Along with Miss Francesca and Mururu, I left the district. There’s not even a need to look for goblins. They’ll appear themselves as long as you go a bit away from the highway and into the grasslands.
Normally, that is. Today, it was a bit different. The existence of Mururu lessened the difficulty of the goblin hunting quest.
“There. Found them.”
“Amazing, Mururu-chan.”
“…..this much, even children at the village can do.”
She said that but she must be happy to have been complimented since her tail was swaying energetically underneath her cloak.
On looking to where Mururu told, I could confirm 3 goblins with my sight. Mururu was finding them so easily because of her sense of smell. It could be said as one of the special abilities of Beastmen.
Beastmen’s physical abilities exceed us humans or demi-human’s abilities by a huge gap. It’s the same with the sharpness of the 5 senses as well. Their arm strength, leg strength etc are also in a different level. And they’re like that from when they’re children as well. An adult beastman is in a totally different level. On the other hand, they cannot use any kind of magic at all. It’s not like they don’t have magical energy, yet they can’t even use spirit magic. One theory suggests that they’re using all of their magical energy in enhancing their physical abilities which is why they are so physically strong.
While crouching and hiding among the waist-tall grass, I was astonished at their physical skills.
“Even though you have a small body, you really are full-fledged beastwoman.”(renji)
“I have even completed the ceremony for becoming an adult after all.”
Saying that, she puffed her chest somewhat proudly. It was so childish it felt really cute. Why do feel so happy seeing her I wonder.
Unlike Demi-humans, beastmen have a life span similar to humans. Going by her looks, she should be about 14 yrs old. Now that I think about it, Souichi and others were also around this age when we were summoned.
“Mururu-chan is treated as an adult among Beastmen already?”(fran)
“That’s right. The ceremony of adulthood for beastmen is not conducted by age but by physical strength. Winning against specific monsters, gathering materials, by doing such things you have to gain the approval from your comrades to be accepted as an adult.”
The ceremony of adulthood. It’s not age based like with humans. It differs with each race but mainly it involves defeating monsters alone. Those not suited to fighting are supposed to gather some specific material instead. The monster involved in such subjugation is usually either goblins or Orcs so Mururu should be used to fighting alone against monsters of that level.
As I explained that, both looked at me surprised.
“You know a lot.”
“I have also gone through that ceremony. Well in our case it was not to be acknowledged as an Adult but to be acknowledged as a comrade instead though.”
It should actually be said that we got dragged into doing it to be exact.
On the Elfreim continent, to gain their trust we were asked to hunt the monster that was said to be the master of one part of the forest. As expected, I didn’t do it alone but with Souichi and others.
Later on we were told that normally you don’t face such boss-class monster but have to fight mere goblins usually. Basically, rather than ceremony, we were simply used to get rid of their troubles.
“Is that so?”
“I may not look like it but I have lived a HARD…..hard life after all.”(T/N the caps are because Renji says it in English at first then realises that they won’t get it so switches to jap.)
[Seriously…..]
For some reason, Ermenhilde made a tired sigh. Well, I really am spending a hard life. From a normal salaryman to saving the world.
If I kept on thinking in that direction I’d get depressed again so I gave a sigh and looked towards the goblins who had yet to sense us.
“Will you be fine with Goblins?”(renji)
“Yeah, no problem. I can take even more……..even 5 of them pretty easily.”(mururu)
“That’s reassuring.”
She must have realized what I meant to say since her atmosphere changed.
Her small body wrapped in the cloak felt like it became bigger. Her careless, gentle looking eyes suddenly turned dangerous and shined. Her legs got covered with white fur completely. Probably, her arms beneath the cloak are the same.
Battle stance. I looked towards the goblin again, it seems they have still not noticed us but are looking around probably due to sensing a strong presence in the surroundings.
Miss Francesca was also surprised from the sudden change in Mururu. I wonder if they teach the ecology of beastmen in Magic Academies? Even if they do, there still won’t be any magician who won’t get interested in seeing this first hand.