Chapter 8: To the Elf Village – Part 04
That evening, the traveler’s lodge in the farming village was fully booked, forcing us to camp just off the main road.
Of course, I had prepared for such situations by storing a tent in my Item Box. Compared to the camping tents from my previous life, this one was heavier and more cumbersome to set up, but having a tent while camping made a world of difference.
As I admired the completed tent, Sfenia murmured, “Indeed, having an Item Box is essential for high-ranking parties. Just the fact that you possess this skill, Soushi, elevates the value of your party.”
“I’ve only just acquired this skill myself, but I find it incredibly convenient. By the way, I’ve also prepared some cooking supplies,” I replied.
I pulled out a cutting board, knife, pot, and various ingredients like vegetables and meat. I had even splurged on a magical cooking stove, thinking it would be indispensable for tackling deep dungeons beyond the tenth floor.
“This is wonderful! Being able to eat something warm while traveling is truly a blessing,” Sfenia exclaimed.
“Oh, Soushi, would you mind if I took over the cooking? I’d love to help out in any way I can,” Hofena said, her face beaming with excitement at the sight of the cooking tools. Cooking while camping certainly had its charm.
“Then, could I ask you to do that? We have plenty of seasonings as well,” I replied.
“Well, with this much, I’m sure I can whip up something delicious,” she said cheerfully.
“If you need water, I can conjure some with magic,” Sfenia added, naturally stepping in to assist. The ability to summon water with magic was a significant advantage while camping. Although I had stored a reasonable amount in my Item Box, being able to use as much as we liked was a great relief.
As I pondered this, Larni approached and whispered, “I knew you’d want Sfenia, right?” Her smug expression made it hard to respond.
Meanwhile, Freinir had wandered over to Hofena, peering curiously at the ingredients being chopped.
“Um, is there anything I can help with? I’d like to learn how to cook…” she asked shyly.
“Oh, Frei-chan, of course! Let’s do this together,” Hofena replied warmly.
It seemed we were about to start an impromptu cooking class during our journey.
“By the way, Frei, could you use your Barrier Magic to cover this area? If the wind blows in, it’ll extinguish the fire,” I suggested.
“Yes, Soushi-sama,” Freinir replied.
I had already confirmed that the air inside Freinir’s Barrier didn’t suffocate us. It seemed to allow air to pass through while blocking the wind, which was quite fascinating. Perhaps it repelled anything with a certain amount of force.
Once Freinir cast the Barrier, Sfenia remarked with admiration, “Frei, you can use Barrier Magic? With that, it seems like your party won’t have any issues while camping. It’s no wonder Hofena chose you.”
“Ufufu, I didn’t know that either. I guess I was lucky,” Freinir replied with a smile.
The soup Hofena prepared turned out to be incredibly delicious. Thanks to Sfenia’s water magic, we had plenty of water to boil, allowing us to wash ourselves as well. We were enjoying a remarkably comfortable camping experience.
Moreover, thanks to Freinir’s Barrier Magic, we didn’t even need a night watch, revealing just how fortunate our party was in more ways than one. This surely boosted Sfenia’s standing in the group… or so Larni said.
The next day, we would merely be walking along the main road.
Or so we thought, but by early afternoon, Hofena seemed to have exhausted her stamina. Although we had been taking breaks, our pace had dropped significantly.
It was true that we had been walking a bit faster than usual, and it might have been tough for someone who hadn’t Awakened their abilities. Hofena seemed more of an indoor type, after all.
Reluctantly, I pulled out a backpack from my Item Box and decided to carry Hofena on my back. I had anticipated this situation, so it was within my expectations.
“Thank you, Soushi. I didn’t realize I’d become this exhausted,” Hofena said apologetically from my back.
“No, it’s understandable. Keeping up with adventurers can be tough. Please don’t hesitate to rest your body, even if it’s not very restful,” I reassured her.
“That’s not true; it’s surprisingly comfortable. But am I too heavy for you?” she asked, concerned.
“Not at all! Honestly, it feels as light as carrying a feather. I’m naturally strong, so it’s no different from carrying nothing at all,” I replied.
It was true; I hardly felt any weight. If I put my mind to it, I could probably lift a ton without breaking a sweat. Since becoming an adventurer, I felt increasingly detached from my human limitations, and putting numbers to it only amplified that feeling.
“You’ve already considered situations like this, haven’t you, Soushi? And being able to support your clients naturally is a quality that high-ranking adventurers should possess,” Sfenia remarked.
As she said this, Larni gave me a thumbs-up from a hidden spot.
Freinir was inexplicably holding my hand, perhaps feeling something about me carrying Hofena. It felt like our bond was strengthening, almost like a familial connection.
As we continued our leisurely journey, I recalled that the area we were heading towards was known to be dangerous.
Monsters sometimes descended from the mountains, and there were reports of bandits lurking about. Given my Bad Luck skill, it felt like we were due for an encounter with some unsavory characters.
Normally, adventurers wouldn’t be targeted, but I had heard that some bandits were former adventurers themselves. Moreover, we were a group of beautiful women. If any troublemakers were around, they wouldn’t overlook the fact that a burly man was traveling with them.
Sfenia had likely faced human opponents before (as defeating bandits was a requirement for advancing to C-Rank), but neither Freinir nor I had any experience in that regard.
“Larni, have you ever fought against humans?” I asked.
“Eh? I haven’t since becoming an adventurer, but before that, I fought against slave hunters,” she replied.
“Slave hunters?”
I was taken aback by her unexpected words. Freinir’s eyes widened in surprise, indicating this was no ordinary topic.
“Yes. We wolf beastmen have high physical abilities, making us prime targets for illegal slave traders. Some even raid villages, and I make sure to take down every last one of them,” Larni explained.
“I can’t believe that happens… That’s terrible,” I said, feeling a wave of sympathy.
“Have you never heard of such things before, Soushi?” Sfenia asked, looking puzzled.
It was indeed strange for someone my age to be unaware of such matters.
“I’m from another country and only came to this one to become an adventurer. It’s only been a few months, so I don’t know much about this country or its surroundings,” I admitted.
“Only a few months? I thought you were a veteran given your age… But wait, does that mean you reached D-Rank in such a short time?”
“Yes, that’s correct. Fortunately, I seem to have good luck, and I’ve been blessed with great party members,” I replied.
However, I knew that wouldn’t fully explain my rapid rise. It was said that reaching D-Rank typically took at least a year, making my advancement quite abnormal.
As we chatted while walking along the main road, the mountains we needed to cross loomed closer. It seemed we would reach the foothills by evening.
However, I had sensed multiple presences lurking just outside the range of my Presence Detection for a while now. The area off the road had turned into a forest, and it seemed that “someone” was hiding within.
If they were monsters, they wouldn’t be observing us, so they were undoubtedly bandits. It appeared my Bad Luck skill was doing its job after all.