"Grrr…"
The Forest Lord, which had been baring its teeth just moments ago, began staggering as it panted heavily.
'…That's what Mom looks like when she's truly serious.'
Of course, I was no different, watching in real time as the forest below the hill turned into a wasteland.
With every step Mom took, the forest landscape eroded bit by bit.
Already, uprooted trees and rocks, along with monsters unlucky enough to get caught in her ability, floated in piles toward the sky.
The phenomenon resembled a natural disaster, all because Mom was trying to find us a little faster.
It was a moment that made it painfully clear why Mom was called the strongest monster of the current Belverk generation—and all previous ones.
"Rroooar!"
But even witnessing that terrifying sight, the Forest Lord showed no intention of backing down.
It twisted its entire body to forcibly pull its leg free from under the tree, then bent its trembling legs and lowered into a stance once more.
"Hey, watch out!"
"Huh?"
"Mom's telekinesis has a range limit! She can't do precise control from this distance!"
It was right then, as Lilien—who had been watching intently—shouted urgently at me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙User request confirmed. Outputting response...
- Boom…!
Several trees floating in the sky shook violently before hurtling toward the Forest Lord once more like cannonballs.
'The ability's range doesn't reach, so she's just manipulating nearby objects and firing them?'
That way, even with range limits, she'd have long-distance attack options. A method befitting the supreme Belverk.
"…Grk."
But there was a limit to this approach. The Forest Lord's eyes flashed blue for an instant, and it dodged every single tree with agile movements, diving inward.
"Us being here is making it hard to aim."
"…Huh?"
"Without us, she would've turned it into a tree shish kebab ages ago. No, she probably would've lifted the entire hill and buried it."
In other words, our presence here was preventing Mom from using her ability to its full potential?
"And the situation just got worse."
"Ah!"
"It dove in too deep. No more ranged attacks possible."
Sure enough, the Forest Lord—having charged in with swift movements—was now glaring coldly right in front of us.
"In that case…"
I blankly watched from behind as Lilien urgently drew a spare knife from her bosom.
Then I squeezed my eyes shut and desperately prayed inwardly.
'System sis, please tell me.'
For some reason, System sis hadn't spoken to me since we entered the forest.
'I don't want to be a protagonist who only gets protected.'
I didn't know the reason, but the situation was too urgent right now.
'At least a hint on my unique ability…'
It was right then, as I desperately called to the still-silent System with the most pitiful expression I could muster.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Your unique ability is the kindest power in the world. Think about what you desperately wished for every night.
What? The kindest power in the world? I don't need that in this situation!
And what I desperately wished for every night? What kind of hint is this?
The most I could've wished for every night was for the stinging wounds all over my body to heal in an instant…
'…Wait, no way.'
That realization hit me, and I snapped my head up.
- Flash…!
Right then, the Forest Lord lunged toward Big Sis, who had drawn her knife.
"Eek!"
It was do or die now.
I thrust both hands forward forcefully, my eyes glowing red as I inwardly made the wish I'd desperately longed for every night.
"Huh?"
"Grk?"
The anomaly happened immediately after.
"…Why is my body suddenly…"
Lilien glanced down at her own body in confusion as it began rapidly healing, wrapped in red light. Then she turned to me with a look of realization.
- Crash…!
At the same time, the Forest Lord—which had been charging at tremendous speed—lost its balance and tumbled to the ground.
- Whoooosh…
Red light swirled around its injured leg as well.
Seeing that confirmed it. The ability I'd just awakened was 'healing.'
The Forest Lord had tripped because its leg suddenly regenerated under the healing effect.
"Grrr!"
Of course, with all four legs perfectly healed, it immediately tried to stand and resume its attack.
But that opening gave the perfect chance to the person who'd been gritting her teeth all this time.
"Kid. I don't know what ability you awakened, but…"
As expected, Lilien—now fully recovered thanks to my ability—muttered that, her eyes glowing red as she charged straight for the Forest Lord's scruff.
"…You did great."
Immediately after, the Forest Lord's agonized howl echoed from the hill, spreading in all directions.
"Groooaaarrr!!!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
- Crunch…
Lilien's knife pierced the Forest Lord's tough hide and twisted sideways, shredding its insides.
"Now, just die already."
"Grrrk…"
"…Fuck, seriously."
But it was too early to relax. True to its supreme monster title, the Forest Lord thrashed wildly despite the vital hit, desperately trying to shake Lilien off.
- Bang…!
But that final struggle didn't last long.
"Keeeeng…"
This time, a stone launched on a highly precise trajectory struck the Forest Lord right between the eyes.
- Thud…
Unable to endure that, the Forest Lord—shaking all over—foamed at the mouth and collapsed limply to the side.
"..."
And soon, a brief silence flowed down from the hill.
"M-Mo-Mom."
In that silence, Kairen finally turned around and spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"..."
Duke Astridje, floating elegantly in the sky, landed lightly in front of Kairen and maintained her silence.
"…S-Sorry."
"Kairen Nox Belverk."
"Hic."
As she finally spoke and extended her hand, Kairen instinctively covered his face with both arms and shrank back.
"No need to say anything."
"...?"
"For now, just you being alive is enough."
But Astridje's hand bypassed his arms to gently stroke Kairen's head.
"…I'm so glad, truly."
"Ah, um… There's no need to hug…"
"I thought I'd lose you again."
As she pulled Kairen into her embrace, he hesitantly lowered his arms and wrapped them around her back.
"..."
Watching that heartwarming scene with cold eyes, someone quietly turned away.
"…Haha."
Lilien dropped the bloodied knife she hadn't let go of until the end, gave a hollow smile, and quietly bowed her head.
"Good for you, yeah."
As she murmured in a lonely voice, clenching her fists tightly, and was about to meekly surrender to the Belverk maids who had suddenly surrounded her.
"Mom!"
"Yes?"
Kairen suddenly nudged Mom forward a little and stood on tiptoe to whisper in her ear.
- Whisper whisper…
Of course, standing on tiptoe wasn't enough for their heights to match, so Astridje bent down appropriately to listen. Her gaze soon turned to Lilien.
"Lilien Nox Belverk."
"…Ugh."
And then, gripping Kairen's hand as if she'd never let go again, she walked toward Lilien.
"I, I…"
As Mom—whom she hadn't faced this closely in so long—looked down at her, Lilien broke into a cold sweat and tried to speak.
"See? I was right."
"...?"
"You've always been kind to children."
But Astridje's words came first.
"…Thank you, my daughter."
As she said that and stroked Lilien's head, she quietly pulled her into her embrace.
"Ugh, hic. Uuuh…"
Lilien stared blankly for a moment before hot tears welled up, and she began sobbing in Astridje's arms.
"…I wanted to hear those words."
It was the moment her long-held wish—one she thought impossible—came true.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Hehe…"
Watching that touching moment, I wiped my nose and suddenly remembered something I'd forgotten, quickly bowing my head.
"…Ah, right. Peep."
"Chirp."
"You must've been stuffy. Sorry…"
Peep, who had been nestled against my chest with its head resting there until now, glared at me with a haughty, icy look.
"But I'll heal you perfectly instead!"
Come to think of it, couldn't I fully heal Peep with my ability too? It shouldn't not work on non-humans, right?
"Here, like this…"
Fortunately, seeing Peep's body wrap in red light meant there were no such restrictions on my unique ability.
"How's it now?"
"…Zzzzt."
"Oh, you can fly again? Thank goodness."
About a minute later, as Peep slipped from my arms, flapped its wings, and flew to my shoulder, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Really, so glad…"
Sudden fatigue washed over me, and I staggered with a yawn.
"…Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden."
"Kairen?"
"Kid? What's wrong with you?"
I wanted to tell Mom and Lilien, who had just noticed me, that it was nothing—just needed a bit of sleep.
But before I could say it, my eyes were already slowly closing.
Is this a side effect of the unique ability? That could be trouble…
"Guess I need to sleep a bi…"
I didn't finish the sentence before tilting over and collapsing to the ground. Mom and Big Sis's urgent cries rang in my ears.
"Kairen!!!"
"Hey, kid!"
And that was my final memory from the tumultuous Mist Forest.