All around us, there were magical beasts ready to attack.
They clung to the tree trunks and were ready to pounce on both of us.
The magical beast looked like a cute squirrel but its size was huge, exceeding the size of any normal squirrel I knew. Its tail was also very large, shaped like a stick ready to hit and destroy anything.
They are Magical Beasts called Batting Squirrels.
They are referred to as Batting Squirrels because of their tails.
Actually, those Batting Squirrels weren't strong at all. They are only classified as D-rank magical beasts. But the problem is, they always cluster together.
Just like those in front of us.
There were a lot of them clinging to the tree trunks all around where we were.
In short, we have been surrounded.
"Have you ever heard the proverb that as good as a squirrel jumps, they will eventually fall too?"
"This isn't the time to be spouting useless proverbs, sir. Shouldn't we fight them first? Besides, I've never heard of them."
"Whose fault is this? Isn't it the fault of someone who has neglected his guard duty?"
"O-okay. I was wrong sir. Regardless, we haven't even entered Fier Mountain yet, but we're already surrounded by magical beasts. If we continue into Fier Mountain, it will definitely be more dangerous there. Do you want to keep going?"
"Of course."
I answered confidently.
The main reason why I wanted to go to Fier Mountain was actually to retrieve a sword that was somewhere inside Fier Mountain.
Sword of Fear.
That's the name of the sword I want to get.
At this time, people didn't know about the existence of the Sword of Fear, but in the future, everyone on this Averus Continent will know about that.
All people will be terrified by the power of that sword.
The reason is, there will be someone who obtains the Sword of Fear and spreads fear everywhere using the Sword of Fear.
Even without the Memorize skill, I still remembered the words in the novel Demon Lord and Hero of Light that told the story of how someone who was originally weak suddenly became strong after obtaining the Sword of Fear.
The Sword of Fear, which that person used, came from this mountain.
How am I supposed to know? Of course through the novel Demon Lord and Hero of Light.
For those of you who are wondering, what is the fate of that person, the true wielder of the Sword of Fear, I will tell you.
Like most of the stories, Jullian killed him after he became arrogant about his power.
By defeating someone who brought fear everywhere due to gaining the power of the Sword of Fear, the hero, Jullian Arkie, gained more admiration. In doing so, Jullian also gains more power.
What a classic plot.
That's how the story of the user of the Sword of Fear ends.
Finally, the Sword of Fear fell into Jullian's hands.
Rather than having that sword taken by an idiot and ending up becoming Jullian's meal, it's better if I take that sword for myself, right?
After all, I'm already in a lot of trouble because I have to change swords all the time. That makes me want that sword even more. That's why I have to get the Sword of Fear soon.
"First, I have to make the Batting Squirrels fall to the ground. Then I'll be able to kill them faster."
I activated all the combat skills I had. And in an instant, I jumped and attacked the Batting Squirrels on every tree trunk.
***
"Are you awake?"
After eliminating the Batting Squirrels, I went to Anas. She looked like she was tidying up because I had pushed her upside down.
When she saw that I finished taking care of the Batting Squirrels without difficulty, she looked confused.
"I knew you were strong, but I didn't expect you to be that really strong."
The words he had spoken were a little ambiguous. I have no idea what the difference between strong and very strong is.
But to be honest, I was also a bit surprised because the improvement in my body is really very noticeable.
After resting and replenishing Mana in Stigma of Darkness, I felt refreshed. In addition, some of my stats had already increased by one level. The difference was really felt in my body.
The result was a rain of Batting Squirrels.
The Batting Squirrels that were previously attached to the tree trunks have now become fertilizer for the plants. They had died, and their bodies had become corpses. Their blood soaked the grass. Pieces of their bodies were scattered around.
"I will fulfill the promise I made to you before."
In the previous village, I had told Anas that I would give her the meditation technique that I felt suited for her.
I took out a book and gave it to Anas.
"All the things about meditation techniques that I think are suitable for you I've written there. You just have to read and study it."
The book I gave Anas was written by me. I used the blank book I got from the Black Box organization's storage. Meanwhile, I used the previous Village Chief's ink.
What's more, I made it in a hurry. So, I hope she understands if the writing and drawing in the book will look messy.
"In that book are not only meditation skills. But there are also explanations for other skills. How far you will be able to master all the skills in this book all depends on your talent and effort."
She accepted the book I gave her with trembling hands. The reaction from the previous incident just disappeared. Now there was only a respectful eye looking at me.
"Thank you very much, sir!"
"Fine. You can train here. I'll leave you then."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't need to follow me to the top of the mountain. You just need to train by defeating the magical beasts that are here."
I'm afraid that she will become a burden.
Even though it was already morning, it was common knowledge that the terrain on Fier Mountain would always be covered in thick fog. Even during the day, Fier Mountain's face was never seen.
According to common knowledge, people have gone mad after entering into a thick fog. Some people have disappeared into the fog forever, while others have made it out but never regained their sanity.
The only one who managed to get out and get his sanity back was the obtainer of the Sword of Fear. But even that hasn't happened in the current timeline. So you could say that no one survived when someone stepped into the fog.
For that, I plan to leave Anas here. If she keeps her guard up, I'm sure she'll be fine.
I don't know how long I will leave her. But I gave her some food just in case.
Even more...
"T-This is ... Did you write this yourself, sir?"
My thoughts were interrupted by Anas's words.
Anas opened the book and her eyeballs tried to pop out of her eye sockets. She asked me with great confusion on her face.
"Yes."
I answered briefly.
'If she's that surprised, I'm sure now that she understands the language I'm writing.'
The common language that the people of the Averus Continent spoke was the Averus Language.
Regardless of the race or region where everyone had been born, if all those people had been born on the Averus Continent, they would be able to understand the Averus Language.
A long time ago, the Averus Continent was ruled by only one Empire. Thus, Averus Language became a language that everyone on this continent could still speak until this day. At least, that's what historians had speculated.
Apart from that, not only did Averus Languages exist on this continent, but several factions still spoke their own languages.
So, Anas stammered when she saw that what I had written was not Averus Language, but another language.
Even though in my previous life I was only focused on escaping or finding a way to survive, during the period I was moving between battlefields, I didn't forget to learn every language on this continent.
For example, when I participated in the war in the Anster Kingdom, while waiting for the war preparations, I was always prepared while learning about everything I could learn, including the local language there.
Who knows, I could use all that information in the future so that I could avoid life-threatening situations.
But, who would have thought that I would be using what I had learned back then for now?
Suddenly, a question-thought has come to my head.
I frowned while holding my chin.
'Come to think of it... How have I been able to use the Averus language?' Such a big question had been on my mind from the past until the present. Still, it had been a mystery.
When I woke up for the first time in this world, I subconsciously could already use the language commonly used in this world.
If I think about that, that's indeed a strange thing, something that has gone beyond common sense, even now I was confused.
But I don't want to mess with that.
I shook my head and raised my face again.
"Then I'll be going first," I said to Anas.
"Ah..."
I left Anas just like that.
Even if she was still confused, I didn't look back.
***
"What should I do?"
Anas stared at Mesties's back which was slowly disappearing. She was still confused by the book Mesties wrote.
Obviously, it was the writing commonly used by people from her hometown.
'Is he also from there?'
There is no other answer than that.
'Moreover, what is this? How could he write techniques like this?'
Anas's confusion has not subsided. She was even more confused as she read page after page. Her eyes read one word after another. As she continued to read, she became even more confused. Even a line started to appear swirling in her eyes.
Eventually, the confusion she experienced became respect. She felt even more amazed after reading what Mesties had written.
But, she began to reconsider that respect after feeling the cloth wrapped around her chest loosen.
'Eh?'
She began to wonder if the Mesties knew that she was actually a girl.
'What has he done to make the cloth wrapped around my chest loosen like this?'
She had been screaming in anger and confusion in her head.
Her face turned red.
Tears began to well up in her eyelids.