Facing Forward (3)
It had been two weeks since I started living in the forest.
Ryly had learned quite a few things.
First, never use large-scale magic no matter what happens.
Unless the entire forest is going to be flipped, always use small-scale magic, one at a time.
Loud noises and such magical power stir up the monsters. You know the despair of having swept the surroundings clean with magic blasts, only to be surrounded again.
But if the magic is too weak, it's hard to deal with monsters. Depending on the monster, you need the appropriate countermeasure.
The ones that suddenly drop from the air like a lasso and strangle the neck—stay alert and cut them with cutting magic.
The ones called 'wolves' come in packs, and if you catch more than half, they'll naturally retreat, so you don't need to exert much force.
The 'trees'. These are a bit annoying. If you cut them carelessly, you might block the path when in a hurry, so it's better to deal with them by fire. But when you light them on fire, they become visible, so other monsters notice and come rushing in like ghosts.
So, you have to turn them into ashes in an instant with powerful firepower, but these guys are called trees and have a lot of moisture in their bodies, so they don't burn easily.
Next, the irritating fairies.
If you see a small light bundle while walking in the forest, it's basically like they've noticed you. Up to this point, fine, but the problem is that these use magic. I don't know why they like the 'Blind Curse' so much. When it happens that other monsters are coming in a situation where you can't see ahead, it's over.
So, the moment you see the light bundle, you have to pull out your staff. It's a battle of who has better reflexes.
Second thing learned: pace control.
In the forest, movement, magic, and rest all need to be done appropriately. Move before being surrounded by monsters. Rest once in a while to replenish food. If you end up fighting, handle it without dragging out the time as much as possible. If it seems like it'll take long, retreat.
Never dig too deep or just run away, leaving other monsters trailing behind you.
Third. Concealment of magical power.
Although the monsters chasing you with superior hearing, smell, or inexplicable senses on fresh humans, you can't completely erase traces like a blind apostle, but it's much better than openly spewing magical power while wandering around.
Fourth. Distinguish between things you can eat and things you can't.
This was learned with the body. When blood was coming out from the nose, mouth, and ears after eating any monster, I really thought I was going to die. Then, a white-haired girl flickered before my eyes.
Then, when I came to my senses, there was a medicine bottle in front of me, so I quickly drank it. After that, I felt much better.
“…”
Ryly, who had finished organizing the notebook up to this point, got up from his seat again.
Even looking around, no one else was felt except himself. Thinking about the medicine bottle, that uncle must be watching. It seemed good for hiding magical power in a place full of monsters anyway.
Ryly sighed and looked straight ahead.
Far away, the walls were visible. Now, almost there. Finally escaping from the hated swamp.
‘Don’t slack off on the perimeter until the very end…’
Because it's the point where the forest ends, no monsters come out. Still, to be safe, you might have a big problem if you let your guard down. While moving with such tension, he saw a familiar person standing.
“Hey! Finally here!”
At the end of the forest, the vast plain stretching behind it. The walls far away.
Behind that, a bear-like uncle was waving his hand while smiling.
“… Cedric.”
“Yeah! It was tough coming all this way? Let's go quickly!”
But Ryly didn't advance further, quietly gripping his staff.
“Ryly? What's wrong. Is there a problem?”
“Cedric. Where did we start from and come here?”
“Huh? Of course from Seongdo! I'm a Holy Knight, right!”
He waved the cloak with gold threads embroidered on it while answering. That action was suspicious.
“Cedric.”
“Yeah! What are you hesitating for? Don't you see the city over there? Hurry up!”
“You've been saying how much you were upset that I don't call you 'Master' before. Now, you haven't deviated even once.”
“…”
“Just in case, let me ask. What's the name of the friend I left in Seongdo?”
“How would I know.”
At that moment, Cedric rushed at Ryly. Despite his large body, his movements were light.
Ryly, who had prepared magic in advance, pointed his staff.
“Freeze.”
A cold aura instantly froze Cedric's body. So close, he froze and their eyes met. Empty pupils.
“What is this…”
While wondering, the body of Cedric who had been thought to be frozen twitched, and soon something black came out from behind his back.
Just as he thought 'oh no', trying to point the staff quickly.
Clang— a cool metallic sound.
Cedric, who suddenly appeared, knocked away the black thing with his pan-sized hand, and that was the sound.
“These kinds of guys. Instead of openly warning, pretending not to notice and then backstabbing like this.”
Meaning, behind the frozen Cedric, a fresh Cedric came out. Uh. There are two uncles. Eek.
“Why such a weird expression?”
“… The name of the friend I left in Seongdo is–”
“Yeah. The little brat who loves his girlfriend Sugar so much that he left her in Seongdo. Now satisfied?”
“…”
“This is that. The shell. This dark core makes a shell following someone else's appearance. When in danger, you can do emergency escape like this. The head is pretty good too. Knows well about Seongdo, Holy Knights, and human society. Probably heard our conversation at the beginning of the forest.”
So that's why he knew the name. Ryly had a hesitant expression, and the 'real' Cedric showed a huge rat-like or weasel-like monster shaking it, then broke its neck.
“Even though it looks like this, it really likes eating human neck bones. Be careful.”
“… What about this shell?”
Ryly pointed at the frozen Cedric-shaped shell. Somehow, the movements were faster. The outside is big, but the inside is empty.
“This needs to be burned.”
Cedric immediately turned the ice into oil with alchemy magic, then chanted the fire magic. It burned vigorously. The sight of what was a human shape being burned black was a bit uncomfortable.
While watching, Cedric patted Ryly's back with his large hand.
“Anyway. Good job. You escaped perfectly. The way you didn't slack off on the perimeter till the end was good.”
“… You said you'd train me.”
“Everything you experienced in the forest is training, isn't it. Give me the notebook you wrote. I'll copy it.”
“Why copy?”
“This forest is a place where magical power gathers well, so new monsters can appear at any time. So, exploration is essential every certain period… Originally, it wasn't a mission level for me to come to you, but I took it thinking of you.”
“So… this notebook I wrote will substitute for that mission report?”
“Smart.”
Ryly opened his eyes wide. The feeling of being used for the mission didn't sit well at all. But if asked 'did you learn anything from this?', it's not. Because experience accumulates wisdom like this.
So, what can you do.
“Anyway, there's plenty of time. Originally, we take steps slowly like this.”
“Yes.”
“Let's go to the restaurant. I'll treat you. Since you worked hard, you should eat properly. Order whatever you want. Then, wash up and sleep well. For a while, it's rest time.”
Ryly, thinking of a small revenge of ordering all the menu here, followed behind Cedric. He had only learned bad things from Sugar.
—You fox-like uncle. You look like a bear, but you didn't become a Guardian for nothing.
Other than that, there wasn't much of a big deal. I'm doing pretty well. Don't worry.
Then someday.
Ryly.
P.S.: I don't know what the ultimate skill is, but name it whatever you want.
“Ehehe…”
“How is it?”
“Yeah. It seems I'm doing well for now.”
Evening time after finishing training in Seongdo. Sugar, invited to the meal table, sat at the same table as Ian.
After looking at Ryly's letter for a while and giggling, Sugar soon put it in her pocket.
Even just looking at the letter, laughter poured out. That sight, that atmosphere, made the awkward Ian fidget with her fingers.
Of course, there was also because of what she was going to say next.
“So… Ian. What did you want to say?”
After delaying the story of why she called to this place today, Ian said 'First, look at the letter that came!' and that's how it became this.
Now that the letter was read, no more delaying.
Ian took a deep breath.
“… Sugar. Do you know why I started training?”
“It's not strange to want to become strong in this world.”
“That's also true, but… first, let me say this. I, I…”
With determination, she nodded her head and looked into Sugar's eyes.
“I'm actually a woman.”
“…”
Sugar quickly looked around. Somehow. There were no priests around.
“I am also a Saintess. If my sister gives me permission to use authority in this land, I can use power as a Saintess… My real name is Ianne. I'm sorry for hiding it.”
“Um… Is there something Ian is sorry for? Of course, it must have been for some reason.”
Sugar tried to look surprised, but since she already knew the fact, she spoke calmly.
“… Thank you. As expected of you.”
Then, with a bitter smile, Ian started talking.
“When I look at you, I think a lot. I also want to go outside. I want to go to Stille. I want to go to a place I can't even imagine and enjoy a life I couldn't dream of in Seongdo… and, and, and, if possible, even date?”
At this point, Sugar's lips were trembling to rise.
“W-well, anyway. That's why. I couldn't just let you go without doing anything. First, after becoming strong, let's talk to my sister and the adults again. I wanted to tell you this fact. Thank you for giving me such motivation… Also, I wanted to tell you my secret because you're so precious…”
“Ian.”
“I want to go to Stille with you. If that happens… will you be as friendly with me outside as well?”
Sugar didn't know how much Ian thought of her. She's a kind person. Maybe it felt especially like the 'first same-sex friend' or perhaps it was because it eased the relationship with her sister.
This reaction was a bit refreshing. Rather, it was grateful. Thank you for returning my kindness with kindness. That was the feeling.
Sugar held Ian's hand.
She couldn't not respond to such friendship.
“Of course. I hope Ian can go together too.”
And with a bright smile, Ian also smiled brightly. The smile of a girl like a flower. Even with a little tears in her eyes, it was pretty.
It was when the two beautiful girls were happily together.
“Then, as a memento of opening our hearts like this, shall we take a bath together?”
“What!?”
Sugar was the one who broke the atmosphere first. She hadn't washed after eating, and since she was going to wash inside the tower, it was perfect. It was the thought to build friendship as a bonus!
However, contrary to that thought, Ian jumped up from her chair in surprise.
“It's girls, right? Why are you so surprised?”
“But taking a bath… revealing each other's naked bodies… without a single thread… exposing every inch…”
“Why is the expression like that, Ian? It's weird.”
“Ah… th-that…”
“Do you read erotic books often? The expression is exactly that.”
“W-what, what, what, what!?”
“No way… the book I talked about before…?”
“I-it's not like that! It's blasphemy! Public indecency! Lewd Sugar! I can't!”
“Why am I lewd Sugar? Ian who reads erotic books is more lewd.”
“I don't read! Th-there, I heard rumors. You and Ryly, on the roof of the cathedral before, that kind of… that kind… I mean lewd Sugar!”
“That kind of what? What did I do with Ryly?”
“…”
“Huh? Ian.”
Since the act was too hard to say, Ian couldn't say anything and just trembled, and Sugar's lips touched her ear at the sight. Since no one was stopping her, she was lively.
She's the type that freezes at a single kiss from a boy. How amazing.
Anyway, since they were close, it was fine.
Like this, the children steadily moving forward.
Each with their own wishes, dreaming of reunion, slowly becoming adults.
At the end, what kind of each other will be waiting?
While watching the clock with a heart full of excitement, it was slow, but the gears never stop turning.
One blink of an eye, time always passes in an instant.