NOVEL NEXT chapter 61
– Drex (3)
When I returned from hunting,
the atmosphere here was truly strange.
How should I put it?
It felt like they were all watching each other’s reactions.
‘Did they have a fight or something?’
The three of them seemed more awkward with each other than before.
It was completely different from what I had intended.
I met each of their gazes, one by one.
First, Asia.
Asia naturally avoided my eyes.
It didn’t seem like she’d answer if I asked something.
Next was Letty.
Unlike Asia, Letty stiffly averted my gaze.
Letty wouldn’t answer if asked either, I figured.
Finally, Ameria.
Ameria didn’t look away.
And so, I decided to ask Ameria.
“Ameria, did something happen between you girls?”
“Something happen? Hmm… we just had a little talk.”
“A talk? What kind of talk?”
I hoped they hadn’t fought.
“Well, it’s…”
Just as Ameria was about to say something,
Asia hurriedly covered Ameria’s mouth.
And Letty—
“Oh? Is that… is that what you hunted? The rabbit you’re holding!”
She changed the subject with an awkwardness that was too obvious.
If they didn’t want to talk about it…
I simply decided to shift the conversation.
“Oh… right.”
I showed them the prey in my hand.
A rabbit, plump with meat.
Big enough to compare to a small child.
Even roasted, it would be enough for the three of them.
Though I was thinking of making soup.
“I’ll cook for now. You all wait.”
Asia and Ameria nodded at my words.
But only Letty was different.
“I’ll help you!”
She stood up, offering to help directly.
Then—
Asia and Ameria also started to offer their help.
“I’ll help too.”
“I… I can help too!”
But—
“Ameria… have you ever even cooked before?”
“…Aren’t you supposed to just put all the ingredients in a pot and boil them thoroughly?”
A knowing sort of remark, as if they truly knew things.
Except, I couldn’t help but consider a possibility.
*Simmer all ingredients together until cooked-*
Wasn’t that alchemy?
‘Could that black sludge really be something Amelia made?’
Amelia had never tasted proper food.
Not until she met me.
Thinking back to it,
it was clear Amelia had concocted that black liquid herself.
I hadn’t actually tasted it,
but it was the kind of flavor you could understand without tasting.
Which meant asking Amelia for cooking help would be… tricky.
“Ah… It’s okay…”
Asia followed, eyes shining, with a question of her own.
“What about me?”
“Asia… you’re a noble.”
It wasn’t a statement of consideration due to her status.
It was that as a noble, she definitely wouldn’t have experience with cooking.
Besides, I’d never actually seen Asia prepare a meal.
Asia’s shoulders slumped,
and she returned to her spot with Amelia.
“Alright then, Letty… How about you?”
“I know how! During my pilgrimage, I served meals to the poor villagers!”
*Ah… a volunteer thing, I guess. Truly a Saintess.*
At least Letty seemed to know how to cook.
“Then, could you just prepare these ingredients?”
I tasked Letty with cleaning the gathered greens, which would become the soup’s base.
And then I started butchering the rabbit.
But then, suddenly-
I didn’t have a proper kitchen knife, so I was using Blackveil to prepare the meat, and seeing the blade sparked a thought.
‘Come to think of it, why am I still using Blackveil?’
The Hero.
A Hero had a partner besides the Saintess.
The Holy Sword.
Wasn’t that always the case in fairy tales?
I asked Letty to try and clear my doubt.
“Why aren’t you giving me the Holy Sword?”
I heard it was kept in the Saint Kingdom’s underground vaults.
We were on our way to fight fiends; they could at least lend it out.
“The Holy Sword…? Why would we?”
“Well… because I’m the Hero, aren’t I?”
“…But Hero-nim has a sword.”
That, that’s right.
I did have a sword.
But the Holy Sword was really only useful when facing a Majin-.
‘Wait a minute… didn’t I fight a Majin before?’
I didn’t have the Holy Sword back then.
Not even the Black Shadow Sword.
And yet, I beat the Majin.
Or, more accurately, let it get away.
Which meant-.
“So, is the Holy Sword not as important as they say when fighting a Majin?”
“Well… weapons are important, of course. But the Holy Sword isn’t anything special. It’s just a title given to a sword wielded by a Hero.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The sword Hero-nim possesses now will likely be called a Holy Sword in later generations.”
I looked at the Black Shadow Sword I was using to prepare the rabbit.
‘So, I’m using a Holy Sword to cut meat right now?’
Quite the extravagant use, if you ask me.
But anyway-.
‘Rednil will be so happy if he finds out about this, won’t he?’
The Black Shadow Sword, a Holy Sword.
I really wanted to tell Rednil this.
The sword he crafted becoming a Holy Sword.
What a joyful thing that would be for him.
The Black Shadow Sword, which I received for almost nothing.
Perhaps this was my way of paying him back.
With the reputation of a blacksmith who forged a Holy Sword.
“I see. I understand. Thanks for telling me. Well, let’s hurry and finish preparing dinner.”
“Yes!”
We ended our conversation and resumed preparing the meal.
*
Deep within the Worldia Forest, a cavern.
Only the sound of dripping water echoed, repeated.
A laugh broke that repetition, reverberating through the cavern.
“Kha ha ha!”
A low voice echoed inside the cavern.
A voice that carried a strange, unpleasant feeling.
“So, this is the power of our ancestors, as described in legends.”
Majin Beast.
Majin Beasts were different from ordinary beastmen.
Consumed by the Mana.
Was it because he was consumed by the Mana?
“Monsters listen to me…it’s a peculiar feeling. Like I’ve become some kind of Demon Lord.”
Before Drex.
There, monsters of various classifications stood lined up in neat rows.
And Drex could only marvel at the sight.
“How regrettable then.”
If he gave the monsters Mana Stones,
And only issued commands-.
“I could suppress their instincts and turn them into exceptional subordinates.”
Drex briefly considered his companions.
“Hmm… no need to tell those fools.”
Drex decided his own strength was sufficient.
He resolved to conceal the information about strengthening oneself with Mana Stones.
He began to steady his breathing for a moment.
To control the overflowing power.
After some time had passed-.
A crimson current settled within Drex’s eyes.
Slowly, Drex began to open them.
Drex spoke with a growl.
“…An unpleasant aura.”
Drex gazed towards the outside of the cave.
Towards the edge of the Waldia Forest.
The aura that Drex sensed.
It was a holy aura.
The kind of holy aura a Saintess might possess.
Drex immediately realized that this aura belonged to the Saintess.
“How did she become aware of my presence…? Well, perhaps this is for the best.”
He didn’t care how she knew his location.
The mere fact that the Saintess had come here was what mattered to Drex.
“If the Saintess is here, then the Hero must be close by as well.”
A smile crept onto Drex’s lips.
“Perfect timing.”
The uncontrollable power.
Because of that power,
Drex had been annihilating nearby tribes every night.
The excitement of finally being able to truly unleash his power caused Drex to roar.
*
We who arrived at the entrance of the Waldia Forest were somewhat perplexed.
A palpable killing intent.
It saturated the forest entirely.
“This… I don’t think we can take this lightly, can we?”
Reti answered with a hardened expression.
“An unsettling aura continues to swirl within this forest. As you say, Hero, this is clearly no easy foe.”
Having said that, Reti suddenly knelt.
And began to pray.
After a moment of supplication.
An energy that stirred a pleasant feeling started to course through my body.
At the same moment, my sword glimmered faintly.
“Huu… For now, this should be enough for you to contend adequately.”
I understood immediately.
This mysterious power.
This was the strength Reti had granted through her prayer.
“Thank you.”
Offering my gratitude,
I was about to step deeper into the forest,
when Reti stopped me.
And even called over Amelia and Asia.
“Hero, you must conserve your strength as much as possible. You will need it when you face the Fiend.”
I immediately understood what Reti was trying to convey.
“Therefore, if any enemies other than the Fiend appear, Asia and Amelia, you will need to put forth your strength.”
“Understood.”
“We will!”
Reti received their vows.
Now, truly, the time had come to depart.
Even in this situation, I had honestly thought I could remain calm.
I possessed the mental fortitude of a Hero, after all.
But that fortitude only served to eliminate extreme negative emotions.
Therefore, a slight tension remained unresolved.
Honestly, I was a little nervous right now.
‘This won’t do.’
I may have become a Hero by happenstance,
but I still needed to fulfill the role.
Steel myself once more, and I walked into the heart of the forest.
Together with Reti, Amelia, and Asia.