Chapter 49 The Cave Temple Of The Black Forest (Part One)
We raced through the forest and arrived at the black swamp. Michael led the way, and Geese protected the rear, so I was hardly ever attacked as expected. In fact, I only drew my sword three times. As we watched the black swamp's surface reflect the moon, we stopped our horses by the lakeside.
"We can only accompany you this far..."
Michael said apologetically.
"Thank you. It's enough. Thanks to you, I've been able to conserve a lot of energy."
"Are you really going?"
Michael asked, emphasizing his concern.
"Going to the cave temple is like my destiny, I suppose."
In response to my answer, Michael still had an expression of disbelief. Geese also approached, his large body swaying.
"We will come back here tomorrow after the sun rises."
"Oh, I'm sorry, but please. Also, please bring someone who can use healing magic with you. We don't know how many people are injured."
"What time do you think you'll be back?"
"I think it depends on the situation over there...I think we'll be back in the afternoon."
"What if, uh, you don't come back..."
Gisu stammers, as if he doesn't want to say anything.
"In that case, I have no reservations. You are welcome to pull up at sunset."
I said it clearly. If I can't come back by tomorrow's sunset, it's because I'm already dead.
(In that case, everyone who remains will probably die a tragic death.)
That's all I was concerned about. At the very least, even if I die, I want everyone left to live peacefully in this world. But such a world line never existed. I know everyone's fate the moment they die.
(That's why I can't die easily)
Once again, I strongly engrave this feeling in my heart. Michael extended something with his right hand.
"Take this with you."
Looking at it, it was a small flute necklace. It seemed to be made of silver, and was about the size of a little finger.
"The Flute of Calling, huh?"
"Yeah. With an adventurer's card, you can detect its presence within a certain range, but you won't know the other party's situation."
"So, it's used to notify others by playing the flute, right?"
"That's right. When you blow this flute as it is, it produces a sound that can be heard by humans as normal. But if you fold it like this and use it..."
Michael showed the flute he had in his hand, folding it about halfway.
"It can produce a wavelength of sound that humans and large monsters can't hear. With this, you should be able to notify others without the enemy noticing."
"If humans can't hear it, how can you call for help?"
When I voiced my question, Michael answered with a proud look.
"Leave that to me. I can hear that sound. Well, if you have a dog with you, you can tell."
"I see, I appreciate that."
I put on the necklace with the received flute and mounted the horse.
"Shizuru, sorry but from here on, you lead the way and guide me. I'll protect the rear."
Shizuru, who also mounted a horse, said "Got it" and urged the horse forward.
"Be careful."
"Take care."
With the voices of the adventurers who had brought us this far behind us, we proceeded forward, circling around the black swamp.
We had gone about halfway around the swamp. From amidst the tall reed-like water plants, something jumped out. But I calmly flashed the sword on my back. The thing that had jumped out was split in two and fell to the ground. It was a frog-man.
"Why would there be frog-men in a place like this?"
I looked at them with astonishment. Frog-men should only be in the underground dungeon near Sakurakand. When I looked ahead, about six frog-men were lying in wait.
"Shizuru, let's charge through at once! Just take down the ones blocking our path!"
I urged that as I rode ahead of her. A frog-like humanoid leaped towards us. Swiftly, I swung my sword, slicing the head of the one on the right and the neck of the one on the left. Another frog-like humanoid ahead brandished a spear.
(A spear, huh? What a hassle.)
Just as I thought that, something black pierced the face of the frog-like humanoid. It appeared to be a ninja's kunai. It seemed Shizuru had thrown it. The kunai must have been coated with poison, as the frog-like humanoid collapsed instantly. The area where the kunai had struck turned a dark color.
(A walking shrine maiden, and she has these kinds of skills? She's just like a ninja.)
Although I found it strange, I continued to fend off the frog-like humanoids leaping at us one after another from horseback.
After passing the black swamp, the forest gradually thickened. Thin trees grew in the gaps between thick trees, and vines were also abundant, making visibility extremely poor. Naturally, the progress of our horses slowed down.
"Has Shizuru come through this place alone?"
When I said that, she sadly shook her head from side to side.
"When we left the stone cave, my companions were with me. But then, one after another, monsters appeared, and..."
(So, Shizuru was the only one who made it to the town)
At that moment, the horse reacted to something.
(There's something there!)
It was too late when I thought that. A large black shadow rushed towards my horse from the thickets! It tore through the horse from its back to its belly with a single blow.
"Akito!"
Shizuru shouted. But I managed to jump from the horse's back at the last moment and avoid the massive black shadow's attack.
"Grooooooaaarrr!"
The huge black shadow roared.
(Is it a bear? No, it's different. The silhouette is too human-like for a bear)
Yes, the opponent is a beastman, a bear-man.
(Why is a beastman considered a monster?)
I wondered. Beastmen in this world are indeed a kind of subhuman, but they are not necessarily monsters. They may not always be friendly to humans, but they shouldn't be deliberately hostile.
"Goooohhh!"
Bear-man attacked the horse that Shizuru was riding this time. With a blow from its log-like front leg, the thick neck of the horse bent sharply. The horse fell over. However, Shizuru had jumped off just before being attacked.
"Shizuru, are you okay?"
In response to my question, she answered shortly, "I'm fine!" Bear-man let out another roar and came charging with the force to destroy everything.
"Shizuru, go to the right side of Bear-man, I'll go to the left side!"
When facing such a big enemy, it's better for the two of us not to stay together.
"Understood!"
She must have quickly understood my fighting style. Shizuru, who went to the right, threw a kunai. However, the kunai couldn't penetrate Bear-man's wire-like fur.
As Bear-man swung its front leg indiscriminately, thin trees around us were mowed down. As a result, moonlight began to shine through, and Bear-man's figure became visible. I couldn't help but be amazed. There were three things growing on Bear-man's head. They had an irregular shape, but they seemed to be mushrooms.
(Is that a parasitic mushroom that drives its host mad?)
A parasitic mushroom is a special type of mushroom mutated by magic. It can drive the host animal mad and, in some cases, even control it.
(So that bear-man attacked us, is that what you're saying?)
The bear-man lunged at me from the front, as if to crush me with its forelegs.
"Akito!"
Shizuru shouted my name like a scream. But I calmly swung my sword straight down from above. The bear-man's log-like foreleg was cleaved in two, flying off behind me. It's all thanks to the sharpness of the Five-Leaf Sword (Goyouken).
"Grrrrrr!"
The bear-man, having lost its right arm, shouted while foaming at the mouth.
"Shizuru, can you aim for the eyes? Can you do it?"
"I'll give it a try!"
Her thrown kunai attacked the bear-man's face. One of them pierced the bear-man's right eye.
"Groar!"
The bear-man let out a short, deep yell.
(Not yet!)
I took the opportunity and slashed at the bear-man's remaining left arm. The left arm fell to the ground with a thud just above the elbow. The bear-man was foaming at the mouth, and its remaining eye was bloodshot.
(This guy must be suffering from mushroom parasitism. I'll end it now.)
I leapt high and swung the sword down on the bear-man's bowed head.
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