kscans

Chapter 70 - Exploration and Cooking

In front of the gate.
Countless adventurers had gathered there. Some were on foot, while others had prepared horse-drawn carriages.
We carried our tool bags, armed and armored. We were going on foot, without a cart.
When the meeting time arrived, the Guild Master appeared.
"...Alright, I'll explain the details again. This request is an Undead search. The duration is seven days. As of this morning, there were no Undead in the vicinity. Therefore, I want you all to search the forest several kilometers from here. Any questions?"
The Guild Master looked around.
An adventurer raised his hand. "Um... if we find and defeat an Undead, should we collect some kind of proof?"
The Guild Master replied, "...Hmm. In that case, their personal effects will do as proof—just the tools they are carrying. There's no need to strip their clothes. ...Well, this time the main goal is exploration, so you don't have to force yourself to fight. If you encounter them and can't win, run away immediately. ...Then, return to the city and report the situation. ...Whatever you do, complete your job alive. A dead person can't say they've completed the job. ...Remember that."
He imbued his final words with a powerful aura. The adventurers felt a slight chill.
It wasn't just the Guild Master's appearance; the fighting spirit he exuded was that of an active warrior. ...I braced myself.
To be a Guild Master with that much fighting spirit—wasn't it too early for a generational change? I wondered.
...Well, the Guild Master in the Kingdom's port town was a young woman, so I wasn't going to dwell on it.
Tina, beside me, said, "...Shinsuke. About this search, please don't be reckless, just as the Guild Master said. ...If you get even a small scratch from an Undead, you'll be infected. ...If you're going to fight, use only ranged attacks."
At her warning, I replied, "...True, I can't be overconfident even in full armor. I'll have to deal with them using magic or a crossbow."
I touched the crossbow at my waist. It had been a while since I'd used it, but I had no choice.
Confirming there were no more questions from the crowd, the Guild Master said, "...Looks like that's it. ...Then, move out!"
He gave the signal.
The adventurers set off all at once. Those on horseback headed for the forest ahead of the others.
We decided to go on foot.
After walking for several hours, we arrived at the forest entrance.
The adventurers who had been with us for most of the way went off in different directions. We also entered from a separate path. Even on a bright day, it was dim inside, with dense trees creating many blind spots.
As I moved cautiously, I asked, "...By the way, do Undead ever walk in the sunlight?"
Tina answered, "No. Undead are weak to sunlight; a single touch of it will stop their movements. They seem to know this instinctively, so they don't move when the sun is out. ...The exception is in places like this forest, where the sunlight is blocked. They can be active here."
Her explanation was helpful. ...So that's why the Guild Master ordered us to search the forest. It's just as they say: experience talks. ...With that thought, I drew my kodachi and began to investigate. In a place with this many trees, a longsword is not suitable for swinging. A weapon that allows for quick movements is more useful.
I had also given Tina a dagger, about the same length as a kodachi, in advance.
Furthermore, last night I had transformed the Mithril sword Tina was holding into an Orichalcum sword.
The reason was to increase our fighting power. Orichalcum is stronger than Mithril and can hold more magical power. By the way, when I offered to change it with `Matter Conversion`, Tina had an indescribable expression on her face. When I asked why, she said she was happy to have an Orichalcum sword, but she had complicated feelings because she hadn't obtained it herself. ...I understood what she meant, but I convinced her that it's better to use what's available.
After converting Tina's sword, I also made my sword Orichalcum. The result was a Japanese sword made of 50% Tamahagane, 40% Ferrocerium alloy, and 10% Adamantite. Since Glad-san's shield contained Adamantite, I took the opportunity to strengthen my sword. I had no intention of removing the Tamahagane, of course. ...Because a Japanese sword is a Japanese sword because of its Tamahagane. That was one thing I wouldn't compromise on.
During our search of the forest, we only encountered goblins and bears. We defeated them without difficulty and harvested their materials. ...The fur would be too bulky to carry, so I decided to leave it here.
As we did this, the sun began to set.
...Just as I was about to prepare for camping, I saw a bird perched on a branch. I took my crossbow, aimed carefully, and fired.
The bolt hit the bird. It would be tonight's dinner.
I started a bonfire, set up a pot, and filled it with water. All that was left was to cook with the ingredients I found in the Republic. ...First, when the water boiled, I added the dried kelp. When I thought the broth was sufficiently infused, I removed the kelp. Next, I cut the chicken, carrots, mushrooms, potatoes, and pumpkin into suitable shapes. I had found the potatoes in the forest. Then, I put the cut ingredients into the pot and let them simmer. When the vegetables were nicely cooked, I cut the dough I had prepared from flour into long strips, creating kishimen noodles, and added them to the pot. Finally, I added two Miso Balls, seasoned it with a little soy sauce, let it simmer a bit more, and it was done.
It was a completed Houtou, a specialty of Yamanashi Prefecture.
I created an iron bowl and served it. Since there were no chopsticks, we ate with forks. The taste was simple and light, consisting only of the broth from the kelp, miso, soy sauce, and vegetables.
The kishimen noodles were soft like mochi and had a satisfying texture. The vegetables were well-infused with flavor, and the pumpkin, which I had put in with the skin on, had become soft. In a word, it was 'delicious'.
I looked at Tina beside me. ...She was eating silently. Her expression was one of pure joy.
I asked her for her opinion on the taste. "...The flavor is light and easy to drink, and the texture of these kishimen noodles is not bad at all. ...Unlike pasta, they aren't very firm, but they're easy to eat this way."
Her evaluation was positive. I relaxed and continued my meal.
After we finished eating, I created an iron tent, and Tina and I spent the night there.

*

On the princess's side.
Olivia and her group were searching for Shinsuke and the others. They had seen them enter the forest, but after that, they had been following at a distance. ...However, they had lost sight of them.
But they didn't despair and decided to continue their search. While also hunting for Undead, of course.
Glad said, "Lady Olivia. ...Please don't stray from us. With so many blind spots, it would be easy to get lost."
Olivia replied, "I appreciate the warning. ...However, Glad, if we're attacked while bunched up, we won't be able to move and will just be wiped out. There will be times when we have to separate. ...In that case, let's leave a mark. If we get separated, we can regroup here."
She carved a large X on a suitable tree. It was conspicuous enough to be easily found.
Glad said, "...I see. There was such a way. ...As expected of you, Lady Olivia. This Glad is still lacking in training. I am ashamed."
He bowed his head.
Olivia replied, "There's no need to take it so seriously. ...More importantly, let's continue the search. This forest seems to be larger than I thought."
She forcibly changed the subject and gave her orders.
Glad saluted and once again took the lead.
Meanwhile, Sakura was deep in thought. Yesterday, when she heard the description of the Undead from Glad-san, they were apparently wearing the traditional clothes of Owari Village. Something must have happened in the village. ...Not that Sakura cared what happened to the village.
What was more problematic was the shrine in the village. There was a weapon there that was said to have been favored by a daimyo named Nobunaga, who founded the village in the old days. However, she had heard as a child that it was sealed away for a long time because it was too dangerous. If that had been taken, Lady Olivia's life would be in danger.
Sakura decided to tell the two of them about Owari Village tonight.

*

Night. Camping.
A C-rank adventurer party from the Republic—two swordsmen, one magician, and one scout—were gathered around a bonfire, discussing their plans. To this party, the Undead search was, frankly, a matter of indifference.
No matter how dangerous the Undead were, finding them in this vast forest was nearly impossible. Even if they did find one, close combat carried a high risk of infection. They could attack from a distance, but this party's main attack method was close-range, with ranged attacks only at a support level.
They were an unsuitable party for Undead subjugation.
The leader, a swordsman, said with a laugh, "...Well then, let's just do a half-hearted search of the forest and gather some monster materials. ...For this request, we get paid even if we don't try to fight them."
The other members laughed as well. To them, the city's crisis didn't matter; as long as they could make money, that was all that mattered. Even if the city was half-destroyed, they could just go to the Church or the Kingdom. A C-rank party had no problem going anywhere. ...Just as they thought that, they heard a sound from the bushes.
The four of them grabbed their weapons and took fighting stances.
What emerged from the bushes was a large, bare-chested man. They looked at him strangely. It wasn't just his appearance, but more than anything, his expression was too blank. ...Even if he were a bandit, he would have said something. With that thought, they kept their distance and didn't approach. The leader, holding his sword, said, "...For now, try hitting him with some magic. ...We'll attack while he's stunned."
He gave the order. The magician acknowledged and unleashed fire magic. A fireball flew straight toward the large man. The man didn't dodge and was hit directly.
They felt it was anticlimactic. They had been on guard, but it seemed he was just a scarecrow. Just as they felt a sense of relief... they saw the large man walking toward them, engulfed in flames.
'Impossible,' they thought. Normally, if your body was on fire, you would roll around to extinguish it. But the large man didn't try to put out the fire and walked calmly.
Seeing this, the frightened scout said, "Leader, isn't that guy bad news? ...Shouldn't we run?"
The leader replied, "...Alright, throw something to distract him. We'll escape in the confusion."
He gave the order to retreat. They didn't do anything dangerous. Their lives came first.
All of them agreed and threw their luggage with all their might. Just before it hit, the large man swatted the luggage away with his right arm. The force of the blow extinguished the fire on his body. His figure had almost no burn marks; it had had no effect.
They decided to run with all their might. ...'We can't win,' they felt.
Just then, four snakes appeared from behind the large man and headed for the adventurer party all at once. Seeing this, they felt a sense of eeriness and at the same time, they knew that if they were bitten by those snakes, they would die. ...As they fled with that thought, the magician tripped.
The magician cried out, "Ah, aaaah! H-help me!"
He reached out his hand. But no one went to help him. They had no sense of camaraderie.
The magician was bitten by one of the snakes and let out a scream.
The remaining three used the trees to escape. But the three snakes moved with unpredictable motions and pursued them.
...As the leader was running, he heard the screams of the other two. But he ignored them and continued to run.
He was confident he could escape. Just as he thought that, someone suddenly emerged from the shade of a tree and collided with him.
The leader, who had taken a spectacular fall, shouted, "You idiot! Where are you looking?!"
The person he had collided with stood there without saying a word. The leader, irritated by this, grabbed the person's shoulder with his left hand and was about to complain.
...But that was a fatal mistake.
The person whose shoulder had been grabbed slowly turned around. Their face was vacant and expressionless. ...The leader immediately sensed danger, but it was already too late. The person bit the leader's left hand.
The leader screamed and pulled away. As he backed away, he bumped into something.
When he turned around, there were five people with the same expression.
...The leader realized. It was over. He had thrown away his weapon because it was a hindrance while running. In other words, he was unarmed.
From there, he was attacked by the six Undead and bitten to death.

*

On Shinsuke's side.
After cleaning up in the morning, we continued our search. However, without any clues, I couldn't think of any other method than to search blindly.
After half a day of searching, we discovered a cave.
However, its entrance was marked by something like a stone torii gate. It had clearly been touched by human hands.
Seeing this, Tina said, "...This is a ruin. They say there are many valuable items inside, but I hear there are also many powerful monsters, so it's mostly unexplored. ...I think it's best not to meddle with it now. ...We have our hands full with the Undead."
She warned me.
I agreed. If we provoked the monsters inside and they chased us as we fled, we would have to deal with both the Undead and powerful monsters. I wanted to avoid that at all costs. However, I was curious about what was inside the ruin.
I'm a hunter, but I'm also curious.
Just as I was thinking that, I heard the sound of a branch snapping. We turned in that direction. The other party was also on guard and didn't emerge. ...I activated `Detection`.
In that direction were five blue lights. Since they weren't red, they didn't seem to be enemies.
I called out, "I'm the adventurer Shinsuke, working on a request from the Republic. If you're not an enemy, please come out."
As I shouted, four people in knight's armor emerged from the forest.
I recognized their attire.
...Just as I thought that, the last person came out. It was a familiar face.
It was Altorine, the knight captain I met at the Church.
She said, "Shinsuke? ...What are you doing working in a place like this?"
She asked, looking puzzled.