Published at 4th of November 2020 09:08:03 PM
The next day .
On the first day of the Demon Forest exploration, we were blessed with good weather . The Ares kingdom’s climate was warm all year round, and it seemed that it moderately rained in a gentle manner . I wonder if that meant there wasn’t any need for an umbrella?
I was thinking about how they would manage the water for drinking and for irrigation when I recalled they could use the underground water and the water from several rivers flowing from the Sacred Mountain Meteora .
Come to think of it, there was a river close to the Izel fort . We used the water from well for drinking, though .
It seemed that we would explore the Demon Forest by tracing along the lines of that river . We definitely wouldn’t be lost going that way .
The exploration for the monsters would be done by the knights who possessed the presence detection skill .
Presence detection, huh? How nice .
I think the presence detection was a skill that hunters possessed, but I didn’t learn it because I never played as a job from the hunter tree . But the people of this world seemed to be able to use the presence detection skill despite being knights .
As I gradually learned the necessary skills to myself, I felt like I was getting stronger .
I could only learn new magic by levelling up, but I wonder what would be a sage’s new magic?
W…well, before that, I should just level up more .
“That’s right, Jou-chan, did your magic skill get better?”
“If you’re asking about whether or not it gets better…For Wind Arrow, I became able to give damage to only the target . ”
“Hee . Does it seem to be applicable in real combat?”
“We won’t know until I try it, but perhaps it is…”
Speaking of which, I was currently riding on Frank-san’s left shoulder right now .
As to why things turned out like this, I also didn’t know…
I thought that we would be going to the Demon Forest by riding on horses, but it seemed that we would be going by feet . When I thought about it more carefully, there were lots of trees and ivy, so we weren’t able to ride on horses there . We would apparently be punched in the face by the twigs .
But if we were going on foot, an 8-year-old’s feet would just get me left behind, and so I was thinking about how I should deal with that . That was when Frank-san carried me on his shoulder .
It was perfect for his training, and I was already carried by him anyway .
Frank-san…you’re a priest, right…?
I wonder if this kind of training is even necessary…
“Well, I use magic during the times I’m incapacitated . Basically, I can just heal myself . Otherwise, the recovery after a battle might happen slowly . Gahahahaha . ”
Such a lively laugh that it caused his body to shake~ . It would be dangerous if I couldn’t maintain the balance .
For the time being, Frank-san’s left hand was propping my body firmly, but it would be scary if I were to fall in a moment of negligence .
“Be at ease . The monsters over there won’t be any threat to the knights of our fort . ”
“If that’s the case, then everyone would be fine even if I’m not there…”
If they are that strong, no matter how I think about it, I could only be considered as bonus . 1
“Well, well . If you remain in the fort alone, something even more dangerous than the monsters might come . ”
“What is that ‘something’?”
“It’s something for adults to think about . Well, no need to mind it . ”
Frank-san then messed my hair roughly using his right hand .
Ukyaa . My hair is all messy now .
“It can’t be helped for us to think about various matters . We should just let everything flows, though . Anyway, we just have to walk forward and we will somehow get by . ”
Mu~n . I wonder if it’s something like that?
As I leaned my head, Frank-san stopped walking . When I looked at my surrounding, the knights were taking down the bags they were bringing .
“We will be camping here today . Jou-chan, I’ll let you down . ”
“Yes . ”
Three magicians from the Izel fort were gathering at a slightly distant place from the river . Serensan was one of them, and they were chanting something as they faced towards the forest .
“O great wind that passes through the sky, become a sharp arrow and shred the enemies before us . Wind Arrow!”
As the three chanted the spell, the sharp wind arrows chopped down the trees of the Demon Forest from their roots . The cut down trees were transported by the knights, and in the blink of an eye, a campsite was made to some extent next to the river .
Amandsan beckoned me for some reason in front of the chopped trees .
This, could it be…
“Yuuri-chan, here . Show everyone the results of your training!”
As expected, that’s what she wanted to say-!
And so, my job was to make firewoods until lunch time .
After we finished eating the breads we brought from the fort, Leon-san stood up and began to issue orders .
“We’re going to conduct the exploration of the Demon Forest after this . Every group, defeat the monsters as soon as you discover them . In case of the appearance of a herd or anomaly which are hard to defeat, do not overdo it and call for reinforcement . Argo’s team, be on standby here and assist with the communication of each group . Now then, let’s go!”
Leon-san brought around ten knights with him as he entered the forest . Frank-san and Amandsan also went into the forest, leading their respective group . Serensan was also going for the exploration along with several magicians and knights .
The remaining people were me, Argo-san, Georg-san, and five knights .
“Now then . Shall we get going with the preparation of the campground? Ah, Yuuri-chan, can you bring the firewoods here?”
Argo-san took out something resembling a large cloth from the luggage we brought here . After that, he brought the chopped trees with the suitable length and created something similar to a few tents .
In the middle of that, a small azure-colored bird turned up at Argo-san’s side . After passing a small paper held in its beak, the small bird flew again .
“Argo-san, what is that?”
“Aah, Yuuri-chan doesn’t know? They are called as magical birds, which are small birds made of magical stones that the dwarf tribe created . They enable us to report the information from another place like this . ”
Hee . Certainly, craftmanship seemed to be the dwarves’ specialty . So, they created such small birds like that .
“I see . And Argo-san will be collecting the information like that?”
“That’s right . The Monster Flood has just begun, so I think that there won’t be too many of the monsters, though . But if the number of a specific kind turns out to be a lot, we will be able to tell from which kind will the king be born . ”
“We are able to tell?!”
“Yeah . That’s right . Before a monster king is born, the number of the monsters from that kind will increase a lot . That way, we will be able to tell from which kind of a monster will the king be born from, and won’t we be able to prepare for a counter-measure faster, then? I think that the other countries are also exploring the Demon Forest around this time . ”
Is that so? For that reason, we are all exploring the Demon Forest like this .
“Ah, then the number of Undead increased eight years ago?”
“That’s right, but Undead are basically only found near the Demon Empire . That is why, nobody had realized that their numbers had multiplied until they came to attack the people of Ares kingdom . In addition, the Undead King is rarely born . ”
Aah, that’s why they were late in preparing the counter-measure, huh…?
This time, it would be nice if we could immediately identify the monster king’s species…
While thinking about that, several things akin to tents were made . In addition, something akin to a fireplace was also made .
A…awesome . He was so fast in working!
“You see, these tents have protective magic formation added to them . That’s why, as long as we are at the campsite, there is no need to be worried over being attacked by the monsters . ”
“That’s such a relief . ”
In Elysia Online, when we bought a tent and used it, we would be able to fully recover our HP and MP in the field . That must be the mechanism behind it . I see~ .
“Shall we bring some water right now? Yuuri-chan, can you apply Cure to the water?”
Ooh! That’s one way to apply detoxification or the cure magic . With it, drinking unboiled water won’t pose any harm to one’s stomach!
I steadily applied Cure to the water inside the pots that Argo-san and Georg-san carried .
Since I only used Wind Arrows today, there was enough excessive MP for me to use .
At any rate, I’ll only be helping in the campground today, right…?
I’m only using my magic for it, right…?
Arere???
But as long as I can be of any use to everyone, then it’s alright! It’s important to defeat the monsters, but securing a place to sleep is also important!
My mood improved as I thought about that, so I continued using Cure . Amidst all that, Georg-san suddenly called me . I was so surprised that I reflexively jumped .
Ah…The cure flew towards the inside of the forest . W-what do I do?!
But…since it’s only a cute, it should be fine, I guess…? It is fine, right?
“Since it’s only a cure, it’s alright . ”
Looking at my flustered figure, Georg-san reassured me . His outward appearance resembled a bear, but his eyes were very gentle . In addition, he possessed a calming and gentle voice . As expected from the person Amandsan liked, he was surely a really great person .
“Ehehee . ”
As I laughed, Georg-san’s eyes turned even gentler .
“That’s it for today . Yuuri-chan, aren’t you tired?”
“I’m alright! Everyone else should be even more tired, right?”
“They should be alright, for they regularly trained . ”
Certainly…At a glance, Argo-san didn’t seem to be that tired . As for the other knights, they seemed to be brimming with physical strength, as expected from regularly training .
I wonder if Serensan and the other magicians are also regularly training? Ah, but if they have a magic formation to recover from fatigue, they can just put it on their clothes .
Come to think of it, it’s so convenient having magic formations . I wonder how they were made?
I wonder if Georg-san will be able to tell me this time?
At that moment .
Suddenly, a growl “Grrrrrr” could be heard from behind me .
Ehh?!
“Be careful!”
As I turned around, a black shadow sprung upon me .
Eh, why? The area around here should be under the effect of the monster-proof magic formation, right?!
At the edge of my vision, I could see Georg-san drawing out his sword . But the black shadow was even faster than him .
“Yuuri-chan!!!!!!”
Argo-san’s voice could be heard .
“Ehh?”
Right before it collided with me, the black shadow made a turn and went down to my feet .
And then…
“Nyaaaaan . ”
“Nya? Nyaa??????”
When I looked at my feet, there was a pitch black kitten who was rolling around my feet .
“Eh? C…cat…?”
Why would a kitten be here?!