The Monster Forest

For a while, my peaceful days continued. I spent my time thinking up magic tools at Marcel-san's, helping out at home, going to the forest with Marie, Nicolas, and Luke, visiting food stalls, and studying by reading my history materials.

When I was first reincarnated here, the temperature had been just cool enough to feel a little chilly, but lately it had grown so hot that staying outside for long was becoming difficult.

Even as I went about those peaceful days, I couldn't stop thinking about the Monster Forest.

I asked Marcel-san about it as well, but he didn't seem to know anything more detailed than what was written in the study materials, nor did he seem to have any recent information about the Monster Forest. It seemed the Monster Forest had not yet been much of a problem when Marcel-san was a student.

Even though I wanted to ask Frederick-san, I didn't have the courage to visit the ducal residence myself, so all I could do was wait for him to come to our place.

After spending day after day restlessly waiting, Frederick-san finally came to the diner.

"Welcome... Frederick-sama! You finally came!"

"Huh? What's wrong, Leon? Did you need something from me?"

"There was something I couldn't stop wondering about after reading the history materials, but since you hadn't come, I hadn't had a chance to ask..."

"I'm sorry about that."

Frederick-san gave me a wry smile.

Oh no... I'd been wanting to ask about the Monster Forest for so long that I ended up saying something that sounded like I was blaming him.

Frederick-san wasn't obligated to come to my place or anything...

"S-sorry! I got carried away..."

"It's all right. I'm sorry I couldn't come. It would be better if you had a way to contact me."

Saying that, Frederick-san handed me a somewhat large coin engraved with something resembling a crest.

"What's this...?"

"It's proof that you're affiliated with the ducal house. Show it to the gatekeeper, give them your name and tell them who gave it to you, and they'll let you in. If you ask Alban to pass along a message, it should reach me."

This must be pretty important, right!? Is it really okay for me to have it? Carrying something like this is kind of scary...

"Is it really all right for me to accept something this valuable?"

"Yes, but be careful not to lose it. I'll tell the gatekeepers what you look like and what your name is, so even if someone else finds it, the chances of them being able to use it are quite low."

"I'll be absolutely sure not to lose it!"

This was the one thing I absolutely couldn't lose... I'd put it deep in my wallet and carry it with me at all times.

"So, what did you want to ask, Leon?"

I suddenly realized that I still hadn't shown Frederick-san to a seat!

"S-sorry! Please take a seat first! Would you like some lunch?"

"Sure, thank you. Then I suppose I'll have lunch first."

Frederick-san finished his lunch, and by then there were no other customers, so the lunch service came to an end.

Mom and Dad said we could use the dining area, so we went there and sat facing each other to talk.

"So, was there something you didn't understand?"

"Yes. I was reading the study materials and started wondering about the Monster Forest. What exactly is the Monster Forest?"

"The Monster Forest..."

When I mentioned the Monster Forest, Frederick-san's expression grew quite severe.

He thought for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, then began to speak.

"Unlike an ordinary forest, the Monster Forest is inhabited by monsters. Monsters are animals that can use magic."

"Animals that can use magic...?"

"Yes. Ordinary commoners can defeat weak monsters, but strong monsters can't be defeated without several knights. They're fairly troublesome creatures."

"Where is the Monster Forest?"

"The Monster Forest is on the eastern edge of this country. It takes about two weeks to get there by carriage from here. So you don't have to worry about monsters reaching the royal capital."

Animals that can use magic are scary... He says we're safe because it's far away, but are we really safe?

"But the study materials said that the knights are stopping its advance. Doesn't that mean the Monster Forest is expanding?"

"Well... yes, the Monster Forest is expanding, but the knights cut down trees and regularly defeat the monsters along the outer edge, so it's fine. The force driving its expansion and the force holding it back are about evenly matched."

Frederick-san said that with a somewhat forced smile. An ordinary child would have been fooled, but I wasn't.

Maybe the Monster Forest's power to expand was stronger... If that was true, did it mean the places where humans lived were gradually being swallowed up?

I wanted more information. But Frederick-san didn't seem inclined to tell me anything more. Could there be restrictions on what information was being shared?

It would be a disaster if too many people found out and panicked.

But if villages and towns were being swallowed up, how were they hiding it?

Maybe they had people move away first under some plausible pretext, then declared the areas off-limits.

Well, there was no point thinking about it now. I needed to gather information about this, too. I didn't know whether there was anything I could do, but I had every attribute, so at least I had that going for me.

"Thank you for telling me, Frederick-sama. If the knights are keeping it under control, then that's a relief."

I put on a childlike smile to reassure him.

For now, it would be best to pretend I hadn't noticed anything. It would cause trouble for Frederick-san if people found out he'd let information slip.

Even after Frederick-san left, I continued thinking about what we'd discussed.

I had no idea monsters existed in this world... I'd thought there weren't many threats here, so I hadn't practiced attack magic at all. Maybe I should start now.

Since I could use magic of every attribute, I might be able to combine them to create powerful attack magic. I should have learned how to defend myself sooner.

In any case, I decided to go to the forest alone and practice magic whenever I had the time.

Also, this was just a theory, but whenever I used my magic power up to its limit, recovered, and repeated the process, I felt like my magic power was gradually increasing.

I didn't know whether this happened only to me or to other people as well, but it was probably just me. Marcel-san had said that a person's innate magic power didn't change, after all.

It was another ability unique to me, so I had to be grateful for it. If I could get stronger, I should. The fact that my abilities were off the charts compared to other people's was nothing new.

In any case, I needed to practice magic in the forest! I had to work hard!

Just as I finished gathering my thoughts, I heard Marie's voice.

"Big Brother!"

I'd been deep in thought, so when Marie called out to me, I flinched. That startled me~.

"Big Brother, what startled you?"

"Nothing. Your voice just startled me a little."

"Really?"

Marie peered into my face curiously.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What did you need?"

"Did you forget!? I told you this morning that Dad had an errand today, so Mom and I are going shopping!"

"S-sorry! That's right."

When I looked around, Mom was standing there, also holding a shopping basket.

"Leon, what's wrong? You look so serious, lost in thought. We're going shopping."

"Y-yeah! Which basket should I carry?"

"It's on the table."

I hurriedly grabbed the basket and followed Mom and Marie out of the house.

I pushed what I'd been thinking about aside for the time being and walked alongside Mom, trying to focus on shopping.