Chapter 39

### Early Morning in the Enchanted Forest

Bathed in the light of the rising sun, several figures moved through the forest.

They were about ten adventurers, all with well-trained muscles.

"Yah-ha...!! As expected, exploring the otherworld is best in the early morning...!!"

Leading the group was a bald man carrying a greatsword, and they moved swiftly.

"Yeah... Leader! At this hour, the werewolves and combat rabbits in this forest should still be inactive."

"Right, I got the information from the guild's intel. It should be around here... There it is!"

They arrived in front of a massive tower-like structure.

"Yah-ha. Is this the place we were asked to come to?"

"Yes, the coordinates are correct."

One of the adventurers, holding a map, tried to approach the tower.

At that moment,

"Ugh... Ah..."

He clutched his throat and collapsed.

It was as if he couldn't breathe.

"Leader, what's this!?"

"Yah-ha... Is it... magic sickness!? I didn't hear about this place having that!"

The bald man, lifting the fallen adventurer, looked around.

He spotted a small cottage.

"Should we hide there, Leader?"

"I want to, but look. Someone's coming out...!"

The door of the cottage opened, and out came a young girl with white hair.

She looked like an ordinary little girl,

"What is this power emanating from her body?"

The abnormality of her power was palpable to the experienced adventurers.

"Are you carrying weapons? Are you intruders? ...Then, should I, the gatekeeper, take action?"

The little girl pointed at them with her index finger.

"Anyway, a warning."

"What?"

"This is private property. You can't enter with those weapons. -- You'll be blown away."

"Ugh!?"

Instantly, the adventurer she pointed at was blown away.

"Yah-ha... This one's using magic keys. She's a high-level mage! Be careful, everyone!"

"Right!"

Seeing one of their own fall, the bald man and the others immediately drew their swords.

"Hmm, capable adventurers who can be on guard. I won't lose, but fighting in this state is still unfamiliar. ...Should I burn them?"

The little girl tilted her head and started to wander around.

But the adventurers didn't let their guard down.

They watched her every move closely.

However, an unexpected movement occurred.

"!"

"What's that?"

The apple tree next to the little girl suddenly transformed into a muscular golem.

"Oh, you made an autonomous golem. I'll leave it to you."

The golem then left the little girl's side and approached the adventurers silently.

"What is this bulky golem...!"

"Yah-ha, ignore it! Even if it's a golem, it's made of wood. Smash it!"

The bald man swung his greatsword at the golem, using its weight to full effect. But,

Clang, the blade was deflected by the tree.

"What, it can't be cut?!"

Then, he was struck and sent flying by the golem's thick arm.

With the bald man easily defeated, the other adventurers started to back away,

"Aaaaaah!!"

"Help, help meee!!"

They tried to run, but it was too late.

The golem extended its arms and knocked them away one by one.

"Aaaaaah!!"

"...Well, probably not to the point of death, I hope."

Hestia observed the scene quietly.

●

Late morning. When I woke up, the garden was unusually noisy.

"Master, good morning."

"Oh... Morning..."

I tried to wake up by splashing water on my face.

"Here, Master. Towel."

"Thanks, Sakura. ...By the way, what happened?"

The garden looked quite chaotic.

"Yes, intruders came. -- They're all out cold. What should we do?"

"Ah, you automatically repelled them. Good job."

But, were they after my magic power again?

"Judging by their equipment, they seem to be just troublemakers, but their goal is unclear. There were quite a few of them. -- Oh, breakfast is warming up. Please wait a moment."

Great, that's very considerate.

You're always so prepared.

"By the way, how do you always have breakfast ready the moment I wake up? Do you start cooking in the middle of the night?"

"Yes. Since I can't sleep, I enjoy making breakfast while imagining you eating it."

"You can use the microwave and other electric appliances with your magic, you know?"

Sakura's magic allows the use of high-temperature electrical equipment.

So, it's possible to warm up cold rice in the microwave.

"No, no, this is my pleasure."

"Is that so? If it makes you happy, that's fine."

I dried my face with the towel and felt refreshed.

Looking outside,

"Ugh, what is this forest? We can't escape...!?"

A new scream was heard.

"Oh, there are still some intruders left."

"Perhaps a leader or someone who fled to relay information?"

"Right. Let's knock them out and get some information."

"Understood."

I synchronized with Sakura and created new golems.

"Wood Golems x 20!"

I created about twenty of them and positioned them around the adventurer. Then,

"!!"

"Oh, he fainted."

Seeing the scene, he fainted on the spot.

I thought using a trap would be too powerful and cause him to lose consciousness, so I wanted to catch him with the wood golems.

But it ended up the same.

"Hmm, things don't always go as planned. Well, he'll wake up while I eat breakfast."

"Right. I'll finish preparing breakfast. The rice is done."

"Okay, let's eat then."

I felt more awake.

After eating and getting information, I'll take a leisurely walk.

Thinking about that, I started eating the hot rice.

Yeah, breakfast after a job well done is really delicious.