Volume 2 Chapter 40 Searching For Food!
A few days later, after finishing transcribing the runes, we headed to the forest.
"I can't believe I got dragged into this."
"Well, if you think of it as learning some secret magic tricks, it can be quite interesting."
Sandra, who was grumpily studying unfamiliar characters after being suddenly dragged into it, walked at the front. Toxy, trying to calm her down, was quite the mediator.
After walking for a while, we stopped around the middle of the forest.
"Alright, let's split into teams as planned. It'll be me and Toxy in the 'food gathering' team, and the other three in the 'Wyvern support' team."
""""Roger that.""""
We split into teams.
"Well, good luck."
"You too."
Clay and I became team leaders and went our separate ways. Clay's team followed the path, while Toxy and I headed straight for the animal trail, deep into the forest.
"But hey, is Clay doing okay in that group?"
When I asked, Toxy laughed.
"Are you still worried about that? Clay may be sneaky, but he's good at communicating, so he'll be fine."
"Clay might be, but what about the other two? And I think those two subtly dislike Clay."
"Huh, I don't think so. Both of them just really like Wade, that's all. Clay is more likeable-neutral, I think."
Being told they like me too much, should I be embarrassed or worried?
I coughed to cover it up before arguing back.
"Well, then Ice and Sandra would both be pretty socially awkward, wouldn't they?"
"Yeah, that's true."
That's true...
"Ice-chan hardly talks until she gets used to it, and Sandra is just so laid-back. I had a hard time getting along with both of them."
The way she talks, it feels like she's already close to them, but in reality, Toxy gets along well with Ice and was just supporting Sandra earlier.
"Well, speaking of it, Wade and Clay are easy to talk to, right? Wade is like a boar, and Clay is sly, though."
"But he was quite innocent when I first met him."
"I used to act all innocent too."
"Really?"
I chuckle a bit. Then, I suddenly look at Toxy.
"...Thinking about it again, could it be that you have really good social skills, Toxy?"
"Well... I've been training to be more sociable to get into parties."
Training for that, huh...
"By the way,"
As we change the topic, Toxy moves closer to me.
"It's kinda rare for just Wade and me to be alone together. Should I make a move~?"
"Whoa, huh!? Wait, wait. Is this the right time for that? Also, isn't everyone being a bit intense towards me?"
"What are you talking about~? You're so cute."
Toxy playfully nudges my shoulder. Stop it, you're too cute. I might fall in love.
"...Um, to be honest, Wade is more popular than I thought, so I can't afford to lose."
"I really don't understand why I'm popular..."
Before I entered the training school, I was treated like a skinny dog in the slums. I even remember being chased by neighborhood kids throwing stones at me.
"Wade is so cool."
But Toxy asserted.
"You're so confident and decisive. If I were to receive Slow Magic like you, I would probably give up on the training camp the same day. Everyone would make fun of me. In reality, I'm weak.
But," Toxy added,
"Wade, you bounce back from that and now you're the leader of a party that's talked about. You even bought a big party house. ...You paid off my huge debt in one go."
Then, Toxy looks away.
"...I don't want to say too much because it seems like the boar is accelerating, but when you're fighting, you're powerful and cool, Wade."
"Toxy, I'm a pushover, so cut it out. I'll end up falling for you, okay?"
"I want you to fall for me~!"
We walk around playfully like that. However, we don't come across any monsters worthy of a Wyvern's prey.
"Hmm... There are a few footprints here and there, but they're all old. Just from a few days ago. I was walking around making noise to attract big creatures that attack humans, but only small ones keep running away."
"In that case, it's this one's turn."
When I point the runic gauntlet towards Toxy, she makes a displeased "ugh" face.
"To be honest... how effective was that?"
"Well, it's okay. Seems like something might happen, at least."
Encountering Sandra and Grandma arguing might be the effect, but it's kind of subtle.
"I wonder. Actually, it's different from everyone else's runes. There's no clear effect, right?"
"True. Well then, shall I give it a try for now?"
"...Go ahead."
"Here we go."
I trace the rune. The rune glows, and then the light melts into the gauntlet.
As the glow fades, we lock eyes.
"...What do you think?"
"Uh, I don't get it―――"
At that moment, we turned towards a sudden massive presence that appeared around us.
Beyond the trees, there is an unbelievably large shadow. The true master of this area, who Sandra told me to hide from the other day.
"...Wade. Isn't that rune's effect amazing?"
"...I'm scared too."
The massive figure advancing by knocking down trees from the other side is a dragon, similar to a wyvern.
Earth dragon.
In a way, the most suitable prey for a wyvern was heading towards us.
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