......
"This request is quite unique."
"Yes. They actually asked us to capture the Hero Devourer before the Divine Beast…"
"The lord who usually only sends people has come in person to make this request… What exactly happened with the Divine Beast?"
"I heard something happened at the management office… Guild Master. Have you heard anything?"
The adventurers, armed and with bright expressions, chatted as they walked through the bushes.
The Blue Wolves guild, which had supplied monster materials to Viscount Ebid.
Although they received a tricky request to find and defeat the Hero Devourer faster than the Divine Beast, none of them looked too bad.
"I didn't hear the details, but it seems the Divine Beast offended the Viscount's pride."
"Why did they do that? What good would it do to clash with a noble?"
"Who knows? But it won't hurt us anyway."
Besides a considerable advance payment, there was also a huge completion fee agreed upon after defeating the Hero Devourer. If the reward from the Administration is included, the amount will be equivalent to several years' income for the guild.
Given this level of reward, it's only natural to smile while tracking down the missing Hero Devourer.
The divine beast's unprovoked offense to the Viscount is something these people are grateful for.
"But it's said that guy can suddenly appear and disappear. Can we really find him?"
"We can only pray to the goddess for that. Anyway, the advance payment is quite generous, worth investing a month's time."
"If we can make a fortune just by hunting him down, maybe our guild can become a top guild representing Radhidia?"
"What should we do after we get our share of the reward? Ah~ I can't wait~"
"Hey. We don't even know if we can catch him yet." A dozen or so adventurers were immersed in the cheerful atmosphere of anticipation for their reward.
To ease the tension, the middle-aged hero leader of the Blue Wolf Guild began to reassure his guild members.
"According to the Viscount, several other companies will be commissioned besides us. To get the full reward, everyone should concentrate and pay attention to your surroundings."
"Understood, Guild Master!" His comrades, who had fought alongside him for years, smiled and began to survey their surroundings.
Watching them, the guild master of the Blue Wolf Guild smiled as well and led the way again.
While reassuring his guild members, he himself was also anticipating a huge reward.
Since they hadn't strayed far from Radia, the search for the Hero Devourer had only just begun.
The Blue Wolf members hadn't held out much hope, simply pushing through the undergrowth… "…! Shh…!!!" "…!!!" After quietly continuing their search for about two hours—a forest they thought they could just casually stroll through—they hadn't expected their target to block their path.
Emerging from the other side of the undergrowth was a massive body radiating black heat.
Upon seeing the target that anyone would assume was the Hero Devourer, the Blue Wolves' faces began to show a mixture of tension and excitement. "...The goddess seems to have heard our prayers?"
"Haa, haa...how much bounty is that guy worth...hehe."
"Phew...thank you, Goddess...alright everyone, weapons ready?" Faced with the imminent windfall, the Blue Wolves were overjoyed.
After confirming that the guild members were gripping their weapons, the guild leader nodded with a smile. "...Let's go! We're about to strike it rich!" Shouting excitedly, the hero and his guild members charged towards the Hero Devourer.
But blinded by their anticipation, they didn't notice—what the Hero Devourer, with its back to them, had been devouring just moments before.
Nor did they realize—that the one fleeing the scene was their prey, who had arrived even earlier than them.
......
"Whoa...Cecilia! Are you alright!?"
"Yeah! I'm fine, Oppa!" Ugh, carrying four people was so unstable, running was exhausting!
Could that pig have escaped again in the meantime!?
No!
Before making Leona my female, I want to get rid of all the obstacles in my way!
Don't even think about escaping. Be a sacrifice to delay your demise, you little pig!
Thump!
Clang!
...What's going on? The closer I get, the more uneasy I feel.
What's that rumbling sound?
And that dust...if you look closely, trees are flying around in the dust?
Ah, ah...the ground is shaking too? "...It seems it's eaten quite a lot during this time."
"Is that so? Can Master handle it, Claire?"
"Judging from its aura alone, it might be a bit strained..."
Hmm?
What did she say?
She said I can't handle it?
Although I don't know what it ate, has it gotten stronger during this time?
Could those flying trees be the traces of that pig's rampage?
This is troublesome...I struggled to handle it alone last time we met.
If it gets stronger…wait, what?
Those guys…
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!"
"Uh, uh…!!!" Those guys running this way…judging by their attire, they seem to be human adventurers…could they be fleeing after fighting the Hero Devourer?
Hmm…their equipment looks pretty good?
Even that kind of thing got injured and ran away…should we run away too?
"Huh, uh…!? Wh-what!? A divine beast!?"
"Why are we here!? Ah, could it be because of the Hero Devourer…!?"
Hmm?
For some reason, they seem particularly shocked to see me?
Why?
If they're adventurers from Radhidia, they should be quite familiar with my appearance, right?
Why are they making such a fuss?
The identical crests on the backs of their hands suggest they're from the same guild…oh well.
Since there are women here, even if I can't give them a ride, I should at least take them with me.
"Everyone! Are you all alright...?"
"Hey! Divine Beast! We've already claimed that prey!? We can't possibly give it to you...!"
"Hey, hey! Amy! Is this the time to talk like that!?"...Huh?
What nonsense is this woman spouting?
"If the guild leader can't hold on, we're doomed! We need to create some distance quickly...!"
"We've fought to this point, there's definitely no problem! How could the Hero Uncle possibly lose!?"
"Exactly! Since we've already broken out of the forest, let's wait for the guild leader here!"
What are these people doing? Weren't they supposed to be escaping? Suddenly they're adopting a fighting stance... Come to think of it, these four are all mages and archers responsible for rear support.
It seems there's a battle deep in the forest, why did they have to come here?
"Don't get in the way, get out of the way!"
"Mr. Divine Beast. If you intend to interfere, we will lodge a protest with the Management Bureau."
Ugh... these bastards.
Listen to what they're saying?
What?!
Who are these arrogant guys who're just taking up positions like they've already secured them? They seem to be locked in a fierce battle. Why is the Hero Devourer being monopolized by their own people?
Does defeating it drop gold?
It vanished like dust last time I saw it!
Boom!!!
"It's out! Ready!!!" Uh…?
What's that?
That pig, how did it get so big?
That gigantic, trailer-like size combined with that speed, no wonder trees are flying everywhere!
…Huh?
But that pig seems to have many wounds?
And that blue heat wave hanging above its head, could it be…?
"Tsk…!!! Everyone! Fire!!!" As the man emanating blue energy shouted, the humans around him unleashed magic circles and red energy.
Trying to unleash a powerful attack in open terrain… Hmm… Too bad.
Looks like my beasts and I won't have to lift a finger?
The man who looks like a hero seems to be half-controlled.
If the guys next to me deliver another blow…—Bang! Boom!
Crash! Crash!
Magic and arrows, seemingly cast by spells, shot from the magic circle and exploded on the Hero Devourer's body.
Ha…rude, but certainly has the right to be arrogant. Are these guys high-level? Well. It doesn't matter who catches them. As long as their demise is delayed.
However, I need to remember that rude mage named Amy's face; I'll get revenge for her rudeness later… "…No way." "…Hmm? Claire. Could it be…"
"Although it caused considerable damage, it's not fatal."
"Great! Then we'll take it!" "…!? Wait, what are you talking about…!!!" Perhaps hearing Cecilia's voice, the mage named Amy was staring in their direction.
She seemed about to shout something, but her companion's voice cut her off first.
"Aaaaaah! Guild Master!"
"!? Ah, old man!?"
Waaaah... What is that... Judging by the blue aura it's emitting, it must be the hero... Waaaaah, his leg is being chewed by that pig's mouth...
"Aaaaah! Something's chewing! That pig!"
"S-Stop!!!" The adventurers, their faces ashen, unleashed their skills to save the hero.
The Hero Devourer, with its wounded body emitting black smoke, effortlessly blocked the attacks without hesitation.
In the instant it impatiently tossed its head, the hero's leg, hanging by its mouth, snapped off, and the hero was flung into the forest.
"Guild!!!"
"Aaaaah! Old man!!!" The adventurers screamed, dropping their luggage and rushing into the forest.
Eww... Oh my god... What kind of horror movie is this... Even if that hero survives, he's probably crippled, right? So this is what the Hero Devourer is like? I actually witnessed such a bloody scene. "...Master. How are you feeling now?"
"Phew. I was just thinking about that too." The prey I originally planned to capture escaped, so it's alright if I take on this half-dead Hero Devourer, right? I've practically captured it halfway; it would be a shame to let it go like this.
The unknown hero and guild members. Thank you.
We'll accept the reward for the Hero Devourer extermination quest. It'll also delay its demise.
"Liz, Claire, Ceres, stay away. Cecilia. I'll use my body to block, and attack from the side when I see an opening."
After setting down the beasts, I transformed into my demon form, and Lisbeth helped me put on the armor.
After handing me the horse bit, Claire cast a blessing on Cecilia and me.
Once ready, we pounced on the Hero Devourer, which was trying to escape back into the forest.