Chapter 380 - Chapter 335 A Stroke of Luck
"I'm not sure if this area is still part of the mansion grounds or not."
The stone wall is gone.
The stone wall that had followed the side of the mansion in a straight line ended at the back, leaving the backyard completely open.
[Subrock] "Everything beyond this point is the backyard!"
[Polpol] "Isn't that normal for a villa district?"
[Storay] "It's common for houses to have fields behind them."
[Seiki] "If it were neatly maintained, you might see boundaries."
etc. etc…
Is that how it is?
Well, there's no point in thinking too hard about it; I guess I'll just have to cut across the backyard and go all the way around.
"Bow!"
"Pan!"
"Ryu!"
Roy barked loudly, and I hastily called Pan, who was gathering weeds.
As Lupi and Leda cautiously approached Roy, I activated [Shared Presence Detection]…
"There's something big… Sweee, get in my hood."
After confirming Sweee had jumped from my left shoulder into my hood, I drew my Ken-nata from its sheath and readied my Round Shield.
Since it felt like a monster I hadn't encountered before, I proceeded cautiously.
"[Spirit's Blessing]."
As the [Spirit's Blessing] enveloped my body, my concentration naturally sharpened.
The large presence I sensed was… a snake? It was slithering along the ground at a considerable speed, but…
"Hm?"
In front of that large something, there was a small something.
"Kuruulu!"
"Eh!"
The small animal that darted out slipped between my legs.
The large creature that chased it, a considerably large, dark snake, revealed itself.
[Smoke Serpent]
*A large snake monster that inhabits plains and wetlands. It can constrict and swallow large creatures whole with its long body.
Cooking: Meat is edible. Material Processing: Fangs, bones, and skin can be used as various materials.*
The Smoke Serpent slowly raised its head, but it was much bigger than I expected. It looked about 3 meters long, and as thick as my thigh…
"Woof!"
""Bow!""
At Lupi's command, Leda attacked from the left, and when the serpent dodged, Roy attacked from the right. But the Smoke Serpent twisted its body, evading both.
Despite its size, it moved deftly, so I thought, In that case, I'll try—
"Earth Spirit!"
I knelt and placed my hand on the ground, and the overgrown grass writhed, attempting to bind the Smoke Serpent. But then,
"Shhhhaaa!"
"Whoa!"
Clang!
It lunged at me with its wide-open mouth, and I parried it with my Round Shield.
"Growl!"
Then Lupi's [Crush Claw] hit it.
As it was slammed to the ground, once more!
"~~~!"
"Ah, right!"
With Sweee's urgent suggestion, I imagined a thorny plant with vines: a bramble.
And then,
"[Gravity Increase]!"
I cast [Gravity Increase] on the entire snake, then constricted it while its movements were sluggish!
"Kiiiee!"
The large snake, skilled in constriction, violently resisted to avoid being constricted itself, but couldn't escape the thorns embedded in it… Whoops, my MP is draining incredibly fast, I need to finish it quickly!
"Phew…"
[Spirit Magic skill level increased!]
[Gravity Increase skill level increased!]
Oops, so that makes Spirit Magic level 9, I think.
With the Selkie Whistle pendant, it's already at 10, so just one more level to break the cap.
Shou-kun, are you okay!
"Oh, sorry, sorry. I'm fine now."
[Daytron] "
[Kusho] "Shou-kun's Spirit Magic is insane…"
[Nelson] "When did you get Gravity Increase!?"
[Donden] "Wasn't there something small?"
etc. etc…
I was about to dismantle it, but wasn't there a small animal that darted under my feet?
I confirmed Lupi and the others were keeping watch and turned around.
"Ryu~♪"
"Kuruuru~"
"Eh?"
Sitting on Pan's head was a squirrel?
It seemed to have a bright red stone embedded in its forehead.
[Carbuncle: Vigilant]
*Phantom Beast Carbuncle. A squirrel-like creature with golden fur and a jewel on its forehead.
Said to be a phantom beast that brings good fortune, it was over-hunted in the past.*
[Bearmen] "So cute~~~♪"
[Shumei] "Ohhhhh!"
[Nadja] "Bayoyon!"
[Dramun] "The combo with Pan-kun is dangerous!"
etc. etc…
"Ryu~?"
"~~~♪"
I feel like it's asking for food, so I'll give it some Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit…
Oh, right, for Sweee and Pan too.
"Ah, good. It's eating."
So cute~
[Fel] "He fed it again lol."
[Linley] "Can't resist sweets…"
[Kokudo] "Let's protect it!"
[Marionella] "Is it just this one?"
etc. etc…
Oh, right, that's true.
Seeing it eat so single-mindedly, it seems like it was looking for food, got found by that Smoke Serpent, and ran away, but I have a feeling there might be other Carbuncule around.
"Are there other friends?"
"~~~?"
"Kuruurun"
Sweee seemed to be translating, and the Carbuncle nodded, apparently confirming there were others.
Hmm, if their life here is good, I won't force them, but I feel like the basin forest where Sweee lives, or the forest on the cliff where Pan lives, would be safer.
"Ryu ryu?"
"~~~♪"
"Kuruuru~"
Pan seemed to be asking if they wanted to relocate. And Sweee seemed to be saying, That's better!
What's going on?
"Ah, it seems like they're talking, so wait a moment."
For now, Lupi and the others are… still keeping watch, it seems.
I'll dismantle the Smoke Serpent now. Whoops, I should cancel [Spirit's Blessing].
Come to think of it, I used Earth Spirit Magic earlier… it's still there. [Appraising] it, it seems to be a wild rose called [Eclozia].
I wonder if it'll grow if I just water it? No, I'll probably clear this area later, so never mind for now.
"Ryu~♪"
"Hm? Is it decided?"
"~~~♪"
Sweee jumped onto my shoulder and pointed in the direction the Carbuncle had come from.
I see, so there are more friends over there, I suppose?
"Mion, is there time?"
Yes. You have 20 minutes left.
"Okay, I'll go check it out."
[Nonnonno] "To the Carbuncle village!"
[Lucol] "Kuruuru so cute~"
[Masheri] "Island resident GET chance♪"
[Nantsuu] "That helps!"
etc. etc…
Oh, right, I wonder if the island population will exceed 100 with about 10 more people?
I'd be happy if there were another reward…