Chapter 89

The midday sun shone down upon the forest southeast of the capital city.

I ran as Lirisia guided me.

She spread her wings and flew through the air, with white feathers flying around her like a protective barrier.

We emerged into a slightly open area within the forest.

I thought, "Is there a plaza here?" But upon closer inspection, it was different.

The surrounding trees had been knocked down to create a plaza.

At the base of a fallen giant tree, a white foal named Siel lay on the ground.

On top of Siel, Teti was crying.

Both were drenched in red blood.

In particular, Siel's beautiful wings were cruelly bent and broken.

I quickly drew my sword, overwhelmed with anger, and rushed into the plaza.

"Teti! Siel! Are you okay!?"

"Aleks-sama! Siel-kun!"

"Lirisia, heal them!"

"Yes, Master!"

Lirisia spread her wings and descended beside Siel.

"Full recovery—Teti-chan, high recovery."

She placed her left hand on Siel and her right hand on Teti, chanting the spell.

Her palms glowed, and their injuries rapidly healed.

---

Suddenly, from the opposite side of the plaza, a white giant emerged from the bushes.

It was huge, larger than a carriage, and at least two meters tall.

I readied my sword and faced it.

Though my heart was raging, I was a bit puzzled.

—Wait, is this a holy beast…?

"Did you do this?"

"This forest is mine. I am the lord of the forest. You, get out."

"What? —Teti, what happened?"

I asked while keeping my eyes on the boar.

Teti sobbed and explained.

"I was gathering herbs when it suddenly appeared. It said everything, the herbs and mushrooms, belonged to it because it's the king of the forest!"

"Quite greedy, aren't you, boar?"

"I am strong. I am the chosen one. You, get out."

"Come to think of it, there were no bears or wolves in this forest. Did you drive them out—shouldn't you have shared the space? I'm the one who made you a holy beast."

"Get out!"

The boar charged at an incredible speed, despite its massive size.

Dust flew up in its wake, and the ground shook as it rushed forward.

I readied my black sword and shouted.

"Lirisia, take the two and run!"

"But, Siel-kun is still…."

He seemed to have fainted and hadn't woken up yet.

I clicked my tongue and raised my sword.

"Damn. I can't hold back—guess I'll have to kill it—no, wait?"

I wanted a holy beast companion to be recognized as a holy sanctuary.

I had hoped to beat it into submission without killing it.

This boar, though temperamental, was heavily influenced by my holy aura.

—Then.

I lowered my sword from a high stance and held it horizontally.

I stepped to the side and swung my sword at the charging giant.

"Haah! —Holy Light Intense Break!"

The sword was enveloped in a bluish-white light—

Bang!

I avoided its head but struck its shoulder and chest with full force.

I hit it so hard that it rolled over, and the scattered remains of trees in the plaza were crushed.

However, it wasn't injured.

The boar shook off the broken wood with its massive body and quickly stood up.

Its eyes were red with anger as it looked at me.

"I am strong. You are weak. Your attacks don't work."

"That was intentional. That technique releases a powerful holy aura from the sword. Since you have the same holy aura as me, you weren't hurt."

"This is my power. It has nothing to do with you."

"I'll admit you did well to drive away bears and wolves from my forest, but hurting children like Siel and Teti is unforgivable. —Let's see if you can reflect on your actions."

"Shut up… This forest is mine!"

The boar bared its short tusks and charged at me again with incredible speed.

"Time for a lesson."

I took a cloth from my magic bag and wrapped it around the hilt of my sword.

The Demon Sword Rungreed retained magic power, apparently consuming the owner's magic.

With the reduced magic flow, the sword became ordinary.

I dodged the boar's attacks and slashed at it repeatedly.

I didn't use holy sword techniques, as they would release holy aura.

However, the cuts healed immediately.

The holy aura leaking from me couldn't be stopped.

But the pain of being cut was the same, even if it healed instantly.

The boar, though angry, was confused.

"Why? Why am I being cut? I am strong."

"You became strong because of my power. That's why you can't beat me."

"What… my power… my…"

Trembling, the boar still charged at me.

It repeated its straightforward charges.

Its speed was too fast for ordinary monsters to handle.

But I kept cutting it.

The cuts healed immediately.

But it still bled with each cut.

The ground of the plaza turned red with blood.

After a while, the boar could barely stand.

Its legs trembled like a fawn, and its red eyes were unfocused.

I asked calmly.

"Do you understand the difference in power? I am the lord of this forest. If you apologize to Siel and Teti and promise not to defy me again, I might let you go."

"Shut up… I haven't lost… I am the strongest…"

It staggered and swayed as it approached.

It no longer had the destructive power of its charges and moved at a walking pace.

I readied my sword and asked calmly.

"Then, how will you admit defeat?"

"I won't… You're not scary… You lack the fear of a lord…"

The boar said this as it staggered toward me.

I see.

Since it shares the same holy aura as me, it makes sense that it doesn't fear me, no matter the power difference.

—Then.

I decided to try compressing the holy aura, a recent practice.

I held my sword in a standard stance and focused my energy.

"Haahh!"

I retained the released holy aura.

I further compressed it.

400 meters, 200 meters, 150 meters…

When I compressed it to about 100 meters, Lirisia, who was at the edge of the plaza, gasped in shock.

"Oh…! What pure magic… As expected, Master… It feels like my soul is being cleansed…"

Lirisia blushed and pressed her large chest with her hands, breathing shallowly as if in ecstasy.

—Is the concentrated holy aura that much more pleasant?

It's said that a hero's holy aura can purify the sins of a fallen angel.

The boar, still charging at me, opened its red eyes wide.

"What, so thick… More concentrated than me… Impossible—then, I'll eat and take it…"

The boar staggered to me and stood on its hind legs.

It looked like a massive wall.

It seemed to realize that charges wouldn't work and intended to crush me with its body.

I was impressed by its clear thinking despite its dazed state.

But.

"Too bad—Holy Guided Slash!"

I swung my sword upward.

A heavy thud echoed, and the boar was thrown back, flying over the edge of the plaza and crashing into the trees.

Lirisia and Teti, who had been watching, shouted.

"To throw that massive body so far…! Amazing, Master!"

"Of course, Aleks-sama! Thanks for avenging us!"

I walked to the boar, tapping my sword on my shoulder.

The boar lay motionless but was still breathing shallowly, so it wasn't dead.

"Get it? Do you understand the difference in power?"

"Heavy… Stronger than me… Kill me."

"Then, I'll take your life. You will serve me and only attack bears and wolves that invade the forest."

"…"

"Answer me. Apologize to Teti and Siel. Or I'll eat you."

At that moment, several small white boars emerged from the bushes.

"Stop it! Don't kill Dad! Forgive Papa!"

The small white boars covered their father's body protectively.

They were small but…

"Are these White Boar cubs…?"

Lirisia, who had been looking through her monocle, reported.

"These are 'White Uribos,' a new species of holy beast."

"New species… Your children?"

Thinking they would grow into ordinary White Boars, I quickly grabbed one of the Uribos.

The Uribos cried out in unison.

"Kyaa!"

"Stop… Eat me…"

"If these cubs get hurt, you'll be angry, right? That's how I felt when Siel and Teti were hurt. Understand?"

"I understand… I recognize you as the lord of the forest."

"Good! By the way, my name is Aleks. —Now, apologize."

The boar turned its face toward Teti.

"Sorry, little one."

As it finished speaking, its head fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

It seemed to have fainted.

I put the Uribos down and sheathed my sword.

"Alright. Be more careful from now on. —Lirisia, heal him."

"Yes, Master."

She spread her white wings and flew over, immediately placing her hands to heal with magic.

I looked down at the ground.

The Uribos, crying, clung to their fallen father.

"We live in a mansion at the deepest part of the forest. Come visit if you need anything."

"No way! I don't want to! We'll be eaten!"

"We have plenty of apples, strawberries, and nuts."

"Really?"

The smallest Uribos, trembling, tilted its head.

"…The seasons are all mixed up…"

"Huh? Is that so? There's plenty, so come whenever you want."

I said this and moved away from them.

When I returned to Siel, he was just waking up.

"Thank you, Aleks-san."

"Don't worry about it. I should have been here sooner… You protected Teti?"

"I couldn't do anything…"

"Ah, you'll grow strong if you eat well. You can become as strong as your mom."

"Okay, I'll eat well!"

Siel stood up and said cheerfully.

Teti hugged Siel's long neck.

"Thank you, sorry…"

"I'm glad you're safe, Teti."

Teti shook his head sadly, unable to accept Siel's words.

He then looked up at me.

"Aleks-sama, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"I want to become strong."

"Are you sure? You don't have to push yourself."

I looked down at the frail girl and advised her.

But Teti's emerald eyes shone with determination, tears welling up.

"I want to be strong enough to protect my friends! I've always been alone, so running away was enough. But, but! I don't want to run anymore! So, please, Aleks-sama, make me strong!"

Faced with her resolve, I could only be moved.

I patted her head. Her soft golden hair felt good under my fingers.

"Alright. I'll go to the slave market and hire Cheryl. She can teach you about elves and how to fight."

"Thank you, Aleks-sama!"

Teti jumped into my arms.

Hugging me tightly, she smiled happily.

We returned to the mansion, with her still clinging to me.

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→ 90. Hiring Cheryl