A Shadow Stirring in Parateno Forest

Author: Unicoon
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8138gc/49/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

Parateno Forest.
A vast woodland adjacent to Romulus Academy.

Through that deep, deep forest, two men were walking.

“Heheheh. This way, sir.”

The man walking at the front, laughing lewdly.
The merchant Zanga, who had arranged the lesser dragon at Beppo’s request during the entrance exam.

“……”

The other was a tall man covered head to toe in a jet-black robe.
The hood was pulled low; his face could not be seen.

“There. It’s come into view.”

Guided by Zanga, the two reached the deep dark of the forest.
In the gloom, huge cages stood in a row.

“Hmm. These…”

“Yes. The powerful monsters you ordered.”

“All right. Give me the breakdown.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll start from the lower subjugation ranks.”

So saying, Zanga went around the cages one by one.

“First, here, a subjugation rank D monster: orcs. This time I’ve assembled four orcs.”

Four orcs growled inside the cages.
Gray skin, large bodies, monsters with boar-like tusks.

“Next, here, subjugation rank C: griffons. I’ve prepared two.”

Two griffons quietly gleamed their eyes.
Powerful monsters with the wings and upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a lion.

“And here as well, subjugation rank C: lesser dragons. I’ve assembled two of these too.”

The lesser dragon that had given Charlotte and the others such trouble at the end of the entrance exam.
Two of those lesser dragons held their breath inside the cages.

“Four rank D, and four rank C.”

“Heheheh. There’s more.”

In the back of the gloom, Zanga stood before a large cage draped in cloth.
He yanked the cloth away; a red shadow appeared from within.
A huge lizard-shaped monster, savage at a glance.

“This one’s quality goods. A subjugation rank B salamander. A fearsome monster that breathes fire.”

“Hoh. You even prepared a rank B. Impressive.”

“And last, over there.”

Zanga pointed at the last cage.
Inside the small cage was a deep-red suit of armor.

“…What is this?”

“This armor is a monster called Onimaru. I hear it drives the human who wears it mad and turns them into a powerful monster.”

“It doesn’t look like a monster at all… isn’t it just armor?”

“Heheheh… this monster supposedly wiped out two armies in a certain country once. A genuine subjugation rank A powerful monster.”

Hearing rank A, the hooded man let out a “hoh.”

“A lineup matching the reputation. Splendid.”

“Heheheh. You’re too kind.”

Zanga rubbed his hands lewdly and bowed and scraped.

“Then, sir, if you’d take care of payment.”

“Hn? Ah, that’s right… here.”

A short sound, shh.
At the same time, Zanga crumpled.

“Gah!? Wh… what…?”

“Be quiet. I’ve only paralyzed your whole body with magic.”

“Wh… what’s the meaning of this?”

“Watch in silence…”

The hooded man snapped his fingers toward the cages.
Then the cages confining the monsters crumbled apart.

“What the—! The cages broke!?”

The hooded man went around pouring a suspicious liquid on the monsters crawling out.

“Grrr…? GROOAR!?”

The monsters bathed in the liquid gradually changed form.
Eyes bloodshot bright red, veins standing all over their bodies, they became like different monsters entirely.

“Hmm. A splendid effect… however…”

The hooded man glanced at the cage in the back.
The red armor called Onimaru did not change at all, and did not so much as twitch.

“That one doesn’t move at all… is it truly a monster?”

“This guy… what’s going on…”

“…It can’t be helped. I’ll check whether it’s a real monster…”

The hooded man dragged the unmoving Zanga along.
His destination was the cage holding Onimaru.

“It drives the human who wears it mad and turns them into a powerful monster. That was it, wasn’t it?”

“What… don’t tell me you mean to put Onimaru on him!?”

Zanga’s face went pale in a flash.

“Stop! I don’t need the money, do what you like with these! So stop!”

“Subjugation rank A… I’ll have you show me that strength…!”

The hooded man flung Zanga toward Onimaru.
At the same time, ominous mana rose from the edges of the armor.

“I don’t want this! Stop it!!”

Leaving the screaming Zanga, the man vanished into the forest dark.

An evil shadow stirs through Parateno Forest.