We both found out the owner of the『Telepathy』message that reached Elk’s ears.
The injury itself wasn’t something of a big deal, but staying in such a place in the cold night, furthermore in such light dressing, she surely could catch a cold.
She had scratches here and there and her ankle seems to be slightly sprained, but there is nothing of a big deal. For the time being, I did the first-aid with the ointment and bandage that I took out from my bag, and covered her with my overcoat, for countering the cold.
What is it, I’m feeling something out of place for some time now……?
While I was thinking all that, there was a sign of movement under the overcoat.
「……Onii-chan, Onee-chan……who are you……?」
「Too sloppy……」
She noticed……the injuries on her skin had been covered by a bandage, smeared with ointment.
It wasn’t like her clothes were made by attaching leaves together, but it seemed like the material to make them was that. It doesn’t look like the clothes are dyed, and even the texture was near to that of plants.
Looking at the bandage covering her arms and legs, the girl’s consciousness seemed to have been gradually awakening, while she spoke bit by bit.
「No, I’m fine. Thank you」
This is great. Her injuries were really nothing of a great deal.
Then, in front of me and Elk making relieved expression, the green girl seemed surprised and looked up to us.
「「Eh?」」
We both didn’t understand the aim of the question, while we both weren’t able to reply……
……Hah?
『『『Flower Fog!!』』』
「「!?」」
*Psssh*
What, suddenly this fog……even that voice seeming like a skill name……does this mean it is some sort of magic!? A sneak attack!?
No, wait a sec, this, doesn’t seem like fog?
I can’t see perfectly, but I could hear the choking sound of Elk from the other side of this smoke. Is she alright?
This scent, it’s not wheat flour……it smells of flower……no, is this pollen!?
『B-But we overdid in spreading the pollen! I can’t see anything……』
I could hear those voices from the other side, and could also hear some footsteps coming near.
Moreover, both I and Alva didn’t notice them until they neared us – at least until they entered the magic range. I don’t know who they are.
In that case……alright.
I raised the magical energy to a moderate level and around the time the magical energy literally started to turn into wind, I vigorously jumped straight above.
「Haaaah!!」
「「「Kyaaaaaaaa!?」」」
After I did that, I could see Elk, the green girl from before and also……three other girls of same appearance. I can see them clearly now that the fog is cleared.
Two of girls had same hair, same clothes, the face……though is strangely different, but still too much similar.
She looked older than the green girls, including the one we found. If the green girls are around 10 years old, then this red haired girl is around 15 years old.
The materials seem same for all them, but her clothes’ design is somewhat different, and it seems more exquisite?
The green-haired girls looked like they were about to blow their fuse while not knowing what happened……compared to them this girl seemed much more calm and was surveying the surroundings to understand the situation.
In that case……the pollen from before was this girl, or these children’s work.
I haven’t done anything, but they are presently continuously releasing the killing intent.
「Aaah……hey look let’s……」
「……talk it out first, shall we……」
……But I don’t feel any threat mixed in that……?
The moment it hit my body, it just felt like having a chill for a second, but……nothing else happened. Huh, it’s over?
「No way……why is not working!?」
Then the redhead girl’s face grimaced with vexation.
「「Hah?」」
With this, the two green girls also returned to their senses, and,
「Why are you doing this!? Lila-chan is hating it……huh, is not hating it?」
How to say it, it feels like there is a terrible misunderstanding between us……don’t tell me……
At that time,
『『Kyaaaaaaaaa!!』』
Two shrill screams resounded from deep in the forest. What is it this time?
Hearing that voice, the two greenheads clearly panicked, even the redhead seemed fretful while sweat appeared on her forehead.
In a rapid-speed completely different from before……and in a tone that easily told that she was in hurry and desperate.
「…………」
Well, as usual I still don’t understand a shit……
However there’s no doubt that this is a situation where I should move immediately.
And, after coming to look at the origin of voice……
「Why are you doing this!?」
「Yeah, you fetch a high price?」
……This scene looks like I have seem somewhere……not that, I seem to remember seeing people with this bad atmosphere before too.
In other words these guys are……
「Kachaawww!」
「「My eyes—–!!!?!!」」
The two people, having their vision stolen, writhed their body as if to say, “it hurts like hell”. ……I know it’s already too late now that I’ve moved, but these people are truly gross and a nuisance.
Then, having similar green-haired girls and the redhead in front of them……they made a surprised, and relaxed expression and ran up to them.
The redhead said relieving words like『It’s fine now』, and the two started crying *waah-waah* while hugging her. The similar greenheads encircled them.
Well leaving it as like that, I should finish the work of this place.
Albeit their eyes are red.
「That’s my line. Geez, the air is good, Flower Dishes are good, the city is good……yet you both are trying to mess with everything starting up a shitty work」
Saying that, they took out the sabre hanging on their waist. Oh damn, this pattern again.
The two came at me brandishing the sabre while shouting……
Among there……Elk’s gaze wasn’t present.
『Finish it off quickly』
Of course it means she trust me……oh what is this loneliness.
「Orrrraaa! Die 「Minato: NO I WON’T」! Gobbaaaaa」
It’s useless to waste time on them……so I got done with them in the same way as I had with those goblins in the labyrinth quite some time ago.
Of course, it not good to kick someone to death in front of children, so while breaking the sabre, I retained my power to the level of just giving a cerebral concussion.
……Well they aren’t dead……I think.
……And shyly nodded.
After all that,
The two from before were truly kidnappers, and including them, they all were nearly abducted, but somehow they escaped.
However, they were attacked and the girl had injuries, so they jumped to wrong conclusions and grouped us as the comrades of those kidnappers.
They also told that were all……not humans.
「Yes……might you have not heard about it?」
「Yes, that is correct, we are all living deep in the forest in our community……」
Hearing that, I realized.
How I had that feeling, that was because of body odour……their bodily scent.
Normally, humans’ body odour is made with sweat and sebum as the main materials, but these girls didn’t had those smell on their body.
No matter how you think about it, it was the scent of plants and not animals. I was covered by plants in surroundings, so I wasn’t able to correctly discern it.
For instance……the difference is like the scent of boys in the male changing room after P.E, and the scent of spring flowers in a botanical garden.
「No, based on bodily feel it is the truth……」
「Ah, Yeah, Sorry sorry, continue. Err……」
The redhead, Neil-chan, again bowed.
No, it’s not like she is human……but she is a different kind of spirit.
Dryad and Alraune Part 2
『Alraune』. A race which was one rank above the Dryads.
They have high intellect, and are considered to be elder-sister figure of the Dryads.
These girls, the『Dryad』and『Alraune』, are races living in this forest since old days.
The people of『Flower Valley』do know this……but they don’t come in their forest unless for picking up some herb found only here. Like medicinal herb.
And, if they entered the forest, then even if they met these girls by pure coincidence, they would not harm them.
「Well, we live by just eating water and fruits……so the times they leave offerings like meat or fish, it causes us troubles……」
These girls were living quietly like that, but today, around afternoon……they spotted shady men in the forest.
Then, some of them, noticed the girls, and attacked them.
Two of them were the guys I got done with before, and were now tied up a strong-looking ivy made by Neil=chan’s mangic.
「Recently, there has only been strange things happening in this forest……」
Said in a sad voice.
Hearing further, it turns out that Neil-chan and other Dryads……have felt that recently, the state of forest is different from usual.
Demons that never came out in this forest, started appearing,
And the guaranteed『biggest』unusual event, according to Lila-chan is……
「Lizard?」
「I also saw that! I’m sure the corpses of demons is its work!」
「……Or so it is. I, although……haven’t seen it yet……」
A lizard walking on two legs, I see……is it, after all, a demon?
The demons appearing here are plant-type, animal-type and insect-type, so she had no idea about this one.
There were『Lizardman』that came out during the escort of Trader Group. They walked on two legs and fought with swords in hands. Just like a lizard-version of goblin.
‘Then what is it’……I was again perplexed……
——SFX: *sniff*
My nose……sniffed out a particular『scent』coming from deep in the forest.
I didn’t care about, Elk and Neil-chan, who got startled after noticing my expression……and immediately stood up.
「Elk and others too, just become a stone, and don’t dare to move. Don’t move away from me」
「Get to it! I don’t have time to explain!」
Although Elk seemed to know nothing, but……looks like she understood the dire situation, and albeit being perplexed abided by my orders. ……Great.
Judging from the scent……it seems pretty far. The wind was flowing in our direction that I was able to grasp the scent, truly luckily. Probably, the other has not noticed us……I think.
At most……I can understand, if it’s on the level of horse or dog.
I know『that guy’s』scent.
……And while thinking that……I remember the talk Lila-chan was doing before, about that『Lizard walking on two legs』
……In that case, the unidentified demon appearing in this forest is……Hey hey, don’t tell me……!
……Some minutes later.
It slowly walked away……to a distance that I couldn’t smell the scent anymore.
I signed Elk with hand, saying『It’s fine now』……and got rid of vigilance.
It is fine……that we weren’t discovered……
「H-Hey Minato」
I looked at her and saw her looking at me with concerned eyes, well it’s normal.
The moment I tried to explain to her, who seemed to want to know『about it』,
……I heard several hoarse screams from……the direction of city.
What is it this time!?