Translated by Yoraikun
Hiiro and co. stayed a night in 【Lyntemb】 and immediately set off for 【Beast Kingdom Passion】.
“If we just go straight down this road, we’ll find 【Passion】, right?”
Hiiro posed a question, and Arnold answers.
“No, to get there we’ll have to go through the 【Gree Caves】. We’ll see it right after we get through them.”
“Is there something special about the caves?”
“Yeah. They’re crawling with monsters above Rank B, and we can’t really take the Raidpics with us.”
Apparently, the caves were teeming with narrow passages, making travelling through them on Raidpics impossible.
“Is there any detour we could take?”
“There are, but they’re quite long, and the monsters are stronger. Considering the risks, I think the 【Gree Caves】 are still the best option.”
“I see. So we just have to go straight?”
“Are you okay with that?”
“I don’t really care which way we go, but isn’t it best to get there faster?”
“Y-yeah.”
“That’s why I’ll listen to you this time. You better be grateful.”
“You sure sound important today!”
And so the group’s next destination was settled.
After riding for a while, they came to the entrance of a large cave. The hole itself expanded greatly in all directions.
“Oy, are you sure we can’t take these birds?”
Just from the outside appearance, it seemed that anything would be able to pass through easily.
“Yeah, the inside structure is a bit complicated, and there are quite a few narrow passages that we have to go through. It may seem a bit sad, but this is where we and the Raidpics bid Adieu.”
Arnold said as he patted his Raidpic’s head.
“Thanks for taking us here. Give Max my regards.”
The Raidpic gave a sorrowful expression as it rubbed its beak against Arnold’s face.
“Oy, do something about this one.”
Arnold turned at these words and witnessed a Raidpic licking Hiiro’s face with its long tongue. It seems that that one was also reluctant to part with Hiiro.
“Ahaha! It sure has become quite attached to you!”
“Quit messing around, bird! Want me to grill you?”
Even so, the Raidpic paid no mind and continued to soak Hiiro with its drool.
“For the love of… It’s sticky.”
Hiiro glared at the Raidpic with an unpleasant expression.
“Now, now. That’s just how much he liked you as a master. Please leave it at that.”
“… Yeah, you guys did make my ride quite comfortable. Here’s a farewell present.”
Hiiro started writing a character which he released at both of the Raidpics, and the two shook with expressions of delight.
“W-what did you do?”
“I used 『Comfort』. It should blow away their fatigue.”
The word should have also made them feel refreshed. Hiiro imagined them returning to their homes at a refreshing pace, but suddenly, the two birds cried out and ran off at an alarming pace.
“W-what’s wrong with them?”
“… No idea.”
It seemed that the effect was too strong. It raised their tension to too high of a level. Watching the Raidpics press onward like bullet trains, Hiiro concluded to himself that they would return home safely.
“And what’s with this turn of events?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I thought that would only give a reward to the one that carried you.”
Muir imitated Arnold’s questioning pose. She seemed to be of the same opinion.
The two of them had a slight grasp of Hiiro’s personality. The only time when Hiiro would move would be when he was in a good mood, or he was returning a favor.
He didn’t seem to be particularly happy, so they wondered what had moved him to this extent.
“What are you saying? They took good care of my servants. So isn’t it natural for me to grace them as the master?”
“Haha~n, I see, I see. To you, we’re all your servants, and you rewarded the two with your 《Word Magic》 for their hard work. I see, I see. By the way, can I raise an objection now? Mostly towards being called a servant!?”
“Objection overruled.”
“Funnuuuuuu! I keep saying this, but we’re no servants of yours!”
“I think I’ve said this before, but I was joking.”
“You bastard! Are you just trying to make me mad!?”
“Now then, let’s go.”
“Listen to me!”
Muir shrugged her shoulders as she followed the two.
The inside of the cave was dim, but it seemed to be quite wide. The sound of running water could be heard. It was coming from the left, and when the grouped turned towards it, they found a giant slug monster drooling as it stared at them.
“Right off the bat!? What’s more, this is the Rank B Gree Slugger!”
Arnold stood in front of Muir and brandished his sword.
“A slug… is it? I’ll test something.”
Hiiro spoke as he released a word. And suddenly, a white powder scattered over the slug. The already-slow slug’s speed dropped even further, and its body gradually began to shrink.
“Oh, so Slugs actually can be dealt with with 『Salt』.”
Right, the word he wrote was 『Salt』.