v2c18 (1/2)

Chapter 18 – To the forest

For a few days we didn’t have anything particular we had to do, so we spent our time with training, studying, and Angela usually came over in the afternoon and stayed for the night too. We also had fun times by the three of us.

‘Is it fine with three?’, is what I thought, but apparently it’s fine. Well, it’s more than fine for me. Is it really alright? I asked this from Sati too, but she cutely said that since she’s a slave it’s fine if she is next after Angela-sama. Argh, she is too cute!

Angela gets along with Sati even more than before. It’s like they are three sisters with the addition of Tilika-chan. Although I wonder what Tilika-chan thinks about the current situation. She’s not telling everything to Tilika-chan, right?

When Tilika-chan is here the other two restrain themselves and Tilika-chan doesn’t really speak or express her emotions. In case of Sati it seems she even urged her…..

By the way, after that I made sure to warn Sati against telling outsiders about our household matters. Well, Angela and Tilika-chan can’t be helped. They are almost like family anyway.

Sati’s armor was finally completed, so we went to pick it up. With that Sati should be perfectly prepared.

The instructors a.s.sured me that not many people would be a match for her archery skills. It’s finally time for our forest debut.

Just to be sure I wrote a will and entrusted it to Tilika-chan. Even if I die and Sati remains, I think she will be fine with Tilika-chan and the vice Guild Chief. Sati will be released and she will become free.

She already has enough fighting power to make a living anywhere, so she won’t have trouble making ends meet. But if I die, then I have a feeling that she would want to die with me. She didn’t run away that time either, even though I told her to…..

“If I were to die-“

“I will save you.”

“No, if I happen to die-“

“I will make sure to save you!”

“If there is a situation where it would be best for Sati to run away-“

“Let’s run away together!”

When I kept talking about it Sati became teary-eyed, so I gave up. She refuses to heed the order to run away even though she is a slave, so she must be against it from the bottom of her heart. I’m being loved, huh.

Let’s do my best not to end up in that kind of situation. For Sati’s sake too.

In reality, I would be happy to make a living by hunting wild rabbits, but the world falling into ruin is a difficult problem.

We have to raise our battle power by whatever means. Why couldn’t Itous.h.i.+n send me to a safer world. Maybe I should write down my complaints about that today.

As we go through the gate we speak with the usual soldier on guard duty.

“Hooh. So you are going into the forest with the two of you. Mm. 3-4 hours, right. Well, I think it will be fine if it’s you, but take care anyway. If you are late to come back for some reason I will send a rescue party after you.”

“No no. We will make sure not to get close to anything dangerous.”

“That’s fine. But you can never be sure what will happen in the forest. Even a dragon suddenly settled down there. If you think that something is strange then head back at once. The forest is the most dangerous the first time when you still haven’t grown accustomed to it yet.”

“Nnn. We are not planning on dying yet, it will be alright. We will be doubly cautious.”

“You look after this guy properly too, Ojou-chan. I feel somewhat uneasy here.”

Do I really look that unreliable? Why is he asking Sati to babysit me. Something just doesn’t sit right with me.

“Yes, leave it to me!”

Sati spiritedly answers without noticing my feelings over here.

“Well then. Should we get going then, Sati?”

At the entrance of the forest we first make sure the area is secure. The lineup is Sati at the front and me at the back.

The reason for it is that Sati’s Aural Detection has a wider detection range. My Sense Presence has smaller range, but in turn it’s precise.

It doesn’t miss small animals that don’t really make a sound or insects either. There are almost no dangerous things that are able get through Sati’s detection.

There are some poisonous ones, but those rarely herd together. The dangerous ones are the large species and groups of orcs. If we avoid those dangers then I think the forest isn’t that dangerous.

If there is something dangerous then we will quickly run away. If it comes chasing after us, then I will carry Sati and escape using Fly. If it’s an enemy we can take down, then Sati will snipe it using her bow. If it gets closer then I will use magic too. Depending on the situation it’s okay to attack or use Earth Wall to defend.

Our current objective is to strengthen Sati. We will raise Sati’s level and boost our chances of survival.

We went over the tactics one more time.

“Good. Then, Sati, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes.”

Sati enters the forest with rustling sounds. It’s not that loud of a sound, but in the quiet forest I think it echoes somewhat far. I guess I should take Covert Action and Stealth Steps for Sati too.

We close in without any sound and we both do a sneak attack. It sounds like a fairly good plan.

Nothing happened for a while.

Birds and small animals get caught in our detection, but it seems monsters are few in the outer parts of the forest. Should we go back for today? When I started thinking about that, Sati suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“There is something. Just a single one.”

“Can you tell its size?”

“Judging by the sounds it makes, it seems it’s not that big.”

“Okay, let’s try getting a bit closer. If you have a shot, then take it anytime.”

“Okay.”

As we got a bit closer it got caught in my Sense Presence too.

Its size is probably about the same as an orc. Maybe it’s a troll.

This Sense Presence, I don’t know the theory behind it, but it apparently detects something akin to a life force.

Small creatures have small presences and big ones have big presences. Therefore I can grasp their size, although just roughly.

Sati stopped and readied her bow.

I looked toward where she was aiming, but I couldn’t see the enemy at all.

Sati shoots her bow.

Oh? I saw something fall over.

“It hit the target.”

“Let’s get closer with caution.”

“Okay.”

It was an orc after all. It’s dead with an arrow sticking out of its head.

“Well done, Sati.”

h.e.l.lowork_vol2_0545

An orc is a sweet prey. Orc meat has a low unit price, but since it’s big it can be sold for good money.

I thump thump Sati’s head.

Actually, I want to pat her head, but she is wearing a helmet.