I'm at the bottom of a long-ago forbidden forest.
　How long has it been since I've been here? Hadn't I been here for double-digit years?


　There is no sign of a powerful demon in the place facing the outside.
　However, when you go inside, a monster with exceptional strength is under your detection spell.
　There are a number of intelligent and fierce, S-ranked demons that are classified as Fenrir's troop or args, which are black in color and resemble leopards in shape, and use magic that is systematized by darkness.


　In front of such a place, there was a client who stared at me and took a glance at me. It's a priest who belongs to the heroic society of the same name.
　He immediately looked away and explained the 'content of the request' in front of ten to twenty adventurers.


It's not just a matter of time before you get to the bottom of the forbidden forest," he said, "it's also a matter of securing the healing water from the healing lake that is believed to exist in this forbidden forest floor. That's what this test is all about!


　He said, replacing the request with an examination.
　From his point of view, he's not a client, but an examiner.


'As you all know, this will be the final exam. It's called a request because you were selected by the guild. That's why I'll give you a reward if you achieve it. Even if you don't achieve it, though, we're supposed to distribute some of it. But!　Only the first one to bring it in will be chosen as a true candidate for the brave party!


　Gulping, one of the adventurers cleared his throat.
　Since it was the final exam, the mentality was quite strong.
　Even so, Kåñëa was comparable.
　Most of them would definitely be considered A-ranked. There didn't seem to be any other S-ranked ones. It's good to see that Kåñëa has a higher chance of succeeding in his request first.
　It's not that I didn't want to see the other S-ranked ones, though.


''Then let's start the final exam!


　The examiner uttered the signal to begin.
　The adventurers started to run to all of them. Kåñëa too, going at a brisk pace.


''Oi!　Zeed!


　There was one person in the crowd of running adventurers who called out to me while looking at me. It was Weeg.


'You're my rival!　You beat me to the first test, but it's this wee--Bubbe! that's destined to be a hero.


　Weeg hits a tree. It went directly from his face.
　That's what would happen if he was looking at me without looking ahead. That's not a good sign.


"Transition.


　I'm not going to be the first to accomplish this.
　But, well, it wouldn't hurt to be the first to collect the healing water.



-- A familiar sight was before me.


　Sunlight passed through the large trees, illuminating the large, crystal-clear lake.
　Lush moss grew on the cool rocks around it.
　From the center of the lake, the surface of the water rises up like an overflow of clean water.
　The normally boisterous demons were gulping down the ever-growing water without a fight.
　Mysterious scene, you might say.


　I took out a bottle I had prepared beforehand and shared the healing water with them.


'Oh, that. Nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh, Lord!


　And.
　Something telepathic echoed in my brain.
　It was something that the demons around me had communicated to me.
　All of them are looking at me with a frightened look.


''Nuh, the Lord has returned ......!
Tell the flock!　'Where do you want to go before it eats you?
"Heeeeeee. ......!　The disaster of this forest has returned: ......!


　I don't know. This terrible thing they say.
　It's true that I was an omnivore and ate all sorts of demons when I was used to it.
　It's been quite some time now, and they still say this about me?
　Well, it can't be helped because all the demons have longevity.
　But still, it's a bit of a shame that ...... no demons are missing from the lake.
　It's a nice view, but it makes me feel lonely.


　I've been deploying my detection magic, and I've been thinking about it.
　I'm not sure if there are any adventurers who can get to this point.
　This is an S-rated forest.
　But it's not the whole place. When you step in, the only thing you'll find is a C-ranked demon that won't kill you.
　Even so, there are many A-ranked or higher monsters in here.
　I'm not sure if the adventurer is going to be able to get over this: ...... It's hard to give an affirmative opinion.


　But when it comes to the area around Quena, you'll get there with strength and experience.
　There were some dropouts in the detection magic right away.
　I'm sure there are a few successful people out there.



◇◆


　Jut, the blood of the demon that touched the flame sword evaporates.
　Countless argh corpses were lying in front of me.


　At this level, it's still possible to defeat them.
　There are plenty of really bad demons out there, but for some reason they seemed to be disappearing as if they were fleeing from the entire area nearby.
　Well, even if they were there, it's not a problem because they've learned how to keep away from them.


''Huh. ...... So this is finally over.


　I muttered involuntarily from a sense of accomplishment.
　With the information I had purchased beforehand, I'd already arrived directly at the lake of healing.


　Ah, there was .......
　The scene is as beautiful as the rumors say it is.
　Just with the lake - there was also a tall, thin man with black hair and black eyes.


　Zied.
　A monster who had suddenly risen to the S rank, a former member of the Kingdom Knights.
　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm not sure what to make of it. ...... I don't understand the man, he's aloof and has a lot of loose ends, but for that he's thinking with a firm eye on things.
　Even now, this is how he came to the lake before anyone else.


'Yo. Good night.


　Zied calls out to me lightly.
　He doesn't seem to have any teeth in my annoyance that I unintentionally bumped into in the guildmaster's office.


You're early.


　I take the bottle out and scoop up some water.


'Yeah. I used a transfer, you know.
......--


　My heart ached at Zied's words.
　Originally, he should have been the brave candidate elected by the guild. That's obvious in terms of ability.
　He could have handed the examiner a bottle and succeeded in the test before I came here.
　There aren't many S-ranks I've seen.
　But his skills are probably the best in the guild. I'm confident that he will surpass even that so-called outstanding Riff.


I'm sure Soria Aiden would think that Jade is more qualified to be a hero than me.
　No. He's far and away the best person for the job.


　It happened a while ago.
　You could have crushed the Order for one girl. The way he looked.
　That's what you call a hero. It's a good thing that you're able to stand up to a powerful organization for the sake of justice.
　...... Well, it comes with a backstory that he himself is strong enough to surpass a powerful organization.


　It's a good idea to wash your face with the water from the lake as you crunch through it.
　It just soaks into you and takes away all the fatigue. A bottle of water is indeed priced at a few dozen gold coins.


''Um. I'm sorry to say that this is in the Guildmaster's office: ...... Sorry.
I don't mind. I don't mind. I don't mind.


　I guess I really don't care.
　But it was something I didn't want to leave too much behind for me.
　Because I don't ...... hate him.


　For what it's worth, he went out with me when I challenged him to win, and there's a lot of things out there that I can't leave out, and on the other hand, I'm kind of angry when he leaves me alone.
　The silly riffs are called motherhood and love, but they're definitely not.
　But I guess this is just ................... Yup. I don't know what it is, but I can't leave it alone. That's all.
　So I don't hate you.


All right, boys, one more round. Go for it.


　I was annoyed by that seemingly spare word.


'I know!'


　I returned it bluntly.
　The smirking cheeks made me want to pull my cheeks off, but I decided to save my strength for that.