726 – Father-Daughter Reunion (side: Treant)

“AAAAAAh!”

Aro-dono dives down towards the four-eyed giant rabbit.

『Aro-dono, this rabbit is at least lower B rank!』

“It’s okay! It doesn’t look too fast.”

Floating in the air, she dodges the giant rabbit’s claw sweep.

“I think it’s just a standard physical type. It’s a lot slower than me, so it’s not difficult to fight.”

A magic circle appears in front of her hand, followed by an orb of dark light. She’s using the [Dark Sphere] magic skill.

“AAAAAAAAh!”

The giant rabbit attacks again, trying to kill Aro-dono before she can release her magic, but she easily dodges. She makes a sharp turn, wrapping behind the rabbit, then shoots the [Dark Sphere] at point-blank range.

“AOoOoh!”

The giant rabbit is sent flying away, spurting blood, and then tumbles across the ground.

“A-amazing… Such a powerful monster, in just a moment…”

The robed young Lithovar woman says, staring up at Aro-dono.

『There’s no need to worry now! I will heal your injured!』

I call out to the woman while flapping my wings.

“A-are you a Feared God…? Your form is not one I’m familiar with, and its the first I’ve heard one of you speak…”

『Feared God…?』

I tilt my head to the side.

That reminds me… There were those small green glowing people in this forest called rarans. In my tree spirit form, I look a little like them. I heard from Aro-dono that the Lithovars call them Feared Gods.

『Something like that.』

I say, puffing out my chest.

“I-I see… Even among the Feared Gods, you seem to have much power. Umm, that woman… Who is she…?”

After looking at Aro-dono, the robed woman suddenly spins around, her expression changing.

“Oh no! That rabbit… It’s still alive!”

“AAAAaAAAAh!”

The giant rabbit rises unsteadily to its feet, crying out gratingly.

“It’s tougher than I thought… More than speed, it’s specialised for health…”

Aro-dono flies towards the rabbit and swings her arm, transforming her hand into a vicious claw. She tears through the giant rabbit. This time it has died for sure.

Apparently the Lithovars don’t recognise her. She has evolved many times, making her appearance quite different from how she once looked. Her clothes are also no longer those of the Lithovars, but rather a dress that she can produce as a walpurgis. It’s not surprising that they don’t recognise her.

“Those four-eyed beasts… When they’re critically injured, they call out for their allies. That cry just now will have summoned more of them. Retreat with us to our outpost!”

The robed woman says, calling out to Aro-dono.

“AAAAAAAAAAAh!”

Soon, I can hear the sound of thudding footfalls and loud cries coming closer.

“Eee! We need to hurry…!” 

“There’s no need. [Darkness Kaleidoscope].”

Aro-dono is enveloped in black light and her outline blurs, then reforms into three people. It’s the self-copying skill she got upon evolving to a walpurgis.

“AAAAAAAAAAh!”
“AAAAAAAh!”
“AAAAAAAhA!”

What appears are three more giant four-eyed rabbits. The three Aros point their fingers at different targets.

“[Death].”

Black lights fly towards each rabbits’ chest. I think for a moment that I can hear their hearts pounding, then each of them fall over without making a sound.

『I see… It’s more practical to kill them that way. It also prevents them from calling out for more allies… As expected of Aro-dono!』

I bow my head down in admiration. The two Aro-donos from [Darkness Kaleidoscope] quickly lose their outline, turning into masses of light and are sucked into the original Aro-dono.

At this rate, defeating the subordinates of the Magic Beast King doesn’t seem like it will be too difficult. We’ve also learned that they have the power to call for more of their kind. With the four Lithovars here it might not be advisable, but later, once we have returned them to their village, we might be able to use that to our advantage to kill them en masse.

“Y-you… You aren’t human… What are you?”

One of the bloodstained men rises to his feet and points his spear at Aro-dono.

“She’s an ally! I don’t sense any hostility…”

“It’s a high-ranking monster that can take the form of a human! It’s not an animal type either, but rather a bewitcher! We can’t trust it! It could be the culprit behind that giant monster coming to our forest!”

It appears the Lithovars are in disagreement over how to treat Aro-dono. Unlike me, who looks like one of their Feared Gods, Aro-dono is wielding strange techniques, making it difficult for them to trust her.

『H-how rude! Is that the attitude you take towards Aro-dono, your benefactor!? If you say any more, then this Feared God, Treant, will not forgive you! After healing you, I’ll beat you up with my wings!』

I punch the air with my wings, making a swishing sound.

“I thought it impossible because the age didn’t match, but… Could it be? Aro…?”

The most seriously injured of the men stands up, using his spear to support himself.

“Tatark-san, please don’t move around with those injuries!”

The robed woman hurriedly supports him. Upon hearing his name, Aro reacts with a start.

The man sways and falls forwards, out of the arm of the robed woman. Aro-dono quickly flies over to catch him.

“A-aa… It really is you! Aro! I had thought you had dissapeared…!”

Aro-dono’s father, Tatark-dono, looks at her.

“Dad…”

However, another of the Lithovars points his spear at Aro-dono.

“Get away from Tatark, you witch!”

Aro-dono turns a part of her body into black light, creating a cavity to dodge the Lithovar’s spear blow, then moves away from Tatark-dono.

“Wh-what are you doing!? She’s my daughter, Aro! There’s no doubt about it!”

“Your daughter is dead! Either it’s a bewitcher that has her form, or its an undead made from her body! Either way, it’s bad! Open your eyes, Tatark!”

“But…!”

『How dare you hurt Aro-dono’s feelings! I won’t forgive you!』

I try to fly closer to the man, but Aro-dono holds out an arm to stop me.

“…It’s true that I’m no longer human. That was why I knew it was better if we didn’t meet. I wanted you and mum to think I went to heaven… So I knew meeting you here would confuse you, dad.”

『Aro-dono…』

“But even so… I’m glad I can see you again!”

Aro-dono says to Tatark-dono while wiping away tears from her eyes. Seeing her face, the hand of the man pointing his spear at her trembles.

“Aro…!”

Tatark-dono reaches out an arm towards Aro-dono. His arm passes through her body. Aro-dono turns into a mist of light, and reforms a slight distance backwards.

“Sorry, dad. We don’t have time..”

Aro-dono says. Her voice is quiet and gentle, but slightly unsteady. She’s probably struggling to maintain her composure.

The situation is pressing, but also Aro-dono is no longer human. There is also the Lithovars’ culture to consider. She probably thought that she shouldn’t fan the flames of her father’s regret more.

“…Treant-san, please heal everyone.”

『G-got it..』

After saying that to me, Aro-dono turns to the Lithovars.

“Go back to the village. It’s okay… We’ll defeat the four-eyed beasts. We’ll also drive out their boss, the Magic Beast King, from the forest. No matter how my appearance changes, and no matter how I’m treated, I will protect the Lithovars and the forest. It’s the place where my dad and mum live, after all.”

Aro-dono declares without any hesitation. The man who had kept this spear pointed at her finally lowers it now.