Reincarnated as a oni

"You're late again," a man said, leaning back on the couch.

"Maybe if you had made an appointment with me, I would have arrived on time," the other man replied calmly, glancing around the office. He chose a couch bathed in little light from the sun filtering through the window.

"You never change, do you?"

"Let's get this over with, Dante. Some of us have more pressing matters to attend to than idle conversations," he thought.

"Have you heard the news?"

Shaking his head, the man replied, "News? There's a lot I've heard, so you'll have to be more specific."

That irritating personality, filled with such dismissive words. Dante forced himself to stay calm.

"You know, Rosewise, that attitude won't get you far in life."

Ignoring the remark, Rosewise raised a hand toward the guard. "Bring me your finest tea," he said.

Turning to Dante, he asked, "What is this news you've come to share?"

Standing up from the table, Dante moved to sit on the couch opposite Rosewise.

"As a mediator of Solaria, Dante, you shouldn't even be talking to me, someone from a different kingdom entirely."

Dante simply smiled. "I'm just a negotiator. I'm only called upon when needed. Now—" He cleared his throat.

"I'm here because of something that threatens our hometown, Lotus."

A maid entered the room, pushing a cart with tea cups. She poured the tea and quietly left after a respectful bow.

"A threat to Lotus?" Rosewise asked, taking a sip of his tea. "You have my full attention. Isn't the king supposed to be here for this?"

"His Majesty already knows."

"Oh." Rosewise crossed his legs, a bitter smile playing on his lips. It seems my brother will never see me as his equal. Shaking the thought off, he pressed on. "What is the problem?"

"The issue is... significant. It concerns the Great Forest of Wyrm."

Dante hesitated, his gaze sweeping the room. The atmosphere felt different, almost as if someone were watching them.

"What about the Great Forest of Wyrm?" Rosewise asked, leaning forward.

"It's not exactly a secret—it will all become news soon enough," Dante thought. "The forest has finally cleared."

"Cleared?"

Rosewise's expression shifted as he leaned closer, uncrossing his legs. "You mean the place that's been shrouded in that foul aura for centuries?"

He couldn't contain himself. Rising from the couch, his fists clenched, and veins bulged on his neck.

"When did you find out? Why am I the last to hear of this?"

Remaining calm, Dante sipped his tea. "I know you're angry, but your anger won't change anything."

Gritting his teeth, Rosewise reluctantly sat back down.

"What are you planning to do, or what has my brother decided?"

"Nothing," Dante replied.

"Nothing? Do you even hear yourself?"

"Rosewise, we lack the military strength of the surrounding nations. The forest is now free for all. If the clearance is due to the dragon's death, both Eternia and Solaria will want to claim it."

Tapping his foot, Rosewise stroked his chin in thought. "Then why call me? Surely it's not just about the monster."

"It is," Dante said firmly, standing up. "We plan to establish a peace treaty with Solaria."

"Solaria? Not Eternia?" Rosewise asked, surprised.

"Yes, Solaria. Though we can't predict how it will play out."

"And you need me to go in place of my brother... the king?"

"Yes. We want you to represent us."

Staring out the window, Dante suddenly tensed. "Did you feel that?"

Rosewise shook his head, staring in the same direction. In broad daylight? I doubt any spy could pull that off.

---

Seven Months Later:

The wind howled faintly, carrying the sweet hum of flower fragrances from the riverbank.

"I can't believe it's been seven months since I was isekai'd," Zereth mused.

Over the past months, new tribes had come seeking refuge here—lizardmen, Geomorphs, and Skyborn, among others. The Geomorphs and Skyborn were similar, differing only in nature. Geomorphs, resembling stone-skinned earth golems, were short in stature, while the Skyborn had tribal markings and pointed ears. Ogres had also joined.

"I'm just glad they're intelligent," Zereth muttered.

Allowing them to stay, Zereth watched the thriving settlement from a hilltop. The population had grown to over four or five thousand.

"All of us are misfits from the game. Am I some kind of misfit magnet?" he joked to himself. "Isn't there a way for them to evolve?"

Watching children play, he smiled softly. The center of the forest had been transformed into a bustling village, perhaps even a small nation, thanks to the combined efforts of monsterkind.

Teleporting deeper into the forest, Zereth marveled at his refined abilities. It's like I'm distorting space itself.

After wandering for a while, he arrived at Juan's workshop.

Upon entering the workshop Juan had prepared, Zereth's eyes scanned the area. Although it was a place for a blacksmith, it was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

The space had a pleasant air to it. Mirrors lined the walls, and as Zereth caught his reflection in them, he tilted his head in curiosity. He could swear the reflections changed colors.

"Is he really that skilled?" The thought flitted through his mind.

"Oh, Lord Zereth... Heh, I guess I should call you that, huh?"

Zereth shook his head. "You can call me whatever you want. You don't seem that much older than I am, so I'd at least like someone to treat me normally."

Juan ruffled his hair with a chuckle. "Yeah, I guess you're right. There's not that big of a gap between us."

Turning toward the back room, Juan rushed off.

"He's fast, just like how I was back on Earth," Zereth thought. "But unlike me, I'm glad he's putting his all into moving out of that zone."

"Here it is," Juan said, returning with something long and covered in a sheet.

Zereth's curiosity piqued as he observed the object. "I wonder what it is?"

"I made it for you... It's my longest project ever," Juan said, looking down as he handed it over.

"Is he embarrassed to look me in the eyes?" Zereth wondered as he raised a hand to accept the covered object. Unwrapping it, he froze, his eyes lighting up with childlike wonder.

"It's a sword," he murmured, his voice brimming with excitement.

As a child who had always admired samurais, Zereth's inner joy was undeniable. He clung to the sword, marveling at the red hilt that complemented his hair and eyes. The blade itself was long, forged from a silvery-black steel that shimmered in the light.

"I'll give you a name," he said with conviction.

Swinging the sword left and right, then holding it aloft, he declared, "Your name is Starblade Valkyra."

The blade gleamed faintly, as if accepting the name.

"I'm glad you like it," Juan said with a satisfied smile.

Zereth nodded, though his impatience was evident.

"Does he want to try it out?" Juan wondered.

"You may take it for a spin," Juan said. "If there are any adjustments needed, I'll always be here to help."

Zereth nodded again, sheathing the blade. He secured it on his back with the attached string.

"I'll see you," he said, leaving the workshop.

---

(The Kingdom of Solaria)

In the dimly lit chamber of the royal palace, the king sat alone on his throne, tapping the armrest rhythmically. The sound echoed in the empty room.

Tap. Tap.

Suddenly, a soft swoosh broke the silence. From the shadows emerged an elf girl, kneeling just a few meters from the throne.

"What did you find out?" the king asked, his legs crossed.

Without raising her head, she replied, "My liege, I have found that the Great Wyrm Forest has been cleared."

The king, known as Adriana the Cold, remained unfazed. "Is it true?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "Before coming here, I went to check, and I can confirm it is clear. However, I didn't enter."

"How dependable," he thought. "You may raise your head. You confirmed it, right? How about the dragon?"

The elf raised her head, swallowing nervously before speaking. "I didn't sense the dragon, per se…"

"There's a 'but,' isn't there?" the king interjected, his tone cold and steady.

The elf hesitated. "Yes, my liege. I sensed several high-energy signatures within the forest. None of these auras resembled humans."

"How many are we talking about?"

"I couldn't get an exact count, but two stood out the most. One is... above yours, and the other is in an unstable state but also far superior."

The king turned his gaze toward her for the first time, his expression inscrutable. "Greater than mine?" he thought. "Perhaps it's the dragon. Though to be sure, we must explore."

"I see. Is that all?"

"No," she replied quickly, explaining how the Kingdom of Lotus wished to negotiate a peace treaty with Solaria.

The king chuckled coldly. "So, Lotus finally wants an alliance. Is it fear of the forest?"

His gaze shifted to an art piece on the wall—an image of the first king, Solandros.

"Is this the change you foresaw, Solandros the Wise?" he wondered.