Since I Don't Need It ... Sorry for Making You Worry

I show the baby spiders and baby ants the fruit and ask them to guide me to the trees.

With Sasa accompanying me, I race through the forest with Shion and Crow.

It's convenient to have fast legs.

That is, as long as I don't trip.

Tree roots are nasty things.

Hmm... It's true that the trees bearing the fruit I want are clustered together.

However, most of them are outside the barrier.

I see. Most of them are in places where the curse is present.

What should I do?

When I tried to expand the barrier, Core and the others objected.

I have no idea why.

We haven't gotten to the point where we can communicate that well.

Still, they shook their heads and seemed strongly opposed.

But what I wanted was right in front of me.

So I'll apologize later.

I take a deep breath.

I close my eyes and feel the barrier with my entire body.

I imagine viewing the barrier from above and activate the magic.

... It worked.

I then imagine the barrier expanding.

How far should I expand it?

Twice as far... A little more. Let's make it about three times its current size... Ah!

From above, I spot a plant that catches my attention.

It's hard to see through the curse's shadow, but it might—just might—be what I'm looking for.

Hoping that's what it is, I expand the barrier to about five times its original size.

Hmm... I picture a temporary barrier, then use "Purify" inside it.

I gather what I've purified, strengthen it to about twice its original strength, and use "Return."

Returning unwanted things to their owners is the best option.

I gradually expand the barrier through the soil as well.

I extend the barrier downward to about the depth of the original barrier and use "Purify."

Then "Return."

I fully activate "Barrier" and use "Strengthen" while I'm at it.

I check the rivers and lakes one by one from above.

I use "Absorb" on the curse in the water, then "Return" it.

I erase the barrier that had served as the boundary until now, then "Purify" the inside of the new barrier once more.

I clean everything inside the barrier, from the roots of the trees to the tips of their leaves.

Finally, "Return."

I'm completely satisfied!

A forest of lush, vibrant trees spreads out before me.

I can't see a trace of the curse's shadow anywhere.

I can't help grinning at my Purification level.

When I look at Shion, Crow, and Sasa, they're looking around.

Now, let's harvest the seeds we came for and head home.

We encounter some prey on the way back, but Shion intimidates it and Sasa finishes it off, bringing things to an anticlimactic end.

The dog that joined our group also seems incredibly strong somehow.

The dog is dependable. Maybe I should train, too.

...

When I get home, everyone is gathered for some reason.

They seem a little worried. Did something happen?

I look around, but the scenery is the same as always.

It doesn't seem like anything attacked us.

Core approaches.

When I pat Core on the head, it stares at me, then starts wagging its tail after a while.

Then the tension vanishes.

Maybe they were angry because I expanded the barrier they'd told me not to?

"Sorry for making you worry. It's okay—the barrier worked out fine."

Maybe I did make them worry.

But I had to do it, so forgive me.