Chapter 143 (2/2)

Nino possessed special eyes called 【Magic Eyes of Greenery], so not only could she manipulate plants, she could also get a certain degree of understanding of the condition of the plants.

Seen through Nino’s eyes, the Great Jiol Forest was an extraordinarily strange forest.

「……」

「Nn, what?」

「Nothing.」

After looking at Nefas’s face behind her, Nino immediately returned her face to the front.

As she thought, Nino hadn’t noticed.

Nino thought that this was most likely the normal reaction to it.

This Great Jiol Forest was filled with concentrated magical power.

In a land filled with such a massive amount of magical power, the trees should have had some sort of change.

Just like the plants in the eastern region of the Zadark Kingdom, it wouldn’t be strange if they were moving or flying about.

However, although the trees of the Great Jiol Forest contained magical power within them, they were not Maju (magical trees) but normal plants.

Normally, that was impossible.

There were some other strange points as well.

The affinity with people of the magical power of this forest was too high, so the flow of magical power within the body would be thrown out of order.

As a result, the body’s balance would be disrupted, and they would lose their sense of direction as well.

Furthermore, scene the forest’s dense magical power would inhibit Magical Power Perception as well, people who lost every possible guiding principle would surely end up wandering around in this forest.

It was said that the reason why the Jiol Forest Kingdom was founded within such a forest was due to an agreement with the Gods.

There also seemed to be rumors that one would naturally be guided through the forest if one was truly loved by the Gods.

「Still, no wonder this place is called a holy ground.」

「What do you mean?」

「We haven’t met with a single monster, right?」

Hearing Nefas’s words, Nino said “now that you mention it” and noticed it.

Certainly, they had yet to meet with a single monster in this exploration.

Even though the Goblins of the Shutaia Continent were especially dumb and were said to create settlements anywhere without thinking, not even the figures of those Goblins could be seen.

However……thinking about the situation of this forest, that might only be natural.

In a forest like this where one would lose their way right away, a Goblin’s way of living wouldn’t be viable.

Unless one had a special power like Nino’s 【Magic Eyes of Greenery], it should be difficult to do something like proper exploration.

That’s right, it was difficult without Nino, and that is why Nino could do it──That is why she was sent to the Jiol Forest Kingdom.

Nino had that self-confidence.

That is why Nino had to produce positive results in this mission.

While thinking that, Nino continued walking……then all of a sudden, she came to a complete stop.

「……So the story of being a holy ground and stuff was a superstition.」

「What?」

「It’s coming.」

Nefas didn’t have the time to ask “what is?”.

In the space in front of Nino’s group, a crack appeared.

The crack in space eventually expanded into the shape of a circle……And from there, something that seemed like an Alva appeared.

Its body that had a black luster and its bat-like wings were the same as normal Alva, but its body was muscular and enormous.

Holding something that looked like a metal club, it was emitting something similar to an intimidating pressure.

「Wh, what is this guy……Could it be, is it an Alva!?」

When speaking of Alva, they were known as slender Humanoid Mazoku that possessed high magic abilities.

However, for the Alva before their eyes, no matter how they looked at it, it was a close combat type.

Its type was a so-called Special Type, and excluding Kain and Ein, there was no one in mankind’s territory that has encountered this Special Type Alva.

Naturally, this was Nino and Nefas’s first time coming across one.

「Gagegigugugagagaaaaa!」

Together with the howl it made resound in the surroundings, the Alva quickly approached Nino and Nefas.

Spreading its bat-like wings and flying in at high speed, it raised its club overhead, and swung it down at Nino who was closest to it.

「Nino!」

Shouting that, Nefas finally tried to draw his sword.

I won’t make it in time──By the time he thought that, the Alva’s club was already swung down……and smashed the ground that no one was at.

At the end of the club’s path, Nino’s figure was already gone.

「Since you’ll be in the way, Nino thinks it would be best if you get back. After all, if you get dragged in, Nino won’t take any responsibility.」

Nino was using a tree branch that was unnaturally stretched out above the Alva as a foothold.

Nefas saw……her shining green eyes.