The strategy proceeded to the second stage.
Rudi and I entered the Forest of Hail.
The Forest of Hail is a place three days or so North of the Magic City Sharia.
The end of the forest just like that touches the national border of Basheranto.
In comparison to I who was just wearing normal travelling clothes, Rudi was in full equipment.
A large knapsack, it seems that staple food and some other stuff is packed in for the worst case.
Since it's Rudi, I thought he would go in empty-handed and return like that.
After saying that [You shouldn't underestimate the forest. There are monsters that can avoid my Rock Bullet after seeing it.] is how he responded.
After saying there's no way that's the case and hearing the details, it seems in the forests on Magic Continent monsters like that are all over the place.
I thought it was a joke, but Rudi's eyes were serious.
In the Forest of Hail among the monsters that appear, at most they're B rank monsters.
If it's that much, then even I could deal with them.
Is what I was thinking but...
"Sorry. It seems like I left all the preparations to you."
"No-no, if I think about it like an escort job, it's only natural."
If he's treating as if it sounds like that, then I wonder if he's going to take a job fee.
"Umm, a job fee or that sort of thing, would it be better if I paid something like that?"
"No way. This is something I'm doing out of good intention, so please don't mind it."
Rudi awfully emphasised the part where he said "good intention."
"It's not like I can't pay Rudeus-kun something like a job fee you know."
Even though it's low, I do get a salary from Ariel-sama.
Since I have nothing to use it on, it's saved up.
I should have enough to employ Rudi myself.
Ah, but Rudi has true strength over King class, I.. I wonder if I'll have enough?
"Fu..I'm expensive you know."
"Ex..expensive you say, that..might be the case, but??"
After hearing Rudi's words I wasn't thinking about money, but I remembered the slave market.
In my head a nude Rudi was climbing up onto the show stage.
Buy...Rudi with money...
The area around my abdomen tightened up and seemed to call for something.
I knew that my face was getting hot from embarrassment.
"In..in any case, let's hurry ahead!"
"Yes."
We entered the Forest of Hail.
The Forest of Hail might look the same as a normal forest at a glance.
A variety of large trees are covered in snow, the same as a forest you can find anywhere.
In this forest hail falls at fixed periods.
It's a land where there's a magic power-like abnormality.
In just this entire region, when you step on the snow, it makes a crunching sound.
"The flower blooms on a cliff. Since we'll be heading in a straight line to there while melting the snow, please follow along while being vigilant of our surroundings."
While melting the snow.
Rudi said it like it was nothing and started to move forward.
I wanted to try it as well, but it was no good.
If it's just in my surroundings then it's probably an application of fire magic, but to reach the level of creating a path continuously is difficult.
It's not like I can't do it, but it uses too much magic power.
The way Rudi uses magic power is extravagant.
I continued down the path as even the snow on my shoulders melted.
I thought that monsters might find us from the steam rising when it melts, but Rudi was dispersing the steam as well.
After I asked how he was doing it, he said if you adjust the temperature right then you can just melt the snow without releasing any steam.
I wonder how much you would need to practice in order to figure that out.
(Rather than that, it's time to start the plan.)
So I took a single deep breath and pointed at the staff Rudi had in his hand.
"That staff, the other day I held onto it, but it's amazing. I've only ever seen magic stones with a color attached in the royal palace."
"During my 10th birthday, I received it from the Ojou-sama I was working as a home teacher for."
After saying that Rudi made a bit of a lonely face.
Come to think of it, I haven't heard him talk very much about the Ojou-sama that he taught.
It doesn't feel like Rudi has talked about it very much.
According to the information, I think she was an extremely violent person...
I wonder if he has some kind of bad memories.
"That staff, is it fine for me to hold it for a bit? Since I only have a staff aimed at beginners, I've always longed for something like that."
"Is that so. Since you're an Ojou-sama's escort then I'd think you would be given a better staff to hold onto though."
"Since I used chantless magic I'm sure they were thinking I didn't need a staff, they're stingy right."
Of course, I don't think Ariel-sama is stingy.
This wand is something I received from Rudi so I treat it preciously.
Since it's the same as a wand you can find anywhere, Rudi doesn't seem to have realized it.
"By all means, grasp it and try it out. How is it, the thickness?"