We were able to repel the Uduras and rescue the Capricorn youth.
The next day, Mizukazu saw us off as we left the shore. According to him, the Capricorn youth is safe. He has been through so much at sea, but land is the most calming place.
We left the gentle sandy beach and returned to the deep forest. I really didn’t want to go, but there was no other way; this was the shortest route. It was a different path from when we arrived, as it wasn’t along the river.
“Arisugawa, are you alright? I heard you fought monsters by yourself.”
“Ahaha, well, it was quite dangerous. I’m glad I had help though.”
“When Hiro-san fell, I thought my heart would stop.”
Philiana placed a hand on her chest and smiled. I was the one whose heart had nearly stopped.
The sea breeze died down, and soon a clammy heat enveloped my whole body. It might sound foolish, but I’ve started to miss the sea. It would be lucky if I could meet a Boa Orc or a Melusine. Thinking such things vaguely, I kept moving my legs.
“By the way, are Veronica and Karubene’s injuries okay?”
“Ehhh, Brother, are you worried about me? That’s the problem, my wound keeps hurting.”
“I’m not giving you any sake.”
That one sentence silenced Karubene. He looked like he had been seriously injured, but I was glad he seemed fine. However, I was worried about Veronica’s lack of response. She was riding on Philiana’s back, her head bowed. Cecilia answered in place of the silent Veronica.
“It can’t be helped. My recovery magic doesn’t work on Dark Harpies. Recovery magic is basically light-attribute magic, so it’s counterproductive for her. I could only heal the vomiter.”
She had been treating us on the ship, so that’s why Karubene was fine. It must have been the opposite of the dark energy that the Dark Harpies possessed.
“The best thing now is not to move. It would be a problem if the wound opened.”
As Cecilia said, there was nothing else to do now. I started to feel sorry for having invited them on this journey. Philiana was also walking carefully, trying not to move me too much.
The conversation ended, and we continued to walk silently through the deep forest. The humidity and heat made my vision gradually blur. The constant animal sounds and the greenery blocking our path—I thought this was something that only happened on TV. A survival show, facing magnificent nature with nothing but your body. I never thought I’d experience it myself.
No matter what I say, we won’t be able to escape this green maze for several days, perhaps even weeks.
