Chapter 126 (1/2)

We were now inside the Golden Demon Zone.

Looking from the outside, you would think that the Demon Zone is a huge woodland.

Even after we went inside, there were mostly trees and shrubs surrounding us.

Because it was still in the morning, the wind stroking our skin was quite cool.

You could feel freshness in the air.

There was a strong scent of vegetation around the area.

From time to time, I could hear a roar from something from a distance.

Are those from monsters?

I used my hand to somewhat cover my eyes from directly looking at the sun as I look up in the sky.

I could see the sky in between the branches and leaves of the surrounding trees.

We still haven’t entered the Demon Zone.

The place we were in now wasn’t that deep into the forest yet.

Currently, it still feels like we’re just comfortably walking through the woods.

Leading our advance as she watched around the area, Eve said.

[I haven’t felt the presence of any monster yet.]

Yes, there weren’t any presence of monsters nearby.

It’s not really zero but the presence that we’ve felt was still far away.

The vanguard of our formation is Eve.

Following next is me and Pigimaru.

Liz is directly following behind me and Seras would be holding our rear.

[Have you and Liz entered the Demon Zone before?]

[Umu… I haven’t held that much with me that time, so I could run away from the monsters.]

Even though it’s just for a short time, she still have some experience spending some time inside the Demon Zone.

This could be really advantageous for us.

[We only have some knowledge of the place we have reached, however we also know of springs where we could obtain some drinking water. There’s also the hidden antique buildings that were scattered around the area. Those buildings were also the reason why this place was called the Great Ruins.]

[What about food?]

[Most of the flesh of the Golden-eyed monsters contain toxins. Moreover, we really couldn’t tell whether each type of those monsters had toxins or not. The troublesome part is that… Most people wouldn’t know if there’s a toxin within its flesh until they’ve eaten it and injested into their body.]

If you are knowledgeable about it, you could tell if a mushroom is poisonous with just a glance.

However, it seems different when it comes to Golden-eye monsters.

You won’t know until you’ve tried it.

It seems that you can’t determine it through their odor either.

Even if we assume that’s the case, I doubt you could eat something like that unless you’re really starving that much.

At that time back in the Disposal Ruins, it was really impossible because their bodies were filled with acid…

[Contrary to what you might expect though, none of the fruits and mushrooms were safe to eat. Well, I don’t know about those ones you could find deep inside the Demon Zone though.]

[Well, we should be able to solve the food problem in one way or another.]

We have the leather bags that I’ve mentioned before.

First of all, there is no difficulty for us carrying these leather bags.

Basically, we don’t have to worry about preservation and storage of our food.

We’re also clear on whether these foods were safe to eat or not.

In places like this, this is an item that makes a big difference whether it exists or not.

[In that case, the biggest factor why Eve and Liz ran away from this place was—]

[Of course, it would be the monsters.]

As expected, their biggest bottleneck is that.

However, if you put it in another way—

As long as we could defeat the monsters, we could head deeper without any probles.

I looked behind me.

[Are you alright, Liz?]

Liz is walking while carrying a large backpack.

She had the most luggage among us four.

[I’m alright, Touka-sama.]

[You don’t have to hesitate and just tell us if you’re tired, okay?]

[Yes.]

I want to carry as much luggage as I can.

That is what Liz requested me before we entered the Demon Zone.

At that time when she told me that…

“I would like to respect Liz’s will.”

Eve’s words blocked Seras and my words.

“The less luggage Touka-sama and everyone have, the more chances that I will survive. I couldn’t help at all when it comes to fighting. Therefore, if Touka-sama and everyone were able to move nimbly… It would also make me safer.”

Logically speaking, she’s not mistaken.

[Liz.]

[Yes.]

[You’re already a legitimate member of this Mercenary Corps.]

[Ah—]

Liz’s face shone in delight.

[Y- Yes!]

It would be difficult to bring a horse into the Demon Zone.

Even the experienced Eve said so.

We would end up getting easier to detect by the demons.

It’s probably because they’re in this kind of place that the horses wouldn’t be able to calm down because of stress.