Chapter 82 - In the Depths of the Forest
Having gained composure by talking with Kurune, I was alone in the storage room.
When I pulled out the chest in the back, there was a Mithril Sword wrapped in cloth.
As I peeled off the wrapped cloth, the silver blade faintly imbued with mana was revealed.
Since I had been carefully maintaining it since I saved Flora from the Red Bear two months ago, there were no problems with using it.
However, looking at this sword, a symbol of battle, I felt as if I were being told that this result came about because I ran away without facing the kingdom.
Despite leaving the country, I didn't return the sword and half-heartedly possessed this sword, a symbol of battle. It was as if it were being pointed out that in my way of life, I ultimately couldn't throw away battle.
Since I had been in the midst of battle since I was a child, it might be inevitable to have such feelings. But, having quit being an adventurer and decided to live as a single villager in this Nordende, I didn't need such a dangerous thing.
Because of the weak heart remaining within me, I have brought about this situation.
I should have talked more with the royalty and nobility, properly returned the sword, and then come here.
However, saying such things grumblingly now won't change anything.
Right now, let's think only about saving Flora.
Once that's over, I'll properly face the kingdom I ran away from.
That's the only thing I can think of now.
Having organized my feelings, I wrapped the blade in cloth and let out a long breath.
"...Alright, let's go."
I packed my past adventurer equipment into a cloth bag and slung it over my shoulder, then left the house holding the cloth-wrapped sword in my hand.
If I walked through the village clad in adventurer equipment, the villagers would worry.
Perhaps out of consideration for that, it was convenient that he specified the depths of the southern forest, where there are very few people. Though, from Zoack's perspective, it might have been because he didn't want any unnecessary interference.
"Are you ready?"
When I went outside the house, there was Kurune, dressed in her mage's robe and holding her staff in her hand.
The brown ponytail tied at the back of her head was waving in the wind.
"Yeah, I'm heading to the southern forest."
"I see. Are you really sure about going alone? If the two of us launch a surprise attack, we might be able to save Flora immediately, you know?"
Kurune asked as if to make sure as I nodded quietly.
"No, alone is fine. Knowing Zoack, there's no telling what he'll pull. I'll leave the surrounding vigilance and confirmation, and the safety of the villagers to Kurune."
It's that Zoack. It's fully conceivable that a large number of companions are actually lying in wait to attack. In that case, since the damage would only be to me, it would still be okay, but the worst-case scenario is involving unrelated villagers other than me.
I don't want to bring conflict into a peaceful village that has nothing to do with conflict.
To prevent that from happening, I decided to ask Kurune to investigate the surroundings and keep people away so that villagers wouldn't come by.
"...I see."
When I told her that, Kurune replied after a short pause.
Looking closely at her face, her mouth was turned down in a look of clear dissatisfaction.
This is the gesture Kurune makes when she is dissatisfied in her heart.
Probably, Kurune is thinking of barging into the duel once she finishes investigating the surroundings.
"...I've been told to come alone. Don't come openly, okay? If Flora gets hurt because of that, it'll be meaningless."
"I-I know! Not to mention confirming if there are other attackers, the important thing is not to involve unrelated people, right?"
Perhaps having her true intentions guessed, Kurune answered while stammering.
"But, I'll go to see how things are once, okay? If I can rescue the kidnapped Flora-san, it'll be easier for Aldo, and if she's injured, I can heal her."
"...Yeah, I'll count on you then."
Just imagining such a thing made me feel like I would lose myself, but I endure here.
"A-Aldo. Your face and voice are scary..."
"...Sorry."
It seems my feelings couldn't be suppressed and showed on my face.
When I took a deep breath, calmed my feelings, and apologized, Kurune chuckled.
"Fufu, Aldo really does love Flora-san, doesn't he?"
"Please stop teasing me right now."
Even though I might be about to have a duel with my life on the line, I shouldn't have such a peaceful feeling.
Perhaps sensing my state of mind, Kurune didn't laugh any further.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Yeah."
With my voice as a signal, Kurune and I started running.
I have the utmost confidence in my foot speed, but Kurune is not to be outdone.
Kurune also followed, sticking close behind me.
A mage in adventuring is not someone who just needs to be good at magic.
The opponent is a monster that exceeds the human scope. No matter how much a vanguard is placed in the party, it's inevitable that monsters will attack.
At that time, if one cannot even protect their own life properly, their companions will be in trouble.
A mage who is just a fixed turret would be finished by a monster in an instant. Unless they have the skill to move themselves, take their own distance, and exercise magic while moving, they won't be useful in combat with monsters.
It's easy to say, but that requires considerable training.
Well, because she can do that, Kurune is also an A-rank adventurer.
"...Me too, but did Aldo's speed drop a bit?"
"Even so, it's gotten better lately. A body is something that dulls immediately once you leave it alone."
Perhaps thanks to training as a hunter, it's better than in the spring. However, even so, compared to when I was an adventurer, my body is far heavier and I'm not producing speed.
I knew it, but there was an irritability in my body not moving as I wanted.
Kurune and I headed south, passing through the western side where there was little foot traffic.
On the way, we were seen by adults and children working in the fields, but perhaps because they thought we were playing tag, they directed very warm gazes toward us.
It's much better than being pried into or thought suspicious, but the gazes were a bit painful.
In the path after that, we luckily reached the southern forest without meeting anyone.
The southern side is a place with a very small number of people even within the village, as there aren't many private houses or fields.
Especially around the forest where trees grow thick, not a single private house or field existed, and there was only a plain spreading around.
For a place inside Nordende, it's a location with a slightly lonely atmosphere.
When we entered the thicket of the forest, I placed the cloth bag I was carrying on the ground and hurriedly started changing.
"Then, I'll go check the surroundings."
"Yeah, I'm counting on you."
When I answered that, Kurune went to scout around the forest while erasing her presence. Even if, hypothetically, Zoack was monitoring this situation of ours, only I alone would be going to where Zoack is. It's a sophistry, but there shouldn't be a problem.
I put on my adventurer equipment, which I hadn't worn in a long time, one after another.
Since I am originally a vanguard type who utilizes speed, I don't wear heavy armor.
I put on equipment that covered only the minimum areas such as the chest, legs, arms, and shoulders.
After confirming that there were no problems with the equipment for my whole body, I removed the cloth covering the Mithril Sword and immediately stepped into the forest.
Inside the forest, dense trees stood in rows, and the branches and leaves blocked the sunlight as if covering the sky. Perhaps because of that, the inside of the forest was very dim and visibility was poor.
I proceeded through such a dark path with a more serious expression than during my usual hunting.
After all, the person in the depths is a much more dangerous person than the monsters around there. It doesn't hurt to be cautious.
The inside of the forest was eerily quiet, and there was no sign of living creatures at all.
When I sharpened my mind and observed the surroundings, there were slightly unnatural footprints on the ground.
They were very faint traces, but I could tell that not much time had passed.
Those footprints were for one person. Since he is waiting in the depths, are these footprints Zoack's?
Why are there no footprints for Flora?
No, even these footprints could be a trap.
As if to stir up the anxiety in my chest, the branches and leaves made a rustling sound in the wind.
No, there's no point in thinking about it now.
Right now, I just have to sharpen my mind and prepare for battle. If there's a trap, I'll just break through along with the trap.
I told myself that and started walking the path again.
I knew I had to be sufficiently cautious, but perhaps because I knew Flora had been snatched, my feet naturally grew faster.
The inside of my heart felt like it was going to be a mess of anxiety, anger, and regret.
...Please be safe, Flora.
I muttered in my heart as if praying while proceeding through the forest.
As I proceeded like that, my hearing unexpectedly caught two slight sounds of movement.
No mistake. There are humans ahead.
I reflexively proceeded in the direction of the sounds at a run.
Then, gradually the standing trees became thinner, and a faint sunlight began to illuminate the path.
I pushed forward as if drawn to the light.
Then, the dense trees vanished, and I came out into an open space.
A flat land that opened up suddenly in the depths of the forest.
There, a single man in black was standing with his arms crossed.
"...So you've come. Aldred."
The book will be released by Nox Novels on September 12th!