159 Episode 52: Signs of Anomalies (1/2)

”Ugh... I couldn't just do my own thing after all...”

”Don't be so depressed. Foundations, it's an impossible story. I think you've done your best, Monica.”

”Ugh... I'm sorry to bother Master Navre so much, this is how it is...”

Although Navre is desperately trying to comfort Monica, who is sinking more and more, she is not doing well. You fell while fighting demons, Monica's outfit is getting dirty for a long time.

In the end, Monica couldn't defeat the demons on her own just to escape. Nobody did anything to blame Monica for all this.

Just because I can use some magic, I don't think my amateur Monica can handle demons in just one day today. Still, it's great enough not to cry and just try to face it hard.

”Look, cheer up. You can eat freshly baked fish, right?

”Yes......”

I was catching and cooking river fish for a number of people with Gakun. Even when it came to cooking, I cooked it on a skewer and just shook the salt. But that's the only fresh fish I can take and it looks delicious.

Monica received the river fish with pleasure as she semi-cryed and began eating the fearful fish. I've pecked with my little mouth so many times that the movement is somewhere adorable.

”Navre, too. Thanks for taking care of Monica.”

”No......”

Navre received the fish as he stared at me with unspeakable eyes. I don't know why you're cooking this guy out of that eye, but I feel signs like it, but I dare to ignore it. When I was an adventurer like this, it was a daily tea meal.

”Are you glad you didn't wait for Charne?

”It's about time we got down the mountain. Even if Charne is a little late, I think if Charne comes hunting for his prey, he can handle it and then eat it here or go back.”

”Sort of.”

Single, Charne headed hunting hasn't come back yet. Gakun returns the right gavel for my words as he cheeks his share of the river fish.

I wasn't going to take Monica to the boulder and reveal the night in the mountains. Because Gakun and Navre are trained in the Knights, but I thought it would be hard on Monica and Charne. Outside, Charne seems fine and accepting, though.

So before sundown, we were going to go down the mountain, so Charne should see the time and it's time to come back. I was going to cook the river fish for Charne too......

”Sorry to keep you waiting”

”Ah, Charne. Welcome home.”

When I thought so, I saw Charne rushing towards us. But the prey doesn't have anything in particular, and it's bare hands.

”Couldn't find anything prey?

……

”? Charne?

I saw her face because Charne wouldn't say anything. Then Charne had a troubled look on her face, which makes me frown, too.

”... Has Her Royal Highness ever been to this pioneering land?

”If not today, a few times”

”At that time, did you see any animals or demons that might be edible to people?

”Animals and demons that are likely to be edible?

I don't know what the question is intended to be, and I lean my neck. How'd it go when we used to come here? If you put your arms together and dig up your memories, some animals and demons that might apply will come to mind.

”I think he was, but what's that?

”I hope I'm wrong, but I couldn't find any animals or demons as unnaturally.”

”... navr. Is Big Ape the only demon you've encountered today?

”Right. Other than that, when they say animals and demons... I certainly didn't see them”

I take confirmation with Navre and then turn my thoughts around about what Charne told me.

Charne says that this pioneering land can't find as many animals and demons as it is unnatural.

And today, only Vic Ape encountered Monica's demonic crusade.

”Big Ape is a clever demon. If you ask me, I should have stayed more in the woods and avoided contact with people.”

Big Ape, as the name suggests, is a big monkey. But intelligence is never low, and most importantly, it is rare among demons that tend to evolve into one person at a time in order to gain demonic stones, demons that try to sustain the herd.

So it's more rare for demons with demonic stones to come from Big Ape to be born the other way around. Not to the point of none, but no demon tries to form a herd more thoroughly than Big Ape.

Vic Ape's Demon Stone Holding chooses to live off the herd and in solitude, or becomes like a length of time living while protecting the herd. So less likely to encounter, less dangerous.

I'm not even a people-eating species, so even if I accidentally go into territory, they just get rid of me. Although I have encountered Big Ape, which has been detached from the herd and turned into a demonic stone, I have never encountered a leader who would protect the herd.

I heard from other adventurers that Big Ape grew up trying to avoid contact with people until he was longer?

”... Speaking of which, Big Ape is not a demon for edibles, is it?

”Ah. Big Ape is not such a rare demon in the east. I just can't eat the meat muscularly, and if I can't take the amount, it doesn't taste good. And if we don't set it up from here without darkness, it's a demon that doesn't really try to compete with humans. I thought they attacked me this time because I was in the territory...”