515 The Elf Village and the Sealed Demon Sword.

The dense forest exuded an aura as if it were rejecting intruders.

Perhaps nine out of ten people would find this forest eerie. It gave off a sense of pressure as if it were pushing people away.

This forest is dangerous. It’s perilous. Let’s take a detour. Such thoughts would naturally arise in anyone’s mind as they stood before the forest that stretched out before Kuon.

An ordinary person would likely heed their instincts and choose to bypass the forest. However, the young prince of a small nation paid no heed to such concerns and boldly ventured into the woods.

It wasn’t that Kuon was particularly dull. He, too, felt the oppressive aura that seemed to warn him to leave.

He felt it, but he had no intention of taking a detour.

“It’s clearly a barrier meant to repel people, isn’t it? And a pretty powerful one at that. This isn’t an ordinary forest.”

Kuon pushed through the underbrush, using the sword he had taken from a goblin to clear the way as he advanced deeper into the forest.

This forest is strange, Kuon thought. He had been sensing an odd presence for a while now. An eerie atmosphere, or perhaps an unsettling air.

Before long, a mist began to drift through the dimly lit forest, obscuring his vision.

In the situation where even objects a few meters ahead were hard to discern, Kuon thought to himself, This is strange.

Mist forms when there is a high amount of moisture in the air, and it becomes more likely when the temperature drops. That’s why it often appears after rain when the temperature falls.

However, this forest wasn’t particularly cold, nor did it feel especially humid. Moreover, he suddenly sensed a flow of magical energy.

Kuon concluded that this mist was likely man-made. The fact that there was a barrier to repel people already suggested that someone had a purpose here.

This mist was probably created by magic. Perhaps it was meant to make him lose his way in the forest, or maybe…

[Stop right there.]

At the sudden voice that echoed through the forest, Kuon came to an abrupt halt.

It was a hoarse voice, like that of an old man. It seemed someone was watching him. Apparently, the mist was meant to conceal the speaker’s presence.

[Child, turn back now. Otherwise, a terrible calamity will befall you. Leave at once…]

“Ah, no thanks. I just want to pass through this forest. Is there some condition I need to meet? I can offer a bit of money if needed.”

[Huh?]

The hoarse voice faltered, clearly taken aback. The speaker had likely expected a child to be easily frightened and turn back, but this reaction was unexpected.

[I-I don’t need your money. Just leave this forest at once. Do you want to be eaten by monsters?]

“Even if you say that, I need to get to the other side of this forest. I’m sorry, but I have no intention of turning back.”

[You must!]

“I already said I won’t.”

[Hey, wait!]

As Kuon began to advance again, the hoarse voice grew increasingly frantic. At the same time, the sound of rustling leaves reached Kuon’s ears from above. It seemed the voice’s owner was watching him from the trees.

[…What do we do now? He’s not turning back at all!]

[…Tch, fine. Let’s try to scare him a bit more.]

“Hm?”

The voice that had been hoarse before now sounded like that of a young man and woman. It seemed they had been disguising their voices. From the sound of it, they were likely young.

As Kuon analyzed this, he continued to advance through the mist.

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed before him.

Emerging from the thick mist was a four-meter-tall giant with a small head, its body entirely made of wood. With every step, the bark on its joints cracked and fell away.

A Wood Golem. And a young one at that. A fully grown Wood Golem would stand six to seven meters tall.

Still, compared to Kuon, who was only six years old, the golem was enormous.

“GRROOOOAAAH…!”

Kuon silently looked up at the Wood Golem growling before him. The owners of the hoarse voice seemed to think he would be frozen in fear, but Kuon remained unfazed.

[“If you don’t want to be crushed, leave this place! Now, or—”]

Crack! A sound like something shattering echoed, and the Wood Golem’s head crumbled, its small head rolling to the ground.

Simultaneously, the golem let out a low groan as it toppled backward, its body shattering into pieces upon impact with the ground.

[“Wha—!?”]

“Huh, so golems aren’t considered alive, huh?”

As Kuon muttered this, his eyes glowed with a reddish-gold light.

[The Crushing Evil Eye]. One of Kuon’s seven mystic eyes. As the name suggests, it could crush matter simply by gazing at it.

It had its limitations—it didn’t work on living beings, couldn’t crush extremely hard objects, and had a narrow range of effects—but it was a convenient ability nonetheless.

Wood Golems had a core in their throats. Although the Crushing Evil Eye didn’t work on living beings, it was effective against skeletons and zombies, so Kuon decided to test it on the golem’s throat core. It seemed to have worked.

[Wha—what just happened!?]

[He’s not normal! This kid isn’t ordinary!]

The voices, no longer bothering to hide, caused Kuon to smile wryly.

Not normal, huh? Kuon had been subjected to such remarks since the day he was born. He wasn’t the only one—his sisters and younger siblings were the same.

He was used to being seen that way. It hurt a little, but he had no intention of hiding this power. It was a part of him, a precious gift from his father and mother.

Stepping over the fallen Wood Golem, Kuon continued deeper into the forest.

[W-wait! Stop right there!]

[Tch, fine! If that’s how it’s going to be!]

With the sound of rustling leaves, a man and a woman dropped down in front of Kuon.

Both had golden hair and emerald eyes. They wore green-toned clothing, likely to blend in with the forest, and their ears were long.

“Elves, huh?”

“You shall go no further! Turn back now!”

The male elf nocked an arrow to the bow on his back, aiming it at Kuon as he spoke. The female elf pointed the tip of her magical staff at him as well.

---

“As I said before, I just want to pass through this forest. Is there no way you could let me through?”

“No! We’ve already warned you!”

The male elf loosed his arrow, and the female elf fired a water sphere the size of a person’s head from her staff.

Kuon effortlessly deflected the arrow with his sword. Then, he turned his gaze to the water sphere. His eyes shifted to a bluish-gold hue.

In the next moment, the water sphere dissipated into the air as if it had never existed. The two elves stared in shock.

“Wha—!?”

“Huh!?”

“Unfortunately, magic doesn’t work on me.”

To be precise, it wasn’t that magic didn’t work on him—he could nullify it. This was the power of [The Dispelling Evil Eye], which could erase any magical effect.

It had its limitations, too. Kuon had to be able to see the entire source of the magical effect. Thus, something like the mist, which covered a wide area, was difficult to dispel.

Like the Crushing Evil Eye, this ability also had a narrow range. Still, at this distance, he could keep it active continuously.

“Wha—what’s going on!?”

The female elf tried to cast another spell, but the water sphere at the tip of her staff vanished as soon as it formed.

“J-just what are you…!?”

“My name is Mochizuki Kuon. May I pass now?”

“Both of you, that’s enough.”

As Kuon introduced himself with a smile, another voice interrupted.

Three more elves emerged from the depths of the forest. One of them, clad in a fresh green robe, clearly stood out from the others.

“Elder!”

Though referred to as the elder, he didn’t look much older than the other elves. He appeared youthful, no older than his mid-twenties. The golden-haired elf, addressed as the elder, stepped forward.

“Human child, I apologize for the trouble. Though it may not suffice as an apology, allow me to invite you to our elf village. Rest and recover your strength.”

“The elf village? That’s very kind of you, but I’m in a bit of a hurry…”

“Nightfall is near. Even if you press on, you won’t make it through the forest before midnight. It would be best not to travel through the night.”

Kuon looked up and saw that the sky visible through the trees was indeed beginning to darken. Spending the night in the forest alone, possibly having to sleep in a tree to avoid wild beasts, wasn’t an appealing prospect.

(My food supplies are running low, so maybe I should accept their hospitality? But before that…)

For a brief moment, Kuon’s eyes gleamed with a platinum hue. [The Discernment Evil Eye]. A power inherited from his mother, Yumina, it allowed him to see the true nature of others.

The elves were wary, but they didn’t seem to harbor any malice. However, there was a hint of fear in their eyes. Was it directed at him, or something else…?

“Then I’ll gratefully accept your offer. My name is Mochizuki Kuon. I’ll be in your care for the night.”

“Very well. I am Wolfram, the elder of this elf village. We may not have much to offer, but we can provide you with a place to stay and a meal. Colette, show him the way.”

“Me!? Ah, yes… This way, then.”

The female elf who had been confronting Kuon earlier let out a surprised exclamation but quickly fell silent under the elder’s stern gaze.

As Colette led Kuon deeper into the forest, the male elf who had remained behind whispered a protest to the elder.

“What are you thinking, Elder? Letting such a suspicious child into the village!”

“I don’t know who he is, but he’s skilled for a child. And that power of his… He might be of help to us.”

The elder had been watching from the shadows as Kuon dealt with the Wood Golem and the two elves.

That power was likely the power of [Evil Eyes]. If he could wield such abilities, perhaps…

Clutching at the hope that this child might be a gift from the gods, the elder began to make his way back to the village.

The elf village existed without clearing the forest.

Houses were built in the trees, surrounding a massive central tree, connected by a network of rope bridges. The village was a treetop settlement.

In the dim light, several glowing orbs illuminated the area. At first glance, they appeared to be lanterns, but upon closer inspection, Kuon realized they were fireflies trapped within glass containers.

These were no ordinary fireflies. They were ‘Magilight Fireflies’, creatures that converted magical energy within their bodies into light, glowing far brighter than normal fireflies.

They were essentially fireflies capable of casting the light magic [Light].

Given that the village was built in the trees, using torches or oil lamps would have been risky. The Magilight Fireflies were a safer alternative.

The house Kuon was led to belonged to the elder. Colette, the female elf, was the elder’s daughter. Despite their appearances, they looked more like siblings.

Long-lived races like elves stopped aging once they reached maturity. Among Kuon’s mothers, Leen and Sakura were similar in that regard.

Of course, all of his mothers were divine beings and didn’t age at all.

After being shown to his room, Kuon was soon called to dinner. In the dining hall, he was greeted by the elder, Wolfram, his daughter Colette, and his wife, Ursula.

“I’m sorry we can’t offer you a more lavish meal.”

“No, not at all. I’m the one who should apologize for intruding. Thank you for the meal.”

As Kuon sat down, he surveyed the dishes laid out on the table. There was bread, a salad of beans and leaves, a vegetable stew, a hearty soup, fruits, nuts, and a chunk of roasted meat.

Though elves were often thought to be vegetarian, they did eat meat. The meat on the table was simply seasoned bird meat, but its rustic flavor appealed to Kuon.

As Kuon enjoyed the surprisingly lavish meal, the elder, Wolfram, struck up a conversation.

“So, where are you headed, Kuon-dono?”

“To Brunhild. I’m going to meet my family. I was aiming for the imperial capital, Galaria, but I was thrown off my carriage along the way. That’s why I decided to cut through this forest.”

“The imperial capital, huh? It’s true that passing through this forest is faster than going around… But this forest is protected by a barrier meant to repel people.”

“Ah, so I’ve noticed.”

Wolfram sighed at Kuon’s casual response. The barrier was a powerful ancient magic, yet this child seemed unfazed.

“You must have trained extensively for a human.”

“Well, my relatives are all rather extraordinary…”

To be precise, they included the Swords God, the Hunting Goddess, and the War God. Not to mention his mothers and sisters, who were equally remarkable.

As Kuon’s gaze grew distant, Wolfram hesitated for a moment before deciding to broach the topic he had in mind.

“Kuon-dono, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“…What is it?”

Kuon had already sensed that this was coming. He calmly speared a piece of vegetable stew with his fork.

“This forest was once known as the ‘Forest of the Guardian.’ We are the descendants of its protectors.”

“The Forest of the Guardian? I take it you’re guarding or sealing something here?”

“Perceptive. Yes, this forest is home to a terrifying magical creature created during the ancient magical kingdom era. A legendary monster that ran rampant and devastated this entire region.”

A magical creature—a being born from human hands and magic, known as an ‘Artifact Creature’.

Their history dates back to ancient times. Even slimes are said to have been created by someone as magical creatures.

Golems, gargoyles, chimeras, mimics, homunculi—all of these are considered magical creatures.

And one such creature was sealed within this forest?

“The seal is already crumbling, and it’s on the verge of breaking. The miasma has already begun to leak…”

“Ah, so that’s why the forest feels so ominous.”

Kuon muttered to himself as he realized that the miasma emanating from the creature was what gave the forest its eerie atmosphere.

“So, what exactly is this magical creature?”

“If you’d like, I can show you. See it for yourself.”

Kuon was slightly surprised. He had assumed such things were sealed deep underground or in another dimension.

After finishing the meal, Kuon, Wolfram, and Colette left the house.

Wolfram carried a lantern filled with Magilight Fireflies, casting a soft glow on the path ahead.

The sealed location was just a short walk away, at the center of the village—the massive tree. It took only a few minutes to reach the site of the seal.

“This Guardian Tree has been suppressing the creature until now. But it’s reaching its limit.”

“This is…”

What Kuon saw was a sword, embedded within the roots of the massive tree.

The blade gleamed with a silvery sheen, and the golden guard was adorned with a sinister red gem.

It was undoubtedly a sword. But a sword as a magical creature?

As Kuon tilted his head in confusion, a faint, resentful voice reached his ears.

[‘Kill… Slaughter… Kill… Slaughter… Kill… Slaughter… Kill them all… Kill them all…’]

“Whoa, that’s creepy.”

Kuon grimaced and took a step back. The resentful voice was undoubtedly coming from the sword. Was this sword alive? Kuon stared in astonishment.

“An Intelligence Sword. A cursed blade with a malevolent will. It was created during the ancient magical kingdom era, five thousand years ago. The Guardian Tree has been suppressing it, but it will soon break free and bring calamity to this world…”

“Uh, it looks like it’s already about to break free.”

The sword rattled, and the roots binding it began to snap, one by one. The rattling grew louder, and fragments of wood started to fly as the tree’s restraints weakened.

“N-no, it’s too soon!”

[‘KILL THEM ALL!’]

With a thunderous crash, the sword broke free from the tree’s grasp and shot into the air. The tip of the blade swayed slightly before pointing directly at Kuon.

[‘DIE!’]

The sword shot toward Kuon like an arrow. Both the elder and Colette froze, expecting Kuon to be impaled. But just as the sword was about to strike, it suddenly lost momentum and fell to the ground with a dull clatter.

[‘W-why… can’t I move…!?’]

“You were using magic to move yourself, right? Well, if that’s the case, I can just dispel it.”

Kuon’s right eye glowed with a bluish-gold light. [The Dispelling Evil Eye]. The sword, now stripped of its flight magic, lay helpless on the ground.

“Now then. You seem like quite the unruly sword… What should I do with you?”

[‘You…! I’ll cut you to pieces…!’]

“Oh my. Quite the rebellious one. By the way, that gem… That’s your ‘core,’ isn’t it? Do you think you’ll still be able to maintain your will if I destroy it? Let’s test it out.”

This time, Kuon’s left eye glowed with a red-gold light. [The Crushing Evil Eye]. Kuon could activate his seven mystic eyes from either eye, and he could even use two at once.

As Kuon’s gaze fell upon the sword, the red gem began to creak under the pressure.

[‘W-wait! Stop! Not that!’]

“Wait? Stop? You’re quite demanding, aren’t you…”

The gem creaked again.

[‘GYAAAAHHH!? P-please, stop! I beg you!’]

The sword writhed in agony, its blade bending backward as it let out a scream. For a magical creature, the core was the source of its life. If destroyed, like the Wood Golem earlier, it would mean the end.

Normally, such valuable magical artifacts had protective barriers around their cores. This sword had an auto-repair function and a protective barrier, but they had all been rendered useless by Kuon’s mystic eyes.

The elder and Colette watched the exchange between Kuon and the sword in stunned silence.

They had expected the legendary sealed sword to be a far greater threat. They had even prepared to risk their lives to reseal it, but now…

“Uh, Kuon-dono…?”

“Ah, my apologies. I’ll just… discipline it a bit more. Please wait a moment.”

“Ah, I see…”

From then on, it was a back-and-forth of Kuon’s threats and the sword’s screams. The sword tried to escape several times, but each time, Kuon’s mystic eyes brought it crashing down. And each time, the gem creaked under the pressure.

‘Young master! Please, have mercy! I won’t defy you anymore!’

“You’ve become quite fluent, haven’t you? A bit more, perhaps?”

Creak. Crack.

‘NYAAAAHHH!? I-I’m serious! I’ll really break! I’ll break!’

The sword’s screams echoed through the elf village. The once-red gem had turned pale as if the sword had lost all color. It had no intention of defying Kuon any longer.