Chapter 120
...While I was hesitating, the amoeba had gone off. What a shame.
I was curious about the new amoeba, but it would be cruel to chase after it.
If we meet again, I'll say hello then.
In Japan, people would probably suspect all kinds of things just because I was talking to an amoeba.
No, before that, there aren't any amoebas that big.
I have a feeling it might not be an amoeba, but it looks like one.
The amoebas don't seem to mind, so I guess it's fine.
I've gotten used to running through the forest.
I finally stopped tripping. As expected of me!
No need to worry that it took me a year.
Hmm? What's that, I wonder?
My companions are all gathered.
Oh, it looks like the children have come back too. Thank goodness.
The children of Core and Chai had been unusually hyper since this morning, which had me worried.
Since they said they were going to the forest, I put up a slightly stronger barrier, just in case.
Looks like they made it back without injury.
Oh, the little goblins are butchering a giant boar. Today's is huge.
Could that be Core?
For now, I'll head over to my companions.
"What happened?"
Huh... whaaat?
I almost screamed, but managed to hold it in.
I held it in with all my might.
There's a... person... no, not quite.
They have ears and tails.
What were they called again?
I think my little sister told me about them once.
Beastfolk!
That's right, no mistake... probably.
It's not cosplay, is it?
Cosplay in another world... No way.
So, what happened?
The children of Core are looking at me anxiously.
I make a circle with magic and indicate the area outside it.
Outside the barrier!
Worried, I examine the children once more.
No injuries, no curse, no problems... Thank goodness.
Did the barrier work as it was supposed to?
I should have put up a stronger barrier.
I panicked when I heard they had gone outside the barrier.
The curse is still overflowing outside, after all.
Even if the curse has weakened a little, it's still frightening.
If they're all right, there's no problem.
So, did you bring them here from outside the barrier?
Apparently so.
...Kidnapping?
They don't understand me. Um, are you all right?
No problem... Did they understand me?
I turn my gaze to the beastfolk.
Two young ones... Their ears look like dogs' ears, so are they dog beastfolk?
The shapes of their ears are different, though.
They're cute, but they seem terrified of me.
What should I do?
"-----!"
"...Seriously?"
My soaring spirits were hammered into the ground and buried there... I must have been daydreaming.
...Calm down!
It's not as though I'd forgotten.
This is another world, after all.
Or rather, the swing from elation to despair was way too fast.
I wanted to keep dreaming a little longer.
...This is bad. I'm seriously crushed.
Hmm?
No, no, it's not your fault.
It's all right.
This is just a problem with my state of mind.
I simply failed to realize something important.
That there was no way they'd be speaking Japanese!
Aaaaaah~~~~~~~~~~~.
Right, finding people was all well and good, but what was I planning to do about language?
I hadn't thought about it at all.
I assumed that if I found a person—or someone I could talk to—we'd be able to communicate.
The world isn't that easy, huh?
...
...
...
I've calmed down.
Now, if we can't communicate, what should I do?
I look at the beastfolk children again.
They look injured, and they're terribly thin.
...No, they're way too thin.
"Heal"
I'll heal their injuries for now.
...The curse may be affecting them too.
"Purification, Status Ailment Nullification"
?
Both their backs flashed for an instant. Did they have serious injuries?
Well, I'll check when they take a bath.
What else...?
While I was thinking things over and taking action, one of them suddenly squeezed my hand.
When I looked over, I saw the startled faces of both children.
Ah... I did all sorts of things without explaining anything.
Of course they'd be surprised.
But... they can't understand me.
"Sorry, it looks like we can't understand each other."
The two children looked at me in puzzlement.
...They're cute.
They're probably a little smaller than my nephew.
Still, I'm concerned by how thin they are.
For now, it's dinnertime, so let's eat.
I glance behind me and see the One-Eyes setting up a barbecue.
The vegetables are already cut, and there's bread too.
By the way, the meat has been scored, and there's even meat marinated in a jar...
The direction in which the One-Eyes are evolving...
Now that I think about it, they haven't had anything like furniture to make lately.
Huh?
The two children screamed when they saw the One-Eyes... They're cute.