Ch.143Testing NPC. (3)

The gray-haired man was genuinely tired of the troubles that kept coming his way.

The orange fox beastkin’s heart was racing at what the man had said.

And the tiger beastkin with silver-white and black fur felt truly wronged by the current situation.

‘I really just wanted to disinfect big sister’s wound!!’

When she was young, she’d heard that applying saliva to wounds helped them heal faster. And while adventuring, she’d actually heard many adventurers say, “What potion? Just put some saliva on a wound like this and it’ll heal.”

But Jack scolded her and even gave her a knock on the head. I was genuinely trying to help!!

“Ugh, saliva… really. Miho, haven’t I told you before? Licking and sucking someone with your tongue is something beasts do.”

“I’m not a beast! I really was just trying to disinfect it!”

“Who called you a beast?! I’m just saying don’t do things like this even for disinfection!!”

“Keeeng…”

“Biting and sucking. Miho and I…?”

As Jack yelled at me, the strength drained from my tail and ears again.

I really did it with good intentions, not with any other thoughts. I truly feel wronged and sad. And somehow, big sister’s muttering voice beside me is a bit scary too.

Seeing me like this, Jack placed his hand—the one not covered in my saliva—on his forehead and let out a sigh.

“Haaa. I understand you were trying to help me. But if you want to disinfect something, use medicine. Or at least herbs. First, wash the wound, okay?”

“…Yeah. I got it.”

“Where’s the water? Let’s go wash our hands.”

“Huh? Why? We can wash when we get home…”

“Look at your sister and yourself. Covered in sweat and dirt. Sigh, both of you go wash up first.”

The sister he pointed to with a disgusted finger definitely looked different from when I first met her.

As if Jack had rolled her on the ground, her once beautiful clothes and skin were now completely covered in dirt.

And me too. I had just washed up, but I was so worried about Jack that I rushed over, and now I had leaves and twigs stuck in my hair.

…Really, is this why I can’t gain more favor with Jack? The thought is enough to make me feel down.

“…I’ll go wash my hands. Don’t worry about me, talk with your sister about your travels so far, and while you’re at it, explain our situation to her.”

“Huh?”

As I was feeling a bit depressed, Jack whispered in my ear so my sister couldn’t hear, saying, “Your sister has been very worried about you.” Then he patted my shoulder once before turning around and heading to the water.

…Really, he was just angry at me, so why is he being so considerate now? As I watched him, feeling my heart race without knowing why, I heard someone clearing their throat beside me.

“Ahem! Um, Miho? Uh, do you want to go wash up with your sister… I mean, together?”

“If you try to bite or suck anywhere, I’ll run away immediately.”

“Hehe! I understand. I won’t do anything my little sister would hate!”

I took my sister’s outstretched hand and got up, heading home while thinking:

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t really talked properly with my sister since I came here. And also…’

My sister’s condition is a bit different from before. In the past, she started showing “sexual” interest in me.

I’m female, and she’s female. Even though we’re blood relatives, I couldn’t help but know she was struggling because of my constitution—I could hear the sounds at night whether I wanted to or not.

So when Elder Green Stone said he was in a human city and suggested I go see the world from there… I didn’t like it, but I accepted it because I hated making my sister suffer even more.

But.

-Ears perk up.

“Hmm~? What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

“…Sister, are you okay now? About having a hard time because of me?”

“Ah… that, hmm… can we talk about that while washing up?”

When my sister noticed me looking at her, she wiggled her ears and spoke, making me smile bitterly and nod.

My sister’s habit hasn’t changed from the past to now. Whenever she talks to someone she likes, her ears always wiggle cutely.

…Huh? Wait. Didn’t her ears move when she was talking to Jack earlier too?

“Hmm? Miho. Your expression suddenly darkened. What’s wrong? Did I make another mistake?”

“…Mmm, it’s nothing. Let’s talk while washing up.”

I might have seen wrong, but… if I saw correctly?

‘…What if my sister has also developed feelings for Jack? Jack wants strong companions to protect Lady Ira, and my sister even gave him a scratch.’

…No, it could be my imagination. It’s fine.

There’s no way my sister would suddenly feel attraction toward a human male she was showing such hostility toward just moments ago. My sister isn’t that “easy” of a female.

I calmed my racing heart, which was pounding for an entirely different reason, and headed to the bathroom with my sister.

*

Phew. That was a close call.

I moved without thinking. Putting Miho aside, I just met Chikuyo today, yet I unconsciously gave her a knock on the head.

No matter how foolish her actions seemed, she’s a party-eligible NPC and Miho’s sister. I shouldn’t have done that, but because of my past life memories and internal familiarity, I couldn’t help reacting when I saw her doing something stupid.

Even though she did something foolish, the fact that Chikuyo didn’t say anything after I hit her proves she’s truly a saint.

I calmed my racing heart and washed my hands at the stream Miho had shown me, then looked at my status window.

[Mountain Caretaker Effect: All stats increase within mountains you manage. As a veteran mountain caretaker, you can instinctively sense what happens within a 5km radius in the mountains. (Currently, Jinheung is not a mountain you manage.)]

[Veteran Mountain Caretaker Effect: Half the continent’s mountains are now under your management. Your stats slightly increase in any mountain you visit. In areas affected by the Mountain Caretaker effect, stat increases stack.]

[Mountains Under Management: -Ponia- -Ottoman Empire- -Aigram- -Neity- (How to register nearby mountains: View details)]

[How to register nearby mountains: Spend time in the mountain you wish to manage. (3 hours.) Completed.]

[Hunt designated monsters. (1/3)]

[Converse with locals. (4/5)]

[Survey mountain geography (20km) Remaining terrain to check (3.8km)]

Even after registering Neity, the Mountain Caretaker skill didn’t change, only the title increased.

Perhaps this is the skill’s final form, or like other skills, it might have separate levels or conditions.

Honestly, when the [Veteran Mountain Caretaker] skill derived after adding Aigram, I expected something more, so it was a bit disappointing when nothing happened.

‘Still, there’s no reason not to register Siltra too.’

Maybe registering a fifth mountain is a condition. And to do that, I need to separate from Chikuyo and Miho first.

If I suddenly start running around outside alone at night, they might find it strange.

“I guess it wouldn’t be a problem to say I’m exploring the area when it’s light out.”

The intermittent sensation of the Veteran Mountain Caretaker skill is quite uncomfortable. It’s like wearing glasses normally and then suddenly having someone take them away.

Just now, Chikuyo approached while hiding, and I only felt a strange chill without knowing anything, almost losing Miho to a surprise attack. And earlier, while I immediately sensed Chikuyo approaching, I only noticed Miho when she came into view. Detection skills really make a huge difference.

So I’m checking the surrounding forest near the stream, looking for monsters.

But this is a forest, not a mountain. The classification is really loose, huh?

-THWACK!!

[Kr?!!]

[Armor Wolf: Level 89]

“The monster level is quite high. I think Siltra was originally set as a place where high-purity mana gathers, is that why?”

[Hunt designated monsters. (2/3)]

[Survey mountain geography (20km) Completed.]

Using the “mountain caretaker techniques” I learned from my father rather than the Mountain Caretaker skill, I was able to find monsters quite easily.

Of course, I couldn’t encounter them immediately. It took about an hour of tracking after separating from the two to find just one, but still, isn’t it pretty good that a “mountain caretaker” could adapt so well to a “forest” he’s visiting for the first time? I only tracked for about 5km.

Hmm. I’ve thought about this before, but maybe I’m not smart but physically gifted instead?

If the equivalent exchange works this way, it’s not so bad. Better to be physically capable than mediocre in intelligence.

There’s a saying that if your body is dumb, your brain suffers.

…Isn’t there?

“…I’d like to get back before sunset.”

After leaving appropriate markings on nearby trees to avoid getting lost, I search for traces of another monster.

Green Stone said the staff would report our passage at least tonight or tomorrow morning, and I want to activate my skill before meeting the elves.

So I diligently searched for monsters and was able to return home just as the sun was setting.

And then.

“I’m. Telling. You! There’s no such person here, how many times do I have to say it?!”

“Chikuyo. If you continue like this, we’ll have to conduct a forceful search. As I’ve said multiple times, the human who came with Green Stone is a criminal accused of ‘kidnapping and raping beastkin.’ As a beastkin yourself, you have no reason to hide him, do you?”

“This is driving me crazy! Green Stone returned with Miho, but no human came, I tell you! Hey, is there moss growing in those pointy ears of yours?”

-Click.

“…Final warning. Step aside.”

“Hmm~♡ Want to try? You guys pointed those spears at me knowing who I am, right?”

As I approached the house, I heard loud voices and hid behind a nearby tree to observe the situation.

Armored elves had gathered, and facing them with a seductive posture, holding a sword made from plucked tail fur, she was confronting them in front of the house.

…Green Stone, you said tomorrow at the earliest, why are they here already? Is the world’s unfairness not enough to stop me, so now people around me have to be unfair too?

“This is getting nowhere. Subdue her, injuries are acceptable!”

“””Yes!!”””

“Knights of the Forest. You seem a bit understaffed to face me, but well, I’ll entertain you. Come on.”

Seeing Chikuyo blocking them to the end despite my absence from her house, and the armored elves approaching with spears and swords to subdue her, I looked at my status window.

[Converse with locals. (4/5)]

…Conversation. I wonder if using my fists counts as clearing this?