Has it been about two hours since I first met Green Fox? As I had heard, the rate of encounters with Green Fox increased as we moved deeper into the forest. That said, the battle itself was just a piece of my pre-emptive strike.

In the first miscellaneous operation that I decided to consult with Esther, I first fired a stone barrel from afar and it was Esther who decided to attack. Then there was a no-plan named "ad hoc." I can't work with amateurs in the first place.

However, this pattern was only made at the beginning, and since the second time I hit it without shooting it, Esther never appeared.

When Esther first suggested hunting, it seemed casual, and perhaps there was a leisurely aspect to it? I was worried, and I asked if I could do it this way on the way, but it would be safe if I defeated it from afar, and it was the best, so I was allowed to work on the super advantageous pre-emptive attack.

If this is a fine handsome man, I can tell you to enjoy it because I'll protect you, but I'm really sorry about being a full-fledged chicken kid.

By the way, I encountered Forest Fungus on my way. A mushroom monster about the size of an adult's arm.

I had heard horrible stories of spraying spores and planting them on wounds, but it was easy to knock down a stone barrel just by shooting it in from a remote place because it only moved with a small foot that looked like a rock chalk.

However, it is very difficult to find it because it is hidden in the shade of a tree and it is pseudo-colored similar to a tree. It looks like Nicola.

I took down about three of those forest fan gases and put them in an item box. I heard that people who eat it are delicious species such as eating, but when they break the contents of the brown body, it was usually a white mushroom, and I would like to try the tasting once.

"--Yes, this is the twelfth one."

When I stored the Green Fox, Celine glanced up at the sky after looking around.

"Hmm, considering the return time, should I come back soon?

"I can't hunt enough for Lumil's package."

"Celine, thank you for today."

"Oh, thank you for coming home.... what's wrong with Nicola?

Celine asks strangely Nicolas, who was staring at him without saying a word.

"Nh... there's someone a little further away"

"Well, hunters come here sometimes, but... that's not what this is all about, right?

Nicolas' serious face narrowed Celine's eyes.

"Yeah, I think I'm standing still and not moving."

"Yes... let's go for now"

With a slightly serious Celine's voice, we nodded without saying a word.

――――――

Following Nicolas's lead through the woods, he discovered a man with no power in the roots of a large tree. I recognize this face. Matilda's husband exchanges meat for beasts. Speaking of which, I don't know his name.

"Mr. Norwell, what's going on? I don't think it's such a tired day off."

"... you guys. Wait, stay away from me."

Norwell, staring at the sky with his sly eyes, gave us a warning.

"Apparently, it's just a matter of time. Can you tell me more?

Céline stopped and asked.

"I was hit by a special individual called Forest Fungus."

Special Individuals. Individuals who are said to have rare births and are more capable than normal monsters.

The Tentacles Nushi, Motherstone Lizard, and Harlem Lizard hit me. Because it seems like I'm penetrating into a place where monsters are, I feel like I've encountered them quite a bit, even though they say it's rare.

"It seems to use something like dark magic. You can feel the magic being sucked away from me in the middle of this. I don't even have enough magic left to use Portal Stones. My legs were too slow to get away with it... but I guess that's it for me."

"Then I'll carry you! Shall I come home with you?

That's how Esther stepped out, but Norwell took control of it with her hands and stretched her leg out so that she could see it well.

Look at my leg.

When I looked at my legs as I was told, I saw that the calves of the torn pants were as wide as the palms of the adult's hands as white and mellow mushrooms, and that they were creepy and stupid while dyeing the skin of the growing part red.

"I planted a mycelium just by being grabbed by someone like a tentacle. It's a special species, even a small scratch could infect it. You better stay away from me."

Then he exhaled tirelessly and continued his words.

"I want you to run now, but that's all I need."

I took something out of my pocket and threw it at us. Celine receives it. When I peered into the palm of the hand, I saw a beautiful crystal shining blue depending on the angle.

"It's my portal stone. I can't use it anymore, but can you give it to Matilda? And tell him I loved you till the end."

Norwell smiles at his mouth with distant eyes. And he waved his hand to get rid of us after he exhaled lightly.

"Now, go. You can see me approaching because I'm under the dark magic of a special object. We don't have much time."

When she heard that, Celine exhaled and turned back to Norwell, asking in a lower voice than usual.

"Well then, it's okay if I do it on my own, right? Estelle, can I borrow your dagger?

What are you doing?