Ch.220Heading Home, NPC. (4)

“Spirit Fox Blade.”

“Hah!!”

After leaving the Siltra Forest and reaching the border of the human kingdom of Ponia in two days, we were now receiving a well-acclaimed tutorial baptism.

-Swish!!

-Thud!!!

“Phew!!”

“Hmm~ Well, even for undead, this is about what I’d expect.”

[Undead Goblin(Death): Level 146]

[Undead Wolf(Death): Level 181]

[Undead Troll(Death): Level 202]

As Chikuyo and Miho volunteered to handle the monsters and approached me with triumphant smiles, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile. What, do they want praise?

“Ahem! We’re pretty good, aren’t we?”

“Compared to Lord Gor or Miss Rei, am I still lacking…?”

Chikuyo crossed her arms proudly, perking up her ears as if waiting for praise, while Miho looked somewhat anxious, probably because despite having gone through the trial and reaching level 300, she still felt overwhelmed by Gor. Hmm, there’s no need to compare yourself with others. Honestly, if Rei hasn’t been leveling up, Miho would probably be stronger than her by now.

I reached out and patted the heads of the two sisters. Surprised by my sudden action, Miho wagged her tail while Chikuyo twitched her ears.

“Both of you. You’re strong enough. Just don’t move around too carelessly, okay?”

“Purr~”

“Kyut!”

Huh? Kyut? I’m used to Miho’s cries, but this is the first time I’ve heard Chikuyo make such a sound. I found myself staring at her, but she just happily rubbed her head against my hand.

Is that a fox’s cry? I’ve never heard it before. After spending some time praising the two, we slowly left the forest and came out onto a path where humans might travel. Hmm? This terrain seems somehow familiar yet unfamiliar.

“By the way, Ponia’s monsters are quite strong, aren’t they? Honestly, I didn’t think Miho and I would struggle against just three of them.”

“Considering Jack grew up fighting monsters like these, it makes sense that he’s strong.”

“Hmm, that’s not right. When I was here, they weren’t undead, and they weren’t this strong.”

Wolf-types were just wild animals, not monsters. After saying that, I compared the current state of Ponia with how it was before. In about three years, monsters have become explosively stronger. Or rather, completely different types of monsters have appeared, and it seems the summoning of the Seven Deadly Sin demons has increased monster levels and the number of undead. The only fortunate thing is that only monster-type undead are visible, not human-type undead.

But how did Ber and the other elves manage to travel all the way to the human villages of Ponia against these creatures? Judging by their levels, if the three of them had come here, it wouldn’t have been strange if they’d been captured by monsters and turned into breeding stock.

As our conversation rolled on, we somehow ended up talking about my past, and I told the two about my family who had lived in this country. Naturally, the story of my proud and lovely little sister became the main topic.

“Ira was truly a good child from a young age. Even when she was still little—younger than she is now—before she could fully control her tongue, she might pout a bit at what father and I said, but if we explained properly, she always waited at home. And once she could hold her own bowl, she would carry it to the sink. Really, how adorable she looked walking so carefully…”

“It’s a shame I couldn’t see her then, but I think the current Ira is cute too. I remember how much she took care of me and doted on me when I wasn’t in my right mind. Oh! Next time I meet Ira, can I finally serve her as my lord?”

“…Miho? What are you talking about? I asked before, but when exactly were you not in your right mind? Ira-nim? Lord? Don’t tell me you’re planning to pledge yourself to Jack’s little sister?! When you have such a strong husband?!! That’s cheating?!!”

“Sister, let’s skip the trivial details. I may be Jack’s female, but I want to serve Jack’s little sister as my lord. That’s how nobly cute and kind she is.”

“Kuu!! Miho, you really know what’s good! I prefer someone who will protect Ira.”

“Ah?! Then I’ll decide after seeing that little sister too!!”

As our conversation naturally shifted from Miho’s dark history back to Ira, we were walking peacefully along the path… Ah, damn.

[Demon Follower: Level 198]

[Demon Follower: Level 168]

[Dark Mage: Level 225]

[Dark Mage: Level 206]

-Ears perking up.

“Sniff sniff.”

“Jack, something ominous is approaching?”

As I stopped walking, Miho began sniffing the air, and Chikuyo perked up her ears, already pulling out her tail to create a sword in preparation.

Without the veteran ranger’s constant detection, I didn’t notice until the text appeared in my status window. These two sensed it before I did.

I activated my skill [Human Radar] with my 1 point of magic power and identified the number of enemies… Huh?

“Miho, don’t you smell other people?”

“Huh? No, I don’t. Just several creatures that smell terrible… no, wait. They smell similar to the Grand Elder.”

“What’s wrong? Is there something else? My ears only hear ominous sounds approaching quickly from that direction.”

Both of them tilted their heads at my question, but I slowly backed away with them in the direction from which the creatures were approaching. And soon after.

“Huh?! Regular humans!!”

“Ah, beastfolk too!!”

“Attack!! Kill the man immediately, and quickly rape the women to gather lust emotions before escaping!!”

“…No, both women are beautiful?! Let’s just kill the man and take the women…”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Three men, one woman. The hooded demon followers and dark mages seemed surprised to see us on the roadside, their eyes widening momentarily before they charged at us, blurting out what they wanted to do. However.

“Based on what the elves said, I had my suspicions, but it’s truly fascinating. Is this the butterfly effect?”

-Swish. Thud!! Splat!!

“…Huh? Kuhak…”

“What?!”

“W-what’s happening?!”

Under the bright daytime sky, Miho and Chikuyo cried out in surprise, and I saw silver lines as sharp and fast as Rei’s sword. The attackers all collapsed to the ground without proper resistance or even a voice.

All back attacks, and all four had their throats perfectly slit. They’re definitely dead.

-Thud!

“Phew! My apologies, travelers. Are any of you injured?”

“No, no one is hurt. Thank you for saving us.”

-Ears perking up?!

“W-where did you come from just now? There wasn’t even a sound until you swung your sword!”

“I can only smell you now… no, even now the smell of mountains? No, earth is stronger?!”

As the two shouted at the man who appeared behind the fallen followers’ corpses, wearing a cloak similar to mine, he scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly and spoke.

“Hehe, I apologize. I’m just a humble ‘ranger,’ did I smell?”

“Ah, no, that’s not it…”

“It’s more terrifying that you didn’t smell at all!”

“Both of you. I understand you’re surprised, but he helped us. Shouldn’t we thank him first?”

As I placed my hands on Miho and Chikuyo’s heads, they both realized their mistake and immediately bowed slightly to thank him. He blushed a bit shyly and then swung his sword to cut off all the dead bodies’ heads.

“I apologize for the unsightly scene. These are all demon followers. If we leave their heads attached, they’ll become undead, so I’ll take the bodies away and burn them. Oh, where are you travelers headed?”

“We’re on our way to Mount Ponia for some business. It seems there are many demon followers around? You called yourself a ranger, and you seem experienced in dealing with them.”

After nodding in response to my words, the ranger quickly tied the limbs of the headless corpses together to make them easier to drag and spoke.

“Yes. Things are quite chaotic these days. All the monsters have turned undead, demon followers are running wild, and even one of those ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ has appeared on Mount Ponia where you’re headed. Personally, I’d recommend not going…”

Our goal is that Seven Deadly Sin, though I don’t tell him that. Looking at the situation, it might be impossible to talk with Luxuria. If demon followers are coming down the mountain to ambush travelers and harm people, Luxuria has probably already become an enemy of the continent… no, of humanity…

“Well, there are still many travelers going that way, so if you’re confident in your abilities, I think you can go. The two beastfolk with you look very strong, and you seem strong too, traveler.”

“…You say many travelers are going there? Even with demon followers ambushing people on the roads like this?”

“Ah, this kind of thing hasn’t happened until recently. I’m the ranger of Mount Tapun, but the senior ranger from Voltab has been letting monsters and demon followers slip through lately, which is why they’ve come out to the road like this. I’ve already killed about 10 of them inside the mountain.”

He smiled, saying he needed to burn these bodies and then go get the others. The three of us looked at each other, puzzled. Wait, there are that many demon followers and he says it’s okay to go? And many people are going? Why?

“Hmm? Where are you travelers from?”

“Silt… Neti.”

“Ah, so you’re not merchants?”

“No, not really.”

“Aha! So that’s why you don’t know? Ahem. I thought you would know, but right after the previous monster parade ended, one of the Seven Deadly Sins appeared over there, and Ponia is in chaos again. That’s why many merchants and adventurers are coming.”

In other words, as the diminishing conflict was about to end, a larger conflict had begun, attracting weapon merchants and confident adventurers to Mount Ponia due to the appearance of demon followers and demons.

Indeed, they say war is profitable, but… still, we’re talking about the Seven Deadly Sins here? Adventurers who typically prioritize their own lives are coming all the way here to fight undead, demons, and their followers? Even if forced conscription were issued, half of all adventurers would flee!

“Haha! Traveler, you really don’t know how the world works!”

“What do you mean…”

“You have us! Rangers!! In Ponia, they now call us ‘Sherpas’! And in the mountains we guide, you might die, but you won’t lose!”

[Ranger: Level 368]

The ranger of Ponia proudly beat his chest as he shouted, then blushed slightly with an embarrassed smile.