On the second day of our search, we entered the magical forest.

　The trees in the virgin forest grow large and untouched, and even in the daytime, the forest is dark and dark, with moss on the rocky terrain and softly piled up leaves, so there are many dangerous places where you have to be careful about your footing.

　The only path that can be called a path in such a forest is the beast path that the demons would have taken.


I'm getting old," he said, "but it's been 20 years ...... and I'm getting old too. "I'm getting old, too.


　The target of the escort, Lloyd the frontier earl Lloyd, seems to be struggling with the poor footing of this magical forest, and his walking speed has been decreasing.

　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with them.


　At this speed, it's doubtful that they'll be able to reach the planned location by nightfall.

　Should I offer to help? .......

　I'm told that he's a former adventurer, and he might get angry if I offer to help him easily. ......

　I'm sure the knights and scholars who would normally offer to help would also be burdened with food and luggage on their backs.


　I'm not sure if I should help out with the frontrunner with Myth and Noelia, the knight captain who acts as a guide, or if I should help out with Lloyd the frontier earl, whose footsteps are becoming more and more doubtful.

　When in doubt, I asked my daughter, Noelia, if I should help her.


'Noelia, should I help the frontier count?　I can walk as fast as everyone else if I'm not burdened with a load, but'

It's useless. Your father doesn't like help from others, so there's no problem in leaving him alone. Besides, even though he has left the battlefield, he is a former platinum-grade adventurer, so I'm sure he can take care of himself.

'Oh yeah? ......'

Yes.


　Noelia returned the words in a matter-of-fact manner.

　'I've heard from Myth, but it seems that father and daughter are going through a lot of difficulties with their mother.


'Kid!　With Noelia in front of me--

''Father, this is a demonic forest with a high concentration of demons. Please do not shout.


　Noelia quickly chanted a silence (silence) spell and activated it, shutting her father's mouth.


'Maybe I'm a little late, guys, something's coming.


　Perhaps in response to Lloyd's voice, the chest-high grass in front of us was shaking and something was approaching us.


　Gasp--!


I will step forward, my lord. Lord Mais and Noelia, you will guard the frontier lord.

Yes, sir.

''Flick-sama, please keep your magic as low-powered as possible. The sound will attract more demons.


　I didn't say it out loud, but raised my hand in response.


　If I'm going to react with a voice like that, I'd better keep the magic to just the ones I've decided I can't defeat with a sword.

　Maybe I should have used a better sword before I got the request.


　I looked at the cheap sword in my hand and felt a touch of unease.


　Even so, the shaking in the grass didn't stop and came closer to us.


''Ugauuuuuu!


　A huge forest wolf with large fangs bared and grey fur leapt out of the grass.

　I dodged a blow from its fangs that were aimed at my neck, and I faced the Forest Wolf again.


　And it's huge. This is the largest forest wolf I've ever seen.

　This is indeed the forest of the demon world where only the strongest of demons can survive.


　I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more than just the forest wolf that jumped out at you, but the grass is still shaking.


　It's a swarm or ...... nasty, but you can't just unleash a range magic that draws more demons to you.

　For now, let's just activate the support magic that Noelia taught me last time.


I'm not going to be the only one. Physical Barrier (Protect Guard)


　The magic that was activated created an invisible barrier between the escort targets, the Frontier Count, the knights with their luggage, and the non-combatant scholars and the Forest Wolf.


'Thank you, Lord Flick, for your magical cover!　Knights, surround Master Lloyd and Master Noelia.


　After receiving magical support from me, Mais immediately set up a group of knights around the frontier count, the target of the escort.


　The back won't be attacked unless there's something very wrong with it, so that's good.

　All that's left is for me to take care of these guys with my sword, and then it should be over without a problem.


　I regrasp the sword in my hand and slash at the Forest Wolf, which roars in menace.


　Ichi, ni, san, shi...... there are seven of them in all.

　You will find a few smaller individuals, but they are more like children.

　I'm sorry, but I don't want them to become bait, so I'll let them do it.


　I aimed at the smallest individual who was clawing at the barrier, and in a single step, I closed in time and swung out from underneath the neck to the top.

　The blade neatly severed the forest wolf's fur, flesh and bone, and the head tumbled away from the body under its own weight.


'First, one.'


　As I shake off the blood on my sword blade, another individual, who had killed my family and turned hostile, jumped at me to push me down.

　I instantly dodged and split the Forest Wolf's belly with my returning sword.

　The Forest Wolf rolled on the ground, spreading its guts around.


''Two.''


　Compared to Alfine's stab, this level of movement appears to have stopped.

　They're also bigger and more agile than native demons, but that doesn't seem to be enough strength for me to feel threatened by them.


　The two big-bodied forest wolves, which have given up attacking the frontier counters and have completely targeted only me, jump at me from both sides at the same time.


　However, the one that jumped at me from the right was shot through the eye by a fire arrow and was engulfed in flames.

　I give Noelia, who is standing behind me, a thumbs up to show my gratitude for her support.

　And then I dodged the claws of the other head and sliced the entire empty torso in half.


Three.


　Once again, he bled and cut off the neck of Forest Wolf, who was shot in the eye and burning with a fire arrow (Fire Arrow).


'Four ...... still going to do it?'


　I cut off the neck of the forest wolf that had been cut off, and keried it out in front of the three remaining animals.

　They growled threateningly for a while, but when they saw that they were no match for us, they curled their tails and disappeared deep into the grass.


　Phew, it's all done.

　As I expected, the blade is tattered from slicing up all the bones.

　It's a bad idea to sharpen it at least once. ...... A cheap one is a cheap one, after all.


　The blade of the sword in my hand was chipped in several places where it hit the bone.

　The sword is not so sharp to begin with, but the durability of the blade doesn't seem to be very good either.


''Well, that's an impressive feat. I'm blessed to see how well you handle a sword that is not even of bronze grade.

'No, I'm not ready to take care of my sword. As you can see, I've torn it to shreds.


　He shows Mais his own sword with a chipped blade.


''That slash with such a lazy sword ...... is an arm that's increasingly hard to believe is of the bronze grade.


　Mais was impressed with the state of my sword.


　I've been praised, but Alfine would be able to kill them with such a lazy sword without chipping the blade.

　I'm not going to be able to reach her level with the sword in any way.

　I wish I could use magic to strengthen the sword itself or something, but ...... Noelia said she'd never heard of such magic either.


　After finishing the battle, when I was talking to Mais and the sword, I was approached from behind.


I'm not going to be able to get it right," he said, "but it's my spare sword. You can use it while you're exploring. I don't care if you break it. If you're a swordsman, at least prepare a sword worthy of your skill, even if you have to borrow money.


　The owner of the voice was Lloyd, the frontier count.

　He threw his own sword to me as I turned around.


　This is similar to the sword in the collection that Noelia brought to me.

　I'm sure it was quite a workhorse...... I said I could use it to break it, but I can't pay for such a thing.


You can't pay for ...... such an expensive sword.

'The fact that it's okay to break it means you don't have to pay for it. I have mixed feelings about Noelia. But I try to be a generous man to skilled adventurers, especially swordsmen. When this is over, the sword will be yours.


　Lloyd was still showing his grumpiness, but he told me to accept the sword.


'That was bold for Lloyd-sama, who rarely gives you a sword from his collection. This must be an important sword that went through the 'Great Raid'.


　Mais looked surprised when he saw the sword that Lloyd threw to me.


　The sword that went through the 'Great Attack'!

　That means that's the love sword you were using at the time!

　I can't believe I'm getting such an important sword: .......


　I knew the origin of the sword in my hand and felt it was a bad idea to get it.


"If it's such an important sword...

Use it. "Use it, I have no more use for it. I don't have any more use for it, and it's a sword that has the potential to become an even better one if a little boy like you uses it to its fullest extent. It's a shame to let you use it, because I don't want it lying around in the treasure room.


　Loyd was not going to return it.


'Master Flick, your father is a stubborn man and I suggest you keep it. I suggest that you use the sword as a link to a sword you can make with your own money. Don't worry, I'll give it back to your father when he no longer needs it.

Noelia, you are my sword--


　Noelia immediately silenced Lloyd, who had tried to argue with her.


''For now, I don't have a spare sword, so I'll borrow this one for the duration of this investigation.


　I told them both that much, and then I put Lloyd's sword in my waistband.