Chapter 13: To Oz
I decided to head to the Great Spirit Shrine alone, sending the three of them back to the inn.
Upon calling out to the gatekeeper of the shrine, I was almost granted immediate access and led straight to the main hall of the Great Spirit Shrine.
Inside the shrine, many priests were bustling about, clearly busy dealing with the aftermath of the incidents that had occurred over the past couple of days.
I thought it might be impossible to meet the High Priestess under such circumstances, but after speaking with the attending priest, I was quickly ushered into the High Priestess Miona’s office.
Inside the office were High Priestess Miona, Shizuna, Seina, and several priests.
As I entered, Miona stood up from her chair, arms wide open in welcome.
“Oh, Soushi-dono! Thanks to you, many of our people have been saved! Everyone is saying that you and your companions are indeed the emissaries of the Spirit Queen!”
“Thank you very much. However, I believe I merely did what any adventurer should do in that situation.”
“Indeed, you are truly a person worthy of the Sacred Spirit’s regard. However, for the recovery of Seina and the national treasures, the defeat of that demon, and the assistance you provided to so many, the Oz Country owes you a debt that cannot be repaid. We will certainly provide you with a fitting reward, so I kindly ask for your patience in this matter.”
“I understand. Right now, it is of utmost importance to stabilize the capital. Please do not concern yourselves with us.”
“I apologize, but I will take you at your word. Now, I have heard that you have something urgent to discuss. What is it?”
As I took a seat in the offered chair, I got straight to the point.
“Actually, we received a request from the Adventurers’ Guild. We, the ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ have been tasked with investigating the traces of the demon. Therefore, I would like your permission to investigate the mountain where the demon is believed to have appeared.”
“If it is the request of our great benefactor, Soushi-dono, then of course, I grant you permission. Will Shizuna be accompanying you on this investigation?”
“Of course. She is a member of ‘Soul’s Guidance.'”
Upon hearing my response, Miona nodded and exchanged a few words with a nearby priest. It seemed that things were unfolding as I had anticipated.
“In that case, may we also be involved in this investigation? The country will also send a request to ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ so we would like you to inform us of the results through Shizuna.”
“If it is a request from the country, it will also contribute to our achievements, so we will gladly accept. If possible, we would like to begin the investigation tomorrow morning.”
“Understood. I will have Shizuna return to being an adventurer starting tomorrow. I will ensure that the request is delivered to the guild immediately.”
“Thank you. I have preparations to make, so I will take my leave now.”
As I stood up, Miona approached me quietly.
“By the way, Soushi-dono, while Shizuna can be a bit clumsy, I believe she possesses both a good heart and charm. If you find her to your liking, I would be grateful if you could keep her by your side.”
“Wha…”
Miona’s suggestion of “keeping her by your side” could only mean one thing: “Please marry her.”
Suddenly receiving such an outrageous whisper, I was left speechless.
When I glanced at Shizuna, she was looking at me with a normal expression, indicating that this was news to her as well. I couldn’t help but think that the timing was rather inappropriate… Could this possibly be one of the rewards? I sincerely hoped not.
“Such matters are deeply personal for each individual…”
I managed to say this while desperately trying to escape the situation.
The next morning, we, ‘Soul’s Guidance,’ received the request to investigate the demon at the guild and boarded the carriage that Miona had prepared for us, heading towards the western mountain.
After a thirty-minute ride, we arrived at the foot of the mountain. The road was well-maintained, likely because the mountain was an important source of timber and medicinal herbs for the capital.
Looking up at the mountain, it was less than 500 meters high, but it stretched long from north to south, indicating a significant mountain range. It seemed likely that there were more mountains beyond.
The slope on our side was relatively gentle, with trees resembling cedar growing densely, making it clear that this was a suitable area for logging. Upon closer inspection, it appeared that reforestation efforts had also been made, showcasing the Oz Country’s progressive approach to environmental conservation.
The problem was that a single “path” had formed along that slope.
While it could be called a “path,” it was merely a trail of fallen trees leading up towards the summit, clearly indicating the route taken by that rampaging demon.
“We’ll follow this trail, right, Soushi-sama?”
Freinir looked up at the mountain, her eyes glimmering with a hint of excitement. In the past, she would have appeared anxious, but it seemed she had grown as an adventurer.
“That’s right. The investigation might be easier than I thought. But it all depends on what we find at our destination.”
“Does that mean a new demon might appear?”
“That’s a possibility. There could be a demon’s lair, and we have no idea how far this trail extends. In any case, we need to be cautious.”
“Understood, Soushi-sama.”
We had stocked up on ten days’ worth of food. We should be able to reach our destination in five days, but I could only hope that the trail wouldn’t extend that far.
“Alright, let’s go as far as we can. Freinir, make sure to stay alert for any signs of danger. Larni and Sfenia, I’ll rely on your senses as well. Thank you.”
“Okay! Leave the scents to me!”
“I’ll take care of the visuals!”
After confirming the status of Mariane and Shizuna, I stepped into the mountain.
“You know, being with Soushi really shatters a lot of common sense.”
“Indeed. Just like the debris removal the other day, there are hardly any adventurers who can use an Item Box like this.”
Larni and Sfenia were chatting behind me.
The reason for their comments was that I was tossing every fallen tree I encountered into my Item Box as we progressed.
While it was fortunate that the rampaging demon had cleared a path, it was ultimately just a trail of fallen trees, making it nearly impossible for a person to walk through. The fallen trees were simply too obstructive. So, I had the idea of clearing the way by putting every tree in front of me into my Item Box.
“The collected wood can be used as timber, so as expected of you, Soushi-sama.”
“Oh, now that you mention it… it might actually be useful.”
As I responded to Freinir, who was eager to praise me, I continued to climb the slope.
We encountered no monsters, and within two hours, we reached the summit.
“Whoa, the mountains just keep going!”
Larni exclaimed as she gazed at the view from the summit.
Before us lay an expansive mountain range, mostly covered in greenery, resembling a rugged sea of trees at first glance.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but green, but amidst it all, a distinct line stretched out clearly.
That line was the path we had just traversed, the very route taken by the rampaging demon.
“Sfenia, can you see how far this path continues?”
“Yes… it seems to extend to that ridge over there, but not beyond.”
Sfenia pointed to a ridge that required descending the mountain and then climbing back up about 300 meters. It was roughly a straight-line distance of about 10 kilometers.
“So that means there’s a place beyond that ridge where the demon appeared.”
“I believe that is highly likely.”
“That’s a relief; it seems closer than I thought. Alright, let’s take a short break before we set off.”
After having some drinks and snacks during our brief rest, we began our descent towards the next ridge.