After leaving the nation of Galbaran, we set out to cross the great forest with the beast Silkbeard.
"After all the trouble we've been through, getting all this gold makes me feel a little rich☆"
"Hmm, don't forget it's all thanks to me."
"Yes, Zig is a handsome and nice hero☆"
"...Kuku."
"Is something wrong, Aide?"
"...Nothing."
For some reason, Aide was in a very good mood.
I guess he was happy about the scroll he got.
It seems he had already used the scroll, but he still didn't show his face.
"What's that?"
Suddenly, I turned my head to look at something I hadn't been aware of.
Immediately afterwards, there was an explosion and Silkbeard shook violently.
Is this a magical attack!?
Countless pink flashes fly up from the sides.
Every time we were hit, Silkbeard's balance was thrown off to such an extent that if we didn't hold on, we might fall down at any moment.
"Silkbeard, land now!"
"No, it's too late!"
"I'm going to fall☆ And at this height, I'll die!☆"
Finally the barrier broke, and Silkbeard fled just above the great forest at top speed as he started losing altitude.
The magical power of the attacks grew more powerful with each shot.
The rising columns of smoke easily exceeded fifty meters.
"Shiia~"
"Damn it, are you already at your limit!? You useless beast!"
The attacks have stopped, but now the fall is inevitable.
We barely made it through the large forest before Silkbeard crashed into a swamp.
"Ugh."
"Don't move, or the wound will get worse."
When I opened my eyes, there was a girl in front of me.
My consciousness is still cloudy, and I can't clearly understand the current situation.
I unconsciously extended my hand, and she smiled softly
"I'm sorry. I could have helped you more if I had some medicine, but this is a small town in the middle of nowhere."
"What's your name?"
"Tanya."
I fell back into a deep sleep.
I gaze at her as I lie in bed.
Tanya was a hard working girl. From the minute she woke up until nightfall, she was busy.
She was not a remarkably beautiful woman, and she always wore dirty clothes.
Besides, she's a human, which I hate.
However, there was something about her that strangely appealed to me.
"The doctor said you'll be okay and it's likely that you'll be back on your feet in a week. I still find it amazing that being an elf can give you such high resilience."
"For your information, I'm not a mere elf, I'm a high elf. And don't talk to me like we're equals. You and I are not of the same position."
"I'm so sorry!"
The woman was quick to apologize. Then I realized I had said something unnecessary.
No, that's not what I wanted to say.
"But I'll forgive you this time. So stay close and take care of me."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes, you are special. Feel honored to be close to the hero Zig."
"Yes!"
As she left the room, I peeked out from under the covers and looked at the door.
I will never make her suffer. I would give my life for her.
"Come, Silkbeard!"
I tried to summon the beast out of my seal, but I didn't respond.
Hmm... I think it's taken more hits than I imagined. It refuses to come out.
I wanted to show Tanya how cool I am.
"What's wrong ☆"
"The beast doesn't want to come out."
"Well~ That's what happens when you get attacked really hard☆"
"This is useless. We'll walk from here."
We left the village on foot.
"Did you find out who attacked us?"
"The villagers told me it may have been the ancient demon king Roswell☆"
We were all heading west.
The two relayed all the information they had gathered over the last week.
It makes sense that it was an attack by the demon king.
But why did they attack us?
"...For some reason, they must have recognized us as the enemy."
"Then it's a bad idea for us to fly over this area."
I turned my gaze to Aide.
He reminded me of the man from my nightmares. And oddly enough he was wearing the same jet black armor.
Apparently, this town is near the swamp where we crashed.
Tanya lives with her parents in this village in the middle of nowhere. This village mostly consisted of humans.
There are also some beasts and dwarves, and they wield their power as one of the few forces in the village.
"Tomorrow I will be able to walk again."
"Good for you, Zig☆"
"....I was worried about you."
The doctor finally told me I was cured.
Celtina and Aide seemed more pleased than I was with the results.