Vol 1 Chapter 1.1 – Elite Elf Subjugation Request

It was a clear, sunny day. A certain event was about to take place in the castle town governed by Count Bolick. A large number of onlookers had gathered to see it, forming a crowd.

Even among the residents of the castle town, there was a wide range of wealth and occupations. In this town, where people of all social classes—soldiers, farmers, artisans, and merchants—lived, people from all walks of life had come together.

That there was no admission fee was, of course, to be expected—and meant that everyone was eager to watch.

“Chatter and commotion.”

Amid the babel of voices and hustle… appeared a man ridiculously proud of himself.

This was Count Bolick, lord of the castle town. At the sight of him, many couldn’t help but snicker.

Having neither the build of a model nor the height of a giant, and with a face that wasn’t exactly striking, him strutting around with so much confidence made him look like a clown.

He really was wearing expensive clothes, and genuinely a nobleman, which made the whole spectacle all the more amusing.

“Ahem!”

Count Bolick cleared his throat in an exaggerated fashion before the audience.

Seeing this, the crowd wised up to the situation. After all, he was a bigwig, so they all fell silent at once.

“I’m most grateful that you’ve all gathered to witness my demonstration….”

He stood inside a large enclosure set up in the town.

At present, he was the only person inside. The only other thing there was the “target” he was meant to destroy.

The perimeter was built quite spaciously, and sandbags and the like had been placed around for safety measures.

It had an almost militaristic feel to it, but that very seriousness stirred excitement in the crowd.

“This time’s target… is this ‘Fudo Rock.’ For anyone who doesn’t know, to put it plainly… it can’t be broken by anything other than magic… it’s extremely tough against any non-magical assault.”

The Fudo Rock looked like some sort of crystal. But its transparency was strangely low—it was jet black.

Those unfamiliar with it wore expressions that said, “Oh, so that thing actually exists,” while the veterans couldn’t hide their doubtful looks.

“Indeed… that Fudo Rock is extremely hard. You don’t hear of many cases where it’s broken by non-magical means… and even magic doesn’t destroy it that easily.”

“For a Fudo Rock of that size, it’d take ten average mages giving it their all just to crack it, you know.”

“And that… that man is going to do it alone? Though form doesn’t dictate prowess, I just can’t imagine he’s capable of it…”

Those in the know—namely, the magicians—looked utterly perplexed.

To be honest… they felt that a mere lord’s hobby-grade magic, of all things, could never shatter that Fudo Rock.

Put another way, it was also a case of “There’s no way that fatso can do it.”

Count Bolick happily soaked up those skeptical glances.

Being doubted by others and then proving them wrong felt absolutely exhilarating.

“Now, without further ado… let me show you my magic.”

Count Bolick wasted no time; he pointed his finger at the rock.

Before long, a “red dot” appeared on the Fudo Rock.

Of course, no one noticed—it’s not like you’d spot a red dot on a giant rock in the first place.

But after that dot appeared…

“Gogo-goon.”

With a tremendous crash, magic struck the colossal rock.

Despite performing it in front of everyone, no one could tell when the Count had prepared the spell.

Magic had activated before anyone realized, and the massive Fudo Rock was shattered on the spot.

“Oh… still amazing as always…”

Those not well-versed in magic could only think that something incredible had happened before their very eyes…

“Impossible… without even chanting a spell or drawing a magic circle… how did he do it?!”

“Hey, you were watching properly, right?! Like, maybe someone nearby cast the spell instead…”

“No, there was absolutely no one. Besides, any magic powerful enough to pulverize that Fudo Rock would have been noticed while being prepared…”

“So how on earth… what kind of trick is he using?!”

Basking in those gazes, Count Bolick strolled away at ease.

The magic-show disguised as an exercise was, once again, a success.

Regardless of wealth or knowledge, no one could hide their awe at Count Bolick’s magic.

“Did you hear? His magical prowess has reached the ears of the royal family… they might invite him into the Knight Order as a mage!”

“Hey, are you serious… that fatso joining the nation’s elite?”

“Well, he uses that kind of magic effortlessly, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he got recommended…”

He was recognized and respected as a “top-notch magician” by those around him.

Quite frankly, it was great fun. Puffing out his chest with pride and his belly jiggling, Count Bolick stepped out of the enclosure and returned to the castle with his retinue.

Of course, those attending him were also on edge, fearing that if they displeased him, they too might end up pulverized.

Yet that very fear was oddly satisfying.

He left brimming with self-esteem and entered his private chambers in the castle.

There, his entire body—and especially his flab—shook as he laughed heartily.

“Kufuhahahaha! You fools… you commoners… you’ve finally paid the proper respects to me!”

In his mind, a lord was something grand, and a count was something even grander.

Therefore, those who did not show him respect were simply wrong.

He took great pleasure in the fact that this wrong was finally being righted.

“Count-sama… I’m glad to see you in high spirits. Your joy is my joy… I too am most delighted.”

The Count had brought no one else into this room.

Yet the fact that someone was in the room meant they must have entered before him.

A bent-backed, shrunken man draped in very tattered cloth.

He behaved with comical servility as he praised the Count.

His face was completely hidden—he was deliberately making sure it remained unseen.

“So it’s you… Gaikaku.”

Count Bolick cleared his throat, somewhat embarrassed.

Still, when it came to him, that was as far as it went.

Had anyone else heard him, he might have found a flimsy excuse to have them killed.

Although nothing overt had been said, anyone who might stumble upon a certain inconvenient truth had to be eliminated.

“How did you find today’s spectacle?”

“Excellent… The whispers that I might be using something other than magic are fewer than before. Moreover… because everyone has been trying to catch me in the act, even the suggestion that someone nearby cast the spell in my stead is starting to be denied. It’s ironic—precisely because they suspect me, they check, and then assume it must be genuine.”

“That may be so… However, it’s only a matter of time before someone who can’t be deceived by a mere trick like mine arrives. You might want to tone down these displays of power soon…”

“…That may be true.”

Gaikaku—the man was suspicious in the extreme.

Upon hearing the suggestion, Count Bolick looked somewhat displeased.

He understood what was being said, but couldn’t bring himself to stop.

In truth, such spectacles didn’t bring much in tangible benefits.

It ended with “Count-sama is amazing,” and that was that.

While Bolick was hungry for that praise, if his “trick” was exposed, it would all be for nothing.

If it were some petty person, he might handle it, but if someone with the influence of the Knight Order saw through it, there’d be no way to silence them.

“W-well, let’s set that aside for now… let’s talk business.”

With that, Count Bolick handed over a handful of gold coins.

It was payment for the earlier “performance,” essentially a tip.

Gaikaku knew this well, so even after accepting them, he didn’t leave—he began jotting notes with his hands hidden from view.

“The thing is, I’ve received a secret order from the royal family. An elf who deserted the Knight Order… has infiltrated my domain.”

“…That is an extraordinary situation indeed.”

“Precisely. If they belonged to the Knight Order, no matter the race, they’re a threat—the men under my command would suffer heavy losses.”

Count Bolick nodded in agreement to Gaikaku’s response.

Members of the Knight Order are elite, after all—whatever the reason for their desertion, ordinary soldiers wouldn’t stand a chance.

His subordinates would no doubt agree wholeheartedly.

Yet upon saying that, Count Bolick’s expression turned resentful.

“To think someone would desert the Knight Order… it’s unthinkable.”

To be clear, he was nursing a deep inferiority complex.

True to his appearance, he was lacking in ability and envied those who were skilled.

If he could, he would kill them out of sheer jealousy.

He, a lord, a count, someone who should have been revered—yet others were praised more, and everyone exclaimed how awesome they were.

He could not abide it.

“If it were possible, I’d kill them with my own hands…!”

The tremor in his voice was that of a petty man.

To be frank, he was a small-minded man.

“Count-sama… please calm your anger. If you command it, I shall eliminate them swiftly.”

“Active knights would be one thing, but a deserter is no threat. I’ll bring you their pathetic corpse right here.”

“I see…”

If these words were uttered by some gallant beau…

No matter if it were his subordinate or even his own son, jealousy would have made him fly into a rage.

But the man before him was suspicious to the point of being caricature.

A practitioner of forbidden arts, far removed from the righteous path.

The base and the envious being dragged down.

And that, he thought, was delightfully entertaining.

“I’ve narrowed down the location where they’re hiding. I’ll hand over the map.”

“Oh, my gratitude knows no bounds…”

“If I were to leave it entirely in your hands, who knows how long it would take.”

The truth is, the Count’s domain was vast.

To track down someone hiding within it, the simplest method would be for the Count himself to deploy his men.

“A bandit gang of considerable size has made its stronghold in the mountains shown on that map. Local men gathered to confront them, but they suffered a severe defeat at the hands of an expert magician… Presumably, that magician is the elf who deserted the Knight Order.”

“…Even if I’m mistaken, we’ll have to subjugate them.”

“Yes, I look forward to it. And needless to say…”

“Yes… I know nothing, and I’ll say nothing.”

If the assumption is correct, someone who was once a knight has become leader of the bandits.

And if they’re causing harm to the surrounding area, it’s nothing short of a scandal.

We must crush them swiftly and make it as if nothing ever happened.

“However… the lowly bandits will be wiped out… That is all there is to it. No ‘someone’ who defeats them will claim glory—the people of Lord-sama will simply reclaim their peace.”

“Yes, that is fine.”

Having said that, the lord placed several leather pouches filled with gold coins on the desk.

“This is a retainer. I’m counting on you.”

No matter how valuable those coins are, it remains a life-or-death undertaking.

Even if you handed one of these coins to each of Count-sama’s soldiers, most would flee rather than undertake such a task.

After all, you can’t buy (your) life with money, so no amount would be enough to make them accept it.

“Consider it done.”

By accepting them, Gaikaku was indicating confidence that he would complete the job without dying.

※

On a mountain path overgrown with thick trees, a four-horse carriage was making its way.

The driver, looking suspicious in every way, held the reins of the four horses.

Moreover, the carriage was somewhat grand, with a cloth roof that concealed its cargo from view, making it look even more peculiar.

But that was all—just its appearance. At most, it was a fool’s attempt to scare off bandits.

In other words, it might have been a shallow plan to make the thieves hesitate.

And so, the bandits who claimed that area as their territory surrounded the carriage.

“Hey, old man! Get out of that carriage and scram! Do that and I’ll let you live!”

“We’re generous like that… it’s just a hassle if they’re dead and all messy…”

“You survive, and we don’t have to work. Win-win, right?”

“So get moving before we change our minds.”

The bandits didn’t care about the driver.

If he got out and left his carriage, they had no intention of chasing him down.

They weren’t interested in rifling through his pockets, nor did they mind if he escaped and spread the word about them.

That said, if the driver put up a fight, they would not hold back.

They were prepared to rampage without hesitation.

“…Did he take the bait? You lot, it’s your turn.”

However, their expectations were fundamentally refuted.

From the carriage’s bed, figures—‘people’—emerged in droves.

No, they were not human at first glance.

Even the human bandits craned their necks to look at the hairy beasts towering above them.

They were shaggy giants, like abominable snowmen, their bodies covered in coarse hair.

Each stood nearly two meters tall—a monster completely covered in hair.

Their limbs and torsos were unusually bulky, giving them an almost obese appearance.

And most terrifying of all, each had a shield or sword strapped to both arms.

There was no mistaking that they were soldiers.

The saddest part was… judging by the number of them who got out, there was no other cargo.

Before the bandits realized that grim fact, the massive hairy creatures charged.

“Hah… Aaaaaah!”

“Dosun dosun dosun…”

With each heavy step, the gigantic creatures advanced.

They were like small elephants, capable of crushing everything in their path simply by walking forward.

Wielding swords proportionate to their massive frames, ordinary humans had no chance.

In fact, they stood no chance at all.

“Gya, Gyaaaa!”

“What the hell is this?! Some new kind of monster?!”

“You idiots! Kill ’em!”

The bandits did not remain passive.

Though they lacked proper armor, they at least had iron swords.

They swung them at the beasts’ unguarded backs.

“N-No good, these blades won’t cut!”

The feel of the swing told them they had no chance.

First, the hair was far too thick—no matter how hard they slashed, the blade wouldn’t penetrate.

Moreover, beneath the hair was solid flesh—true monstrous toughness.

A… Aaaaaah!