V2C9

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“All right, show me each of the herb you’ve collected.”

Today, we went out of the city and took the second 『collection』 exam.

The content of the test is simple; if we can collect 10 medicinal herbs per person that grow near the city walls, we can clear them.

That’s why, I and Saria were looking for herbs separately until earlier, and we just lined up the things we found in front of Altria-san.

Altria-san said that medicinal herbs are something that we can easily find as soon as we go out of town, and it’s unlikely that we will encounter a monster. It seems unlikely that it will be a battle scene ———— normally.

“First of all, from Saria ……”

She said that there wouldn’t be a battle scene, but the person in question, Altria-san, was kicking away an attacking slime for some reason.

…… A’re? Normally, fight, eh? I heard that the appearance rate of monsters is low, but we’ve encountered just about 20 creatures, including the slime that was just kicked off, right? Altria-san has defeated all of them, though.

As I think about such a thing, Altria-san has a bitter face, as if she sensed my feelings.

“Ah …… they’re attacking me, but rest assured that this doesn’t occur normally.”

“Haa……”

No, well, I don’t feel like losing no matter what strikes me right now, but …… anyway I, am a monster.

“Well, for some reason, this time it’s only slimes, but ……”

“Eh?”

“…… It’s nothing. More than that, Saria, show it to me.”

“Yup!”

Saria responded cheerfully, and took out a bunch of grass which were pulled from the roots.

The characteristic of this herb was that it was a little brownish, which was unlike the special herb that I got in the 『Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow』. By the way, when I sniffed it, it smelled fresh.

“Alright, as I said, you pulled it out from the roots.”

“Yeah, I did exactly what you told, but all we need for the request is the leaf part, right?”

To the natural question of Saria, Altria-san answers.

“Ah yes. However, it is better to pull out the roots to collect them in a fresher state. More than that, the roots of the medicinal herbs have a nourishing tonic effect, separate from the leaves of the medicinal herbs. Therefore, when collecting medicinal herbs, be sure to pull them out of the roots. There aren’t many people who know this these days, but it’s worth knowing, I believe?”

Oh, it’s like an adventurer trivia. If you want to exert another effect other than the part you’ll originally use, it might be important to store such knowledge.

“By the way, it is most effective to boil the roots of the medicinal herbs and drink them, but it’s bitter, so I don’t really recommend it.”

“Isn’t there a way to relieve the bitterness?”

“There is …… The easiest thing to do, is to mix it with sugar, but …… well, sugar is a luxury item. As a substitute, if you mix the nectar that can be collected from the 『Sweet Flower』 with it, it’ll be sweeter and easier to drink.”

Hhmm…… With her knowing such a trick, Altria-san seems to be able to prepare it. It’s my selfish imagination, though.

“Well, the root is certainly important, but what the guild is looking for, is the 『medicinal leaves』 at the end. Before you give it to the guild, don’t forget to cut the leaf part and the root part into two by yourselves, alright?”

““Ye~s””

Both I and Saria give long-stretched replies.

“All right. Well then, next is Seiichi.”

“Yes! This is mine!”

“…………”

I, presented my collected materials to Altria-san.

Then, Altria-san sees what I offer and silences. And then, after a little time, she opened her mouth quietly.

“…… I’ll ask you once, what the hell is that?”

“Eh? It’s mushrooms.”

“I can see that!”

I, was presenting mushrooms to Altria-san. There’s also 10 of them.

“The content of the test is for you to collect 10 herbs! Why have you collected mushrooms!”

“No, please take a look. This isn’t just mushrooms, you know? It’s 『Magic Mushroom』”

“I didn’t ask what kind of mushrooms you have!”

“That’s right!”

As I thought, it was no good.

Apart from that, I didn’t intentionally bring 『Magic Mushroom』 to Altria-san.

I should have searched for it, but for some reason there wasn’t a single herb in the place where I was looking for it. I couldn’t find a single one like this, up to now.

However, instead of that, 『Magic Mushroom』 have grown abnormally there, and I had no choice but to collect it as a substitute for the medicinal herbs.

To change the topic, 『Magic Mushroom』 is necessary to make an item called 『Mana potion』 to restore magic power, and it seems to be a rare mushroom.

“Well…… I couldn’t find any medicinal herbs……”

“That’s unlikely!? It’s just a medicinal herb!? I saw about 20 of them, you know!?”

“Eh?”

A’re? That’s strange…… I tried my best to find it, but I couldn’t find it, you know? There are 20 of such things……

“Look, isn’t it also at the feet of Seiichi.”

“Gah!”

When Altria-san told me to check my feet, five of them were growing normally there. A,a’re?

“On the contrary, you repeatedly found the 『Magic Mushroom』. Is that the substitute for not finding one even if you desperately search for it? Why have you found 10 of them……”

“I don’t know if I’m lucky or not!”

“That’s my line! If you can’t collect 10 medicinal herbs, you’ll be disqualified!”

“Wha,what was that!?”

No, I’m not really surprised that much, though.

However, since it’ll be not possible to pass the test as it is, I hurriedly pulled out the five herbs under my feet.

Now I can pass the exam too! …… As planned.

“See, I was able to collect them properly.”

“…… What about the remaining 5?”

That’s rightttttttttttt! The passing standard is 10 medicinal herbs! I need five more!?

“I,I’m going to look for iiiiiiiit!”

“A, oi!”

I shouted, and rushed out of the spot to find the rest of the herbs.

“Fa, fast !? What kind of leg strength does he have …… More than that, Seiichi! Don’t absolutely go to the Forest! And also, don’t go too far! …… wait, I can’t see him anymore!?”

I felt like Altria-san said something in the back, but my distance was already far away, so I couldn’t hear it well.

“…… Ah, I think there are 5 medicinal herbs in this place too.”

It seems that Altria-san, muttered slightly after I left the place.

◇◆◇

“Hey, stupid bastard!”

Anyway, I kept running around looking for herbs, but I couldn’t find any of them after all.

Anyway, only such things as 『Magic Mushroom』 and 『Detoxification grass』 are what I found. Where are the herbs!?

“I came a long way while I was searching for something……”

When I crossed a hill, I couldn’t see Altria and the others. Am I lost?

“Hmm …… why can’t I find it?”

Is it wrong for me to find it? I just noticed that it was growing at my feet for the first time when Altria-san told me, though ……

I look for it while observing more carefully. When I resumed searching for medicinal herbs, I suddenly caught the trees at the edge of my field of vision.

“Nn? Over there is…… a forest?”

When I turned my eyes towards it, it was a place where the trees were dense and overgrown.

Unlike the 【Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow】, I don’t feel any terrible atmosphere there, but there was no doubt that it was a forest.

“Well, there may be a lot of medicinal herbs growing over there.”

I guessed so, and I immediately moved to the forest.

I got closer, but as expected, I remembered how harsh the 【Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow】 that I was transferred to was.

From the forest in front of me, I couldn’t feel anything that’s menacing, and I could feel the freshness from it.

“Well, it was full of dangerous things, but that was the place where I got something more important. “

I closed my eyes, and soak in the sentiment for a moment.

“All right, let’s find it right away!”

It was the moment when I opened my eyes and became enthusiastic again, and took a step forward.

“————!”

“————!?”

“————”

“Nn?”

I heard a voice, from the forest.

Apart from that, no matter who is in the forest, it has nothing to do with me, but I hadn’t met a person while searching for herbs, so I was wondering what kind of person is in the forest.

Are they the same adventurer, and have come at the request of the guild or something? Or perhaps, a traveler?

While speculating in various ways, I move to the place where I heard the voices. Of course, I didn’t forget to look for herbs during that time.

As I went through the woods, people were there who would be the owner of those voices.

As I observe from a little distance, the number of people is 3.

Moreover, it seems that they are not all humans.

Because, the color of those three people’s skin was blue, unlike us humans.

And above all, from the head of one of the three, even a devil’s horn-like thing was growing. They can’t be human.

As far as I can observe from a distance, it doesn’t feel like they’re having a dispute of difference or something gone wrong. Rather, they even seem to be talking happily.

In such a forest, what the heck are they talking about until it was stop?

When I was interested in the three people who were far away, I got even closer.

“Bell-san, you’ve finally done it! If you install it with this much, someone will get caught!”

“That’s right.”

“But….. Ignoring Leiya-sama’s instructions, was it okay to come to the human territory without permission?”

“I guess…… well, we would be punished if we get caught ……”

“…… I remembered something a little urgent, so I’m going home.”

“Ah, myself too……”

“Let’s escape!”

“Ple,please let me go! I, don’t want to die!”

“Stupid guy! That’s the same with me! But, you know…… if this strategy become successful, without being punished by Leiya-sama, it’s not a dream to be promoted, right?”

“Tha,that’s true, but……”

“Thinking about my family ……”

“I know such a thing. But just as you guys have a family to protect, I have a family. Moreover, I’ll have a child next time.”

“The,then why……”

“Do we need to take such a risk……?”

“Fuh…… I’ll take this operation as an opportunity, to be promoted and make my wife feel at ease ……”

““Thi,this person……””

………….

Wha, what the heck are they talking about? A punishment, a promotion …… the second half doesn’t make sense……

Well, I, a total stranger, can’t understand the content of their story, though.

Or rather, the person called Bell, that’s a death flag, right? Is that okay?

For the time being, let’s shelve my own doubts. I don’t particularly understand it. But, let’s just ask the three people in front of me if they have seen any medicinal herbs nearby. It’s not that it became troublesome to search it on my own! ……is what I want to think.

When I decided to do so, I immediately took action, and I appeared in front of the three people who continued their discussion that I still do not understand.

“U,uhhmm……”

“““Who!?”””

“!”

I, I was startled…… because they all turned around with their voices together, my body got startled! Wait, that wasn’t it. When I was surprised by myself, as soon as they saw me, they opened their eyes wide, and were surprised.

They’ve got such reactions, so I who should have been surprised, becomes calm oppositely.

With a calm head, I confirmed the three people in front of me again.

One person was tall and thin, and the other was the exact opposite, with a fat body and a short height like I used to be.

And the man standing in the middle, at first glance, he had a body that could be recognized that is trained. What is? This unbalanced and balanced combination.

What can be said that’s common with these three people, was that I could see it when I was watching from a distance; the color of their skin is blue. Other than that, they’re no different from us in particular. It doesn’t look like they’re beast men, and …… they also have devilish horns, so are they from the demon tribe? That’s simple though.

In this way, I thought that I would not look at the other party indefinitely, so I decided to talk to them immediately.

“Err————”

“Why is there a human being in a place like this!?”

“No,no way …… It seems that our plan has already failed!?”

“I hate thaaaaaaaaaat! I don’t like the punishment of Leiya-samaaaaaaaa!”

Failed. I don’t know why, but as soon as I tried to talk to them, they started making noise.

“U,uhmm…… who the heck are you guys……?”

I was supposed to ask about the medicinal herbs, but if they get so fussed, I would be worried of what the three people in front of me were.

Then, the macho man answered my question.

“Fuh …… if we were exposed, then there’s no other way! I’m the leader of 『Victim』, a unit that reports directly to the commander of the 3rd unit of the Demon Army, Leiya-sama, Bell Giselle!”

“Bosco Dan, I also belong to 『Victim』!”

“Terry Hemut!”

“Who’s the Demon army’s Honorable sacrificial corps ————”

“””It’s us!!!!”””

“…………”

I see, they’re just perverts huh.

I was convinced, and when I nodded, I tried to walk away softly from the place, but

“You’re escaping, stupid!”

“Eeh……”

However, they go around and cut in.

“What are you trying to leave for!”

“Well, because …… you guys are crazy, right? I don’t want to get involved……”

“You’re being mercilessly nonchalant this time!?”

I thought the name of their corps was worse.

What is that, 『Victim』 they said. In English, its meaning is 『Scapegoat』, right? Besides, they’ve said 『Sacrificial Corps』 by themselves…… it’s pathetic and I have no words further. Isn’t that complete discarded pieces.

“What the hell, is that? I’m busy looking for medicinal herbs, though.”

“What are!? You saying towards me!?”

That was it.

“I mean, who are you!”

“I’m Seiichi. As I said earlier, I came to this forest to look for medicinal herbs. Then, I heard your guys’ voices …… I was trying to ask if you saw any herbs, but it looks like there was something like a bustle inside, so I thought I’d abandon it.”

“Did you come to the forest to look for medicinal herbs? Is there a lot of medicinal herbs growing around?”

To my explanation, the thin man ———— Bosco said so.

“Since it’s not here, then it can’t be helped.”

“Well, I don’t care what your reason is ……”

This time the fat man ———— Terry opened his mouth.

No, you don’t care, is it? It’s important to me, you know?

“Seiichi …… was it? You, have witnessed our figures ……. Unfortunately, we can’t send you back alive anymore.”

“Yes?”

Eh, what is he saying? 『We can’t send you back alive anymore』 he said…… They’ll kill me!?

Ignore me who is surprised by the sudden situation, Terry sends some signal to Belle and the others.

And when Belle received such signal, he nodded, and snaps his finger.

Then, from behind Bell and the others, zushi zushi, footsteps echoed, and a green skin, human-like guy of about 3 meters with some animal fur wrapped around his waist appeared.

“This guy is a troll. Among human beings, it’s a B-class monster, is it?”

“No, I don’t know……”

The monster who was called a troll, even though there are many parts of it that humans have in common, such as eyes, nose, and mouth, I can’t feel any intellect in each its movements.

Its ears are slightly pointed, and the head is beautifully bald. A large wooden club was held in its hand.

“Alright…… Troll! Dispatch!”

When Bell says a line that an enemy character of an old anime seems to say at the bottom, the Troll catch me its eyes! Opening its eyes wide, it swings its club up and attacks me.

“Ooooooooooooo!”

“Eeeeeeeeeeh!? You’re seriously killing me!?”

Even though it’s our first meeting, that’s horrible!? Did I do something!?

It’s not long since I met Belle and the others, but for some reason, I was being attacked by a troll.

However, due to my own unique skill, 『Mind’s eye』, the troll’s attack seemed unusually slow.

Hhmm…… is it okay to defeat this? Is that fine? I’m not sure, but it’s attacking me.

I who decided to defeat the troll in front of me, suddenly came up with a good idea.

It was to try using the skill 『Absorption』 that I got by defeating the slime. The troll is just also attacking me, so let’s activate it at the moment of the direct hit.

I gaze at the approaching club, and wait for the club to approach. And the moment the club touched, I activated 『Absorption』.

Then, with that. All of the momentum and power of the club, which should have been rushing to me until now, has been lost, and at the same time, an indescribable energy flows into my body. And when it runs around my body for many laps, eventually, it was completely absorbed into my body.

“Oh, I did it”

““““…………””””

When I say that with my head receiving the club, Belle and the others were expressionless when they saw me like that. As I look closely, the troll is also expressionless.

However, that expressionlessness gradually collapsed and ————

““““Hmm!?””””

With their eyes wide open so much to see this, they have an indescribable face who raises the corners of their mouth in a tightly bound state instead of them opening their mouth, being surprised at the reality that happened before their eyes.

That’s a very stupid look, so they must have been really surprised.

“Be, Bell-san …… just now, he has definitely been hit by the troll attack, right?”

“Yo,you hit him …… troll, you hit him, right?”

“O, oh ……”

“This, there must be some magic involved, so the attack was disconnected ……”

“No, the club had hit his head ……. You don’t have to check it, it hit him well, you know ……”

““““…………””””

When I think that they left me and started the conversation without permission, this time, I closed my mouth.

And when each of them looks at each other, Bell says with a big twitch on his face.

“Thi,thithithithis time, it missed!”

“Tha,thathathathat’s right!”

“We,we haven’t lost! You are at our mercy!?”

“Oh, ooohh!?”

“We,well? Our operation is already complete, isn’t it? We get an information that there was a creature something like him, right? As a result, I think we’ve won, right?”

“Tha,that’s true!”

“No objection!”

“Wi,with that said————”

Bell and the others who did not give me the time to open my mouth, and poured words quickly, all of them, including the troll, was painted on them with green emergency doors and exits on Earth, which is being in the same position as that famous Picto-san ————

“””Let’s disappear!”””

“Ooh!”

As it was, they left me stunned and ran away at a glance. I don’t mind, but the troll…… its unusually fast with that body.

“What the heck was that……?”

I could only muttered so to Bell and the others, who left like a storm.

“Ah, the herbs……”

In the end, I couldn’t ask Bell and the others about the location of the herbs.

◇◆◇

“Ah, you’re finally back!”

“How far have you gone ……”

In the end, I couldn’t find any herbs, so when I returned to the place where Altria-san and Saria were, Saria smiled, and Altria-san said so with a sense of dismay.

“So, well? Did you search around hard? How many have you found?”

Altria may not have ill will. However, such words are harder than anything else for me now!

“……”

“Eh? No way …… you …… seriously?”

When I was silent, Altria-san looked this way with an incredible look. Err, can I cry?

“I tried my best to find it, you know? But …… I found dozens of 『Magic Mushroom』 and 『Detoxification grass』……”

“Isn’t that weird!? Why have you collected so many items that are more difficult to find than the medicinal herbs!?”

“Please don’t ask me that ……”

I was already half crying. Oh no, tears came out.

When I expose such a pitiful figure, Altria seemed to say yare yare, and she took out a thing wrapped around her waist.

“Look, I’ll give this to you.”

“Eh?”

While saying that, she gives me five herbs.

“I found it right after you went looking for it. At your feet.”

“No,no way……”

I, should’ve look for it carefully, you know? Isn’t it strange?

“Well, if that was the case, then you won’t have to thank me for this kind of helpful act, but …… well, the only one who wasted his effort is the side that helped, take it.”

“I,is that okay?”

“Don’t hold back. Do your best next time.”

“A.Altria-san……!”

Ane-sama! No, Nee-san …… Anego!

When I looked at Altria-san while looking deeply moved, Altria-san turned away shyly.

“I,it’s already finished! Let’s quickly go back!”

After saying that, following Altria-san who is returning to the city first, Saria and I looked at each other, laughed, and hurriedly chased after her.

Collection

“All right, show me each of the herb you’ve collected.”

Today, we went out of the city and took the second 『collection』 exam.

The content of the test is simple; if we can collect 10 medicinal herbs per person that grow near the city walls, we can clear them.

That’s why, I and Saria were looking for herbs separately until earlier, and we just lined up the things we found in front of Altria-san.

Altria-san said that medicinal herbs are something that we can easily find as soon as we go out of town, and it’s unlikely that we will encounter a monster. It seems unlikely that it will be a battle scene ———— normally.

“First of all, from Saria ……”

She said that there wouldn’t be a battle scene, but the person in question, Altria-san, was kicking away an attacking slime for some reason.

…… A’re? Normally, fight, eh? I heard that the appearance rate of monsters is low, but we’ve encountered just about 20 creatures, including the slime that was just kicked off, right? Altria-san has defeated all of them, though.

As I think about such a thing, Altria-san has a bitter face, as if she sensed my feelings.

“Ah …… they’re attacking me, but rest assured that this doesn’t occur normally.”

“Haa……”

No, well, I don’t feel like losing no matter what strikes me right now, but …… anyway I, am a monster.

“Well, for some reason, this time it’s only slimes, but ……”

“Eh?”

“…… It’s nothing. More than that, Saria, show it to me.”

“Yup!”

Saria responded cheerfully, and took out a bunch of grass which were pulled from the roots.

The characteristic of this herb was that it was a little brownish, which was unlike the special herb that I got in the 『Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow』. By the way, when I sniffed it, it smelled fresh.

“Alright, as I said, you pulled it out from the roots.”

“Yeah, I did exactly what you told, but all we need for the request is the leaf part, right?”

To the natural question of Saria, Altria-san answers.

“Ah yes. However, it is better to pull out the roots to collect them in a fresher state. More than that, the roots of the medicinal herbs have a nourishing tonic effect, separate from the leaves of the medicinal herbs. Therefore, when collecting medicinal herbs, be sure to pull them out of the roots. There aren’t many people who know this these days, but it’s worth knowing, I believe?”

Oh, it’s like an adventurer trivia. If you want to exert another effect other than the part you’ll originally use, it might be important to store such knowledge.

“By the way, it is most effective to boil the roots of the medicinal herbs and drink them, but it’s bitter, so I don’t really recommend it.”

“Isn’t there a way to relieve the bitterness?”

“There is …… The easiest thing to do, is to mix it with sugar, but …… well, sugar is a luxury item. As a substitute, if you mix the nectar that can be collected from the 『Sweet Flower』 with it, it’ll be sweeter and easier to drink.”

Hhmm…… With her knowing such a trick, Altria-san seems to be able to prepare it. It’s my selfish imagination, though.

“Well, the root is certainly important, but what the guild is looking for, is the 『medicinal leaves』 at the end. Before you give it to the guild, don’t forget to cut the leaf part and the root part into two by yourselves, alright?”

““Ye~s””

Both I and Saria give long-stretched replies.

“All right. Well then, next is Seiichi.”

“Yes! This is mine!”

“…………”

I, presented my collected materials to Altria-san.

Then, Altria-san sees what I offer and silences. And then, after a little time, she opened her mouth quietly.

“…… I’ll ask you once, what the hell is that?”

“Eh? It’s mushrooms.”

“I can see that!”

I, was presenting mushrooms to Altria-san. There’s also 10 of them.

“The content of the test is for you to collect 10 herbs! Why have you collected mushrooms!”

“No, please take a look. This isn’t just mushrooms, you know? It’s 『Magic Mushroom』”

“I didn’t ask what kind of mushrooms you have!”

“That’s right!”

As I thought, it was no good.

Apart from that, I didn’t intentionally bring 『Magic Mushroom』 to Altria-san.

I should have searched for it, but for some reason there wasn’t a single herb in the place where I was looking for it. I couldn’t find a single one like this, up to now.

However, instead of that, 『Magic Mushroom』 have grown abnormally there, and I had no choice but to collect it as a substitute for the medicinal herbs.

To change the topic, 『Magic Mushroom』 is necessary to make an item called 『Mana potion』 to restore magic power, and it seems to be a rare mushroom.

“Well…… I couldn’t find any medicinal herbs……”

“That’s unlikely!? It’s just a medicinal herb!? I saw about 20 of them, you know!?”

“Eh?”

A’re? That’s strange…… I tried my best to find it, but I couldn’t find it, you know? There are 20 of such things……

“Look, isn’t it also at the feet of Seiichi.”

“Gah!”

When Altria-san told me to check my feet, five of them were growing normally there. A,a’re?

“On the contrary, you repeatedly found the 『Magic Mushroom』. Is that the substitute for not finding one even if you desperately search for it? Why have you found 10 of them……”

“I don’t know if I’m lucky or not!”

“That’s my line! If you can’t collect 10 medicinal herbs, you’ll be disqualified!”

“Wha,what was that!?”

No, I’m not really surprised that much, though.

However, since it’ll be not possible to pass the test as it is, I hurriedly pulled out the five herbs under my feet.

Now I can pass the exam too! …… As planned.

“See, I was able to collect them properly.”

“…… What about the remaining 5?”

That’s rightttttttttttt! The passing standard is 10 medicinal herbs! I need five more!?

“I,I’m going to look for iiiiiiiit!”

“A, oi!”

I shouted, and rushed out of the spot to find the rest of the herbs.

“Fa, fast !? What kind of leg strength does he have …… More than that, Seiichi! Don’t absolutely go to the Forest! And also, don’t go too far! …… wait, I can’t see him anymore!?”

I felt like Altria-san said something in the back, but my distance was already far away, so I couldn’t hear it well.

“…… Ah, I think there are 5 medicinal herbs in this place too.”

It seems that Altria-san, muttered slightly after I left the place.

◇◆◇

“Hey, stupid bastard!”

Anyway, I kept running around looking for herbs, but I couldn’t find any of them after all.

Anyway, only such things as 『Magic Mushroom』 and 『Detoxification grass』 are what I found. Where are the herbs!?

“I came a long way while I was searching for something……”

When I crossed a hill, I couldn’t see Altria and the others. Am I lost?

“Hmm …… why can’t I find it?”

Is it wrong for me to find it? I just noticed that it was growing at my feet for the first time when Altria-san told me, though ……

I look for it while observing more carefully. When I resumed searching for medicinal herbs, I suddenly caught the trees at the edge of my field of vision.

“Nn? Over there is…… a forest?”

When I turned my eyes towards it, it was a place where the trees were dense and overgrown.

Unlike the 【Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow】, I don’t feel any terrible atmosphere there, but there was no doubt that it was a forest.

“Well, there may be a lot of medicinal herbs growing over there.”

I guessed so, and I immediately moved to the forest.

I got closer, but as expected, I remembered how harsh the 【Forest of Endless Love and Sorrow】 that I was transferred to was.

From the forest in front of me, I couldn’t feel anything that’s menacing, and I could feel the freshness from it.

“Well, it was full of dangerous things, but that was the place where I got something more important. “

I closed my eyes, and soak in the sentiment for a moment.

“All right, let’s find it right away!”

It was the moment when I opened my eyes and became enthusiastic again, and took a step forward.

“————!”

“————!?”

“————”

“Nn?”

I heard a voice, from the forest.

Apart from that, no matter who is in the forest, it has nothing to do with me, but I hadn’t met a person while searching for herbs, so I was wondering what kind of person is in the forest.

Are they the same adventurer, and have come at the request of the guild or something? Or perhaps, a traveler?

While speculating in various ways, I move to the place where I heard the voices. Of course, I didn’t forget to look for herbs during that time.

As I went through the woods, people were there who would be the owner of those voices.

As I observe from a little distance, the number of people is 3.

Moreover, it seems that they are not all humans.

Because, the color of those three people’s skin was blue, unlike us humans.

And above all, from the head of one of the three, even a devil’s horn-like thing was growing. They can’t be human.

As far as I can observe from a distance, it doesn’t feel like they’re having a dispute of difference or something gone wrong. Rather, they even seem to be talking happily.

In such a forest, what the heck are they talking about until it was stop?

When I was interested in the three people who were far away, I got even closer.

“Bell-san, you’ve finally done it! If you install it with this much, someone will get caught!”

“That’s right.”

“But….. Ignoring Leiya-sama’s instructions, was it okay to come to the human territory without permission?”

“I guess…… well, we would be punished if we get caught ……”

“…… I remembered something a little urgent, so I’m going home.”

“Ah, myself too……”

“Let’s escape!”

“Ple,please let me go! I, don’t want to die!”

“Stupid guy! That’s the same with me! But, you know…… if this strategy become successful, without being punished by Leiya-sama, it’s not a dream to be promoted, right?”

“Tha,that’s true, but……”

“Thinking about my family ……”

“I know such a thing. But just as you guys have a family to protect, I have a family. Moreover, I’ll have a child next time.”

“The,then why……”

“Do we need to take such a risk……?”

“Fuh…… I’ll take this operation as an opportunity, to be promoted and make my wife feel at ease ……”

““Thi,this person……””

………….

Wha, what the heck are they talking about? A punishment, a promotion …… the second half doesn’t make sense……

Well, I, a total stranger, can’t understand the content of their story, though.

Or rather, the person called Bell, that’s a death flag, right? Is that okay?

For the time being, let’s shelve my own doubts. I don’t particularly understand it. But, let’s just ask the three people in front of me if they have seen any medicinal herbs nearby. It’s not that it became troublesome to search it on my own! ……is what I want to think.

When I decided to do so, I immediately took action, and I appeared in front of the three people who continued their discussion that I still do not understand.

“U,uhhmm……”

“““Who!?”””

“!”

I, I was startled…… because they all turned around with their voices together, my body got startled! Wait, that wasn’t it. When I was surprised by myself, as soon as they saw me, they opened their eyes wide, and were surprised.

They’ve got such reactions, so I who should have been surprised, becomes calm oppositely.

With a calm head, I confirmed the three people in front of me again.

One person was tall and thin, and the other was the exact opposite, with a fat body and a short height like I used to be.

And the man standing in the middle, at first glance, he had a body that could be recognized that is trained. What is? This unbalanced and balanced combination.

What can be said that’s common with these three people, was that I could see it when I was watching from a distance; the color of their skin is blue. Other than that, they’re no different from us in particular. It doesn’t look like they’re beast men, and …… they also have devilish horns, so are they from the demon tribe? That’s simple though.

In this way, I thought that I would not look at the other party indefinitely, so I decided to talk to them immediately.

“Err————”

“Why is there a human being in a place like this!?”

“No,no way …… It seems that our plan has already failed!?”

“I hate thaaaaaaaaaat! I don’t like the punishment of Leiya-samaaaaaaaa!”

Failed. I don’t know why, but as soon as I tried to talk to them, they started making noise.

“U,uhmm…… who the heck are you guys……?”

I was supposed to ask about the medicinal herbs, but if they get so fussed, I would be worried of what the three people in front of me were.

Then, the macho man answered my question.

“Fuh …… if we were exposed, then there’s no other way! I’m the leader of 『Victim』, a unit that reports directly to the commander of the 3rd unit of the Demon Army, Leiya-sama, Bell Giselle!”

“Bosco Dan, I also belong to 『Victim』!”

“Terry Hemut!”

“Who’s the Demon army’s Honorable sacrificial corps ————”

“””It’s us!!!!”””

“…………”

I see, they’re just perverts huh.

I was convinced, and when I nodded, I tried to walk away softly from the place, but

“You’re escaping, stupid!”

“Eeh……”

However, they go around and cut in.

“What are you trying to leave for!”

“Well, because …… you guys are crazy, right? I don’t want to get involved……”

“You’re being mercilessly nonchalant this time!?”

I thought the name of their corps was worse.

What is that, 『Victim』 they said. In English, its meaning is 『Scapegoat』, right? Besides, they’ve said 『Sacrificial Corps』 by themselves…… it’s pathetic and I have no words further. Isn’t that complete discarded pieces.

“What the hell, is that? I’m busy looking for medicinal herbs, though.”

“What are!? You saying towards me!?”

That was it.

“I mean, who are you!”

“I’m Seiichi. As I said earlier, I came to this forest to look for medicinal herbs. Then, I heard your guys’ voices …… I was trying to ask if you saw any herbs, but it looks like there was something like a bustle inside, so I thought I’d abandon it.”

“Did you come to the forest to look for medicinal herbs? Is there a lot of medicinal herbs growing around?”

To my explanation, the thin man ———— Bosco said so.

“Since it’s not here, then it can’t be helped.”

“Well, I don’t care what your reason is ……”

This time the fat man ———— Terry opened his mouth.

No, you don’t care, is it? It’s important to me, you know?

“Seiichi …… was it? You, have witnessed our figures ……. Unfortunately, we can’t send you back alive anymore.”

“Yes?”

Eh, what is he saying? 『We can’t send you back alive anymore』 he said…… They’ll kill me!?

Ignore me who is surprised by the sudden situation, Terry sends some signal to Belle and the others.

And when Belle received such signal, he nodded, and snaps his finger.

Then, from behind Bell and the others, zushi zushi, footsteps echoed, and a green skin, human-like guy of about 3 meters with some animal fur wrapped around his waist appeared.

“This guy is a troll. Among human beings, it’s a B-class monster, is it?”

“No, I don’t know……”

The monster who was called a troll, even though there are many parts of it that humans have in common, such as eyes, nose, and mouth, I can’t feel any intellect in each its movements.

Its ears are slightly pointed, and the head is beautifully bald. A large wooden club was held in its hand.

“Alright…… Troll! Dispatch!”

When Bell says a line that an enemy character of an old anime seems to say at the bottom, the Troll catch me its eyes! Opening its eyes wide, it swings its club up and attacks me.

“Ooooooooooooo!”

“Eeeeeeeeeeh!? You’re seriously killing me!?”

Even though it’s our first meeting, that’s horrible!? Did I do something!?

It’s not long since I met Belle and the others, but for some reason, I was being attacked by a troll.

However, due to my own unique skill, 『Mind’s eye』, the troll’s attack seemed unusually slow.

Hhmm…… is it okay to defeat this? Is that fine? I’m not sure, but it’s attacking me.

I who decided to defeat the troll in front of me, suddenly came up with a good idea.

It was to try using the skill 『Absorption』 that I got by defeating the slime. The troll is just also attacking me, so let’s activate it at the moment of the direct hit.

I gaze at the approaching club, and wait for the club to approach. And the moment the club touched, I activated 『Absorption』.

Then, with that. All of the momentum and power of the club, which should have been rushing to me until now, has been lost, and at the same time, an indescribable energy flows into my body. And when it runs around my body for many laps, eventually, it was completely absorbed into my body.

“Oh, I did it”

““““…………””””

When I say that with my head receiving the club, Belle and the others were expressionless when they saw me like that. As I look closely, the troll is also expressionless.

However, that expressionlessness gradually collapsed and ————

““““Hmm!?””””

With their eyes wide open so much to see this, they have an indescribable face who raises the corners of their mouth in a tightly bound state instead of them opening their mouth, being surprised at the reality that happened before their eyes.

That’s a very stupid look, so they must have been really surprised.

“Be, Bell-san …… just now, he has definitely been hit by the troll attack, right?”

“Yo,you hit him …… troll, you hit him, right?”

“O, oh ……”

“This, there must be some magic involved, so the attack was disconnected ……”

“No, the club had hit his head ……. You don’t have to check it, it hit him well, you know ……”

““““…………””””

When I think that they left me and started the conversation without permission, this time, I closed my mouth.

And when each of them looks at each other, Bell says with a big twitch on his face.

“Thi,thithithithis time, it missed!”

“Tha,thathathathat’s right!”

“We,we haven’t lost! You are at our mercy!?”

“Oh, ooohh!?”

“We,well? Our operation is already complete, isn’t it? We get an information that there was a creature something like him, right? As a result, I think we’ve won, right?”

“Tha,that’s true!”

“No objection!”

“Wi,with that said————”

Bell and the others who did not give me the time to open my mouth, and poured words quickly, all of them, including the troll, was painted on them with green emergency doors and exits on Earth, which is being in the same position as that famous Picto-san ————

“””Let’s disappear!”””

“Ooh!”

As it was, they left me stunned and ran away at a glance. I don’t mind, but the troll…… its unusually fast with that body.

“What the heck was that……?”

I could only muttered so to Bell and the others, who left like a storm.

“Ah, the herbs……”

In the end, I couldn’t ask Bell and the others about the location of the herbs.

◇◆◇

“Ah, you’re finally back!”

“How far have you gone ……”

In the end, I couldn’t find any herbs, so when I returned to the place where Altria-san and Saria were, Saria smiled, and Altria-san said so with a sense of dismay.

“So, well? Did you search around hard? How many have you found?”

Altria may not have ill will. However, such words are harder than anything else for me now!

“……”

“Eh? No way …… you …… seriously?”

When I was silent, Altria-san looked this way with an incredible look. Err, can I cry?

“I tried my best to find it, you know? But …… I found dozens of 『Magic Mushroom』 and 『Detoxification grass』……”

“Isn’t that weird!? Why have you collected so many items that are more difficult to find than the medicinal herbs!?”

“Please don’t ask me that ……”

I was already half crying. Oh no, tears came out.

When I expose such a pitiful figure, Altria seemed to say yare yare, and she took out a thing wrapped around her waist.

“Look, I’ll give this to you.”

“Eh?”

While saying that, she gives me five herbs.

“I found it right after you went looking for it. At your feet.”

“No,no way……”

I, should’ve look for it carefully, you know? Isn’t it strange?

“Well, if that was the case, then you won’t have to thank me for this kind of helpful act, but …… well, the only one who wasted his effort is the side that helped, take it.”

“I,is that okay?”

“Don’t hold back. Do your best next time.”

“A.Altria-san……!”

Ane-sama! No, Nee-san …… Anego!

When I looked at Altria-san while looking deeply moved, Altria-san turned away shyly.

“I,it’s already finished! Let’s quickly go back!”

After saying that, following Altria-san who is returning to the city first, Saria and I looked at each other, laughed, and hurriedly chased after her.

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