Chapter 77: Craftsman City Raven
“Something’s coming!”
As if it had entered the range of Rio’s detection, she turned her face toward the source of the presence and began to be on guard. It was hard to believe that anything could threaten us while we floated high above the forest, but it was better to be prepared. After all, we couldn’t rule out the possibility of a long-range attack.
“Wait…!”
Just then, about five hundred meters away, a beastly presence began to rise from the ground. The trees in the forest were probably around a hundred meters tall at most, and we were hovering another twenty meters above that. After a moment, a wolf-like beast emerged from the treetops, sprinting through the air toward us.
“Why is it running in the air!?”
Thanks to Rio’s surprise, I felt a bit calmer. I wondered if it had some kind of skill that allowed it to run in the air. That was almost more intriguing than the beast itself. I should try practicing that next time.
Still, it was massive… Even from this distance, it was hard to gauge its size accurately. My sense of perspective was starting to warp.
“I don’t know, but for now, let’s go with the bait strategy!”
“Y-Yeah.”
We carefully drew the monster closer. The distance was already under a hundred meters. The pale white wolf, tinged with a hint of blue, was charging straight toward me.
“Here it comes!”
I firmly planted my feet in the air and leaped, opening my mouth wide as the beast lunged at me. I pulled a Great Dragon from the Dimensional Box and hurled it at the wolf.
“—Grrr!?”
Once I confirmed that it had caught the dragon firmly in its jaws, I shouted,
“Alright, let’s get out of here!”
I took off at full speed, racing eastward through the sky.
“Haah… What was that all about…?”
“That was surprising…”
We had just crossed the Heavenly Wolf Forest and arrived at a grassy area. It was nearing evening, and the sun was beginning to set. At the forest’s exit, there was a lumberyard, but since no one was around, I impulsively landed inside. However, there was a guard stationed at the entrance, so we quickly retreated.
We circled around the trees and found an unseen spot to set up our campsite for the night. I took out the Camping House from the Dimensional Box and we settled in.
“That wolf… Was it an advanced species of Silver Wolf?”
“I think so. Its size was completely different, and more importantly, its name was—Heavenly Wolf.”
“Wait, what!?”
Rio’s eyes widened at the name of the monster I had revealed with a flourish.
“I was appraising it back then…”
So that’s what surprised you, huh?
“By the way, the Fenrir that the village is named after, is it different from the Heavenly Wolf…? I can’t figure that part out.”
“Hmm… I don’t think so.”
Encouraged by my gaze, Rio continued, furrowing her brow in thought.
“There were plenty of Silver Wolves in the forest. So, I think advanced species might be born somewhat frequently.”
“I see… So, you mean that it’s probably different from the Fenrir, which hasn’t been seen in over two hundred years?”
“Exactly.”
“Then does that mean the Fenrir is an even higher species than the Heavenly Wolf?”
“That seems to be the case.”
Hmm. I didn’t quite understand the mechanism behind the birth of advanced species, but they probably weren’t born all that often. If it was an advanced species of an advanced species, it would be even rarer.
By the way, the Great Dragon I threw at the Heavenly Wolf was a lizard that dwelled deep within the Forest of Enchantment. It was slightly weaker than the Earth Dragon, but even at a smaller size, it exceeded ten meters, making it a substantial meal. The Heavenly Wolf we encountered was probably around five meters tall. Since I had provided it with a fifteen-meter-long meal (the Great Dragon), it would take some time for it to eat.
“Still, what was that tower all about?”
“It felt like a mystery from the Otherworld.”
“Just like the rift in the borderlands, this Otherworld is packed with fantasy elements.”
“Ahaha, yes. With magic and everything, it really hits home that this place is different from Japan.”
The Otherworld must be vast as well. Besides the rift and the tower, there could be countless mysteries waiting to be uncovered. As we chatted, the night deepened around us.
“So this is Craftsman City…”
The following day, just before noon, we finally arrived at Craftsman City Raven after crossing the grassy plains and a river. It was a large city surrounded by stone walls. The road leading into the forest was wide and flat, and I could see horse-drawn carts occasionally bringing in felled trees. This might be promising.
As soon as we arrived, we headed toward the Adventurer’s Guild, as directed by the gatekeeper. True to its name, the city was filled with workshops. To the west lay the Heavenly Wolf Forest, known for its high-quality timber, and to the east was a mine rich in quality ores, making it a well-located city.
“First, we need to secure a place to stay.”
Rio pulled me away from the workshops I was about to wander into and led me straight to the guild. The Adventurer’s Guild was located just east of the central square, along the cobblestone Main Street.
“Um, where’s the counter…?”
While I was distracted by all the sights, it was Rio who asked the guild staff for recommendations on accommodations.
“A place with a bath and delicious food? Please wait a moment.”
The staff member pulled something out from under the counter.
“The budget-friendly option is the ‘Horse Horn Inn’ located on the south side of the city, while a slightly more upscale place is the ‘Serpent’s Shin Inn’ on the north side.”
Wait, do horses even have horns? And snakes definitely don’t have shins.
…Well, whatever. I decided not to think too deeply about it.
“Then let’s check out the ‘Serpent’s Shin Inn.'”
As we asked for directions, we were about to leave the guild when we overheard a nearby adventurer muttering.
“Tch, a kid going for a high-end inn, huh? Must be some noble’s spoiled brat…”
Please, let there be no bad omens.