Shinka no Mi

"All right, let me see each of the herbs you've been collecting"

Me - Seiichi Shu was out of town for a second 'sampling' exam.

The test is simple, and if you can collect 10 herbs per person growing near the city walls, the test will be complete.

That's why both Salia and I were separately looking for herbs until earlier, and this is how we were forced to arrange the things we had found in front of Mr. Altria.

It seems unlikely that the herbs will be used as a substitute for finding them as soon as they get out of the city, and they will not encounter demons first, so it is unlikely that it will be a battle scene.... if normal.

"You start with Salia... all the time"

Altria told me that it would not be a battle scene, but for whatever reason, Altria was kerring off the slime that was coming at her.

... Is that it? Fight normally, huh? I heard you had a low incidence of demons, and you just ran into about 20 of them, including the kicked out slime, right? Mr. Altria's got it all under control.

With that in mind, Mr. Altria says as if he saw through my head.

"Uh... I'm hitting on you right now, but don't worry, this isn't normal"

"Ha..."

No, well, if I were you right now, I wouldn't be willing to lose anything no matter what strikes me... oh, my God, I'm a monster.

Whether attacked by a demon or not, it's not particularly inconvenient, except it takes a little effort, so I decided to take Mr. Altria's words lightly.

"This time, for some reason, it's only about slime..."

"Huh?"

"... it's nothing. Than that, Salia, let me see."

"Yeah!"

Salia replied energetically, removing a bunch of grass pulled out of her roots.

Unlike the specialty herbs obtained in The Forest of Endless Sorrow and Love, a little browning was the hallmark of the herbs. By the way, if you smell it, it smells refreshing.

"Hey, you're pulling me right out of my roots, like I said."

"Mr. Altria's right, he pulled it out of his roots, but all you need on the request is the leaf part, right?

Ms. Altria answers Salia's natural question.

"Oh yeah. But it's better to pull through every root. I can also collect the herbs in a fresh state. Besides, herbal roots have a nourishing effect, unlike herbal leaves. So when collecting medicinal herbs, pull them out of the roots. There's not a lot of people who know about this lately, but there's nothing wrong with knowing it, is there?

Oh, you're like an adventurer's bean knowledge. I guess it's important as an adventurer to accumulate the knowledge to say that because it's something that can be picked in the field that has unexpected effects other than the parts that are supposed to be used.

"By the way, the root of the herb is most effective to fry and drink, but I don't really recommend it because it boasts tremendous bitterness"

"So what do I do?

"Right...... The easiest thing is to mix it with sugar... well, sugar is a luxury product. As a substitute, if you mix the honey you can collect from Sweet Flowers, it will be sweeter and easier to drink."

Hmm... Around knowing such a backhand, Mr. Altria seems to be able to cook as well. It's a discretionary imagination.

"Ma, the roots do matter, too, because all the guild wants is' Herbal Leaves'. Before you give it to the guild, don't forget to cut it into two parts: the leaf part and the root part yourself, okay?

"" Yes ""

Me and Salia both replied with an extended reply.

"Okay. So, Makoto's next."

"Yes! This is it!

…………

I gave Mr. Altria what I had collected.

Then Mr. Altria will be silent as soon as he sees what I have offered.

And after putting aside a few moments, I quietly opened my mouth.

"... for once I ask, what the hell?

"Huh? It's a mushroom"

"I can see it!

I was offering Mr. Altria mushrooms. Ten of those, too.

"Though the exam will consist of the collection of 10 herbs! Why are you picking mushrooms?

"Oh no, take a good look. It's not just a mushroom, is it? It's Magic Mushroom."

"I'm not asking you what the mushroom type is!

"Right."

I knew it wouldn't work.

Nothing, I didn't deliberately bring the 'magic mushroom' I offered Mr. Altria.

I must have looked hard, but for some reason, there wasn't a single herb growing in the place I was looking for. That's how I couldn't find one.

So instead, 'magic mushrooms' are growing abnormally, and I had no choice but to collect them as a substitute for herbs.

Talk differently, but 'magic mushroom' seems to be a rare mushroom needed to make an item known as' mana potion 'to restore magic power.

"Hey... I couldn't find the herb..."

"It can't be!? It's a herb!? I saw about 20 of them!?"

"Huh?"

Is that it? That's crazy...... I worked pretty hard to find it, didn't I? There are 20 of them...

"Look, at Makoto's feet, isn't it?"

"Gattem!"

When Mr. Altria told me to check my foot, I normally grew 5 bottles. Oh, that?

"On the contrary, you've often found 'magic mushrooms'. Is that the substitute for looking desperately to see if you can find one? Why did you find 10 bottles..."

"You don't know if you're lucky or bad!

"That's a dialogue over here! Either way, I haven't been able to collect 10 herbs. You're disqualified!

"Na, nandatte!?"

No, I'm not really that surprised.

However, since I am also allergic to failing the exam as it is, I hurriedly pulled through every root of the 5 herbs growing under my feet.

Now I can pass the exam too!...... as planned.

"Look, you're getting it right."

"... what are we going to do with the other five?

…………

Yeah, I was. Oh, my God, oh, my God! You have 10 herbs to pass the exam! You don't have five more!?

"I'll look for you. Oh, my God!

"Oh, hey!

When I screamed, I rushed off the spot to find the rest of the herb.

"Ha, fast!? He, what leg strength... Well, Makoto, no! Zette, don't go to the woods! Come on, we're not going very far! I can't see anymore!?"

I felt like Mr. Altria was saying something behind me, but sometimes the distance was a lot further away, and I didn't hear it very well.

"... oh, I thought you grew 5 herbs here"

After I left the scene, Mr. Altria muttered so little.

◆ ◇ ◆

"Hey, you idiot!

I ran around anyway, searched for medicinal herbs, but couldn't find a single one, and I yelled like that as I abandoned myself.

Even though I do not find a single herb, besides "Magic Mushroom," I find "Antidote Grass" and all that stuff.

"While I was searching around for something, I came to a position where I couldn't see Mr. Altria and the others..."

Once we crossed one hill, we lost sight of Mr. Altria and the others.

"Hmmm... why can't I find it?

Is it a bad way to look? I realized it was the first time I had grown under my feet since Altria told me earlier...

Do you want me to look for you with more careful observation?

I let the herb hunt resume again, and I caught the trees at the edge of my sight.

"Hmm? Is that the... forest?

The place in sight was where the trees grew depressed.

Unlike [Endless Forest of Sad Love], I can't feel any disastrous atmosphere, but it was definitely a forest.

"There might be plenty of herbs growing over there."

I guessed so. I'm moving to the woods fast.

Get closer. Okay, but I still mean, I can see how harsh the [endless forest of sad love] that I was transferred to was.

Because in the woods in front of you, you can't feel anything that kills you, and you're about to remember the freshness.

"It was dangerous, but that's where we got more important things than that."

Closed my eyes and immersed myself in sentiment for a little while, I opened my eyes again after a while.

"Ok, will you look for it soon!

So intent, it was that moment when I took a step forward.

――――

――――!?

――――

"Hmm?"

From the woods, I heard talk.

Nothing, whoever was in the woods had nothing to do with me, but sometimes I hadn't met anyone in the middle of a herbal search and wondered what kind of people were in the woods for.

Are you the same adventurer, coming for a request from the guild or something? Or, like, a traveler or something?

Travel to a place where you can hear the talk, guessing a lot.

I didn't forget to look for herbs in the middle of it.

Going further and further into the woods, there were those who would be the Lord of the Voice.

Observing from a little distance, the number of people was three.

Besides, they don't all seem human.

Because the colour of those three skins is different from the colour of us humans.

And most importantly, it grows from the head of one of the three to the horny things of the devil, so there's no reason why he's human.

This is how I've observed it from afar, but it doesn't feel like we're arguing or having any trouble. I even look like I'm having fun talking to you.

What the hell are you talking about in these woods until you stop?

I was interested in the three of them in a remote position, and I decided to get closer.

"Mr. Bell, you've finally done it! With all that installation (...), someone or so would be hooked!

"Right."

"But... is it good that you ignored Master Laya's orders and came to the human world on your own?

"Right... well, if you find out, you'll be punished..."

"... just a quick reminder, so I'm going home"

"Ah, myself..."

"Let him go!

"Let go of me, please! I don't want to die!

"You idiot! That's the same for me! But... if this thing succeeds, it won't be a dream to get promoted without Laya?

"Well, yes..."

"Thinking about my family..."

"I know that. But I have a family, too, just like you have a family to protect. Besides, my place is gonna have kids next time."

"Well, then why..."

"We need to take such a risk...?

"Huh... I'll take advantage of this operation to make it easier for my wife..."

"" Oh, who are you...!

…………

Yes, what the hell are you talking about? It's a punishment promotion... the second half didn't make sense...

Well, as someone else in red, there's no way I can understand the story.

You mean Bell or something, the death flag? Are you all right?

In the meantime, let's shelve my own questions. It doesn't matter. But should I just ask the three of you in front of me if you didn't see any herbs nearby?... Yeah, let's do that.

Never bothered me to look for it on my own! I want to think...

If that were the case, I would move quickly to action, and I showed up in front of the three people who were still not sure about the discussion.

"Oh, you know..."

"" "Who!?" "

"Huh!"

Bit, I'm freaking out... my body's freaking out because I'm turning around with my voice all at once! You did.

When I was surprised on my own, the three of them were surprised when they opened their eyes as soon as they confirmed what I looked like.

They reacted like that, so I was supposed to be surprised and calm down the other way.

With a calming head, I checked the three people in front of me again.

One was hyoro taller and thinner, the other was true and opposite, fat body as I used to be, and taller.

And the man standing in the middle was in shape to see at first sight that it was a workout. What is it? This unbalanced and balanced combination is.

What I can say in common to all three of them is that I could see it from afar, but the colour of my skin would look blue. Other than that, it's no different than us. He doesn't seem like an animal man... and he's growing devilish tuna, like a demon clan or something? Cheap though.

But I decided to talk to him quickly, thinking that I wouldn't be looking at him at all hours.

"Uh..."

"Why are humans here?"

"Are you kidding... we already found out our plan!?"

"I don't like it. Ahhh! I just don't like the way Lady Laya treats me. Oh, oh!

Failed.

I don't know why, but he made a scene as soon as I tried to talk to him.

"Oh, um... what the hell are you guys...?

I was supposed to ask about the herb, but I wonder what the hell the three people in front of me are if they've made so much noise.

Then a macho man answered my question.

"Huh... if you find out, you have no choice! I'm Captain Laya of the Demonic Army 3rd Squad, the leader of Victim, Belle Gisele!

"Also affiliated with 'Viktim', Bosco Dan!

"Terry Hemt!"

"What is the Demon Army's Jade Crusher? -"

"" "About us!!!!" "

…………

Cheng Cheng, is it just a perverted group?

I was convinced by myself, and when I snorted one, I gently tried to walk away from the scene.

"Let them get away with it, you idiot!

"Yep..."

But I got turned around!

"What are you trying to walk away from!

"No, because... you guys are crazy people, aren't you?

"This time it's much worse!?"

I'm a macho man - - I thought Bell's squad name was worse.

What the hell, "Viktim"? If it was English, it would mean 'victim', wouldn't it? Besides, we call ourselves the Demon Army and the Jade Crushers... no more pity and words. Isn't that a complete throwaway pawn?

"What the hell is that? I'm busy looking for herbs."

"What are you!? You've been talking to me!?"

Yes, it was. Because of Bell, I totally forgot.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Makoto. Like I said, I came to this forest looking for herbs. Then I heard you talking... I tried to ask if I saw any herbs, but it seemed like you were taking them in, so I thought I'd give up."

"Why are you even in the woods looking for herbs? There's a lot of herbs growing around here, right?

In response to my explanation, skinny man - that's what Bosco says.

"Because you don't have a choice."

"Well, that's your reason..."

Now fat man - Terry opens his mouth.

No, it doesn't matter, does it? Because it's important to me, isn't it?

"Makichi... Was it? You witnessed us... Unfortunately, I can't keep you alive anymore."

"Yes?"

Oh, what are you talking about? "You can't leave me alive"... I won't be killed!?

Surprised by the sudden, Terry sends some signals to the Bells.

And when he received that signal, Bell nodded one thing, he rang his finger.

Then, from behind the bells, a big human-like guy appeared on about 3m of green skin with just some animal fur wrapped around his waist, rattling with the bumps, bumps and footsteps.

"He's a troll. Makoto, are you a Class B monster among humans?

"No, I don't know..."

Even though the demons called trolls have many things in common with humans, such as eyes, noses, mouths, etc., every single one of the motions can hardly feel intelligent.

My ears are a little pointy and my head is beautifully bald. A large wooden stick was held in his hand.

"Fair enough...... Troll! Don't do it!

When Bell says a dialogue that old animated enemy characters are likely to say at the bottom, Troll cuts his eyes! And he opened his eyes and shook up and attacked the stick he had in his hand.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!"

"Yeah, yeah!? Seriously, they won't kill me!?"

It's the first time we've met and it's horrible!? I did something!?

It wasn't long before I met Bell and the others, but for some reason, I was about to be attacked by a troll.

However, due to my own unique skill, "Heart-Eye," Troll's attack appeared to be slow to the point of anomaly.

Hmmm...... can I take this down? Isn't that nice? I don't know, but they're coming at me.

When I decided to take down the troll in front of me, I came up with a good idea.

That is to try to quickly use 'absorption', a skill acquired by defeating the slime.

Trolls are attacking me, so let's activate them at the moment of a direct hit.

Looking at the looming stick, he finally approached me until he was right in front of me.

And I activated the skill 'Absorption'.

Then what do you think? I could see that all of the momentum and power of the stick, which should have been so impending, had been lost from Troll's hands, and at the same time that something like an energy substance that was hard to describe in my body was melting more and more.

It eventually absorbed completely as part of my body as I ran around my body for weeks.

"Oh, I got it."

…………

That's what Bell and the others were looking at me like that and for some reason they were expressionless when they said that with their heads on a troll stick that had lost its offense. If you look closely, the troll is also faceless.

But that faceless expression finally collapsed and...

"" "" N!? ""

I was surprised by the reality that had happened in front of me with a face that was so hard to describe as to open my eyes and raise my mouth angle in a tightly tied state instead of opening them.

You must be really surprised because you have such a dumb look.

"Beh, Mr. Bell... now you've definitely hit the Troll, haven't you?

"Oh, you hit it... Troll, you hit it, didn't you?

"Oh, oh..."

"This involves something magical..."

"No, the stick is on your head... you don't have to check it, it's a good hit..."

…………

I thought you put me down and started the conversation on your own, and now the Bells shut their mouths.

And when each of them looked at each other, Bell said as he somehow dragged his face into majesty.

"Here, here. This time, I'm gonna miss you!

"Oh, yeah, you are!

"Fuck, you never lost! Our kindness, isn't it?"

"O, ooh!?"

"As, well? Our operation's already done, huh? You got the information that there's a monster like you? As it turns out, you think it's our win, don't you?

"Oh, yeah!

"I have no objection!

"And to say -"

The bells, who had not given me time to open their mouths and who had spoken sooner than arrowhead, were all in the same position as that famous Mr. Picto, depicted on the green emergency doors and emergency exits on Earth, including the trolls.

"" "Disperse!

"Oops!"

As it were, I had to be stunned and the Bells fled the scene at first sight.

I don't care, Troll... that giant, unusually fast foot.

…………

"What the hell was that...?

All I could do was whine to the bells who left like a storm.

"Ah, herbs..."

And finally, it didn't come true to ask Bell and the others where the herbs were.

◆ ◇ ◆

"Oh, I'm finally home!

"How far did you go..."

In the end, not a single bottle of herb could be found, and when she returned to her place, Salia greeted her with a smile, and Altria groaned with a groan.

"Why? You've been looking around, haven't you? How many have you found?

I guess Mr. Altria has no offense. But those words are tighter than anything to me right now!

…………

"Huh? No way... you... are you serious?

When I was silent, you looked at me with your eyes like you saw something incredible. Can I cry?

"I did my best to find you, didn't I? But... I found dozens of magic mushrooms and antidote herbs..."

"Are you crazy?!? Why are you picking so many harder to discover items than herbs?!?"

"Don't ask me..."

I was already half crying. Oh, my God, I'm gonna cry.

Exposing herself to such pity, Mr. Altria took out what was wrapped around her waist, as she told him to do.

"Look, I'll give it to you"

"Huh?"

That's what they gave me, five herbs.

"They found me right after you went looking for me. At my feet."

"Oh, no..."

Why are you growing on your feet so much? I've been looking for you, haven't I? Weird, huh?

"Well, if it's true, this isn't the kind of helpful behavior that I was praised for... it's only the helper who helped me, and when I received it."

"Yes, okay?

"I'm not shy. Good luck next time."

"Ah, Mr. Altria......!

Sister! No, Mister... Sister!

Looking at Mr. Altria in an impressive way, Mr. Altria turned away in embarrassment.

"Also, I'm done! We're going home!

That's what I said, and after Mr. Altria and I went back to the city first, Salia and I laughed face to face, and then we hurried after him.