Chapter 15: Encounter
The next day, we departed from Okuri at dawn, making our way through the agricultural fields and into the forest at the base of the eastern mountains.
According to the information we had gathered, a strange-looking human had appeared from that forest before vanishing deep within its depths once more.
An elf who had witnessed the event claimed that the figure had a lower body resembling that of a snake, which reminded me of the famous fantasy creature known as the Lamia. However, it seemed that no such half-human, half-snake race existed on this continent.
“Souji-sama, I sense a presence that feels different from the ordinary. It’s reminiscent of something I’ve felt before…”
After walking for about an hour into the forest, Freinir glanced around, voicing her concern.
“Is it different from the presence of the Undead?”
“Yes, it is not Undead. The presence is quite strong—perhaps even stronger than a Demon.”
“So, it’s not a Demon either. But if it’s stronger than a Demon…”
Considering my experience, such a powerful entity would be limited in identity. Of course, there was also the possibility of an unknown opponent.
“Can you determine the direction?”
“Yes, it’s this way.”
As we followed Freinir’s lead, we began to notice signs of deforestation—trees that had been felled. The stumps showed signs of having been cut down in one swift motion by an incredibly sharp blade.
We pressed deeper into the forest, navigating through the remnants of the logging.
Suddenly, Larni perked up her ears and drew her sword. Karma, another beastkin, unsheathed her greatsword from her back and stepped forward.
“Souji, something is coming. It smells familiar, like something I’ve encountered before.”
“It has a strange odor. It doesn’t seem pleasant, so we should be cautious.”
I gripped my mace tightly, peering deeper into the forest. My Presence Detection skill reacted, indicating that ten monsters were weaving through the trees toward us.
As we braced ourselves, a red-black, elongated silhouette of a dog-like monster emerged from the thicket.
“Is that… the Twilight Hound?!”
Sfenia shouted, and Karma’s expression turned to one of shock.
“Is it really the Twilight Hound?! If so, does that mean the Kin of Twilight are nearby?”
“That’s highly likely. I never expected the Kin of Twilight to appear so close to Okuri.”
The ten dog-like monsters began to encircle us, their posture menacing.
They stood as tall as humans, with patches of fur resembling the exoskeleton of a beetle. There was no doubt that these were the Twilight Hounds that Zaikal commanded.
I held my mace at the ready, waiting for their next move. The last time we fought, they had breathed fire, so I couldn’t let my guard down even at this distance.
However, the Twilight Hounds merely continued their intimidation, showing no signs of attacking. Something felt off.
“Souji-sama, I can unleash the Divine Light.”
“Freir, hold on a moment. Sfenia and Shizuna, prepare your magic but hold off for now.”
“Why are you stopping us?”
“Something feels strange. It’s as if they have no intention of fighting, or perhaps they’ve been commanded not to.”
When we encountered the Twilight Hounds in Barbadoza, they had exhibited unusual behavior, waiting for Zaikal’s orders. It was possible that the Twilight Hounds before us were also obeying their master’s command to intimidate us without escalating to an attack.
“But if we don’t act, we won’t be able to proceed. Shouldn’t we eliminate them?”
Sfenia’s point was valid, but given that there was no clear intent to attack from them, I hesitated to strike first. If the Hounds bore no hostility, it likely meant their master did not either. Attacking them would only show our intent to confront.
As I struggled to make a decision, I sensed another presence approaching from beyond the intimidating Twilight Hounds.
“Humans, this is my dwelling ahead. Turn back and do not approach again, and I shall not act against you. However, if you choose to proceed, you will come to know the power of the Kin of Twilight.”
The voice was feminine, tinged with a metallic resonance.
Accompanied by a dragging sound, a figure emerged—an individual with the upper body of a human woman and the lower body of a snake, her skin a rich brown.
With long black hair and striking blue eyes, her features were undeniably beautiful, though the reptilian aspect of her lower half added an unsettling quality. She wore only a cloth to cover her chest, yet adorned herself with an abundance of accessories—armlets, necklaces, and a circlet.
“I will say this once more. Leave now. Forget about me, if you value your lives.”
Our second encounter with a member of the Kin of Twilight seemed unlikely to be resolved through force, unlike our previous encounter with Zaikal.
I stepped forward, urging Larni and Karma to hold back as I approached the Kin of Twilight.
“I am Souji, the leader of the adventurer party known as Soul’s Guidance. We have come to investigate this forest. Therefore, we cannot simply turn back. If possible, I would like to have a word with you.”
“I am Geshura, one of the Kin of Twilight. What do you wish to ask of me?”
The upper body of a human woman and the lower body of a snake… Geshura seemed willing to engage in conversation.
“I wish to know why you have come here and what actions you intend to take moving forward.”
“Why do you wish to know such things?”
“For us, you, as a member of the Kin of Twilight, pose a potential threat. This forest lies within human territory, and there are human settlements nearby. Depending on your intentions and actions, we may need to respond accordingly.”
“In other words, you wish to know if I harbor hostile intentions or if I mean to cause harm.”
“To put it succinctly, yes.”
“Hmm…”
Geshura swayed her long tail from side to side, contemplating before speaking again.
“If I were to answer that I have no intention of hostility, would you simply leave me be?”
“I cannot say. The decision on how to respond lies with the representative of the humans.”
“I see, humans operate in such a manner. Very well, let us converse. Come closer.”
With that, Geshura began to lead the Twilight Hounds deeper into the forest, her tail swaying gracefully.
Larni lowered her tail, looking at me with caution.
“What will you do, Souji?”
“We have no choice but to follow. If they intended to attack, they would have unleashed the Hounds from the start. I believe we can assume they have no intention of fighting.”
“That’s true enough. Besides, if anything happens, I’m sure you can handle it.”
“That’s debatable. We don’t know their capabilities yet.”
“But they seem weaker than Zaikal, right? Oh, but they could be a spellcaster type.”
“Regardless, we should proceed.”
I urged everyone forward, following Geshura.
After about five minutes of walking, we arrived at a clearing within the forest. To my surprise, a large log cabin stood there. It appeared to be newly built, perhaps constructed from the trees that had been felled. I wondered if the drying process had been aided by magic.
“You cannot all enter. Souji, was it? Only you may come inside.”
Geshura commanded the Twilight Hounds to stand down before swiftly entering the log cabin.
Freinir and the others looked at me with concern, but I reassured them, saying, “It’s fine,” and stepped through the entrance after Geshura.