The Sleeping Devil

"How are you feeling? Shall I apply healing?"

"No, I cannot allow you to go that far."

Some seemed to have slightly improved, regaining consciousness or color in their faces. Once everyone\'s safety was confirmed, the knights collectively kneeled, bowing their heads.

"Lady Sheriel, we owe you our lives. How can we ever thank you? Our incompetence has troubled the noble family. It\'s a disgrace as knights! Please, punish us."

Captain Bordo thundered in a voice that seemed to resonate throughout the forest. What\'s this about? I wish he\'d stop suddenly.

"No, it\'s us who have resistance to impurities that\'s unusual. Please don\'t concern yourselves."

While the knights continued to bow, they clenched their fists tightly. Not knowing what to do, I sought help from Sergio with my gaze, but as usual, he casually offered a response.

"This isn\'t a battle. We never had any expectations from you in the first place. There\'s no need to worry."

"Father, why say it like that! Please, everyone, raise your heads."

The knights, lips pressed in distress, finally lifted their heads. Somehow, it seemed like Sergio\'s words were making the impurity worse.

"More importantly, is Father always fighting like this? Aren\'t the knights troubled by it?"

"W-Well... Sergio possesses exceptional sword skills. It\'s our fault for not keeping up."

We had a terrible boss here. I don\'t think it\'s good to boss around subordinates with a one-man show, leaving them clueless.

"No, someone in a leadership position should guide properly, right? Besides, Father, you didn\'t even know the monster\'s position. It\'s common not to handle it calmly when a boss recklessly charges ahead and gives random orders, isn\'t it?"

The gaping knights collectively looked up at me. It might be humiliating to be lectured by a seven-year-old, but I didn\'t want them feeling guilty in the wrong direction.

"Hence, if there\'s no resistance to impurity during monster subjugation, I believe there should be a corresponding approach. Not properly instructing that and needlessly exposing knights to danger, I think that\'s Father\'s fault."

"Huh... Am I at fault?"

Scratching his head absentmindedly, Sergio, with a smirk, seemed less than remorseful.

"Don\'t you think so too, Professor Julius?"

"Yes, Sergio is at fault. He acts too recklessly." With a somewhat sulky demeanor, Sergio walked back the way he came.

"Is he a child? What about the knights here!" Didier instructed the knights left behind on our behalf. "Well, it\'s okay. Besides Beriards, hardly anyone else is suited for defeating monsters, either lacking in intelligence or heart. Let\'s return while keeping an eye out for magical beasts."

The knights rose together, thumped their feet and tapped their chests with fists toward us and Didier. They formed a formation, surrounding us as we began our journey back. Just as I caught sight of large white horns, Sergio began grumbling to the forest\'s inhabitants.

"Hey, don\'t you think that\'s a bit much? I put in so much effort, and yet everyone blames me.

The forest ruler, seemingly annoyed, gazed up at the sky, whether they responded or not wasn\'t clear. Upon noticing us, they straightened up and headed towards us.

"You\'re also leaving me behind! Isn\'t that cruel!?"

"(You\'ve worked hard. Seems like you\'ve safely defeated the monster.)"

The forest ruler conveyed a calm voice with a relieved tone. What were they relieved about? The defeat of the monster, right? Not Sergio\'s liberation?

"I apologize for the trouble my father caused..."

"(Well, um, how shall I put it... He\'s an extraordinary individual. It can\'t be helped to some extent.)" Unsure whether I was being supported or not, my face inadvertently twisted at the ambiguous comment.

However, Sergio\'s swordsmanship was truly impressive. I doubted humans could move like that, and his body and sword techniques were incredibly informative.

"Father, I might have spoken too harshly earlier, I apologize. You were really cool just now, truly strong."

Stretching his neck up, Sergio seemed pleased and swayed happily.

"Right? Sheriel did a good job as well. That\'s right, why don\'t you join in the knight training? Isn\'t there some kind of movement for someone who has no resistance?"

Got me... Completely throwing me off guard. Such swift change in attitude... "No, I\'m a complete amateur, so joining the knights would be disrespectful."

"Oh, don\'t say that. Eventually, Sheriel will lead the knights in a battle." Bridal training or battle training, which would be easier? Initially, I wanted to live quietly in the castle as a troubled daughter of a duke, but being raised as the legitimate child, I felt I should fulfill at least some basic obligations.

Still, I prefer magical research or something. It\'s similar to programming and might suit me, though I\'m not sure if I have the talent for it.

When we returned to the area with the large tree, the fairies welcomed us. \'Welcome back!\' \'The bad thing disappeared!\' they exclaimed, and the knights rolled their eyes.

\'(Human child, I must offer some form of gratitude.)\' The forest chief left those words and suddenly dashed toward the large tree. Startled, I tried to call out, but the forest chief continued ramming their impressive horns into the tree, shaking it vigorously with each charge.

"Your Highness! Please stop! What are you doing?"

"Sheriel, it\'s okay."

As I tried to follow, Julius gently placed his hand on my shoulder. "What\'s wrong with you? Are you insane?"

The fairies seemed not to intervene, joyfully flitting around. After several charges, the majestic horns of the forest chief finally fell with a heavy thud. What a sight...

"(I\'ll give you this horn. It\'s my proud horn imbued with a considerable amount of magic.)"

With the massive horn in their mouth, when the forest chief returned, their pained appearance almost brought tears to my eyes.

"Your Highness... your magnificent horns... aren\'t you in pain?"

"(Oh, it was just about time for them to get a bit heavy. My horns will grow back soon.)"

Are deer horns shed and regrown? If so, I should gratefully accept them. Should I use the pure white and beautiful horns for something, or should I keep them as they are?

"You\'ve received something good. It would make a great staff. Your unique attributes won\'t likely find such high-quality material again."

"A staff? That sounds wonderful! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Following Julius\' advice, I decided to store it in a small room created by spatial magic.

"Forest chief, having only one might feel uncomfortable. Shall I take the other one?"

With a smirk, Julius made the forest chief realize the imbalance. As the chief agreed, Julius forcefully knocked off the other horn.

"That\'s too rough!" Sheriel exclaimed.

"(Don\'t worry, little one in white. It shouldn\'t bother my head. I\'d even like to request it for the next shedding.)" Julius casually picked up the horn and cleverly stored it within his own space.

"Should we divide this between Sergio and Didier? It\'s not my achievement."

\'As expected of Julius, you understand.\'

Seemingly, the purification was evident to the animals, and somehow, the entire forest seemed livelier. As I put away the horn, I also brought out some sweets and spread them on a nearby rock.

"Hey, are these sweet too?"

"I want some! I didn\'t eat any yesterday!"

The fairies gathered in an instant. The density was such that I couldn\'t see in front of me. The fairies, holding the smaller-than-usual sweets, flew off one after another.

"These are cookies. Both are sweet treats, so enjoy them together."

"Yay! You\'re a nice human!"

"Sweets! They smell so good!"

Emerging from the cluster of fairies, the adults were discussing matters with the forest chief. Since the pollution had been purified, it seemed there wouldn\'t be a need for the forest chief to change for a while.

"Your Highness, may I come and visit again?"

"(Of course, fellow. However, we usually reside further into the forest. We came this far to escape from monsters, but it\'s uncertain if humans can come here.)"

Ah, so that hollow in the large tree was also a temporary home. No wonder I thought the forest chief seemed a bit small. The existence of the white creature isn\'t even known. Perhaps this meeting is close to a miracle.

"I\'ll surely come to visit. If Your Highness encounters any trouble, please consult us immediately."

"(Indeed, let us meet again someday.)"

And so, we left the forest. It seems the fairies will periodically report on the state of the forest. With sweets as the reward, everyone seems enthusiastic.

Riding on Julius\' horse, I savored the cheerful forest air.

"Did you know that there are magical beasts that can communicate with people? Do Professor and Noah also converse like that?"

"Noah started after making a contract. I was curious too and asked the chief, but it seems to be a unique ability of the forest chief. They mentioned receiving it from the gods upon becoming the chief, to convey intentions to the animals living in the forest."

Ah, indeed, it was some sort of magic. Rather than words, it conveys thoughts, allowing communication with any animal.

"It would be convenient if we could also talk to someone far away. The telepathy the other day needed reconnection whenever we were apart."

"An emblem is necessary to maintain the coordinates of a moving being. The communication magical tools themselves serve as coordinates."

It seems there are portable magical tools, but it would be better if there was something that shared coordinates only. No, that might be too intrusive in terms of privacy...

"Professor, you summoned Owens, right? How did you do that? He\'s a human, isn\'t he?"

I wanted to confirm since he had a history. I couldn\'t afford to rush ahead and embarrass myself.

"Owens can be pinpointed through the slavery emblem due to the subservient contract. You also sense the existence of the emblem, right?"

Glancing at the arm where the emblem wasn\'t visible due to clothing, I realized... Wait, Owens was a slave!?

"Slavery contracts seem surprisingly common. Father also has several emblems, which surprised me."

"Ah, just to clarify, Owens isn\'t a slave. He\'s a peculiar one who offered a subservient contract to gain my trust."

The professor does have a somewhat exclusive aspect. Initially kind, yet somehow distant. At first, I mistook him for someone living in a different world than a mere human, but I still feel that distance distinctly.

"Do you dislike people, Professor?"

Huh? Why did I say something like that? Surprised by my own question, I quickly attempted to retract it, but Julius frowned as if contemplating the mechanisms of magic.

"I don\'t think I dislike them. Probably... But yes, I suppose. I, too, wonder if there\'s value in living, including for myself. In that sense, I might be interested."

It turned into quite a philosophical conversation. Even in my dreams, I often found myself pondering if I had value in existing. Born as a non-existent entity, I might inherently question the meaning of living.

I feel uneasy discussing these matters, whether with Didier, the dream version of myself, or the like.

"Please don\'t do anything bad."

"Hehe, something bad... Well then, I\'ll have to think about what constitutes \'bad,\' right?"

"Please don\'t say things like Didier. Would you, Professor, also take a lesson in understanding people\'s hearts?"

"I\'ve learned a bit, you know."

Suddenly, the sensation of a cold floor returned, and I felt as if I heard familiar footsteps. Immediately drowned out by the sound of hooves and rustling trees, I couldn\'t dwell on what it was before the conversation with Julius continued.

By the time we returned to the mansion, I had completely forgotten about such a conversation.