Chapter 26

"What's going on...?"

"It's a monster. It's watching us from over there."

Sequoia, with an unpleasant smile that didn't suit him, pointed towards the window with his chin.

A monster... that means there's a monster outside.

I should probably take a look out the window to see what it is.

However, just as I took a step forward, Ellie blocked my path and spread her arms wide.

"You can't go. If something happens to Master Joshua—"

"Is it that dangerous?"

In response to my question, Ellie only shook her head with a pleading look in her eyes.

I'm in a bind. I, who have no combat skills, can't do anything.

"Joshua, you should stay here. Ellie, can I leave Joshua and the others to you?"

"Please leave them to me. I will protect them with my life."

"You're being too dramatic. From the aura, the monster itself may not be that strong, but it doesn't seem to be a threat."

He waved his hand lightly and stopped Sequoia, who was about to open the door leading outside.

"Sequoia, can you handle it alone?"

"I am a kitsune. Unless it's a holy beast, I won't be outmatched by a mere monster."

"Is there such a race?"

"Really, don't look so surprised. There's nothing to worry about. Look, didn't you hear something from that overprotective maid?"

"I remember."

It wasn't Ellie but Alru who said, "You don't need to stick to Joshua and guard him because Sequoia is here."

In other words, Sequoia is very strong.

*Click.*

The door closed, and Sequoia went to check on the monster alone.

I couldn't just stand there and watch, so I headed towards the window again.

But once again, Ellie blocked my path. I didn't stop walking and pushed forward.

She blushed and turned around.

As a result, Ellie's back and my chest bumped into each other.

I thought she would move, but she didn't.

But I couldn't back down either. After all, I couldn't just go back to my original position with a "hehe" now, could I? No, I couldn't.

I raised my hands to show that I wasn't touching anything inappropriate and took a step forward, pushing Ellie forward.

Good, from this position, I can see.

My nose was right at the top of Ellie's head, so I raised my heels to peek out the window.

By the way, the window was just an open frame without any glass, so it was directly connected to the outside.

So if something flew in from outside, it would come in through the open hole.

Ellie was wary of this and didn't want me to get close to the window.

But, she must have understood my desire to see outside, so she positioned herself in front of me to act as a shield.

I thought this wouldn't protect anything, but perhaps she was just flustered and didn't know what to do.

Anyway.

Sequoia!

Oh, she's calm. She's walking confidently towards the bushes.

Hmm. She stopped just before the bushes.

There, she wiggled her fox ears and put her hands on her hips.

"The wind."

The words slipped out of my mouth.

A gust of wind blew from Sequoia's feet and started swirling around her.

I was excited to see what would happen, but the wind stopped quickly.

She shook her head from side to side and started to turn around, heading back the way she came.

*Click.*

The door opened.

Of course, it was Sequoia who opened it.

She didn't seem to have faced any particular threat, but she looked like she had accomplished something and took a deep breath.

"Is it safe now?"

"Aye. The monster turned out to be a docile herbivore."

"Really? You can tell without seeing it?"

"The aura was visible to both of us. I called out to it and we exchanged words."

"How did you communicate? I won't ask such a mundane question. So, this monster... monster is not a threat?"

"Indeed. It doesn't eat meat. Monsters only attack animals for food, not to protect their young."

Oh, so monsters have similar traits to wild animals.

I always thought a confrontation would be a bloody battle.

"Hold on."

"What's wrong? Do you think a full monster is not dangerous?"

"Yeah."

"You should discard that notion. Herbivorous monsters are rare. Most are omnivorous, always hungrily searching for food."

"Ah!"

Seriously? So they are super dangerous after all.

I want to punch myself for thinking I could be friends with it if I gave it some food.

"Master Joshua..."

"Ah, sorry!"

I had clung to Ellie, who was still pressed against me, out of fear.

I quickly moved away.

But Sequoia was glaring at me with a resentful look.

"I think you could have at least pet me. After all, I went to see the monster."

"It was involuntary. You scared me."

"I was just trying to correct your misunderstanding. What will you do when you face a monster?"

"You're right. I'm sorry."

I bowed my head, and Sequoia tilted her head awkwardly, stroking her lips with her fingertips.

"By the way, Lord Sequoia, what kind of monster was it?"

Nice follow-up, Torre.

The atmosphere had become a bit awkward...

Torre and Garam rarely interfere in matters that don't interest them, so I think they were trying to show concern for me and Sequoia.

"That one seemed to be a near-forest lord, but I couldn't tell the exact range."

"Can you describe its features?"

"I didn't actually see it. It seems to have recently encountered humans and was interested in a water wheel."

"Encountered humans... Hmm. It must have faced either Barthol or Rumburg."

If it's a forest lord, it must be strong.

I'm glad I didn't order Barthol to hunt it. I had asked them to observe and scout.

"Oh, by the way. I think it can control lightning."

"A lightning beast!"

I grabbed Sequoia's shoulders and shook her.

"I don't know its name, but—"

"Right, right. It was a herbivore. Maybe we can ask it for help. Sequoia, can you help me?"

"It's for you. You must have some interesting experiment in mind, right?"

"Exactly."

"In that case, I'll be happy to help."

Sequoia and I shook hands firmly.

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