Chapter 79

The procedures to leave the town went smoothly.

When I stopped by the Adventurers' Guild and informed them that we were going hunting in the forest for supplies, the process to leave the town was expedited. Incidentally, this method was also thanks to Caro's information.

Apparently, if we had tried to leave the town normally, there would have been a seven-hour wait.

Outside the town, a line of carriages heading northeast stretched out.

This was probably because a horde of monsters was coming from the northwest and the path through the southern valley was blocked.

Not only carriages, but many people on horseback were also heading out.

We decided to head for the forest to the southeast.

It was one of the few forests in Dacat, known for being home to many bird-type monsters.

In other words, it would be easy for Marina to practice with her Wind Bow.

It was about a one and a half hour walk to the forest, so Fuyun decided to walk while carrying the luggage.

On the way, when we spotted a bird flying in the sky, I asked Marina if she could hit it.

"It's easy."

She said, drawing her bow.

Then, she pulled the string and fired a wind arrow, and a second later, fired another arrow.

The wind arrow flew straight at the bird, and it seemed like it would hit, but the bird made a sharp turn and dodged it.

However— the second arrow, which was fired later, collided with the first arrow, altering its trajectory, and it hit the bird that was trying to escape.

"…What?"

I let out a surprised exclamation.

The bird spiraled down and crashed to the ground.

It was already dead.

I, Haru, and Caro were so shocked that we couldn't even speak.

What she had shown was more impressive than any street performance.

"…Marina, did you aim for that?"

"Of course. This level is easy for me, who has mastered great magic."

…That's ridiculous.

It's already difficult to hit the first arrow with the second, let alone use that interference to hit a bird that is trying to escape. Is it really possible?

Reading the bird's escape direction is beyond the realm of archery.

Moreover, Marina had only fired her Wind Bow once, at the sky, the night before. This was her first practical attempt.

Is this the power of the great magic given by the gods?

"Still, your level doesn't seem to rise. Ichino, from now on, I will aim to knock down the birds by targeting only their wings. Can you use magic to pierce the birds as they fall?"

"Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can do it."

No, that's impossible.

I usually thought I could do almost anything and believed I would be able to do it in the future.

But I don't think I can do what she just did.

"Both Lord Ichino and Miss Marina have special abilities, which I understand, but it feels like it's beyond my common sense."

Caro said this in a slightly tired tone.

I guess I look like some kind of world-shocking person to Caro.

At that moment—Haru's tail stood up straight.

"Master, I smell the earth moving… It's likely that the Itomimizu is coming up. Let's take shelter for a moment."

"Huh? The Itomimizu is coming?"

Why do we need to run?

Indeed, I just detected a presence.

The presence seems to be heading straight for the bird that fell.

We are a bit far from there.

Alright, I'll cast a spell when it comes out.

That's what I thought.

"Master! I understand your power, but we should take shelter for now!"

But Haru's serious voice made me decide to move away.

And—just a few seconds later—it appeared.

"It's like a giant snake."

Marina muttered.

I agree. Calling it a worm might make it angry.

The face alone is about five meters tall. The full length is immeasurable.

However, according to my presence detection, the center is probably underground.

The inability to determine the size of the monster with presence detection was a drawback.

The color is not pink but gray.

"Why is that an Itomimizu?"

"This area is called the Ferit Grassland. It was once called the Ferit Worm, but it became the Itomimizu over time."

Wow, the magic of words works here.

"…The Itomimizu cannot see. It detects the drop in body temperature to find dying prey and eat it."

It senses the drop in body temperature and only eats dead monsters and people.

"Can I change to a magic user and cast a spell to defeat it?"

"The Itomimizu does not eat living creatures and enriches the soil, so it's better to leave it alone."

"I see, that makes sense."

A beneficial monster, not a beneficial insect.

As Haru said, the Itomimizu changed direction in the hole after ten minutes and returned to the ground. I thought a huge hole would be left, but it was filled with different soil.

"I understand that it digs holes, but how does it fill them?"

"Excrement."

Haru said it in one word, pinching her nose.

Excrement… hmm.

Even if I'm not as sensitive to smells as Haru, it does smell a bit.

Usually, worm excrement is odorless.

"Let's go! We're heading to the forest!"

Everyone agreed with my suggestion.