Selene gripped the handle of her sword and kept watch around her.
It was so she could react instantly should a monster approach.
Even though Rena had told her it was fine to relax, Selene remained stubborn.
She had warned Rena not to let her guard down, pointing out the risks of carelessness. “This place is more dangerous than you think, so don’t let your guard down at any moment.”
“Well, what can you do?”
“I’ll just bear with it.”
There were those who would leave their phones behind thinking no one would steal from a store, and then there were people like her who didn’t trust others and took thorough precautions.
If this sort of behavior was what it took to make her feel satisfied…
The fatigue accumulated from walking while staying alert on a long journey was something she’d have to endure herself.
“We’ve arrived!”
Rena spread her arms wide as she announced it.
The sun was already beginning to set behind her.
It had taken roughly half a day to reach the battleground between the orcs and the lizardmen.
Had she run alone at full speed, it would’ve taken less than an hour, but she had adjusted her pace to match Selene’s, hence the time taken.
Rena didn’t regret the time it took.
It was nice to go for a walk with a person after such a long time.
“Here…?”
Selene looked around, perplexed.
What was with this reaction? As if she’d been somewhere completely unfamiliar.
Rena tilted her head in confusion but quickly realized the reason.
“There was a big fight here. The orcs and the lizardmen clashed.”
“It must have been a territory dispute. The main army, with their leaders, was involved in a showdown with the orcs, or at least, it’s what it seems. Still, this is quite extreme…”
“And then the monstrous snake went berserk for some reason it had.”
“Indeed, it was that. A monstrous snake… what?”
The scene Selene remembered would be entirely different.
Firstly, the battle between the orcs and the lizardmen had turned the place into chaos, and secondly, the monstrous snake Python had gone on a rampage, wreaking havoc.
It could easily feel like a completely different place.
“If the monstrous snake was something that could alter the very geography… Python…”
Selene recalled.
She had learned about the dominator-grade monsters from the senior knight who had served as her guide during the initiation ceremony.
She herself had insisted that knights should not turn their backs and run away.
How conceited those words had been.
The primeval forest, usually filled with lush vegetation, had turned barren.
Whatever gigantic creature had swept through this area, not even a single ant was left behind.
It looked as if a bomb had exploded; the ground had caved in at certain spots, and where thick smoke rose, everything was corroding.
Not to mention the residual mana particles scattered in the air.
Even though these were merely traces left behind like fingerprints, they were enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
Could humans truly confront such a monstrosity?
It would require at least the concentrated efforts of a nation to have any chance of winning.
In fact, there were seven such monstrosities in the Great Forest.
She now understood why even the empire during its peak had left the Great Forest to its own devices.
“We were lucky.”
And Rena had saved her from where such a monster was rampaging.
She could have been left as a bloody mess.
The fact that Rena had risked that possibility to save her made her even more grateful.
“Yeah, we were lucky.”
Thanks to this, she had learned the joy of exercise and obtained the finest materials to make snake wine.
The damage to her house was also prevented, leading to the best possible outcome.
I hope it’s fermenting well?
Ah, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
Rena rubbed her growling stomach.
It’s about time for dinner.
Let’s finish up the business quickly and eat.
“How about the compass?”
“Hmm, give me a sec. Let me check.”
Selene took something from her waist and held it in her hand.
The needle at the center of it spun in a circle, one end red and the other blue. It was a real compass, alright.
Is this the special compass they make at the mage tower?
Then that’s an artifact, right?
Rena leaned her head out, observing it with great interest.
An artifact referred to objects that had magic inscribed on them or that had been affected by magic.
Rena was extremely curious about magic.
After all, magic was the exclusive property of a fantasy world.
True superpowers that went against science and reason.
Even though she had chosen the path of a knight for this rebirth, she had secretly decided that next time, she would definitely take the path of the magician.
So, Rena watched with bated breath but soon her eyes lost their sparkle and her disappointment was evident.
Is this artifact not just a bit too simple?
Even if it is a compass, what’s all this?
It should at least float on your palm and verbally guide you – “this way is north, this way is south” right?
This big sister doesn’t look impressive at all. There’s probably a chance it could be a scam.
That was a thought that occurred only to Rena.
Magic was not circus tricks a street performer pulled out to earn performance fees.
If it remained true to its purpose, then the rest was merely pretense.
However, strangely, Rena’s disappointment about it cut straight to the heart of the matter.
Appearances mattered.
Humans are treated better when they look neat and shiny.
The rich and noble have always valued splendor over substance.
Artifacts sold to the nobility were adorned so beautifully that they satisfied Rena’s fantasies.
The main use of this particular compass, however, was in the Great Forest.
And since its buyers were primarily knights, and it was military-grade equipment, there was no need for it to look impressive.
Unaware of all this, Rena was disappointed with magic.
Come to think of it, the hologram of the cliff that concealed the dragon’s lair was certainly impressive.
Were the magicians of the Mage Tower not very skilled?
It was being run on state funds rather than private capital.
It was quite commonplace for people to get lazy when money keeps rolling in without effort.
In that sense, it seemed that this medieval fantasy world and the modern one were not so different.
While she was talking herself through this, Selene had finished checking the compass and shook her head.
“It seems the compass doesn’t work here. We’ll have to go a bit further.”
“Is that so? Then let’s camp here for tonight.”
“Camping? We can still walk further…”
“The sun sets quickly here. We should prepare while we have time.”
“Ah.”
Rena explained while her hands worked automatically.
Gathering firewood, starting a campfire, making bedding.
These tasks had become so familiar by now that she could do them without looking with no deviation.
By the time Selene, who was flustered and unsure of where to start, had thought about helping, the camp was already complete.
“I’ll go prepare dinner. Wait here.”
“I, I’ll go too. It’s dangerous to move alone.”
“Beginners getting involved just get in the way. Oh, are you feeling uneasy? In that case, I’ll leave Baduki with you.”
“Hmph.”
Baduki appeared from somewhere and settled comfortably beside the campfire.
Selene’s body stiffened.
She knew Baduki was different from normal monsters.
However, in Selene’s mind, he was still a monster.
A strong one that her senses couldn’t even perceive despite being right in front of her.
Was this what meeting a specter wolf, which she had learned about from the senior knight, felt like?
Being left alone with a monster that could take her life at any moment was a tremendous burden.
Rena interpreted Selene’s reaction as the awkwardness of having missed the opportunity to apologize.
Ah, I was thoughtless.
I should’ve taken a break and given them some time to talk alone.
Apologizing is a difficult thing, especially for someone who is shy. It takes great courage.
Rena had mediated between them, but she was not one of the parties directly involved.
It was likely embarrassing for someone to apologize in front of others.
It worked out well in the end.
This was a good opportunity to leave and let them reconcile on their own.
Since the house was nearby, maybe she could prepare a proper meal there.
She had told the orcs to watch the house in her absence. If they listened, there would be guards on watch duty.
She could collect a bit of blood from each of them and prepare a drink for after dinner.
Thus, Rena left after leaving the two alone.
…
“…”
The campsite was only filled with awkward silence.
*
In the end, they didn’t reconcile.
What kind of apology do you expect from a monster?
Selene was too busy being on guard against Baduki.
Baduki, on the other hand, didn’t expect any sort of apology from Selene.
Contrary to what Rena believed, Baduki wasn’t sulking.
Was it that she had swung her sword at him?
Had it been seen as an attack?
Baduki hadn’t felt any threat at that moment.
He had merely been a bit irritated since she’d been annoying from the crack of dawn.
What a pitiful human like her even existed?
She knew nothing but begged and ate. If Baduki himself had been the leader of a pack, he’d have driven her out decisively.
He was tolerating her only because his master, Rena, cared deeply for her.
And that’s where the problem lay.
The master is not playing with me!
It was a catastrophe for Baduki, who was at the age where all he wanted to do was play.
He hadn’t been able to run around after meals, play tug-of-war, or fetch for days.
When Selene was injured, his master only focused on nursing her, and after she recovered a bit, she only talked and talked.
This was all because of that human woman.
Even though he knew Rena considered this guest as his companion, Baduki held a grudge inside and ignored Selene.
Dinner proceeded under an atmosphere that was likely to cause indigestion.
Hmm, leaving them alone didn’t work out well, did it?
Rena thought while eating her soup from the pot and drinking.
She wasn’t too concerned though.
It seems they just didn’t have compatible personalities.
The belief that friends of friends are automatically friends was an unfounded belief of overly sociable people.
Like the misconception some older people had that everyone in the same class was close friends.
Maybe Selene disliked furry animals.
It wasn’t rare to meet people who shuddered at the thought of living with animals.
Whatever the case may be, Rena had no intention of forcing Selene and Baduki to get along.
I’ve done my part and the rest is their responsibility.
As for the food?
Feeling that the atmosphere was heavy so it might cause indigestion?
That was weak thinking.
Have you ever torn into dried meat while being chased by floods?
After enduring much hardship, food and drinks became much tastier to me.
The infinite drink dispenser has been installed, so Rena was drinking a whole glass of the beverage.
Her hearty gulp drew Selene’s curiosity, who was hesitantly eating with her spoon.
“Rena, uh, Rena.”
Still struggling to call her name easily?
That will get better with practice.
Rena gave her a look encouraging her to continue.
“I was curious since a while ago, what exactly are you drinking?”
“Ah, this? Beverage.”
“Drink?”
“Yeah, it’s tasty. Would you like to have a glass?”
Rena smiled mischievously as if offering alcohol to a minor nephew.
