Volume 2 Chapter 3 Transformed Shrine Maiden
Once we left the eastern gate of Voljanath, we ventured into a vast forest that deviated from the main road.
The ceiling of the forest was covered with tall tree leaves, but sunlight streamed through the gaps, creating a bright atmosphere. I had imagined it to be an empty place, but there was a sense of reassurance with the well-trodden path and signposts along the way.
According to the signposts, there seemed to be a dungeon further east.
Well, it would be pointless for us to go there at the moment.
"Should we search in a place off the beaten path?"
"I'll carry the bag."
"Thanks."
As we moved to a slightly more open area, we quickly found the grass drawn on the paper. It wasn't scattered individually, but rather growing in clusters. To avoid complaints later, we carefully dug up the roots and packed them into a hemp bag.
"I thought that with adventurers like us, the herbs would have been all picked already. Do medicinal plants have such strong reproductive power?"
"It seems so. With this, we could gather quickly."
"Yeah, we won't have to go deep into the forest then."
Eric made a good decision by recommending this job. It's not bad if you think of it as a relatively safe and humble job. However, there's talk that the guild doesn't have any easier jobs, so it's probably best not to have excessive expectations about the rewards.
While looking for herbs, I watched Leanne humming and digging the soil.
"It looks fun, doesn't it?"
"Don't you think this kind of meticulous work is good?"
"I guess so."
"I don't mind too. It's nice not to have to think about anything."
"Yeah, you're right."
For me, it's not much different from doing farm work, so I don't have much trouble.
For a while, we searched for herbs while trying not to stray too far from each other.
We continued to work silently, and by the time we finished gathering the herbs, the sun was starting to set.
Fortunately, we didn't have anything to light up the night, so it was good that we finished before it got dark.
"This should be enough, right?"
"Yeah, I think so."
Leanne's bag was filled to the brim with herbs. There should be no shortage of them. Nothing happened to cause any injuries, so it was a decent first day of being an adventurer.
"Should we head back?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to get hungry after all that work."
"Do you think we'll get paid enough to eat until we're full?"
"Not likely."
"Yeah, I guess you're right..."
As we followed the trail of the dug-up earth, we started making our way back to the entrance of the forest. It was on the way there.
Suddenly, there was a cracking sound nearby, and my body trembled in surprise.
I stepped forward in front of Leanne, ready for anything. It could be a monster or those beastmen we've heard about. Either way, our only option was to run away.
While preparing for the worst, I stared intently into the depths of the forest.
But relief washed over me as I saw the figure that appeared.
It was a human emerging from the depths of the forest.
The person wore a tattered black cloak and had their hood pulled low. Being alone in this place, they could be a fellow adventurer.
"Ah, finally, I found you."
The person in the cloak spoke, revealing themselves to be a man. He quickly and roughly removed his hood.
He had short, golden hair and a weathered face.
His narrow eyes stared intensely at me. The clothes peeking through the gaps in his cloa were an odd combination for a journey—— a thin white shirt and black pants, similar to what Eric used to wear.
However, it was unlikely that a member of the Adventurer's Guild would be found in a place like this...
"I've come this far relying on my memories. It took a really long time, Ark."
The man said, somehow knowing my name. But I couldn't recall any memories of meeting him before.
"Ku...kukuku...Ahahaha!"
The man suddenly started to laugh eerily, as if he had gone mad.
Covering his face with his hands, he laughed for a while, then turned expressionless and looked at me.
"I died because of you. That traitor... Oswald got me."
The man muttered. It was the first time I had heard the name Oswald.
I felt like something bad was about to happen. I held Leanne's hand, ready to run away at any moment. However, the man continued to talk one-sidedly as he circled around to the exit of the woods, as if anticipating our thoughts.
"That's right, it was a dream. 'This...is...reality...' Isn't that obvious?"
The man's words were completely confusing. Since the other person was unarmed, I even considered hitting him with a nearby branch or something.
"I won't lose... I know it all... Ugh! Grrrr..."
Suddenly, a man groaned as he placed both hands on the ground.
His clothes tore, making a creaking sound as his whole body swelled, and black fur began to cover his limbs. His head changed shape, no longer human, with a protruding jaw.
"We need to run."
"Yeah, let's go."
Taking her hand, we sprinted at full speed.
When I looked back, the man had transformed into a bizarre, tall, and long-limbed figure, almost like a werewolf.
Had the human turned into a monster, or was he never human to begin with?
Questions filled my mind, but now was not the time to ponder.
We had to head into the depths of the forest, running was our only option.
"I'll kill you, I'll kill Oswald, and I'll be free! I won't let anyone get in my way!"
With a low, guttural roar, the werewolf chased after us.
Its incredible strength allowed it to knock down trees without slowing down. If we were caught by such a creature, there would be no hope.
In the heart of the forest, we ran blindly on a pathless trail.
But what good would that do? There was no strategy or plan to overcome this situation. Sooner or later, either I or Leanne would run out of energy and be caught. We were still maintaining distance for now, but time was running out.
"Something's coming from ahead."
Leanne suddenly exclaimed.
As we ran, I looked around but couldn't see anything. The landscape remained the same, with no signs of relief. Frustrated, Leanne stopped in her tracks.
"What's wrong? We need to keep running!"
No matter how much I pleaded, Leanne refused to move from where she stood.
And in that moment, the werewolf caught up to us. Its arm, adorned with sharp claws, swung up into the air.
I can't believe it!
Just when I thought I could finally leave the village and live a normal life, it seems like it's not allowed.
It feels so pointless, but I can't help but protect Leanne and shield her from harm.
'Ahahahaha! It's all over now!'
"──This is the second time I've seen a talking monster."
'Huh?'
The werewolf let out a silly voice.
The right arm that was supposed to be right there, just vanished into thin air. Blood splattered forcefully from the werewolf's arm socket.
'Aaaaarrrggghhh!!'
The werewolf screamed while arching backward. Just like him, it was an unexpected turn of events for me.
'Gggghh... You...!'
At the end of the werewolf's gaze, there stood a woman with silver hair, holding a sword in one hand, and right behind her, two men stood.
They all had animal-like ears on top of their heads, just like Eric had described. Could they be the beastmen on patrol?
"I'll ask just in case since it seems we can communicate, but who are you?"
'Ah... I'll kill... Kill... Ark, Oswald...'
"Is that so."
The female beastman spoke with apparent disinterest and she sheathed her sword.
In the next moment, the head of the werewolf flew through the air.
"..."
W-What was that just now...
I couldn't understand what had happened at all.
The only thing I'm sure of is that this woman easily killed the werewolf.
As I stood there dumbfounded, a beastman behind her lit a lantern. The light revealed the woman's appearance.
Other than the sword she had at her waist, she was dressed in a plain white blouse and a blue skirt. She didn't seem to have any special equipment for patrolling the forest, but maybe she didn't even need it.
I couldn't even perceive her attack, so I understand that she must be skilled with a sword.
"'Don't you have something to say to me?'"
The female beastman with eyes as red as blood is glaring at me. It seems like she's really mad for some reason.
What should I say?
Oh, I haven't said thank you yet.
"Thanks. I don't know who you are, but you really helped me."
When I expressed my gratitude, the female beastman slapped my cheek hard.
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