Chapter 178: On the Adventurer’s Path
“This area is said to be the boundary of the Demon Forest,” the party leader, Reidas, remarked as he turned back to address his companions.
“It just looks like an ordinary grassland to me. However, this is where monsters start to appear,” Nadira explained to Salpha—Alpha Salfareas Cosmos—who walked beside her. Salpha nodded while surveying their surroundings.
“Indeed, the vegetation is becoming denser. Are there any animals around?” he inquired.
“In this area, you might spot rabbits, mice, weasels, raccoons, snakes, and dogs. All of them are regular animals, not monsters. Do you know the difference between a monster and a non-monster?” Nadira replied.
Graver posed the question, and Atro—Alpha Atrosanginius Cosmos—answered confidently, “I know. The distinction lies in whether they possess a Magic Stone within their bodies.”
While this wasn’t exactly basic knowledge, the crew aboard the Paraiso had gathered at least a minimum amount of information. In a city where encounters with monsters were a necessity, such information was readily available.
“Ah, as for the monsters that appear around here, I’ve heard tales of leopards and hyenas. I’ve never seen them myself, which is probably why I avoid this path,” Reidas added.
The group was currently walking along a road that stretched from their forward base toward the Demon Forest. Although it was called a road, it was merely a path trampled down by the comings and goings of adventurers, with little grass remaining.
“Newbies sometimes set rabbit traps around here, but adventurers like us don’t work in this area. There are only small animals, and no monsters. The Magic Essence is thin, and medicinal herbs don’t grow here. That’s why I want to get through this path as quickly as possible,” Reidas explained.
“I see. So the deeper you go, the more medicinal herbs you find?” Salpha asked.
The six of them continued walking, with the surprisingly quiet Multi-legged Machine—Backpacker—trailing behind them.
“Generally speaking, yes. It also depends on the environment, and there are special terrains known as Magic Essence Hotspots. Either way, the concentration of Magic Essence is definitely a factor,” Nadira elaborated.
“Salpha and the others probably aren’t well-versed in this, right? This is a Magic Essence Meter,” Reidas said, stopping to show the device in his hand to Salpha.
“When there’s a lot of Magic Essence, this needle swings to the right. In places with little Magic Essence, like North End City, the needle stays all the way to the left,” he explained.
“Is this also a type of Magic Tool?” Salpha asked.
“Yes. The materials for this come from the Magic Stone and whiskers of Forest Tigers. If you venture a day into the depths, you might encounter one. Though, it’s unlikely this time,” Reidas replied.
“Is it possible to obtain one in North End City?” Salpha inquired.
“Well, it’s rare, but it’s essential for parties that venture into the depths. If you look for it, you should be able to find one,” Reidas answered.
Salpha, Chris, and Atro would immediately ask questions about anything that piqued their interest, and as they conversed, the group crossed the grassland.
They were nearing the boundary of the Demon Forest, where low shrubs about 2 to 3 meters tall began to appear, giving the area the feel of a forest entrance.
“Here is where deer and boars start to show up. Normally, they won’t approach, but during mating season or when they’re raising their young, they might charge at you, so be careful. However, we should be fine at this time of year,” Nadira warned.
“What we need to watch out for is the increase in large carnivorous monsters. In this area, young individuals that have lost territorial battles might suddenly appear. Injured ones can be quite aggressive, making it a trial for adventurers with about three years of experience,” she continued.
Reidas, acting as the scout, was several hundred meters ahead. Nadira and Graver were explaining the situation to Salpha and the others.
Nadira held her short spear at the ready, while the remaining four stayed close together to avoid being a hindrance.
“Typically, we’d be on guard here for any stragglers. But from what I can see, it looks safe today. I can sense the presence of deer nearby,” Nadira said casually.
As they chatted, a short whistle pierced the air.
“That’s Reidas. He’s confirmed it’s safe. We should move on,” Nadira announced.
The presence of the Backpacker following behind them seemed to keep wild animals at a considerable distance, likely due to the weighty machine lumbering along.
“Be careful near the trees; snakes might fall from them,” Nadira cautioned.
“Understood,” Atro replied, nodding before swiftly kicking the trunk of a nearby tree. A loud crack echoed, and the branches shook violently.
Nadira and Graver were startled by his sudden action. Atro managed to catch something falling from the tree.
“I caught a snake,” he said, holding the creature by its neck.
The snake, unable to escape, coiled around Atro’s arm in a feeble attempt at resistance.
“Impressive. I wouldn’t have noticed that, even if I were paying attention,” Graver remarked.
“The power of that kick is extraordinary,” Nadira added, observing Atro with a mix of admiration and surprise.
The three from the Paraiso were equipped with Assist Suits, but they weren’t using the assist functions at the moment for the sake of evaluating their abilities. Atro had cleverly used his tail as a third leg to stabilize himself and enhance the power of his kick. Nadira’s keen observation skills were not to be underestimated either.
“Is it a regular snake?” Atro asked as he examined the creature closely.
“It’s a non-venomous Grass Snake. Since it’s an adult, it’s not edible, and its skin isn’t useful either. It’s neither poisonous nor medicinal,” Nadira explained.
“I see,” Atro said, releasing the snake and giving his arm a light shake. The snake slithered free and flew off into the distance.
“Atro, are you also skilled in combat?” Nadira asked curiously.
“Just Atro is fine. I can say I’m skilled in using my body. I can fight, but I’m not sure if my techniques are effective against monsters,” he replied.
Salpha, Chris, and the Backpacker were directly linked in terms of information. They utilized the computational device housed within the Backpacker for processing information, giving them far superior capabilities compared to a standalone Communicator Android. With the ability to integrate data from four sensors, their spatial awareness was heightened, and combined with precise control of their machines, they could easily handle typical adversaries.
However, the unpredictable power of monsters was a factor that could easily overturn such expectations.
“This way! There are no traces of monsters here. Also, there’s a small Magic Essence Hotspot ahead, so let’s gather some resources there. It’s been a while since we’ve been on an adventure, so there’s a lot to look forward to,” Reidas declared.
“Wait, Reidas, don’t say things like that!” Nadira interjected.
The reason they hadn’t been able to engage in adventuring was that the Paraiso had taken control of North End City. While there weren’t strict restrictions unless there was hostile action, very few would dare to attack the Demon Forest as if everything were normal when their base was in such turmoil.
Nadira quickly followed up on Reidas’s careless remark, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to complain about you guys; I just meant that with fewer competitors, we can expect more profit…”
“You can just call me Salpha. And I understand that it’s not a criticism, so don’t worry about it,” Salpha reassured him.
Reidas and Nadira both exhaled deeply, while Graver continued to walk nonchalantly ahead.
“Reidas, please keep that loose tongue of yours to a minimum for the duration of this mission! I can’t believe this!” Nadira exclaimed.
“Ah, I’m really sorry about that,” Reidas apologized.
They made their way around dense thickets of trees and finally reached their destination.
“This is the easiest Magic Essence Hotspot to access from North End City. Normally, adventurers stop by here to gather resources on their way back, so there’s usually nothing left. But today, it should be ripe for the picking!” Reidas announced.
“Are you sure it’s okay for us to take some?” Salpha asked.
“Of course! Graver, I’m counting on you!”