Chapter 459 - Chapter 408: The Shy Forest Fairy
"Mion, sorry. I think I'm going over time, but..."
It's alright. I'm worried about that child too.
It'll probably be past 11, I thought.
I carried the forest fairy, Ghillie Dhu, back to Shal and the others, but Sweee said it was better in the shade. Does he dislike bright places?
「~~~♪」
"Ah, yeah, I understand. Then I'll go dismantle the Armor Bear."
Sweee said she, Paan, and Shal would attend to him, so I returned to the Armor Bear.
Lupi and the others were on watch, so it should be fine, but another monster might come.
I was so surprised. Shou-kun and Lupi-chan didn't even notice, did you?
"Yeah, not at all. Oh, no, Lupi was suspicious once when we came here before, so he might have been there then too."
Was he watching us when we came to this forest?
"Woof."
"Thanks, Lupi. Leda and Roy too."
They had secured the Armor Bear properly, so I quickly dismantled it. I got meat, bones, hide, and a medium-sized Magic Stone.
Did it not mutate this time because I defeated it so quickly? Considering the hide's performance after dismantling, would it have been better if it had mutated?
Making a mantle and checking the skill modifiers would be the best way to know, but perhaps it's better to just get new armor.
"Here, this is your reward."
Lupi and the others were staring at the bear meat, so I cut off the best-looking portion for them.
Armor Bear meat has a peculiar taste, but Lupi and the others seem fine with it.
"Kururu~~~."
"Whoa, thanks, Raz."
Raz, who had descended from the tree onto my shoulder, rubbed his cheek against mine, demanding a reward.
Raz also fought well in cooperation, so I'll give him a whole small Regucorn.
While everyone was eating, I used [Presence Detection] to thoroughly check our surroundings... there's nothing else here now, right?
Is there still something?
"No, I don't think so..."
[Presence Detection] skill is already max level. If I still can't detect something, do I need a higher-tier skill?
"Woofn."
"Alright. Let's head back soon."
I don't want to startle that child by rushing back, so I'll walk slowly and calmly.
First, I need to apologize...
「~~~♪」
"Ah, he woke up. Um..."
The Ghillie Dhu peeked out from behind Paan, looking at us.
Sweee seemed to have explained that we weren't hostile, but he was still very wary.
"Uuu~~~."
"Um, I'm sorry. I didn't notice you were in the tree at all..."
「~~~？」
"Ah, yeah. I have some."
At Sweee's suggestion, I served Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit on a wooden plate and offered it.
「~~~♪」
Um, Sweee eating it is to show that it's safe, right? Not because she wants to eat it herself, right?
"Ryu~~~."
Paan offered it, saying it was delicious, and the Ghillie Dhu timidly accepted it and brought it to his mouth.
"Uh!"
He started eating with great gusto.
Was he hungry?
"Oh, thanks, Shal and the others too. Eat this."
"Umyah~~~."
I handed out dried small fish (dried sardines) as snacks to Shal and the others.
It still sounds like they're saying "delicious"...
「~~~♪」「Uuu, Uuu."
What is Sweee-chan saying?
"Something like, 'Do you live in this forest?'"
Lupi and I sat a little apart, talking in hushed tones with Mion.
While petting Lupi, Leda, and Roy in turn, I listened to Sweee and the Ghillie Dhu's conversation.
"It seems there are territories, or rather, responsibilities, within this forest. He's apparently in charge of this relatively safe area."
Eh? But, that bear...
"It seems it occasionally wandered in. Perhaps it's responsible for a different section? He seems to communicate with his comrades to be wary."
I see.
Last time, were we the ones who were being wary? Well, we were new faces, so it's natural to be cautious.
"Uuu~~~?"
「~~~♪」「Ryuryu~~~」「Nyaa~~~Nya."
Well, it's natural for him to be curious about who we are.
And it seems Sweee, Paan, and Shal are all saying that I'm the master of this island...
Perhaps his wariness towards us had faded, as he emerged from behind Paan, looking like he wanted more Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit.
"Ryuryu."
"Uuu, Uuu."
Paan, sensing this, brought the entire plate over to the Ghillie Dhu. He's really reliable, like an older brother.
After talking for about 15 minutes, I realized time was getting short when,
「~~~？」
"Eh? You want the Armor Bear bones? Of course, that's fine, but wait a moment."
Will he use them for something?
"I wonder. Maybe as proof of its defeat?"
If we tell our comrades that we defeated the Armor Bear, we'll need proof.
Replying to Mion, I took out the Armor Bear bones from my inventory. They're quite large and numerous, but...
"Can you carry all of this?"
「~~~？」
"Uuu, Uuu."
He nodded repeatedly and took out a folded hemp sack from the mossy mantle he was wearing. And then, he seemed satisfied after putting in just the largest bone?
"What about the rest?"
Sweee translated my question, and he said that was enough. He apparently wanted to show it to his comrades to prove that we had defeated it.
In that case...
"Sweee, can I give him the rest of the dried Papu Fruit?"
「~~~♪」
"Ryuryu.""Nyanya."
With Sweee's approval, Paan and Shal gave the remaining portion to the Ghillie Dhu. They even said something about doing it before Sweee changed her mind...
"Uuu, Uuu."
"I'm really sorry about today. Everyone would be happy if you came to visit again."
「~~~♪」「Ryu~~~」「Nya~~~."
The Ghillie Dhu bowed repeatedly, then returned to the depths of the forest.
I hope he comes again, and I can learn a little more about this forest.