CH 30

The next day.

After finishing the trials, we instantly started to capture the lost forest.

"Is this the lost forest?"

"Somehow, it's a damp place. It seems that the tail that I'm proud of is terrible."

"I don't like this kind of place. The strategy seems to be very troublesome ... Hey, can I burn the whole forest?"

"Is there a good reason?"

"Aita"

I poke Tania's head lightly.

"Where is the guy who burns the forest because it's annoying?"

"I'm here!"

"Don't say it heroically, it's not something you can brag about."

"So ... what are you going to do? Is there a monster with a true shield somewhere here?"

"There is a map created by Arios and others. For now, let's use it as a clue."

"Well, that brave man ...?"

"It's like relying on those guys, it's kind of crazy."

"The lost forest seems to be a messy place that is said to be a natural fortress. No matter where it comes from, if you have a map, you can't use it. Well, this map isn't accurate either. Still, it's better than nothing. "

According to the story I heard from Natalie...

The lost forest has existed for a long time, and its site area covers three parts of the city.

The interior is intricately intricate like a maze, and no one has been able to make accurate mappings.

The forest itself seems to be growing, and it is said that it continues to expand every day.

Therefore, it seems that the internal structure also changes over time, and even if the mapping is done, it often ends up in vain.

Natural mazes are more troublesome than anything else.

It's not designed for people to clear.

If you have any clues, I want as many as possible.

"let's go"

"Oh!"

"Oh……"

I went through the forest of wonder with the two people who screamed symmetrically.

Has it been about 30 minutes since you started exploring the Lost Forest?

Kanade pulls on my clothes.

"Hey, Rain"

"Yes?"

"Did you pass here a while ago?"

"Well, really?"

"I can't say it's absolute because it's something I'm familiar with ..."

"Kanade is right. See, here."

Tania pointed to the grass on the side of the road.

Part of it is charred.

"Did you fight the monsters several times along the way? This is the mark of that battle."

I remembered it well.

A large number of small coarse fish appeared, and the frustrated Tania suddenly fired a fireball.

I'm glad I put out the fire in a hurry, but if I wasn't good at it, it was a fire.

"We are going around the same place, aren't we?"

"It looks like that."

"This map is useless, isn't it?"

I heard that Arios tried to capture the lost forest a few days ago.

And yet, the map is no longer useful ...

It may be a more troublesome place than I expected.

"Let's switch policy. I'll look at the surrounding terrain. I'll assimilate with wild birds like before, so be wary during that time."

"Raja!"

"Please leave it to me"

"OK, then immediately ..."

Find affordable wild birds and assimilate consciousness.

Controlling the body of a wild bird, I just fluttered in the sky.

Look around the lost forest from the sky.

Hiding in the foliage of the overgrown trees, it's hard to find a way.

Still, by carefully and patiently searching, I found a route leading to the deepest part.

Return to Kanade and Tania and release the assimilation.

"I'm back"

"Welcome back ~  How was it? Did you find the way?"

"Oh, it's perfect"

"Then, let's go quickly. There are a lot of insects here, so I hate it."

"If it gets too tight, can Tania wait in the city?"

"Huh? No, that's ..."

"It's a joke. It's more encouraging to have Tania, so I'd like you to be with me if you can. Can you be with me?"

"..."

Tania turns red for some reason.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, stupid!"

"Well !?"

"Rain is a natural'boke', isn't it?"

Kanade was commenting on it.

"That's weird. ......

We start walking towards the deepest part of the mountain, but ......

The scenery around me doesn't change at all.

It's as if we're going in circles around the same place.

"Lane, look at this.

"This is ......."

Tania pointed to a patch of grass with scorch marks on it.

"Did you come back to where you were before?　　No, but ......"

"Rain, you found the right way, didn't you?

"...... Oh.

"Did you take a wrong turn?

"No, that's not possible.

When I was in a brave party, I was forced to do scouting and searching over and over again.

If you took a wrong turn, you would be shouted at, and in the worst cases, your fists would fly.

Now that I think about it, I was treated like crap. ......

That's okay.

I've been treated like that, so I've become very careful not to make any elementary mistakes.

You can't say that I'm relaxed because I left the brave party.

It's no exaggeration to say that the fate of my friends depends on my actions.

That's how important it is to handle information.

And yet, I took a wrong turn?

It's impossible.

I can assure you with confidence.

"Nya?　　But I'm back to where I started, so I must have taken a wrong turn.

"I don't think I took a wrong turn.

I don't think I took a wrong turn.

"Why?

"We may have taken a few turns to the left and right, but basically we walked in a straight line, didn't we?　　We've been walking in a straight line. And even if we were to get lost, we wouldn't go back to where we came from so conveniently.

"Oh, I see what you mean.

That's right.

The path that leads to the deepest part is basically a straight line.

There's no such thing as a 180-degree turn, so it's impossible to go back to where you came from.

I wondered, "What does that mean?　　I was walking in a straight line, but before I knew it, I was back where I started .......　　I don't know. ......

"Will you let me handle this?"

Tania took a step forward.

Close your eyes and concentrate.

I'm not sure what to say.

"Material Search."

A blue-white light flashed on Tania's fingertips.

It flickered like a firefly and danced softly around her.

The particles of light drifted in the air for a while ...... and then disappeared as if they were sucked into the trunk of a, particularly large tree.

"I found it.

"What do you mean?

"We've been trapped in an illusionary magic trap.

"What?　　What? - Hallucination?

"A magic field is formed over a large area in advance, and it penetrates the target's brain. By irradiating magic power to the area that controls vision, ......

"Aaaaah ......."

It seems that she has developed a fever of wisdom.

" No, it's more of a ward than a spell."　　

"Oh, I see!"

"Kanade. Break this tree.

"Why?　　Is this an act of revenge?

"No. What are you looking at me like?

"That look.

"Yeah.

"Nyaaah!

Tania made a chopping motion with her hand and poked Kanade in the eye.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm just annoyed."

"Ugh. ...... Rain, I'm scared of Tania.

"Try not to fight.

"I'm not fighting. Anyway, this tree is forming a ward. Remove it and you'll be able to go on.

"I wish you'd say that!

Kanade stood in front of the large tree.

He put his arms around it and delivered a powerful blow. ......

"...... Go away."

Just as he was about to tap into it, a voice sounded out of nowhere.