CH 7

While being unaware that I needlessly lit a fire under Taula’s heart, I head north at full speed.

Hipopo charges forward with its eight legs, and I have it drink stamina potions from time to time. This means that other than when we stop to drink potions, we can keep going non-stop.

I camp outside at night. Being outside at night with Hipopo and a campfire feels fresh. Ever since I joined the association, all my nights away from home were spent in the laboratory transmuting all night long.

I can’t remember the last time I just took it easy and gazed at the stars. I’m going to have to sleep on this hard ground, but if I wake up with a stiff body, I can just drink a stamina potion and fully recover, so camping at night is fun.

All I have to eat are portable rations made of several kinds of cereals and fruits, and dried and given a block shape with alchemy. I made this for the first time when I was in the academy, and Kalin called it a grass brick because she said it tasted like grass and dirt. What a terrible naming sense she had. It didn’t even taste that bad.

I spend a few more days on the road, and then I see a village just as the sun is setting.

“I think this is the last village before the northern borderland. Oh? Doesn’t it look kind of run-down?”

I whisper while sitting on Hipopo and looking at the village. Kalin sent me a simple map through the communication device, so I take it out to confirm.

“Yes, that village is called Toma.”

It looks like it used to have a proper fence around it, but it’s coming apart in several places. It doesn’t quite have holes in it yet, but it’s clearly not been taken care of.

“This is basically Kalin’s neighbor. Is this place all right?”

I say while jumping down from Hipopo and taking out a scroll.

“Thank you Hipopo. See you later.”

I thank Hipopo with a scroll in hand.

“Bumoh.”

And Hipopo responds.

“《Activate》.”

The scroll opens.

“《Return》 Hipopo.”

Multiple white strings emerge from the scroll, which gently wrap around Hipopo’s entire body, and take it to the scroll.

Hipopo’s body gradually becomes smaller as it’s drawn into the scroll.

Once that’s done, I roll the scroll and put it back in my backpack.

“I might as well see what’s going on in this village.”

I say as I enter the village that’s going to be the neighbor of Kalin’s dominion.