It was around the time early evening was setting in.

We prepared to camp somewhere in the forest where a river flowed. At least with a river nearby, the issue of drinking water was resolved.

Thump.

"This should be enough, right?"

While gathering firewood, I looked around. It was quiet, silent.

"Something feels off. What is it? Something important is missing...."

How should I put it? It felt like something that was always there was gone. It was hard to put into words.

From the start, it felt like something was missing, and it was an uncomfortable feeling not knowing what it was.

’Is it just my imagination?’

I tilted my head briefly, then returned to the campsite. Setting down the firewood, I looked at the women.

"Hohoh♥ Delicious pork stew♥"

Aki, preparing the meal.

Following her, Auntie Sharia was busily moving around, setting up an alarm barrier.

"Alright, alright. Rest easy, you punk."

Lumina, stroking Lynn’s head and letting her rest comfortably by the carriage.

She approached me and stretched.

"Hyaa, how long has it been since I stayed in the Great Forest? Kkikkil."

"The Great Forest, huh... Do you like it that much?"

"Of course. We Beastfolk like nature even more than elves do."

"Is there a reason for that?"

"Nah. It’s just because, just because."

No reason, she said. Then it must be instinct. Indeed, it’s rare to find a race as well-socialized in the human style as elves.

Compared to them, the Beastfolk haven’t lost their essence.

"Everyone, dinner’s ready!"

As time passed, Aki called us. I made a spot.

Among the firewood I’d brought, I cut a few particularly thick logs to instantly make chairs.

My auntie sat down and smiled contentedly.

"My nephew, you’re quite skilled, aren’t you? Who taught you this?"

"Haha, it just turned out this way after I fiddled with it a bit."

"It’s my first time making one myself, so I’m glad it turned out well!"

As I felt relieved, we all gathered and ate. The pork stew Aki made was fantastic.

"The proper blend of tomato sauce seems to bring out the flavor even more?"

As expected, a Mama (milf) who cooks well is the best. I ate frantically, then put a log into the campfire.

As I did, my surroundings came into view.

The women chatted and ate. Each had different thoughts and expressions, but.

Weren’t they the women who followed me with the single desire to be with me?

It felt good.

There weren’t many of us, and it was just the beginning, but.

Perhaps because of the unique atmosphere of an adventure, it felt warm and cozy. I liked this atmosphere itself.

"This is good...."

Lumina, munching away and laughing like a mischievous child.

Aki, eating as little as possible but still smiling and agreeing.

And even my auntie, who was spoon-feeding me stew, barely eating herself.

’Isn’t this the best moment, just by virtue of it being a harem?’

A smile formed on my face.

After finishing our meal in a harmonious atmosphere, we each began to make our sleeping arrangements.

"Oh hoho, Lucian’s side is my spot, you know? Sharia."

"Uehara Aki, was it? Can’t you tell when to butt in and when not to?"

The women argued about who would sleep next to me. I shook my head.

"It’s better if we sleep separately. If we’re ambushed, we’ll all be caught at once. And everyone, please rest. I’ll take the night watch."

At my words, the women hesitated, then shook their heads. I was a little surprised to see them all shake their heads in unison. They were just arguing a moment ago!

"No matter what, it’s too hard for one person to stand watch the whole time."

Auntie Sharia voiced her objection. Lumina also agreed.

"Right, right! It’d be better to split it up into a few hours each, wouldn’t it?"

Finally, Aki.

"When I was in the territory, I often saw the guards standing watch on a time-based schedule. It’s unfair for the Hero to take the night watch all by yourself!"

I was truly touched. Really.

How could I not be impressed? I smiled contentedly.

"Then I’ll take the first watch."

"I’ll go next."

My auntie raised her hand and spoke coldly. Her gaze was fixed on me.

She looks like she’s going to cause trouble, isn’t she?

Lumina whistled.

"Then tomorrow, Priestess and I will take watch. Priestess, will you be alright?"

"Ufufut, don’t worry. I have quite a bit of stamina myself! Since everything seems decided, how about we have a little chat? Ufufu♥"

There’s nothing better than talking. It’s also a good way to get to know each other. We sat in a circle around the campfire.

The moment I sat down and was about to ponder what to talk about, I was involuntarily horrified.

"Ah...!"

The women turned to look at me. The reason for my horror was that I seemed to have realized the true nature of the unsettling feeling.

I quickly looked around. My auntie grabbed my shoulder.

"What’s wrong, nephew?"

"Doesn’t everyone feel like something’s off?"

"Off?"

"...This area is famous for having a lot of birds and insects."

At my words, Lumina picked her ear.

"Of course. There are so many damn mountains and forests around. Who doesn’t know that? Why?"

Then Aki, too, seemed to realize something and gasped.

"Ah, now that you mention it...!"

"Yes, why haven’t we heard any bird or insect sounds since earlier? It’s to the point where it sounds like they’ve gone extinct, isn’t it?"

This was it. For example, let’s say you went to a safari savanna.

It would be normal to hear animals running and roaring everywhere.

But what if you didn’t hear those sounds? What if you didn’t see any animals at all?

The women finally acknowledged the situation and tilted their heads. It was a truly strange phenomenon. But then.

-[Dinora]: It’s a disaster, what do I do?!

-[Me]: Huh? What’s wrong? Should I come?

-[Dinora]: The hot spring here is totally amazing! It feels like all the fatigue in my body is being washed away! You should come and enjoy it next time too♥

I focused, thinking something serious had happened, but oh. It was about a hot spring?

Well, by now, the hot spring would have been open for a while. I’m envious that she’s already enjoying it.

But then my auntie stood up.

"Wait a minute, this atmosphere... it’s familiar. It feels familiar somehow."

"Huh? What..."

Kwah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

A roar echoed nearby. At the earth-shattering roar, we instinctively stood up and turned our heads towards where the sound came from.

Following that, many chaotic footsteps were heard. With the river behind us, we looked beyond.

Many figures were surging towards us.

"Damn it. Everyone, prepare for battle!"

I drew my sword and stepped forward. My auntie sighed.

"I’ve set up a barrier in this vicinity."

"What kind of barrier?"

My auntie didn’t answer my question.

My auntie smiled enchantingly.

"Fire traps were ambiguous, so I set up explosion traps as a barrier."

"You did well!"

"But this atmosphere, it’s similar. Like when I was investigating the Black Army."

"Then, surely?"

I looked straight ahead again. Goblins, seemingly addicted to Kahlum and shrouded in black smoke, were swarming towards us in hordes.

First, I spoke to them.

"Hey, you bastards! Tsk, can’t you lower your gaze? Can’t you see me? Stop, I said stop!"

Surprisingly, they didn’t listen. Had they lost their reason?

Instead, my auntie looked at me strangely.

"...What are you doing?"

"Ah, no. I was going to show the Hero’s dignity, but it’s not working."

"Huhu, you’re still just a kid, aren’t you♥"

Damn it, she’s still going to see me as an immature nephew! Those damn goblins, I’ll kill them all!

We entered battle.

I cut down goblins and advanced forward. A light flashed from the side.

Kekek!

I grabbed the goblin that flew at my neck by its scruff and slammed it down. I swung my sword and cut its neck.

The problem with these guys was that they didn’t leave points or byproducts when they died. In other words, there was no profit no matter how many you caught.

’Those bastards.’

As I was about to pass by.

Puk!

The headless body, like a ghost, drew a dagger and plunged it into my thigh.

"Kuk... That son of a bitch!"

I stabbed the sword into where its heart would be and threw it away.

Only then did it tremble as if dead, then turned to ash and disappeared.

"Damn it, I need to use a whetstone, don’t I?"

They said the Black Army wouldn’t die easily, was this what they meant?

This happened just because of Kahlum?

It was absurd.

I applied the whetstone to my sword and swung it. I could kill the Black Army much more easily than before.

Nearby, Lumina shouted.

"What are these bastards? They don’t die even if you snap their necks!"

"As much as possible, blow their heads off and smash their hearts too!"

"Aoh, what a pain!"

I advised her and then charged forward. Honestly, the goblins’ level was just so-so.

They weren’t threatening. Though the occasional combo plays were surprising, that was all.

"Damn it, would it have been tougher if they were stronger?"

I didn’t even want to imagine it. Just as the goblins were almost completely annihilated.

"Hoo, did we get them?"

Lumina wiped her sweat and looked around. At that moment, another horde of goblins came rushing from the opposite side.

My auntie glared at Lumina.

"You, don’t ever say that again."

"...My apologies."

There were more goblins than we had just defeated. I stepped forward.

Now was the time to activate Dawn Guardian’s new ability!

"All my energy to the sword...!"

The Dawn Guardian, held in both hands, began to shine brilliantly. A swirling light wrapped around the blade like wind.

In that state, I swung the sword straight forward. With all my might!

"Dawn, Caliberrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

The light swirling around the Dawn Guardian instantly expanded and flew towards the goblin horde. It swept away the goblins in an instant and disappeared.

"Huh, the whetstone effect works like this too? Or is Dawn Guardian just that strong?"

Literally, it was a mind-blowing moment.

Aki covered her mouth with her hand.

"Ara Ara, Lucian. Amazing!"

As I was getting cocky and about to crack a joke, an old tree nearby fell.

Someone appeared, stepping over the fallen old tree. A being with a lizard-like head helmet, a long tail, black armor like a knight, red glowing eyes from within the helmet, and reverse-jointed legs.

"That guy is a C-rank monster, the Abandoned King’s Knight?"

Commonly known as the AbanKnight.

The Abandoned King’s Knight was also affected by Kahlum. Of all things, a bastard that isn’t even a named mob!

I returned my sword to its sheath. I hunched my upper body and glared at him.

In that state, I took short, intermittent breaths, then dashed straight forward.

I unleashed my lightning aura. I closed the distance in an instant. Towards the approaching foe, I drew my sword and shouted.

"Thunderclap Breathing First Form, Thunderclap and Flash!"

Due to the boots’ effect, I moved faster than before, leaving a powerful impact as I slashed past him.

The Abandoned King’s Knight’s neck flew off and rolled beside me.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Thrust]

Following that, I stabbed its heart with a Nameless Thrust. Just when I thought it was over.

The bastard moved its body as if lying, then pushed me back. And swung its greatsword.

How is it not dying? No, even if it doesn’t die, its soul should take damage, right?

"Crazy, it won’t die?!"

I raised Dawn Guardian to block and gritted my teeth. As the Abandoned King’s Knight scattered sword strikes, black smoke lingered then disappeared, creating a dramatic effect.

Taeng, Tae-aeng!

I was clashing swords with him. But little by little, I was being pushed back.

The cause was having used up all my energy with that sword skill earlier. Damn it, I thought that was the last of it. From now on, I need to learn how to control its usage!

"Kuk, damn it...!"

I got to his side and front-kicked him. The Abandoned King’s Knight spun to dodge, then quickly swung its greatsword.

It was a speed far exceeding supersonic, with a sharp trajectory.

"Wait, with this trajectory, I can neither block nor dodge...!"

The moment the greatsword cut through the air and approached my neck.

"Get away from my nephew!"

[Crystallization]

Crack!

The Abandoned King’s Knight, which had been pressing me so fiercely, instantly crystallized like a jewel, then shattered into pieces.

It happened in an instant.

I looked back at my auntie with a surprised expression. She was merely casting a cold gaze at what used to be the Abandoned King’s Knight.

"Auntie, you’re the besttttttttttt!"