The Novice Alchemist’s Store

The walnut's ability to explore was accurate.

Exclude the snow where the walnuts jumped out, dig the ground, and dig out the roots of Masanon.

And there is no hassle, and we have no trouble finding Masanon.

After taking a little time to dig up the frozen ground, the four of us succeeded in securing enough Masanon roots in less than a day.

Then we didn't have to stay in the cold winter mountains anymore, but we hurried home.

"I can't go home without everything....."

"What's wrong, store manager? Are you in trouble?

"Yes, unfortunately."

The outbound journey was stopped only for a few days by a snowstorm, and there was no problem with that, but it happened when the outbound journey reached the habitat of the giant bug (centipede).

Obviously a different reaction to my detection magic.

It goes without saying what it is.

"It's probably the ski giant Snowglide Centipede. They're getting closer."

Again! Is it possible to avoid it?

"I didn't attack you, and normally if you run into the woods, you won't come after me...."

We are walking in a snowy area with a good view.

Home ground for the ski giant Snowglide Centipede, which travels sliding over snow.

Thanks to snowshoes (snow boots), we can also run at a speed comparable to that of a flat surface, but it's not good for people to slip on snow.

"I mean, we have to intercept them."

"That's right. There are also ways to dig snow holes and hide, but there is a risk of being crushed if they are found. I couldn't escape."

Imagine that sight, Iris immediately shook his head.

"That's rejected. If that's the case, it's better to fight. ― ― The manager is here too.

Expectations are high.

I'm telling you, I'm an alchemist. You're not a specialist in fighting, are you?

Well, I'll fight if I have to.

"If possible, I'd like to look forward to Iris and the others. Ah, I'm coming."

Shortly after I pointed that out, the ski giant Snowglide Centipede appeared from the other side of the hill.

The moment I saw it, Lorea's mouth opened rapidly.

And I'm going to cling to my arm and raise my voice.

"Sarasa-san! Too big!?"

"It's a giant (centipede). If it's small, it's just a bug. It's an insecticide blow."

To that extent, I didn't bother to warn you.

"No, and yet! Bigger than a salamander!?"

In form, is it a giant beetle?

Long tentacles, sharp and sturdy jaws, the body is overall elongated, and the tips of the six long legs that emerge from it are slightly flat.

The body colour was metallic, shiny with a slightly green seven colours, very prominent in the pure white snow fields, but it also appeared to claim that there were no enemies.

But that may be natural.

Even one foot is bigger than my body.

"But it's okay. It's not as strong as a salamander."

"It's not comparable!? Besides... it looks like there are people around giant bugs..."

As Kate pointed out, there was a stupid black figure at the foot of the ski giant Snowglide Centipede, who began to see his whole body.

I'd say if it were true, they probably don't have snowy mountain boots like ours. With half of his body buried in snow, he looks like he's swimming in the middle of nowhere and escaping the ski giant Snow Glide Sentipide.

I could never say that the speed was fast, but I'm still managing to escape because of my extra strength.

"Are you a collector?

"Hmm, that makes me feel a little uncomfortable...."

Yoke Village collectors have not heard that they will come here, but Yoke Village is not the only village around the Great Tree Sea.

That's why it's not strange for a gatherer from another village to be in this mountain.

It's not strange, but that's the number of people I felt uncomfortable with.

The average gatherer's party is about six, but there are more than ten people at the foot of the ski giant Snowglide Centipede.

Sometimes large numbers of people are mobilized for the purpose of fighting certain monsters, such as salamanders, but if the ski giant "Snowglide Sentipide" is included in the target, it is probably no.

The danger is low because it does not fall into the public domain, and the value of the material obtained is not enough to be commensurate with the danger.

If materials are needed in the first place, there is little need to choose this snowy season, and we should aim for the time when the snow begins to melt and the ski giant Snowglide Centipede becomes difficult to move.

"... stay away from me."

Snowglide Centipede, a ski giant chasing after the people who somehow flee towards us in the vast snowlands.

In addition, I heard the cry "Help me!!".

"... that sounds suspicious."

"Isn't that right?

"Hmm!? Really?

"Lorea, not all people who ask for help are good people.

For example, if someone was stuck on the street.

It was a bandit's trap when I tried to be kind enough to help.

Whatever we can do to protect ourselves, it is totally unacceptable for Lorelei, who can't fight, to get close enough.

"If it's true, it's safe to attack with strong magic from here....."

The problem is that the people around you can take the aftermath of magic.

Even if it is successfully avoided, there is a risk that an avalanche will occur and become involved in it.

"For safety's sake, I'd like to agree, but I'm unaware of the enemy's side, and that's just..."

I knew it?

When I saw Kate showing difficulty and Lorea nodding next to her, I couldn't force her.

If it had been a bandit, I wouldn't have had to... I'm a little sorry.

Well, the avalanche may affect us too, so either way, we can't use very powerful magic.

"I think we should watch out for the ski giant Snowglide Centipede."

"That's right. --I don't wake up well even if I kill someone."

If our safety is our top priority, it's also an option, but it's a little hard to choose from in front of Lorea, who is looking at us in a harsh way.

Ah, one of them bounced off the tentacles and buried in the snow.

I don't think I can afford it.

With the exception of Lorea, the three of us nodded face to face and stood up for our weapons.

And while Kate was pointing her arrow, Iris issued a warning.

"You guys, stay away from me! Run left and right!

An arrow that is fired at the same time as the word ends.

The target is not a rushing person - it is a long tentacle of the ski giant Snowglide Centipede.

Kate's arrow was aimed at the left tentacle, about a third of the way from its tip, and the ski giant Snowglide Centipede said, "Giggle!" and raised her deafening voice.

But Kate looked at the result, not the voice.

"Kh, can't you shoot this bow off?

From the reflection that the bow did not work at all during the battle against Salamander, Kate's bow was only slightly upgraded by my hand to allow me to apply my magic.

The effect is that the resilience of the bow increases according to the amount of magic put in it - to put it simply, the pulling force stays the same and the speed of the arrow increases in proportion to the magic consumed.

However, due to cost issues, since Kate's original bow is based, unfortunately there is a limit to the magic that can be put in.

Still, it should be twice as fast... as you can see.

Though it was only the piercing, unfortunately it hasn't reached the point where the tentacles were cut off.

"We're through, so maybe we should change the arrows to be more powerful."

"Ugh, the cost....."

Kate has a pathetic look on her face.

Ice arrows used for salamanders are exceptional, but special arrows can be costly.

Even if recovered after use, if it is a smelter (artifact), it naturally requires maintenance in order to be reused, even if it is made only by simple smithing techniques.

If I can't afford it, it's not something I can use.

"In that case, I'll get in touch with you - I'm coming!

Shortly after the arrow hit, it was the ski giant Snowglide Centipede, which was able to swing its tentacles, but either identified us as the enemy that attacked us, or they started moving towards us sliding.