Chapter 49

Good morning.

Today's weather is clear.

Since Shera washed the clothes I wore for yesterday's exercise, I will wear the same clothes today.

After eating breakfast in the cafeteria, we will ride the carriage to the forest.

Before moving to the starting point, we will gather at the base.

The intelligent and strict teacher said,

"You probably already know, but a Rock Lizard appeared in this area during yesterday's exercise. Fortunately, the students managed to defeat it yesterday, but there's no guarantee it will be the same next time. Therefore, from today's exercise onwards, we will assign one adventurer to each group. You will handle the basic combat on your own, but if a monster that doesn't usually appear in the forest shows up, follow the adventurer's instructions!"

After that, we dispersed and moved to our respective starting points, and the exercise began 30 minutes later than yesterday.

Since it's the same path as yesterday, we can proceed without worrying about getting lost.

The adventurer assigned to our group was a veteran named Nista, who has been an adventurer for over 25 years and looks to be in his late 40s.

"Prince Alshain, Yugram, and Diggory, and this is the fairy, Keita? Wow, I've been an adventurer for a long time, but I never thought I'd meet a fairy that I can touch so clearly. The world is a big place, huh? Nice to meet you, Keita."

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

As Nista patted our heads, the three of us greeted him, and he returned the greeting. Nista is not very tall, but his muscular body is covered in scars, all of which are old, suggesting he took many risks when he was younger.

Yesterday, he flew behind Alshain, but today, he rides on Nista's shoulder.

"Nista, at what age can one become an adventurer?"

"What, Keita wants to become an adventurer? But it's still too early for you, Keita."

"Keita, I'm 42 years old."

"Huh? No, no, no, no? I heard somewhere that fairies live longer than elves. If that's true, you could be older than me?"

"How old are you, Nista?"

"I just turned 40!"

"Really?"

"It's a complicated feeling. Keita looks like my grandson, but you're older than me! What a strange creature."

"How old is your grandson?"

"He was just born last year! He's not even one year old yet! But he's a beauty, and I'm looking forward to his future!"

"You're a silly grandpa!"

"Sure! What's wrong with being a silly grandpa? My grandson is adorable! Hahaha!"

He laughed so loudly that the rabbit monsters ran away.

Diggory glared at him, but Nista dismissed it with a light "Sorry, sorry."

Nista, the veteran adventurer, remained vigilant while talking, but I wish he would stop being surprised every time I secretly catch a bug monster. If Yugram finds out, he'll stop me!

Nista watched us hunt rabbit monsters, fox monsters, and occasionally boar monsters without any danger, looking bored.

According to Nista, adventurers are ranked from F to S, and he has reached B rank before. However, since his grandson was born, he has voluntarily dropped to C rank and only takes day trips and helps train new adventurers. His wife scolds him daily for not saving requests when he got married and when his child was born.

While listening to this story, we arrived at the small meadow where we had lunch yesterday, so we decided to take a break and have lunch.

Each of us took out our portable food and offered it to me with a smile. Nista, looking curious, bit into his own portable food. I cast a barrier and put the portable food inside, then steamed it! After distributing the steaming hot portable food to the three of them, Nista looked dumbfounded, comparing his and mine repeatedly.

When I reached out to Nista, he offered his half-eaten portable food with a big smile. After I heated it and returned it, he took a bite and widened his eyes.

"What is this! Is it magic? I never knew magic could be used like this! Amazing, Keita! I've never eaten such delicious and soft portable food! Mages are awesome!"

"No! Not all mages can do this! Don't misunderstand! Only Keita can use such delicate cooking magic right now!"

While Yugram's face contorted with excitement,

"R-Really? Well, Keita is a fairy, right? I heard fairies use magic as naturally as breathing!"

"That's right! Keita is amazing, and I will eventually master it too!"

Nista was taken aback by Yugram's enthusiastic and expressionless declaration.

After finishing our meal and setting off again, we hunted monsters without any trouble and made good progress. Since we had extra time, we checked the map and found a spring nearby, so we decided to make a detour.

After crossing a tall thicket, we arrived at the spring, which, though not very large, was a beautiful place. It seemed to be a watering hole for wild animals, and many small animals were present.

We approached quietly so as not to scare them and took a break on a nearby rock.

At a spot where a stream flowed from the spring, we drew water and took a sip. It was so delicious that mineral water couldn't compare!

The water in this world, free from exhaust fumes and factory emissions, was tastier than the water in my previous world, but the water from this spring was especially delicious!

As I drank the water with enthusiasm, Alshain stopped me.

After patting my bloated stomach, everyone laughed, but I ignored them and replaced all the water in my canteen.

If I put it in a magic bag, it would stop time and not spoil.

As I was feeling satisfied, Nista went on alert, looking in a direction where nothing was.

Just then, the small animals nearby fled in unison.

Looking in the opposite direction from where the animals fled, we saw a black mist approaching.

The black mist was characteristic of monsters, but this mist felt a bit different from the ones we had hunted before.

But it also felt familiar somehow?

The creature that appeared was a large black panther-like monster.

Its body was completely black, and its eyes were red like blood. It had already noticed us, and its face, dripping with saliva, was full of malice.

Nista whispered,

"I've never seen a monster like this, but it's dangerous, very strong! Don't rush in recklessly!"

………………! That's when I remembered! The mist that seemed to move with a will reminded me of the curse that used to be on Alshain! I hurriedly approached Alshain,

"Hein, Hein, it's cursed! It's the same as the one that used to be on you!"

"! Is that true?"

"No mistake!"

"Everyone, listen, that monster is cursed!"

"What? How do you know that?"

"Keita once unconsciously dispelled a curse. It seems Keita can see the magic of curses and used a dispelling spell without realizing it."

"………………That's impressive, but can Keita dispel the curse on that monster?"

"That's………how?"

"I don't know how to do it, and the monster has many curses, making it difficult to remove them."

"………When the church dispels a curse, they encase the target in a barrier and fill it with holy magic, which gradually removes the curse from the body………"

"Let me try!"

"Understood, but be prepared to attack at any time just in case!"

"Understood!"

"Hey! Are you all crazy? You're going to fight a cursed enemy? We should try to hold it off and escape!"

"No, please let me try once. If it doesn't work, we'll hold it off and run with all our might!"

Alshain seemed to want to say something but swallowed it and apparently decided to give me one chance.

Alright, let's go, Gota Ikkimasu!

I extended my hands and encased the black panther in a barrier stronger than usual, then filled the barrier with holy magic.

Feeling that it wasn't enough, I dissolved holy magic into the stream water and poured it into the barrier!

The black panther struggled and writhed in the holy magic water flowing in and the holy magic filling the barrier.

It attacked the barrier with its body, sharp claws, and fangs, but my special barrier wouldn't break!

Eventually, after drinking a large amount of holy magic water, the black panther became limp, and the black curse mist had thinned considerably. Suddenly, the black panther began to tremble and vomited the holy magic water it had swallowed. Each time it vomited, the black curse mist thinned, and by the time it collapsed, the black mist had completely disappeared.

As a precaution, I re-encased the