CH 54

I headed out for our second reconnaissance of the day. There’s still time before dawn that’s why I decided to do another scouting.

I entered the forest from a different direction. I used the south entrance, specifically, the area where I found Ms. 8.

She might think that I’m attacking since normally she still asleep by this time. However, since she was in a predicament it’s not bad to find her as soon as possible. That’s why I went to use the south entrance.

However due to the ravines and Rocky Mountains on the south side, I doubt there’ll be any elves present there, that’s why I don’t see the reason to go deep there.

(From here on out, I need to be more careful)

Once inside the forest I use <Mimicry> to blend into the surrounding. After 2o minutes, a bluish white light spread throughout my vision.

In front of me is a village that is heavily guarded. The atmosphere around is very tense. I knew it since the incident is near here, I knew they’ll be in high alert.

I disengage my telescopic vision skill and turned back. Since this is only the first day I don’t want to be discovered. Knowing where their village is, is enough for now. My opponents are highly skilled elves, I don’t want to risk anything yet is I would need to pull back.

Once I returned to my base, I write the location of the village before I forgot it.

The next morning, after waking up from a few hours of sleep, I made a quick hunt and then looked at the map where I wrote the location of the elves while feasting on the meat, I roasted on a long iron spit.

I traced the route with my finger while wondering if I should go back and forth between these two villages for now.

(Hmmm… Should I avoid this part of the village? If I do, I’ll have to go around the way further to the south. This will be a long detour though)

In conclusion, I should go around the northern village, find a water source and find a spot that I can use as a surveillance base.

I check the map once again, according to it there should be a village up north but I’m not sure if it still exists there. I can’t be over confident. The fact that the village I discovered wasn’t on the map means that there’s some changes that might have happen and changes might have also happened to the terrain as well.

For now, let’s say that the northern village still exist, but why is it that there’s no information about any water source in there?

It would have been easier if a small river or pond had been listed on the map. Did the empire failed to penetrate that far?

Was it because they went on the defensive? The empire was attacked at multiple fronts that’s why any survey on enemy ground might have been halted and this map is only result.

After my meal I store the map away to its new place, to the room with bookshelf it will go.

Now that I have free time, I started reading. The contents of <Edible Wild Plants> is still far from being familiarized. It would be nice if I can bring this book as I explore since If I don’t remember most of the information in this book and it’s a hassle to return here every time I see an unfamiliar plants.

I know I have plenty of time, but I don’t want to waste it uselessly.

I want to acquire the necessary information or at least the minimum knowledge. Unfortunately, I found myself reading another book. Reading about wild plants and flowers doesn’t really interest me.

So now I switched in to reading some cookbook.

It’s more of browsing than reading though. I folded the edges of the recipe which ingredients I can quickly gather but if I saw a dish that looks so delicious, I can’t help myself but to stare at it.

However, I don’t feel like making anything from this cook book.

It’s true that I have the necessary ingredient, but this <Salted Rice in Salted Pot> cooking is definitely going to use a lot of salt. I don’t have that much salt.

In the end I only folded five pages in this book.

I who is a citizen of the empire is in awe with the richness of my country which was proven by a single cookbook. Even with just five ingredients, I believe that I wouldn’t be able to recreate the dish even if I try.

Time pass by as I keep reading.

I left my base as the sun was about to set to get some dinner. I’m currently craving for fish.

(Well, it’s great that no one is coming)

As soon as ii arrived at the river, I’ve checked for sign of any people around me… and found nothing.

I quickly secure some fishes. Usually, some other animal would pick the fishes that would jump out of the basket but today, there’s seems to be no animals here.

I caught 12 fishes, both large and small. With the help of my machete, I prepared the fish then store them on the cooler box and at that moment I felt something strange. I stopped and looked around but I see nothing strange.

But there’s something wrong, I can feel it.

I can see nothing strange noir smell anything out of place. I can’t even hear anything

(I don’t know… but I knew there’s something wrong going on)

I raise guard, stopped cleaning the rest of the fishes and look around. There’s still nothing, but the feeling of discomfort is getting worse.

(I need to get the hell out of here)

I put my hand on my cooler box and was about to leave when…

[–!]

Suddenly, an elf with a cane appeared on the other side of the river. She looked like a 40 something years old woman. I assumed that she’s an old one but her sudden appearance caught me by surprise especially since she wasn’t supposed to be there.

I reflexively guard my face in anticipation of an attack but nothing happened. Cautiously, I lowered my arms and see her grinning. It seems like she wants to die.

Only children and woman are allowed to make a prank like this.

[–!]

The old lady shout but not towards me of course. I don’t know how the hell are they able to hide from me but as long as your attack won’t work I can prepare against it.

With that in mind, I tried walking forward but for some reason my legs are moving. No matter how much force I out on it, it wouldn’t move. No, not just my legs, my fingers as well, I can’t seem to lift it.

(it’s not an attack but rather a spell that blocks movement?!)

Magic can really do anything!

I’ve become very impatient especially when I noticed that I couldn’t even speak. I tried looking around to see what I can do but even that is becoming difficult to do.

I don’t know what’s happening. It was as if there’s a fog in my head and I couldn’t think straight.

(Every time that old hag said something….)

When she signals to me to come over, my body moves to go to her.

I can’t think straight.

I reached the other side and stand beside the old hag

She screamed in delight.

(Why am I so happy to see her? She’s not some big breasted beautiful elf!)

In my fading consciousness this is my firm last protest.

When my consciousness return, I found myself inside the elves’ village surrounded by elves as I stood there blankly.

(Better not move, well can my body even move?)

I tried to check and it does move. My eyes are working fine now and I can see everything around me but I still have no idea what’s going on.

(I’m not sure, what kind of magic brought me here? Are they thinking to thank me for saving Ms. 8?)

If that was the case, there’s no need to use magic on me. I frantically scan my surrounding and I find the old hag

[You’re finally here. You took your time…]

[We have our own convenience. We cannot just come to you just because you told us to.]

Another elf answered who seems to comes out of nowhere, with an annoyed look on his face

(Are?)

[Convenience? Does it precedence over the case of the monster who preys on the forest night mare?]

The old hag laughs disgustingly, but I understand what she was saying. It seems that with her magic I was able to understand their language now.

I’ll correct how I call you now and I will call you old lady. If you give me more privileges then I would call you one-san though as it stands you can only go up till okaa-chan.

[Kirisha-joshi. I respect your enthusiasm and desire to do research, but a taboo is a taboo in the end]

[Huh?! What’s the taboo did I commit? Without my research, where do you think would this village end up to? This monster eats the nightmare, if it decides to attack the village how many people do you think would die?]

It seems that this old lady is incapacitating me using her powerful forbidden magic. Honestly though who would have thought that eating that octopus monster or whatever it is would land me into infamy and be seen as a threat?

The reason that they went and use a taboo to contain me is because they knew exactly what kind of threat I am. I wonder, do they know that I was coming?

Could I ask about it later? I felt sorry for the lack of urgency because I know understand their language, because with just learning their language, I can learn a lot of things about them.

It also seems to me that my freedom had returned to but I can’t make a move for now since my priority is to get as many information that I can.

[You can’t tell? All the men here would be killed. The women and children will be eaten. He’s the kind of monster that can eat a lot. He can fit them all inside his stomach!]

Uh sorry but I’m not a food fighter though I do admit I’m a big eater. I protest in my heart even though I knew I was a big eater. It’s because of my size, okay?

Well, honestly, I was thinking of offering you my service of defending the village as payment for letting me understand the language but it seems that it would leave a bad impression to them.

[I want you to think about your action]

Said the man who was quite astonished

[The fact that you revived and use the forbidden magic <Dominance> which was for whatever reason sealed is the problem!]

(Err… domination?)

I take my respect back you old bitch.