Chapter 28: Another Adventurer Party
“I never thought we’d end up returning to the Forest of Enchantment so soon after leaving it…”
“It’s been a day since we last saw it.”
We walked straight along the narrow path that cut through the grasslands. Occasionally, we were overtaken by carriages or passed by empty ones, but there were no other travelers on foot.
“Walking like this, it really feels empty.”
“At least the grass is shorter than the fields we crossed yesterday, so we can see around us.”
“Exactly, which makes it even clearer just how empty it is.”
“Ahaha, true enough.”
After walking for about an hour, sparse trees began to appear. By the two-hour mark, the grasslands had vanished, revealing more exposed earth. It was then that we encountered a wolf monster, which we swiftly hunted and stored away.
“I’d prefer to carry our prey back where there are people, if possible.”
“Hmm… Can’t we just put it in the Dimensional Box?”
“I don’t mind that, but carrying it back would make a bigger impact, right? That way, everyone will know we defeated it without us having to say a word.”
“Yeah… I suppose it’s necessary to avoid any strange troubles.”
After discussing how to carry our spoils, our stomachs growled, prompting us to cook a hearty meal. Perhaps because we had been living off preserved food since last night, this meal turned out to be more elaborate than usual. We stepped off the path and into the grasslands, about a kilometer away, where I gathered some herbs. Using Earth Magic, I created a stove and pulled out the pot and frying pan made with Earth Magic from the Dimensional Box to prepare soup and steak.
“It’s delicious, but I wish we had some seasoning.”
I felt a slight sense of dissatisfaction, but it was still a satisfying meal.
After a winding journey of nearly four hours on foot, we finally arrived at the square. At first glance, it seemed like the path ended here, but that wasn’t the case. A narrow road continued deeper into the area. This must be the terminus for the shared carriage to the Forest of Enchantment.
“Now, where’s the Regulus Fruit?”
“Let’s head deeper for now.”
The Regulus Fruit is a red, oval-shaped fruit about the size of a fist. Its entire surface is covered in spikes, and it’s known for being sweet and delicious. It resembles a cactus, and the larger ones can grow up to three meters tall. Once we reached the Forest of Enchantment, trees of that height were abundant, making it impossible to search from above.
“We can search the usual way, right?”
“Yeah, that should work.”
“Got it. I’ll see you later.”
We split into two groups, heading deeper into the same forest. I kept a reasonable distance from Rio to maximize our search area. We were within each other’s Presence Detection range, but far enough apart to remain out of sight.
“Hmm… I can sense a few people around.”
Occasionally, other adventurers entered my Presence Detection range, but I ignored them as they didn’t seem to pose any threat. However, after about an hour of walking, I detected four presences ahead. It seemed we were on a collision course, so I adjusted our path slightly.
“…Why are they getting closer even after I moved?”
It appeared they weren’t going to let us pass unnoticed. They seemed to have sensed us as well. It was too late to hide my presence now. I decided to stop and wait. After a short while, two figures emerged from the thicket ahead: a burly man clad in heavy armor with red hair, and a lean, agile man.
“…A child?”
That was the first thing he said upon seeing me. Well, I guess I do look like a child compared to them!
“Can I help you?”
As I replied, the other man turned around and waved to someone behind him. Moments later, the remaining two figures revealed themselves. They appeared to be mages—two women in robes.
“Well, we noticed a presence wandering alone in the Forest of Enchantment, so we were curious.”
“Oh, is that so? No need to worry. I have my partner with me.”
“I-I see…”
I tried to assure them that everything was fine, but they began whispering among themselves. Although Rio wasn’t present, it was clear that we had come to the forest together.
“Though it seems we can’t see your partner…”
Ah, they must be concerned about Rio. Since I had stopped, she was stealthily approaching us.
“I was just off doing my own thing for a bit, but I’m fine. …Oh, look, she’s right behind you.”
As I spoke, the two of them jumped and turned around quickly, revealing Rio as she stepped into view. They continued to look at me, but I could see a hint of unease in their expressions.
“Is something wrong, Shuu?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. They were just worried about a child wandering alone in the forest.”
While I didn’t appreciate being treated like a child, I knew I had to convey the information accurately.
“I see.”
With Rio’s arrival, the whispering resumed. I could catch bits and pieces of their conversation, but I couldn’t discern the full context.
“Ah, sorry about that. We were actually on our way back and thought we’d offer to escort you, but it seems that might have been unnecessary.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you for your concern.”
“Haha… Well then, take care.”
It seemed they were a kind-hearted adventurer party. We had just encountered some trouble this morning, but it was nice to know that there were good people out there too.
“Yes, please be careful.”
As I called out to them, the four-member party departed, making sure to avoid me as they left.