Rei stepped into the clearing and furrowed his brows slightly.
From the figure standing in the center of the clearing—the spot where the tree had been growing during the day—he sensed an intense presence.
One equal to the Giant Wolf or the tree... no, perhaps even surpassing them. An overwhelming aura.
I see. If someone like this is here, radiating this kind of presence, insects, animals, birds, and monsters alike wouldn't want to get close. Still... a mantle?
What Rei could see was the figure's back.
But what he saw on that back was neither fur nor feathers—it was a mantle.
Yes, the figure was clearly not a living being.
"Have you finally arrived?"
"!?"
The figure had spoken.
It was true that Rei was startled, but given that the figure wore a mantle, it wasn't strange for it to speak.
However, both Rei and Set instinctively understood that the person before them was undeniably a monster.
It wasn't as though the thought that it might be a type of demi-human, like a Beastman, hadn't crossed his mind—but considering the presence emanating from the figure before him, there was no mistaking it was an enemy.
"Who... are you? And if you said 'finally,' does that mean you sensed us approaching?"
Even as he asked, Rei retrieved Death Scythe and the Twilight Spear from his Misty Ring.
At that, the figure finally turned around... and Rei understood that the person before him was a handsome young man whose features were refined enough to be called beautiful, even by someone as accustomed to beauties as Elena and her peers.
But the figure didn't seem particularly bothered by Rei's surprise... rather, he merely cast an interested gaze at the weapons Rei held.
"An Item Box, is it? That is quite rare indeed. ...Hmph. I can't say I'm pleased that you destroyed my experimental creation, but... considering that there was an Item Box User about, perhaps the outcome isn't so bad after all?"
There were many things about the figure's words that caught Rei's attention, but the one that bothered him the most was...
"Experimental creation?"
Yes, the phrase "experimental creation."
Given the current situation, Rei could surmise that the giant tree he had felled in this place during the day had become what it was as a result of some kind of intervention by the man before him.
While Rei was thinking this, the man smiled at the phrase "experimental creation" that had come from Rei's mouth and spoke.
"Hm. Do you know of the World Tree?"
"Well, as much as anyone."
In truth, a World Tree existed in Marina's homeland, and Rei had been caught up in disturbances related to it.
Furthermore, Marina was a being called the Shrine Maiden of the World Tree, so in that sense, Rei's connection to the World Tree was undeniably strong.
But saying so here would lead to all sorts of trouble.
Judging thus, Rei played along casually... and simultaneously, he was able to guess what kind of existence the tree that had grown here was.
Experiment. World Tree.
Given those two concepts, arriving at the answer was not particularly difficult—naturally so.
And indeed, the words that next came from the man's mouth were exactly what Rei had predicted.
"Hm. What I was cultivating in this land was a World Tree. ...To be precise, a World Tree with identical abilities, adjusted to bring great benefit to me—that would be a more accurate description. I call it the Dark World Tree."
"You... adjusted the World Tree?"
Like a Researcher.
That was what Rei thought, but come to think of it, Rei himself had an acquaintance named Grimm—an Undead who pursued research as a hobby.
Also, the Alchemists Rei knew wouldn't think it strange to venture into the Forest of Magic for the sake of their own research.
If so, it wouldn't be strange for someone to be conducting this kind of research in the Forest of Magic.
Besides...
Looking at the man with his handsome face that appeared to be in his twenties, Rei understood why Grimm had come to mind.
The man, who had been cheerfully explaining the Dark World Tree to him, could pass for an ordinary human based on appearance alone.
Of course, given that he was in the Forest of Magic—and not during the day when monsters were relatively docile, but at night when they became active—he was by no means an ordinary human.
As if to prove this, the fangs of the man explaining the Dark World Tree were sharply pointed.
A figure wearing a mantle, humanoid, present in the nighttime Forest of Magic, a beautiful man with fangs.
With all these elements lined up, even Rei could understand what kind of existence the man before him was.
A Vampire, huh.
Given that Undead existed and this was a fantasy world, it wouldn't be strange for there to be Vampires or similar beings.
In fact, Vampires were listed in the Monster Encyclopedia Rei possessed.
However, Vampires had characteristics that distinguished them from other monsters.
The number of years since becoming a Vampire, the innate qualities of the person who became one, and how they became a Vampire in the first place.
Especially that last point—how one became a Vampire—carried great significance in determining that Vampire's rank.
When turned by another Vampire—specifically, by having one's blood drained and being given Vampire blood—the newly turned Vampire would possess considerable strength from the start if the parent Vampire was a powerful being.
...Conversely, if the parent Vampire was weak, the Vampire born from them would also be weak.
Alternatively, Vampires born through performing a ritual to become one were extremely powerful beings.
After all, they possessed the knowledge to conduct such a ritual and the physical constitution to endure it.
Grimm was someone who had similarly undergone a ritual to become Undead, so how extraordinary a being must be to survive a ritual was self-evident.
Of course, Grimm had the talent worthy of being called a genius—though not reaching the level of the Zephyle Clan—which was precisely why he had been able to become such a powerful Undead.
While Rei was recalling what he knew about Vampires from the Monster Encyclopedia and what he had heard from others, the Vampire man continued his explanation.
"Indeed. The Dark World Tree was the crystallization of my decades of research, but I never imagined it would disappear so completely. ...What do you think?"
The Vampire asked, looking at Rei with interest.
Why me?
When Rei and Set stood side by side, normally one would be more interested in Set than Rei.
After all, Rei's appearance was that of an ordinary human—though he did have the distinguishing feature of a feminine face—whereas Set was a Gryphon, famous as a High-Rank Monster, so that was only natural.
Despite this, the Vampire man had looked at Rei with interest and asked him the question.
"Why ask me that?"
"Because it was you, wasn't it? The one who defeated the Dark World Tree. ...I don't know how you destroyed such a massive form. No, was it the power of the Item Box?"
At the Vampire stating it so plainly, Rei was at a loss for words.
How did he know that Rei had destroyed the tree... the Dark World Tree?
However, the other party wasn't bluffing or anything of the sort—he was clearly convinced that Rei had destroyed the Dark World Tree.
Given that, Rei judged that trying to deflect here would be a poor move and opened his mouth.
"Well, for one thing, I thought a tree with monster heads growing out of its vines was disgusting."
"Hm. I find that part quite charming, though."
The Vampire tilted his head as if he couldn't comprehend Rei's words, but Rei couldn't understand this Vampire's tastes at all.
What exactly would one have to think to find such a disgusting existence charming?
"Tastes vary from person to person."
"Do they? Well, perhaps so. In that case... hm, you are indeed interesting."
The Vampire flashed an amused smile at Rei's words and said as much.
"Why? Normally, wouldn't you find Set more interesting than me?"
As he said this, he glanced at the Gryphon beside him. The Vampire seemed to immediately understand that "Set" referred to the Gryphon, and nodded in an affected manner.
"Normally, perhaps. But... unfortunately, I have confidence in my aesthetic eye."
"Aesthetic eye, is it?"
An aesthetic eye referred to the ability to discern beautiful things and things of value.
In that sense, Rei had likely been acknowledged by the Vampire... but whether that pleased him was another matter entirely.
"So? Now that you've taken an interest in me, what exactly do you want to do?"
Rei wanted to settle things peacefully with this Vampire and head home.
He wanted a Vampire Magic Stone, and from the presence he could feel even now while conversing, he could tell it was without a doubt an A-Rank Monster.
But the figure was someone he could converse with, and more importantly, Rei had an acquaintance named Grimm who was Undead.
Since they were both Undead, Rei had thought there was a possibility this Vampire might be an acquaintance of Grimm's—that was a significant factor.
"Let me see. It is regrettable that the Dark World Tree was destroyed, but... I have found something more valuable."
The Vampire said this with a smile.
But those words gave Rei a bad feeling.
Given the flow of the conversation so far...
"Leave that Item Box behind. In exchange, since you've shown me something interesting, I'll let you go."
As expected.
Rei thought this without voicing it.
From the moment the Vampire saw that Rei possessed an Item Box—the Misty Ring—he had set his sights on the one on Rei's right arm.
Normally, an Item Box was designed so that only its user could use it... but a Vampire, and a researcher at that, wouldn't find it strange to know a method to circumvent that.
In the first place, it was precisely because he had a lead on doing so that he was demanding the Misty Ring.
But... toward such a Vampire, Rei's answer was already decided.
"Refuse."
"...What?"
The Vampire probably hadn't expected Rei to refuse.
After a few seconds of silence, he showed an expression indicating he couldn't comprehend Rei's words.
That was precisely why Rei opened his mouth again, to ensure his intent was clearly conveyed.
"Refuse. That's what I said. Sorry, but I can't hand over this Item Box... the Misty Ring."
At Rei's words, the Vampire furrowed his brows in displeasure.
He wanted it, and as compensation, he would spare Rei's life.
He hadn't expected to be refused so bluntly despite saying all that.
"Are you serious? I would think you understand what kind of existence I am."
The Vampire, being a High-Rank Monster himself, possessed the eye to discern an opponent's abilities.
From the Vampire's perspective, he could tell that Rei and Set were strong.
But... he was a Vampire.
A race possessing power at the very pinnacle of Undead. That was what a Vampire was.
To reject his words—words that could even be called mercy—was something unthinkable from the Vampire's perspective.
That was why he asked "Are you serious?" wondering if perhaps Rei was misunderstanding something...
"Yeah. This Misty Ring is my lifeline. I can't just hand it over because you asked for it."
"Even if refusing to hand it over means that both you and that Gryphon there will die?"
"I don't plan to attack first, but if you come at us, I'll take appropriate measures. I'm not going to just sit here and take it. Originally, Set and I need to defeat at least two A-Rank Monsters in this Forest of Magic. The tree... that Dark World Tree or whatever was a troublesome existence, maybe because you made it, but I don't know whether it'll be recognized as an A-Rank Monster."
To be precise, because he had kept burning it to crush its overwhelming Regeneration Ability, the Dark World Tree had been reduced to charcoal and ash, so whether the Guild would recognize it as an A-Rank Monster was uncertain—that was the accurate truth.
"You think you can defeat me?"
"Yeah. I do think I can win. ...But before we fight, can I ask one thing?"
"I don't mind. Your death is already decided. I can grant that small request at least."
"From my perspective, your death is already decided, but... well, fine. What I want to ask is one thing. Do you know an Undead named Grimm?"
"Grimm? No, I don't. Which Vampire is that?"
Rei could clearly tell from those words that the other party wasn't playing dumb.
And since he could tell, Rei shook his head in relief, knowing that even if he defeated this Vampire, he wouldn't have to worry about killing an acquaintance of Grimm's.
"No, if you don't know him, that's fine. Then... let's begin!"
With those words, Rei closed the distance to the Vampire, Death Scythe and Twilight Spear in hand.