Chapter 28

Summary of the previous episode:

Mofu mofu!

10

After taking a few more days to rest, I decided to hold a discussion with my companions to decide on our future plans.

Our future plans... in other words, whether to stay here, head north to find civilization, or go east to join up with the first expedition team.

"We should visit a human settlement as soon as possible. Fortunately, we have Garbella's testimony, so we know there are humans in this world and how to get out of this forest."

Lily supported the plan to head north through the forest.

"Considering your health, it's better to resupply as soon as possible."

This was the same as what I had been thinking until now. However, Lily was also looking at something else.

"You've been injured several times. To heal, you need proper rest and nourishing food. But it's difficult to get what you need in this forest. I'm worried that you might push yourself too hard."

In fact, Lily pointed out that my body had become slightly thinner. I hadn't noticed it myself, but she, who often clung to me, was more sensitive to the subtle changes in my body than I was.

The strain of relying on healing magic might be creeping up on me without my realizing it. For now, I can manage, but it might not last forever. I don't want to be a burden to Lily and the others. That's my honest feeling.

Rose and Garbella also supported Lily's point after hearing it. If there was anything else to consider, it was Kato-san.

Thinking about her, heading east to join the first expedition team and entrusting her protection to them didn't seem like a bad option.

However, Kato-san herself argued that we should head north. There's no guarantee we'll find the expedition team if we go east, and this was a reasonable point.

Thus, our destination was decided to be north. All that was left was to decide when to move. Even though I've been consulting with Lily and the others, the final decision was still my responsibility.

The day of departure was approaching. I prepared my mind and body for it.

＊＊＊

On the evening when the fatigue finally left my body, I took Lily and went just outside the Arachne's nest.

In the already dim forest, the dusk melted everything into a faint darkness, blurring the outlines of the scenery.

I rotated my shoulders a few times to check my condition, then looked at the back of my left hand.

"Alright. Let's start the test. Can you do it, Asarina?"

"Goosh, sama!"

Responding with a creaking sound like bending trees, the modified cannon vine, now called Asarina after consulting with Kato-san, extended from the back of my left hand. It looked like a snake emerging from its den, stretching out and aiming at its target.

"Go!"

Following my command, the green snake flipped its body. The tip, which had extended about five meters, pierced straight into a tree trunk in front of me. Bark fragments flew, and the sound of leaves rustling was accompanied by a dull thud as something hard embedded itself in the trunk.

"Ugh... good, come back."

Bearing the load from my wrist to my shoulder, I gritted my teeth and retracted Asarina.

On closer inspection, a hole about two centimeters in diameter and three centimeters deep had been drilled into the living tree trunk.

"Not bad."

Satisfied with the result, I nodded and stroked Asarina, who was wriggling and shaking her head with my right fingertips. She seemed pleased and chirped in her awkward way.

"Goosh, shu, shu, sama! Sama!"

Asarina can't use the seeds that the original cannon vine can. She lacks the organ to do so. Whether this will grow as she develops or if it's a sign that she's a new species branching off from the cannon vine is still unknown. It's a shame she can't use the seeds, but in exchange, she has powerful movement capabilities compared to the cannon vine. Her flexible body can be used like a whip, and she can deliver a powerful strike by thrusting straight ahead, as we just saw.

The only concern was whether she would be cut off during combat, but this turned out to be unfounded. Asarina can regrow her head if it's severed, a testament to her strong plant vitality. The tip of her body looks like a snake's head, but it doesn't actually house a central nervous system. Rather, Asarina's main body is the root attached to my left arm. This causes some discomfort in my left arm, but I'll get used to it eventually.

Asarina, now rooted in me, sips my magic power little by little. This is for her survival and to provide energy for combat when needed.

Unlike before she sprouted, Asarina, now with a will of her own, can regulate the amount of magic power she absorbs. For example, she absorbs less when my magic power is low and more when it's abundant. In a way, Asarina's role is like an external storage for the excess magic power I don't use. While she can't draw magic power back to me, she can work as part of my combat strength, using my magic power as fuel.

This was groundbreaking. It meant I finally had the potential to have the strength to fight alone.

Of course, this is Asarina's power, not mine. But since we can't be separated, it makes no sense to distinguish between us as combat units.

It's still embarrassing to rely on her, but there's no point in being stubborn here. I don't want Lily to lecture me and cry again. I'll do what I can. I can honestly think that way now.

"The power seems promising."

Lily, who had been sitting and watching me, stood up and came over.

"The only thing left is how finely we can give instructions using the path... Do you think it will work?"

"It needs practice."

There will be situations where giving verbal commands during combat won't be fast enough. In that case, operating as one with Asarina would be essential in combat. I had been thinking about whether the path could be used for this purpose.

From what I know about the path, the closer the distance, the higher the transmission rate. This is inferred from the fact that a lot of information was exchanged when we were in physical contact, based on past experiences. Additionally, I know that if I have the intention to convey my inner thoughts, I can increase the amount of information to some extent. For example, Lily's method of repelling Garbella when she was an enemy fits this.

Since Asarina has roots in my body, the level of contact can't get any better. All that's left is to train to give accurate and quick instructions.

Of course, when my instructions don't come in time, Asarina will have to act on her own judgment. In that sense, she's expected to serve not only as a weapon but also as a semi-automatic defense mechanism.

"I hope it works out."

Lily said, playing with Asarina's fingers.

"Being able to stay by your side all the time is a big advantage."

"Exactly, since we can't physically separate."

Among my familiars, Asarina's combat capabilities are on the lower end. She probably can't even match a regular monster in a direct fight. However, being able to stay with me at all times is an advantage that more than makes up for her low combat ability. Lily is right about that.

But what she said next was a bit different from what I was thinking.

"But, I see. You and Asarina will always be together..."

Lily, who had been playing with Asarina, crossed her fingers behind her back. She looked up at me, pouting slightly.

"That might make me a little jealous."

"..."

Lily is usually close to me, but apparently, it's not enough for her.

Well, that's how it is with a relationship between a man and a woman who have good feelings for each other. It's normal to want to be together all the time and to find excuses to stick together. She's not particularly clingy, and... I'm the same. I just don't say it out loud.

"It's getting dark. Dinner should be ready, so let's head back."

Startled by her cute gesture, I averted my eyes from the pouting Lily and suggested in a casual tone.

"Right. You're still recovering, so don't overdo it."

Lily clung to my right arm. Even without saying it, she knew my embarrassed feelings, and it wasn't a bad feeling at all.

＊＊＊

When we returned to the nest, dinner was ready. The fireplace made by Rose was burning red, and skewers of ingredients were roasting over the fire. Today's menu was Big Scissors meat, which Garbella had hunted alone.

When I actually tasted it, the Big Scissors meat was surprisingly bland and tasteless. It was a bit better than Fire Fang meat, though. I thought it might be delicious if we could pour soy sauce on it raw. Kato-san seemed to have the same idea and was talking about Japanese sushi and sashimi with Rose, who was continuing her work regardless of the meal.

I've been seeing them talk more often lately. They were alone together while I was away, so it might have been an opportunity to deepen their bond.

There was also a slightly different scene from before. I took the skewer of meat that Asarina had stretched out to fetch and thanked her, then looked at Garbella sitting to my left. On top of Garbella's head, a young balloon fox was lying on its belly with its short legs dangling. This was a common sight lately.

"What's this, Aya? Why do you try to climb on top of me?"

Aya was the name I gave the young balloon fox.

Looking up at Aya on her head, Garbela frowned slightly, but she didn't seem to really mind. With her white Arachne's physical abilities, it would be easy to catch the young Aya, so it was clear from her inaction that she didn't really mind.

"Kuu, kuu."

"I'm troubled when you complain like that. I'm the one who wants to complain."

"Kuu."

"...What a troublesome one."

It seemed that the young Aya liked Garbela and was often with her. She was restless like a child, but when I noticed, she was often on top of Garbela's flat spider abdomen or on her white head.

Garbela, while being troubled by Aya's actions, didn't seem to think badly of her new little sister. When Aya jumped off Garbela's head and ran off in a playful manner, Garbela stood up with her eight legs and chased after her.

"Muu. Can't you stay still for a moment?"

While saying this, Garbela kindly chased after Aya. Aya, who was running around the nest, playing with Garbela, and finally ran to where Kato-san and Rose were talking, made a heartwarming scene.

Aya ran around the nest, playing with Garbela, and finally ran to where Kato-san and Rose were talking.

"Oh, Aya. What are you doing? It's dangerous."

Rose, who was working as usual, had a knife in her right hand and a sword she was shaping in her left. It would be dangerous if Aya played around carelessly.

Ignoring Rose's concern, Aya made a snorting sound and pressed her nose against Rose's wooden, hard knee.

"There's nothing I can do."

Rose stopped her work and put down what she was holding. After hesitating for a moment, she awkwardly stroked Aya's head.

At that moment, Garbela, who had been chasing Aya, arrived.

"I'm sorry, Rose. Aya was being a nuisance."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

Looking up at Garbela, Aya lay down and let Rose stroke her head. It seemed that she wanted to be pampered by her older sister, whom she rarely interacted with.

Garbela stood there, looking awkward. Rose, who had been stroking Aya, looked up at her with a blank face.

"Aya is cute."

"U, um."

"Why don't you sit down instead of standing there?"

"Um."

Garbela nodded and folded her eight legs to sit down.

"..."

"..."

Aya was between Garbela and Rose, who were now sitting next to each other. Aya was wagging her fluffy tail, looking back and forth between them.

"..."

"..."

Neither of them spoke. They were completely frozen.

"Kuu?"

Aya tilted her head, and Kato-san sighed.

"Instead of just staring at each other, why don't you talk about something?"

Kato-san said in a slightly exasperated tone, with a slightly narrowed gaze.

"Here, Aya. The two older sisters are going to talk, so why don't you come over here?"

Kato-san clicked her tongue and called Aya, who looked back and forth between Rose and Garbela before slipping past Rose's hand and heading to Kato-san.

The two of them looked at each other. They couldn't just get up and leave without saying a word. They had no choice but to resign themselves to the situation.

Most of all, the youngest sister was looking at them with her big black eyes.

"Aren't you going to talk?"

"Why are you being so quiet?"

...It was as if those words were being spoken to them. With such a look, they couldn't just say it was awkward.

"This is what the master said."

After a few seconds of silence, Rose, the older sister, was the first to throw the ball of conversation.

"Combining my specialty in magic item creation with your weaving skills to create better armor."

"Hmm."

"I think it's a valuable idea worth considering. What do you think?"

"Yes. I think it's a good idea. ...What do you have in mind, Rose?"

"Let's see."

The conversation started to flow. Both of them were skilled in their respective creative fields. While their everyday conversation was still a bit awkward, they seemed to have endless topics when it came to creative works.

As for Aya, who had initiated this, she curled up on Kato-san's lap, who was listening to their conversation with a gentle smile, and started to snore softly. Although she was very laid-back, it was clear that the atmosphere had relaxed thanks to Aya.

Among our companions, Aya is undoubtedly the weakest. Her movement capabilities are about the same as a puppy from the world we used to live in. She seems to have the durability of a monster and can spit fireballs as a balloon fox, but that's not enough to fight alone.

However, Aya's presence gave us a certain sense of comfort. This alone was a valuable quality, and she had become an indispensable part of my life.

"I hope these days can continue forever."

Hearing Lily's words, I nodded with a deep feeling.

"Yes. I do too. I really wish that..."

I had a vague premonition that this wish might not come true.

Leaving this forest will drastically change my environment. Once I step into the human world, I will inevitably have to face my own kind, humans.

I am the master who leads Lily and the other familiar monsters. No matter what happens, I have decided to live and help each other with them.

How my characteristic of leading monsters will be received by the people of this world is unknown. It's also unknown how the true students, the foreigners, will interact with us when we eventually meet.

I don't need to be accepted, but I hope they won't be hostile. If they do become hostile, I will be prepared to fight against my own kind, humans, to protect this scene in front of me.

＊＊＊

A few days later, I left the Arachne's nest. We started our journey north, toward the edge of the forest and the human world beyond.

◆This is my first scheduled post.

◆The name of the parasitic vine is Asarina, and the name of the balloon fox is Aya. For the balloon fox, I considered names related to foxes, such as "Higanbana" (fox flower) or "Foxface," but none of them felt quite right. I chose "Aya" based on the sound, but it's not entirely unrelated to "fox." There's a tenuous connection through the alternative name of a certain castle.

◆The next update is scheduled for 3/21 (Friday).