Chapter 13

"Hmm, I’m lost."

However, after an hour of leaving the village, Ruisa was already lost.

"Well? This is north, so this must be east... right?"

While staring at the map, she asked herself, but no answer came.

"Ugh, I can’t tell with this tattered map... I should have asked the village chief for clear directions. In the first place, I should have just followed the main road. But because I tried to take a shortcut, this happened. Now, should I go back to the village and start over? I can return to the village if I detect the chief’s magic."

Thinking up to this point, Ruisa exclaimed, "Ah!" as she came up with a good idea.

"That’s it, I just need to detect magic!"

There must be many people in the kingdom, so there should be a lot of magic gathered there! Thinking this, Ruisa decided to take action immediately.

"Alright, magic detection!"

She imagined expanding her senses, which was the key to magic detection that she learned from Testarossa. Although magic detection is a specialty of the demon race and is difficult for humans to master, Testarossa said that only a select few humans can use it over a wide area. Indeed, it took Ruisa over a hundred years of training to be able to use magic detection. But with Testarossa’s step-by-step guidance, Ruisa was able to refine her magic detection to the point where she could identify individuals by their magic. The detection range had also become quite wide, so she was sure she could find the kingdom. Thinking this, Ruisa began her magic detection with a determined "Mmm..."

However, she found a few magic reactions nearby, but there were only about a hundred people. This was probably the village. The kingdom should have many more people.

As she expanded her detection range, she suddenly found an incredible number of magic reactions.

"Wow, so many people! I can’t even count them all! I can’t find this many people anywhere else nearby, so this must be the kingdom. Alright, let’s go! ...But before that,"

Ruisa turned around and spoke into the dense forest.

"Come out, I know you’re there."

In response to her words, a huge shadow emerged, knocking down trees. The shadow turned out to be a giant bear-type magical beast. It had black, hard fur, sword-like sharp claws and fangs. Its eyes were bloodshot, and saliva dripped from its mouth.

"You must be the ferocious magical beast the village chief mentioned. Indeed, you’re much stronger than the magical beasts around here."

The bear magical beast was about five meters long. This class of magical beast is rarely found in this area. It probably wandered here while searching for food.

"Grurrr...!!"

The bear magical beast, apparently very hungry, drooled heavily and growled at Ruisa. However, she couldn’t just be eaten here. She could run and avoid it, but if she did, her village might be attacked. She decided that she had to defeat it here for sure.

"Gruaa!!"

The bear magical beast raised its claws and attacked. If it hit, it would be a devastating blow. However, Ruisa’s physical abilities, enhanced by magic, were always at their peak due to the training she received from Rio. Using her enhanced abilities, she moved faster than the claws and slipped into the bear’s chest, gathering energy in her fist and delivering a lethal blow!

"Ki Gong Jutsu, First Form... Meteor Fist!!"

A right punch with the power of a meteor struck the bear magical beast’s abdomen. Unable to withstand the impact, the magical beast was thrown from the spot and crashed into a nearby rock, creating a loud noise. It then slumped and stopped moving.

"Phew, I managed to take it down with one hit. It was my first time in a real battle, so I was nervous, but it went well."

The bear magical beast’s attack was fast, but with her current abilities, Ruisa could easily see it coming. After all, she had been enduring attacks from Rio, the Dragon King, for a long time.

"Alright! Let’s get back on track and start again!"

With renewed determination and hope for the unseen kingdom, Ruisa resumed her journey.