It's been a week since I arrived at these ruins. I'm not staying here because I've succumbed to the temptation of the large bath. Well, but it's needless to say that I would have left sooner if it weren't for that bath. What I've been doing this past week is searching for houses among the relatively intact buildings. As a result, I've learned one thing: it's been over 200 years since people left these ruins, and they didn't flee due to attacks by magical beasts. Nor did they perish from an epidemic.
Yes, in the end, I couldn't figure out exactly why they abandoned the town. I felt a bit uneasy about the fact that no magical beasts had settled here, but I discovered the reason while investigating.
That reason was related to the place I've been using as my sleeping quarters. Apparently, that place used to be the lord's mansion, and in its basement, there was a large magic stone engraved with a magic barrier formula to repel magical beasts. I would think they'd take the magic stone with them when abandoning the town, but the fact that it was left behind in the basement of the lord's mansion might mean something happened to the lord who managed this town.
Well, there's no point in knowing the past of these ruins now, and I think I'll take this magic stone with me when I leave the ruins. It's so large that it would take about three people with outstretched arms to encompass it. I could use it as-is to repel magical beasts, or there are various ways to use it if I process it. There's no reason to leave it behind.
Another thing I learned was the existence of something called the Adventurers Guild. It was a building with a sign depicting a sword and shield, and it seemed more sturdy than other buildings, remaining intact. Inside the guild, there were documents that appeared to have been left behind. Most of them were too deteriorated to read, but some were still intact.
Among those remaining documents was something I needed most right now. That was a map. Well, it looked more like a child's scribble, but it showed the general directions and what were likely the intersections of old roads and the towns beyond them.
Thanks to finding this, I now know the general direction to go, so I think it's about time to set off. Even without a map, if I could just find the old road, I could follow it, but I suspect it's long since been swallowed by the forest.
Other than that, there weren't any particular findings, so it might be just the right time to leave. If anything, I feel like I might have overstayed. It must be that bath's fault. It's spacious and feels so good. There was a bath at Master's house too, but it was only about the size of a drum can, which makes this one all the more appealing.
I once tried to build a bath outside Master's house. But as expected of the Enchanted Forest, perhaps sensing the presence of water, it was swallowed by the forest as soon as I filled it with hot water. It really was swallowed, sinking into the ground with a squelching sound. Naturally, I didn't want to be dragged underground while bathing, so I gave up on making a bath after that.
It's daytime now, but I think I'll enjoy this bath one more night and set off tomorrow morning. Before that, I've decided to hunt some forest magical beasts for a bit. Master did give me some old currency, but I'm not sure if currency from several hundred years ago can still be used. So if I prepare some magic stones and materials by hunting magical beasts, I think I can sell them to the Adventurers Guild or merchants when I reach another town to exchange for money. The materials can also be used for alchemy, so they won't go to waste even if I can't sell them.
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And so, here I am in the Enchanted Forest. You say I've been in the Enchanted Forest all along? Well, that's true. Now, what creatures might be around here? If there were death hornets, I could get some honey. Evil chimeras would be good too; their poison threads and livers are useful materials. But, goblins, you guys are no good. They're not even useful as materials, and they stink. Wait, are there only goblins around here? No way... right? Tell me it's not true.
How many goblin settlements is this now? I'm burying them alive with magic from a distance without question. It's because they don't bathe, so they stink. Even animals groom themselves or take water baths, and even the delicious orc species keep themselves clean. And yet those guys—there's nothing to do but exterminate them.
You say it's a waste of magic stones? You want me to dissect them? No way, I'll say it as many times as I need to; they stink. The town probably perished because it couldn't stand the smell of the goblins. Yeah, that must be it.
"Sigh, I can't find anything but goblins. There was one that looked like a king, but I buried it alive, too. Maybe I should have at least taken its magic stone."
As I'm flying back towards the ruins, sitting on my staff, I spot a large bird in the distance.
"A death messenger bird—that's rare. Alright, I think that'll do for tonight's dinner."
The death messenger bird still hasn't noticed me. I stand up on my staff, extend my left arm forward, and point my index finger at the bird. I draw back my right arm as if pulling a bowstring, take aim, and release a bullet of magical power. Death messenger birds are sensitive to the flow of magical power, but in this Enchanted Forest, it's difficult to sense pure magical power. Therefore, sniping from a distance is effective.
With the incantation "Pierce," a small ball of magical power is released from my drawn right hand. Without waiting to see if it hit the death messenger bird, I sit back down on my staff and fly at full speed towards the bird. I capture it into my storage pouch before it falls into the Enchanted Forest.
I sensed the presence of many magical beasts watching from within the forest, but they dispersed once the death messenger bird disappeared. I'm glad I was able to secure it before it fell because it would have been troublesome to fight over it had it fallen into the Enchanted Forest.
"Now then, I think I'll make some fried bird for the first time in a while. Death messenger bird meat is delicious, despite its name."
I'll hurry back, butcher it before sunset, and have fried bird today. Maybe I'll add some ice-cold ale too. Just imagining it gets me excited.
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