A Warrior Exiled by the Hero and His Lover

We left the village and entered the forest. We walked for about three hours.

Alusha is the leader.

She easily climbed a slope and sat down to wait for me.

"Humans are so slow."

"I'm sorry. It's hard for me to walk in the woods."

"You're a warrior - how can you be so weak?"

"There is no point of comparison."

There is no doubt that the image of a warrior is different between her and me.

Kaede, who had been waiting in front of me, handed me a wet handkerchief.

Then I wiped the sweat and dirt from my forehead.

"Master, why don't you use the imitator?"

"The imitator?"

"Yes. I understand that you're a dragon knight, but we have a role model here, and I think this is the perfect opportunity for you to try out your job, 'Imitator'."

I don't know how to use it yet, will it work?

But it's about time I got to know my skills.

I have already had Kaede check it out with her evaluation skill.

At that time it only said "imitate the adversary".

Okay, let's do this.

"Let's keep going, don't let me out of your sight."

Alusha climbs a steep cliff with great ease.

Then Frau climbed on top of Panda, and Kaede instantly climbed up with a sharp movement like a beast.

That leaves me.

I will summon my imitator abilities. I will copy Alusha's movements.

My body starts to move on its own and can easily climb the rock wall.

I am better in terms of ability. It feel natural to be able to do that.

These moves would make all the difference in a battle in the forest.

"Oh! As expected, Toru-Dono, you've already mastered my movements!"

"Y-Yes..."

"I knew you were a great warrior! You absorb knowledge quickly."

"Y-yes..."

I can't say I had it easy with Job.

Sorry, Alusha.

From there, I made an effort to learn the moves while using the "Imitator".

The nice thing about this job is that it forces you to mimic the movement.

The sensation remains, so it is easy for the body to remember.

After trying several times, it was easier to predict the next action.

And after about ten times, I'm able to climb the cliff on my own.

"We're getting too far away from the village."

"Don't complain. You said you wanted to see something unusual."

"Well, that's true."

She said it with a smile on her face.

My impression of her has changed a lot since the first time I met her.

I guess this is the real her.

"Well, we're almost there- Kyaaa!"

"Careful."

I quickly grabbed Alusha from behind, who is about to trip over a pebble and fall.

The shoulder I touched was soft and supple, I thought elves were slippery.

"How...how long will you keep holding me?"

"I'm sorry."

When I released her, Alusha's face was bright red.

His long, white ears were also red.

"Master..."

When I turned around, I saw Kaede with misty eyes.

And then she hugs me around the waist and presses her head against me.

"Master belongs to Kaede!"

"I know."

I caressed her head, her ears lowered, and she looked at me with a n expression of great devotion.

Her glass-clear golden eyes were fixed on me.

"Lord, are you going to forget about Frau?"

Frau was angry.

Panda was below her, and for some reason he was also looking grumpy.

"Come on, I'll give you a pat on the head."

"No! Do you think that will make me feel better?"

"Kyui!"

I stroked Frau and Panda's head.

At first she resisted, but gradually she pushed her head into my hand and demanded more and more.

Panda was glassy-eyed and seemed to feel fine.

"Hmm, I love how the Lord pats me on the head."

"Kyui!"

The mood seems to have improved.

Slaves will always do what you say, but don't take advantage of them or make fun of their feelings. They are your friends before they are slaves. As a master, you may have many faults, but you must do your best to live up to their expectations.

"Are you done yet?"

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Alusha, whose ears were still red, began to run ahead of us.

"Here we are."

There was a rock wall on a mountain. In that wall was a hole.

"How do we get down?"

"Easy."

Alusha jumps down, with one hand on the edge of the hole to brace herself.

She went straight in.

I'm an imbecile. I should have known better.

Although if I fall at that height, a world of extreme pain awaits me.

"Rosuke."

"Sha-ya!"

I called Rosuke and had him go around a tree that was nearby.

From then on, I used him as a rope to descend.

A humid wind blows from inside the hole.

"It is hard to imagine that there is anything unusual here."

"You'll see."

"I'm sure I will, but is it really that rare?"

"It's a beautiful view, to say the least. I guarantee you can only see it here. It is said that the previous hero was guided here and loved the place."

Hmm, that looks promising.

For a hero, whose job and mission involved seeing everything in this life, fighting magnificent creatures, and traveling through remote landscapes, this could still impress him.

That must mean whatever awaits me is bound to be something incredible.

"My skin is moist and itchy."

Kaede rubbed her ears repeatedly and stroked her tail to show her displeasure.

There was a lot of moisture in the hole and my hair was cold to the touch.

Frau, on the other hand, looks great on Panda.

Her two yellow-green ponytails waved naturally.

It is noted that fairies have a slightly higher body temperature than humans.

It seems that this environment is fresh for her.

"Got it. "

"Oh!"

Very transparent stone pillars protruded from the wall.

They looked like emeralds, and emanated a light that made the whole hole look bright.

In addition, there are puddles everywhere and water drops falling from the ceiling form ripples.

It appears to be a limestone cave.

Unsurprisingly, the humidity is high.

"This looks like a unique mineral. It's rare that it can be found at this quantity."

I think it was a rare mineral that glows when it reacts to magical power.

It is said to be processed as a tool to detect the activation of magic in advance and is widely recognized by nobles and magicians. It is a much more valuable stone than even gems.

The reason this place shines is probably because a magical vein runs underneath it.

But it is such a mysterious and captivating spectacle that the specifics don't really matter.

"There's a better place in the back."

"Please show me."

When we went to the bottom of the hole, there was a large pond.

And the pond itself is bright and very, very clear.

As I got closer, I could easily see the background.

"This is the treasure of my people. Remember that it is a place that is only shown to those who are worthy of our trust."

I guess that means the elves have accepted us.

"If possible, I would like to give you something that a human would be pleased with, but the people of our forest have nothing to do with such things. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, this is more than enough. Thank you Alusha, this place is incredible."

We smiled at each other.

This is a place wonderful enough to be called a treasure.

Most of all, I was happy to be recognized by the elves.

Right now I'm not sure how to use my powers, but I hope that someday I can do something for the elves and other races.

"Let's go now. We can't stay here long."

"Why?"

"In this hole--"

Glop

Bubbles rise from the center of the pond.

There is something under the surface.

"Oh no, it knows we're here!"

"Gurgaaah!"

A giant lizard emerged from the pond.

A variant of the dragons, a White Gator.

The epidermis is white and exudes a carnivorous ferocity.

"Leave this to me and run!"

"No, you get behind me."

I drew the great sword and stepped forward.

I will get rid of this monster so that the elves can visit this place in peace.

Hey, white lizard.

I will cut you into pieces.

Gachin

The large white creature snapped at me.