155 – The Witch’s Domain
As we made our way through the forest, Seras seems to have noticed something.
Leaning her upper body forward, Seras began observing the trunk of a tree.
[This is…… a Magic Crest.]
On the lower trunk of the tree.
There’s a symbolic crest carved on it.
Because it’s engraved in such a low place, it’s quite difficult to see with all the weeds growing from the ground.
I suppose it was made to be difficult to find on purpose.
Seras looked closely at the crest, as if she’s searching for the meaning of this crest.
[Is that some kind of trap that triggers when a condition has been met?]
[This crest is certainly one of those, but it probably won’t be triggered because some of the formula is damaged. It looks pretty worn out.]
A really old one huh.
[Actually, we may be just told to excuse ourselves since that Witch has already died long ago.]
I pass Seras a flask of water as I said that.
She…
[Ah, thank you. I’ll gratefully accept it.]
—said with gratitude.
Untying the string on the flask’s opening, she began drinking water.
Gulp
After she swallowed the water down her throat, Seras continued.
[Most of the elves aren’t good at magic. Because just as you know, our bodies aren’t suitable for refining magic energy. However, the Witch of Taboos may be an elf who is good at refining magic energy.]
Elf.
High Elf.
Dark Elf.
Generally, Elves weren’t good at refining magic energy.
They’re a race that isn’t suitable for magic.
Instead, they specialize in the Spirit Contract Technique to make use of the power of the spirits.
Apparently, that doesn’t change no matter which tribe you are in.
However…
[There are some exceptions huh.]
[Yes, they’re very rare though.]
[I see. Well……]
First of all, we need to know whether she’s still alive or not.
For instance, we may actually be having our first meeting with a dried-up mummy……
That’s not impossible.
We wouldn’t know about that until we see them face-to-face.
I glanced towards Seras.
[Seras-dono?]
[……You don’t look like you’re fatigued anymore.]
[??? Y- Yes…… Thanks to Touka-dono’s <Sleep>……]
It’s only just a bit.
It’s only just a bit but…
I could see guilt on Seras’ face.
I didn’t overlook those fluctuations on her expressions.
The reason for that guilt is quite obvious.
That thing she did to me last night.
……I see, so she remembered it huh.
However, it seems that she didn’t notice that I’m aware of it.
Then—- it should be enough for our situation to stay as is.
There’s no need to dare mention it now.
It also seems like she’s reflecting on it in her own way……
Moreover, I think that…
If it’s Seras, she would eventually come clean with it.
She has that kind of personality.
As for me, I would just go about my business as usual and act as “her lord”.
I would just wait until that right moment arrives.
Until the time comes when Seras thought about this.
▽
[I somehow feel like the trees here were different.]
I wonder if it’s related to how close these trees were to the Corrupted Tree.
Seras stops walking and gently strokes the branch of a tree.
[It seems that trees around here have a lot of vitality.]
Apparently, she could tell the condition of these trees.
As expected of someone from a forest tribe.
……It suits her image though.
Even so…
[I can’t feel the presence of any monster at all.]
[……A barrier?]
Seras mutters to herself.
[It may be the power of a barrier.]
[A barrier huh.]
As I thought, there would be such things like that.
[Barrier is an advanced technique. There are two types of barriers, magic-based and spirit-based…… However, I can’t infer what kind of barrier this one is.]
We advance further.
[What in the world is that?]
It was Eve who noticed “those things” first.
Several stone pillars came into our sight.
Those pillars look like they’re deeply pierced on the ground.
Each one of them is subtly different in size from another.
There are about 10 of them scattered about.
I could see crests engraved on the stones.
Those crests were emitting a faint light.
[Those crests seem to be working. From hereafter, we should be vigilant—–]
Eve’s ears twitched.
[Seras…… These crests look like they’re activated already.]
Eve puts her hand on the hilt of her sword.
However, by the time she did that—-
I already had my arms held out towards the front.
[<Paralyze>]
———Crackle, crackle———-
The light on the crests became weaker.
The stone pillars look like they’re about to change into something.
Transmutation? (T/N: Henkei ; 変形)
Transformation? (T/N: Henshin 変身)
Anyway, it must have been some kind of a countermeasure against intruders.
However, it didn’t finish transforming.
It has now stopped turning into something that appears to be humanoid.
In theory, the one who moves first wins.
[Well…… It feels like it was a golem that would intercept any intruders.]
That disguised stone statue we encountered back in the Mills Ruins.
If my skill works on that one, it may also work on this one too.
That’s what I thought.
[It appears that it worked.]
[Touka.]
Eve pointed at our luggage with her gaze.
She’s indicating the hammer tied up on my backpack.
That hammer we used to smash the Ashinto’s corpses back then.
It seems that she’s asking if we should break it or not.
I…
[No.]
–rejected her.
[It can’t be helped if it forces itself to move while it’s paralyzed and ends up getting destroyed. However, I don’t want the Witch to think that we’re belligerent people that destroys everything in sight. As much as we can, we’ll go in a direction where we don’t destroy such things.]
The paralyzed stone pillar didn’t try to force itself to move.
It instinctively(?) sensed that it would be dangerous for it to move.
It still values its life even though it’s a golem?
Or perhaps—- it’s the Witch’s order?
Without knowing the strength of the stone pillar golem, we made our way through the forest.
We arrived in an open area.
The lake shores—- we arrived in such a place.
We didn’t feel any dazzling nor anything frightening around the area.
Rather than that, it would be better to say that the area’s filled with vitality.
A lush forest.
I feel like the air in this place is clearer than the other places.
Eve looked around.
Oozing with interest, she exclaimed with admiration.
[I can’t feel the presence of any monster at all.]
That means…
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