The Lord Of The Forest And Teti’s Resolve

Midday sunlight shone directly down upon the forest southeast of the Royal Capital.

I ran following Liricia’s guidance.

She spread her wings and flew through the air, white feathers flying around her protectively.

Then we reached a slightly open area in the forest.

Was there a clearing here? I wondered, but looking closely it wasn’t.

The surrounding trees had been knocked down to form a clearing.

At the base of a broken giant tree lay the white foal Ciel.

Teti was crying while covering him.

Both were soaked in red blood.

Ciel’s beautiful wings in particular were bent horribly.

Rising anger welled up as I quickly drew my sword and jumped into the clearing.

“Teti! Ciel! Are you alright!?”

“Alec-sama! Ciel-kun—!”

“Liricia, heal them!”

“Yes, Master!”

Liricia spread her wings and descended beside Ciel.

“Full Heal— and High Heal for Teti-chan.”

She placed her left hand on Ciel and right hand on Teti and chanted.

Light shone from her palms and their wounds rapidly healed.

—Then.

From the opposite side of the clearing, a white giant form pushed through the bushes.

Huge. A boar larger than a carriage.

It looked at least two meters tall.

I faced it with sword ready.

Though anger surged, I hesitated slightly.

—Wait, isn’t this a sacred beast…?

“Did you do this?”

“This forest, my forest. I am lord. You leave.”

“What did you say? —Teti, what happened?”

I asked while watching the boar.

Teti cried out tearfully.

“I was picking herbs and it suddenly appeared. Said herbs and mushrooms were all its property because it’s king of the forest!”

“Quite greedy, boar.”

“I strong. I chosen one. You leave.”

“No bears or wolves were here either. You drove them out, huh… You could at least share territory. You’re becoming a sacred beast thanks to me.”

“Leave!”

The boar dashed across the ground at a speed unfitting its size.

Dust rose behind it.

The earth shook heavily as it charged.

I shouted while raising my black sword.

“Liricia, take them and run!”

“C-Ciel-kun still…”

He apparently hadn’t awakened yet.

I clicked my tongue and raised my blade.

“Tch. If I can’t hold back, I’ll have to kill— no, wait.”

I wanted sacred beast allies for recognition as a sanctuary.

So I wanted to beat it half to death to reform it.

This one was rough-tempered but strongly affected by my Holy Wave.

—Then.

I lowered the blade from overhead and held it sideways.

Stepping half aside, I swung at the charging body.

“Haa— Holy Strike!”

The blade glowed pale blue—

BOOM!

Avoiding the head, I slammed its shoulder and chest.

The impact rolled its massive body.

Tree debris shattered loudly across the clearing.

However, it wasn’t injured.

The boar shook off the fragments and immediately stood.

Its eyes burned red with anger.

“I strong. You weak. Attack no work.”

“On purpose. That technique released strong Holy Wave. Since you share it, you aren’t harmed.”

“My power. Not yours.”

“Driving off bears and wolves was impressive. But hurting children like Ciel and Teti is unforgivable. Now reflect a little.”

“Don’t mock me… this forest, mine!”

The boar charged again at furious speed.

“Time for punishment.”

I took cloth from my magic bag and wrapped the sword hilt.

Then I swung normally.

The demonic sword absorbed magic power. With less power flowing, it became a normal sword.

I dodged attacks and cut repeatedly.

I didn’t use holy sword techniques since they emit Holy Wave.

Yet the wounds healed instantly as I cut.

My leaking Holy Wave couldn’t be helped.

But pain still remained.

The boar grew confused despite anger.

“Why… cut? I strong.”

“You became strong because you gained my power. That’s why you can’t win.”

“My… power…”

Trembling, it kept charging.

Its speed surpassed normal monsters.

But I kept cutting.

It healed immediately, yet bled each time.

The ground turned red.

Eventually it could barely stand.

Its legs shook and its eyes lost focus.

I calmly asked:

“Understand the difference? I am lord here. Apologize to Ciel and Teti and never oppose me, and I’ll spare you.”

“Shut up… not lost… strongest…”

It staggered forward slowly.

No destructive charge remained.

I asked leisurely:

“Then how will you admit defeat?”

“Not afraid… no lordly fear…”

I understood.

Sharing my Holy Wave meant it didn’t fear me despite the gap.

—Then.

Time to try compression.

I held my sword properly and focused.

“Haaaa!”

I contained the Holy Wave.

Shrank the radius.

400 meters, 200 meters, 150…

At about 100 meters, Liricia gasped.

“Ah… such pure magic… Master… my heart feels cleansed…”

Her cheeks flushed and she breathed shallowly.

The boar widened its eyes.

“Denser… stronger than me… impossible… then I eat and take!”

It rose onto hind legs like a wall.

Trying to crush me instead of charging.

Impressive thinking despite fading consciousness.

But—

“Too bad— Justice Slash!”

I swung upward.

BOOM!

The boar flew backward beyond the clearing, smashing trees.

Liricia and Teti cried out.

“That huge body flew so far… amazing, Master!”

“As expected, Alec-sama! Revenge complete!”

I approached, tapping my sword on my shoulder.

It lay breathing but alive.

“Well? Learned the difference?”

“Too strong… kill me.”

“Then your life is mine. Become my subordinate and only defeat invading bears and wolves.”

“….”

“Answer? Apologize to Teti and Ciel or I eat you.”

At that moment small lumps rushed from bushes.

“Don’t!”

“Don’t kill dad!”

“Forgive papa!”

Small white boars covered him protectively.

“White Boar young…?”

Liricia checked with her monocle.

“They are a new sacred beast species called White Uribō.”

“New species… your children?”

I grabbed one.

“Kyah!”

“Stop… eat me…”

“If they were hurt you’d be angry, right? Same as me with Ciel and Teti. Understand?”

“…Understood. You forest lord.”

“Good. I’m Alec. Now apologize.”

The boar faced Teti.

“Sorry… little one.”

Then its head dropped unconscious.

I set the piglet down and sheathed my sword.

“Good enough. Be careful. Liricia, heal him.”

“Yes!”

She flew over and healed him.

I looked at the piglets clinging to their father.

“We live at the mansion deep in the forest. Visit if needed.”

“No!”

“Scary!”

“We’ll be eaten!”

“There are apples, raspberries, nuts too.”

“Eh?”

The smallest tilted its head.

“…Seasons strange…”

“Really? Come eat anytime.”

I stepped away.

Ciel awoke.

“Thank you for saving me, Alec-san.”

“Sorry I was late… protected Teti?”

“I couldn’t do anything…”

“Grow big eating well like your mother.”

“Okay!”

He stood energetically.

Teti hugged his neck.

“Sorry… thank you…”

“Glad you’re safe!”

She shook her head sadly, then looked at me.

“Alec-sama, I have a request.”

“What?”

“I want to be strong.”

“Are you sure? You don’t have to.”

She cried with determination.

“I want to protect friends! I always ran before. But not anymore! Please make me strong, Alec-sama!”

I couldn’t refuse.

I patted her head.

“Alright. We’ll hire Cheryl to teach you elf ways and combat.”

“Thank you!”

She jumped and hugged me happily.

And like that, with her clinging beside me, we returned to the mansion.