A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 16: Demon King

Episode 16: Demon King

“Strange…”

A strange figure, tall and slender, robed in cloth. It had pointed ears, a nose like an eagle’s beak, and a mouth torn open to the base of its ears. At a glance, it resembled a Goblin. But this creature had no eyes.

“The signals… are gone…”

The creature wandered the cave. Despite lacking eyes, it moved as though it saw perfectly. It seemed to perceive everything.

As it stepped out of the cave, the monsters who had built huts nearby dropped to one knee all at once.

The intelligent monsters were capable of speech. They called this eyeless being by one name: “King.”

“The ones we sent out as scouts… have disappeared.”

The king’s words stirred murmurs among the monsters. One, a tall Goblin who appeared more intelligent than the rest, stepped forward. Like the king, it wore a robe.

“Does this mean… they were defeated by humans?”

“That is the most likely explanation. It seems skilled adventurers are among them.”

The tall Goblin thought for a moment. It then made a proposal to the king.

“I will lure that person here.”

The king folded his arms in thought.

“It’s dangerous.”

“We can’t afford to carelessly reduce our forces.”

“Very well. I leave it to you.”

The tall Goblin bowed once to the king. It then vanished immediately.

#

“This is strange…”

While guarding the rear, Lamberto muttered. His expression was one of unease. It was as though he’d encountered something unknown.

“Why… are there no monsters?”

If you looked closely, there were signs of battle. Grass unnaturally flattened, fresh scratches on trees, the scent of bl00d.

But no monster corpses. And of course, no human ones either.

Years of experience whispered a warning to Lamberto:

Something is about to happen.

But he didn’t know what.

With no monster encounters at all, the expedition was progressing through the forest much faster than expected.

At the front were Tomage and two of his party members. As if they already knew there wouldn’t be any monsters ahead, they advanced confidently.

Watching their backs, Lamberto recalled the guild officer’s words:

‘I want you to assess Tomage.’

Lamberto had been given two missions this time. One, to lead the investigation team. The other, to evaluate Tomage—to determine if he was worthy of A-rank adventurer status.

At a glance, Tomage was skilled. But as far as Lamberto could see, he still looked like a typical adventurer. If he continued to grow, he could become worthy of A-rank someday.

But for now, he was only B-rank.

That had been Lamberto’s assessment until yesterday.

But now, he was no longer sure.

In the first place, promoting someone who had just reached B-rank to A-rank was already suspicious. It made Lamberto wonder.

The Adventurers’ Guild’s excessive expectations… and the complete absence of monsters…

“Don’t tell me… Tomage wiped out all the nearby monsters during the night…?”

No one picked up on Lamberto’s muttering.

#

The investigation team was setting up camp near a large spring. The sun was still high; it was far from nightfall.

However, Lamberto had ordered preparations for camp. His judgment: they’d already traveled far enough, with barely any monster interference.

“Tomage, what’s on the menu tonight?”

A veteran adventurer joked while setting up a tent. He was likely thinking of last night’s Rage Boar feast.

“You think we can eat like that again in this forest? Just chew on some dried meat.”

Tomage replied, sounding slightly exasperated.

After setting up the tents, about ten people began preparing an early dinner.

Water from the spring was poured into a pot. And smoke began to rise in the forest.

Lamberto sat on a rock. He was silently watching, as though on alert.

The smoke that had been rising straight upward suddenly twisted unnaturally. Was it a gust of wind? In this dense forest?

Sensing something was wrong, Lamberto stood and drew his dagger.

The smoke twisted again. Something was coming—

*Fwssh!*

A sudden gust blew through. And several tents were torn away. The adventurers finally realized something was wrong and drew their weapons.

“There!”

Someone pointed toward the spring. Above the water, a hooded figure floated.

“Was it you… who erased my brethren?”

Tomage leapt forward without hesitation.

“So what if it was?”

He answered boldly. Magical energy was surging through him.

“Then, die! [Wind Fang]!”

“[Wind Blade]!”

Two blades of vacuum clashed midair. It released a sharp metallic screech as they burst apart.

“Guh…!”

“Still more! [Wind Blade]!”

Without pause, Tomage released another blade of vacuum. The hooded figure narrowly dodged each attack but remained on the defensive.

“Trying to run?!”

At the moment Tomage’s guard loosened, the figure wrapped itself in green wind and shot deep into the forest at incredible speed.

“After him!”

Tomage called to his two companions.

“It could be a trap!”

Lamberto shouted. But Tomage was already sprinting ahead.

“They already know where we are! If we don’t chase, they’ll ambush us!”

Tomage wasn’t wrong either. Lamberto had no rebuttal.

Tomage and his party shrank into the distance. And they soon disappeared from sight.