Ch.65Strike Falcon, Once Again

Travel supplies, food replenishment, grimoire editing, and the long-awaited revolver modification.

Having completed all possible preparations in the Third Western City, we passed through the western gate and began our journey toward the Cotton Tail Trading Post.

To the west of the Third Western City lies a vast canyon area known as Broken Mountain Canyon.

The interior of this canyon, formed by a large mountain split in all directions, consists of numerous branching paths, but among them, there is only one route that traverses the canyon east to west. All others lead to dead ends, making it a troublesome area to navigate.

Now that comprehensive surveys have completed maps of the canyon interior and markers have been placed throughout, travelers no longer get lost. However, outlaws occasionally use the dead-end paths as hideouts, so it’s not a route one can traverse without caution.

But there exists a force that brings down the hammer of judgment upon these outlaws.

Outlaws camping in the canyon, waiting to ambush passing prey, are annihilated by massive birds of prey swooping down from above, unable to defend themselves.

This Broken Mountain Canyon is one of the territories of the Strike Falcon, the aerial predator known as the gunslinger’s natural enemy.

Of course, Strike Falcons don’t selectively attack only evil outlaws, so sometimes innocent travelers become sacrificial lambs.

“Still, they’re not enemies of our party.”

“Of course not. Lightning Bolt!”

Lightning discharged from Phyllis’s rifle cleanly pierced one of the three Strike Falcons circling in the sky.

Even with their exceptional eyesight and reaction speed that normally allows them to easily avoid attacks from a distance, it seems dodging lightning was impossible.

One of the remaining Strike Falcons, having witnessed its companion fall with a single strike from the lightning bolt rising from the ground, dives toward Phyllis in a steep attack.

A defensive spell surrounds the Strike Falcon’s body as it plunges from above, deflecting frontal attacks.

This troublesome special ability—dodging bullets from afar and deflecting them during a charge—is precisely why Strike Falcons are called the “gunslinger’s natural enemy,” but…

“Hyah!”

Against Seti, who rushed forward with speed rivaling the Strike Falcon’s own, it was nothing short of a suicide attack.

The spear blade, swung broadly from above, severed the Strike Falcon’s left wing. Unable to slow its momentum, the Strike Falcon crashed headfirst into the ground and died instantly.

“Will! Watch out!”

The last surviving Strike Falcon charged toward me.

I have neither Phyllis’s powerful lightning magic nor a melee weapon like Seti’s to deliver a powerful counter.

If Strike Falcons are the natural enemy of gunslingers, targeting me with only a revolver was indeed an excellent choice.

However, attacking from my blind spot behind me was a mistake.

‘The technique is the same as before. Like a bullfighter…!’

Using my danger detection skill to anticipate the Strike Falcon’s path, I dodge its charge with a hair’s breadth to spare, feeling its feathers brush past me.

I maintain a stable posture while dodging with minimal movement, ready to fire a fanning shot.

Compared to when my danger detection skill first activated, I can feel how much more precise my senses have become and how much better I’ve gotten at controlling my body’s posture.

The Strike Falcon charging in from outside my field of vision becomes clearly visible, and time continues to flow slowly even as I pull the first trigger of my aimed revolver.

‘Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tang!’

If it deflects frontal attacks, shoot from the side; if the enemy moves too fast, shoot from as close as possible.

To put this simple theory into practice, I pressed my gun barrel against the passing Strike Falcon and unleashed six fanning shots.

The white magic bullets, made faster by Mina’s modifications, penetrated the Strike Falcon’s wings and reached its body without falling behind its momentum. The Strike Falcon, now riddled with holes, died mid-air, crashed into the rock face, and fell to the ground.

“Whoa!?”

As soon as my time perception returned to normal, a fierce gust shook my body.

I had been caught in the wind generated by the Strike Falcon’s violent charge.

It’s embarrassing to have fallen so ungracefully after successfully landing a counter-attack, but a victory is still a victory.

Compared to before, when we would have looked for a chance to flee, saying “the two of us can’t win,” this is tremendous progress.

“Will, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“Ah, I just got knocked over by the wind. I didn’t actually get hit.”

While I took Jessica’s hand to stand up and dusted off my pants, Mina, Seti, and Phyllis were extracting magic stones from the Strike Falcon corpses.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

Phyllis, who had extracted the magic stone from the wing-severed Strike Falcon, seemed to have discovered something.

“Did you find something?”

“One of this Strike Falcon’s tail feathers is exceptionally lustrous compared to the others.”

“Eh?”

Going over to the wing-severed corpse after hearing Phyllis’s words, I could see that indeed, among the snow-white tail feathers, one stood out with a silk-like luster.

Seti, who had been staring intently at the feather’s shine, covered her mouth with both hands and widened her eyes.

“A guide feather…!”

“Guide feather? What’s that?”

“It’s the single tail feather possessed only by the leader of the wind-riding falcons. It doesn’t disappear even when the wind-riding falcon dies. For a Felyne warrior, obtaining a guide feather is a mark of a blessed warrior.”

“Oh, then this feather belongs to Seti.”

“That’s right. This wing-severed one was taken down by Seti alone.”

Phyllis plucked the silky white guide feather from the Strike Falcon’s corpse and handed it to Seti.

Watching Seti carefully receive the feather with both hands, Mina spoke up.

“It might get damaged if you just carry it around like that. Should I make it into a hair ornament for you to wear?”

“Really!?”

“Making something like a hairpin won’t take even an hour, so I’ll make it for you tonight when we camp.”

“Thank you, Mina! I’m so happy!!”

Seti expressed her joy with her whole body as she hugged Mina tightly.

It’s rare to see this side of the usually cool and composed Seti.

If only I had brought a smartphone to Grantis.

After defeating the three Strike Falcons and safely exiting Broken Mountain Canyon, we set up camp at a suitable location and finished dinner.

Though meals and bedtime preparations repeat daily, the effort involved is never small.

Finding a suitable camping spot, leveling the ground, and setting up tents.

Gathering firewood, lighting a campfire, and deploying barrier magic to prevent monster approaches.

After dinner, washing dishes before food hardens and burying food scraps far from the tents.

Issues related to clothing and bodily cleanliness vary greatly depending on individual travelers’ circumstances.

Adventurers like us, free from water concerns, can wipe our bodies with wet towels or give simple back scrubs whenever safety permits, but others might have to make do with basic face and hand washing, often going days without bathing.

Laundry is even more hesitant. Without using soap for proper washing, it’s impossible to completely remove dirt, and it takes a lot of time.

However, if there’s magic that can neatly solve these problems, the story changes completely.

Like our party’s skilled mage responsible for our comfortable journey, Miss Jessica Walter.

“Clean Up.”

The magical elements extracted from the Demon Rose’s magic stone presented Jessica with new possibilities.

While the water jet magic that could cut through a wooden shield in one strike was certainly powerful, Jessica chose to utilize the “water” element more diversely to make our journey safer and more comfortable.

“Clean Up,” which can handle showering, laundry, and dishwashing all at once depending on how it’s used.

“Dehydration,” which instantly dries wet objects.

The convenience and comfort these two spells bring is incomparable to our previous travels.

“Wow~ Shower, laundry, and dishes all together took less than 10 minutes.”

“This Clean Up magic is truly remarkable.”

“Haha… there’s still room for improvement, but it’s sufficient for traveling.”

“Rather, if it gets any more perfect, we might never take proper showers again.”

“That would be problematic. As a woman, it feels like giving up something precious.”

Jessica and Phyllis strongly agree with Seti’s comment.

Mina, on the other hand, while working on her metalcraft, welcomes the idea of completing a shower with just a light touch from Jessica.

I’m also against completely replacing the act of showering with magic. I wouldn’t be able to appreciate the moist appearance of Jessica and Seti fresh out of their showers.

“It’s done! Seti, come here. I’ll put it on for you.”

“Okay.”

The metal piece Mina had been fiddling with had transformed into a beautiful hairpin with the guide feather attached.

With just one feather ornament placed behind her cat ear, Seti exudes the aura of a Native American girl.

“How is it?”

“It suits you perfectly. You could proudly claim to be the greatest warrior in the Felyne village.”

“…Thank you. I’m really happy.”

As I gently stroked Seti’s head, careful not to disturb her newly placed feather ornament, she rubbed her face against my hand just like a cat showing affection.

Watching Seti, Mina suddenly spoke as if something had occurred to her.

“Come to think of it, where is Seti’s village?”

“I’m not sure. There was a wide river flowing north-south a bit away from the village.”

“A wide river flowing north-south… Could it be near the Fourth Western City, Riverside?”

“Wasn’t that also where the Aqua Folk and settlers clashed? It probably is.”

“Even with Seti accompanying us… would it still be impossible for us to enter?”

“I don’t know. But if we could go in, I’d like to introduce Will to my mom and dad. Of course, Jessica, Mina, and Phyllis too.”

“By the time we pass through Riverside, I hope Seti’s reputation will have spread widely and improved relations with the Felyne village.”

“Yes.”

If the Felyne village still refuses entry to settlers, I resolved to at least deliver a newspaper featuring Seti’s story to her parents.

Looking up at Grantis’s high moon, I made this promise to myself.