Chapter 548 - Chapter 488 The Divine Tree and the Lake
"Alright, let's go!"
"Nyan!" "Wafu!" "Kuru ru~."
Today, we planned to first go to the lake northeast of Ghillie Dhu's Forest.
I heard there was a Divine Tree that Kuro's group cherished, so we decided to all go pay our respects there.
"~ ~ ~♪."
"We'll be relying on you."
"Uu."
Rake's group would guide us to the lake, so it shouldn't be too dangerous. However,
"Lupi, Leda, Roy. Keep an eye out."
"Wafun!" ""Bau!""
As usual, Lupi's group went ahead to search for enemies. Shal was guarding Mion and Sweee.
Rake's group followed us, leaping from tree to tree.
According to the Ghillie Dhu, the most common monsters that attack in the forest are Bicobit, followed by Ranziboa. And occasionally, Armor Bears.
Also, very rarely, a large deer (or moose?) called a Grafaelk appears, apparently…
"Wafu!"
"Whoa."
I firmly blocked a Ranziboa that charged straight at me with my Round Shield.
Perhaps because my STR and VIT have increased since the beginning, I no longer get pushed back.
"Gau!"
Roy's [Crush Claw] hit a Ranziboa that charged from the right, sending it flying, and Leda pinned it down.
"Nice!"
"Amazing!"
Actually, Roy also learned [Crush Claw]. I guess Leda must have too, but they seem to be dividing their roles well.
"Ah, I'll dismantle it."
"Okay."
After Mion dismantled it to level up her skill and we gave rewards to Lupi's group, we handed everything else over to the Ghillie Dhu. For now, we have plenty of meat, bones, and hides left over.
"Alright, let's move quickly."
"Yes."
………
……
…
The dim forest ahead brightened, and it seemed we had reached our destination, the lake.
Besides the first Ranziboa we encountered, we took down about three Bicobit, but Lupi's group hunted all of them.
"Uu."
"Okay. There's a lake ahead, but there are also docile animals, so try not to make too much noise."
Everyone nodded at my words.
When we caught up to Lupi's group, who were waiting near the exit,
"Wow…"
"What a beautiful place…"
Spread before us was a very wide lake. It seemed about the size of the cove where the Lighthouse is.
And to the west, we could see…
"~ ~ ~♪."
"A Divine Tree."
The Divine Tree stood at the tip of a piece of land jutting out from the lakeside.
Combined with the surrounding scenery, it felt incredibly mystical.
"Uu."
"It's Rake-chan's group's Divine Tree."
"Oh, in that case, all the more reason to go pay our respects."
We proceeded along the water's edge and arrived at the base of the Divine Tree.
First, Sweee placed her hand on it as usual, and we all offered our prayers.
It might not mean anything, but we'll likely be using the Fairy Path in the future.
"~ ~ ~♪."
Sweee turned around and gave a firm thumbs-up.
It seemed the registration was complete, and the Divine Tree's leaves swayed happily.
"Uu."
"Nyan~."
"~ ~ ~♪."
The northern part of the forest near this Divine Tree was apparently Rake's assigned area. The east side was Kuro's, and the south side was Ato's.
Regarding travel using the Divine Tree, Rake would primarily be in charge, so Sweee and Shal, who would actually open the Fairy Path, began discussing.
"Alright, let's sit down and have some snacks while we talk."
"Yes."
According to Rake, there were no monsters in this lake, so we sat in a circle in front of the Divine Tree.
Today, I brought the simple cookies we had distributed to Gaju's group. Mion and I had made a large batch of them.
"~ ~ ~♪" "Kuru ru~♪" "Uu."
Sweee, Raz, and Rake's group ate them with relish.
Shal preferred dried sardines over cookies. Lupi's group had already received their rewards earlier, so they were relaxed, lying around me.
"Uu?"
"Vegetables would probably be Pan's group. For oil, True's group's Olive Oil is probably the best."
"Ah, Shou-kun. Rumorella would also be good with True's group."
"Yeah, that too."
Then there's Gaju's group's tropical fruits and spices.
Lupi's group hunts with Shal's group, and Shal's group also handles Yakokko eggs and Ecryu Milk… Huh? Are Mion and I running out of things to do?
"~ ~ ~♪."
"Ah, Sky Sugar. Indeed, we used to go to the mountains to gather that, and I'd like to cultivate it if possible."
"Is it not allowed?"
"No, it's the smell when making Sky Sugar…"
At least Lupi's group and Sweee's group dislike that smell, so I'd been doing it myself, but then,
"~ ~ ~?"
"Uu."
"Want to try it? Then… Oh, right, you went to gather it for me, didn't you?"
While we were at grandpa's house, Sweee had mentioned wanting Sky Sugar, and everyone went to gather it for her. I laughed when I saw the mountain of it in the entrance storehouse.
"Then, next time, I'll teach you how to make Sky Sugar."
"Uu."
The Ghillie Dhu apparently don't mind such things. They're used to it from handling herbs, they said.
Yeah. We're really running out of things to do, aren't we?
"Hm?"
Lupi stood up abruptly and gazed across the lake.
Beyond that, we could see…
"Huh? Is that a bridge?"
"Shou-kun, a little further north."
"Ah, a horse. Is that the one we saw before?"
Beyond where True's group and I went upstream in the Small Magic Boat, deep in the plains? It must be connected to the back of that forest.
"Lupi. It seems okay."
"Wafun."
I patted her head, and she relaxed, lying down again.
The horse either didn't notice us or didn't care, as it calmly drank water.
"Shall we go beyond that bridge?"
"Yes. We still have time."
No one else, besides Mion, particularly objected.
Apparently, Rake said that if we were going there, it would be better to call Kuro.
"Alright. Let's go."
"Yes."
※ Island full map (?)
