The Master Does Not Fear the Slave
I witnessed the fiercely beautiful display of infinite magic.
The overwhelming power that obliterated a settlement of over a hundred High Lizardmen without leaving a trace.
It was an unimaginable devastation caused by a single delicate woman.
The four elemental spells that filled the sky were dazzling, almost unreal, and yet they evoked a sense of awe.
"…………!?"
But the very person who wielded this magic, Habermesia, was terrified.
Her refined face twisted in fear.
What dominated her was the regret of having shown us a scene she should never have revealed.
The moment she saw our faces, she reflexively took a step back.
Sigh... She's a troublesome woman.
"Ah... um... this... is..."
She stepped forward hesitantly.
I approached her without hesitation, despite her fear, her terror, and her defensive posture.
"Because... I... wanted to show how I could be useful. ...Because... because, because, because..."
Her repetition of a single word made her seem like a child being scolded by a parent.
Who was she making excuses for?
For herself?
Not quite.
She didn’t want us to fear her.
She didn’t want us to be afraid of her.
To such a Habermesia, I—
"I-It hurts!?"
I had just smacked her buttocks hard.
The sound of the smack echoed through the entire forest.
"W-Why are you hitting my butt!?"
Habermesia, who had been trembling just moments ago, now looked stunned and jumped up, her eyes wide.
"Heh."
"Heh... Ahem."
"Haha, Habermesia, you were too shocked."
"Fufufufu, I-I’m sorry, I just... I hit a... funny... spot... Fufufu..."
"............P"
Our companions laughed as Habermesia, deeply embarrassed, desperately rubbed her smacked butt. The heavy atmosphere that had been there just moments ago had vanished instantly.
"J-Just stop it already! What was that for――――"
Habermesia glared at me, accusingly.
But I deliberately ignored her gaze and asked in a stern tone.
"Habermesia... Do you underestimate me?"
"――――What?"
"What was that just now? Why did you step back? Did you think I’d be frightened by something like that?"
"!? "
"Did you think I’d bend before such overwhelming power? ...If so, you’re mistaken. I’m not such a small man."
"B-But..."
"I don’t know what kind of men you’ve seen before or what life you’ve led. But you should know what I am.――――I am your master. Your only master."
"…………"
Habermesia remained silent.
She tried to respond, but her words failed to come out as she wished.
Unconsciously, her delicate fingers touched the crimson collar around her neck.
"Habermesia, you are my slave, even if only temporarily. But even if it’s for a short time, you are unmistakably my slave."
"Ah..."
"Where is the master who fears their slave? ...I do not fear you."
"…"
"Habermesia, do not fear what I fear. Do not fear rejection. I am your master. I will accept all of you."
I gazed into her jewel-like, light purple eyes as I declared this.
To reach her heart.
To dissolve the fear of others hidden deep within her.
"Ugh...!"
Did my words reach her?
Habermesia averted her gaze from me and looked up at the sky, turning towards the empty space behind her.
"Th-That’s not it, this... is different... it’s... because of the rain..."
It was a clear day.
From the lakeside that had been partly destroyed by Habermesia’s magic, the sky above was perfectly clear, without a single cloud.
However... it might be crass to point that out.
"Anyway, more importantly..."
"W-What do you mean 'more importantly'!?"
While we waited for Habermesia to return from her own world, a gentle and calm time flowed. However, the situation was becoming urgent, and we needed to start moving soon.
"Look. Your flashy magic sounds have attracted monsters."
"That is..."
"GRRRR!!!!"
From the lakeside where we stood, in the opposite direction, a gigantic monster emerged from the forest with its tall trees still intact.
"...A Chimera Treant."
The monster, which Razelia quietly named, was a towering figure made entirely of plant matter, standing around five meters tall.
"This... We’ve attracted quite a formidable foe even in the Sealed Forest. The Chimera Treant is an upper-class treant with the head of a lion, the head of a goat, and a snake’s tail. Unlike normal treants, which camouflage themselves among the forest trees to wait for prey, the Chimera Treant actively hunts with its powerful limbs."
A three-headed monster, including the snake head on its tail. The distance was still considerable, but its imposing presence was unmatched compared to creatures like the Garum.
"I see. That’s indeed a formidable opponent."
"And on top of that, we’ve also attracted some remaining High Lizardmen from a different direction. They are likely warriors who were out securing food around the settlement. They seem to have sensed the disturbance at the settlement and come back. Moreover... judging by their reaction to the destroyed settlement, they are extremely angry. They’ve clearly made us their target."
From a different direction than where the Chimera Treant appeared, armed High Lizardmen carrying wooden spears began to emerge one after another.
Currently, there are about five of them, but it's hard to predict how many more will show up.
"This is, to put it mildly, a very dangerous situation, isn't it!?"
"Haha, I’m well aware of the danger! If it weren't dangerous, it wouldn't be much of a training opportunity!"
"Your Highness!?"
"Mayurerica! Don’t worry! In this situation, we are more than capable of handling it! Right, Vanitas?"
…Even if you suddenly ask for my agreement.
Well, I certainly don’t plan to quietly become monster fodder here.
"Mayurerica, give up. At this point, there's no way to escape. We have no choice but to carve our own path with our strength."
"Ugh… even you, Vanitas-san… Alright… I understand. I’ll do my best! I, Mayurerica Lankafield, have no intention of becoming monster food!"
"That’s the spirit, Mayurerica! Let’s go ahead and turn every single one of them into materials!!"
Now that Mayurerica, who had been losing her fighting spirit, seemed to be motivated, we faced the situation.
The Chimera Treant and the group of High Lizardmen.
They aren’t allies, but it’s clear they both have us as their targets.
The Chimera Treant, while keeping an eye on us as we take a combat stance, slowly approaches. The High Lizardmen, while avoiding getting too close to the threatening Chimera Treant, are gradually surrounding us while ensuring we don’t escape with the lake at our back.
Hmm… What should we do?
However, when I glanced at Razelia, who is likely much more accustomed to such situations, she responded with a beaming smile and a nod.
…Is she leaving it up to me?
But there’s no time to hesitate.
"…Razelia, Habermesia, and I will deal with the Chimera Treant. We’ll try to isolate and remove it from the battlefield as far as possible before taking it down. Is that clear?"
"Alright, let’s do it, Vanitas!"
"Y-yeah."
The Chimera Treant is enormous. If it starts rampaging, the extent of the damage could be extensive. We’ll have to deal with it ourselves and keep it away from the rest of the battlefield.
"Christina, Hildegard, Lapana, Mayurerica, handle the High Lizardmen emerging from the forest. They are likely to increase in number. Stay vigilant against any surprise attacks."
"Yes, Master!"
"Understood. I’ll stay alert!"
"…Okay."
"Yes, understood. …My fly magic is effective against living creatures but unfortunately less effective against plants. The High Lizardmen, covered in hard and flexible scales, are likely to be more manageable than the Chimera Treant. Leave them to us."
Mayurerica’ fly magic, while voracious against living creatures, is not suited for a plant-based creature like the Chimera Treant. Moreover, Lapana’s arrows might struggle to penetrate the Treant’s massive form, so it’s better for them to handle the High Lizardmen.
I shift my gaze to Razelia. She nods in satisfaction.
With that, our plan is set.
Each of us prepares for our assigned opponents. However, among our group, there was one person who seemed somewhat absent-minded.
"Habermesia, what are you spacing out for?"
"Sorry."
"I’m counting on your strength. Show me more of the magical power you’ve honed. …We’ll fight together."
"Yes… Yes…"
A casual exchange before the battle. But Habermesia, with her head down, had her eyes slightly damp and nodded repeatedly.
"Raaaaaaar!!!"
The Chimera Treant’s roar echoes through the Sealed Forest.
"Jah! Jah!"
A group of High Lizardmen brandishing wooden spears and preparing to surround us.
Both are powerful creatures inhabiting the Sealed Forest.
The battle for our survival against them begins now.
"That aside, we’ll deal with the punishment for destroying the village and ruining the High Lizardmen materials later."
"What, you’re kidding!?”