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A peculiar entity of monsters. Generally, they are beings born with a single defect due to mutations from deformities or the influence of special environments.

However, these particular ones possessed thick, dark brown skin instead of the original green, and appeared more robust. They were enough of a species to be considered a subspecies of ogres who made the Demonic Realm their main stage.

With these tougher creatures charging toward us, there was no choice but to engage in battle.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Diolia’s swift strike drew a crescent moon-like arc across the ogre’s ankle.

With a clean cut, the ogre’s ankle was severed, causing its thick legs to lose balance and the massive creature to lean forward.

BANG─!

As the shock shook the ground, Diolia swiftly leaped onto the fallen ogre’s back.

Perhaps from sparring often with Siabel, her habits rubbed off on her. Even while tumbling, she managed to sever the ogre’s neck as it swung an enormous log our way.

“Seems these adapted creatures are even more ferocious than expected. We need to be more cautious than with the usual ones.”

Even after driving a sword through its neck and twisting it, the creature showed no signs of pain. With its aggressive stance seemingly heightened, it glared at us, prompting a knowing click of the tongue.

Once Diolia made her daring move, swiftly creating an opening, she took one down in an instant. The other knights were preoccupied with avoiding the overwhelming strength that came from the ogres, ensuring they blocked the creature’s path unless wizards could provide the perfect timing for support.

“Deputy Commander Diolia, the wizards can’t spread area spells because we’re too close to our allies. Shouldn’t we shake them up together to let the knights jump in?”

“Good point. They’re strong, but not very quick, so our rangers should be able to dodge just fine.”

Having gauged the knights’ abilities, I knew that as long as the elite rangers didn’t get distracted, the ogres’ attacks were all avoidable levels. Especially if either Diolia or I responded quickly in case of emergencies.

With the bold plan in the air, Diolia and I only awaited Shione’s approval.

Sure enough, Shione couldn’t resist our determined gazes and nodded in agreement.

“I’ll cover you, so let’s carry on.”

“We’ll handle it quickly.”

Diolia immediately whistled.

She must have trained her horse to respond to her distinct whistle, as it galloped toward her at once.

As soon as Diolia hopped onto her horse, Shione smacked my shoulder plate with her fist, wearing a dissatisfied expression and mumbling quietly.

“…If you get hurt, I won’t forgive you.”

I smiled in response to her version of encouragement and turned my focus back to the enemies, wiping any expression from my face.

Now was the time to concentrate on the battle.

I quickly gathered mana and summoned a spirit.

‘This time, I’ll team up with Elvis instead of Tania.’

Burning everything down is great, but coordinating with a spirit that has mainly been scouting so far during combat was just as important. Quickly weaving through the enemies and landing arrows was Elvis’s strength.

Elvis, whom I summoned, stared at the ogres with a frightened expression but began to use magic at my command.

‘Thank you, Elvis. You know what to do if it looks like I’m going to get hit, right?’

─…There’s no way that’ll happen. If I fail, I’ll be scolded by sis.

The refreshing scent of the wind tickled my nose, and as I felt a small whirlwind surrounding me in protection, I exchanged glances with Diolia, who’s crouched low on her horse.

One, two, three. As our eyes met, I counted down and, in a moment of hesitation, I dashed into the enemy lines shouting,

“Rangers good at agility, disrupt the ogres’ focus! Knights, don’t miss the openings!”

Leading the charge was Diolia.

Even with that fierce ogre before her, she dashed headfirst, performing acrobatics atop her galloping steed while scattering her sword to create gaps for our advance.

Charging forth without a trace of hesitation proved she was the leader of the heavy cavalry. There’s just no way someone could pull off such performances otherwise.

Not wanting to fall behind, I pulled back my bowstring.

‘Aim for a headshot as much as possible─’

THWANG─!

With the natural assistance of Elvis, a powerful arrow flew straight and burst through the head of one ogre.

That dazzling maneuver drew the attention of several ogres. One of them roared and charged straight at me.

‘Too close to shoot my bow.’

With my backup weapon, I swiftly drew the sword from my waist.

The paw of the approaching ogre was right in front of me. I lightly sidestepped, evading to its side.

BANG─!

Just barely avoiding the attack, I positioned my blade against its leg, charged forward, and cut through. It wasn’t as clean a cut as Diolia’s, but I could certainly leave a gash deep enough to make it limp.

‘One more right in front!’

Hunting monsters, whether they be ugly or not, was the nature of a hunter.

Regardless of appearances, I leaped over the cold, hard ground to evade another attack. Feeling the ground beneath me, Elvis cast a gust of wind, forcing away another ogre lunging at me.

THWANG─!

Seizing the moment, I nocked an arrow that shot straight into its eye.

‘Great, now is the─’

The other rangers joined in, successfully distracting the ogres in multiple directions.

“Elvis, attack the legs and eyes of the nearby ogres!”

Since the creatures couldn’t care less about their lives until they were actually finished off, the best course was to hinder their hefty figures or impair their vision by snatching an eye.

Elvis started to rampage, as if he had been waiting for my cue, drawing mana from me.

‘Nothing beats spirit magic for ease.’

A spirited being well-equipped with battle experience would comply with a simple command and attack the opponent, as long as I had enough mana. With the support of Elvis’s magic assisting my agility, I dashed through the enemies, finally seeing a glimmer of victory.

“Battle Priests, extract the injured! Priests, focus on healing! Wizards over there─!”

WHOOSH─!

The moment Shione’s percussion hit a distant ogre, bolts of lightning erupted from their hands, raining down on it.

Ogres, even at their most ordinary level, were apex predators. Engaging them wouldn’t come easy. There were quite a few injuries, and according to Shione’s command, the priests were working smoothly in the back, healing the wounded.

Once the frenzy calmed down and the last enemy fell, we had a brief moment to catch our breath.

“Well done, Deputy Commander.”

Having rolled and dashed through the fray, Diolia and I received praise from the commander, who stroked her horse’s mane in gratitude.

“Thank you, Commander. Thankfully, it seems there were no fatalities.”

“Thank goodness they weren’t particularly fast. The Battle Priests managed to move the wounded to the rear. Getting more damage would have been significant if they had been agile.”

Diolia glanced at the ruins around us. “I wonder if there’s more left to crumble.”

Given the considerable damage to the remaining wall, it clearly reflected the intensity of the sudden battle.

Agreeing with her, I strode toward Shione, who too let out a sigh of relief.

As Shione swept her bangs aside to smile, her eyes suddenly widened in alarm.

‘…Is there something behind us?’

Turning instinctively at her reaction, I peered into the forest where the ogre had appeared.

“…Arachne?”

A creature that once literally shredded my left arm. The massive spider, Arachne, was now in sight.

It seemed like it had also adapted to the environment like the ogres, equipped with even longer and thicker legs and sharper fangs.

With this swarm showing up, were they after the dead ogre carcasses? They maintained a silent stare with us, ready to pounce if we showed any signs of retreat.

Shione, alternating her gaze between Arachne and the injured in the back, finally spoke.

“We have gathered enough results. It’s best we retreat.”

The first exploration of the Demonic Realm ends here.

The existence of unique entities, architectural remnants, and ancient tomes were more than adequate results. There was no need to push our luck and risk losing what we had gained.

Even if we believed we could win the next encounter, engaging in a fight we could avoid would simply diminish the value of our victory through potential losses.

Shione turned to the knights.

“From now on, we will regroup the injured and return to the Count’s House.”

Leaving the venture into deeper grounds for another day, we resolved to head back to the Count’s estate.

*

Even on the way back to the Count’s House, our exploration continued.

After releasing Elvis and Orna and assigning them to guard and scout, Shione unexpectedly clicked her tongue and sported a frown, which was rare for her, while lost in thought. Then, glancing sideways at me with a wistful expression held more resolve, she called my name.

“Ray, Ray. Is your left arm okay?”

“Once is enough. But if you’re worried about my left arm… care to touch it? It feels just fine.”

“Hmmm.”

After checking around, Shione examined it as if checking for any wounds. I sensed a tinge of selfishness from her prying fingers. I stayed quiet as she poked around for a bit before relenting and pulling her hands away.

Perhaps her behavior toward me stemmed from that time when she attempted to rescue me from Arachne in the Beltlin Mountains.

It had hurt like hell back then. But here I was, alive and kicking, and it felt like an old story.

“You don’t need to worry too much about that old business. You’ve been exceedingly attentive to my treatment, haven’t you, Princess Shione? Let’s just leave it at that.”

“…No. That’s not enough.”

Yet, even now, it seemed Shione still held a grudge about that encounter.

“One day, I’ll wipe out all the Arachne on the continent. I’ll let it go for today, but next time, I’ll find a way.”

Her tone felt oddly sincere.

“That’s a noble ambition. Our mission is the Western Expedition, after all. It’s only right we eliminate those monsters eventually, even if not now.”

In the end, I could only entertain Shione’s passionate resolve while trying to keep up with both her and Diolia’s energy.

 

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