Chapter 6

There is a slightly cruel description. Please be cautious if you are sensitive to such content.

Having a clear idea of his work, Dillnan, who serves Lord Kaiyu, the Northern Demon King, came to the "Deep Forest" at dusk after entrusting his duties to his comrades. The forest remained unchanged as always.

Magic essence... This Demon Continent, which emits far more magic essence than other continents, is about one-third the size of the Central Continent where humans live. Due to the abundance of magic essence, it was once a place of exile for those deemed criminals in the Central Continent, a hellish land where humans without resistance to magic essence would die quickly.

Those who managed to survive by accepting the magic essence evolved into a different species known as demons, who can wield magic naturally, unlike ordinary humans. Due to the intense power they accepted, their birth rate is very low, and instead, they live for 500 to 800 years. The stronger their magic, the longer they live, and the more refined their appearance becomes.

The Demon Continent is divided into the East, West, South, and North, each represented by the strongest being in their respective regions, known as the Demon King.

I serve Lord Kaiyu, the Northern Demon King. My name is Dillnan, and I am the captain of the Northern Demon King's Castle's culinary team. While I do have a family name, the Northern Demon King's Castle operates on a strict meritocracy, so family names are neither used nor necessary. Whether you are a knight, a cook, a doctor, or a janitor, everyone is expected to be able to fight using any means necessary, embodying a philosophy of elite few. Incompetent individuals are not hired and quickly fall behind in this environment.

The "Deep Forest" lies between the Northern and Eastern territories. It is one of the areas on the Demon Continent with an unusually high concentration of magic essence, supporting a unique ecosystem. Several species are confirmed to exist only here, though details are unknown. This is because the law of the jungle is more intense here than in other regions, and the magical beasts deep in the forest are so dangerous that even the average demon would become prey. As a result, few venture near this place voluntarily, and it has come to be known as the "Deep Forest." However, the meat of the magical beasts here is of excellent quality. Normally, the culinary team uses magical beasts and livestock hunted by the surrounding villages, but the higher-ranking members of the culinary team take turns hunting from time to time.

It was my turn this time.

As I walked deeper into the forest, I suppressed my magic to search for prey. If I didn't, the magical beasts would become wary and flee, making them hard to find. I am a high-ranking demon, and I wouldn't come to such a place otherwise.

Carnivorous beasts are generally nocturnal. As it began to darken, they started to become active. Conversely, herbivorous beasts hide in their nests for protection. The only ones outside are the powerful carnivorous beasts capable of using magic. My target is any large creature, whether carnivorous or herbivorous. Even as a part of the meal, the amount of meat needed for the castle's population, especially the many men engaged in physical labor, is substantial. Hunting small creatures is not only tedious but also time-consuming to process. I searched for signs of movement and confirmed them with my eyes.

"Nothing but small ones."

After walking for about half an hour, I hadn't encountered any suitable prey and muttered to myself.

I knew it was a matter of luck, but the deputy captain, Shunas, who was on duty for the last hunt, had brought back a large catch. I didn't want to lose to him.

"———"

From a distance, I heard the sound of branches being broken violently and a faint cry. It was likely a large carnivorous beast starting its hunt.

"Should I go check it out?"

Seizing the opportunity, I ran in the direction of the sound, drawing two combat knives from my waist as I gained speed. These custom-made knives, crafted by the blacksmith team, are large and versatile, made from special metals to be on par with other weapons. They are exceptionally sharp and can be used to butcher the prey after the hunt, which is why many members of the culinary team prefer knife-type weapons. The shapes vary widely, with power types favoring all-purpose knives and speed types preferring slender, sharp knives. Similarly, the chef's uniform is made from a special thick fabric, providing excellent fire resistance, water repellency, and physical damage resistance, as well as enhanced magic resistance, making it more protective than even inferior armor.

As I approached the source of the sound, I could see the prey through the gaps in the trees.

A large dragon-type beast, the Rezail, a top predator in the food chain. It is a rare species found only in this forest with a small population. Its meat is rich in muscle and red meat, but unlike other magical beasts, it has a delicate marbling and is tender. It was an unexpected and valuable catch.

"———!"

Just as I was about to hunt it, a sound that was undoubtedly a scream came from the opposite side. Instinctively, I saw a child, tripped and about to fall, being pursued by another Rezail.

Why is such a small child alone here!?

Even I was taken aback. I quickly cast a protective barrier around the child and rushed forward to take the initiative. The weak points of the dragon-type Rezail are the throat, which is not covered by scales, and the eyes. If I didn't care about the meat, I could use magic to roast it whole.

I closed the distance with the first Rezail without hesitation, parrying its claws and fangs with my left-hand knife while slicing its throat with my right-hand knife and returning to my original position. Blood gushed from the wound, and the Rezail fell.

Turning my attention to the other Rezail, it was trying to break through the barrier to get to the child, but its fangs were deflected. It was not paying much attention to me.

Taking advantage of this, I completely suppressed my presence and quickly circled behind it, closing the distance and slicing its throat in one swift motion.

I had unexpectedly caught two large beasts. This should be enough.

I hung the Rezail from a sturdy tree to drain the blood from the wounds, wiped my hands, and picked up the child protected by the barrier. The child, clearly in need of parental care, was severely underweight. With the prey secured, I no longer needed to suppress my magic, so I released it to search for the child's guardian, but there was no sign of any demon, not even in the entire forest.

To demons, who have a low birth rate, children are precious. Their birth is celebrated, and they are carefully educated and raised by the adults in the village until they reach adulthood at 100 years old. Even if they lose their parents, there are always those willing to take care of them.

Under normal circumstances, a place like the "Deep Forest" would be avoided unless it was an extreme emergency. Even in emergencies, at least three or four strong adults from the village would accompany anyone. A single child being here was an impossible situation.

The child's thin neck could be easily strangled with just a little force. Their body was small, soft, and vulnerable.

"First, I'll butcher the meat, and when they wake up, I'll give them something to eat."

With this plan in mind, I adjusted my hold on the child.

[Additional Information]

One hour is two hours, and a quarter hour is thirty minutes. A day is set to twenty-four hours for clarity.

Power types can be imagined as large Chinese cleavers, and speed types as thin, sharp slicing knives.

I hope you enjoy this world from a different perspective than the protagonist's.