--Rosalie J. Walker.

　Also known as the Red Lotus Witch.
　In the Western Continent, she is known as one of the three greatest wizards, along with the White Wise Man and the Northern Miracle Wizard, Oz.
　He is the most powerful wizard in the current Woodland.
　The fame of the Red Lotus Witch dates back a hundred years ago during the War of Man and Demons.

　Valak, the King of Insects, was one of the four demon kings who once reigned on the Demon Continent.
　A hundred years ago, the Demon King Valak invaded the western continent.

　The Six Nations Union Army and the Six Nations' heroes greeted him.
　The wizard Rosalie was one of the companions of the brave men of wood.

　The battle between the demon race and the alliance of human and sub-human races was fierce, and its resolution was protracted.
The armies of the "King of the Mushi" were springing up endlessly, and the armies of the western continent were slowly being exhausted.
　The Demon King Valak only sent his subordinate's army to the Western Continent, and this person did not come out of the Demon Continent.
　It seemed that the Great Sage Master had managed to outrun the Demon King's army that was springing up endlessly.
　However, if the war of attrition continued, they would be defeated one day.

　Concerned about this, Wizard Rosalie and the two brave men from the Land of the Sun (Highland) raided the Demon Continent.
　As for why it wasn't the wooden hero, the wooden hero had already been wounded in the war and had left the front lines.

　The magic that Wizard Rosalie is good at is ''Super(⋅)long(⋅)distance(⋅)separation(⋅)space transfer(teleportation)''.
　The number of people who can be carried, including the person himself, is limited to two.
　There, he and the brave men of the Highland of the Sun, the strongest warriors at the time, attacked the Demon King Valak and successfully defeated him.

　The wizard Rosalie, who became a hero, married a brave man from the Land of the Sun (Highland) and they were blessed with a happy ending.
　Congratulations to her.
　It's a picture-perfect, happy ending.

　However, the strict status system of the Highlands is not to her liking and her marriage ends after five years.
　Rosalie, the hero, went back to the land of the trees.

　Since then, she's been moving around the world, and whenever she's in trouble, she seems to show her face and claw her way around.
　His specialty is "Spirit Magic".
　Especially when it comes to controlling the Fire Spirit and the Wind Spirit, there is no one better than him.

　The Wizard Rosalie uses spirits to create huge flaming giants.
　And after the battle, only a burned-out field is left.
　Seeing this, he became feared as the "Red Lotus Witch" for some time.


　--The one who has the anecdote is Lucy's mother.


''Isn't it my mother that Mako met?
What?
　After the party yesterday, we were all allowed to stay at Lucy's parents' house.
　Currently, Lucy's sister is making breakfast for us.

'With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she looked like me, didn't she?
Yeah, she looked just like Lucy.
　It's a little bit like Lucy, a little bit like her sister.

'You know, Lucy is the most like your mother.
　Lucy's sister interrupted me as she cooked.
'Rosalie!　If you come back, you can't at least show your face!
　The foster chief is in a huff.

　So that's Lucy's mother.
　Then I should have talked to her more.
　The best fighting force in the Woodlands.

　Afterwards, we ate breakfast while listening to stories about Lucy's childhood and her family.

'Hey Aya, Huli. I'm going to introduce you to my friends in the village and you can come with me!
Yeah, okay.
Okay.
　The three girls, Lucy, Saasan and Furiae, went out.
　It's Lucy's first trip home in a long time.
　Let's have some free time.

　I wanted to talk to the tree maiden, but I couldn't find her.
　She may have gone to work.

　I've heard that the brave men of the tree country have not been able to reach her.
　He's bored.

(Maybe I should go train around the Lost Forest.)

　A dungeon that I once went to with Lucy once.
　Unlike the Devil's Forest, this is a difficulty level that can be dealt with by an Iron-ranked adventurer as long as you don't get lost in the path.
　Solo would be fine, too.

''Brother Makoto. Which way are you going?
I'm thinking of exploring the Lost Forest.
'Exploring a dungeon by yourself...?　It's not dangerous.
　Prince Leonard gives me a worried look.

'If it looks dangerous, I'll get away and you'll be fine.
Then I'm coming with you!
　Oh, Prince Leonard will be joining us.

'One moment. If it is Prince Leonard who is going, I will go as well. Princess Sophia has entrusted me with the protection of Prince Leonard.
　Janet interrupted.
'Huh?　Is that so?
　I thought I was just going to carry it to the country of the trees and be done with it.
By the way, I've been asked to take care of you (Makoto) as well.
　He gives me a boring look.
　Apparently, he's settled on the view that I'm a brave man who's slutty with women.

(I'm a virgin, though...)

Now, now.
　A black cat (Tsui) jumped on my shoulder.
'What's up?　Did the princess leave you behind?
　I shuffled my throat and made him choke.
　Janet stared at Tsui.

'Do you want to touch it?'
I'm not touching it!
　He glared at me with a snap.
　I was so careful.....

　The three of us and one of them headed to the 'Lost Forest' adjacent to the great forest.


　◇


　The Lost Forest features.

　--the huge same kind of trees that go on forever.
　--that the tall weeds are overgrown.
　--a thin mist that always hangs there.
　--the spirits of wind and earth, misleading the travelers.

　That's what they say.


"If you have 'map' skills, you can afford it.
　The Adventurer's Guild considered it to be a dungeon to watch out for, but as long as you don't lose track of the direction you're going back to, you'll be fine.

''Your 'map' skills seem to be excellent.
Brother Makoto, you're very good!
　We explored the lost forest while the two of them praised us.


　--I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.



　A strange scene was spreading.

''.......What is it?　This,
"Prince Leonard, be careful, please be careful. There's a dangerous demon out there.
　Prince Leonard, who seems a little frightened, and Janet-san, who holds her spear as if to protect the prince.

'Corpses......... There are animals and even demons.
　I muttered.

　Popping, popping.
　Like madaras, the bodies of deer, antler rabbits, and forest bears were lying around.
　At a glance, I could tell that they had been killed by someone.

(Eaten?)
　The animals had wounds that looked like they had been bitten off without exception.
　However, contrary to appearances, the amount of blood loss was minimal.
　I don't want to stare at it too much, but on closer inspection, the corpse appears to be a bit dried up.

'Takatsuki Makoto, are you familiar with the Lost Forest?'
　Janet asked me.
'The demons of the Lost Forest are like the Great Forest. I've never seen a demon do this before.'
　As far as I know, this is the first time I've ever seen it.

''Brother Makoto........ Has this corpse been sucked out of the blood?
It looks that way, doesn't it?
　A blood-sucking vampire....
　But in the middle of the day?
　Could the undead (undead) be active at night?

'It's just as we've heard in the elven village. That the number of immortals is on the rise.
''Demon King's Tomb.......Didn't the immortals (undead) tend to gather around the Tomb of the Immortal King Bifrons?''
　Lucy's grandfather once told me.

"The Immortal King Bifrons the king of the dead who was sealed for a thousand years and still gives off an enormous amount of miasma...
By the way, you can't break the seal, can you?
　What can I say, 'Tomb of the Immortal King' and 'Seal'........
　It just sounds like a flag, though!

"The seal is sealed by Savior Abel and the Great Sage. It cannot be broken!
　Prince Leonard says emphatically, but.
'Ummm ...'
　I'm worried.

''You're a worrier, Takatsuki Makoto. If the Immortal King could be resurrected, it would only be the Immortal King's two bellies 'Shuri' and 'Seteker', but they too have been destroyed by the Savior-sama. To begin with, the immortals (undead) are the most abominable demon race in the Land of the Sun. I will not allow them to resurrect.
　Janet also laughs that there is no such thing as an immortal king resurrection.
　Am I just a worrier from another world?
　Well, that's fine then.


　When we were talking about it.


　.........rattling.
　There was a sound of something being gnawed on.


　It sounded like a carnivore eating a herbivore.
　Not uncommon in the great forests of the predators.

　But this sound of something being sipped?
　I've never heard a sound like this before.

　Me, Prince Leonard and Janet look at each other.
　We naturally stopped talking and walked without making a sound.


Let's go home.
　I suggested.
　'The first enemy you see should be on the run.

"No, that's a lot of dead bodies. If it's the one that caused that, it's better to take it down. Let's at least check out their appearance.
　Janet countered.
　Well, you have a point.

'Prince Leonard. Please hold on tight so the effects of your 'covert' skills don't wear off.
Yes, sir.
　Prince Leonard, who is already jittery, squeezes my arm.

''Ah, um.......I can't use my 'covert' skill either, so.......''
　Janet said painfully.
　'Certainly, I don't have an image of the Ballantines being sneaky and 'covert'.
'Well, then, Mr. Janet, please get caught, too.
　He grabbed me by my other arm, around my sleeve.

　We were about to move closer to the sound.


(Terrible...) Janet grumbles.
(They're being devoured.)
(Ugh...) Prince Leonard is pale.


　We gasped at the shocking scene that unfolded there.


　It was in the middle of the forest.
　It was bright red.
　Lying everywhere were the corpses of a pack of forest wolves that must have numbered over a hundred.
　Their corpses were, without exception, covered with bite marks.

　In the middle of the many corpses, there was a "humanoid nanika" standing on her knees, gobbling and sipping on something.

　We watched the horrific scene for a while.
　Suddenly that nanika turned around to look at me.

　The face that turned around had no eyes.
　There was only a black hole where the eye was originally located.

　Her pure white skin was cracked.
　The black veins are throbbing and pulsing.

　An abominable appearance that made me uncomfortable just looking at it.

　The teeth in his large mouth were sharp and pointy like a shark.
　Reddish-black blood was dripping down from his mouth, as evidence that he had been 'eating' just now.　


(Vampire...?)


　There was a blasphemous existence there that was foolish and blasphemous to be compared to the Great Sage.

''........''
　Prince Leonard shuddered a little and didn't speak.
(This ... I'd like to let him go first.)

Shh....
　Even Janet was sweating greasy sweat on her forehead.


　The vampire grinned and opened his mouth.
　Janet and I both hold our weapons at the ready.


'I'm sorry, hey, I was so busy eating that I didn't notice. Oh no, I'm embarrassed.
　Scratching his head, the vampire laughed briskly.

(Yeah~)
　The friendly response was not what I expected, and I was disappointed.

'Elves it's not an elf................this presence. There's a human here, phew, I'm blind right now. Because I have no eyeballs!
　He doesn't have eyes, but I can sense something friendly in his tone of voice.
　However, all I can sense from his appearance is madness.
　The enemy?　Or is it harmless?

　I look at Prince Leonard and Miss Janet for advice, but they don't seem to have time to open their mouths.

'No, it's the same for me, I'm sorry to be at dinner.
　For now, let's have a conversation.
　Then the vampire made a surprised expression.

''Well, well, well. To look at me and have a normal conversation with me without feeling any fear....... A thousand years ago, it's unthinkable.......it's a sad thing.
A thousand years ago?
'I just woke up from a thousand year old sleep just now. Thanks to this, I'm hungry and hungry. It's a shame that I, being a senior demon race, would eat such a vile meal.

　A thousand years ago...?
　Did you wake up from your sleep?
　What is this?

Are you by any chance Mr. Bifrons, the Demon King?
　I knew you were awake!
　But after hearing our question, the vampire burst out laughing.

'Hahahahahahahahaha!　I will!　The Grand Duke of Bifrons!　After a thousand years, humans can say such interesting things!　Well, I am a nameless senior demon race. To be mistaken for Master Bifrons, I am honored to be mistaken for you, human.
Ha, ha.
　I'm glad I'm not the Demon King.

　I'm the only one who's talking to him.
　The other two didn't move for a long time.
　On my shoulder, the black cat is going "Whoo, whoo! And he's threatening to stand on his hair.

　No, let's take a strategic retreat for once.

　Then, suddenly.

　The words appeared in front of me.

"Do you wish to flee from the demon king's mind, Bifronsu?

　Yes.
　No.　


(Oh, my God.)
　He was a pretty badass guy in front of me.
　Master Abel!　You didn't destroy it!