Soon after leaving the town Langley, the landscape changed completely. There’s so much green unlike Belfast. The three carriages advance inside a forest that you could call a jungle.
I feel like I can understand the meaning that there are more magical beasts in Misumido than in Belfast. This forest is probably the ideal habitat for magical beasts. Sometimes, you can hear the unknown howling of animals but, it seems this is an everyday occurrence in this country.
The magical beasts seems to be numerous but, the damage to human settlements seems to be none. That means that the prey for the magical beasts is abundant in the this forest. They couldn’t be bothered won’t expressively descend on human settlements to devastate their fields to eat.
However, the villagers who enter the forest to hunt game, seem to unluckily end up encountering magical beasts frequently. In this case, they become the trespassers, they will have to be prepared to be attacked. I wonder if it’s somehow unavoidable to have something like a bear repellant bell or something.
[It seems to be impossible we’ll arrive at Eldo village by nightfall]
From Olga-san’s words, on the highway leading to the capital from the town of Langley, there was a village of Eldo before leaving the forest when I checked using the map application. Certainly, it’ll be impossible to cover this distance by nightfall at this speed.
[Misumido was the result of many tribes gathering together, so it’s something like a colony so to speak. Each of the tribes still form villages or towns even now, if there are any clans friendly to each other, there are also clan that dislike each other. The ones who bring them together are the seven chieftains including His Majesty the King]
According to Olga-san’s explanation, there are seven chieftains of the seven major clans, they are the beast clan, winged clan, horned clan, dragon clan, tree clan, aquatic clan and the fairy clan. At this moment it seems the head of the beast clan, the beast king seems to have become the king of this country.
Alhough the throne was tentatively a hereditary system, the other 6 patriarchs held strong authority. They’re something like influential nobles. It’s still a new nation so there are still many problems they say.
Eventually the day grew long. It would be best to get preparations for camp ready before it got dark. This is all for today.
The path was opened a little and the wagon was stopped and preparations for camp began. Gathering wood for fuel, there was a small range made of stone, I also participated and made vegetable soup (Minestrone) in a large pot.
When it was completely dark, and night had come, there were many noises from the forest. There seems to be a lot of nocturnal beasts.
「It’s a little scary isn’t it?……」
While Yumina was drinking soup I made, she drew up close.
「As long as Kohaku is with us no normal beasts will approach us. He’ll understand immediately if it’s a demon beast. He’s bad with giant slimes and bugs though apparently」
I told Yumina what Kohaku told me telepathically. Then she lifts Kohaku in her arms and hugs him tight.
「Thank you, Kohaku-chan」
『Please be at ease, madam. You’ll be safe if I am here.』
As for others not to hear it, Kohaku spoke in a soft voice. At those words Yumina patted Kohaku’s head.
Although the watch was changed several times to give people time to eat, the Belfast group were a little nervous because they were escorting in an unknown land.
「I should go get Yae and Elise soon. Kohaku, please take care of Yumina and Lindsey」
《As you wish》
I seperated from everyone around the fire, entered the carriage, used gate to the Belfast capital, Alfesu and returned home.
When I appeared in the living room, Elsie and Yae were completely relaxed. Close by was, our super butler, Raimu-san.
「Aa, is it time already?」
「Stop moving around degozaru…. your hair isn’t dry yet degozaru」
That’s right. These two had just returned from the bath. I used 「Gate」 without others knowing about it…we decided on 30 minutes.
I used magic and brought out some water, then heated it with hot stones in a tub, this was camouflage so they could take a normal bath at home. The reason there are two people at a time is so they can take baths in shifts.
「Hey, let’s hurry back while the others haven’t noticed us. Raimu-san did something happen today?」
「No, nothing in particular. Aa, Julio wants to grow vegetables in a corner of the garden, would that be alright?」
The kitchen garden huh? I want to eat some freshly harvested vegetables.
「Alright, I permit it. Please do as you like」
「Alright, I’ll do that」
Even still the maids Lapis-san nor Cecil-san seem to bee here. I wonder why that is. I asked Laimu-san about the two, Lapis-san was going to the market quickly in the morning and had already gone to bed, and Cecil-san had gone to the capital to meet a friend.
「If you have any orders please tell them」
「No, there was just something I’m worried about it. Come on, let’s go you two.」
I opened the gate, and came out inside the carriage. Somehow the situation is strange. The forest is noisy, various animals were crying nearby. This is definitely weird. What in the world is going on with all the crying?
I dashed out from the carriage and joined everyone else. The guards had their swords drawn and were watching the area close by. What on earth is going to happen?
「Touya-san!」
「What happened!?」
「I don’t know. The forest animals are suddenly going berserk……」
Yumina let out a perplexed expression. Just then, the rabbit demi-human Rein-san, who beside me, suddenly lifted his head.
「Something big is coming………in the sky!」
Everyone looked up to the sky with Rein-san’s shout. A sudden gust rustled the treetops, overhead, high in the sky there was something big, that could be flying leisurely.