Maken no Daydreamer

At that time,
In the depths of forest……there was someone that tried to move as if it was provoked by the noisy sounds coming from here and there in the forest.
The sounds of fighting, bellows of warriors resounded inside and outside of the forest.
The smell of blood came while riding on the winds.
As thought it were woken up by those, it secretly raised up its green-coloured big lizard-like body.
And……maybe because it just woke up, or it was like that from before……that it started moving in a slow manner, towards the direction he could find prey for satisfying his hunger.
Without anyone knowing, the woken up monster, didn’t take much time before……reaching the battlefield filled with the ulterior motives of adventurers and demons, 『North』and『South』.

☆☆☆

「You, bitch……don’t interfere! 」
「Unrelated people should just back off!」
「I will do it, do you slut!」
「Shut up, you scum assholes!!」
*creak creak boom!*
「「「Aaaaahh!?」」」
Holding the dagger in one hand, and using the recently improved Taijutsu along with Body Enhancing Magic, she had just recently started to dabble into……Elk was protecting the Dryads while beating the hunters of『North』.
Especially, she kicked couple of times more to the three men who said quite displeasing lines to her, at least to a woman it wouldn’t be good lines……like that she made then faint.
Moreover,
(……Their movements are slow……)
While protecting the Dryads and taking on several people head on, she still had the composure to judge her abilities.
To this feeling that the three-months-before her wouldn’t have even thought about, she felt the fresh novel feeling.
Compared to Minato she had always been sparring against……their movements were slow, had too many gaps and had too many useless movements. Reading the trajectory of their attacks, and predicting their next attacks were both easy. ……There was even time when she had enough composure to think that she hadn’t thought about the next attack following next attack.
While fighting, she remembered Minato always speaking that『The current Elk has the ability of a C-Ranker precisely』.
Elk had always thought it was just him flattering her, but……she was shocked at her power to overpower these men, who were『hunters』.
However, her shock didn’t remain for long and she didn’t show any gaps, while two people from the『North』were watching Elk as though they were seeing an annoying serpent and scorpion.
(……Minato and others (?) are also fighting right now……I will make it do somehow solely here!)
「You damn slut……why are you hindering us!」
「That’s right! Outsiders just fuck off! Why are you protecting them from before! They are demons, don’t ya know!? Yo don have any obligation to protect it!」
「Even if you ask, why……」
At the moment……Elk’s expression became strange because the words she was about to say were completely overlapping words that Minato would say.
However in the end,
「……Well, I got friendly with them, didn’t want to let them alone……just a whim, yeah whim」
She said those words that Minato, once said to her.
「……!? Don’t fuck around! Our future livelihood is at stake!」
Hearing Elk’s words one of the man lost his cool and spit out their goal of regenerating the『northern』forest.
“That, don’t hinder because we got an important reason for that.”
However naturally the Dryads behind Elk –Alraune wasn’t here, she was leading other Dryads for evacuation- raised their objections, as though saying, don’t kid around.
「Don’t go kidding around! We don’t want go to a place like that!」
「It’s you misters in wrong for burning the forest!」
「That’s right, that’s right!」
「Huuh!? you shitty likes of demons shut up forever!」
The hunter shouted with nerves appearing on his face, that was scary. That impact wasn’t something normal……the Dryads faltered screaming『Hiii!』.
「Tch, it won’t end like this……Hey, you go call for backup!」
「Yeah, got it. Damn it, just you wait green bitch! Just as my friends gather here, you will be……」
「……Did you just call me by a weird name……」
She couldn’t deny it……and an example of a『Black Man』flashbacked in her mind, and Elk’s warped strangely.
The moment……she tried to sink the man, who had an angry face, while intercepting his attack.
「W-What is……Gyaaaaaaaaa!?」
「「「!?」」」

Abruptly the scream of the man, who just went to call for backup, resounded.
At the same time *swish* a sound of……something sharp cutting something, an ominous sound……reached the ears of everyone present at that place.
(……What? Demon……?)
Right after Elk thought that,
The brushwood behind the last man present there shook, and from there that『something』appeared.
The man turned behind, shouted『W-what the fuck you are!』, got scared and tried to cut at it with the sword in his hand……
The moment he raised his sword, an attack from the『something』came and the man was split in two half, up and down.
「……Kah……Ah?」
He wasn’t even able to raise death agony……everything happened so fast that it seemed like he didn’t even realize that he was dead.
The Dryads unexpectedly……were made to watch that scene, and started trembling violently.
As for Elk,
(……2 legs, big……lizard……!?)
She at once spread out her hands to protect the Dryads behind her, and didn’t point her dagger towards the……demon (probably).
However she wasn’t able to do anything else.
The creature in front of her……had little differences from the traits she and Minato had heard from a group of Dryads……even so her eyes were nailed on the something strange creature.
Her eyes went on the fangs that had killed the hunter in a single attack. Seeing those her body stopped moving from fear.
Like that the glaring competition between Elk protecting the Dryads, and that『something』continued for a total of……some seconds.
Like that the『something』suddenly turned to a different direction, as though it lost interest in Elk……and like that it went away, without turning back.
It didn’t even take couple of seconds before it went away from her eyesight.
「……I, was, saved……?」
It was even couple of seconds later that Elk……squeezed out those words from her throat while losing all her power.

☆☆☆

At the same time,
In the battlefield here……a scene on a level incomparable to that of war front with demons and hunters fighting was unfolded, while the hunters of『North』were watching that from the other side of the bushes covering the area.
「Haaaaaaaahhhhh!!」
Along with a war cry, Sherry charged at the speed of an arrow, and swung downward her sword from above her head.
Minato warded off it with his gauntlets, and tending to counter it let out a left straight punch.
Sherry twisted her body at once, but the attack grazed by the tip of her shoulder, and the armour she was wearing made a not-good dull sound. She perceived that the hit-part had been indented.
She should’ve evaded the attack with her rotating, but this power. If she had took it head, god knows what would’ve happened, even spectators could easily understand that.
However, Sherry wasn’t scared in the least……rather she go more happy and swung her sideways.
Moreover that sword……at one moment it seemed to be clad in red magical energy, the next moment it was clad in flames burning crazily. That sort of sword attack was deployed along with severe heat.
Minato was surely shocked at that fact, but with light and nimble movements he jumped back and evaded the attack, however he took the stance with his fists to restrain pursuing after the attack.
Sherry who was trying to step forward for another sword attack couldn’t find any gaps in Minato, and so stopped in her tracks.
However, the rumblingly burning flames were still coiling around the sword, and her face still had a ferocious smile on her face.
「……You sure are having a great sword. It’s my first time seeing something like that」
「Isn’t this great? It my family heirloom since long past. It is said that this was created by the fangs of a demon my ancestor defeated, I think it was『Soleil Tiger』. This is a demonic sword that could be clad in flames with a high temperature that it could easily cut down iron」
「……I know it’s late, but just why did you proposed to have a mock battle with that sword」
Minato gave a fed-up expression upon remembering Sherry, some days ago, demanding a mock battle with the real sword because of a boring reason like『metal fake sword breaks easily』.
However, there was timid expression on Sherry.
「But you see, even I am shocked. I’ve never seen an protector that wouldn’t deform or even have a scratch after taking this sword head on. What are those gauntlets and shin-guards made out of?」
「It is called as『Joker Metal』……well, even I don’t know the details. No matter how much I overuse it, it wouldn’t have any problems, so it helps a lot」
「Heh, I see. *chuckle* looks like the fight will get more and more enjoyable……right!」
Immediately after,
Sherry kicked the ground while flaring up the flames even more.
The minute she rushed in the range sphere, the fierce fire blade rushed at him from down, above, right, right and every other place.
It was a rapid attack that couldn’t even be seen by a common person, who would probably burned to crisp just being near the attack.
If the opponent were hunters from『North』they would’ve been, in one second, torn from limb to limb while being grilled too.
However Minato, either evaded them all or took it on with his gauntlets and shin-guards.
That heat was something one would find difficulty breathing in but it didn’t seem the same for him, there was not even a speck of anguish on his face. He was handling the rapid attacks with an expressionless yet bored face.
That appearance of his, made the hunters shudder in fear.
「H-Hey what the hell is this fight……」
「Aren’t they truly fucking monsters……if we take on even one, it’s normal we would die……」
「So this is……A Rank……」
「Hey hey hey hey hey! What happened Black Lion? If you just defend and evade, you won’t be able to win against me!?」
「……Hah」
「Why are you sighing? So rude, right in the middle of fight! I love strong people, but those who won’t concentrate in the fights are ones I hate! If you’re a man don’t disappoint a girl, right? Concentrate! More! To get a good fight……!?」
Sherry said.
Right after evading a large swing attack, Minato’s fist cut through air……and attacked Sherry’s stomach from the middle-lower position.
The perfectness of timing was also a main factor in that perfect punch that any ordinary person wouldn’t even see……but Sherry reacted at the last moment, and forced herself to change the posture, then jumped back.
But, as expected she was too late in evading.
Minato’s black fist, as if getting sucked in, attacked the stomach……part of the armour covering it……
Along with a *Dong* tremendous sound, it was deformed as if it were a clump of clay.
This was an profound armour that could even stop an attack from a steel sword and arrow completely.
Maybe it passed through the armour and reached her stomach, that Sherry……and others opened their eyes wide, just to that power behind the fists.
Sherry landed and fell on her knees while coughing violently.
「Kah, ha……! Th-This was……above my expectations……. As expected of Black Lion……」
This scene looked like that just a single attack had changed the situation.
Although she didn’t vomit blood, but the surroundings understood that she took no small degree of damage.
「Geez, I knew you have a crazy power, but for it to be to this extent……. From the impact I understand that it would end for me if I took even one head-on……*sigh*, it made learn a lot」
「……That was great. Then, let me tell you one more thing」

In the eyes of Minato saying those words casually was the『bored』expression.
With that expression and attitude it was obvious that he wasn’t enjoying the current situation, unlike Sherry.
「You see I’m still a child, and I have my extreme preferences of other people……and among them, there some people whom I hate a lot, truly hate them」
「Heh, I see……are they Battle Maniacs?」
「No……they are people『who love to force sense of values on others』」
Minato said……and collided his two fists together, making a *cling* sound resound, and looked at Sherry with eyes that seemed even more colder.
「I don’t give a shit no matter how others perceive things, or have sense of values and doctrines, unless it cause me harm. But I hate people who keep on pushing that to others without minding any trouble caused to the surroundings.」
Right after adding『Like Battle Maniacs』,
Minato kicked the ground and attacked.
To that force, Sherry blanked out for a second. He aimed at the left shoulder of her armour and punched it.
It was later by the time she even tried to evade, the part that took the impact was crushed into pieces and blew away.
However the attack didn’t with just that, the rush seeming similar to Sherry’s attack from before attacked her. It was faster than the attack before, along with flexible attacks also assaulting.
She had the choice of evading or handling it well with just sword, however she couldn’t do any in time, like that every time the fist was fired the armour would break, indent, and the parts would be blown away.
She blocked some of the attacks with the sword……but the sword was perfectly fine without even a single nick on the blade.
There wasn’t any composure left in Sherry’s expression, but……even so, from the smile on her face, it could surmised that she was enjoying this situation also.
Rather, seeing the offense side of Minato, who had been on the defensive fight since before, her battle maniac blood was stimulated and she even seemed to be happy and elated.
The figure of Sherry, who saw the momentous gap during the rush and escaped, now completely different from some seconds before.
The armour that seemed to scream ‘I’m expensive stuff’ turned into a tragic stuff, there was not many places that seemed fine. Some places had even burst open.
Her appearance while breathing heavily was already filled with scars all over her body……in the first place, the difference between the ability between the two was made obvious in the exchange of offense and defence just now.
However from her appearance of taking stance with the sword, the intention of continuing the fight, no, enjoying the fight was easily transmitted to the surroundings.
「Good, you are indeed good……! Among the people I’ve met, you are without a doubt the strongest! To the point I can’t see my winning! This is……this is the fight I had always been wanting to do……!」
「……It isn’t just your armour that is worn out, right? The damage must’ve passed to the inside too……if you continue then you will surely die」
「Hahahahah! What are you saying? A fight this enjoyable……I can’t possibly stop it in between, right? Let me ask you, if there was the best dish in front of you, the naked body of a non-resistant girl, would you be able to hold back? As a man」
「……I do agree that is quite a fascinating opportunity, but because we could endure our desires that reason has its meaning, right. First of all, although I look like this, I’m devoted to just a single girl all the way」
「Oh is that so? Then as a man……you need to learn being more greedy!」
This fight had reached a point where it wouldn’t stop until one died. The fight between Ecstatic Sword and Displeased Fist, currently again were going to clash against each other……at that time.

「……Hm? You who are—–Guhahah!?」

「「「!?」」」

The hunters of the『North』were observing……err, sightseeing the fight between the two while surrounding them.
One of them jumped out of the bushes.
No, he was kicked out was a certain person.
And, due to the abrupt incident the hunters were shocked, and while their stares concentrated, the certain person was……

「Good enough now, both of you Stop! Mission completed, Rescued safely. Now stop with you acting already」

Zari Tranter said, while his orange hair fluttered, just before Minato and Sherry collided.
Then the next moment,

「You’re too late Zari! I was already feeling chilly sometimes! Couldn’t you have been any faster!?」

「Eeh, is it done already? Tch, I wanted to fight a bit more」

「See! Because she is like this that it was quite difficult for me!」

「「「……!?」」」

The hunters were magnificently confused seeing Minato and Sherry talking in a friendly manner, while the dangerous atmosphere from before went away as if it were a lie.

☆☆☆

Well, in short, it was all an act.
From the time Sherry-san appeared, and from the time that long silence appeared……it was completely acting start at that point. For the purpose of rescuing the『hostage』……during the time we deceived those hunters.
In the first place, the biggest out of place feeling was Sherry-san being heavily armed.
Her fighting style was to evade the attacks with her nimble movements and fight. Her normal equipment was also a light armour for not interfering with her movements. It was obvious from her fighting style after the couple of days of working as escorts.
It was quite plainly obvious that she wouldn’t be able to fight properly while wearing that heavy-looking armour, that armour was even suiting her in the first place……at first even I had though『Eh, costume?』.
When I was thinking that, in my head, came the『telepathic』transmission from Elk and Sherry-san……and then I learned about the information of behind the scenes.
The reason it came to light was because, the town head truly said to Sherry-san that『Minato-dono seems suspicious』.
At that time Sherry-san suspected the『town head』.
That was because he had said something crazy……and also because of an unusual line he said on『that night』.
On the night of the demon raid some days ago,
The town head, during the conversation……said『Just who』when there was no possibilities of the raid being an unnatural one, at that time. As if he knew that some human was the reason being the assault.
However, there was also a possibility of it just being a figure of speech, therefore, although I also noticed it……but didn’t pursue it any further.
Sherry-san told me that night, that there was another unusual place in town head’s words.
That night, the town head said something like this.
「However……『Wing Boa』,『Lizard Kong』and『Rhinosaurus』……these demons surely never appear in this area. Just who……」

The town head only reached the place after the corpses of every demons were tidied up.
Even so, he knew the demons that attacked, even their species, along with the fact that they all came from the『Northern Part』, it was all as though he knew about it from before.
After all he shouldn’t have seen the corpses, after we people tidied it up.
The destination the corpses were tidied up was in the completely different direction from town head’s place of work. Moreover it was dark in the night. So there was no possibility of seeing that by coincidence en route.
When Sherry-san asked about it in nonchalant manner, the town head stammered a bit and told that it was his subordinated, who came report about the raid of demons told him about their species.
Well certainly, that was also plausible.
But, it was still strange. Rather, with his that statement the fishiness only increased.
After all, among the species of the demon the town head was speaking in a calm manner, the one called『Wing Boa』……wasn’t existing among the horde of demons that raided the city that night.
I asked about it to Sherry-san. The snake with feathers and wings was from a species called as『Feather Snake』……their behaviour was like that of migratory birds, and were a type of demons which wouldn’t live in a fixed area.
Moreover maybe because of their high wariness, the route they crossed was different every year, it was even said that the route they used once would not be used for another couple of decades. Hence, it was an extremely rare demon that most of adventurers had not seen.
Although the『Wing Boa』living in『North』didn’t appear in this area, their appearance was quite known via various books and documents.
It was a snake with a part of its body in the shape of wings-spread out. However contrary to its name, the wings were there just for threatening and they weren’t able to truly fly. As an image it would be great to think of it as a King Cobra from my previous world, with its base of throat spread out in the shape of wings.
For argument’s sake, let’s say the subordinate didn’t know the name of『Feather Snake』, but he couldn’t have mistaken it as『Wing Boa』, now could he?
Although they both were snake-type demons, but they weren’t so similar to be mistaken for each other.
In short, the information about the species of demons didn’t reach to the town head via his subordinate.
Nevertheless, the town head told the species of most, if not all, of the demons that raided……and even concluded that they all lived in『more north』than here.
Why was he able to think up to there.
If thinking by combing the figure of speech from before, it was easy to think that he something from before. He knew that if there was an attack『someone』, then『what』would raid in, at least roughly he knew about that.
The suspicions were weak, but they were all without doubt certain doubts.
Sherry-san’s doubts only increased because of the added『secret information』, and was secretly asking the people in city all over the place, at that time, she head a certain truth.
The daughter of town head went to rest couple of days after getting infected by an endemic disease.
And from the day of going to rest, she never appeared in front of people.
After asking the person said to be her attending doctor, it came to light that it was all a lie……and Sherry-san was now even more convinced that,
『Yeah, she is kidnapped』.
The daughter of town head was taken to『North』as an hostage, and was being forced to cooperate in the work these people were trying to do. As a part of that, some false information reached Sherry-san’s ears, trying to instigate enmity between us two, at that time, Sherry-san completely noticed.
Sherry-san took everything into heed, told Zari about the information just some time before……and after a conversation like『Frankly it is too bad a talk, but can’t anything be done』『OK! I will look into it』, the next time I saw her was standing in front of me.
At that time, Sherry-san, being a dark Elf, used『Telepathy』and proposed this offer to me.
Or rather both me and Sherry-san already knew that there people hiding in the surroundings, watching us.
They were failures as covert observers. Learn something from Zari.
It might seem like self-boast, but although normal adventurers wouldn’t be able to find them……but to use both, it didn’t seem like they were hiding.
Like that I agreed to Sherry-san’s offer, left the protection of Dryads to Elk and Zari, along with searching for the hostage, like that I started battle with Sherry-san. To buy time.
Incidentally, the armour of Sherry-san, was a『prop』to increase the impact of battle……and not let them find out that this was an act.
I could pulverize steel with my bare hands.
Like that, it was an act……with schemes interweaved.
That’s right it was just an act……it was supposed to be.
Somewhere along the way, that’s right, from that point.
From the time Sherry-san clad her sword in flames……I thought『Huh?』……

『Her eyes, were serious at that time』.

And started the fierce attack that would kill anyone, if it weren’t me.
In fact, looks like this battle maniac girl acted while enduring a lot.
『Good, you are indeed good……! Among the people I’ve met, you are without a doubt the strongest! To the point I can’t see my winning! This is……this is the fight I had always been wanting to do……!』
『……It isn’t just your armour that is worn out, right? The damage must’ve passed to the inside too……if you continue then you will surely die』
『Hahahahah! What are you saying? A fight this enjoyable……I can’t possibly stop it in between, right? Let me ask you, if there was the best dish in front of you, the naked body of a non-resistant girl, would you be able to hold back? As a man』
『……I do agree that is quite a fascinating opportunity, but because we could endure our desires that reason has its meaning, right. First of all, although I look like this, I’m devoted to just a single girl all the way』
『Oh is that so? Then as a man……you need to learn being more greedy!』
We were having a crazy conversation in high spirits (of course I just broke the armour and dealt no damage to her), but in truth,
「Wait Sherry-san!? Dan-oi, that’s dangerous! Ow, hot!? No, this is an act, this is an act, right!? It seems to become more serious……hey your eye are serious!?」
『Eh, what? Well whatever, Minato-kun, if you don’t want to be injured concentrate on the battle』
『No, calm down you battle maniac! Hasn’t this surpassed the level of acting! It burns, you know!? If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t just end with injury!?』
『Isn’t it fine that you are unhurt! This much serious……no I mean bloodcurdling feeling will make it enjoyable……no I mean, realistic, right?』
『Wtf you say!? Hey you, you just said『serious』and『enjoyable』right, right!? Or rather, you’re killing intent is out, sword speed is already too serious, and it is hot even without burning』
……Only we both knew about the『Telepathic』transmission going behind the scenes.
And as if trying to support it, Sherry-san’s eyes were still sparking.
1. I learnt a good and important thing today. Never to fight with this person, even in an act.
W-Well ignoring that.
The fact Zari had already come here means the hostage are……
「Yeah, it’s all fine, now. I rescued the daughter of town head, and delivered her to him just before. That’s why, stop the act, OK?」
「Great, good job Zari. Well it’s like Sherry-san」
「It was fine if you have come a little la……」
「Yes useless talk also STOP! We need to get the sightseeing fees from the audience in the surroundings, right?」
Forcibly cutting the conversation, I glare at bushes, behind which they were hiding.
Geez, these bastards were talking as they wanted, like monsters, best shows and whatnot.
It would help me cool down, let’s start another riot!