"Ugh... I couldn't just do my own thing after all..."

"Don't be so depressed. Foundations, it's an impossible story. I think you've done your best, Monica."

"Ugh... I'm sorry to bother Master Navre so much, this is how it is..."

Although Navre is desperately trying to comfort Monica, who is sinking more and more, she is not doing well. You fell while fighting demons, Monica's outfit is getting dirty for a long time.

In the end, Monica couldn't defeat the demons on her own just to escape. Nobody did anything to blame Monica for all this.

Just because I can use some magic, I don't think my amateur Monica can handle demons in just one day today. Still, it's great enough not to cry and just try to face it hard.

"Look, cheer up. You can eat freshly baked fish, right?

"Yes......"

I was catching and cooking river fish for a number of people with Gakun. Even when it came to cooking, I cooked it on a skewer and just shook the salt. But that's the only fresh fish I can take and it looks delicious.

Monica received the river fish with pleasure as she semi-cryed and began eating the fearful fish. I've pecked with my little mouth so many times that the movement is somewhere adorable.

"Navre, too. Thanks for taking care of Monica."

"No......"

Navre received the fish as he stared at me with unspeakable eyes. I don't know why you're cooking this guy out of that eye, but I feel signs like it, but I dare to ignore it. When I was an adventurer like this, it was a daily tea meal.

"Are you glad you didn't wait for Charne?

"It's about time we got down the mountain. Even if Charne is a little late, I think if Charne comes hunting for his prey, he can handle it and then eat it here or go back."

"Sort of."

Single, Charne headed hunting hasn't come back yet. Gakun returns the right gavel for my words as he cheeks his share of the river fish.

I wasn't going to take Monica to the boulder and reveal the night in the mountains. Because Gakun and Navre are trained in the Knights, but I thought it would be hard on Monica and Charne. Outside, Charne seems fine and accepting, though.

So before sundown, we were going to go down the mountain, so Charne should see the time and it's time to come back. I was going to cook the river fish for Charne too......

"Sorry to keep you waiting"

"Ah, Charne. Welcome home."

When I thought so, I saw Charne rushing towards us. But the prey doesn't have anything in particular, and it's bare hands.

"Couldn't find anything prey?

……

"? Charne?

I saw her face because Charne wouldn't say anything. Then Charne had a troubled look on her face, which makes me frown, too.

"... Has Her Royal Highness ever been to this pioneering land?

"If not today, a few times"

"At that time, did you see any animals or demons that might be edible to people?

"Animals and demons that are likely to be edible?

I don't know what the question is intended to be, and I lean my neck. How'd it go when we used to come here? If you put your arms together and dig up your memories, some animals and demons that might apply will come to mind.

"I think he was, but what's that?

"I hope I'm wrong, but I couldn't find any animals or demons as unnaturally."

"... navr. Is Big Ape the only demon you've encountered today?

"Right. Other than that, when they say animals and demons... I certainly didn't see them"

I take confirmation with Navre and then turn my thoughts around about what Charne told me.

Charne says that this pioneering land can't find as many animals and demons as it is unnatural.

And today, only Vic Ape encountered Monica's demonic crusade.

"Big Ape is a clever demon. If you ask me, I should have stayed more in the woods and avoided contact with people."

Big Ape, as the name suggests, is a big monkey. But intelligence is never low, and most importantly, it is rare among demons that tend to evolve into one person at a time in order to gain demonic stones, demons that try to sustain the herd.

So it's more rare for demons with demonic stones to come from Big Ape to be born the other way around. Not to the point of none, but no demon tries to form a herd more thoroughly than Big Ape.

Vic Ape's Demon Stone Holding chooses to live off the herd and in solitude, or becomes like a length of time living while protecting the herd. So less likely to encounter, less dangerous.

I'm not even a people-eating species, so even if I accidentally go into territory, they just get rid of me. Although I have encountered Big Ape, which has been detached from the herd and turned into a demonic stone, I have never encountered a leader who would protect the herd.

I heard from other adventurers that Big Ape grew up trying to avoid contact with people until he was longer?

"... Speaking of which, Big Ape is not a demon for edibles, is it?

"Ah. Big Ape is not such a rare demon in the east. I just can't eat the meat muscularly, and if I can't take the amount, it doesn't taste good. And if we don't set it up from here without darkness, it's a demon that doesn't really try to compete with humans. I thought they attacked me this time because I was in the territory..."

Listen to me, Navre was getting Gakkun confirmation about Big Ape.

Today, Monica was dealing with Big Ape, but now realizes that the situation is a little strange given the original Big Ape ecology.

"And in the first place. Weren't we talking about more rare species on the east side lately?

"But all I saw today was Big Ape, right? I was hoping I could investigate..."

"It is also possible that the development has progressed and the residence has been moved further..."

"So do you think there's going to be such an extreme absence of animals and demons? Charne, maybe you're late looking for traces too?

"Yes.... so a little creepy"

Charne was helping livelihoods in the realm with hunting. That means I'm willing to be a hunter. Says she couldn't find a trace like that. Plus, the mountain looks creepy.

As Navre says, it is also possible that more demons have recently moved their dwellings to the back of the mountain with people's hands around it. It can also be assumed that a bunch of Big Apes were coming down so that they would be chased the other way around.

But that's too unlikely. It would seem more natural to consider that there are fewer animals and demons themselves in the first place, given the combined circumstances we have heard from Charne.

The number of demons is extremely decreasing, what does that mean? One possibility floats behind my brain.

"... it's possible that demons with demon stones are eating up."

"What!?"

Monica shook her voice in amazement when she heard me whine. Its face turns blue and its body begins to tremble into small pieces.

Nervous colors also appeared on Gakun, Navr and Charne's expressions. I don't think so. But I can't say enough about it.

The number of demons is extremely decreasing because demons with demon stones were born. If the demon was preying on the demon from one end, the number naturally decreases.

"If that's the case, it's going to be a little rough."

"But if you mean you're eating rough, don't you have to think about Stampede's worries?

"I don't know. Originally, it is conceivable that the discovery of human hands has moved the demonic habitat deeper, and that we simply do not perceive it. Besides, more importantly, if it's" Fenrill "or something, it's gonna be a lot of trouble.

The demonic stone of the werewolf species, "Fenrill," which had the demonic stone on which Charne's Keravnos originated. Its invasion speed and annoyance is a fingerprint among demons.

If it was Fenrill, I want to slap him within the moment. I'd like to explore a little bit, even if I'm not. Anyway, I no longer have the option to leave you like this and go home.

"Navre, take Monica down the mountain. Then report to the Knights and Adventurers Guild. Tell people who have been in the woods lately to ask for more information and to be prepared in case. Navre is the best negotiator of that kind. In some cases, I'll have Monica and I go around defending Filwach."

"... what will His Royal Highness Sister Wang do?

"I'll take Gakun and Charne to explore the back of the woods some more. I wish there was nothing..."

"Then you'd better leave it to the local knights and adventurers..."

Navre tells me, frowning uncomfortably. If you do prioritize your safety, I'd rather not go and investigate myself. That's right, of course.

"If you really had a demon stone, it would be ours if we crusaded, wouldn't it? It's okay, 'cause I'm not gonna push it!

"... ha, someone named you!

Navre frowned abominably, and breathed out a deep sigh. I punch him in the forehead a few times and then raise my face.

"Okay. But promise me you'll never just be unscrupulous."

"Of course, I know."

That's how I replied while I smiled bitterly at Navre for not saying I was convinced. Then gazing at Gakun and Charne, the two of them nodded at me with a tight look.

(Well... I really hope nothing is happening)

- It smells like blood.

A very intense scent of blood spreads on one side. There was so much blood that it scattered the scent. Such traces of blood were smudging the surrounding area, like dragging it around unconstitutionally.

The sound of eating meat sounds. Bite, chew, and drink. And then he gets his teeth up again and eats them off.

The shadow, devouring like a hungry beast, made his blood-running eyes crawl just around. And that shadow roars low. In the midst of a tragic dining scene, as I say, still not enough to eat.

If anyone had seen that look, they would have lost too much of their hips in surprise. - The figure was very similar to, but decidedly different from, people.

There are bull-like horns stretched out ambitiously on the head, the body succeeds and is far larger than a normal person.

Such shadows shudder as if they could indulge in something while squatting small.

"- - - - Huh!!"

And I could yell. The tone would have made various impressions on the listener.

There will be those who say that they are mad. No, someone will say you seem to be enjoying your grief. Or some would say that there is no such sanity left at the earliest.

But no one here hears voices. I just raise my voice to squeeze it out of the bottom of my belly, and its shadows are roaring.

- In the deep woods, those who still hear the cry do not appear.