Chapter 41

《Reinforcement Magic》 skill level has increased.

《Plunder Sword》 skill level has increased.

《MP Auto Recovery》 skill level has increased.

Tamed Monster 《Lumina》 level has increased.

After slashing the camouflaged snake that had been knocked down from the tree, I cautiously scanned the surroundings.

It seems that in this forest, reptiles often appear.

Moreover, they are the kind that try to ambush us while deceiving our eyes.

Starting with the 《Camouflage Python》 that ambushes from the treetops, the 《Cover Lizard》 that approaches on two legs while hiding among the trees, and the 《Mirage Chameleon》 that hides in the bark and leaves, turning transparent and attacking with a whip-like tongue.

In short, there are many that attack us unexpectedly. If I hadn't sensed their presence, I would have been hit several times.

However, I welcome such a tense battlefield.

That being said—

"Lumina, are you really doing that seriously?"

"――――♪"

Lumina, perched on my shoulder, was holding a thin branch from the ground and swinging it around, mimicking me.

It seems she was interested in how I swung my sword.

Well, it was just a mimicry, and she wasn't particularly good at it. After all, as a fairy with a different center of gravity from a human, it's difficult for her to mimic my movements.

Moreover, at this size, mimicking me would be meaningless.

"You're a magic user type, and you don't have any physical strength to begin with, so I'd rather you didn't try to swing a sword..."

"――――!"

"...But if you're that serious about it, I can't really forbid you."

Lumina, breathing heavily as she swung the stick, had a serious expression.

It seems she was quite serious about wanting to learn swordsmanship.

Seeing her like this, as a master of the Kyuugen Shintou-ryu, it would be hard to turn away someone with such enthusiasm just because they lack aptitude.

If it's a path they've chosen, they should give it their all until they are satisfied. If they give up in the end, that's just how it is.

Lumina's desire to swing a sword is beyond the question of aptitude. But still, if it's a path she's chosen, it's better to let her pursue it.

"...Sigh. Just don't overdo it."

"――――♪"

Having received my approval, Lumina nodded contentedly and started swinging the stick again.

Well, at least she's still keeping an eye on the sky, so I should just keep an eye on her for now.

I sighed softly and resumed my journey—then I realized something.

(...Come to think of it, which way have I been going?)

I glanced behind me, but all I saw was a landscape covered in indistinguishable trees.

Looking up, the leaves of the trees spread out, making it difficult to confirm the position of the sun.

I had been focusing on sensing the presence of ambush attacks.

Thanks to that, I had a good grasp of the enemy's position, but I had neglected other things.

In short, I was lost.

"Damn... Maybe I got a bit too carried away. From here, even if I 'spread out,' it probably won't reach the edge of the forest..."

"――――?"

"Yeah, nothing. Don't worry about it."

It would be awkward to tell Lumina that I'm lost.

I decided to expand my perception range and head towards anything that might connect to the outside.

But as I tried to do that—there was an element in my perception that was completely different from the forest.

"This is...? A human, perhaps?"

To be precise, it wasn't the presence of a human, but a space that had been cleared by human hands.

A hole-like space in the midst of the dense forest.

There were no trees there, and some kind of building was sitting in the middle.

It was clearly a space that had been shaped by human hands. Could there be humans living in this forest, which is inhabited by such nasty monsters?

"Hmm... Should I go check it out?"

Originally, I was planning to take a roundabout way to the port town, and I didn't have any particular purpose in this forest.

At most, my goal was to level up to deal with demon attacks.

I had no urgent business, so it wouldn't be a problem to take a detour.

It wasn't that far away. If I moved a bit, I should be able to see it.

"But why would it be in such a remote place?"

This place is far from the road and is a forest that isn't meant to be traversed.

I hadn't heard of anything being in the depths of the forest, and it's unlikely to be a relay point.

It could be an abandoned hut, but... well, we'll see when we get there.

As I probed the surroundings and approached the hut—suddenly, light was shining through the trees.

"!"

In the forest, which was almost completely covered by dense trees and where light hardly penetrated, the sudden light made me squint.

The hole in the forest, centered around a small hut, was bathed in dazzling sunlight.

It was unnatural for this place to be treeless. It must have been cleared not too long ago.

Looking around, I could see the signs of a garden, indicating that people had been coming and going recently.

It's hard to believe, but it seems there are people living in the depths of this forest.

"What kind of eccentric person could it be..."

Even I wouldn't want to live in the depths of a forest infested with dangerous creatures.

If there's someone who can maintain a stable life here, they must be a formidable individual.

Naturally, the corners of my mouth turned up. What kind of person could be living here?

For now, there was no presence in the hut. It seems someone lives here, but they are currently away.

"...Hmm"

I circled around the hut.

There was no human presence, but there were many signs of habitation.

Stacked firewood, a well-maintained garden, and—ground that was so compacted that it made a thudding sound when stepped on.

This wasn't something that would happen from normal living. It was the result of strong steps and repeated tamping to support the body.

It seems the resident of this hut practices self-training next to it.

Moreover, the compacted area was quite large. It suggests that they are engaging in simulated battles with imagined opponents.

To have compacted such a large area, they must have done it countless times. It's quite diligent, considering there are plenty of opponents around.

"Living in such a remote place, this person is quite—"

—Suddenly, sensing a movement in the air, I turned around.

The distance was about five meters. I was shocked that I hadn't noticed the presence until they got so close, and I observed the person.

Short white hair, sharp eyes like a blade. Not particularly tall, but his well-built body made him look larger.

A long sword was sheathed at his waist. It wasn't a fancy one, but the worn grip showed that he had used it for a long time.

He must have been hunting. He had a deer, which seemed to have been bled, hanging from his back. The old man smiled when he saw me.

"Hmm? A guest in such a place is rare. And one with a fairy, no less."

"...Excuse me. I was wandering in the forest and found this place by chance. I'm Quon, and this is Lumina. Who are you?"

"I'm Oaks. Standing around talking is no good, come in."

The old man, Oaks, introduced himself matter-of-factly and then turned around and headed for the hut's entrance.

I exchanged a puzzled look with Lumina, but there was no point in standing here forever.

For now, it was best to follow his words.

When we entered the hut at Oaks' invitation, a simple living space spread out before us.

There was a bed and a stove, and it seemed to be designed for a single person. It wasn't a particularly luxurious residence.

But it suited the stoic old man.

"Sit wherever you like."

"...Understood."

Without paying much attention to us, Oaks started butchering the deer in the kitchen.

I sat in a nearby chair with a wry smile, watching his back.

From here, I could only see his back, but his movements were very practiced.

It seems he lives off the food he gets from hunting and the garden.

It was more than just a sense of life; it was all about living. It didn't seem like he was living here for any particular purpose.

Eventually, after finishing the deer, Oaks washed his hands and finally turned to us.

He sat across the table from me, rotated his neck, and spoke.

"Well, young one. Let me ask you again... What brings you here?"

"As I said, I got lost and ended up here by chance. I was planning to train and head to Phylia."

"Got lost? You're a foreigner, right? Don't foreigners have access to maps of the area?"

"...Oh."

I had completely forgotten about that feature.

When I opened the menu, there was indeed a map of the surrounding area.

I opened it and checked, and the geographical information of the area was displayed.

My current location was—

"...'Sword Saint's Hut'?"

The straightforward name made me open my eyes wide.

'Sword Saint's Hut'—if it's called that, the resident must be the 'Sword Saint'.

The old man, who fit the description, and his demonstrated skills, made me understand why he had that title.

At my muttering, the old man closed his eyes and twisted his mouth, seemingly smiling wryly.

"So that's what they call me. But I'm not that great, you know."

"Maybe not. But at the very least, you're a formidable individual."

"You're not bad yourself. You're not just any swordsman, are you?"

"Maybe. I still consider myself inexperienced."

There is no end to the path of the sword, and there is no perfect answer.

Life is a journey of training—there is no completion as long as you live.

Therefore, I am not satisfied with my current abilities.

After all, I barely beat that old man. I want to become strong enough to win with ease.

As I thought this, Oaks raised an eyebrow.

"You're a unique young man. With your skills, you're already more than enough."

"That's for me to decide."

"...You have a point. Yes, you do."

Oaks chuckled, and I smiled back.

It seems we get along well. As fellow swordsmen, it's natural to find common ground.

So, the next step is clear. I'm a guest, so I shouldn't be too pushy, but—

"This is a good opportunity. How about a match, young one?"

"Hehe... Sure, I'd love to."

—If he's inviting me, there's no reason to refuse.

With my rising sword energy, I followed Oaks out of the hut.

■Avatar Name: Quon

■Gender: Male

■Race: Human

■Level: 14

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 17

VIT: 14

INT: 17

MND: 14

AGI: 12

DEX: 12

■Skills

Weapon Skill: 《Sword: Lv.14》

Magic Skill: 《Reinforcement Magic: Lv.12》

Set Skill: 《Dead Point Strike: Lv.12》

《MP Auto Recovery: Lv.7》

《Plunder Sword: Lv.9》

《Identification: Lv.12》

《Sword of Life: Lv.9》

《Sword of Demon Slaying: Lv.4》

《Tame: Lv.3》

《HP Auto Recovery: Lv.6》

Sub Skill: 《Mining: Lv.1》

Title Skill: 《Fairy's Blessing》

■Current SP: 10

■Monster Name: Lumina

■Gender: Female

■Race: Fairy

■Level: 9

■Status (Remaining Status Points: 0)

STR: 5

VIT: 8

INT: 23

MND: 16

AGI: 14

DEX: 10

■Skills

Weapon Skill: None

Magic Skill: 《Light Magic》

Skill: 《Light Attribute Enhancement》

《Flight》

《Magic Resistance: Medium》

《MP Auto Recovery》

Title Skill: 《Fairy Queen's Follower》