Volume 1 - CH 2.12

Part 12

The Greenwood Kingdom——

According to the game’s settings, it was a country deep in the forest that the Elven tribe governed by itself. Among the many Elven countries, it seems that it is the oldest, most distinguished, and largest one.

On top of that setting, it had a feeling of having a national isolation.

In actuality, there were scenarios where one would go into that country in the forest, but the Elven NPCs’ attitudes were often very cold.

Because it was made that Elves were the closest race to that of the Divine Beings, that pride created their exclusive ambiance.

Among the story quests, there were also requests from the Greenwood Royal Family.

A model of one would be a 『Rescue the Elven Princess!』 kind of quest.

Though, the setting on that was that they were kidnapped by a Demonic Being and not a slave trader……

——I see, so that means that these Elves are in the middle of a quest to rescue the princess from me, right?

He was thoroughly in the villain’s part.

Diablo smiled.

Because he had consigned many Adventurers to oblivion doing his Demon King role play, he was fired up to play the villain’s part.

Besides, he also needed to get some information out from them.

The quest this time was a request from the Magician’s Guild.

Did Selsio’s group agitate the Guild’s reputation to get them to put out this quest? Would they do something so roundabout? They looked like people that would try to get her back right then and there if they had discovered Diablo’s group in town. They would have challenged him just like Emil did in the Adventurer’s Guild.

Instead, they went through the trouble of convening at the Man-Eating Forest which was a long way off from town and did an ambush.

Also, the quest’s requestor knew that the high difficulty quest would circulate to Diablo.

When he compared the information, there was only one conclusion that could be seen.

——So someone had drafted the ambush strategy, commissioned the quest, Selsio’s group only went along with it.

And then, that someone is……

——Somehow, I think I already know.

Selsio raised his voice.

「You had better removed Shera-sama’s choker, slave trader!」

Diablo understood the other party’s situation. Frankly, they were foolish, but if this was an action from being anxious over Shera’s well-being, killing them would be too rash.

It would be best if they could peacefully solve this with a discussion but……

Even though he thought that, he often provoked people due to his Demon King role play.

However, people learn.

This time for sure, he would say a single phrase that would peacefully solve this!

But before Diablo could say anything, Shera stepped forward.

「For me, I don’t care about something like the Royal Family!」

Selsio made a troubled face.

「Princess……Everyone in the Royal Family is worried about you. Please, come back to the country at least once.」

「What Nii-san and the others are worried about isn’t me, but an heir, right!? They just want me to give birth to a child!」

「That is an important duty.」

「Not being able to do what I want and marrying someone I don’t want to get married to, I don’t want any of that! I absolutely won’t go back to our country! It’s because I want to live with my own strength!」

「But, aren’t you a slave right now!?」

「You’re wrong! This is a choker meant for Summoned Beasts! It was only placed on me due to an accident! I’m not anyone’s slave! I’m not Diablo’s slave, nor am I the Greenwood Royal Family’s slave! I am me!」

——So that’s why the people of this world have such low levels.

He remembered the words that Rem said before.

“If they were to challenge a powerful monster and die, nothing would remain.”

It was just as she said.

In this world, if one died, that’s the end.

Just receiving a level down penalty and getting to retry from the last town you visited just like in the game——there was no such rescue measure.

For example, if the MMORPG Cross Reverie were a death game where 『if you die, the player also dies』, who in the world would challenge the Man-Eating Forest?

If it took half a day to make a one way trip to a moderate hunting ground, who would go to practice there everyday?

Moreover, the return would also be on foot. There was no return spell.

There were no hints thanks to the mutterings of the administrators, and there was no information exchange from a walkthrough site.

If it was just to live, all one had to do was avoid the powerful monsters and hunt the beasts of the forest.

One could live with a normal bow and arrow.

It was the same in regards to magic.

Rather than chemical element magic which, while powerful, could kill you if a single mistake was made, a Summoned Beast that you could make into a shield was safer.

If the life that they only had one of was on the line, people would do the safe and relieving easygoing choice.

It was something that was natural.

Selsio carefully nocked a single arrow.

「Kuh……You damned monster……If an evergreen oak arrow won’t work on you!」

It was an arrow that was green in its entirety.

A characteristic of it was that the arrowhead portion was cone-shaped like a drill. Because a green air current sprang forth from the arrowhead portion, Selsio’s hair fluttered.

Diablo raised a voice of admiration.

「Hou, so it’s a 《Squall Arrow》.」

「Why do you know about it!?」

It was because it was often used against him when he was a Demon King in the game.

It was able to invalidate the Physical Damage Reduction effect. It was often carried by challengers as a countermeasure for 《The Hollow of Jet Black》.

Since it was also effective against monsters that could only be damaged by magic, it was a standard among standards for bow-users around level 50.

「That isn’t bad. If it’s with a 《Squall Arrow》, you’ll probably be able to bestow damage upon me.」

「Of course it will! This arrow is a treasure that I was granted by His Majesty! It’s a supreme arrow that pierces through everything! I don’t know what kind of magic you are able to use, but it will pierce through even that wicked nature of yours!」

The bowstring was drawn to its limit.

——To be honest, I don’t want receive it.

So Selsio was about level 50.

Since it took some time before he made the shot, he most likely added some power with the Martial Art 《Charge Shoot》.

If it’s a 《Squall Arrow》, he would definitely receive damage.

It would probably hurt.

However, if it wasn’t able to give a lot of damage even after doing all that, it would probably make them learn the difference in strength.

Diablo daringly smiled.

His innermost thoughts felt like he was waiting for an injection.

「You should engrave this in your heart together with fear. My name is Diablo. A Demon King of another world.」

At Selsio’s group’s back——towards the forest, he fired a 《Freezia》.

Thunderously, the wind rumbled.

The frost effect fluttered about and fell.

The Man-Eating Forest froze from the cold air of the magic.

A beautiful flower of ice opened up.

The nearby monsters ran away in confusion. There were also wild animals that jumped out from the forest.

What ran out from the swamp were the 《Spotted Snakes》. Though, since the quest was a trap, they were no longer needed.

Additionally, wild animals that were several meters large were running away while raising screams.

It seems that the wild animals were more well attuned in regards to danger than the people of the races. There was nothing that went towards Diablo.

Selsio’s group sank down to the ground while gazing at that spectacle. Going by their appearance, Diablo confirmed that they had lost their fighting spirit.

Diablo lowered his 《Staff of Tenma》.