Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master

The entire mountain and the forest at its base were all purchased by the Elves.

Because it is private property, entry is normally prohibited, and it is nearly impossible to find the small elven settlement in this area, which is covered in vast, deep forests.

Koujiro and his comrades were using this area as an escape route, but it seemed that their plan had already been read, as a large number of enemies were waiting for them beyond the land.

“That’s not good~…… we were planning to go through here, heading straight to the Shiznautmy ruins and joining the Imperial investigation team, but it seems that they read it~”

Kagerou, a female ninja, muttered as she ran through the forest.

As we followed her, we finally realized that Koujiro and the others were apparently trying to escape the country.

“You mean you were trying to escape to the Empire?”

“Well…… Solja or Hiro would definitely accept us.”

“Japone has already reached that stage…”

Normally, other countries tend to avoid interfering in the internal affairs of another country, and although it’s somewhat diplomatically taboo, I doubt my parents would turn their backs on Koujiro, a former member of the Seven Heroes, in his time of need.

“But that was also read… they got ahead of you… that’s what you mean.”

“That’s true. But maybe Koujiro has gotten sloppy? Whether they were Hunters or thugs, he turned back instead of fighting his way through a mere thousand people. In the old days, when Koujiro got serious with his sword technique, he could take down a hundred people with one swing.”

“No, no, Espie…… they are a thousand strong…… no, though such a force may seem a trifle to you and the Young man, it is far from ‘mere’?”

『…… Hmm…… certainly…… tis curious…… even if he currently bears burdens, I cannot believe that a seasoned warrior like Koujiro would retreat…….』

Espie says “a mere thousand”, but that surprised me too. I mean, I can’t really grasp the scale of a thousand people either.

Even in my battles in the past and the Heavenly Realm, I never really thought much about the number of opponents I was dealing with.

But, on the other hand, it seemed that Tre’ainar had a lot of respect for Koujiro’s abilities, and the fact that he turned on his heel like that definitely caught her attention.

“So….. I’ll follow them, you guys…… will you stay on our side? Or will you just wait and see? Which is it?”

At that time, Kagerou, who was running ahead, called out to us.

Certainly, it made sense that she would be curious.

Moreover, their numbers were small, so in such a situation, if Espie, one of the Seven Heroes, were to become their ally, it would be like gaining the strength of a hundred men.

But……

“Hmm.”

Espie was cool about it.

“The last thing I want is you using this land to fight, or rather wage war. So, if you’re going to leave this land, that’s fine, but if you want to go on a rampage in this land, that’s …….”

What Espie wants to avoid is getting the elven settlement involved in the troubles of humans.

I had the same opinion.

“I mean, it was you guys who invaded first and caused this mess.”

“…That’s true… Koujiro-han was also worried about passing through here…… At first, we didn’t know why…… I thought we could lose them in this land that was unfamiliar to the Japone warriors……

She said it with a bit of complaint, but as expected, even Kagerou, who had laughed while breaking people’s bones, seemed to shrink back a bit, perhaps feeling at least a bit guilty.

But does that mean that Koujiro, one of the Seven Heroes, had been pushed to that extent?

What’s more, did Japone have that much of a reason to go to such lengths to hunt down Koujiro and his group?

“Well…… originally, the very matter of this land’s rightful ownership was much entwined with the workings of Koujiro of the Seven Heroes, who, without delving deep into the circumstances, did move many a thing in our favor…… Thus, I find myself ill at ease to lay blame upon him…… In fact, I ponder if there be aught I might do in return… if only a little. Just a little. So long as it brings no ill to the settlement.”

On the other hand, Mr. Chieftain didn’t blame them that much, and seemed to have mixed feelings, wondering if there was something he could do.

Well, it’s true that the reason the elven settlement had been at peace for over a decade was not only due to the cooperation of Espie and Slayer, but also due in part to Koujiro pulling all the strings behind the scenes.

“Hold on, Chieftain! That makes it sound like I’m cold-hearted! B, Big brother, it’s not like that! It’s not that I don’t care about Koujiro, or that I wouldn’t even notice if he died or anything like that. I haven’t become that cold-hearted of an adult!”

Espie seemed a little flustered at this…… I mean, even if she reacts like that, what am I supposed to do… but it seems that, to Espie, what I think of her was more important, as she responded quite eagerly.

“It’s okay. Espie I know how important Amicus is to you …….”

“Uh~……”

Yes, Espie is not cold-hearted. She just didn’t want anything to happen to the elves.

That’s how important that place and the Amicus are to Espie.

Also, when it comes to Koujiro of the Seven Heroes, Espie probably has somewhat different feelings towards him than towards her other former comrades in the Allied Forces, so it’s unlikely that she “feels absolutely nothing at all” towards him.

“So, then, Kagerou, how about this? I won’t help you leave the country, but… how about I help you leave this land? I don’t want a thousand Hunters invading this land, so I’d be more than happy to beat them up and let you break through…….”

“Huh!? Th, that’s…… more than enough for us, but… is it okay?”

We won’t send them to the Empire. Well, I don’t want that either.

But, if they can’t force their way through with a thousand Hunters lying in wait, then we’ll at least help them break through.

That was Espie’s concession.

“Alright, Big brother! I’m not cold-hearted!”

“Hahaha, I know… Come on, come on.”

“Huh!?”

Espie asked me while running. I smiled wryly and patted her head……

“Okay! I’m a hundred times more energetic! Bring on a thousand or even ten thousand people! I’ll blow them all away in a matter of seconds!!”

Espie shouted with enthusiasm, her body boiling with heat as if she were engulfed in flames.

And Espie ……

“Well then, Big brother! I’ll go and blow them away!”

“Hey, wait!”

“Hehe, looks like Koujiro ran away, but for me, it’s a piece of cake♪! Ju-watt!”

She’ll immediately go and blow away the people lying in wait.

With a thumbs up, Espie swooped past us, flying off at high speed on her own.

“Sh, she’s gone… by herself…….”

“Damn it, Espie…”

“W, wait, Young man! Espie has strayed too far, and now her powers wane… don’t forsake me, I beseech you!”

Is Espie okay on her own? I think she’ll be fine, but I should hurry up and go after her just in case.

With that in mind, I looked in the direction that Espie had flown to……

“…… Hmm?”

“…………”

For some reason, Espie, who had just flown away, immediately flew back.

“Eh, Espie?! What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

“?”

“What happened?”

Espie came back immediately, and as we tilted our heads in confusion, we noticed something.

Espie, who jumped out full of confidence, had turned extremely pale.

What the hell is going on……

“B, Big brother…… i, it’s true…… far away, for sure…… when I passed through the forest ahead, I saw the Hunters waiting for us there, right?”

“Y, yeah.”

She spotted a group of Hunters. But, although she was supposed to go and beat them up, she returned immediately without doing anything.

Why was that?

“I, it’s just that… t-there’s someone in that group…”

“Oh……”

“I, I don’t know why… but… they looked like they had lost their mind… that…”

“?”

The reason why Espie returned is not because of the Hunters……

“There was a little girl… with nine tails…”

“Huh?”

It was because a monster lurked there.

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