Chapter 98 (2/2)

It had to be a very talented magician. But, I never heard anything especially good or bad about them.

Definitely a hermit though. The hermit wasn’t fighting with the Demon Lord’s army, nor was it attacking human habitations.

The hermit wasn’t helping anyone either.

I guess there was nothing to say other than the hermit was a talented magician.

「Um…when we fought the Demon Lord’s army, do you remember that massive forest we went through?」

「Yeah, the forest on the eastern side of the Demon Lord’s region, right?」

「There. It was a wasteland only a decade ago.」

「Wha? Are you sure?」

Cruz was surprised, but it wasn’t something impossible.

When we all passed through as Cruz’ party, the forest was verdant with every type of tree and shrub.

「So the forest hermit changed that wasteland into a huge forest?」

「…wow.」

「Yeah, but, it only happened in the place just outside the Demon Lord’s region. It’s a place not well known by humans.」

Yureena then patted Cruz kindly on the head.

「That’s why Cruz didn’t know much about it.」

「So, you’re saying that this forest hermit is hoarding all the materials for zombification that it can find?」

「Not hoarding…but definitely gathering.」

「Hm.」

This made no sense, though. Why would a forest hermit suddenly contact humans about zombification?

And why was the hermit suddenly gathering zombification materials?

「So you’re sure this is the forest hermit?」

「No doubt.」

「Why can you be sure?」

「The adventure guild has little contact with the hermit, but they trade sometimes. Because of this, the hermit had an adventurer’s guild card created.」

「Really?」

「Yes.」

It’s true that in order to trade with the guild, you had to have a card, and if you had one it was convenient.

Especially if the hermit was using the materials found in the forest to trade with the guild for other materials.

If you just had that card, you could make any financial transaction at the guild.

「So, this hermit was using the adventurer card to make purchases, and that’s why we found who it was.」

Still made absolutely no sense. It’s true that using the card is very convenient.

But if you did, you instantly left traces.

It was extremely thoughtless. Definitely not the type of thing a great magician like the forest hermit would do.

「…I wonder if the zombification is over.」

「You can’t deny the possibility.」

「Suppose the forest hermit was done with the zombification, then a demon could use the hermit as a very important piece in his attack. I don’t think the hermit would gather materials like that then.」

Luka’s hypothesis was probably right.

Either way, we needed to track down this forest hermit, just in case.

「So, what’s the name of this forest hermit?」

「Vallimie Lindobal.」

—CRASH!

The cup of tea that Vi-Vi was holding fell to the table with a crash. The tea spread over the table.

Luka quickly cleaned up all the tea Vi-Vi had spilled with a washcloth.

Everyone started in surprise at Vi-Vi, even Collette, who was still playing house.

「Vi-Vi…what’s wrong?」

「Did you burn yourself?」

「Moo?」

Luka and I asked her, but Vi-Vi just stared ahead without a sound.

The cup hadn’t hurt Vi-Vi though, at least.

Moofy stared at Vi-Vi with a worried face.

「Vallimie…Lindobal?」

Vi-Vi asked in a quiet voice.

「Someone you know?」

「…she’s my older sister.」

Vi-Vi’s face was pallid.

「If that’s your older sister, that means she taught you magic, right?」

「…right.」

「Was she good at making zombies?」

「Of course she wasn’t!!」

「Hmm…」

It may be that she was wrapped up in something bad. Maybe someone was making her zombify beings.

「Anyway, we need to go pay Vi-Vi’s sister a little visit.」

I said, and Luka nodded at me with a serious look.