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“…This is the current situation in the Demon Forest.”

“Hmm.”

At the time the moon rose, I nodded as I listened to the explanation from Muiry, the leader of the Annihilation Maid.

Since last night, the Annihilation Maids had been taking turns in pairs, alternating between attending to me and scouting the Demon Forest.

Their bodies, modified into corpse dolls, were already dead and didn’t need rest. As long as they periodically received magic power from the magic formula engraved on their backs by the craftsman Albert, they could move without stopping, working day and night. I’ll have to give them a lot of vacation later.

Anyway, thanks to their relentless scouting, we were able to understand the situation of the demons.

From what they gathered, there were at least 37 types of demons and monstrous beasts living in the Demon Forest.

Beastmen like lycans and orcs seemed to have their own territories and were engaged in various conflicts. In the process, weaker species naturally fell under the rule of stronger ones. It was a world of survival of the fittest.

Even now, a fierce struggle for survival was taking place in this forest.

According to Muiry, their numbers seemed to exceed ten thousand. If they were to invade, barring any special variables, it would be a manageable number to defend against.

Unfortunately, I was highly likely to encounter that variable.

Deep in the forest… the further north you go, the fewer monstrous beasts and demons there are, but the proportion of dangerous ones increases.

There, in the freezing cold that could freeze your lungs, lived the “real” monsters who could survive without a care. They were the only ones in this land who could become variables.

The one who caused the first expedition in the original story to fail miserably. It would be wise to prepare to face that one.

But putting that aside, I couldn’t help but wonder. Currently, the monstrous beasts and demons are too busy fighting among themselves. How on earth did they come together to invade us?

“Muiry.”

“Yes. Young master… no, Lady Trinity.”

“You can call me young master now. Which side is the likely dominant race in this forest?”

“Ah, yes. My guess would be… probably the Polar Bears or the Tigerkin. I don’t see any other forces that could surpass these two.”

I nodded at Muiry’s analysis.

Polar Bears are ferocious monstrous beasts resembling polar bears. The Tigerkin, as the name suggests, are half-demon, half-beastmen resembling tigers.

Just as bears and tigers compete for the title of the strongest in the wild, they are the top races here as well.

Then, dominating one of these two races would be the easier path to gaining control of the forest.

After all, siding with the stronger one is the quickest and easiest way. Well, not exactly siding with, but rather dominating the stronger one, so it’s a bit different…

Now that we’ve grasped the forest’s situation, it’s time to decide which side to target.

I first asked the members of the special unit for their opinions.

“Well… the Tigerkin might be better. At least we can communicate with them, so it would be easier to manage them…”

“Right. Being able to communicate is a huge advantage. Having subordinates who can follow detailed instructions would be convenient.”

“Mmm! And they’re more human-like, so they’re more familiar.”

Muiry, Cynthia, and Rika seemed to be leaning towards the Tigerkin.

Unlike the monstrous Polar Bears, the Tigerkin use the same language as humans. Their opinions made sense.

Then, Bess, the youngest of the Annihilation Maids, spoke up.

“I think the Polar Bears are… kind of cuter, so I’m drawn to them.”

Is that really a reason?

It’s a childish way of thinking, so it’s hard to criticize.

But surprisingly, someone supported Bess.

“I also think the Polar Bears might be better.”

“Lady Helga…!”

Bess’s face brightened at the thought of being agreed with.

Helga, the Bodyguard Knight and Deputy Commander of Aslan, might have a good opinion. I listened to her words.

“Since we can’t communicate with the Polar Bears, it would actually be easier to control them.”

“Huh? C-control them…?”

“We should domesticate them, even if it means using force. Since they don’t understand language, they won’t be able to complain. What good is communication if they resent us? It’s obviously more convenient to make them obedient beasts who will work for us until they die, just like the Polar Bears. Hehehehe…”

“T-that’s so ruthless…”

Bess looked at Helga in shock.

I felt sorry for Bess, but the reason for choosing the Polar Bears was closer to what Helga said.

The Tigerkin are a proud race. Truly subjugating them would be difficult. It might be better to go with the Polar Bears, even if it’s harsher.

And then there was Blanshe, who had been silent until now…

“The Count’s will is my will. Whichever side the Count chooses, I have no objections.”

She shut it down with one sentence.

Don’t you have any opinions of your own?

When I looked at her with that in mind, Blanshe started rambling nervously.

“Ah! W-well…! Whatever I choose, I’ll ultimately follow the Count’s decision…!”

“Enough with the unnecessary explanations. By the way, Rian…”

“Zzz…”

“…Never mind, I guess.”

By the way, Rian is in hibernation mode, sleeping against a tree. She had been frozen like a popsicle in a coffin-like wooden box until I gave her a few drops of blood to wake her up, but she still seems half-asleep. Maybe she’s feeling jet-lagged from sleeping too long.

Polar Bears or Tigerkin.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter which one.

We’ll have to dominate both eventually. If anything, we can just target the one closer to us.

As I was thinking that…

“Count.”

“Hmm?”

“Someone’s coming this way.”

At Cynthia’s words, I looked around but didn’t see anyone approaching…

However, about five seconds later, a shadow came running from the distance.

Judging by the speed at which it was running through the snow-covered forest, it was hard to believe it was human.

Which means… could it be a demon?

As if we had agreed on it beforehand, we all hid behind the trees at the same time. Luckily, Blanshe took care of the sleeping Rian.

In the quiet silence, we waited for the shadow running towards us.

As it got closer, I realized it was moving at an incredible speed. It was zigzagging through the forest like a wild beast.

Just as the shadow was about to pass by us, cutting through the wind…

“Gotcha.”

“Kyaaaah!”

“Tch… I could’ve caught it…”

Helga, hiding behind a tree, snatched the shadow just a split second before Blanshe could. In her grasp was…

“…A rabbit?”

“Eek! H-humans?!”

A girl with rabbit ears was flailing in the air. Red eyes and perky rabbit ears… if I remember correctly, she was a member of the Rabbitkin.

“P-please let me go, poing!”

And the way she ended her sentences with “poing” was a characteristic of young Rabbitkin who hadn’t fully matured.

“Be quiet and stay still.”

“N-no, poing! I need to run away quickly, poing!”

“Hmm. Maybe she’ll behave if I pluck her ears?”

“Eeeek!? I-it hurts, poing!”

The Rabbitkin girl, her ears caught in Helga’s grip, suddenly started begging.

“Y-young master! Please hide me, poing!”

“Huh?”

“Hunters are chasing me, poing! They’re coming to catch me, poing!”

Huh? This feels familiar.

“Hunters?”

“If I get caught, I’ll really die, poing!”

Ah, now I remember. It’s like the story of the fairy and the woodcutter.

Though it’s a rabbit instead of a deer, but whatever.

“Let’s help her for now.”

“Huh?”

At my words, the others looked at me.

Understandable. I just suggested helping a demon.

But the Rabbitkin girl in Helga’s grasp is one of the weakest among demons. They’re cowardly and specialized in running away, with legs built for speed.

Because of that, they pose no threat to humans and are too weak to be of any use. They’re not even worth calling demons; it’s embarrassing.

I didn’t have time to explain all that, so I just gave them a vague reason.

“If what she said is true, the hunters will be here soon. Dealing with them comes first.”

“Ah, that’s true…”

“Indeed. Some shadows are heading this way.”

At my words, they quickly prepared for battle again.

“Then stay quiet, okay?”

“Eeek! O-of course, poing!”

The Rabbitkin girl nodded repeatedly, trembling in fear.

A demon scared of humans… I knew about it, but it’s still hard to believe.

As I was about to hide behind the trees again…

“Count.”

“?”

It was Blanshe.

“Sorry, but can I handle this one alone?”

Out of nowhere?

Blanshe scratched her cheek and explained.

“Ah, no… I thought it would be good to show the Count that I can be of some help, like Helga…”

Come to think of it, she was disappointed earlier when Helga caught the Rabbitkin first.

I don’t know what kind of hunters they are, but Blanshe should be more than enough to handle them alone.

“Alright. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Thank you.”

With my permission, Blanshe prepared to face the hunters.

But then…

“Wait a minute.”

Helga interrupted.

Now even I was nervous about what she might say.

“Blanshe. No matter what, you still look too human, don’t you think?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The hunters are coming, right? So…”

Helga smiled ominously as she spoke.

“Shouldn’t you at least look like ‘prey’?”

Seeing that smile, all of us felt uneasy.

***

Three lycans were racing through the forest.

Their sensitive noses were tracking the scent of the prey they had been chasing.

“This way!”

The experienced lycan took the lead, and the other two followed closely.

Though they had relatively fast legs, they were no match for the Rabbitkin.

However, lycans had an insane obsession with their prey, never letting go once they set their sights on it. No matter how fast the Rabbitkin were, they couldn’t escape the relentless pursuit of the lycans.

The lycans’ sense of smell was sharp enough to distinguish the scent of their prey even in an environment filled with various smells.

Following the scent, they finally spotted a figure with perky ears standing in the middle of the forest.

“There it is! Get it!”

So it had run out of energy after all.

The older lycan smiled confidently. It looked like a young one, so it probably didn’t have much stamina.

Dashing through the trees, they bared their fangs and charged at the prey.

“…?”

“What the?”

The lycans all stopped in their tracks as they faced the prey.

The prey they had been chasing was nowhere to be seen, and in its place… was a woman wearing tight-fitting clothes.

“Wait, is that a human!?”

“No!”

“Then what are you!?”

“Tch…”

The woman looked at the lycan threatening her with a low growl, her expression one of humiliation.

“I… tch…”

The lycan couldn’t comprehend it. Blanshe was now wearing a headband made of twigs and leaves, looking embarrassed.

“I-I’m a rabbit…! Poing… tch!”

Even if they had understood, they wouldn’t have been able to suppress the fear rising in their hearts.

Because right after, they saw Blanshe’s nails grow long and sharp.

“W-wait, we’re…!”

“Shut up and die.”

The claws of the most terrifying rabbit in the world—the Frost Beast—reached out towards them.

 

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