How many days did we rest like that? Around the time I started to think the Temple and the Magic Tower seemed strangely on edge, a report finally arrived from the mages dispatched to the Zatab tribe.

To get straight to the point, the gist was that there were no problems.

"As expected, concentrated mana has to corrupt to a certain extent for a being harboring demonic energy or a demon to be born."

In other words, it was like this. When mana becomes concentrated, its properties begin to change, and assuming there are 10 stages to this change, a demon is only born around stages 9 to 10.

Put differently, the waterweed incident at the Magic Tower had reached that stage.

The Mountain Lord's nest was at stage 7 or 8, and the Zatab tribe's snake farm that was just investigated was around stage 5 or 6.

This wasn't my guess, but rather the explanation the Mountain Lord gave—the difference between its nest and the snake farm—which the mages refined and sent over, so it was certain.

"The threshold for starting to harbor demonic energy seems to be around stage 7 or 8. I don't know if the Mountain Lord is just a special case and they usually turn straight into demons like in stages 9 and 10, or if they harbor demonic energy like the Mountain Lord but remain as humans... animals... hmm. Should I call them regular creatures? I don't know if they remain regular creatures."

"I see."

"Regardless of whether they remain as regular creatures or become demons, I think they are born with the ability to convert demonic energy into mana and hide it starting from that stage. So keep that in mind from now on!"

"Understood."

"We'll run some experiments for more details, and I'll let you know when the final results are out. It's important information."

White Wind, holding a picket sign that read 'Show me the orb', shouted, 'That concludes the explanation!' As soon as she did, the Inquisitor's hand stealthily went up.

"By experiments...?"

"We will intentionally create an environment with concentrated mana and observe the birth of a demon!"

"I-Is that really okay?"

"We've consulted with the Temple, and we'll proceed under their supervision, so you don't need to worry."

"I see..."

The Inquisitor, being a stickler for the rules, seemed convinced by that and lowered his hand. However, DeB's expression turned peculiar. He was probably having similar thoughts to mine.

Such as... the thought that some mages might secretly conduct their own experiments.

"Did you decide to make it public?"

"Only on the Temple's side. Over at the Magic Tower, we decided that only a few of the Great Sages and our branch would know about it. Because the probability of people causing trouble on our end is way too high. Of course, even in the Temple, it will probably only be secretly reported to the high-ranking officials."

Fortunately, they seemed to have decided on precautions against that too. Whether that would work well was unknown, but it was certainly better than doing nothing.

"Though seeing the glaring looks I'm already getting, I do regret it a little! Ahaha!!"

If it leaked out even with this, well. I felt like it would actually make it easier to pinpoint the people colluding with demons.

If the people in the know are limited, it's easier to find the culprit. Though they might already know and be using it, who knows.

"And the Zatab tribe has no connections to demons. At least, that's the case from what we've seen so far."

Regardless, White Wind smiled slightly as she looked my way while continuing her explanation.

"That's a shame, isn't it?"

That was probably the follow-up to her previous promise that she would hand over anyone involved to me.

Instead of replying specifically, I put more strength into my crossed arms. The gripped hem of my coat crumpled further.

"Well, even if it's a shame, it can't be helped. Just take this."

Ah, is it finished?

"What is that?"

I didn't know why she was giving it to me in front of everyone, but since it was packed in a box, they wouldn't be able to tell what was inside.

I felt relieved about that and accepted what was probably the chest guard. I would put it on later before we departed.

"Hehe. It's an item the Hero doesn't need to know about."

"Is that so..."

Right, right. It's better for the dumpling not to know. I agreed with White Wind's words as she waved her picket. Now my business with the Magic Tower was truly finished.

"Then there is nothing more to get involved with in the Great Forest."

"From your perspective, yes. You aren't going to stay here forever until something pops up, right? You also have reasons to go."

"Then may I ask a favor of you?"

"Don't mention it. This is something we ought to do even without being asked, so you don't need to say it, you know?"

I silently ignored White Wind's picket and pushed my back off the wall I was leaning against.

We had rested enough, and there was no reason to stay any longer. I figured we would probably leave before the day was over.

Since we had also decided on our next destination while resting, the chances were even higher.

"If you really feel bad about asking for a favor, the Demon Knight could just show me the orb—"

"Aren't you tired of that?"

"Why would I be tired of it!"

Besides, I heard they found a place to entrust Akata to today, so I had to give her the thread before we left. I still hadn't given it to her because I'd been dragging my feet, for crying out loud.

"Then we'll be leaving sometime today."

"The Berserker likes this! I was just about to die of boredom anyway!"

"I roughly guessed as much when you started helping with the bridge reconstruction because you had nothing to do..."

"I'm a bit disappointed... My technique was just about to be completed."

While the Archmage skillfully deflected White Wind's whining, we all trooped out of the Magic Tower. Since we traveled across the lake by boat while the bridge was being built, we didn't have to worry about swimming.

"I'd really like to get out of here as soon as possible, you know."

"Come to think of it, you've been strangely reluctant to stay in the city for the past few days. Did something happen?"

"... As if anything happened. But were we close enough to ask each other things like this?"

"...!"

I sat in the boat, basking in the warm sunlight. Even leaving the Berserker and me aside, everyone else had quite the build, so we had to split into two boats.

"Even when I show concern for that scamp...!"

For reference, since the Berserker was heavier than me, he was paired with the lightest, DeB, while I was paired with Kimchi Dumpling.

As a bonus, the Inquisitor, who had shown concern but was rebuffed by DeB—though to me, it looked like he was just acting tsundere because he wasn't used to receiving concern—fumed in the boat.

"Oh! Over there, a fish!!"

"Uwaaagh! Please stay still!"

"Ooooh!!"

"The boat is flipping over!!"

It seemed the meat dumpling was getting payback from the Berserker for acting so bluntly, though.

"Serves him right."

The Inquisitor must have realized that too, as he stuck his tongue out at DeB—who was clinging tightly to the boat—before returning to his usual self. I had no idea where he even learned how to stick his tongue out at people.

"Ah, right. Demon Knight, they say they've found a place to send Akata today! Would you like to go together?"

Oh, I was just wondering how I could go, and he gives me the perfect excuse right here. Good dumpling, good dumpling.

I furiously patted Kimchi Dumpling's head in my mind while simultaneously thinking of Akata.

She was a girl who deliberately chose the harder path even though she could have comfortably remained at the Temple.

Didn't she say that since she was already outside, she wouldn't stay at the Temple because she wanted to see and learn more things? She said she didn't mind being an errand girl as long as she could enter a place where she could learn about the world.

Because of that, White Wind whined about being busy picking out a decent place and guiding her there... but that was none of my business. What mattered was that the child was moving forward without yielding to the trials that had come her way.

That child will become a great person.

"This is the place!"

I followed behind the Inquisitor without replying. DeB and the Berserker, who hadn't heard our conversation, tagged along in confusion.

"Where are we going?"

"Were we close enough to ask each other things like this?"

"...! How petty!"

"Go away!"

Anyway, we went together.

"It should be around here... Ah!"

And just as we passed a trading company bearing the name Gridana.

"It's right there."

Hidden by Gridana's sign, a small, hard-to-see signboard came into view. It seemed to be a trading company, but a rather small one.

"Chirity Trading Company. Yes, this is it!"

Well, even though it was small in scale, it didn't look shabby. Just seeing the constant stream of people coming in and out and the wagons loaded with goods was proof of that. The building was just a bit small, but it seemed to have real substance.

"What's this? Did we come to see the kid?"

"Why did we come here?"

"Ah, she's coming out."

Just then, someone came pattering out from between the stables next to the company building. Four of her six arms were holding empty canteens.

It looked like she was already working.

"Akata!"

"Huh? Ah!"

At the Inquisitor's shout, the child who had been about to enter the building looked our way. Her eight eyes went wide.

"Priest!"

"Are you already working?"

"Ah, this. Uh. Work. Do well. See?"

She must have gotten used to the language already from eagerly eavesdropping on people's conversations for the past few days. The child strung a few words together, even if she was clumsy at it.

It seemed they had given her some tasks to test whether she was good at working or not.

"It looks like they told her they'd accept her if she passed the test."

"I see. She's already preparing for independence!"

"Even so, four canteens is a bit much..."

"Isn't she just moving empty ones?"

"Uh. I, do. Say first? Four. This."

"Did you say you would do it first, Akata?"

Her word-choice skills are top-notch.

Thinking of how I used to sit blankly without being able to speak when equally stranded among foreigners, I felt an unprovoked stab of guilt comparing myself to this child who was somehow managing to communicate.

Even a child is working this hard, so what was I doing back then...

"I'm proud of you. Take care of yourself, and you must always stay healthy."

"You're doing great. Just don't push yourself too hard. Being too good or too diligent just gets you worked to the bone in this kind of field."

"Uwahaha, little friend! When things are tough, laugh loudly! That will blow the hardship away!"

Feeling a slight pang of guilt, I watched as the party members each gave a word of advice to Akata. It seemed that this was too difficult for her to understand completely, so Akata had a slightly subtle expression, but soon smiled brightly.

"Yeah!"

It was a relief to see she seemed much brighter compared to a few days ago.

"You there."

No good would come from me joining in over there. Considering my ambiguous position, I called out to someone nearby. It was the trading company's gatekeeper (presumably).

"Are you the gatekeeper?"

"I am, but..."

Good. Then I'll leave it to this person.

I pulled the bundle out of my inventory. Just holding out bare thread felt weird, so I had roughly wrapped it.

"Once I and those idiots leave, hand this over to that child."

I gestured to Akata with a look. The gatekeeper had a somewhat reluctant expression, but when I added 50,000 gal as a tip, he eagerly bowed his head. As expected, money was the best.

"If you try to pocket it..."

"Iwillmakesurethatabsolutelyneverhappens."

Just in case, I grabbed my sword and added a little intimidation, which worked quite well. Leaving the gatekeeper who had spoken without even taking a breath behind, I completely slipped away from the area.

The Inquisitor and DeB didn't seem to notice me leaving, and the Berserker knew but didn't care, so there was no worry of being stopped.

"Ah, right. The Demon Knight came to see you too. Isn't that... Huh!"

"Huh? Ack. Where did the Boss go!?"

"The Demon Knight just left."

"When in the world did he...!"

"T-To think I didn't even notice...!"

I leisurely headed back to the Temple.

"We will be on our way now!"

"You have to stay healthy!"

"Goodbye, little friend!"

Meanwhile, Akata watched the sudden visitors leave before walking back into the trading company. Over the past few days, she had learned how good they were and how well they had treated her, so she couldn't stop smiling the entire time she saw them off.

Strength returned to her arms, which had been sore from carrying canteens back and forth multiple times.

"You there."

"...?"

She hadn't fully mastered the language yet, but she knew that was a phrase used to call someone over.

The girl looked up at the call from the gatekeeper, with whom she had never had a single conversation before.

"Take this. A guest left it for you."

"Huh?"

The combination of words she was either hearing for the first time, or had heard but didn't quite understand, brought up questions.

But before she could ponder, the handed-over item was already in her hands. As she gripped the object wrapped in smooth fabric, it squished softly into her grasp.

She didn't know what was inside, but it didn't seem to be anything hard.

RUSTLE.

Judging by the atmosphere, this was definitely meant for her. The girl carefully untied the top of the bundle.

【It's thread.】

It was the thread she had looked at in the shop with the large warrior not long ago.

There was even quite a lot of it. It seemed that every single color she had even slightly touched or glanced at was included.

【... What a fool.】

Truly foolish. The girl smirked, intuitively knowing the identity of the person who had given this to her.

Of course. The people who had just been chatting with her and the White Priestess were not the type to deliver a gift in this manner. That meant there was only one person left who could have given it.

【He didn't have to give me this...】

He had clearly come to the place together with them, yet he was the only person she hadn't seen.

The girl closed the bundle again, crying while smiling. This bundle would now become her own irreplaceable treasure that couldn't be exchanged for anything else.

The ultimate gift that would give her strength whenever times were tough.

He gave it to her, right? He wouldn't have just swallowed up the 50,000 gal I gave him, right?

Standing in front of the Temple's stables, I agonized over whether the gift had been delivered. I thought I should have just watched it get delivered before leaving if I was going to be like this, but it was already too late.

I had already arrived at the Temple, and the rest of them had all arrived too. The Archmage had also suddenly joined us and was just getting ready to leave.

"We are leaving this place now, too."

"Are you sad to leave?"

"Not exactly. I know there's still work to be done."

Whatever. It wasn't like worrying would change the situation, so I'd just have to trust that it had been delivered well and move on.

Above all, everyone had already loaded their luggage onto their horses. Once we mounted our horses, our preparations to leave would be complete.

"Ah, I forgot to mention something beforehand."

Well, they would have been complete. But it seemed the Archmage suddenly had something to say.

"A few days ago, we discovered someone presumed to be a demon or a demon worshiper."

Wait, what did you just say?

"Uh, is it okay to talk about that?"

"We couldn't find them in the city. There's a possibility they might be ambushing us along the way, so it's time to speak up now."

It seemed DeB knew what the Archmage was about to say. Judging from how he asked if it was okay to talk about it rather than asking what it was. This was the first time I was hearing about it.

"What do you mean?"

"An ambush? Is there an enemy?"

Looking at their reactions, the Inquisitor and the Berserker didn't seem to know much about it either. Only the Archmage and DeB wore the faces of people in the know.

It was a strange yet unsurprising combination. Those two handling information between just themselves was something that happened often.

"Speak right now!"

Regardless, I couldn't let it slide now that the words "demon" and "demon worshiper" had been mentioned. I yelled at them in a sudden outburst.

"Well..."

Soon, the story began to flow from the vocal cords of DeB and the Archmage. The gist of it was that DeB had encountered a weird guy a few days ago. And not just a weird guy, but an entirely suspicious one!

"Why are you only saying this now?"

"Since it wasn't certain information, I was just hesitant to act rashly. If something had come up, wouldn't I have informed you?"

The fact that our meat dumpling had almost been put in danger again without me knowing sparked a fire of anger in me, but I had to hear the explanation.

When I interrogated him in accordance with my concept, the Archmage sighed and explained the situation.

Since they were suspicious, they conducted an investigation to make sure, but found nothing. They kept a close eye on DeB's surroundings as well, but as expected, no one showed up. That was the gist of it.

"I even asked the Magic Tower and the Temple for cooperation, but nothing came up."

Ah, no wonder. The Temple and the Magic Tower had seemed strangely busy for the past few days. Was it because of this? But why keep this a secret from us?

"Why did you keep this from us?"

The Inquisitor asked on my behalf. At that, the Archmage's face aged by about ten years.

Somehow, I felt like I knew the answer without even hearing it.

"Weren't you in the middle of training to advance to the next stage, Inquisitor? And the Demon Knight had just recovered from his injuries. I didn't want to disturb you with uncertain information."

"But..."

Yeah, I thought so.

Since they hadn't invaded like before or committed a crime while hiding underneath the city, and only approached one person to leave a single word, it was a bit tricky to interrupt our rest for that. Let alone when it was our first group vacation in months.

Above all, what kind of people were the Inquisitor and I? Weren't we the type to lose our minds and disregard everything else the moment we saw a demon? And there was the possibility that the Berserker would get excited and destroy everything in sight while chasing the enemy down.

I immediately understood the Archmage's reason for staying silent.

"That is not for you to decide...!"

However, my foul-tempered concept didn't know that.

Brushing past the Inquisitor, who was trying to passively object, I shouted with the veins standing out on my neck. A heavy sigh leaked out from between the Archmage's lips.

"I apologize. I'll be more mindful next time."

From my real self's perspective, it wasn't something the Archmage needed to apologize for, but it was the best possible reaction right now. Since he did that, even though I could grind my teeth, I couldn't nitpick any further.

My expression crumpled a little more.

"Anyway, be careful. Judging from how we haven't found any trace of them over the past few days, they've either deliberately hidden themselves or left the city. They might even be preparing an ambush."

"I see. Understood."

"Hmm. So we might be able to hunt some demons on the way? The Berserker likes this very much!"

Perhaps because I threw such an overwhelming tantrum, the Inquisitor at least spared the Archmage's blood pressure. Meaning, he calmly accepted the facts.

The Berserker was the same as always, so there was nothing more to add.

"Um, so we're going around the outskirts of the Great Forest to Camberer, right?"

After that brief storm had passed, DeB cautiously changed the subject.

Everyone's expressions visibly relaxed. Except for mine.

"That's right."

"... We aren't going to Ednium, right?"

"Since we're going to Camberer because of a problem there, it's unlikely we'll head that way unless something major happens. Were you hoping to go?"

"No, nothing like that."

Everyone seemed ready, and my concept dictated that I would be pissed off from the previous conversation. I mounted my horse without uttering a single syllable.

"Then we shall depart!"

Our next destination was Camberer. A city located below the White Cat Ridge, and a city that held the nickname "Blue Kite's Nest."