Chapter 41: Preparing for the Investigation
The tent is too heavy to carry on foot. I could manage it alone, but carrying enough for everyone would be a hassle. I should make a sheet out of lightweight leather. If I stretch a rope between trees and pull one side up while securing the other three points to the ground, it’ll turn into a simple shelter.
I need leather that’s as light as it is sturdy, and that can keep out rain and wind.
In the end, I decided to take Dean’s advice. It’s a twelve-day journey, five days one way, with two days as a buffer. From Edo Nihonbashi to Kyoto Sanjo Ohashi, it’s supposed to take twelve to fifteen days, right? So, if we leave Edo, we should reach a point where we can see Suruga Bay. Since we’re not taking the main roads, it might be shorter.
Water shouldn’t be a concern, but when it rains, both ordinary beasts and demon beasts tend to vanish, so I need to prepare accordingly.
Ash and I are in charge of transporting food, and on the way back, we’ll carry materials. Some people are said to rely entirely on others, but Chris and Dean can take care of themselves. They gather and hunt their own food, so essentially, we’re just carrying their stuff back.
Dean said, “What are you going to do if you get separated and can’t handle things yourself?”
So, I’ll bring extra food and gather supplies to ensure I can be comfortable. A leather bag for drinking water, a cooking pot, a knife, a hooded cloak, a leather cup, and a plate. Flint, tinder, and pine resin, plus a shovel. I heard there’s a river, so I’ll need fishing hooks and line. Oh, I should also prepare some repair needles and thread.
Rope and bags…
I’ll make a lightweight leather sheet and cloak, some insect repellent ointment, and preserved food. I’d like sturdy gloves too.
It’s cold, but for now, I’ll head into the forest to practice magic and hunt a Giant Lizard to gather materials.
Alright!
—Though it feels a bit counterproductive. I think that as I actively hunt the horned Giant Lizards. Two horns are common, but I still need three. I’m not even sure where I’m hunting in the forest. The map’s scale is hard to grasp.
Apparently, deeper in the forest, outside the investigation area, there are Three-Horned Lizards that have settled there and rarely come down to human settlements. They must be the type that avoids things they dislike?
Since there are more Two-Horned Lizards here, I don’t think I’m too deep in, but who knows.
I decided to skip practicing magic since it’s too cold.
Instead, I’ll focus on sensing my surroundings and taking down any horned ones I encounter. The cold is my enemy! The ground is treacherous, and I can understand why Chris avoided winter.
Moreover, I requested a re-investigation from the Guild right after returning, but it seems my request was denied once. To be precise, it was put on hold while they dealt with the nobles (ignored). It was supposed to be a two-day instruction, but I ended up being sent to the neighboring city. Ugh, nobles.
The Guild was probably still in a frenzy over the Spirit that was attached to Pink Head. Ah, maybe I should check out the Spirits here.
I closed my eyes and opened them.
Suddenly, the world changed. Surrounding me were many Spirits, ranging from translucent to those indistinguishable from reality.
Most were the same as the Spirits that come to our House, but some had bright red eyes or dark circles around them.
If they possess these Spirits, do they turn into demon beasts? Most of these Spirits seemed to be melting away, with parts of their limbs or faces disappearing, or they had already lost their shape and curled up into small balls.
Spirits with missing parts were trying to absorb the bodies of other Spirits. They were targeting the parts they had lost. There’s a difference between melting them away or tearing them apart, but they all aimed for what they had lost.
Some Spirits lose their memories, while others are left with only burnt emotions, becoming slaves to those feelings. That’s what I’ve heard.
This is an unpleasant sight. If they’re like Rishu, [Healing] won’t work. If they’re like Rishu, the method of healing will be the same. I’ll have to contract with them and channel my power.
Until now, I had been limiting the time and number of Spirits I interacted with, and since I was fully receptive on their side, I hadn’t felt any issues. But normally, “naming” takes mental energy. Especially for Spirits that are strong and dislike being controlled.
After that, I use magic power to nourish the Spirits. I hadn’t consciously thought about losing magic power until now, but that’s probably because my physical abilities are quite exceptional.
Also, as I get used to consuming magic power, my total amount and recovery speed seem to increase, so I’m steadily raising it little by little, which might be balancing out my ability growth?
The first Spirit I contracted and renamed from a number has grown from palm-sized to about the size of a tissue box. When I borrow the Spirit’s power, I also transfer magic power, which is likely why.
They’re all friendly, and the reason I don’t need to transfer much magic power is probably why I haven’t faced magic power depletion. For some reason, many Spirits join in playfully without me even transferring magic power.
I’ve been transferring magic power to Rishu while petting her, so she should be receiving the most from me, but she’s still small. She has gotten healthier, though.
This hostile, blackened Spirit won’t be the same as the previous ones. Well, I’ll do what I can. I’ve already hunted more than enough Giant Lizards, so today’s work is done.
“Well then,” I decided to name one, but since they had been coming to me until now, I had no idea how to proceed.
For now, I grabbed a nearby Spirit tightly.
“Your name is Black One.”
I stared intently as I announced the name. There was a bit of resistance, or it seemed to squirm until I finished saying the name, but it passed easily. It seems this method works?
“Black Two.”
“Black Three.”
“Forest Yellow One.”
“Black Four.”
I chased them around, grabbing each one and naming them. Their reactions varied from being furious to looking confused after I just tossed them aside after naming them.
There are still many left, but I’m worried about hypothermia, so I’ll set a time limit and retreat. I also named the ordinary Spirits that came by in between, but since I forgot the numbers, I just named them starting from the forest. I also added materials from the Lizard and Fox Demon Beasts. I feel like I could probably “name” the demon beasts if I tried hard enough, but I’ll focus on defeating those that attack.
I’m doing this for my own satisfaction, so I have no intention of doing everything, and I’ll act based on my feelings and preferences.
So, I’ll be back tomorrow! Those who ran away better be ready!
—When I got home, I collapsed on the floor, and Rishu, worried about me, started circling around me. I think I’ll save for now.