episode_0025

Statue of Faren Forest

* “Ugh… my back hurts…” * “What’s wrong, Zeke-nim? Should I give you a massage or something?” * “…It’s because of you, Aria…” * “Me?”

The reason my back ached so much that I had to pound it was, naturally, Aria. It had been about three days since we set out for Faren Forest, and every night, Aria would hug me in her sleep, nearly breaking my back. Aria, being so strong, would subconsciously pull me closer, almost causing my back to give out.

* “Di-did I commit some grave sin…? If so, then this life…” * “Don’t do that… Ugh… Just stop hugging me at night… Your strength is too great, my back feels like it’s going to break…” * “What…? I… I hugged Zeke-nim?!” * “…?! You didn’t know?!” * “No… really…”

Good heavens… So that was all her sleeping habit?! Aria stared blankly at her two hands upon realizing she had hugged me, then she made a blissful expression and hugged herself. Seeing that reaction, it was clear Aria had hugged me subconsciously…

* “Whew… It can’t be helped… Anyway, three days have passed, and Faren Forest still hasn’t appeared…” * “Indeed. But on the bright side, Zeke-nim’s records have gotten quite thick!”

Aria was right. Up until now, I had meticulously recorded the monsters and plants encountered on the path from the Nergal River to Faren Forest, completely filling the Nergal River section of my records. To the point where I even noted down discoverable medicinal herbs…

* “Eren herbs… and Hega herbs… Medicinal herbs are common in the Magrion region, it seems. In Todrua, you can’t even dream of getting herbs in winter.” * “But even without herbs, I can heal Zeke-nim’s wounds!” * “What if you can’t?” * “What?” * “Ah, I mean, what if you become incapacitated and can’t heal yourself? It’s not bad to prepare for such a situation, is it?” * “…Z-Zeke-nim… W-worried about me?!” * “Of course. Even if it’s tiring, you’re my companion. It’s natural to worry.”

* “Ahhh… I-I truly can’t resist that kind personality, I really can’t…” * “Huh? Hey!” * Aria lost her balance as if she had been drinking and collapsed on the spot. She even had a dazed, swaying look on her face… Is she really that happy? Well… while this kind of Aria is bothersome and difficult… what can I do? Her intentions aren’t bad. I’m just accepting it as a bit of affection… Huh?

* “Huh? Wait. This area…?” * “Yeees…? I’m too happy, I can’t hear anything, Zeeeeke-niiiim… Hehe…” * “Aria… we’re here.” * “Whaaat?”

Goodness… Faren Forest was in the direction Aria had pointed while still collapsed. Unlike ordinary forests filled with bare trees in winter, Faren Forest was described in books as a forest full of green leaves in any season. It’s true… The green leaves are still there, aren’t they? But more than that…

* “Aria, your clothes will get dirty. Get up quickly.” * “Oh, yes! Wai—?” * Aria, who was about to get up, froze at the sight of my outstretched hand. Was my offer of a hand such a shock? Did I look like such a heartless person, then…? If so, I’ll have to fix that…

* “Come on, take my hand.” * “Uh… I… Eeek…!!!” * “Ee-eek?” * Suddenly, Aria made a strange sound and took my hand, which surprised me instead. Why is she acting like this all of a sudden? Ah… surely, it’s not that me, being weaker than her, offering my hand was a bit humil— No, for Aria, it’s not like that… Was it just embarrassment…? The sounds she made as she took my hand and stood up seemed to confirm this.

* “Hehehe… hehehe…” * “…There she goes again.” * “But it’s really good… I’m so happy I can’t hide my happiness…!!” * “Right, well… Let’s go into Faren Forest. I wonder what’s inside…!!” * “Yes, Zeke-nim. No matter what appears, I will keep Zeke-nim safe…!!” * “Right… Surely there won’t be anything dangerous.”

At that moment, I had no idea. I didn’t know Faren Forest would be like this. As soon as we entered, a large number of yellow snakes welcomed me… a group of deadly venomous Castar Snakes…!!

* “Aaaah! It’s a group of Castar Sna—” * “Oh my? Zeke-nim! They say in some countries they make wine from snakes! Shall we make wine from these? Your energy will suddenly surge!” * The moment I was greatly shocked by the appearance of the Castar Snakes, Aria had already killed that large number of Castar Snakes. She had even completely smashed their heads…

* “…No… Castar Snakes aren’t edible… Just leave them…” * “Yes~” * “…And wipe that blood off.” * Hearing my words, Aria casually wiped the blood off her face with her hand, smiling. I never expected such a reliable companion to be such a terrifying woman when we departed from Todrua. Ugh… Still, I have to accept it. I sighed and began dissecting the dead Castar Snake with my knife.

* “Zeke-nim? What are you doing?” * “I need to get magic stones.” * “Ah~ I understand!”

Magic stones. They are like byproducts from monsters. And if they are in their complete form, they become crystal stones. There’s a legend that the reason monsters possess magic stones is that ancient demons embedded stones that made animals ferocious into various creatures when they invaded other races. I don’t know the truth… but there are no demons in this world to ask about it anyway… I know angels exist, but it’s said there are no demons in Crentid World. There’s only the legend that the demons who declared war were defeated instead…

* “Oh! It’s a crystal stone? Aria, this…?” * “Oh my, Zeke-nim! It’s a crystal stone! I’ve already dissected all the others and extracted all the magic stones!” * …I just dissected one…? Aria, perhaps because she possesses various abilities… gets everything done in a flash. Of course, the downside is her terrifying personality… But it’s truly fortunate that she has no intention of imprisoning me.

* “Alright, let’s keep going!” * “Yes!”

Right… Perhaps encountering the Castar Snakes first was actually fortunate. They were a group that would have attacked us eventually. I thought there wouldn’t be any more… but then…

* “Aaaah! It’s the man-eating plant, Bite Nepenthes!!!” * This time, it was the Bite Nepenthes…!! A man-eating plant with a flower twice the size of a human, capable of swallowing a person in one bite…! Shocked by the sight, I quickly drew my greatsword, intending to defeat the Nepenthes, but…

* “Zeeeeke-niiiim! There’s honey here!” * “…” * This time, too, Aria had already killed the Nepenthes. Its flower had been completely torn off by Aria’s staff, and its stem seemed to have been cut in one go. Yes… This should be enough. I collected the Nepenthes’ magic stone, and together with Aria, we began to proceed through the forest again.

* “Aaaah! Riddell Wolf…” * “Shall we have it for dinner tonight, Zeke-nim?” * “Aaaah!!! Green Slime…” * “Hmm… They’re just sticky and really unpleasant!” * “Aaaah…!!” * “Zeeeeke-niiiim!”

…What number is this? Castar Snakes, Bite Nepenthes, Riddell Wolves, Green Slimes, and even Probel Lizards. The moment I first saw those monsters, I screamed, and Aria annihilated them. What is this? I’m the only one powerless here…

* “Zeeeeke-niiiim… Did you collapse like this because you saw something scary…?” * “There are truly many monsters in Faren Forest…” * I could deal with them, but Aria resolved it with just one swing of her staff. If I had arrived in Faren Forest alone, I definitely wouldn’t have survived… Hearing a rustling sound nearby, I looked over. There were monsters in the bushes, but the moment they saw Aria, they fled in terror. You guys are scared too…

* “Whew… Thanks to you, we can proceed safely. Thank you, Aria.” * “Hehehe… Of course!” * “Alright, shall we continue then?”

Still, perhaps because Aria was by my side, I started to feel energized. Was it due to the sense of relief that we could pass through Faren Forest safely…? Aria stuck close to my side, following me. Then, a statue appeared before me, and I momentarily stopped. It was the figure of a winged human…

* “Hmm… I feel like I’ve seen that somewhere…” * “Oh my. It’s the statue of Goddess Camilla.” * “Goddess Camilla? Who was th— Ah…!!”

The goddess of the Esrad Kingdom?! Why is a statue of that goddess in a place like Faren Forest?! The Esrad Kingdom isn’t even part of the Magrion region…! Is Goddess Camilla famous not just in the Esrad Kingdom but in other places too?

* “It’s surprising… Why is Goddess Camilla’s statue here? Well… since it’s a goddess’s statue, should I pray for good things to happen…?” * I cupped my hands together, about to pray. But the moment I was about to join my hands, I noticed Aria staring blankly at me. What is it…? You’re a saint, aren’t you?

* “Aria, what is it?” * “Hmm? Is something wrong?” * “Aren’t you going to pray? She’s the goddess of your kingdom.” * “What? Why would I?” * “What…?”

* “Hehehe… Zeke-nim, really… Have you forgotten? That I have only Zeke-nim! A goddess? Divinity? A saint’s duty? I don’t care about such things anymore! Even if I were to like a goddess, I would still only pray for Zeke-nim!”

…Ah, right. She changed like this, didn’t she? Whew… Well, then I won’t pray either. The reason I was about to pray was partly to wish for only good things in the future, but also because I thought it was the right thing to do to pray to the goddess in front of Aria, who is a saint.

* “Oh my? Zeke-nim, aren’t you praying?” * “Not really.” * “Then I’ll pray for Zeke-nim~” * “You don’t have to, Aria. It’s fine, I tell you?” * “What? But…” * “You stick right by my side anyway… It’s fine, really… Huh?”

The moment I was about to decline Aria’s prayer, I heard a rustling sound next to me. Another monster? Aria and I looked towards the sound, and there, a blonde woman dressed in white was approaching. Is she a saint?

* “Who are you…?” * “Oh my… So there are practitioners here to see Goddess Camilla, too. Or perhaps you are pilgrims?” * “No, that’s not… *Gasp*…!!”

The moment I was about to answer the woman’s question, an overwhelming presence erupted from behind me. It seemed Aria was wary of the woman who had suddenly appeared. Ugh… I felt like I was suffocating… The woman, too, seemed to sense Aria’s presence, as she stopped walking, then chuckled and spoke.

* “That dark-haired woman behind you… Is she the rumored Black Saint?” * “Ah… yes… How do you know about the Black Saint…?” * “Rumors about the Black Saint have spread throughout the Magrion region. Stories of her healing people, saving slaves… many wonderful tales. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

* “I see… But why are you here…?” * “Hehehe… You don’t have to be so wary. Oh! My apologies, I’m late with my introduction. I am Alde Krischa Truesel, a saint who serves Goddess Camilla. Please call me Krischa.” * “…So, what’s your reason for being here, then?”

* “Oh my, how frightening… I merely came to visit this place where Goddess Camilla resides. Does the Black Saint, my sister, also serve Goddess Camilla?” * “No.” * “Oh my… Then how about taking this opportunity to serve Goddess Camilla, along with that gentleman?” * “Now… What did you just say to Zeke-nim…!!”

* “Aria, calm down. I’ll speak.” * The moment Aria was about to get angry at Krischa, I took Aria’s hand, stopping her. Aria then looked at my face with a blissful expression… Look at how quickly her mood changes again… Krischa, too, seemed slightly flustered, as I saw her twitch her head.

* “I have no religion. And I don’t plan to have one in the future either.” * “Oh my. Then Goddess Camilla won’t be able to help you…” * “While it’s good to receive help from anyone, I want to resolve things with my own ability. Faith is important, but the most important thing is oneself.” * “Zeke-nim…”

* “And unlike gods, who must only be believed in one’s heart, Aria helps me in reality too. I don’t need things like gods.” * “Z-Zeke-nim… *Ahem*… D-did you hear that! Neither Goddess Camilla nor any other god can help Zeke-nim! Only I can help Zeke-nim…” * “…Not ‘only’… You received help from Riera and Karina last time.” * “Th-that was me receiving help, not me trying to help Zeke-nim…” * “You don’t have to be embarrassed. It might be too much for you to help me alone. Life isn’t that easy, just like how I’ve encountered many monsters in Faren Forest. I think what’s important is your intention to help me until the very end… What do you think?” * “Zeke-nim… Yes! You’re right! Zeke-nim’s words are correct!”

Aria squeezed my hand tightly and shouted. This was a thought that wouldn’t have occurred to me if I had been the person who first set out on this journey. My current thoughts are born from experiences with Riera, 20 mana, Karina, Melian, Tess, Rascal, and Fertea—those I’ve met so far. Well… ordinarily, I would have had to be drunk to think like this… As I was thinking this, Krischa, who had been listening to Aria’s and my conversation, suddenly beamed cheerfully and spoke to me.

* “I’m envious. To think the Black Saint, my sister, has such a kind porter.” * “A porter?! Zeke-nim is…” * “That’s enough, Aria…” * “Ah… I almost made a mistake… I’m sorry, Zeeeeke-niiiim…” * “It’s fine. Well… So. You’ve failed your evangelism. Do you want to try again?”

* “No~ I think it’s best to give up here~ Your hearts are so strong that you won’t need the Goddess’s protection. But what will you do if the time comes when your hearts break? Will you pray to the Goddess only then?” * “Well, we can make a bet with the Goddess to see if that happens.” * “…*Pfft*… Hahahahaha!!!”

Krischa, who had been listening to my words, burst into laughter and clutched her stomach. Well… that kind of thing won’t happen. Because Aria is here… But what if that time did come…? Hmm… I might need to think about that a little… No, I probably won’t.

* “Alright… Then… It seems both of us are traveling the world, so we might meet again. See you next time, Black Saint-nim!” * “Don’t see us again~” * “Yes~”

It must have been a pleasant conversation, as Krischa waved her hand and leisurely exited the forest. Once we confirmed Krischa was out of sight, we too resumed our journey. The strength of being alone, huh… It’s true that I’m safely traveling under Aria’s protection right now, but I think I need to become stronger. Strong enough to handle things by myself, without Aria’s help… But then… why is there really a statue of Goddess Camilla in Faren Forest?

* “Aria, do you happen to know why Goddess Camilla’s statue is here?” * “Hmm. It seems Goddess Camilla might have done similar things in other places too. So perhaps a statue like that was erected for her?” * “Hmm… Then it might have an almost identical legend to Esrad’s… Well… it could also be that the religion spread through trade. Anyway, I can certainly expect useful information to be recorded in this expedition journal.” * “Yes… Oh, Zeke-nim! You should write down that the statue is here!” * “Oh, right! I almost forgot and was going to write it down tonight. Thank you.”

I hurriedly began to write down the information about Goddess Camilla’s statue in Faren Forest in my expedition journal. After writing all that information in the book, I could see just how much had happened in 24 days. The downfall of Esrad, the Fairy Sisters, Boska who deserved to be destroyed, uncertain otherworlders, beastfolk, and even a fallen smuggling organization. So many things have happened. Based on these experiences, I will become stronger. I will become even stronger, strong enough to be on par with Aria. And three months later.

* “Zeke-nim~ Today it’s Garuda meat!” * “…It is.” * Even after three months, I hadn’t become as strong as Aria. No… Aria had grown stronger right alongside me, so I simply couldn’t catch up. Do I have to keep traveling like this…? And… if Aria goes berserk, I won’t be able to stop her, will I…?! Can I truly travel safely…?