The Ogre chieftain was the Red-haired Uncle.
With Benimaru, Shion, Hakuro, Souei, and a hundred tribesmen, he marched.
From the west of Jura Great Forest they fought their way to the east.
Along the way they even clashed with the Minotaur and Centaur Tribes.
After a month of effort they finally reached their destination.
The mysterious kidnapper of their princess had vanished upon this plain.
But as they stepped from the forest, a town that had appeared from nowhere stunned them.
"How did a town suddenly show up here?"
The Red-haired Uncle frowned from the high ground.
"Chieftain, the princess must be inside!" Shion stepped forward, agitated.
The other tribesmen echoed her.
"Pop, this has to be the place—let's go in!"
"Move."
The Red-haired Uncle nodded.
The group then headed for the town.
Atop the council hall, Draco spotted them from afar.
"Shalltear, they're yours. Remember—no killing."
"As you command, master."
Shalltear curtsied and vanished from the room with a swish.
In Nazarick, Shuna and Shalltear were close friends.
Since these were her best friend's kin, Shalltear would show restraint.
When the ogres reached the town gate.
A girl in a black-and-red evening gown blocked their path.
Her eyes were blood-red, her lips curved in an icy, half-smiling arc as she regarded the ogres.
"Halt."
Shalltear's indifferent voice rang out.
"Hm?"
The ogres stopped, eyeing her in puzzlement.
They had no idea who this girl was.
But she clearly wasn't simple.
"Who might you be?"
the Red-haired Uncle asked gravely.
"My identity is of no importance."
Shalltear looked at them disdainfully. "You may go no further; the way is closed."
The ogres' faces darkened.
"Are you with the one who took our princess?"
"No comment."
Shalltear replied lazily. "Leave at once, or I'll get rough."
"Hmph—then forgive us."
With an angry grunt the Red-haired Uncle thrust his spear at Shalltear.
Clang!
Shalltear raised a hand, blocked the fierce strike, and counter-punched the chieftain.
The Red-haired Uncle boasted A-rank strength—about level seventy or so—but the gap to Shalltear was enormous.
In an instant he was sent flying.
Shock filled his heart.
This girl who looked barely sixteen was so terrifyingly strong.
"Pop, you all right?"
Benimaru caught the staggering chieftain, worry written on his face.
"I-I'm fine..."
The Red-haired Uncle swallowed the metallic taste rising in his throat and forced the words out.
"She's too strong. I'll hold her—charge inside while you can!"
With that, the chieftain lunged at Shalltear again, spear whirling.
"Why bother?"
Shalltear sneered and snapped her fingers—crack!
At once ten Vampire Attendants in white sprang from the shadows.
Each was level 70—ten more Red-haired Uncles.
"Stop them."
At Shalltear's command.
The vampires rushed forward.
Boom!!!
Shalltear danced gracefully aside, batting the chieftain's weapon away.
She then struck his abdomen and blasted him across the ground.
The Red-haired Uncle lay curled in pain, clutching his stomach.
The other ogres fared no better.
Most were only B-rank; apart from Benimaru and Hakuro they were dropped one after another.
Not far away, Eren, Miss Shizu, and the other adventurers stared speechless at the ogres being crushed.
They all knew how mighty the ogres were.
Even against a thousand minotaurs they could hold their own.
Yet now they were being steamrolled.
Too terrifying.
This place must be escaped at once.
Kidd nudged Kabaru. "Big bro, how about we scram while we can?"
"Miss Shizu, what do you think?"
Kabaru looked toward the masked girl, strongest in their party.
"Something's odd."
Miss Shizu shook her head. "Did you notice? The fight looks fierce, yet no one's died."
Eren listened, then studied the scene—sure enough.
"You're right—could there be a trick?"
"Let's wait and see."
The three nodded and kept watching… In a patch of grass nearby.
Gelmud held a crystal ball—a memory crystal that could record the entire battle.
But he too was stunned.
Why had a town suddenly emerged inside Jura Great Forest?
Remembering Milim's order to report anything fun, he acted.
"Isn't this perfect fun?"
Gelmud contacted Milim at once.
(A town out of thin air, and a mysterious girl of terrifying power?)
(Sounds like a blast—I'll be right there!)
(Eh??? But, Lady Milim...)
(And that's that, hanging up!)
Watching the image in the Communication Crystal vanish, Gelmud realized he might have done something stupid.
"It seems I've caused trouble."
Everyone who knew Milim knew what kind of person she was; Gelmud felt like crying but had no tears.
Afterward, he began to contact his new employer.
(Lord Clayman, that's how things are?)
(You idiot!)
Clayman shouted irritably from the other end of the Communication Crystal.
The plan was originally supposed to go smoothly, allowing him to carry out the Artificial Demon Lord Project openly.
But with Milim's childlike personality, there was a high possibility she would disrupt the original plan.
Crucially, Milim was also one of the planners of this project, so Clayman couldn't say much about it.
(Keep watching. Report any developments immediately.)
(Yes...)
...Inside the battlefield.
Shalltear looked down at the fallen Red-haired Uncle.
"Stop struggling. Your princess is doing quite well; she doesn't need you to rescue her."
"I won't believe it until I see her myself."
The Red-haired Uncle stubbornly stood up.
Shalltear frowned and glanced at him. "What a nuisance."
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