CH 143

Translator: “Ashita”                             Editor: “Weasalopes”

Under the bright sunlight, a breezy summer wind blows across the lake surface with the magnificent World Tree in the background.

The birds from the forest that surrounds the Spirit Lake chirp while flapping their wings to move from tree to tree.

That calming and beautiful scenery is the norm.

That is except for one thing – the island that floats at the center of the lake is sinking at this very moment.

「Water Breathing」

The sound of lake water is swirling like a vortex around the island.

Voices that are trying to activate magic even when being drowned out by that.

They belong to the intimate young Elves.

They who are skillful activated magic to secure a method to breathe while withstanding the whirlpool.

However, even though it is said to be early summer, the water is still cold. The warmth of their bodies are being rapidly stolen from them.

The swirling flow of water all the way to the bottom of the lake heartlessly tosses those who were caught up in it.

They, who were tossed about so much that they could not differentiate between top and bottom, eventually lost consciousness.

「Ugh……」

Tall grass that grows abundantly at the side of the lake. They far surpass humans in terms of height.

The young Elven boy and girl were washed up right in the middle of them.

「Where is this?」

The young man that awoke to the dazzling light in his eyes got up and looked around.

Grass twice of his height grew abundantly and blocked most of his vision.

What he was barely able to see was a glimpse of the sparkling lake water. And that which is directly above him.

Fortunately, he was able to see the branches of the World Tree.

「……We have been washed up ashore」

When he looked at the girl beside him, she was just about to awaken.

He felt relieved after confirming that she was fine.

He called out to the flustered girl to make her feel at ease.

「I know the direction thanks to the World Tree. Let’s walk to the water-drawing tower at the Southern bank and seek help there」

The direction that the World Tree is at when seen from the lake, that is the Southern side.

From examining the shape of the tree, it is likely that they were washed up at the Southern bank. There should not be much distance from there to the water-drawing tower.

「Let’s dry our clothes before that」

The young man smiled as both of them dry their clothes using magic.

The clothes that are still worn while getting dry started emitting a slightly unpleasant stench but both of them turned a blind eye to it.

「Has something happened?」

The young woman asks but the young man does not know as well.

There is a need to swim past the grass that is blocking their path if they want to check on what is happening at the surface of the lake.

That is to be avoided now that both their body temperatures and strength are falling.

「We may find out something if we go to the water-drawing tower」

He gazes at the branch of the World Tree stretching out right above him as he said that.

He felt that they could walk while weaving through the gaps between the grass.

If they were some distance away, they would probably have realized that this is quite different from the World Tree they know at the back of their hand.

But due to how close they currently are to the tree, they do not see its entire figure.

One does not know the shape of a hill at its foot. This is something similar.

「Can you walk? Well then, let’s go」

Wearing their clothes, they get up.

At that time, a loud sound of something pushing its way through the grass came from behind them. At the same time, the ground shook slightly and a shadow fell from above them.

「What is it?」

With fear in his heart, he turned back and looked up.

There lies the figure of a Heavy Lancer child.

It looked over, showing deep interest. From how it is frequently moving its nose, it is probably interested in the smell when clothes are dried.

「Scaring us like that」

He let out a huge sigh of relief.

Heavy Lancers are huge, even though it is a child, its height is about seven meters.

However, fear did not well up in him as he is already used to seeing their adult form.

「I have been thinking that I haven’t seen them in a long time, to think that they are here」

The young man’s job is to take care of the flower garden.

The Heavy Lancers who trample on anything in their path are recognized as harmful animals.

They are driven away when found but his job got easier recently as they have not shown up in a while.

After a wave of relief washed over, the young man’s face became unpleasant.

「Those people at the water-drawing tower are up to something. Sheesh, get rid of them properly」

The Spirit Lake is an important source of water for the Elven village.

From being a source of water for daily life like drinking water, its water is also used to water the flower garden – its water is used extensively.

Imagining the Heavy Lancers taking a bath in that water source made anger well up within him.

「How dirty, right?」

The young woman frowned too, she stuck out her tongue and did a spitting motion.

Even though it is a Heavy Lancer, it is a child. It might be cute depending on how a person looks at it. However, it seems like it did not capture her heart.

Her thoughts might have changed if it were a species that is blessed in their outward appearance.

However, Heavy Lancers are a combination of a horse and a bull. They have boorish strength but are definitely not beautiful living things.

「Let’s discipline it a bit!」

This is not a place that all of you should come close to. Pain and injuries are required in order for it to remember that.

The young man started chanting his magic with those thoughts in his mind.

The magic that is being activated is fire arrow.

Its target is the Heavy Lancer’s face. Its pupils are filled with curiosity and it is not cautious.

Conveniently, its face is moving closer.

「Get’em!」

The young woman, who is cutely holding both of her fists together, said as she looked diagonally upwards.

The fire arrow was unleashed in unison with that voice.

(Surely your foolish minds would remember if you lose one)

The blazing red fire arrow headed straight for the Heavy Lancer child’s right eye.

However, an adult Heavy Lancer appeared, pushing the child away just before the fire arrow hit.

The fire arrow hit its body but the fire arrow was extinguished by the surface of its skin that is as solid as armor.

「Dang it, it’s the parent」

The young man clicked his tongue as he took several steps back.

Its height is anywhere from sixteen to eighteen meters. As expected, the impact of an adult is different.

It is currently looking down silently at the young man that unleashed magic.

「Are you alright?」

「I’m fine. The outward appearance of these feeble beings are stern but that’s because they’re cowards」

The young man snapped a branch nearby, holding it in his hand, he swung it around menacingly.

「They will get scared and run away if you do this. I demonstrated this to you last time, right?」

The young woman recalled the incident at the flower garden.

Doing the same to the Heavy Lancer that appeared at that time caused it to change its direction.

「Hey, this is not a place that you filthy magical beasts should be at. Hurry up and get lost!」

The young man approaches the Heavy Lancer, waving the branch around.

The young woman looks at his figure, finding it reliable.

On the other hand, the Heavy Lancer gazes at this figure as it thinks about something.

(They have appeared here as well)

This Heavy Lancer is not a parent.

It is a young man of the hoard and has been assigned by the chief to take care of the children.

Why it came here was to bring back a child that had lost its way.

How timely it was at pushing the child away was only a coincidence.

Regarding the fire arrow, it did not even feel that it received an attack.

(That flower will bloom again?)

The Heavy Lancers find the ever-expanding Elven flower garden unpleasant.

They could not eat the things there and their smell is foul.

The reason for the chief leading the hoard out of the Forest of Spirits is because the number of flowers had increased and their food had run out.

They have not seen those flowers when they came to this land and they have been living comfortably.

(This is troubling)

This Heavy Lancer does not know that the Elves are growing those flowers.

But it feels like they are related.

(……Hmm?)

While it was thinking, the demi-human has started hitting the surrounding area of his forefeet’s ankle.

He probably grew impatient at the Heavy Lancer that did not leave.

There is no way this Heavy Lancer knows but he probably wanted to show his cool self when he is in front of another gender.

It is not painful but it is quite annoying.

(That flower will most likely bloom with that here)

The Heavy Lancer that had tidied its thoughts bent down and struck the ground twice.

The two demi-humans got on the same height as the ground.

『What’s wrong?』

A young Heavy Lancer appeared from the back and called out to it.

When it told the young Heavy Lancer about the demi-human, the young Heavy Lancer let out a huge snort.

『I will search too』

It then started looking around the surroundings, prowling around while turning its head from left to right.

『There it is』

Finding it almost immediately, stretching one of its legs, it is trying to hold something back.

There are some fireworks blooming at its feet and some even flew to its face but the young Heavy Lancer pays it no mind.

『There too』

They signaled each other with their eyes and started their patrol of the waterside.

The Heavy Lancers that gathered also participated, they formed groups and started their patrol.

『There it is』

They stepped on it immediately after it was found.

To them, this is a paradise that they finally reached.

Any existence that threatens it cannot be forgiven. They thought as such.

~o~O~o~

At this point, time fast forwards to the part where the Empire and the Kingdom agree on a cease-fire.

The stage too moves to the Empire at the Western Ost continent.

A man walks along the street that has a sand-colored tone.

The reason for this uniformity is the excellent quality of rocks produced in large amounts at a nearby mountain.

(This is good)

The tip of the man’s mouth curled into a smile.

As he is tall and lean but hunchbacked, he does not give off a gallant impression.

On the contrary, his extremely sharp look and thick eye bags give off an abnormal eeriness.

(This is very good indeed)

He stifled the smile that surfaced.

That action is so bizarre that the people who looked at him rushed to either their left or right.

He paid that no mind and walked straight in the center.

「Grim Reaper」

A murmur filled with fear from someone in the crowd reached his ears.

Even being called by this nickname by a commoner he does not know did not make him feel a tinge of anger in his heart. He is currently in an extremely good mood.

The signing ceremony for the cease-fire agreement. He has been recognized as the representative for the Empire fraction that is participating.

「It sure is rare for you to desire such a thing」

At the audience earlier, the Emperor put on a surprised expression as he said that.

The Grim Reaper has never desired status, prestige, or money up until then.

He only desired to battle.

That is not limited to battles between Knights. The hand-to-hand battles on the bed that involve the scythe at the nether region are also included.

For him to wish to attend the ceremony of all things.

It is only natural for the Emperor to be surprised.

(There is a slight problem with the cease-fire agreement and the Grim Reaper. But I must grant his request)

With the many greedy but useless people, people like him, who have few desires but are adept, are important. However, there is also a point of concern.

He does not desire it even if he were to be rewarded for his work.

The people around him may not be even if he is fine with it.

A master that does not give out suitable rewards. It will be a huge minus to the Emperor if he were to be regarded as such.

「Very well」

The Emperor readily consented to Grim Reaper’s participation on the spot.

「Welcome back」

The soldier’s voice made the Grim Reaper realize that he has reached his destination.

「Yea」

He replied curtly and passed through.

Here lies the lodging house of the Empire’s Knight Order.

It is not a place where the Grim Reaper who is supposed to be called Lord. However, he who does not fuss over anything has decided to live here as it is laid back.

From the perspective of the young people living here, he is quite the burden.

The only person that is overjoyed is the housemaster. Thanks to him, the young people have held back on their tomfoolery.

Wall banging the Grim Reaper, etc. Just imagining it made their teeth clatter.

「We have a request!」

But an exception exists in every place.

The two pilots that do not fear him ran up to him from the corridor.

The one ahead is a man with long golden hair and curled lips. The other is a burly man with short black hair – a giant.

「We wish for your benevolence! Please discipline us benevolently with that scythe!」

They undid their belts and started stripping their pants as they appealed to him.

The Grim Reaper’s expression did not change, he rammed the hard tip of his boot into the solar plexus of long golden hair.

He twisted the lower half of his body without hesitation and this time, he sunk the heel into the abdomen of black short hair.

「……Your compassion……」

Ignoring the two who were losing their consciousness amid their agony, he entered his private room.

This always happens so he felt nothing in his heart.

Those two people, they used to be pretty skillful pilots. However, they became like this after going on a friendship mission at the Royal Capital.

According to the rumors, they had their hearts broken at a brothel.

(It would be interesting if it is your doing)

He turned on the light in the room.

It is a dreary room with few objects. That mostly serves as a place to sleep.

Among them, a single magazine lies on a desk that does not even serve as a decoration.

He, who was sitting on a chair, looked through a frayed page.

(I can’t wait)

The magazine is a special issue featuring the Contest before God held at the Holy City.

The title of the article on the frayed page reads 『The Grim Reaper breaks! The birth of a new heroine!』.

Following that, Explosive Elder Sister’s face basking in her victory, Explosive Elder Sister unleashing her moves with a serious expression – various sides of the Elder Sister were shown.

(Finally, finallyyyy)

Unbeknownst to him, the corner of his lips curled upwards.

The Grim Reaper’s aim is not the signing ceremony of the cease-fire agreement. It is the free time thereafter and the location – the Royal Capital.

(I can meet her)

Laughter started leaking out of his mouth that had become very twisted.

That laughter got louder with every second, the madness growing along with it.

Holding the magazine with one hand, the Grim Reaper bent backward while he continued laughing.

To the room beside, it is one where it is not weird for there to be wall-banging. However, the banging on the wall finally stopped.

The residents on both sides became afraid, erasing their presence, they closed the door and barricaded themselves indoors.

(Kill me)

The Grim Reaper continued laughing.

Unbeknownst to him, the bottom of his pants had expanded so much that it became like a bow.