Returned With Horns

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"What kind of forest is the Sefelia Forest? That's a good question. To explain about the Sefelia Forest, we first need to talk about the Cotilia Empire. Noona, do you know anything about this gate?"

At the sudden change of topic, I recalled the contents of the report I had read before coming here.

Code B-1355, Enderia Gate. As the only gate in South Korea where otherworlders reside, it's divided into representative countries: the Cotilia Empire, the Taran Holy Kingdom, and the Hapelion Kingdom.

The civilization level is B. Here, B refers to a grade close to the late medieval period, with S grade being the closest to human civilization. So far, no civilization above S grade has been discovered, and the highest grade found was A grade in Europe.

As such, the lifestyle in the Enderia Gate was similar to Earth's medieval period, with one difference being that they had achieved some development through magic engineering. Among them, the Cotilia Empire had reached the peak of such magic engineering, being so proficient in magic that it was called a country of magic.

The Sefelia Forest, located on the outskirts of the Cotilia Empire, was a forest rich in magic materials as well as monsters. Because of this, most hunters entering this gate would gather magic materials from the Sefelia Forest and sell them in the Cotilia Empire's territory.

With the money from those sales, they would buy artifacts from the Enderia Gate and sell them on Earth, completing what's known as otherworldly trade. As I finished my explanation, Han Gwangsu clapped with a surprised face.

"You know it perfectly."

"Well, that's right."

"As you've heard, the Sefelia Forest is a forest overflowing with materials for magic engineering. The Cotilia Empire maintains its position by securing these materials first. Given the characteristics of the Sefelia Forest, full of monsters, it's difficult for anyone other than the Empire to bear the maintenance costs."

As Han Gwangsu finished adding his explanation and continued chatting with viewers, a group of people appeared before us. Judging by their appearance, riding horses along with carriages in the distance, they didn't seem to be Earth's hunters.

"...Who are they?"

"I wonder. Uh... Um. I think we should run?"

"Huh? Why?"

"They seem to be people from the Taran Holy Kingdom. Ah. They've spotted us too. It'll be difficult to run now. Let's wait for now. We need to make a friendly gesture."

Han Gwangsu is too slow to shake off those on horseback. Of course, if I carried Han Gwangsu, running wouldn't be a problem, but I didn't want to carry a man and run, and besides, if I did that, it would negate my efforts to hide my strength by using my fists earlier.

So, as Han Gwangsu said, I waited quietly.

"Halt. Who are you?"

As the clopping of horse hooves subsided and the dust settled, a woman on horseback spoke. She was wearing all-white armor, so her features weren't visible, but her voice was thin, so she was probably a woman.

Thinking this, I kept my mouth shut for now. Assuming Han Gwangsu would be more familiar with this situation, I stayed silent, but Han Gwangsu looked at me with confused eyes.

"...Uh, they're otherworlders."

"Uncivilized mongrels, why are you here?"

"We were on our way to the Sefelia Forest. You know? The treaty we signed with the Cotilia Empire."

"That's not a treaty signed with the Holy Kingdom. It also means we can attack you here without consequences."

"Is there any reason we need to fight?"

This situation seems to be going in a strange direction. Thinking that, I quietly looked behind the woman. Behind her, people who looked like holy knights were each placing their hands on their sword hilts.

What should I do? Killing them all wouldn't be difficult. Apart from my reluctance to kill people, there was no hesitation because there's nothing as stupid as letting go of a group with hostility.

After all, I was close to being a human slaughterer on the Granterasia continent.

Thinking that, I quietly looked at Han Gwangsu, who was also looking at the woman with uncharacteristically sharp eyes.

"Isn't it enough that you're fallen humans?"

"This won't end nicely."

"Holy wars never end nicely."

"...Haah. Han Gwangsu. That's enough. Turn off the broadcast for a moment."

"Huh? But noona..."

"Come on, there will be many disgusting scenes, so just wait for a moment. Also, know that this is an unexpected accident, so it can't be helped."

[Is it really okay?]
[It looks dangerous, noonaaa]
[Be careful]
[Uh oh]
[What the hell are those guys?]
[For real]
[Uh oh, it's getting serious]
[They're just charging in like this? These otherworlders are really uncivilized]

"Did you turn off the broadcast?"

After confirming that the chat had stopped, I double-checked with Han Gwangsu. He nodded.

The woman who had been quietly watching us seemed to sense that the atmosphere was not normal and drew out her lance.

"You're quick-witted. Gwangsu. Don't tell anyone about this. It's troublesome."

"Huh?"

"If people know, they'll tell me to go into the Tower, won't they?"

Srrng, the sword hanging from my snow-white thigh is drawn. With that, I swung the sword down.

"Second Dance. Soul Slash."

With a sound like the sky being cut, the necks of those on horseback were all sliced off. Amidst this, only one person, just one, was blocking my sword.

"Ugh, urrrgh-!"

"Wow, you're enduring this. You're quite strong, aren't you? Well, I guess that's why you were so confident."

"Y-you, minion of the devil-!"

The woman who had blocked the sword strike but dropped her sword, perhaps due to a broken arm, started cursing at me as if having a fit. Seeing this, I smiled and opened my mouth.

"Sorry, but I'm sworn enemies with your side, you know?"

"Those horns! Those horns are the shape of the devil!"

"You crazy bitch. What?"

Don't touch the horns, I'm telling you.

Muttering that, I approached the woman and removed her helmet. Snow-white skin and snow-white hair. She was a woman who could be called a beauty anywhere. In fact, what was more important was that she resembled Elucia.

"Tch. Shouldn't have taken it off."

"You monster-!"

"Shut up, will you."

Of course, that didn't mean my heart softened. I hit the head revealed by the removed helmet once and grabbed the woman's hair.

Urgh, a groan escaped from the woman, but I didn't care and looked at her with indifferent eyes.

"So, why did you bother us?"

"Ugh... Y-you're minions of the devil...!"

"Don't give me that bullshit superficial reason. Do you think I've only killed people like you once or twice?"

"...It was to nullify the treaty between the Cotilia Empire and you lot! Because the minions of the devil are so vile that the Cotilia Empire will nullify the treaty as soon as they realize they couldn't protect you!"

"Is there nothing but a flower garden in your head? Huh, never mind. Well, that's just like you lot."

It's not the first time the church has acted crazy.

As someone who hates all churches except Elucia, it was a somewhat understandable reason. A group that doesn't see reality at all, acts only on ideals, and vaguely fits reality into those ideals. That's what the church folks were.

"...Well, it's not particularly different even if it's another world. Goodbye."

"You dog-like minion of the dev-!"

Swish, with a flash of the sword, her neck was cut off.

I wiped the blood that had splattered on my face with my finger and clicked my tongue. It felt like my blood was getting cold from killing after a long time. Honestly, I didn't feel very good.

"...Noona."

"I'm sorry. I showed you something unsightly."

"No, I've seen scenes like this a few times myself, so it's okay."

"Your face is pale for someone who says that."

I smiled as I looked at Han Gwangsu's pale face and sheathed my sword. As the magical power that had been drawn in was released, a magical wind started to blow around. With that magical wind, I turned all the corpses to dust and let out a small sigh.

"Will this be okay?"

"They attacked us first. We have video evidence, so they can't do anything to us using this as an excuse."

"I see..."

"Come to think of it, noona, you're incredibly strong."

Noticing that my mood had visibly worsened, Han Gwangsu spoke to me in a somewhat friendly tone. Seeing this, I smiled and answered.

"That's right. I was in the news recently, after all."

"...Noona, were you that EX-rank?"

"Yeah."

As I nodded, Han Gwangsu looked at me with a very surprised face and asked.

"Why is such a talented person in the Hunter Association...?"

"You work individually too, don't you?"

"Come on, working individually and working for the Hunter Association are different. Wouldn't it be better to work individually?"

What, was it to that extent?

Of course, Han Gwangsu and I were in different positions from the start. I had lived almost my entire life on the Granterasia continent and had just returned, so my identity was a problem from the beginning, while Han Gwangsu had probably lived his whole life in South Korea. Moreover, I...

"...I've never settled down anywhere in my life."

"What?"

"Never mind. Let's go."

"Ah, yes."

Seeing Han Gwangsu tilt his head, probably not having heard what I mumbled properly, I brushed it off and stood up. Then Han Gwangsu started following behind me.