Volume 8 Chapter 39 A Visitor from the Void
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The carriage rattled and swayed.
Only the loud clatter of wheels filled the cargo bed, noisy yet wrapped in a heavy stillness.
”…Awkward.”
”What?”
”…Nothing.”
Cianie sat beside Klock, her mere presence pressing down on the air.
Across from them, Alice wore a stiff face, not a trace of her usual cheer.
Rachel and Kaitney peeked glances and froze up like blocks of wood.
On the driver’s seat, the cat girl hummed as always, nose twitching now and then as she sniffed the air or glanced about.
Her cuteness was unchanged.
But her vigilance had tripled.
”Isn’t this a bit much security?”
”There are only a few people around. Hardly extreme. But after being attacked by the Stormhorn (T/N: Phantasmal Beast, a legendary creature said to have vanished from this world), our level of caution must match. At the very least, Klock—you stay with either Meina or me.”
Klock’s gaze drifted toward Alice.
The rabbit girl noticed, ears drooping flat.
She only shrugged and gave a silent reply.
Cianie’s words from last night echoed.
That was no monster. It was a Phantasmal Beast, called Stormhorn.
Phantasmal Beasts—beings said to have left this world long ago.
Like the giant birds and serpents once summoned from Tiet to flee disaster.
”Still, compared to dragons, they’re not that scary, right?”
”Klock. That deer was not summoned by scroll.”
”Yeah, I heard yesterday too.”
”Phantasmal Beasts drawn by scrolls are only imitations. That Stormhorn carried a magic power of a completely different scale. It was the real thing—from Paradise. Likely the leader of its herd.”
The genuine article.
Not the kind wiped out by Tiet, but an actual Phantasmal Beast.
”…That bad?”
”There are many types, but that Stormhorn could rival a named dragon.”
That was bad.
The first dragon that came to mind was the Volcano Dragon Fornas.
If Stormhorn stood on the same level, simply existing meant disasters could follow.
Cianie’s strike being stopped had been shocking enough.
Not just because of tough antlers—Stormhorn had sensed her arrival, tracked her sword’s trajectory, and deliberately blocked it.
Strength and intellect combined.
”Why it appeared, why it showed itself before you—we don’t know. Phantasmal Beasts don’t serve humans, no more than dragons do. It’s hard to think the Demon Lord’s Army sent it. But regardless of cause, if fighting it is necessary, we must stay alert. Even Meina would be overmatched.”
If it exceeded Meina’s strength, Klock had no hope of even scratching it.
Cianie alone might stand a chance.
If this beast was truly a deployed enemy force, their whole campaign plan would need revision.
”Viola, Kispe… now Phantasmal Beasts. One thing after another—”
”Klock.”
Cianie abruptly stood. Her face remained blank, but the sudden movement was warning enough.
”Enemy?”
”A strong surge of magic power. Appeared suddenly ahead of the column.”
”Meina! Run forward and stop Suzette!”
It hadn’t approached—it had appeared.
That meant teleportation, or perhaps summoning.
Cianie vaulted from the carriage with smooth grace. Dust rose, wind pressure shook the air as she leapt.
Klock followed, jumping down.
He glanced back—Rachel and Kaitney’s anxious faces met his.
”Stay there!”
”Uh—o-okay!”
Cianie was already gone.
Meina had raced far ahead too. Klock pushed on after them.
As he dashed past the ranks, soldiers frowned at their leader suddenly bolting forward.
Unease rippled through the troop.
Maybe not wise. Sudden moves risked confusion. If a fight broke out in this state, disorder could ruin them.
But when he reached the front, he saw no chaos.
No fire, no blood.
Only a single stranger stood before the troop.
No battle yet. He breathed easier.
”Sir Klock.”
”Yeah. What’s going on?”
”…She says she’s a messenger.”
A messenger. Sent from somewhere.
At once he thought of the unknown town ahead.
They had planned to approach and send an envoy—but perhaps the other side had come first.
So he had sprinted here for nothing.
He had assumed teleportation meant an attack.
But then—wait.
Not human.
He had expected a human envoy. Instead, his eyes adjusted, and recognition corrected him.
Pointed ears, sharp and unmistakable.
A noble beauty, clad in solemn air like a priest.
Piercing gaze, green eyes. Human-shaped, yet not quite human.
Forestkin.
This was not the scenario he had anticipated.
”…You came from that town ahead?”
”Indeed. From the void, we have stepped upon this continent.”
”…From the void, onto this continent?”
The Forestkin woman closed her eyes and dipped her head.
Then raised her face, curving her lips into a perfect business smile.
”An honor to meet you, Chosen Ones. I am Isabella of the Forestkin. As I said, I come as an envoy from the Void.”
”…Chosen Ones, both of us…?”
Klock glanced toward Cianie and Suzette.
This was no simple messenger from a nearby town.
She was an agent of the otherworld, the Void.
”…So this is the kind of talk that needs privacy?”
”No. My task from the King is to invite the Chain Binder into his presence.”
”Invite me? The Forestkin King has business with me?”
The title Chain Binder gave Klock an odd feeling. He pressed her.
Isabella took a pause, eyes narrowing as though weighing him.
”We, the Forest People of the Void, had no intention of meddling in this war. Yet the King decreed that honor must be shown to the Chosen Ones.”
”…Huh? So what exactly are you saying?”
”You will be guided to our town. The King, and the Messenger of Paradise, wish to meet you.”
”—Messenger of Paradise?”
This time it was Cianie who cut in.
”Wait. Don’t tell me… you mean Stormhorn?”
”Correct. That being seeks private audience with the Chain Binder, and entrusted us of the Void to mediate. A venue has been prepared within the Forest Beyond Dream’s Reach.”
”…Wait. That deer wants to see me…?”
So the creature from last night was this so-called Messenger of Paradise.
A herald from Paradise—so it hadn’t been an enemy?
Klock struggled to picture a four-legged beast serving as a formal envoy.
And what was this Forest Beyond Dream’s Reach?
Could it mean Alice? No—dreams meant Crimson Spire.
Perhaps the beast wished for a place untouched by Crimson Spire’s influence.
Thinking back, the deer hadn’t attacked right away.
It grew violent only after Alice appeared.
So maybe its true intent had been to reach Klock, but Alice’s sudden arrival forced its hand.
The Stormhorn had recognized Alice as a succubus instantly, and treated her as an enemy.
”…Alright. I’ll go to the Void.”
”You sure?”
”Yeah. Feels like something I need to hear.”
A Forestkin appearing from nowhere and asking to “borrow” him—suspicious as hell.
If she worked for the Demon Lord’s Army, this could all be a trap.
But Chosen Ones wasn’t something to ignore.
And Cianie herself had said: Phantasmal Beasts don’t obey humans.
If one was involved, then the Demon Lord’s Army likely wasn’t.
After all, the beast had attacked Alice, who was with the Demon Lord’s Army.
Klock stepped forward; Cianie moved to join him. Of course she’d accompany him into another world. Suzette and Meina could manage the troop.
But Isabella raised her hand.
”My apologies. The invitation is for the Chain Binder alone.”
”…What? I can’t go with him? Then we refuse.”
The Hero barred from entry.
Cianie’s brow tightened, Klock just as unsettled.
Did this mean they expected him to step into another realm alone? That was reckless.
If this was a trap, walking in solo was absurd.
”…Please understand.”
”Understand? There’s no way. We’ve no proof you’re an ally.”
”…Only those permitted by the King may enter the town. Forgive us.”
Isabella bowed deeply.
Politeness, or just a mask.
Cianie gave Klock a pained look—her answer obvious.
Ugh. What a pain.
So this was their law? Then why send a messenger if they’re just going to enforce private rules?
What to do. The town was right there, practically in sight.
Even if Cianie wasn’t beside him, she could fly here in a blink if something went wrong.
Risky, yes.
But the potential reward was big.
After a short pause, he agreed.
The troop would remain encamped, and Klock alone would enter the Void.
Both Cianie and Suzette opposed it, but Klock held firm.
It was a chance for dialogue with outsiders.
The Messenger of Paradise was still a mystery, but he was interested in hearing from the Forestkin King.
If the King sided with the Heroes, it might mean guidance for dealing with Viola and Kispe.
How far did this go?
Klock walked through dark-green woods.
Fallen leaves, chilled by winter air, carpeted the ground, crunching underfoot.
After some time, he realized—no sound beneath his steps.
The dead leaves were gone. Branches above thickened with lush green.
The same forest—yet not.
He had suddenly stepped into another place entirely.
Like walking out of winter straight into summer.
”So this is the Void?”
”The Forest of the Void. The Void connects to every forest in the wastelands. For this meeting, we shifted directly into the Human Continent’s woods and waited here.”
”…Hell of a trick.”
This world had collapsed centuries ago.
Oceans dried, forests died. Even sky, death, mirrors, and dreams themselves had vanished.
The Goddess had bound it with other realms to stabilize it.
Natural law, lost concepts—restored by linking with outside worlds.
The forests now were all spread from that otherworld—called the Void.
All forests were connected through the Void, Isabella explained, and because of that nature its people could appear from any woodland in the world.
The Forestkin King had chosen to meet Klock.
To do so, he had moved not only his people but their entire town and the surrounding forest into the Human Continent.
So that mysterious “new town” had been this.
No wonder the old man at Polet Village hadn’t heard of it—it hadn’t existed until just days ago.
”…So technically, this isn’t the Void itself?”
”Correct. This is our town, carried here from the Void.”
So, not a debut into another realm after all.
Rather than him stepping into the Void, the Void itself had come to him.
Even saying it out loud sounded absurd.
This was supernatural in the extreme.
”Oh—so this is the Forestkin’s… huh?”
”Something the matter?”
”…It looks pretty normal, that’s all.”
They had walked a while under the trees when the view opened into a settlement.
Stone and timber houses lined the paths, reminiscent of the Royal Capital of Crotopone.
A townscape just like that of humans.
If anything, a little more rustic.
”I thought Forestkin lived up in trees?”
”You’re thinking of fairies. They live inside trunks, or build hideouts in thickets and lakes. They settle anywhere.”
Klock nodded absently, eyes roaming.
Now that he looked closer, most houses were timber. Few used stone.
And no people.
Not truly empty—he could feel presence—but the silence was strange.
Not a single figure in sight.
At the center stood one building larger than the rest.
Likely the seat of governance, though its air was more like a chapel.
He was led straight inside.
When they entered a broad hall, Klock tensed for the royal audience.
But the throne at the far end was empty.
He halted. Isabella strode ahead—then sat upon it herself.
”…Wait, what?”
”Allow me to begin properly. Welcome, Chain Binder. I am Isabella, Queen of the Forest Nation.”
”…You’re kidding.”
She had called herself envoy—but it was the queen in person.
No wonder he had felt her measuring him earlier.
”And the king?”
”He is in the United Kingdoms’ capital, Central. But rest assured—the audience will be conducted by me.”
”…I see?”
So perhaps the king had never intended to meet him at all.
Then why let her imply otherwise?
”By the way, you know what kind of relationship Anna and I have?”
”…Quite endearing. You suit one another well. I pray for blessings upon your future.”
So she had realized he and Cianie were lovers.
Did she hide the king’s absence because she thought Cianie would take offense at the queen handling this? Hard to tell.
And still—not another soul had appeared.
Klock could sense eyes around, yet all seemed to be keeping hidden.
”So. What business do you have with me?”
”Yes. Recently, our kin learned of an ominous portent.”
…Of course.
Some divination, no doubt.
In every land, rulers leaned on omens—it was easier to guide their people’s mood that way.
”…Let me guess, it said Heroes would put you through hell?”
”No. The portent pointed toward the Earth Humans, our kin by marriage.”
Forestkin and Earth Humans—hardly a friendly pairing, yet blood ties made such things real.
Amadei and Livorno had once been hostile, but forged an alliance through marriage. Politics often worked that way.
”The Sixth Seat of the United Kingdoms Council, King Galvios of the Earth Humans—his wife Penelope is my sister.”
”…So if danger threatens the Earth Humans, your sister too—”
”Indeed. And of course, that danger would extend to my niece.”
Her niece—meaning the daughter of the Earth Human king and Penelope.
By that link, the Forestkin had direct family among the Earth Humans.
”Have you heard of the Battle Princess of Liyadro?”
”Nope.”
”My sister’s daughter, Lucy, has grown into great beauty. She bears her mother’s Forestkin grace, her father’s Human strength. In the Demon Continent upheavals, she earned great feats in war. Honored for her valor, she is now called the Battle Princess of Liyadro.”
”…Huh.”
The queen had launched into full niece-brag mode.
Battle Princess—quite the title.
From the sound of it, Lucy was formidable.
He had heard Earth Humans were often plain of face but gifted with strength.
So Lucy must have inherited looks from her Forestkin mother, strength from her Earth Human father.
The best of both sides. A daughter either clan would be proud of.
”They even call her one of the Demon Continent’s Three Great Beautiful Princesses.”
”…Oh, hell no.”
Klock’s face tightened.
That phrase rang bad.
Sure, it meant she was admired for beauty. But when the other two were Kispe and Viola? No wonder he grimaced.
Those two were monsters inside.
Anyone in their ranks would be dangerous.
”…So this omen you saw—it was us causing it?”
”That, I cannot say. What we seek is simply peace with the Chain Binder.”
Klock tilted his head at her wording.
The logic didn’t line up.
She spoke of an ominous portent, then jumped straight to peace with Klock’s group—yet left out the crucial details of the omen itself.
”Peace, huh.”
”The Forestkin King, our representative, holds the Tenth Seat of the United Kingdoms Council. The United Kingdoms as a whole has already declared war on Humanity. Yet we Forestkin desire no such fruitless struggle. What we seek is a separate peace with the Chosen Ones.”
”…Just us? Not Humanity at large?”
”Precisely. We are people of the forest. We have no bonds with humans. Thus the only counterpart suitable for peace is the Chosen Ones.”
Fair enough. Even if they declared peace with Humanity, what would be the point?
The Empire, the Theocracy, the fractured Federation cities—each would demand its own treaty, each with its own conditions.
Trying to juggle them all would be exhausting, maybe impossible.
And since the Void itself only brushed against Humanity when it wanted to, distancing themselves was the natural path.
”Peace itself’s no problem. We’ve got no grudge with Forestkin. But that depends on what you’re offering.”
A treaty meant conditions.
Not just empty words of “let’s get along,” but some binding measure—contracts, oaths, safeguards.
Best to hear her proposals first.
”There are four,” Isabella said.
”One, a marriage alliance with the Void.
Two, mediation for peace with the Earth Humans.
Three, support for certain Council seats in their campaigns.
Four, favorable treatment of Forestkin.”
”…Marriage alliance?”
”We have two princesses—Avery, the elder, and Flavia, the younger. One of them may be given in marriage as proof of our bond.”
”…Ah. So that’s the angle. …Yeah…”
Given in marriage? Not exactly casual phrasing.
And who else would they be offering her to but Klock?
It was an awfully heavy-handed move.
”Also, arrangements have already been made with the Fairies.”
”…With the Fairies?”
”Yes. This peace extends to all of the Void. We consulted the Fairies Clan; among their princesses, Ella and Sisi have agreed to wed into Humanity. The treaty with the Chosen Ones has their unanimous support. In fact, they are eager to improve relations with any who oppose them. None in the Void object.”
”…You’ve got to be kidding.”
This was bad. Very bad.
Almost exactly the same ploy the Wolf Princess had used.
They knew full well Klock and Cianie were lovers, yet still tried to bind him through kinship alliances.
Isabella wasn’t speaking as a civilian would.
Even the Messenger of Paradise had called meeting Klock an “audience,” the sort of word reserved for kings and nobility.
Did they see him as royalty?
”…That’s not something I can answer right away. Let’s put that aside. Next—your mediation with the Earth Humans.”
He deflected.
Marriage proposals weren’t like turning down a date. Rejecting outright could be taken as a refusal of peace itself.
Worse, the Fairies were already invested. Who knew how such unseen allies would react to his answer?
”Peace with the Earth Humans is a Forestkin proposal. All of the Void desires accord with the Chosen Ones, but as kin to the Earth Humans, we wish them to stand beside us as well.”
”That makes sense. If Earth Humans clashed with Heroes, you’d have to pick sides—or break with both.”
That, Klock could fully understand.
Allies fighting each other only created headaches.
And once trapped between, the Forestkin would be forced to abandon someone.
If things went poorly, Klock could ally with the Forestkin, only to see them turn into enemies the moment the Earth Humans did.
Even if they sided with him, suspicion would always hang between them.
”We’ll persuade King Galvios ourselves. Once agreement is reached, you will attend as mediator. Then negotiations can begin between you and the Earth Humans.”
”That works. If they’re willing to approach with good faith, so are we.”
”Yes. And as further proof, we intend to propose that Lucy be married.”
”…”
”Her qualities, as I described earlier, would be of value to the Chain Binder.”
So—her sister’s daughter, their Battle Princess, now offered as well.
It was insane.
Out of all measures, they wanted to hand over their precious child as proof of loyalty.
This wasn’t cultural difference.
This was treating marriage as camouflage.
These daughters weren’t brides—they were hostages.
The Fairies and the Forestkin weren’t courting the Heroes.
They were showing submission by surrendering their children.
Klock tilted his head back to the ceiling.
”…Is something wrong?” Isabella asked, frowning.
He ignored her.
The Void regarded the Chosen Ones with far greater weight than he’d thought.
Or maybe it was the Chain Binder they revered?
Was that why they refused to let Cianie join him?
Or was it some reason he couldn’t yet see…?
Damn it. Whatever the case, Isabella knew something he didn’t.
And he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Notes:
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Alice – Rabbitkin adventurer; appears at the same Barreith gathering, playful and mischievous, interacts with Klock, part of recruited volunteers
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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