*

　Christine Elway looked out at the landscape from the boxcarriage.
　The season was autumn. The vegetation along the roadway is still lush and green, but in a short while it will show its vibrant colors.
　The change of seasons is something that enriches the heart. However, it's a different story when it's your territory.
　Count Elway Domain of the Kingdom of Velis -- Located southwest of the royal capital, this is the land where the armies of the human species and the Immortal King are said to have fought a battle to the death during the Divine Age.
　This may be why there are so many dungeons in this land, including the dungeon of the Immortal King's subordinate, the Skeleton King.
　A powerful military force - if you have a high level of adventurers and knights, it could be a treasure trove, but for those who don't, it's just a land of trouble.
　Christine turns her attention to the knight seated on the opposite side of the table. She's a woman with lustrous blonde hair cut short like a boy's.
　Her name is Laura Cerberus. She's the head of the Cerberus family, who three generations ago made a distinguished military career on the battlefield and joined the ranks of the lower nobility.
　It seems that he has been training to become a knight ever since he can remember, but after spending most of his life training, he's finally at level 15.
　Moreover, he's stronger than any other knight serving Christine at this level. In other words, he's the strongest pawn.
　Incidentally, the knights under the king's direct command are level 30 to 40 in their ranks, and Luke, the leader of the knights, is close to level 50.
　The other knightly orders held by the other influential nobles were level 20 to 30 for the members and level 40 for the Knight Commander.
　In short, Christine's knights are a bunch of weak soldiers. Well, even this can be managed against humans.
　Even if the Evil Grizzly, which is considered the strongest in the neighborhood, appears, with careful preparation, they can repel them.
　However, to fight the undead, who appear once every few years as you recall, you'll have to be prepared to make great sacrifices.
　Fortunately, since Christine became the lord, only skeletons, zombies and ghosts have appeared, but there's no way to develop human resources with this.
　We can't do this anymore!　It would be easier if he could spoon feed them with the same. But Christine, as the Earl of Elway, has a duty to protect the people of the realm.
　Like this time, she has to go to King's Landing and bow to her father, King Velis, powerful nobles, and her hated half-sister to ask for help in an emergency.
　The half-sister I hated - I remembered Charlotte.

b*tc*.
How are you doing?

　I muttered to myself, and Laura called out to me.

'It's nothing,'
...I see.

　I don't think I could have fooled him, so I'm sure he pretended he didn't hear me.
　Silence is gold and eloquence is silver.

''Huh.........''

　Christine let out a sigh that couldn't have been deeper than this. I need stronger subordinates.
　If I had stronger subordinates, I wouldn't have to bow my head in perturbation.

''Can't you make ... a guest (rare person) your subordinate?
'Master Chris, I've heard that guests are rarely summoned?
You heard me.
Yes, I'm within striking distance.

　Laura said quickly.
　The guests are those who are summoned by the one and only god (Apeiron) servant, Periolis. Not only are they given jobs, but they are said to possess a high percentage of rare skills, and not a few of them reach level 100.
　I think you're giving them too much preferential treatment, no matter how much you've invited yourself. The inhabitants of this world are level 20 for ordinary people, level 30 for brilliant people, and level 40 for geniuses at best.

''Well, that's true.''
Yes,

　Although she agreed with the statement that they are rarely summoned, Christine knows that the twenty or so guests have been placed under the protection of King Velis.
　No, I should say, they are under his control. It would be fine to share at least one of them, but if I were the king, I would still have responded the same way.
　A guest is an entity that can upset the military balance. Few of them will ever reach level 100, but if they are raised well, they can be stronger than the people of this world.
　Moreover, those children will be born with some talent. That's why that naughty half-sister is approaching them.
　Well, sometimes it's the same for other nobles.

"b*tc* who opens her legs to everyone to ascend the throne.
....

　He muttered again, but Laura was silent.
　She looked out in silence.

*

　When Makoto woke up, he saw the branches of a tree. The multiple layers of branches overlapping and covering the top of his head looked like a canopy.
　He looked around as he lay on the ground. The first thing I saw was a tree, the next thing I saw was a tree, and all I could see was trees.

''........in the woods?''

　A small exhale. Not a breath of relief, but a sigh. We made it out of the dungeon safely. I suppose I should be happy about that.
　But it's not too much to say that when you escape the dungeon, you're in the forest. This overwhelming unreasonableness, if it were a game, it would be a f*cking game.

My body hurts.

　My whole body ached, not just my right arm, but my whole body was burning. When I held out my left hand in concern, I found that my blown off left hand had regenerated.

''........What the hell is this?''

　He muttered in dismay. His left hand was covered in armor, as was his right arm. I stand up and look down at my body.
　What in the world had happened to me? The jet black armor covered his entire body. When I touched my face, I could feel a slippery feeling.

'Why can you feel the texture?

　Despite being covered in armor, you can feel it. That's not all. I can even feel the wind caressing my cheek.

"....water.

　A gruesome, croaky voice escaped. When I listened closely, I could hear the rushing of the river. I headed towards the sound.
　The sound of cheating, cheating, followed me from behind. I looked behind me over my shoulder and saw an armor-covered tail.
　Apparently, I had become a monster. Despite that, I'm not upset. Maybe this is what it means to be a monster.
　After a short walk, the river came into view. I look into the river's surface and am stunned. His face was covered by what looked like a full-face helmet.
　I wondered how I was going to get a drink of water. I touch it, but there is nothing that looks like a mouth. There is a slight bump, but I don't know how to open it.
　Will I have to live with the searing pain and thirst? Makoto looked up to the heavens, wondering what to do to live like a monster.
　He looked up to the heavens and asked, "How can I live like a monster?

Hey, wake up!

　Mako woke up when she heard Yuka's voice. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at us.

'You're finally awake.'
...it's a dream.

　Makoto raised himself up and looked down at his hands. The armor on his right arm was gone and his left hand had regenerated.
　Apparently, it had been a dream.

'Where am I?'
In the woods.

　Mako stood up and looked around. In front of him, of course, he looked to his right and to his left and saw nothing but trees.
　Behind him, by the way, was a river.

'Where's the forest?'
How was I supposed to know?

　Yuka replied, a little grimly. He is an unreliable partner. Of course, I'm not going to talk about it.

'You shouldn't have put your stuff in front of the temple if this is what you're going to do.
It's not worth mentioning now.
Hey, remember what happened after the dungeon collapsed?
Yes, I was awake the whole time.
How did you get out?
'One minute it was pitch black in front of me, and the next I was standing in the woods.
That means I was knocked out because I was taking damage.

　Mako raised her left hand and squeezed and opened it.

'Good. You've raised the bar.'
I didn't hear the angel's voice because I was out cold.
Would you like me to take a look at it?
Yeah, please.

　He was that strong. No wonder he exceeded level 80. Yuka narrowed her eyes and made an expression as if she had bitten down on a bitter bug.
　He must be thinking that he would be attacked if there was such a difference in levels.

''We crossed the death line together and you won't let your guard down?
And I'm unraveling it.

　Was it a figurehead, Yuka choked on her words. What is this defensiveness, or rather self-consciousness?

'So how old are you?'
...100.

　Yuka's lips twitched in a huff as she said in a huff.

'Level 100? What's your status?''
All 255.
What kind of RPG is this?

　Makoto's shoulders slumped disappointedly.

'Where's the RPG?'
'Yeah, a lot of games have a status cap of 255.
Hmm.

　He tilted his head curiously, and I explained to him, but he didn't seem interested.

'What are we going to do now?'
We're going to the city.
How?
We're heading downstream.
I remember hearing that it's dangerous to follow the river?

　Yuka raised her eyebrows quizzically.

'It's a mountain,'
Am I right?
Yes,

　I remember hearing that if you get lost in the mountains, you shouldn't follow the river. There are many large rocks along the river, so the foothold is bad.
　In addition, there are places where there is a difference in elevation, such as waterfalls. Even if you have a rope, it's impossible for an amateur to climb down the waterfall through the rocks.
　Well, I feel that a little recklessness is possible for a level 100.

''Besides, the chances of meeting someone are higher than wandering around the forest,''
That's true.

　Those who knew the forest well might be able to reach the path and settlement from the slightest trace, but Makoto was an amateur.

''It looks like we'll be able to get some food, too.

　I looked at the river and saw a fish swimming in it. From the looks of it, it was an ordinary fish. It could be poisonous, but there's nothing you can do if you're worried about that.

'We don't have any tools, do we?'
'You can do it with your bare hands. I mean, if there's a fish that can get away from a status 255 opponent, let's see.
'I hope it's not a system that requires your skills,'
It's not that much of a game.
I hope so.

　Huh, Yuka let out a sigh.