01x10 - The Demon's Hidden Village

[bunniefuu]

We're doomed!

Hey, you! Hurry up
and take those guys out!

Sheesh!

I will consume every single one of them.

Things seem to have taken
an interesting turn.

Telepathy? Tomoe?

Do you understand this situation?

Can you help us out here?

Who knows?

You snuck off on a date with Mio,
and now you're asking me for help?

Date? That's not what this is!

You even held hands, didn't you?

But when I mention Japanese
samurai swords and sake, you get mad.

Fine!

I'll let you make a katana
and look into cultivating rice!

I've been waiting for that.

This world is all about
incentives and punishments.

Now then, just distract those adventurers

while I use the time
to create a mist gate.

Are you going to let them
stumble into the Mirage City?

Correct.

To calm down Mio,
just feed her favorite food to her.

Her favorite?

Me?

He burned his companions?

And now...

Ow...

Here, Mio!
Now, quickly come back to your senses!

The feeling of her tongue...

What are they doing?

How perverted.

You were delicious, Young Master.

My hand's all wet.

As usual, humans are beyond reason.

We've tolerated far enough.

Mio, can you deal with this?

Yes, Young Master.

O Air, turn to frost and become my blade.

Dark magic, huh?

Mio can erase and cancel the magic
of the caster during incantation

and efficiently consume their mana.
She sure is amazing.

That is so strangely fascinating.
I can't cast my magic.

Thank you for the treat.

Mio, it's about to get bright.

Understood.

My eyes!

Mio, tie them up just in case.

This is...

Not the Tinarac Forest.

What's going on? Where are we?

Welcome travelers, to Mirage City.

So you came to talk,
and not to steal the flowers?

Yes. Despite how I look, I am a merchant.

I came with the intention of proposing
a deal or a trade of sorts.

All right. We'll discuss
the matter further then.

We'll lead you to our village.

I'm Aqua.

I'm Eris.

Putting their names together
sounds like the name of a sports drink.

Welcome to the Forest Ogre Village.

There seems to be a concealment barrier
set up around this area.

It feels familiar.

The barrier was set up to protect
the Crimson Lotus and the village.

To avoid having our location leaked,
we invite them to the village instead.

Cue applause.

Wait, you tried to get rid of us.

There are days like that as well.

Life doesn't always go
as you want it, you know.

I'm getting really tired of her.

Untie us. We're taking you to the elders.

And this one is just scary.

Welcome to the Forest Ogre Village.

I am Nilgistry,
the representative of the elders.

Forest Ogres? So you're not elves?

We are different from the Elves
who require the blessing of the spirits.

We Forest Ogres protect the forest
with our knowledge.

Therefore, we are separate races.

Is there a rule for the elders
to take turns in talking as well?

We are not separate races from the Elves.

I am Adonou, Nilgistry's son.

I came to welcome you, our guests.

We Forest Ogres
are the ancestors of the Elves.

The truth will not change
just because you use a different name.

Elves rely on forests to survive.

But we, Forest Ogres, are creators.

And guardians of the forests.

With the dragon's barrier
growing weaker every day,

do you think we can continue
to live in hiding?

The dragon's barrier?

Dear guest, I heard you were a merchant.

Yes, I came to this forest
to look for ingredients for medicine.

A mere merchant who is capable
of defeating Aqua and Eris.

Well, I... I know
some self-defense skills.

Well, I'll take your word for it.

I will get going then.

I seem to be suspected.

I apologize for my fool of a son.

He wasn't like that in the past.

Now then, there are some questions
I would like to ask you.

That took quite a while.

As an apology for what happened,
there will be a feast.

But before that, we would like to
introduce you to our master.

Master?

But I don't want to meet him.

Don't worry. It only hurts at first.

Just a bit.

I don't want anything to hurt!

I haven't been able to practice archery,
so I've been rather cranky.

Young Master?

Hey!

Are you the guests?

Here comes the pain. What do I do?

Master!

Where are you entering from?

He really is their master!

I heard you guys
handled Aqua and Eris like kids.

I'm Mondo. First things first...

I don't want to at all, but...

Oh, this is...

Could you let me go now?

M... Master...

Could it be...

It has been a while. This is great.

32!

-Let go!
-Heaven's punishment!

Master!

Forcefully logged out.

Even I was only able
to hold your hand for 31 seconds!

But that scoundrel
held your hands for 32 seconds!

He deserves death!

Scary! But wait, you counted?

That punch... Just who is she?

That man too. It's the first time
that power didn't activate.

Master!

We found Master.

Did that blow knock something loose?

They're no ordinary humans.

They were unfortunate enough to meet me.

Reconnaissance?

Yes.

I want you to investigate that Adonou
who came in while the elders were talking.

And that "Master" from earlier.

That creep, is it?

I'll need you to check if he's still alive
and also gather information on them.

Information... You mean spies, right?

I've seen them in your memories before!
The ones who dodge red lights!

Red lights?

I would love to travel and steal treasures
with you someday, Young Master.

Well, then. I'm off.

Mio's starting to act like Tomoe.

I'm most happy
to be able to serve Young Master,

but he seems to be anxious
and impatient lately.

I feel a bit lonely only being called upon
when you feel haggard.

I've had more of these thoughts
after gaining a human form.

There he is, the 32-second pervert.

Odd, he's unhurt.

There's thick, earthy mana around him.

I see. So he is possessed by something.

My memories from
when I was a spider are reacting.

It's telling me that it's delicious.

Oh, dear.

The thread I cast over the village
has caught something.

A telepathic conversation?

Yes, as of late,

a survey team and merchant from Tsige
are the only ones who have arrived.

It's a conversation between Adonou and...

Hm?

Isn't this wire-tapping?
It's my first time wire-tapping!

Don't worry.

No one has found out we have been
in contact with the demons.

I see.

That master of theirs
has been possessed by something,

and Adonou has connections to the demons.

This might be troublesome.

Yes. It's a shame I wasn't able
to dodge those red lights, though.

I... I see.

I know you only just returned,

but can you head back and swap with Tomoe?

With Tomoe?

There are some things
I would like to clarify with her.

What a beautiful dance.

That's...

Don't even think about fooling me.

-I don't understand.
-It's Adonou and the perverted master.

Mondo, what are you...

Become food for my manifestation.

Stop...

Why did you k*ll them?

I only sucked his life energy.
He simply can't move.

However, that one
is connected to some troublesome women.

I didn't want him to hinder me.
So I k*lled him.

So you had a falling out?

No. My aim was you.

I have some questions for you.

You were obsessed with
your pursuit of knowledge.

In the process, you gained an undead body.

In other words, a Lich, am I right?

You are an intelligent one.

It's just gaming knowledge, though.

Your resistance
to my miasma is intriguing.

But even you won't be able to escape
unharmed from this spell of mine.

If you dodge, the Forest Ogres will die.

I have no intentions of moving anywhere.

Then, serve as
a source of knowledge for me!

Unfortunately for you, I am resistant
to all status ailments inflicted by magic.

My magic didn't work?

I can't use it as well as Mio did,
but I can still do my best...

Darkness, consume as I wish you to.

What sort of magic is this?

Stop! Do not consume me!

I will become a Grant... I will...

Don't worry. I won't k*ll you.

My mental state really is unstable.

Looking at my opponent, weak and shaking,

actually made me feel better.

-What a monster.
-Why did it show up in the village?

You're here, Tomoe.

I want to talk to this Lich later.

Understood.

It disappeared?

What did you do?

You're not a merchant after all!

We were supposed to k*lled him
when he was enjoying the banquet earlier!

So you guys wanted to execute me?

That guy is...

Nigilstry.

It's nice to see
you're still alive and well.

I don't recall...

Sheesh. You begged me
to set up the phantom mist barrier.

How do you know about the barrier?

I was right. Tomoe was the one
who set up the barrier in this village.

I merely changed my form,
and you can't tell who I am?

You must have gone senile, Nilgistry.

Sh... Shin?

Kneel and lower your heads!
This is Shin, a greater dragon!

-Yes, sir.
-Yes, sir.

I would prefer if you did so
for my young master rather than me.

Young Master?

Indeed. I am Master Kuzunoha's servant.

Really?

Now then, I should go back
to the subspace and question that Lich.

Why were you in that village?

I hid myself in one of those Forest Ogres
to observe them and their capabilities.

Young Master is asking
why you did what you did.

What purpose did you have that you would
even pay the price of becoming Undead?

Everything I did was
for us to become Grants.

Grants?

Grants are a race superior to humans.

They are said to be superior in every way.

So there exists
such a race in this world too?

I have a question as well.
What was the magic you used to defeat me?

It's just a type of dark magic.

I wasn't able to use it
as well as my companion did,

but I used dark magic to consume your mana
when you were casting your spell.

Th... That requires
an incredible amount of mana.

That is like spending a hundred gold coins
to buy a copper coin.

That's true. Under normal circumstances,
I wouldn't do that either.

You must be lying!

Are you trying to say
that you're an incarnation of a spirit...

What do you think you're getting at
in front of the Young Master?

I ought to scatter your remains
throughout the wasteland.

Both of you calm down.

You seem to know a lot about magic,

so if you have any grimoires,
I would like to buy them from you.

You're asking to learn my magic now?
Is that sarcasm?

No, I really only want to learn.

My magic textbook was only
a single page written by an Orc I know.

A... A single page?

Young Master, you seem
to have unknowingly dealt a deadly blow.

If you wish to learn more magic,
why not just keep this guy here?

The reason you wanted to become a Grant...

It is because you know of other worlds

that were not created by the Goddess, no?

Wait, Tomoe, does that mean...

You went through countless materials,
searching various documents, and legends

before you decided to
define Grants as superior,

with their power
to freely travel between worlds.

That's right. As a Grant, I would be
able to travel to any world I wish to!

To any world one wishes to...

Does that mean
I can return to my original world too?

That is impossible.

What did you say?

Your line of thought was wrong.

In the past, humans
have discovered this loophole

and many have attempted
to do the same thing.

But most of them
who managed to travel to another world

soon found themselves
pulled back to this one.

Among them, there were only a few

who ever managed to stay in another world
under a different identity.

And those people were regarded as Grants.

So it is not that Grants
have the ability to travel between worlds,

but rather those who had managed to
were regarded as Grants.

No... That can't be...

But that means there is a way
to travel between worlds, right?

Yes, there is.

But the chances of surviving
and making it through are low.

Even if the Goddess gives you permission
and opens the path for you

it seems that the survival rate
isn't even 10 percent.

Not even 10 percent...

That may as well just be suicide.

Then what was I... After all this time...

I won't force you to reveal
what you were after,

but if there is something
you cannot give up on,

then form a contract
and serve Young Master.

If the Young Master wishes to
learn magic from him,

it wouldn't hurt to keep him around.

Well, that is true...

But do you really need
someone like me around?

Even Liches wish to go to another world

just as I do.

Please lend me your strength.

Sheesh.

Those pigs are such an eyesore.

But they said
they would give us rare items.

It's disgraceful to accept something
from livestock.

If you want treasure,
just steal it by force.

You do have a point.

That's right. I saw a building that
looked like a storehouse on my way here.

Where should I put these, Madam?

In the waste storage over there.

But make sure
you don't just put them anywhere.

Be careful when you dispose of them.

Yes, ma'am.

What's the matter?
It's time for you to go to sleep.

I need to use the bathroom.

-Ten to zero contract? Just food, huh?
-Greater dragon. Black Spider of Calamity.

-He might just be absorbed.
-To be able to form a contract...

-It's laughable.
-Along with such beings...

We had the Young Master
not only weaken his power,

but we put the rings on the Lich

just to fake enough mana
for him to form a "control" contract.

Is it really all right
to have someone like me serve you?

Well, you're a healthy skeleton,
aren't you?

I have high hopes for you.

Now that I think about it,
I couldn't tell because he was just bone,

but how does he look?

I feel warm.
I can feel the warmth of life.

Oh, so this was how he looks.

It must be his original form
before he died.

Young women shouldn't stare
at a naked guy!

Young Master, I...

Thank you for accepting me
as your servant.

There's no need to be so formal.
I hope we get along.

Yes, Young Master.

Well, do you regret anything, Lich?

We'll teach you how to behave
around Young Master from now on.

Make sure you guys don't go overboard.

Now then, to get
this former skeleton's lessons started,

I should take him back to the memory...

Tomoe?

This is bad.

What? An expl*si*n?

Young Master... I'm sorry...

I've made a blunder.

-Tomoe?
-Tomoe!

Tomoe!

The eleventh night. "Farewell."