Episode 13: Forest Walk
Alright.
So, let’s get right to hunting in the forest near town.
“What are you aiming for? Fang Boar? Savage Stag?”
“Boars and deer won’t fetch that much, will they?”
“Then… a Silver Wolf, maybe?”
“Close, but the black one.”
“You don’t mean…! Are we going after the ‘Barghest’ in the Forest Graveyard?! Just the two of us?!”
“That’s right.”
“Those things, you need a mage to deal with… oh, right. You’re a mage, aren’t you? Then, maybe we can do it…?”
Shio’s doing some mental calculations, like she’s working an abacus in her head… anyway, she’s deep in thought.
“I don’t have a sword, but if I use ‘Adamantine Body’ with all my might, I should be able to hold out for thirty seconds. That should be enough time for you to cast a couple of spells, and even if it’s not a fatal blow, it’ll hurt it pretty bad. Then it’ll probably run… maybe? If it comes at me, I can use my spear… hmm, I think we can do it, maybe?”
She’s muttering to herself…
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll show you some amazing magic.”
I said, putting my arm around Shio’s shoulder, and we left the town.
We greeted the gatekeeper old man and went out the gate.
In front of the gate, there were many people coming and going, and the ground was bare of weeds from people and horses trampling it. A simple road stretched out from there.
Of course, even though it’s called a road, it’s just a simple path wide enough for one carriage to pass, not a concrete-paved road like you’d find on Earth.
Since it’s a dirt road, it gets muddy and awful when it rains, you know?
Well, it’s been sunny lately, so it shouldn’t be a problem, and my magical weather forecast says it’ll be sunny today too.
No worries, let’s go.
…So, we walked along the road for a while, maybe about ten minutes?
Then we reached the path leading into the forest.
No, not a path, really.
I’ll say it again, it’s not paved, okay?
We’ll be going through the forest, where there is no path.
If you get lost?
You die.
You just die.
This is a medieval world, you know? Of course, you’ll die.
Well, if we follow the “Promelos River,” which is the biggest river around here, we should reach civilization, so it should be okay, right?
There’s a branch of the Promelos River around here, and there’s a charcoal burner’s village there. If you pay them the right amount and show them respect, they’ll guide you to town. Probably…
Oops, here’s the forest.
Normally, forests in medieval Europe are treasure troves of rich resources and are, of course, owned by lords and other powerful people, but in this world, it’s a little more relaxed.
That’s because of the existence of Magic Beasts.
If they were to completely declare that all the forests were the property of the Lord! and, for example, a large Demon Lair was created in the forest without them knowing, and there was a massive Magic Beast outbreak! Then it would become the Lord’s responsibility.
So, by opening up some of the forest’s resources and hunting rights to the commoners, they also give the commoners the responsibility and obligation to manage the forest, and they want to spread the damage in case something happens!
That’s how it is in every country.
In name, the forest belongs to the Lord of the land, but if there is a large Magic Beast outbreak, the townspeople are also mobilized, and neighboring Lords are obligated to lend a hand as much as possible…
After all, no one knows when or where a Demon Lair will be created, or when a large outbreak will occur. It’s like an earthquake, thunder, fire, or storm, a disaster.
The Lord is not responsible for the disaster, let’s solve it together!
That’s what it is.
But well, the townspeople probably don’t want to fight every day. It’s a pain, so they want to outsource it. Aren’t there any outsiders who don’t mind dying?
Yes! That’s where Striders come in.
…So, Striders are also a kind of soldier.
In times of emergency, they are told to go and die first, but in return, they have the privilege of hunting, albeit limited, and can earn money by hunting Magic Beasts and beasts in the forest.
Furthermore, Magic Beasts grow and multiply quickly. So, thinning them out is even recommended.
However, it’s not good to kill them recklessly. There are limits…
“Hryaah!”
“Cain!”
While I was thinking about that, I kicked a wolf that jumped at me and sent it flying.
“Coon! Coon!”
The wolf, protecting its kicked right side, disappeared into the depths of the forest…
“Huh? You’re not going to kill it?”
“Recently, the number of boars has been increasing. The wolves need to eat a little more, don’t you think?”
“Hee, you sound like the ‘Guiding Hawk’.”
‘Guiding Hawk’….
That’s a Clan of hunting specialists based in this town.
“That’s what I’m actually doing. Even though Magic Beasts multiply easily, it’s not good to kill them all. You can’t carry them all anyway.”
“That’s right, I don’t want to carry more luggage.”
“Then, let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
After walking for about half a day, we arrived at the “Forest Graveyard”…
It seems to be an ancient graveyard, with several moss-covered stone monuments that have decayed, a clearing in the forest…
Mages are rare in this world, but it’s still a fantasy.
In such abandoned graveyards, gloomy Magical Power accumulates… and Magic Beasts are born.
“…Here we are!”
The master of the Forest Graveyard, a large Magic Beast.
A black body, about the size of a grizzly bear.
With a sturdy skeleton and a large jaw like a crocodile…
A monster with multiple chain-like tentacles made of carapace and its secretions growing from its back.
The Barghest appeared…
“GooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
The Barghest let out a loud roar, jumped off the decayed stone monument, opened its large jaws, and attacked!
Now, the battle begins!