Chapter 1-17 : Practical Training (part 4)
After walking for about two hours from the town, we finally arrived at the forest.
「Ugh… Finally… I didn’t expect it would be really far…」(Kako)
The forest was unexpectedly quite far away from the town. I didn’t realize it when I came to the town because I was riding on Nyat’s back.
The training hasn’t started yet but I’m already tired from walking…
「Well, you can’t build a town near forests since there are a lot of monsters there. Villages or towns that were built near forests often get attacked by monsters.」(Maitena)
「I see. So they built the town far away from this forest for safety reasons. But… It must be troublesome for adventurers since they have to walk this far every time they want to go to this forest.」(Kako)
「Umm, actually… Not really…」(Maitena)
「Kako, normally, adventurers don’t take long to reach this forest-nya. We took two hours because we had to match your steps-nya.」(Nyat)
「Ehh!? Is that so!? Ugh, I’m sorry… I should have just ridden on Nyat’s back.」(Kako)
I felt bad for causing so much trouble to everyone…
「Don’t worry about it, Kako-chan. Besides, it wouldn’t be training if you rode on Catto-chan’s back. It’s our job as senior adventurers to guide new adventurers, so you don’t need to mind us.」(Palfi)
「Palfi-san… I appreciate it, but… I’m not an adventurer…」(Kako)
「Aa…」(Palfi)
Seems like Palfi-san just remembered that I’m not an adventurer but a merchant. Perhaps because I’m wearing armor.
「Hahaha! Kako ojou-chan, certainly you’re not an adventurer, but we’re still your seniors in terms of life experience. Alright, guys, be ready. We’re going to enter the forest now.」(Izack)
Everyone replied to Izack-san with a nod and pulled out their weapons.
I equipped my buckler and pulled my dagger too.
「Kako ojou-chan, we’ll take care of the strong monsters you can’t kill, so you can rest easy.」(Izack)
「Alright.」(Kako)
「I’ll be at the front, leading the way. Maitena, Palfi, you two take the sides, and Mr. Catto, I leave the rearguard to you. Kako ojou-chan will be in the center.」(Izack)
「Hold on. We can’t trouble Kako’s guardian to do that job.」(Maitena)
「It’s alright. I don’t mind-nya.」(Nyat)
「Well, you heard him. Martz is not coming today, and we need someone to watch our backs. Cattos have sharp senses and are sensitive to dangers, so Mr. Catto can be the perfect rearguard for us.」(Izack)
「He’s right-nya. I don’t think it’s a troublesome job at all. Besides, I’m Kako’s bodyguard, so it’s my job to protect her-nya.」(Nyat)
「Alright. As long as you’re fine with it, I don’t have anything to say.」(Maitena)
「Good. Let’s go!」(Izack)
◆◆◆
Walking in the forest is quite difficult. It reminds me of when I just came to this world. Back then, I was walking aimlessly in the forest, looking for an exit.
「When you walk in the forest, don’t move your feet forward right away. You better lift your legs up a bit before moving your feet forward. This way, your feet won’t get tangled in roots.」(Izack)
「I see.」(Kako)
While continuing moving forward, I learned how to walk safely in the forest from Izack-san.
It hadn’t been long since we entered the forest, but we already encountered a few monsters.
「Haa!!」(Maitena)
However, it’s not my turn yet. Because they seemed to be too strong for me, Maitena-san defeated them for me.
「Haa! Haaa!!」(Maitena)
The monsters that looked like monkeys kept coming out of nowhere, but Maitena-san kept defeating them easily with her spear.
「Whoaa! Master looks so cool!」(Kako)
She was swinging around her spear swiftly like a professional actor in a kung-fu movie, preventing the monsters from getting close to us.
「Kako, are you watching me? Keep watching. You might learn something. Ha!!」(Maitena)
「Yes, I’m watching you, Master! You’re amazing!」(Kako)
「Fufu~ Weak monsters like them are no match for me! Haa!!」(Maitena)
「Aa-ahh… You just want to show off in front of your cute disciple, don’t you?」(Izack)
「Oh, shut up!」(Maitena)
Maitena-san was fighting so many monsters at once, but she could still reply to Izack-san’s teasing.
A while after, the monsters stopped coming. Probably they gave up after seeing so many of their friends were killed by Maitena-san.
「Whoa… She defeated this many monsters all by herself!」(Kako)
「Monsters that live near the entrance to the forest are normally weak. High-ranked adventurers like us can defeat them easily even if they attack in a large group. So, Kako-chan, you are safe as long as you are with us.」(Palfi)
「Un!」(Kako)
As expected from high-ranked adventurers.
Those monkey-type monsters looked strong to me. They were ferocious and moved very fast.
However, they were no threat to the Steel of Wings Party members.
「Oh, Kako ojou-chan, look!」(Izack)
「Hm?」(Kako)
After proceeding deeper into the forest for a few minutes, Izack-san spotted something.
When I looked in the direction he was pointing, I saw multiple rounded things approaching from the depths of the forest.
「What are those things…?」(Kako)
「Ahh~ Kako, seems like we found perfect targets for you.」(Maitena)
As Maitena-san said that, the rounded things were bouncing forward, gradually getting closer to us.
That round shape and translucent color remind me of the famous monsters that exist in most RPGs.
「Are those… Slimes!?」(Kako)
「Yup. To be exact, they are called Ball Slimes.」(Maitena)
「Ball Slimes…? Is that because they are round?」(Kako)
「Exactly.」(Maitena)
Hm? Aren’t all slimes round?
I wonder if there are slimes that are not round in this world.
While I was wondering, the Ball Slimes kept getting closer to us.
They were so close that I noticed that they had faces.
They stopped in front of us and stared at us with smiley faces.
ーPoyo~ Poyo~ Poyo~
「Waahh! They’re so cute!!」(Kako)
They are rounded like basketballs, and even though they have half-translucent bodies, I can clearly see their cute faces.
They are smiling at us. Seems like they are friendly.
Their appearance is quite charming in my opinion. That’s probably why they often appear in RPGs.
After all, they are so cuuuute!!
Ahh~ I want to take one home with me~
「Alright, Kako, it’s your turn to shine.」(Maitena)
「Hold on… Don’t tell me… I have to fight them…?」(Kako)
「Of course. What are you talking about?」(Maitena)
「Eeehhhh…..」(Kako)
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