Chapter 53: The Demon Realm Forest with the Exiled Marquise 2
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If we believe the map and the records from that time, the location of the Demon Realm Church should be about half a day’s walk from the point where we entered the forest.
For adventurers who can use Physical Enhancement, it would be a distance of about three hours for very average adventurers.
For High-Rank adventurers, if I may be so bold, someone like me or Erica could probably shorten that time even further.
But that was just considering the distance alone; in reality, since we’re traveling through the Demon Realm Forest, there would likely be battles with Monsters, so my thinking was that it would be impossible in such a short time.
Well…
“That’s what I thought, though…”
I realized my own voice held a slight tone of exasperation.
“W-What is it?”
Shara dutifully responded to my words, which I had intended as a Soliloquy.
She was panting from keeping up with mine and Erica’s pace. She could have just stayed quiet and caught her breath, but maybe she’s just too serious or dutiful.
“This, what do you think it is?”
I pointed down at my feet.
“Um… a rock?”
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile at Shara’s answer.
Looks like we’ll rest at least until she catches her breath and can think clearly.
With just a glance, I asked Erica to keep watch on our surroundings, then told Shara the correct answer.
“It’s a road sign indicating that the church is about another hour’s walk from here.”
Shara gave a silly grin.
It was the kind of face that said, ‘Oh, you’re joking again~ I won’t fall for it~’.
“Look.”
I shifted half a step sideways so she could get a better look at the road sign.
Though covered in moss, cracked, and looking like it could crumble at any moment from exposure to the Demon Realm’s environment, the crest of the City of Hecate and the number assigned to the sign—marking it unmistakably as a road sign—were barely visible.
“It’s real!”
For some reason, Shara seemed angry at me.
“This! It’s the one we saw on the map yesterday!”
Shara shouted, pointing at the barely readable number on the road sign.
Well, I understood the urge to shout.
Even I hadn’t expected our exploration of the Demon Realm to progress at this speed.
Certainly, Erica’s performance had been nothing short of incredible, but even she didn’t have infinite Magicka. I had thought it would be impossible to keep advancing while defeating that many Monsters, and that we would have to consider retreating at some point.
I had never imagined we’d be on pace to reach the Demon Realm Church on the very first day. But after advancing for a while longer, the Monsters suddenly stopped appearing.
Even with my vague Presence Detection Skill, whose only merit is its wide range, I could tell that the presence of Monsters had drastically decreased.
There wasn’t even a single Monster entering Erica’s attack range.
Or rather, it seemed like they were fleeing whenever we approached.
It was a situation that made me wonder what those hordes of Monsters right after we entered the forest had been all about.
What was even more concerning was that we hadn’t encountered any other adventurers.
This area is now called the middle layer of the forest, but it was once an area cleared by humanity.
It didn’t make sense to come this far without encountering a single adventurer.
Even if the number of adventurers has decreased from its peak, it’s not like there are absolutely no adventurers earning their keep in the middle layer.
In fact, the middle layer should be the main area for adventurers to earn money. And yet, this situation was almost like…
Almost like someone was deliberately keeping people away.
Well, there’s no way that could be… or could it?
In that instant, a thought flashed through my mind, and almost simultaneously, I felt an immense chill.
My regret over hesitating came only after I realized I had wasted a precious instant.
My Physical Enhancement, pushed to its maximum, left my thoughts behind.
“Erica!”
I shouted Erica’s name before the words could even fully form in my head.
The trust unknowingly embedded in my voice was not betrayed.
“Protecting isn’t exactly my forte, but…”
The glittering Golden Magicka told me my intention had gotten through.
Seeing Shara enveloped in the Golden Magicka, I felt relieved.
Now I could shove Shara away without hesitation.
The Barrier Erica created enveloped Shara, who still wore a dazed expression, not understanding what was happening.
The excessive amount of Magicka poured into it proved Erica wasn’t lying when she said protecting wasn’t her forte.
She had overwhelmed efficiency and skill with sheer power.
“Don’t bite your tongue!”
I warned her, though I doubted she’d understand in time.
“Eh?”
A sound finally escaped Shara’s throat.
Thinking I couldn’t send her very far since we were in a forest, I punched the Barrier surrounding Shara with all my might.
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!”
Letting out a sound—whether a scream or something else, I couldn’t tell—Shara went flying, Barrier and all.
Catching Shara flying towards the gap between the trees exactly as I’d aimed in the corner of my eye, I braced myself for what I truly needed to