82 Episode 82 "Easy" Fog Valley "Strategy by the Cheat Wife Corps".txt (1/2)

It is less than half a day's walk to ”Foggy Valley”.

Since we can't use carriages on the mountain roads, we left the horses with a merchant.

While activating Rita's 'Presence Detection' and Cecil's 'Magic Detection' at certain distances, we proceeded while paying attention to see if there were any people, demons, or traps caused by magic.

The path is made by comparing Rafilia's memories and the guild's records. Both data are almost identical. On the contrary, Rafilia's memory is even more accurate.

What the newlyweds found was a route that entered from the beast path, and Rafilia's memory had a formal route that was forgotten. Thanks to that, they were able to go smoothly even on the unfamiliar mountain roads...

A huge iron fence was set up at the entrance to the 'Valley of the Mist'.

”...... to keep out adventurers who don't read the air,

It was a fence that looked like a hurry-up. It was about 3 meters high. In a manner, it has a door and is closed with a heavy-duty lock. The coat of arms engraved on the lock seems to be the royal family of this country.

According to Cecil ”Magic Power Detection”, there are no magic seals or traps. This is a physical one.

''Can't we break it with 'Delayed Combat (Delayed Arts)', Reggie?

I can do that, but it will be a pain in the ass.

Yeah.

”Shall I blow you away with my little demon wife's magic?

That's a bad idea. Unless you push it and it opens by accident.

”Oh, well, if it opened by accident, well, that's just the way it is.

'It can't be helped. I didn't put that much effort into it.

”So long.

Before I know it, I'm in a tiny human form and Leggy is laughing on my shoulder.

Leggy was also watching Raphilia's skills on my back yesterday.

'So, Raphilia, try pulling the lock.

Yes, sir. Master.

Just be gentle and don't break it, it's the royal family's property. If it opens, it's an accident.

It's a very simple thing. Hmmm. It's a big lock. It's not in my power to ...... ”instrumental degradation” (d*mn it) ...... Hey, it's open, master.

There was a clatter and the lock opened.

I'm sorry, prince.

The Valley of the Mist is a liberated area, it's not forbidden to explore, so it's fine.

I didn't break the lock, I don't intend to vandalize it, I'm just going to find Rafilia's memories and a few golden items, and I'll leave the gate as it is, so I hope you'll miss it.

We walked through the fence.

In front of us was a rock face that towered high above us.

And there was a gap there, where two people could pass side by side. The other side of the gap was filled with thick fog. So this is the 'Foggy Valley' from here on.

I'm going to reconfirm the plan.

I unfolded the information Rafilia had prepared for me.

The Valley of the Mist has a narrow pathway that leads out of the valley. There are many branches in the middle of the passage, but the rest of it is completely blank. In other words, it's impossible to tell.

We'll take a direct line into the fog to see if Rafilia's memories react.

If we come across this thing called the Shadow of the Heavenly Dragon, that's all that matters, and if we don't, we'll explore at random and leave.

In short, my colleague at work (Rafilia) forgot something in a tricky place, so I'm going to go with her to get it.

That's the only purpose of this quest.

Rita and Aine will stay here. If anyone comes, just keep out of the way of the valley. If anything happens on our end, I will signal them with Cecil's magic or Rafilia's arrow. Then come into the 'Valley of the Mist'.

I understand, master.

Rita shakes my hand and bows.

The beast ears are flopping over. You look worried.

I'm fine. I've taken precautions against the fog.

The Mist of Deception disturbs your senses.

People other than yourself become demons and attack you. It's tricky to distinguish them from real demons, but that's the only problem.

”Rita, I need you to protect our backs.

...... If it's like being a newlywed, then I can do it.

'Just in case. I've got some 'old blood' advice for the white man.

I'm not so sure. I just want to see if there's a connection between the vision and Rafilia's memories.

............ Yeah.

rustling sound

I nudged her ear and Rita nodded, though reluctantly.

''Aine, also take care of Rita's support. Be careful of the consumption of energy and magic in 'Demon Clearing Lv 2'.

It's all clear.

Aine held up a mop of steel.

'Because realizing Nay-kun's 'stable life' is the first step in fulfilling Aine's dream.

”First step in your dream?

I'll tell you all about it later.

Okay. I'll see you later.

So, we leave Rita and Aine and start walking into the valley.

Rafilia is in the lead. Cecil and Iris are behind them. I am at the very back.

The air in the valley is cool, and a thick fog surrounds us with every step we take.

I'm holding on to the cord to prevent the four of us from getting separated from each other.

But before I know it, my vision goes blank, and the cord I was holding onto goes somewhere else.

We easily lost sight of each other.

”So far, so good, so good.

The adventurers wouldn't be fighting each other if they could attack with a single string.

'Reggie, you're there, right?'

”Of course, my Lord.

'Don't let the body appear. Because the fog may react to human forms.

I understand.

Leggy is supposed to be treated as a weapon, so he's not affected by the fog.

I expected that if the fog is something that invites two people to fight each other, it wouldn't make them give up their weapons. Well, it looks like I was right.

So, I suppose.

If you want people to attack each other, you need a demon to appear first.

Then, to stir up a sense of urgency, a companion in the form of a monster would appear next... that's the theory in the game.

”Squeak, squeak!

They're here!

Out of the fog, a human-sized rabbit emerged. It's got a horn like a unicorn.

A Hornrabbit.

”Hornrabbit.

A large rabbit. A large rabbit. He had a sharp horn on his forehead.

It's not very aggressive, but the instantaneous force of its hind legs is strong, and it hurts if it gets a decent assault.

Its meat is soft and delicious.

Sometimes they are kept as pets of the nobility.''

''If it's Cecil and Rafilia, it's no problem, but it's tough for Iris to deal with this guy. Then activate 'Slave Summoning (Summoning Slave) LV 1'!

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!

I heard footsteps from behind me.

A figure came from the fog and crashed straight into my back.

Clinging to my back was a tiny lizard man with scales all over his body (Lizardman).

...... Does Iris look like a lizardman ......

The fact that it came in ”Slave Summoning LV1” means that this is definitely Iris.

Slave Summoning (Sammoning Slave) Lv 1

You can draw any slave to your master.

The summoned slave knows the exact coordinates of its master and will come to Ichimoku no matter what. So, he can't leave his side for a while.

''Gee, gigi giga gaga. Gaga-gaga!

You're welcome.

disgusting

Even the texture of my back is changing. Even the sense of touch has become strange.

I told Iris that I would use the ”slave summoning” beforehand, so she knows it's me by her side. She calmly takes my hand in hers. It's kind of terrifying, though.

Step one. It worked.

Iris is here. The Hornrabbit in front of me is not Cecil (・・・・・) or Rafilia (・・・・・) or even Rafilia (・・・・・) (・・・・).

'Then yes.'

I threw some dried meat in front of the Horn Rabbit. And some bread from Raphilia's baked lunch.

'Activate!　Life Negotiation, Food Negotiation, Lv 1!

...... We're just here for a reason, we don't want to troll, so please let us through.

”Kyu-kyu-gaiteki............ hi-jo............ hi-jo ...... order

Yeah. You're a demon.

I couldn't make a deal.

Well, then.

Okay.

Kyu────!

The blade of the magic sword Leggy tore through Hornrabbit's skin.

Hornrabbit ran away.

I know it's a demon, but it's just a matter of time before it happens. Even my skills are not absolute.

”Gaga-gaga, gigi.

That's Iris clinging to her back, and she's saying something.

”Reggie, can you translate for me?

”Don't go to ....... I don't understand. Hey, Tsurupeta Shaman. A flattened priestess. Do you recognize my voice?

Lizardman Iris doesn't answer.

He doesn't seem to understand Leggy's words. Leggy is recognized as part of me because he's a sword. That's why I can communicate with him. It would be a mistake to ask Leggy to translate for me.

”Gugu ga ga ga.

'Yeah. I hope Cecil and Rafilia are okay.

I don't know what that means, but I answer to Iris, the cute little lizardman.

If the two of them were fighting, I would hear the sound of the bow being shot and see the light of the flaming arrows. If you don't have that, then your hearing must be out of whack somehow, too.

However, only the inside of my head is normal. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be able to think about defending myself in the first place, or even think about escaping. That's why I thought I could get through to you with my psychic communication skills. I guess that's what you mean by being able to use ”Life Negotiation”.

I start walking away from Iris' hand.

What happens next?

If we're going by the pattern in the original world, we're going to have a companion who's turned into a demon next.

''Hoo-oh-oh-oh!''

Ah, here it comes.

A girl who looks like a flame fairy appeared in front of me.

Her crimson body - she's naked - and she's covered in orange flames. Her hair is also a flame.

Moreover - there are two of them.

They are both trembling and pointing their fingers at me. So one of them is a demon and the other one is a friend.

”Fire!　”High-Speed Analysis LV1!

A window appears around it. Iris is '■■■=■■■■■'. The Fiery Demon God in front of me is also '■■■■■■■'.

The 'High Speed Analysis' is a cheat skill, but it's only increased the speed and accuracy of the 'analysis system skills', so it's ....... So, since everyone has an analytical skill, it's already been countered.

Then.

'Could it be that one of them is Cecil?　This is me and Iris in lizardman form.

I called out in my head.

'Nah. It's Nagi-sama, isn't it? You startled me.'

One of the fire fairies came running over and hugged me with a puff.

It's hot, but not enough to burn you.

'Cecil, you're hugging me now, right?　Are you sure?

'Yes. I'm Cecil Farot, Nagi-sama's slave. Nagi-sama is cool even if he is a demon. ......'

A reply comes back to me in my head. It's definitely Cecil. Before we entered the valley, we were connected through ”shared consciousness (mind linkage) LV1.

”Consciousness Sharing (mind linkage) Lv 1.

The skill of passing consciousness to one slave for a certain amount of time.

The master can also read the slave's thoughts by focusing his consciousness.