First Night
The deeper they ventured into the forest, the stronger the monsters they encountered.
Manticores, with the bodies of lions.
Ogres, slow but possessing monstrous strength and formidable regenerative abilities.
Fungus, mushroom-shaped monsters that exhaled deadly poison.
Of course…
Swish!
[Keeeeeek—!!]
In front of Rudell’s party, anything was no different from a mere goblin.
“Oh yeah!! Another one down!”
Leje picked up a coin from the corpse of the fallen monster and said with a bright smile.
They had already collected about fifty coins.
It was by no means a small number for a single day's work.
“How about you?”
“I’m finished here.”
Answering Rudell’s question, Kurt wiped the blood off his hand axe.
“Thank you, Kurt.”
“Th-thank you…”
Elleanor and Silfier, who had been watching from behind, spoke, and Kurt nodded, beginning to gather the monsters’ corpses.
“Rudell, it’s getting dark. Shouldn’t we set up camp?”
“Good idea.”
Rudell nodded at Leje’s question and looked up.
The already dim forest, with little sunlight penetrating the canopy, had darkened to the point where they could barely see in front of them.
It wouldn't be wise to proceed deeper into the forest in this condition.
It was common knowledge that monsters grew stronger in the dark.
Of course, even if the monsters grew stronger, there was no way they could pose a threat to Rudell’s party, but there was no reason to fight stronger monsters in a situation where they couldn't even see.
There was always the possibility of unforeseen circumstances.
Their enemies weren't just monsters and other teams, so it was best to avoid any potential variables.
“Rudell, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”
“Got it.”
Kurt, who had gathered the monsters’ corpses, spoke, and Rudell nodded, chanting a spell.
“Ignite.”
Simultaneously, small flames flickered among the monsters’ corpses, quickly growing in size and engulfing them.
The unpleasant smell of burning protein spread through the air, and soon, only blackened ashes remained where the monsters’ corpses had been piled.
“Is this enough?”
“There’s still a bit of a blood smell… but it should be enough.”
Kurt nodded at Rudell’s question.
“Good. Then let's rest here for today.”
“Ugh…!! Finally, a break…!!”
As if waiting for those words, Leje stretched and settled down on a nearby log.
“I-I’ll set up some surveillance golems around here…!!”
“I’ll go with you.”
Kurt followed Silfier, who was moving with a puff of steam.
As the two disappeared into the dark forest…
“Goddess, please grant your divine power and banish these evil souls…”
Elleanor, kneeling in prayer, chanted, and a thin membrane of light spread from her body.
It was a barrier based on her holy power.
Monsters instinctively felt an aversion to holy power, so it had the effect of preventing them from approaching, to some extent.
Of course, creating a barrier with weak holy power would only attract the attention of monsters, but she was the Saintess of the Gaia Church.
With her level of holy power, even high-risk monsters wouldn’t dare approach easily.
“Let’s see… I think the tent kit was in here.”
“I’ll help you.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Leje, who had risen from her seat, began to look for the tools to set up the tent, and Elleanor rose and started rummaging through the bag with her.
After realizing that Elleanor had no romantic interest in Rudell, Leje’s attitude towards her had softened considerably.
From Rudell’s perspective, this was a welcome change.
“Here it is! Elleanor, hold the rope there!”
“Okay!”
Watching the two work together to set up the tent, Rudell smiled faintly and gathered branches and stones to create a small campfire.
“Ignite.”
With Rudell’s spell, the tinder caught fire, and soon, a crackling sound accompanied the rising flames.
He took out the supports and drove them into the ground, hung a kettle and pot, and poured water from his canteen into them, causing white steam to rise.
“Hmm… What should we have for dinner tonight?”
Kurt and Silfier had steadily gathered edible mushrooms and fruits on their way here, so there was no need to worry about running out of food.
“When in doubt, stew.”
A simple dish that could be made with just water, salt, and suitable ingredients.
In this place where they couldn't use proper cooking utensils, the dishes they could make were limited.
Rudell took out a knife from his waist and began chopping mushrooms, preserved meat, and dried vegetables, putting them into the pot, adding water and salt, and bringing it to a boil.
As the appetizing aroma spread, Leje and Elleanor, having finished setting up the tent, came and sat by the campfire.
“Smells delicious.”
“Mmm~ Smells good. What’s for dinner tonight?”
“Stew. As always.”
Although he called it stew, it looked more like meat soup.
If only they had some rice…
With the thought of rice being particularly appealing today, Rudell took out a hard, dry loaf of bread from his bag.
“Y-you don’t have to worry about keeping watch… M-my golems are patrolling the area…”
Silfier, demonstrating her diligent nature, was making small but significant contributions here and there.
Not only did her surveillance golems eliminate the need for a night watch, but her reconnaissance golems were patrolling the surroundings, preparing for any potential threats.
And even if something managed to get through all that, the traps she had set would buy them time.
As someone who had shown more support capabilities than combat prowess in the original story, her contributions shone even brighter when there was no fighting.
“Thanks, Silfier.”
“D-don’t mention it… Kurt protected me…”
At Kurt’s words, Silfier puffed out steam with a hissing sound, as if embarrassed.
Beside them, Elleanor was kneeling in prayer to the Goddess, and Leje was oiling her sword by the campfire.
Rudell, who had been watching the scene for a moment, rose from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“Patrolling the area. There’s something I want to check.”
If things followed the original story, the Cult wouldn't make their move for a while.
However, he couldn't just relax and do nothing.
Now that he knew this world was deviating from the original, he couldn't just sit idly by.
“I’ll go too.”
“I’ll go as well.”
As if sensing Rudell’s intentions, the two spoke and rose from their seats.
“Kurt. I want you to stay here and protect Silfier and Elleanor in case anything happens.”
“Hmm… Alright.”
Kurt let out a low groan and sat down, and Elleanor, finished with her prayer, rose and approached Rudell.
“You’re going to find the impious ones hiding in the darkness, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
There was no reason to hide it now, so Rudell nodded.
With a faint smile, Elleanor stood before Rudell and Leje, clasped her hands together, and prayed.
“May the Goddess’s blessings be with you both…”
A faint light enveloped her body, and Rudell and Leje felt their bodies become lighter.
As expected of an S-rank supporter.
“Thank you, Elleanor.”
“Thanks.”
“This is all I can do with my meager abilities. You don’t have to thank me so much.”
As Rudell and Leje spoke, feeling a sense of clarity in their minds, Silfier, who had risen from her seat, approached and handed them something.
It was a small stick with a string attached to the end…
Something that looked like dynamite.
“What’s this?”
“Don’t tell me this is…”
Leje, who received it with wide eyes, spoke, and Rudell looked at it with a hesitant expression.
“I-if you p-pull the string, a signal flare will go up into the sky. J-just in case…”
“Ah, a signal flare. Thanks, Silfier.”
“We’ll use it well. Though I doubt we’ll need to.”
Feeling a strange sense of disappointment at Rudell’s reaction, Silfier tilted her head in confusion but soon returned to her seat with a hissing sound.
“Ready?”
“Of course.”
After checking their equipment one last time, Rudell asked Leje.
She nodded with a faint smile.
Responding with a low chuckle, Rudell’s emerald eyes twinkled as he spoke.
“Then, we’ll be back.”
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