Chapter 238
We returned to Shiratsuki because of the penalty. However, since we had only just logged in, calling it a day already would be boring. All right, then. Let's take Jigoro on a little trip.
"Now then, we were sent back here for a thoroughly self-inflicted reason... Jigoro, do you have any plans from here?"
"Nope. I was planning to go wild at the event in the first place... Guess I'll work out a bit outside, then log out."
Your "little bit" is anything but little by our standards... But oh well. He was free, so he probably wouldn't complain if I dragged him around.
"Then that's perfect. There's somewhere I'd like to go for a short ride on Cal. Will you come with me?"
"Sure thing. Where are we going?"
"To a forest I've heard lies west of here. I want to make contact with the Dark Elves said to live there."
"After the Centaurs, huh? Sounds good. Should be interesting."
Once I had his agreement, Jigoro and I mounted Cal, who had been sleeping on the deck, and set off for the western forest we had heard about from Muno-sama. Cal had grown considerably through evolution, so there was plenty of room for multiple people on his back. He could probably even carry Eiji now. Eiji might object, though, since he was so heavy.
While we traveled, I checked the messages I had received. There was one from Usuba, but Kanna had sent one as well. I decided to check hers first.
"Hmm, I suppose we caused them some concern."
"What, from that husband and wife?"
"Yes. She also wrote that she was sorry she hadn't been able to join the fight. Apparently, she managed to fob off the snoop as well. However, she told him that I was the clan leader and gave him only our names."
People tended to focus on Jigoro's rampage, but apparently there had also been considerable interest in the fact that I, despite being a mage, had beaten a front-line fighter in one-on-one combat—by crossing blades with him, no less. Since I wasn't there, Kanna had said very little, but one particularly persistent person had forced her to give them our names just so she could drive them away.
Information was an intangible asset, and apparently people who bought and sold it existed in games as well. I was aware that we did all sorts of things ordinary players didn't, so I had wanted to keep our names hidden until we reached a point where going public seemed appropriate... However, it was our fault for making things such a big deal and drawing attention. We should be grateful that the two of them managed to brush everyone off with only our names. We caused them trouble.
"Huh? If some other weirdo comes around, we can just knock them flying ourselves."
"It isn't that simple. Doing this twice would be unbecoming of adults, to say the least."
While admonishing Jigoro for his dangerous proposal, I checked the other message. This one was from Usuba, and I had already read the title, so I'll omit that. As for the contents... just as I thought.
"Looking forward to the day we can fight, huh? Half of that is addressed to you, Jigoro."
"What about me?"
"The PK considered the strongest. I believe I mentioned him before, but he's a dangerous man who enjoys challenging strong fighters like you and Genzuro to battles without any rules."
"Ha-ha! Nice! Sounds fun!"
Jigoro grinned as though he could hardly wait to fight a powerful opponent he had never even seen. His relentless desire for battle had never wavered once since the first time we met. You really are enviably straightforward.
"When we first met, he made me spar with him. He was a light warrior who moved swiftly and attacked with a flurry of blows. I don't think he was serious then, but be careful when you fight him."
"Oh, leave it to me. I'll smash him head-on."
"...I'm asking purely out of curiosity, but if you were going to fight Usuba, how would you attack him?"
"Huh? How am I supposed to decide that before I've even met him? If I did, I'd fall apart the moment something unexpected happened."
"Oh? Is that how it works?"
"That's how you approach a fight. My way, anyway."
I see. He meant that he would learn the opponent's tactics during the fight and adapt accordingly. Easier said than done, but the fact that he could actually do it was what made this man so frightening.
And I suspected Genzuro could do the same. Did a player who could defeat both of them in single combat even exist? If I truly wanted to beat them, I would need to prepare thoroughly in advance and gather allies willing to fight alongside me. That was the level of force they possessed.
"Grrroooaaar!"
"Oh, looks like we've finally reached our destination. That's the forest west of the Ashfall Hills—the 'Dark Forest of Temptation.' Cal, land around here."
While we discussed fighting, Cal had drawn close to our destination. His massive body made small, precise movements difficult, but when it came to traveling straight over long distances, his natural power allowed him to move at considerable speed. Good job, Cal!
Cal obediently slowed down and descended, landing quietly so as not to burden us while we were mounted. Jigoro and I climbed off his back, thanked Cal for his efforts, and then entered the forest.
"Bro, did you hear what kind of monsters appear here?"
"No. Apparently Muno-sama and the others have never entered the forest. Not because the Dark Elves forbid it, but because the forest is said to be extremely dangerous."
I had wondered about this when I first heard it, but just how strong were the Dark Elves who had settled in a forest that even Muno-sama's people considered too dangerous to enter? Did they have some secret, or was every one of them an elite? We would find out once we made contact.
I had also heard that they treasured their clan above all else and became furious with the force of a raging fire when one of their own was injured. There were even stories of the entire clan attacking to avenge a single person. They sounded like old-fashioned yakuza, but I had heard they were basically cheerful. If we treated them with due respect, surely we could build a good relationship.
"Grrr? Groooar."
"Cal? What's wrong?"
Cal had been walking at the same speed as us, but he suddenly raised his head high and stared intently at something. Before I could even finish asking whether something had happened, Cal broke into a run in that direction.
Jigoro and I exchanged glances before hurrying after him. Cal slipped between the trees with a nimbleness that belied his enormous body. I followed by flying low, while Jigoro pursued him by making skillful use of the branches like a parkour runner.
"Hmm? Hey, bro! Don't you smell something good?"
"...Indeed. It smells like sweet citrus. Could that be what Cal is after?"
As we followed him, a refreshing citrus scent drifted from deeper within the forest. Cal seemed to be following it. My own tamed monster was remarkably food-obsessed. I was sure I fed him properly every day... What a glutton!
"Groooar!"
"So this fruit was what you wanted? Honestly, you caused quite a commotion."
Cal had reached a place that looked like an orchard, with colorful fruits growing on the trees. By then, the earlier scent had been joined by sweet aromas like melon and peach, creating the illusion that we were standing in a fruit shop.
Cal was eating the fruit with great relish. He was devouring it so quickly that all the fruit on a single tree looked ready to disappear. Wouldn't eating that much give him a stomachache?
"Grr... Grooo... ar?"
"Hey, Cal! P-paralysis?"
Cal had been eating fruit by the mountainful, but he suddenly began convulsing, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed! I hurried over, only to see a paralysis icon flashing beside his marker.
What the hell had happened? Could this fruit be the cause? Eating something that gave off such a delicious scent and ending up paralyzed... It was as if we had fallen into a trap. Could it be!?
"Hey, bro. Cal's one thing, but it looks like we're surrounded."
"As I thought!"
When I looked around at Jigoro's warning, I found that we had somehow been surrounded by Evil Vine-type monsters resembling Nenashi and Roper-type monsters resembling Iris. Their forms were even more aggressive than Nenashi's, and they were filled with murderous intent incomparable to Iris's.
They must have been hiding in the shadows of the trees and watching us. This must have been the hunting ground of these wild creatures! Ha-ha-ha, the situation was so terrible that I could do nothing but laugh!
――――――――――
Race: Deadly Predator Vine Lv. 64–68
Job: Master Predator Lv. 4–8
Skills: 【Super Vitality Enhancement】
【Super Strength Enhancement】
【Super Dexterity Enhancement】
【Vine Whip Arts】
【Vine Extension】
【Binding】
【Deadly Poison】
【Predatory Recovery】
【Rooted Feet】
【Stealth】
【Silent Step】
【Ambush】
【Assassination Arts】
【High-Speed Regeneration】
【Photosynthesis】
【Status Ailment Resistance】
【Earth Attribute Resistance】
【Fire Attribute Weakness】
Race: Great Hanging Roper Lv. 65–69
Job: Strangulation Expert Lv. 5–9
Skills: 【Super Vitality Enhancement】
【Super Strength Enhancement】
【Super Defense Enhancement】
【Dexterity Enhancement】
【Whip Arts】
【Armor Arts】
【Tentacle Extension】
【Binding】
【Critical Strike: Neck】
【Predatory Recovery】
【Rooted Feet】
【Stealth】
【Silent Step】
【Ambush】
【Assassination Arts】
【High-Speed Regeneration】
【Photosynthesis】
【Physical Resistance】
【Earth Attribute Resistance】
【Fire Attribute Weakness】
――――――――――
Both the Deadly Predator Vines and the Great Hanging Ropers seemed to rely exclusively on physical attacks. I would have to watch out for poison from the former and attacks aimed at the neck from the latter.
They were lower level than us, but their numbers were overwhelming. On top of that, we would be forced to fight while protecting the paralyzed Cal. This was no time to hold back, but neither could I allow us to cause excessive damage to the forest. What a tall order!
"Bro, let's clear them out with everything we've got. But keep it contained enough that you don't turn the forest into a wasteland."
"You're asking the impossible. But I guess I'll try! Here I go! 【Asura Lightning Flame】!"
Jigoro activated a Skill, sending golden lightning and flames surging from his entire body. In that state, he charged straight into the enemy horde.
I first activated the area-defense spell Sanctuary to shore up Cal's defenses. At least this meant we no longer had to worry about Cal being killed first.
"Tch! Annoying!"
While I was fortifying Cal's defenses, Jigoro had been bound hand and foot. The tentacles and vines began burning one after another the instant they wrapped around him, but before he could break free completely, more tentacles and vines arrived. As a result, he remained constantly bound.
Moreover, the burned tentacles and vines quickly returned to normal thanks to 【High-Speed Regeneration】, so their numbers did not decrease at all. Still, there was absolutely no demand for the sight of a hulking, musclebound man tied up in tentacles! At least, I had no desire to see it! I had to free him immediately!
"Star Magic Circle, activate! Wind Blade! Flying Slash Dance!"
"You saved me, bro!"
The Wind Blade spell and the Flying Slash Dance martial art sliced through the tentacles and vines at their roots. Their restraints seemed to weaken, and Jigoro charged ahead while tearing them apart with loud rips as he thanked me.
The tentacles and vines regenerated immediately, surging toward Jigoro until they filled his field of vision. I reduced their numbers with Wind Blade and Flying Slash Dance in the same way, and Jigoro slipped through the gap I created and drove his fist into a Great Hanging Roper.
"You're heavy!"
"Don't ever say that to Iris, okay? Even though it's just her avatar, she's sensitive about weighing more than everyone except Eiji and Raga."
"I'll keep that in mind!"
Jigoro followed through, punching it away and knocking over another nearby individual in the process. Large cracks had appeared in its rock-like cellular wall, but its health had barely decreased. Even those cracks were gradually closing.
This looked like it was going to be a long fight. With that premonition in mind, I continued chanting spells to support Jigoro.