Ch.4040. I’m Going to Meet You Now

Late in the evening, the pink-haired female knight Millia Neize slipped out of the village hall in light attire.

She had just finished having a deep conversation with the Hero.

Since their reunion, the Hero had been spending most of his time with the elf Silvina. Sometimes they would giggle together before suddenly disappearing into the forest, and they always ate meals together. He approached the other party members with caution.

Today was the first time he had spoken to Millia in a while.

The Hero’s proposal was simple. If she cooperated obediently, he would ensure the safety of her family. This was the most desperate and sensitive issue for Millia.

He also laid out a plausible plan. He subtly mentioned the treatment Millia’s family was receiving and presented a breakthrough solution.

“I have a family I used as a front during proxy transactions. If we use them, I think we might be able to work something out… Trust me one more time.”

Though she didn’t fully believe him, by the end of the conversation, Millia had nodded in agreement. After all, the party’s leadership inevitably belonged to the Hero.

And now the Hero was reaching an agreement with the Saintess and the mage.

“Haah.”

Millia sighed as she savored the cool night air. It seemed to improve her mood, if only slightly.

Just then, the sound of an argument began to drift from the village hall. It was the Saintess and the mage trying to secure promises, and the Hero attempting to placate them.

“If this isn’t agreed upon, I can’t follow you…!”

“I’ll consider it, but think about my position too…”

“…Hero, me too.”

“Alright. Should I swear on a Gears Scroll?”

They seemed ready to draft a contract as thick as the Empire’s founding history right on the spot. She wondered how little trust they must have in each other to go to such lengths.

Not wanting to hear any more, Millia stepped outside the palisade and took a deep breath.

‘Should I just run away?’

The thought flashed through her mind impulsively.

Millia, though vulnerable as a Hero’s party member, still had enough skill to make a living with her sword. Though the Empire ruled over 80% of humanity, there were small kingdoms beyond their influence.

She could probably survive as a mercenary in another country. Just changing her hair color would reduce her chances of being caught by 90%. If she begged the Hero, “Just consider me dead,” he might even pretend to go along with it.

Additionally, if she had rumors spread to her family that “Millia died miserably in the Demonic Land and her body couldn’t be recovered,” perhaps the Neize family lineage could continue safely.

But her contemplation didn’t last long.

“Millia. We’re done, come back in.”

The Hero, having finished disciplining his party members, was calling for her.

When she returned to the village hall, the mage Yuni was preciously clutching a Gears Scroll, and the Saintess also looked somewhat appeased.

Whatever their true feelings, it meant the Hero had regained control.

As soon as Millia returned, the Hero spoke in a confident voice. He said they would leave the village before dawn tomorrow.

Millia ultimately abandoned her hastily conceived escape plan and nodded.

***

At the same time, in a forest about two hours’ walk from the village where the Hero’s party was staying.

Nearly 50 demihumans were on the move.

Not only was their number significant, but their composition was unusual as well. Half were lizardmen, and half were canine folk.

Reptilian and furry races typically kept their distance from each other. Even canine and feline folk growled at each other, so the situation with reptiles was even worse. The lizardmen even disparaged the furry races while claiming to be dragon-folk themselves.

However, there was no awkwardness between them now.

This wasn’t simply because they shared a common enemy in humans; there was another reason.

They had a leader who easily ignored differences in appearance and habits, receiving stable support from all demihumans.

The Demihuman King Leoneo.

Initially famous for his overwhelming strength, after saving the demihuman forces at the Lankart border with his wounded body, he earned respect that transcended species. He had truly become worthy of the title “Demihuman King.”

“Where is Leoneo?”

“In the Demonic Land.”

Though it was just a simple update on his whereabouts, the demihumans responded with “Ooh,” “Woof woof,” and other exclamations of admiration.

They firmly believed the Demihuman King was doing something noble, even though he could have been simply enjoying himself at the Demon Lord’s castle. This scene clearly demonstrated Leoneo’s standing.

The belief that with the Demihuman King, they could chew humans to the bone and take their lands and food without difficulty had taken root among the demihumans.

Thanks to this belief, the demihumans cooperated and cared for each other even without Leoneo’s direct command, strengthening their sense of belonging.

This sense of belonging was why they had gathered in the middle of the forest in the dead of night. A problem had arisen that needed to be solved together.

“Here they are.”

Shortly after, the demihumans discovered the bodies of two adult lizardmen warriors, lying in a miserable state.

These warriors had gone hunting far away for their tribe but hadn’t returned after some time. The faint smell of decay was why dozens of demihumans had set out.

“This is the work of humans.”

An adult canine folk got down on all fours and carefully examined the bodies. The lizardmen did the same. Since it was unlikely that two lizardmen would fall to mediocre hunters or villagers, they needed to investigate thoroughly.

True to their demihuman nature—low intelligence but excellent senses—it didn’t take long to reach a conclusion.

“One human, a very strong specimen.”

“But not overwhelmingly strong.”

We can handle this. The demihumans reached an agreement while emitting low howls.

After all, there were 50 adult demihumans gathered here. Especially the lizardmen, with their high individual combat power, could easily kill several human soldiers in an instant.

Though those who emitted light from their swords were somewhat concerning…

“With these numbers, there won’t be a problem.”

The demihumans began following the faint remaining scent. They were looking for the stupid murderer who had moved along an obvious path with the body fluids of the dead lizardmen warriors on them.

Let’s go, let’s avenge our kin.

As they began moving with solemn determination, the demihumans detected a subtle presence.

About ten individuals, smelling of metal and strange medicines that only humans used. The demihumans decided they should deal with these ones first and formed a formation.

Some hid in the undergrowth, while others climbed trees.

However, those approaching now seemed unconcerned.

“Senior Erick, there’s a stench coming from over there.”

“I know. Professor Weaver? Please begin.”

“…Earth’s Roar!”

A clear incantation spread through the forest thick with darkness.

Soon after, with a “whoosh” sound, soil and rocks began to spring up from all directions. Even tree roots shot up, mercilessly piercing the demihumans’ feet.

Thwack! Crack!

Though not fatal to the strong demihumans, it was a wide-area attack powerful enough to terrify them momentarily.

While the suddenly attacked demihumans were in disarray, the next offensive came immediately.

“Don’t stand in my way!!”

“W-woof?”

An energy known as “aura,” which only particularly strong human specimens could emit, demonstrated overwhelming cutting power as it tore through the bodies of more than ten warriors.

Blood spurted everywhere, and severed limbs and weapons scattered on the ground. Several individuals had their upper and lower bodies separated.

“Now even beast-spawn. I hope they’re not competitors.”

“Let’s deal with them quickly and move on.”

The surviving demihumans rushed in from all directions, trying to create an opportunity for a reversal, but it was futile.

Humans wielding swords of similar yet different shapes unleashed merciless attacks as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“Die!”

It was literally a time of slaughter. Sorrowful cries echoed everywhere.

A frightened canine folk tried to flee while whimpering, but a human mage shot an invisible arrow, killing it instantly.

The brief skirmish lasted barely two minutes.

But the result was unspeakably tragic. The 50 demihumans now lay scattered on the undergrowth in a miserable state.

The lone survivor was critically wounded, intermittently twitching while awaiting inevitable death.

Meanwhile, the humans who caused this devastation remained unharmed. Those who had shown signs of fatigue were soon enveloped in brilliant light and quickly regained their pristine condition.

‘…This is too unfair.’

This was the thought of a lizardman warrior who was barely clinging to life while struggling to maintain consciousness. It defied common sense that dozens of adult demihumans could be annihilated without putting up any resistance.

But the humans paid no attention to his doubts and continued chattering among themselves.

“Baron Wellesley. I wonder if the Hero noticed because of this battle. Might he be on guard?”

“Look at those decaying bodies over there. The Hero probably killed them. Millia doesn’t even have the skill to leave those kinds of sword marks. Would a human who kills demihumans and doesn’t even clean up the bodies be on guard? If he’s still in the village, he’s probably sleeping with one of his party members in his arms.”

“So we can just charge in directly?”

“No, Cardinal… I mean, Elder. To catch them all at once, we can’t just rush in recklessly. If they see us and pretend to go crazy while fleeing toward the Demonic Land, we might only catch the mage and the Saintess. We need groundwork.”

“I don’t know what you mean, but explain.”

“First, Katie and I will…”

As the humans moved away quickly while muttering, the last surviving demihuman stared blankly at their retreating figures, feeling his consciousness gradually fading.

“I can’t wait to see it.”

This was the last thing he heard before dying.