rather than a rush of death, the convoy is keeping a steady run; slowing down when leading far up, then raising the pace once the horde starts to gain on us.

When the beasts behind us are starting to crowd, I send them a bulb or two that I know they like. By this point, Luise no longer has any reaction. Actually, his face has been stone for a while now.

“Even though she’s so small… I don’t know anymore.” he whispered to himself.

I don’t know what you’re moping about, but pull your own weight, will you?

“Hydra!” A shout came from the front.

Ah, here they are. Our special guests. Yesterday, the battle was turned upside down once the hydras came. Commander Orlev told us to expect the worst, so I we did.

“Hydras on our right!” the coach warned.

As I look at that direction, watery projectiles are already in the air. All of them missed, but from the first barrage, it’s clear what their targets are.

“Crafty little buggers. They’re aiming for the wheels,” Luise cursed as he loads his little crossbow.

They keep missing for now due to our movement, but one strike is enough to shatter the wagon’s wheels.

- SPLASH –

Or at least, it should’ve been enough. Other than almost flipping the whole thing over, no real damage was done from that attack just now. I guess that’s Sallis for you. We already predicted this kind of development, so instead of creating a large moving barrier for the whole convoy, Sallis made small concentrated shields on the outsides of the wheel. So far, it’s working like it should.

Ah well, you tried, hydras. Here’s a bulb for your effort.

- Ka—BOOM - 

Mwahahaha! Fear me! 

「 Coming. 」

「 They’re coming. 」

「 Ready. 」

「 Ready? 」

「 Get ready. 」

「 They’re coming. 」

Oh, crap.

The voices! What are they planning? Are they coming from the front? The flanks? The back? 

「 Now? 」

「 Now. 」

「 Go now? 」

「 Jump. 」

「 GOGO! 」

「 Kyaha! 」

「 Go! 」

「 NOWNOWNOW! 」

I feel a... premonition, so I look up, and there it is...

Larger than a hound, with eight long limbs attached, currently falling from above.

“……”

Now that I’ve seen it, I simply fling it away with air magic.

「 Kyah! 」

Now that that’s dealt with, I look towards the front of the convoy and see no eight-legged creatures on any of the other wagons.

「 Missed. 」

「 Stupid. 」

「 All missed? 」

「 Missed. 」

「 Failed. 」

「 Uuu... 」

「 No... 」

「 Stupid. 」

「 Tried... 」

「 We tried... 」

“W‒What was that just now?” Luise said, his face so pale as if he’d seen Grim itself.

I merely shrug at him. No idea.

--- --- ---

It felt like forever...

Nah, I’ve felt forever. It felt like four hours before the beasts stop giving chase and the first ray sets in, but it’s not until the sun rises above the trees that the convoy finally stops.

After making sure no threat is around, we make camp once again. There’s no casualty this time so I was expecting a jolly mood, but what is this? Why so serious, everyone?

“They have us by our nose,” so Chief Aldwan said.

“Pardon?” rep Lain crosses his arms. “The plan worked brilliantly. What are you talking about?”

“Some of the roads were blocked by landslides, so we’ve diverted ways from the route. We’re still heading in the right direction, but I simply can’t believe they’re only coincidences,” the chief explained.

“Heh, is this another one of your bestial instincts talking?”

“Listen now, you piece of–“

“Hey, Ald. Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t we quite deep in the forest?” Luise interrupted them.

“...Yeah, we are. We’re in the centermost part, actually,” the chief answered, still glaring at the rep.

“It doesn’t bring a good feeling, huh.”

“Nope. No, it doesn’t.”

“Let’s rest for now. Let the men and horses sleep. Hopefully we’ll figure out what’s causing this damn affliction,” Orlev ordered them.

So here we are now, sleeping with the sun above our heads because the night is full of monsters.

However, I can’t seem to sleep so I head away to check on Latasha, and what I find is a heartwarming scene.

They look nothing alike; one is a cool brunette beauty, and the other is a small, brown-haired darling. But sleeping together like this, they can easily pass off as sisters. What a cute pair they’d make.

...Right. I should move on to what I came for. Sallis couldn’t find anything, but clearly there’s something wrong.

‘Art thou willing, little lass? To know the ways of mana, whence they come, and how they form?’

As I place my hand on Latasha’s chest, I try to remember one of the things Eretz taught me.

‘Within and without, agnize their existence. Feel the flow, the perfections, the wrongs...’

I close my eyes and let my mind adrift, feeling the mana inside her melting with my own. Her steady breathing, pulsing of the heart, I feel it all.

What’s wrong with you, Latasha?

I keep at it, searching every nooks and cranny within her for any abnormalities. And then... I think I’ve found it.

What do we have here?

Not a poison, not a curse... it’s something alive. Small, motionless, asleep, but alive, siphoning energy from Latasha’s body. A parasite.

I wrap my mana around it and I feel another connection. It may be the reason for her conditioned sleep, but there’s something else it’s feeding on. A passage of mana, connected to it like a string. There’s some form of mana flowing into the parasite, and it’s making it grow. The flow itself is miniscule, thus the growth is insignificant. But the string is pulsing, and if it becomes a pipe, maturation would come rapidly. Her body will be its first meal. She will be eaten from the inside, and I happen to know how nasty that would be.

I jump out the wagon and follow the “string” to the edge of the camp.

“Miss magus?” someone called out.

Oh, it’s uhm…

Right. You’re tomato guy.

You know, that bloke who gratuitously gave me the leftovers from yesterday’s lunch.

“Err... you shouldn’t go outside the barrier,” he reminded.

Hmm, how to deal with this... ah, I know.

I fake a wobbly walk towards him and grab his arm weakly. With my other hand holding my clothing near my crotch, I look up at him, faking a delicate look. His face, as expected, turns into tomatoes.

“Y‒You need to, err... ahem, very well. I’ll go with you,” he said as he starts leading me into the bushes.

So far so good.

“Umm... here is far enough,” he stopped somewhere out of sight.

I look at him in the eyes. His face is still red.

“Oh, right. Sorry. I’ll look away.”

Then he turns his back at me. This won’t work, so approach him and start pushing him away.

“Eh? Okay, over here?”

I shake my head while pouting my lips, then point at a further place.

“Right. I’ll wait over there. Give me a holler when you’re done… wait, you can’t speak. Huh? Hold on, so how am I supposed to… eh? Miss magus? Crap, where did she go?”

Bye, tomatoes, and thanks for your help...~

--- --- ---

Huff... even now, my stamina is being tested.

The chief said we’re in the innermost part of the forest, so the source of the string can’t be that far... I think. Looking at the position of the sun, it’s probably midday. The convoy will depart at sundown, so I have until then.

The air feels dense. Is it an effect of mana? The string is growing thicker too – it’s the width of my forearm now. I can also feel more strings. Lots more... hundreds, thousands, myriads. Countless of mana strings, connected to a point not that far ahead. I’m close.

「 Hraagh! 」

Suddenly, with whatever intention, a creature jumps down in front of me.

It has eight limbs and the size of a large wolf, with four large black eyes on the front of it’s.... I assume that’s the face. The legs are long, adorned with reddish-brown hair as is the body and two large fangs protrude from somewhere beneath the eyes.

「 I eat you! 」

…Hmm.

Let’s ignore that and keep walking for now.

Oh? There’s more of them. Lots more, behind the trees and hiding above on the leaves. I can see you, you know. What are you trying to be clumping together like that, a ball?

With different colors and slightly different sizes, numerous giant spiders start creeping out of their hiding to see their guest.

「 Homid... 」

「 Homid? 」

「 Uh-oh. 」

「 What now? 」

「 What now... 」

「 Kyaha...? 」

「 What to do? 」

「 Mother... 」

「 Get mother. 」

「 Touch her. 」

「 Touch the homid. 」

「 Touch her. 」

「 You go. 」

「 You go. 」

「 No. 」

「 You go. 」

「 Stupid. 」

「 Coward. 」

「 You stupid. 」

「 Grr! 」

「 Aaarr! 」

「 Graah! 」

Huh. They seem to be… infighting. They don’t seem to be paying attention to me, so I’ll just continue walking. Don’t mind me...~

「 Homid! Homid! 」

Hmm?

「 Stop! 」

Something jumps in front of me again. Ah, it’s the first spider, with the red-brown hair.

Yeah? I answer.

「 Homid... homid can talk! 」

You need something?

「 Homid need something? 」

No, I asked you firs– uh, never mind. Can I meet your mother?

「 Homid wants to meet Mother? 」

That’s what I said.

「 Why? Homid dangerous! I eat you! Won’t let you eat Mother! Won’t help you! 」

Then why did you ask in the first place...

It’s okay. I won’t eat your mother. I just want to talk.

「 Eh? Talk? But Mother said... 」

I’m not dangerous, I promise. Please, I really, really need your help. I need to find your mother.

「 ...Okay! If Homid says so, homid will meet Mother. 」

Huh? Well that was easy.

「 You will meet Mother. Ah, Homid be careful, though. Mother scares even me some– Ah, m–mother?! Didn’t know mother’s here! 」

Eh?! She’s here?!

I turn around and watch my surroundings, and immediately my attention is drawn to a certain creature.

Are you the mother?

With longer legs, it’s bigger than rest and even taller than I am. There’s also those tiny yet scary-looking spikes on the legs. Bigger fangs, evil eyes, and hair that looks like it hurts to the touch.

But it’s not the “mother”, because there’s more similar ones crawling out from behind the trees.

That’s right. There’s something else there, under the shadows, even larger.

You must be the mother.

Four eyes flash at me from the darkness, hiding in the shadows and watching from afar. Judging from the height of its eyes, the leg span can probably cover an entire barn.

But it’s not the “mother”, because more eyes of similar heights shine from various directions.

More and more of them are showing up. The spiky ones, the huge shadows, the little hound-sized ones are starting to gather too. There must be hundreds... thousands, surrounding me from all sides. So many is appearing, crawling about in waves. So many that it seems like the trees themselves are moving.

……

……Oh.

The “tree” did move.

I slowly trace the trunk of the “tree” upwards with my eyes, following the sharp curves all the way up.

Blocking the sun, rising well above the high treetops, is a humongous mass of black with eight crooked and really tall “trees” attached to it.

「 Homid... 」

Umm, hi...

「 Speak your business. 」

I just want to talk. Wow, you’re.... tall.

「 Homid is a talker, it seems... 」

Ah, well, I do talk quite a lot.

What the heck are you doing?! This isn’t the time to be joking around, stupid! Calm down, plan your words, and take your time…

「 Speak now, for you have intruded on my domain. Speak, or be nutrition for my spawns. 」

Okay, maybe not take too much time, then.

「 Homid females, soft flesh. Hmm... 」

「 Tasty... 」

「 Kyaha... 」

Ah, that’s right. If it’s Eretz, then...

I’ve come here to terrorize you.

「 ...What did you say? 」

Oh, uhm....

Nice going, idiot Fay.