Chapter 10

"If it's just about keeping the werewolves out of the village, we can manage somehow."

"Sure... well, there are some issues, but not too many."

"Really...? That would be best, but the werewolves are known as the hunters of the forest, you know?"

The goblins, who were half-believing my words...

"Yeah, I understand. But let's do it tomorrow, it's already night. Let's eat and rest today."

"Oh, right."

"For dinner, I have some lesser orc jerky and tarent seeds, but not enough for five people. It's dangerous to go hunting now since it's night."

Sally looked troubled because there wasn't enough food for everyone.

Well, it can't be helped, it's time for that...

"I'll provide the wyvern meat. I still have plenty, and it should be enough for this group."

"Wyvern meat!!"

Mid, Sally, and Menado, the three goblins, exclaimed in surprise at the mention of wyvern meat.

They were really surprised.

"Is it okay?"

Dydarion asked me, looking apologetic.

It would be sad for them not to have a proper meal after our reunion.

"Yeah, but it would be nice if you could give me some food when we leave."

"Of course! That's a given."

We finished our dinner with wyvern meat, lesser orc jerky, and roasted tarent seeds.

The roasted tarent seeds were slightly sweet and crunchy, surprisingly delicious. The lesser orc jerky was tough and salty, but that's to be expected as it's a preserved food.

The goblins were eating the wyvern meat with great enjoyment.

According to Dydarion, it's a high-end ingredient that they can only eat once every few years.

They usually only get to eat young wyverns that wander into the forest alone (adults are too strong for goblins to hunt), and this was the first time they had eaten an adult wyvern.

When the meal was over, they thanked us so much that I felt a bit embarrassed.

It's really nice to see them so happy.

Baum, who doesn't need to eat, was drinking my premium water from a barrel, looking very satisfied.

With our bellies full, we deepened our friendship across racial boundaries.

We talked about my meeting with Dydarion and the daily life of the goblins, and there was no shortage of topics.

After that, we all went to sleep.

The goblins were huddled together, looking warm.

It seems there's no taboo against men and women sleeping together.

Mid, who is like a childhood friend, and Sally, who is a friend's sister.

Thinking about it, he's in a harem situation.

Including his mother, of course.

I hugged Baum to compete, but it was cold, so I let go right away.

Baum seemed to say "sorry..." so I told him not to worry.

You don't need to be a hot Baum.

You're warm-hearted, and that's enough...

We spent the night in the hut, and the next morning came.

Sally and Menado got up early and hunted lesser orcs, which we roasted and ate together. Dydarion and Mid had also gone to the cemetery early, and it seemed I was the last to wake up.

When I said I was sorry for not being able to help, they said it was fine since I was a guest.

The lesser orc jerky was not good, but the roasted lesser orc was quite delicious.

It was a bit too fatty, though...

After the post-meal break, we decided to start moving.

Dydarion and Sally were in front of me.

"Let's continue from yesterday's talk..."

Baum was currently walking around the village, and I had given Menado and Mid the task of gathering food for the night.

"Okay."

"Yeah."

Dydarion and Sally nodded.

"Preventing the werewolves from entering the village... I think you know, but if we cover the village with a water barrier, it should be fine."

"That water barrier...?"

"Wait a minute! Preventing werewolves with a water barrier? That's impossible!"

Sally interrupted, apparently finding it hard to believe.

"Don't worry, Sally. It's a barrier that even an adult wyvern can't break, so it's not surprising that werewolves can't break it either."

"Wyverns... Dydarion, water barriers aren't that omnipotent. A barrier that even an adult wyvern can't break? That's impossible for a mere demon."

I'm not just a mere demon...

Sally, who has lived a long time, seems to know a lot about magic, even though she doesn't have any magical power herself.

"Even an elf skilled in water magic said that stopping a wyvern's attack would be a great achievement. We hobgoblins can break a barrier, but not with a single attack."

"But, it stopped multiple attacks..."

Since Sally was looking at me with doubt, I decided to demonstrate.

"Water Barrier"

A hemispherical water membrane appeared, covering the three of us.

"Go ahead."

"Don't underestimate it, I'm the best spear user in the village."

Sally stepped outside the barrier and started thrusting with her spear.

The barrier, which is weak against piercing weapons, didn't show any signs of breaking.

"Haah!"

Sally charged and attacked the barrier, but it remained unbroken.

"Spiral Spear! Wheel! Killer!"

The names of the spear techniques were quite ominous.

I'll let Sally keep trying for a while.

"That barrier can't be pierced by Sally's spear, it's really amazing."

Dydarion was impressed.

You can praise me more.

I grow with praise...

"It's packed with a lot of magic power, so it shouldn't be breakable by anything less than a high-level opponent."

Werewolves won't be a problem.

If something like a Fenrir Wolf like Rannu appeared, it would be impossible, but I don't think such demons appear so easily...

"Haa... haa... What is this barrier?"

No matter how much she attacked, the barrier didn't budge, and Sally was out of breath.

"Is it okay?"

"How much magic power did you put into this barrier?"

Sally seemed to be convinced of the barrier's strength.

"But, Albert... that barrier..."

"Yeah... you can go out from the inside, but you can't come in from the outside."

"So, it's still no good, right?"

"That's why I said it can prevent werewolves from entering the village."

Yes, it can prevent enemies from entering, but it also prevents allies from entering. We need to think of a better way.

While I'm here, I can turn the barrier on and off, but I don't plan to stay in this village forever.

"Let's think about it..."

The three of us, responsible for village defense, crossed our arms and thought.

"Hey, Albert."

"Hmm, did you come up with something?"

It seemed like Sally had an idea and was asking me a question.

"Can the caster of this barrier not enter or exit it?"

"No, as the caster, I can enter and exit freely."

"Hmm, why can the caster enter and exit freely?"

"That's... do you know about magic patterns?"

"No."

"I don't know either."

"Of course not."

Magic patterns are irrelevant to races that can't use magic, so it's understandable.

I explained a bit about magic.

Except for some beings like goblins and slimes, most living things have magic power in their bodies.

To cast a spell, you need to change the magic power in your body to a property like fire or water.

And if you don't have the aptitude, you can't change the magic power's property.

For example, I have aptitude for water, earth, and gravity, so I can use these three types of magic.

Incidentally, magic that doesn't change the property of magic power is called non-elemental magic.

Body enhancement magic and mental magic, which circulate magic power in the body, are types of non-elemental magic.

Now, about magic patterns.

A magic pattern is a summary of the properties and characteristics of the magic power one possesses.

In short, you can think of a magic pattern as a magical version of a fingerprint.

Each one is unique, and no two are the same.

One characteristic of magic patterns is that those who have the same magic pattern as the one reflected in a spell can, to a limited extent, ignore the effects of that spell.

Magic power is always necessary to cast a spell.

Since magic power is used in casting a spell, the magic pattern is always reflected in the spell.

In this case, since my magic pattern is reflected in the Water Barrier, I can enter and exit it freely.

"... That's the explanation, did you understand...?"

"..."

"..."

Well, it's understandable, it was a long explanation... sorry.

"In short, those who have the same magic pattern as the caster of the barrier can enter and exit it."

"I understand."

"Perfectly understood."

Perfectly... really?

I doubt they really understood, but as long as they understand the conclusion, it's fine.

"Can we apply Albert's magic pattern to our bodies?"

"Sharp, Sally. It's possible for the goblins. I think it would allow them to enter and exit. But what about after I leave?"

Really sharp, I just realized that if I had applied it to Dydarion last night, it would have been fine in the morning.

"That's true..."

The goblins here can enter and exit freely if I apply it, but new children, for example, would be unable to return to the village once they go outside.

If a child were to make a mistake and end up in such a situation, it would be traumatic.

"Mom! Dad! Let me in! It's cold!"

"It's impossible, once you go outside, you can't return to the village! You have to survive on your own!"

"It's all because of him! If he hadn't used that barrier, our child wouldn't be like this!"

"Ah! Monsters are coming from behind! No, no, no! I don't want to die! Help me, Dad!"

It would probably end up like that.

I don't want to cause such a situation.

While we were discussing the defense, Baum, who was on a walk, returned.

"Welcome back, Baum."

"Piggy."

Baum came to my and Dydarion's feet, passing by Sally, who was outside the barrier, and rubbed against us.

As always, such a cute guy... huh?

Something's not right?

"..."

"..."

Why can this kid enter the barrier?

"..."

"..."

The silence filled the air.

It should be impossible to enter without the same magic pattern... same magic pattern?

"Oh, I see."

"Albert?"

"Remember, I replenished Baum's water with my magic the day before yesterday."

"Yes."

"Baum's body is almost entirely made up of my water magic, so it has the same magic pattern as me. That's why it can enter and exit the barrier freely."

Dydarion nodded in understanding.

So, if we can attach a part of Baum's body to the goblins, they can enter and exit the barrier without me applying the magic pattern. But...

"Can Baum separate a tiny part of itself? If it can, I'll try it on Dydarion... but it's probably impossible, even for a graton slime..."

"Piggy piggy."

After hearing the explanation, Baum separated a tiny amount of water, less than 1 cm in diameter, from its body and attached it to Dydarion's arm.

"Piggy."

"Wait, this is okay?"

Dydarion, following Baum's instructions, stepped outside the barrier.

And...

"Okay... I can enter."

Dydarion successfully entered the barrier.

No way...

This kid is amazing.

Separating a tiny part of itself is not something ordinary slimes can do...

I think the cause is probably the premium water, but I'm almost certain.

"Is Baum okay? After all, it's separating a part of its body."

I asked Baum.

I was worried that it might not be able to maintain its body if it separated too much.

"Piggy."

"It's fine, as long as it's this amount of water. However, it would be nice if you could stock up on premium water in the village when you leave. The regeneration speed is much faster with that water."

It seems Baum has gained the ability to regenerate.

This slime can probably survive anywhere.

"Premium water... I'll take care of it. I'll prepare a lot for you."

"Piggy piggy."

Baum looked happy to know it could drink premium water whenever it wanted in the village.

I'll prepare as much as I can.

"Well... this solves the barrier problem. Baum will live in this village. How about calling the goblins from the other side of the forest? It's better to do it sooner rather than later."

"I'm glad it's resolved. Baum is amazing."

"Piggy."

"I'll send a telepathic message. They should be happy to come here."

Everyone was in high spirits with the problem resolved.

It feels like it was resolved too easily, but I'll accept it because Baum is so capable.