Volume 23 - CH 31

「Kwahhh. ......!」

I wake up feeling refreshed and stretched out, and hear a lod thumping and cracking sound.

It's the usual.

「You okay, Alec?」

Camilla, who's been hugging me naked, seems to have taken notice of the noise.

「No problem, don't worry about it. More importantly――」

I was about to ask for a glass of water when I noticed that there was no water jug in the inn room.

I see, because Meena usually provides it for me.

I had no choice but to get out of bed and put on my clothes.

「Hey, Alec, if it's okay with you, why don't you form a party with me and come live with me on this island?」

Camilla makes me a not bad offer.

「Sorry, I've got someplace to go. If you want to see me, you can come with Mary to the castle in the Kingdom of Vernia.」

I brought Mary back to the inn here, and she's still sleeping.

「Hmm. So you're from Vernia, huh?」

「Yes, I am.」

If I said Japan, she wouldn't understand, because she's a cat-eared tribe.

「But I've heard that it's dangerous to be a woman there because the new king, who looks like an Demon King, has taken the throne and is doing whatever he wants.」

What a boring rumor to spread.

It's true that I'm doing whatever I want.

「You'll have to see for yourself if he's dangerous. And take care of Mary's quest.」

I left Camilla with that, and put on my traveling gear.

◇　◆　◇　◆　◇

I asked Camilla, the spearman, to take care of Mary, the loli slave, and I set out for the next trial.

Once I've returned by boat from the Kuriti Island, I'm running in my unicorn to my next destination.

The third trial in the grimoire "The Poetry of Welgilius" was to capture the Great Lion.

A great lion?

It's a little tricky, because you're not supposed to kill it , but you're supposed to catch it.

If I want to catch it alive, I must not give it any extra damage, which makes it much more difficult.

Another problem is how to keep the big lion captive after capturing it. That's another problem. I won't be able to hold on to it forever, and the enemies in this trial are all of a very high level.

There will be a battle this time as well, but it's doubtful that I can win that battle.

However, I have a feeling that if I use the "Ariadne's Thread" that I got on the Kiriti Island to bind it to the turtle shell, I can manage it.

It is said to be unbreakable due to the blessings of the gods, so I'll trust that appraisal.

A week later, I was walking in the mountainous region north of the Kingdom of Portiana.

On foot.

It wasn't that the unicorn had escaped me.

The terrain in this mountainous region was so rugged that even the unicorns, which were far superior to horses, had trouble moving.

It's just that it's faster for me to move on my own, since I have special movement skills like 【Instantaneous Movement】 and 【Levitation】.

「But I can't find it. ...... Is it really here?」

I'm getting notes and a copy of the map from the earnest man, Cherry-sensei (Boy).

Even though it's not that accurate, if there are enemies worthy of the trial, I'll find them soon enough - I thought - but I guess I should have requested a more accurate map.

There didn't seem to be many people living around here, even if I tried to talk to them in the nearby towns and villages.

It's no wonder there are no people here, since this area is frequented by monsters like killer bears, which are tough even for A-rank adventurers.

Looking down, I saw a fantastic sea of clouds slowly shimmering, and steep, rocky mountains peeking out from them.

The majestic scenery was a bit otherworldly - well, this was already another world, wasn't it?

Let's try one.

I took a deep breath and tried to raise my voice.

「Aa~aaa~hhh! Ahhh! Ahh! *cough cough*!」

My voice echoed in the air.

But nothing happens.

「Hmph, I would have thought that an enemy of the third trial, the master of this mountain, would at least react to any disturbance at its territory. ......」

It's not that easy.

I've been thinking about it for a while and decided to take up a skill to find the big lion.

【Churu-churu】 New!

To be honest, I have no idea what this means, but I'll give it a try.

There are many candidates for the skill that would serve the purpose, so there would be no harm trying this skill.

I tried to use it.

...... Nothing happens.

「No? Sniff-sniff, Is like ...... my body smelling like fish?」

I smell my hands, and they smell rather delicious.

It makes me want to eat tuna mayo, cheese and cod snacks, and catnip.

Then――

I heard a bam-bam-bam ...... and the regular sound of something approaching.

「Was it coming?」

I stared carefully at the sea of clouds below me and waited for the owner of the sound.　

「GHAAAA――――!」

The thing that jumped out of the sea of clouds with a loud roar was huge.

It must have been at least 20 meters long.

The sharp fangs extending from the upper jaw remind me of two swords.

Its golden mane reflected the sunlight like a glittering sun.

It seemed that this was the third trial, the great lion, for sure.

It would be no fun to take a direct hit, so I jumped back. However, the Great Lion's maneuvers were far beyond my expectations.

「Guh! It's fast!?」

Before I realized it, my body was launched high into the sky like a pinball, spinning and dancing.

There was no way I was going to be able to stop and capture an opponent like this.

「Damn it. Then――――Jajajajajajajaja!」

I used 【Levitate】 in the air, adjusted my posture, and immediately used magic.

It's a barrage of ice javelins and random strikes by the 【Super-Fast Tongue】.

First of all, this will stop it movement!

「GHA!」

In spite of its large figure, the great lion dodges the ice javelin with great agility.

Oh man, this guy is going to give me a hard time at all.