Ep. 04 - What I Want to Show My First Companion
For the complete subjugation of the basilisks, the examinees were given a total of two days. Since the pair had to move together over those two days to pass the exam, I believed the bond between companions would be crucial as well.
...This is worrying. I wonder if I can pull it off.
That was why I was more anxious than ever. Having wandered alone my entire life, I'd never truly had a proper companion.
What if I meddled unnecessarily and ruined the mood? What if I couldn't keep up with the conversation and embarrassed my partner?
Age is one thing, but... I've been alone for far too long. Can I really manage this?
"Um, Mr. Leban."
"...Hm? Did you call me?"
But my worries proved utterly unfounded. Nerin, the companion I'd spend the next two days with, was remarkably affable.
"Where are you from, Mr. Leban?"
"Ah, well... I hail from a small village on the outskirts of the empire."
"Really? Me too! I'm from a little village down south. Ever heard of Merhen Village?"
"Ah... I've passed through there once before."
"Wow, really?"
"It's a village with scenery so beautiful it sticks in the memory—I've no doubt of that."
"Right? The heart of Lumerne is flashy and all, but our village is truly stunning."
To me, who had been maintaining an awkward silence and stealing glances, she started with light small talk about where we were from.
"There's a little bakery over that way."
"A bakery, you say?"
"Yep! You should grab a sandwich there sometime. They're tasty and filling—perfect as a quick packed lunch for training!"
"Haha, with your recommendation, I simply must try it."
"You won't regret it. I guarantee it—I make sure to eat one every day!"
As we crossed the city walls toward the basilisk nest, passing through the bustling center of Lumerne on our way to the outer wall, I even got some restaurant tips.
But was she just filling the air with idle chit-chat unrelated to the monster subjugation exam? Far from it.
"Basilisks... As mid-sized magic beasts, they don't really have territories, right?"
"Indeed. They usually nest in a suitable cave—that's the norm."
"The female guarding her eggs can get even more ferocious, so attacking the nest is dangerous. We should hunt a male that's gone out foraging."
"Nerin, how do you know so much about basilisks?"
"Oh, I read every book on mid-sized magic beasts and memorized them. You've got to prepare thoroughly if you want to survive, right?"
It wasn't fear of death that made her retreat—it was the drive to survive through perfect preparation. In her, I glimpsed faint echoes of the talent my disciple Ceres had shown me as a child.
...My disciples are one thing, but for my first companion to be so talented... For a layabout like me, it's almost too good to be true.
Chatting like that, we left the city behind and headed into the Basilisk Forest, where basilisks were known to appear frequently, to begin our search.
How long had we been searching the forest for basilisks? As the sun set and thick darkness blanketed the woods, Nerin and I decided further exploration was too risky. We sat beneath a tree and began preparing camp.
"Here, Mr. Leban—take this."
"Hm? What's this?"
"It's a thermal cloak. The Adventurer's Guild sells them to prevent adventurers from getting lured in by campfire light during camp and dying pointlessly to magic beasts."
"Ho ho... A thermal cloak. My thanks."
In my old wandering days, staying up all night with wide eyes by a fire for body heat was par for the course. Who knew such a convenient item existed now to manage an adventurer's fatigue alongside their life?
It was one of those moments that made me feel how much the world had improved.
"But aren't you using one, Nerin? This thermal... cloak thing."
"Oh, me? Well... I'm just not cold-prone! I'm fine!"
"...Did you give me your only one?"
"No, really—it's too hot for me, so don't worry!"
She said that, but her hands trembled faintly from the forest chill. Leather armor or not, maintaining body heat in the pitch-black woods was vital.
After checking on her, I stood, removed the cloak I'd draped over myself, and placed it around Nerin's shoulders.
"I-I'm really fine!! You don't have to...!!"
"If your body temperature drops from the cold, tomorrow's beast hunt will suffer. I'm alright—keep it on."
"......I'm so sorry. If I'd brought two..."
If apologies were in order, it should have been me—for coming utterly unprepared. Yet here was Nerin, sincerely apologizing to me for not having two cloaks.
"Don't fret too much, Nerin."
"But still......"
"Unlike me with nothing prepared, thanks to your one cloak, we can spend a warm night in these woods."
"......"
"So no apologies. Unless you want to embarrass this old man."
"......Thank you, Mr. Leban."
I should have been the one apologizing to her—not the other way around—for charging in without a single preparation. Comforting her like that, I sat beside the drowsy girl and began resting.
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence stretched, unbroken by even the crackle of the campfire.
"......Still, this doesn't feel right."
Nerin broke it first, unwilling to hog the cloak alone. Her face flushed as if resolved, she stood and approached where I perched lightly against the tree, flinging the cloak wide.
"L-Let's share it! It's too hot alone......!"
In her gesture, I saw echoes of my old disciples. The unassuming kindness that never took others' consideration for granted, never acted selfishly.
To honor her thoughtfulness and selflessness without awkwardness, I smiled lightly, stepped to her side, and joined her under the cloak.
"Thanks to you, tonight will be warm. My deepest gratitude."
"......N-No problem. B-But don't stare at my side too much."
"Hm? Why? Do I have bad breath right now?"
"N-No...!! That's not it!! Ugh... Are you teasing me...?"
"Ho ho ho, I'm truly asking out of ignorance."
Only now did I realize how wonderful it was to have such a reliable companion for silly banter like this. Staring into a lone fire with sleepless eyes back then felt so foolish.
If my disciples knew I'd forged such a fine bond through this rejuvenation, how happy they'd be? I couldn't wait to see Ceres and the other two, even one day sooner.
The chirps of the earliest morning birds. But before that, a familiar yet dreadful stench tickled my nose, rousing me from sleep.
......This scent.
A fishy reek of blood carried on the morning breeze. I sensed a magic beast that had slain humans heading this way.
"......Nerin, up you get."
"Mmm... Morning already......?"
"Not a good one, I'm afraid."
Waking Nerin, who slept soundly beside me, her face—still rubbing sleep from her eyes as she glanced around—
"......Ugh!?"
went pale with a sharp, horrified gasp.
"Mr. Leban, w-we have to run...!! It's coming—a female basilisk, heading right here...!!"
"......Looks like one of the examinees stirred up the nesting female in this forest."
Remember our talk yesterday? Females guarding nests grow more ferocious. We should hunt a male out foraging instead.
......'More ferocious' isn't mere rhetoric.
Males forage not just for the female—but to avoid being devoured by her. The basilisk grows one head to tend eggs, another to fend off egg thieves.
Adventurers of my era called that form 'ferocious.'
"R-Run... We have to run...!!"
"Too late for that. Seems the mother, having tasted blood, sniffed us out first."
The female basilisk's footsteps vibrated through the ground. With each step of that massive bulk toward us, the blood stench grew fouler.
Kieeeek...
And soon enough.
A colossal female basilisk, gorged on human blood, loomed before our eyes.
"......Hic."
Overwhelmingly larger than any book illustration—a terrifying form unfit for 'mid-sized' classification—Nerin breathed raggedly.
Yet her legs braced for imminent assault. Her hand gripped her sword hilt tight.
From the moment we faced the beast, she understood better than anyone: fight to survive. In her, once more, I saw my disciples overlap.
"Nerin, remember my thanks yesterday for the cloak?"
"Wh-What? Mr. Leban... In this situation...!!"
"Unlike you, I prepared nothing. So as repayment for your favor, let me show you something."
"What do you......"
"Watch closely and remember. With eyes honed by effort like yours, you'll manage."
Shing...
I stepped forward to the monstrous bird-snake and slowly drew my sword. Not my beloved blade, just a plain iron one from the knights' order.
But...
KEEEAAAKK!!!!
...more than enough to fell this loudmouthed little horror.