Chapter 514 - 457. Look Out Above! Be Careful!
According to Mion, there was an Armra grove with red fruits west of the cottage complex. Beyond that, at the end of a path leading north, she saw what looked like a church roof.
"Is it a proper path?"
"Ah, no, the weeds are terrible..."
"Ah, I see. Can you wait a moment? I just finished something and sent Pan to call True and the others."
"Yes. I'll wait here."
Just as I ended the guild call, Pan arrived with True, Leda, and Roy.
Before helping with the wood, it would probably be better if we all went to see it.
"Sorry. Would it be okay if we went to Mion and the others first? She said she found a building that looks like a church."
"Kyuu~" "Ryuu~"
True and the others agreed, so, um...
"Leda, Roy. Can you guide us to Lupi and the others?"
""Bow!""
Led by the two, we moved to the west side of the cottages. It's understandable that I started jogging.
In the grove even further west, yes, these are mangoes, aren't they? I appraised the abundant, deep red fruits on trees about 3-4 meters tall:
[Armra Fruit]
The fruit of the Armra tree. Ripe ones are very sweet and delicious.
Cooking: The flesh and juice can be used as ingredients.
Sweee would probably love these.
If I make dried mango, or rather, Dried Armra Fruit, it should keep well, so I'll harvest as much as my inventory can hold...
"Shou-kun!"
"Ah, there they are."
They seemed to have settled in a slightly open area and were eating the Armra Fruit they had gathered.
The peeled fruit was the same beautiful orange as a mango, and looked incredibly delicious...
"Um?"
I sat next to Mion, stroking Lupi who had settled between her knees, and listened.
They had walked back along the path to the cottage, then continued to the westernmost edge, where they discovered this Armra grove.
Mion had appraised it, confirmed it was edible, and then tried it.
"I've had mangoes before, so I knew it was the same."
"I knew it, right?"
"Please have some too, Shou-kun. Here."
She offered me a spoonful of the fruit, and I took a bite.
Wow, this is incredibly sweet...
"Let's gather as much as we can to take back. Oh, wait, maybe we can take some saplings back and try growing them on the south side of the island?"
"That's a good idea."
"~ ~ ~ ♪"
"And the roof that looks like a church?"
According to Mion, this Armra grove is surrounded by slopes, but there's a path in one northern corner, and beyond it, she saw a familiar church roof.
"Did you just peek?"
"Yes. Lupi-chan and Shal-kun stopped me."
"Yeah, I think that was good."
I felt like some kind of monster might appear, and there was also the possibility of a sudden landslide blocking the path.
I petted Lupi, who had stopped them, and gave Shal some dried sardines as thanks.
"Nya~"
Shal really loves these. Oh, True and the others, and Lupi's eyes... I guess I'll give them all I have.
"Hmm, that church is really interesting..."
"Shall we go see it now? We still have time."
It was only just past 2 PM.
We had talked about going for a walk before dinner if the weather was good, and we planned to log out at 4 PM, so we had plenty of time.
"Alright, let's go. We can collect the wood on the way back."
"Yes!"
...
...
...
The place described as a slope felt like a riverbank levee, barely climbable. Pan, at least, looked like he'd have no trouble.
In one corner of that slope, a path about 3 meters wide was clearly visible. It wasn't unnaturally wide, but it looked as if it had been carved out by human hands.
"It looks similar to the back of our church."
Though overgrown with weeds, pushing them aside revealed neatly laid stone pavement.
"Shou-kun. From here, we can see a bit of the building."
"Oh?"
I stood right next to Mion and looked in the direction she was pointing.
Midway down the path, tree branches hung low from the cliff above, obstructing the view, but from this spot, I could see a familiar roof through the gaps.
"Yeah, it looks like a church. ...I wonder if there's another basement?"
"There might be a Goddess Statue."
"Ah... Well, let's go check it out for now. Lupi, Leda, Roy."
"Woof!" ""Bow!""
But first, I checked the party's status.
Me, Lupi, Leda, Roy, Pan. Mion, Sweee, Shal, Raz. True and two Selkies.
These three parties were properly in an alliance, and Sweee's [Fairy Queen's Blessing] was also active.
"Blessing."
"Thanks."
Mion's blessing spread to everyone, and we were ready.
First, I, Lupi, and Raz went ahead, followed by Leda and Roy. Sweee, Shal, Pan, and True's group guarded Mion tightly.
"Just a moment."
I checked the path's structural integrity with my [Civil Engineering Skill]. Hmm, it seems fine.
I entrusted [Presence Detection] to Lupi and proceeded cautiously, stomping down weeds that reached my waist.
After walking straight for about 20 meters, we passed the overhanging branches from the cliff earlier, and then,
"Oh, I see it!"
This time, the church was much clearer. From the angle of the roof, the front seemed to be facing us...
"Woof!"
"Mion!"
[Presence Detection] reacted! The location was behind us! From above!
"Kyu!" ""Kyu!""
"GYAAAARRGH!"
True and the others' tridents intercepted and pushed back whatever had swooped down from above.
In that brief opening, I moved in front of Mion, gripping my Ken-nata and Round Shield.
"Ugh, disgusting..."
It was clearly a mantis, but almost 2 meters tall and, to put it simply, repulsive. Insects always become so creepy when they get big, don't they?
""Kyukyu!""
"Kyuu~!"
"Nya!"
"Ah..."
The Selkies attacked its arms, True's strike immediately pierced its chest, and finally, Shal's rapier cleanly severed its head, ending the battle.
My companions are too strong... No, wait, Mion started on this island, and it's near her starting point, so maybe not too many strong monsters appear.
"Mion, are you okay?"
"Y-yes. I was surprised, but..."
She said, looking down at what used to be the mantis. I should really appraise it properly.
[Zakmantis]
A mantis monster inhabiting warm regions.
Beware of its aerial pounces and restraining attacks with its barbed scythes.
That was close...
"Um, should I dismantle this too?"
"Ah, I'll do it. Mantises sometimes have parasites inside their bodies, so..."
Hearing that, Mion took a step back.
It would be absolutely awful if parasites popped out the moment I dismantled it...