Chapter 17
Life in the forest was somehow peaceful and enjoyable. Even a "forest" has paths. They weren't highways, but apparently there were several secret routes used by hunters and merchants.
Mimino-san, a Halfling, had an exceptional sense of direction and breezed through the forest without even a map.
(I wonder if we're really going the right way...)
I was skeptical, but none of the other party members seemed to doubt her, so I supposed there was no problem. Well, it wasn't as though I could do anything besides trust her.
The forest provided most of our food, and I played an active role there, too. 【All Creation】 told me which fruits, mushrooms, and wild plants were edible. Whenever I found medicinal herbs, I'd tell Mimino-san, and she'd gather them. It was fun when she praised me, saying, "You sure know a lot, y'know~." I also gathered plants that Mimino-san didn't recognize but 【All Creation】 did, just in case. They might be valuable, after all.
But we eventually ran out of spices, salt, and alcohol—Dantes-san seemed to like alcohol, and drank a little every night, just enough not to get drunk.
We could replenish those necessities by buying them from merchants we encountered on the forest paths.
They, too, were merchants who either did not use—or could not use—the highways. Some were men who looked as though they had shady pasts; others were cat Beastmen. These peddlers, carrying backpacks far larger than their bodies, often traveled in small groups, and Mimino-san and Dantes-san negotiated with them to obtain supplies.
But this leisurely life in the forest wasn't going to last forever.
To begin with, the members of "Silver Scales" had a destination.
The Light-Sky Knight Kingdom. To cure Dantes-san's petrification.
They also had reason to hurry, so "Silver Scales" moved quickly through the forest. My stamina couldn't keep up, and I often had to be carried on Dantes-san's back, but after a few days, I was able to keep up, too. I was growing as well. (Smug.)
"You don't need Father to carry you anymore?"
"Yes! I've gotten much better at walking."
"I see..."
When I puffed out my chest, Non-san looked sad for some reason.
Why...? Could Non-san be the sort of person with a strange fetish for seeing little children carried piggyback?—While I was thinking about something utterly irrelevant, Non-san explained why.
"...The petrification curse isn't contagious to others. But many people shun it as though it were an infectious disease."
In other words, Non-san seemed happy that I could ride on Dantes-san's back without caring in the slightest about his petrification. Ah, yeah. That was it, wasn't it? I knew that.
(Huh. So that means... I see.)
I realized something.
It wasn't just the demi-human traits represented by "Beastman" and "Halfling"; Dantes-san himself was also a potential target of discrimination.
(...Nobody's said anything about my hair.)
Despite having black hair and black eyes—despite being hated so intensely by my parents and the duke that they practically despised me—no one said anything. It was probably because they knew firsthand how frightening it was to be discriminated against.
Once again, I realized what warm-hearted people they truly were.
I was incredibly fortunate.
If only... my older sister Lark could have an encounter as wonderful as this one, too...
"Everyone, we're going into town today, y'know."
Early the next morning, Mimino-san said this as the campfire smoldered, sending white smoke into the air.
Everyone nodded solemnly. Entering a city with a large Human population must have required courage for them.
"Reiji-kun. If you stay with us, people might say things to you, too... What will you do?"
"Of course I'll go with you."
"Hm... I see."
"I mean, I don't have a destination, either... Right now, the only thing I can think of is repaying you for everything you've done for me. And to do that, I need to go into town."
My life's purpose was practically nonexistent right now.
If possible, I wanted to meet Hinga the Elder's grandchild and tell them about the old man's final moments. The Rinkei Magic Stone was still in my tool bag.
And then... Lark.
I wanted to see her again. That, at least, was something I absolutely had to do.
Even so, none of that would matter unless I could become independent in this world. For now, my first priority was establishing a stable life.
"You don't have to worry about us, you know?"
"I can't do that..."
"But it makes me happy to hear you say that, y'know."
Mimino-san smiled brightly, but then—
"Hey, Mimino, quit stalling and tell him properly. We're the 'hated ones' in town, remember?"
"Raikira!"
Mimino-san panicked at Raikira-san's words, but I was already well aware of that.
"It'll come out sooner or later anyway. Better to make it clear now, ain't it? Besides, even this brat..."
"Yes, I understand. People have hated me for my black hair, and I've nearly been killed several times because of it, so the same thing might happen in town."
Mimino-san froze as though she'd swallowed a stone at my words. Non-san did too. Dantes-san looked as though he'd drunk tea far more bitter than usual, while Raikira-san grimaced in pain—ah, this guy really does care about me, even while saying mean things.
"Silver Scales" was conspicuous as a party in its own right—in Human cities, anyway. That meant my "black hair and black eyes" might draw attention as well. If I traveled alone, maybe that wouldn't happen... That was probably what Raikira-san was thinking.
What an awkward man. But a lean, muscular Beastman tsundere? No, thank you.
"I'm all right, but I'm sorry if I end up causing you trouble."
When I bowed my head, a large palm reached out and gently raised my head by the forehead.
"A child shouldn't worry about such things. Just stay hidden beneath an adult's umbrella."
It was Dantes-san.
"...Reiji-kun. I will protect you. I absolutely will."
Mimino-san said this with flushed cheeks and glistening eyes. Apparently, she was just as prone to tears as I was.
"Don't cry, Mimino. Don't look so gloomy first thing in the morning."
"I-it's only because the smoke got in my eyes, y'know!"
She rubbed her eyes vigorously with her sleeve and—
"All right, let's go!"
"Silver Scales" set out straight for "Uvelmains," the capital of Duke Achenbach's territory.