CH 109

“It’s a lot less intense than I thought.”

“Of course it is. It’s not like the mana concentration has gone up or anything.”

We are currently inside the demon forest.

Passing by the safe-area we had found before, we had arrived at a slightly deep location.

The concentration of magic hadn’t really changed, nor had the type of monsters that used to appear. You wouldn’t realize this was a deep area, unless you were told.

What changed, after all, was the encounter rates.

My enemy-search radius was quite large, so I knew the number of monsters within my search range was nothing compared to before, making this a dangerous place.

If it’s this place, I’m sure there would be some foolish blackwolves that would enter Reno’s search range, while unable to escape my magic.

“Aria, the concentration of magic is much higher here. I’m sure the resources we can collect here have fire-attribute.”

Kili seemed to be able to tell the difference.

She could apparently sense a difference from the materials around here.

I could only tip my hat, as someone who couldn’t even differ between them.

“Resources huh, are they that different?”

Saying that, Aria picked up a stone from nearby.

To me, it looked like just another pebble.

Aria stared at it closely, but she could only tilt her head in confusion.

She couldn’t tell the difference.

Thank god, I’m not the only one.

I made sure not to say that out loud though.

“Aria! Wait!”

“Eh? What?”

“That stone!”

“Stone?”

When Aria tried to throw the stone in her hand, Kili stopped her.

Was there something special about that stone?

Taking the stone from Aria’s hand, Kili broke it into two pieces using a pickel-like tool she had at hand.

After that, when she applies some sort of a chemical and burns the two pieces, they join back to normal.

“Huh? It’s back to normal.”

“I knew it! This, is a Phoenix Stone! Even the book I read, said that it’s really rare! To think I’d find it in such a place!”

Kili was jumping in joy.

She acted like Reno only when she was really happy.

“What’s a Phoenix Stone? Is it expensive?”

Aah.

There was such a thing now that I think about it.

I remember thinking it was like a memory alloy.

As long as it was placed inside fire, the Phoenix Stone could regain its original shape even if it was crumbled into dust, making it sound like upward compatibility.

“Aria! Could you let me have this?”

“Sure. I would’ve thrown it anyways if you hadn’t told me.”

“Thank you.”

Kili placed the Phoenix Stone carefully inside her pocket.

“Isn’t that great, Kili.”

“Yeah. I can’t process it with my current abilities, but once I’m capable enough, I’ll make a ring or something out of it for Aria.”

“…Thanks.”

Due to its nature, I thought it could be used in a weapon or something, but in her high spirits, Kili hasn’t seemed to realize that.

If it doesn’t break, it might be fine to use it for a ring that’s blessed with self-protection magic.

(Oh?)

Apparently, it wasn’t just gathering that had some movement, but exploration as well.

My enemy detection picked up a lone blackwolf.

In terms of position, it would soon come within Reno’s search area as well.

If this goes badly, Reno would end up inside its enemy detection range as well.

Depending on Reno, this might be the end of the morning’s search.

Reno instincts focus on the blackwolf.

(Alright. Looks like she’s found it.)

Then, once it enters Reno’s search radius, she stops moving.

The blackwolf wasn’t aware of Reno’s presence yet, and was moving leisurely since earlier.

Reno turns towards us and starts moving gradually.

She must be meaning to let us know of its presence.

(Good. we’ll regroup for now, and if we move in a different direction from the blackwolf, the exploration can go on.)

Kili was on a roll right now.

By continuing her gathering, she could fetch better materials this way.

Or so it was written in a book.

(I used to gather stuff with a large amount of magical power, so I don’t really know whether it was good or bad…. Huh?)

Thinking that the blackwolf had stopped all of a sudden, Reno had stopped in her tracks too.

There were no signs of her moving.

The blackwolf had immediately noticed Reno, and had started moving in her direction.

“Shit!”

“Wha-, Lain! What happened!?”

Aria made an uneasy expression, seeing me.

“Reno’s acting weird. Be prepared to withdraw to the safe area.”

“Reno!?”

Kili lets out a loud voice.

Reno’s her younger sister, so it was only natural.

“…I understand. Sui, help Kili. Milia, please confirm the exit route as well.”

“Got it.” “Understood.”

Aria passes directions, seeing the situation.

It doesn’t seem like there are any blackwolves nearby, besides the one chasing Reno, so it should be fine if I left things to Aria here.

I started sprinting towards where Reno was.