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23

Chapter 23 – The Circumstances of the 3 Sisters Part 4

“Is Ryua-san going to be fine?”

“It’s Ryua-chan, even she would be fine at <Bear Forest>. Just relax and wait patiently.”

///

I rushed around the forest at the fastest speed I could muster, searching for Mi.
I’ve been yelling out her name but there hasn’t been any reply.
I had searched the entire <Bees Forest> but was unable to find her.
It may have turned into a worst-case scenario where we wandered into the <Bear Forest>…since it’s directly next to this forest it’s not an impossibility.
<Bear Forest> and <Bees Forest>…the <Bear Forest> is a deeper forest than this one.
Since tall trees grow there, the deep forest is just like a jungle.
I had passed through the <Bear Forest> once before.
My trek from the <Caves of Hell> to Kwimill had me run through it.
Back then I hadn’t know that place had such a name.
This place…it would be apt to say it had a dark atmosphere to it.
I wonder why Mi separated from us?
Better yet, how did nobody notice?
It’s too late to worry about it now…but no matter how much I search I haven’t been able to find her.
I jumped from branch to branch in the trees to search for her.

I realized that I had stepped on something when I landed on one of the branches.
I looked below me, only to see a long neck.
A large body began to stand up in front of me.
Trying to look like it was scrubbing something off, it shook its head.

【Poison Salamander appeared! HP:1520】

I remembered the time when something like this guy came from Bear Forest to the Strange Plains.

“This time, just be obedient and stay in this forest.”

It’d be troublesome to draw my sword so I just kept moving while trying to shake it off.
It was mowing down the trees while raising a fierce roar as it chased after me.
Just how tenacious is this monster? Right then, I had a flashback in my memories.

It was during my trip to Kwimill.
Just like I had done now, I stepped on something.
Even back then, I thought it troublesome and kept moving while trying to lose whatever was following me.
I remember what Gantetsu had said about it.
‘The <Poison Salamander> is a tenacious monster that won’t forget a grudge’.
…No way. That <Poison Salamander> was my fault?
I’m positive I lost the creature…even those large lizards must lose prey here and there.
I wonder how many of them gave up chasing me…

While I was thinking, the <Poison Salamander> had caught up and swung its leg at me.

【Poison Salamander attacked!】
【Ryua received no damage!】

Before the Salamander could step on me I hurled its body and stood up in one smooth motion, continuing my train of thought and movement.

【Poison Salamander was defeated! HP:0/1520】

…it was my fault that those people were killed?

No, that’s impossible.
That can’t be right. Roel would believe me.
Of course she would, she approached me even though I was different from the other adventurers.
(TL: ボク以外の冒険者だって来るはずだ。)
I’m not wrong…am I?

I started feeling dizzy, and I can’t find Mi anywhere.
What should I do? How can I find her?
If something happened to her, the other two sisters will…

“MI-CHAAAAAAAAAA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~N!”

I shouted from the bottom of my stomach.
My throat hurts from all this yelling.