Chapter 18

I managed to land a good strike with my sword.

I haven't slept for a day, but I feel so exhilarated and in good health that I don't even need to worry about it.

I heard there's a forest about 80 kilometers west of the academy.

I borrowed the same chestnut horse as the other day and set it galloping.

It must have been a while since it ran.

The horse's movements aren't sharp, but it seems to be enjoying the run, which makes me feel good as the rider.

I heard that there are small monsters in the western forest.

Small monsters often have poison, but fortunately, it seems that there are no such species in that forest.

Since they don't form groups, it's not considered a particularly dangerous place.

I thought it would be a perfect place for a test cut.

"Come on, run faster."

I squeezed the horse's belly firmly with my legs to convey the message.

The horse responded by accelerating.

I finally arrived at the forest around noon, as it came into view.

The horse stopped.

I didn't give it any command to stop.

"Hey!"

I lightly kicked its belly to scold it, but it wouldn't listen.

It was usually a well-behaved horse, so what was wrong with it today?

I heard that horses can become very temperamental when they're in a bad mood, but its face didn't show any such expression.

Instead, it looked somewhat frightened.

Is there something here?

I suddenly thought.

I looked towards the forest.

I could faintly see something moving.

I watched for a while, and finally, something started to approach.

"It's a Ghoul."

A monster with a decaying, dead body.

The horse must have been frightened by it. It's impressive that it could sense it from this distance.

A Ghoul. I should probably turn back.

I've been told by Old Man Moran.

Run away if you encounter a Ghoul.

Not only are they strong individually, but they are also famous for having poison.

Without an antidote, encountering one is extremely dangerous.

But I wanted to test my sword on it.

After all, I've encountered it.

Fortunately, it seems to move very slowly.

It looked like it was dragging one of its legs, as if it had been injured somewhere.

Let's do it! I made up my mind.

I also had a magic I wanted to try.

It would be a good opportunity to test the magic from the "Magic Book 3" that Old Man Moran gave me.

The content of Magic Book 3 is more advanced than the nature transformation of Magic Book 1 and the external maintenance of magic power in Magic Book 2, and it is even certified as a high-level magic by the country.

The theme of Magic Book 3 is the refinement of magical creatures.

It involves temporarily imbuing an object with life using magic.

This is incredibly difficult.

I haven't had a complete success yet, but in practice, it has started to take shape.

Today's results will determine whether it will be useful in actual combat.

From atop the horse, I poured magic power into the weeds around me.

"Appear, invisible ones."

The magic power seemed to be absorbed by the weeds and disappeared.

A sound like ropes being snapped came from the ground.

The earth swelled, and they crawled out.

There must be about 100 of them. They have grass growing on their heads and bodies that look like radishes with arms and legs.

On what seems to be the front of their bodies, there is a face.

It's a deeply lined old man's face.

Most of the body is taken over by the face, making it extremely unbalanced.

Ah, this is a failure.

I didn't intend to create such creatures. Absolutely not!

Go back! I thought suddenly.

They all stood there for a while, but then they noticed me, their creator, and one of them started to cry out, and they all jumped towards me happily.

"Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "Whii!" "