Chapter 74
We made our way through the city, pursuing the Dark Wolf that had fled.
Momo's nose was our guide. After all, 'Detection' only works once we're within a certain distance.
Besides, I couldn't sense that 'bad feeling' from far away anymore.
Whether because the Dark Wolf was alone or because it was weakened, that sensation apparently wouldn't kick in unless the threat exceeded a certain level.
Conversely, that meant we had a good chance of taking down the Dark Wolf now.
We followed behind Momo as she tracked it, her nose twitching.
Ichinose-san was riding piggyback.
I'd really like to use the motorcycle, but the roads in the city were littered with obstacles, making it impossible to ride properly.
Maybe we'd manage if my 'Riding' level were higher, but there was no point wishing for something I didn't have.
For now, we had no choice but to chase it on foot.
Then, 'Detection' reacted.
It was the presence of a monster.
Had we already caught up with it?
No... this was different.
It was the presence of another monster.
When I looked over, there were some Goblins a short distance away in the oncoming lane.
Three of them... They were strolling leisurely along the road without seeming to notice us.
I'd like to gain the experience points, but we didn't have time to waste on those guys right now.
We ignored them and kept moving.
After a while, we emerged into an open park.
There were few obstructions, and we had a good view of the surrounding area.
"Woof."
Momo stopped.
Apparently, the 'scent' trail ended here.
I looked around, turning my head from side to side.
The Dark Wolf was nowhere to be seen.
'Detection' hadn't reacted either.
"...It's not here."
"Yeah..."
I looked around carefully once more, but there was no sign of the Dark Wolf.
"Whine...?"
Momo sniffed too, but only tilted her head in confusion.
What was going on...?
How could its scent and presence suddenly disappear...?
Could it be some kind of Skill?
No, wait... This had happened before.
That's right. It was when we first encountered the Dark Wolf.
It had hidden in the 'Darkness' and watched us.
Even then, there hadn't been any sign of it until just before.
Just as Momo could hide in the 'Shadow' and conceal her presence, perhaps it could do the same thing.
If that was the case, this was troublesome...
We had no way to attack it, and we'd be left waiting for it to ambush us.
...What should we do?
Should we give up on pursuing the Dark Wolf for now and head for the market or the agricultural cooperative's warehouse as originally planned?
Just as I was considering what to do next—
"Gah!―――Woof! Woof, woof!"
"Oh, what's wrong, Momo?"
Momo had been running around the park, following the scent, but suddenly came back toward us.
She looked extremely flustered.
What on earth had happened?
"Woof! Woof, woof! Woooof!"
"What? What are you saying? Is that really true, Momo?"
"Woof."
Momo nodded.
Seriously...? But what does that mean?
"Kudo-san, what's wrong? ...I mean, how can you understand what Momo-chan is saying?"
"Huh? Anyone could understand her, couldn't they?"
Momo and I understand each other without words.
Of course I can understand what Momo is saying.
No, seriously, Momo may have a Skill that allows her to convey her thoughts to us.
Anyway, I can more or less understand what Momo is saying.
"...What does 'normal' mean again?"
Ichinose-san looked utterly unconvinced.
But I'd set that aside for now.
"Um... so, what is Momo-chan saying?"
"She says she caught a faint scent of the Dark Wolf."
"What?! ...Are you sure?"
"Yes, but there's something that concerns me. According to Momo, the scent seems to be mixed with that of another 'Human' and several 'Monsters'..."
"Huh?"
More precisely, it seemed that the scents of monsters and the Dark Wolf were clinging to that 'Human'.
Momo's sense of smell is incredible. To think she can tell even that.
"And the scent seems to continue beyond this park."
"Huh? But if that's true..."
Ichinose-san also began to think hard at my words.
Right. That raised a strange question.
Why did that person have the scents of the Dark Wolf and other monsters on them?
"Momo says she can smell Goblins and Orcs, as well as monsters we've never encountered."
"Woof."
That made Ichinose-san's expression grow even more severe.
"But there weren't any monsters here when we arrived, right? Then maybe that person defeated the Dark Wolf and the other monsters?"
"That would certainly explain why the Dark Wolf's presence and scent ended here, but..."
The Dark Wolf had been weakened, and someone with a high level and powerful Skills might have been able to defeat it.
"Then there should be signs of a battle, right?"
"Ah..."
Ichinose-san seemed to have realized it too.
Exactly. There wasn't a single trace of battle in this park.
If that person had defeated the monsters and Dark Wolf that had been here and picked up their scents, this park should have been in much greater disarray.
"Then maybe they hid somewhere without the monsters noticing?"
"And then that person fled after the monsters left? If so, the monsters' scents should be pointing in different directions."
According to Momo, all the scents of the Human and the monsters led in the same direction.
Then where had those monsters gone?
Why wasn't my 'Detection' picking them up?
The Dark Wolf's scent had suddenly ended here.
Several monsters had vanished, leaving only their scents behind.
And there was a mysterious person with all those scents clinging to them.
What did all of that mean?
The worst-case scenario was churning in my mind.
"Momo, can you track the scents of that 'Human' and those 'Monsters'?"
"Woof!"
Momo nodded firmly.
I hoped it was nothing more than needless worry—that I was overthinking things.
But if that wasn't the case, things could get troublesome.
There was no harm in checking.
"Let's go."
After I explained my thoughts, Ichinose-san nodded as well.
Momo followed the scent and set off running again.
We followed behind her.
We left the park, ran along the road, and headed toward where the scent led.
―――And a few minutes later.
We reached that place.
No, more precisely, we should say we'd 'returned.'
Because it was the place where we'd been just a short while ago.
"This place...?"
Ichinose-san cried out in surprise.
I felt the same way.
"...What do you suppose this means...?"
The place at the end of the scent.
It was―――the school.