Chapter 31

A demon bear is an easy victory. So I was thinking, but surprisingly there was an obstacle before that.

At the Academy of Heroes, we were stopped at the main gate by the gatekeeper.

「Eh? Extermination of a demon bear?」

「That’s right! I’m going to help because my hometown is being damaged!」

When Rosetta responds high spiritedly, the gatekeeper seemed troubled.

「Is it perhaps prohibited for students to go out adventuring?」

「Adventuring without permission is prohibited」

「Eh–!? Even if it’s a simple demon bear?」

Rosetta was baffled, but I can guess the reason for prohibition on adventuring without permission.

It was not the demon bear but the Tenebris Cult that the academy is on the alert for.

The other day, Tina was in the midst of being kidnapped.

Besides, even though we are students of the Academy of Heroes, we have not yet undertaken any classes.

It is likely that the new students without much power will be harmed by the cult.

Everyone of us except Rosetta, who was unaware of that, were foolish to leave the academy.

Rosetta doesn’t know about the existence of the cult, nor does she know about the abduction attempt incident, so it can’t be helped.

「If it’s just inside the Royal Capital, you do not need permission, but… if you go outside the Royal Capital…」

「Well, I will go get permission」

「Ah-」

It was Arti who said so and rushed off.

While looking over Arti’s rushing back, Rosetta said dejectedly.

「I guess it’s difficult if you’re a new student」

「Well, that may be right」

「How do we exterminate the demon bear if we can’t do it on our own…」

「Shall I ask an acquaintance of mine?」

Tina’s acquaintances are probably the escorts.

If it’s them, then they can easily subjugate something of the level of a demon bear.

They might do it if we asked, but it isn’t their original duty.

Therefore, I would like to avoid it if possible.

While talking about that, Arti came back.

It has not even been five minutes since she ran out.

「I have received a permit」

「Certainly seems like it, no problem」

The gatekeeper took one glance at the documents Arti had brought, and easily accepted it.

Perhaps, Arti acquired permission directly from Xenovia.

Xenovia knows about my and Arti’s ability, so she could at least give permission for an outing.

Rosetta, who had not expected to receive permission so soon, was surprised.

「S-So fast!」

「I asked the teacher for permission」

「I see… It’s pretty easy to get permission」

Rosetta must not have realized that the word ‘teacher’ refers to the president.

The permission was acquired easily because it was Xenovia. Normally, you will not get permission so easily.

Then we started walking towards Rosetta’s hometown village.

Rosetta said in an apologetic manner.

「I cannot pay the request fee right away… I’ll pay it as soon as my allowance is paid」

The students of the Academy of Heroes are paid a fixed amount of money as allowance every month.

「No, there is no need for request fee. We are friends after all. And this is also a part of the training」

「I don’t need the money either! I’m your friend too!」 said Tina.

「I would have to turn it down as well.」,said Arti.

On the other hand, Rosetta seemed to be troubled seeing as how everyone refused the reward.

「That is not acceptable」

「If so, I will ask for your help if I have any trouble」

「Yes, let’s help each other. I’ll ask for help too if I am in trouble」 Tina said.

Arti silently nodded.

「Everyone… thank you」

Rosetta seemed to be deeply moved.

After that, we kept walking while chatting happily.

Everyone seemed to be having a good time, particularly Tina.

「This is fun like hiking!」 said Rosetta.

「Yeah」

「Hiking with your friends feels good.」,said Tina.

「Yeah」

「Will-sama, is RunRun-chan not together with you today?」,Tina said.

「RunRun is together with Saria」

「I see. That’s unfortunate」

「Saria is still young, I feel uneasy leaving her alone」

Rosetta, who was walking at the front, turned her head back while still walking forward.

「RunRun-chan is very clever, and he would have been very helpful in exterminating the demon bear」

「As long as Will and I are here, it’s going to be okay」 Arti said confidently.

Thanks to training together every day, I know of Arti’s true power.

Arti could most likely exterminate the demon bear alone.

However, I still do not know what Tina and Rosetta can do.

So I asked them.

「Rosetta’s guardian deity was the Hunting God, wasn’t it?」

「Yeah, that’s right. I’m good with a bow, and I’m also good at tracking the traces of monsters!」

「That’s reassuring」

The one person you definitely want in your party.

「If RunRun isn’t around, it’s my job to track down the monsters」

I also asked Tina.

「Since Tina is a healer, is your guardian deity the Water God?」

Healing magic is the forte of the Water God.

Tina’s master, Dion Edel Aqua, is also the beloved child of the Water God.

「That’s right Will-sama, it is the Water God-sama. In addition to Magic God-sama, Fire God-sama. Lightning God-sama, and…」

「Hey, wait a minute, you have that many?」

「Yeah, the one with the highest love value is the Water God-sama」

Tina seems to have seven pillars of guardian deity; the Water God, Magic God, Fire God, Lightning God, Ice God, Earth God, and Wind God.

Not only healing magic but also all elemental magic can be used at high level.

In other words, she is a sage candidate.

No wonder Dion accepted her as a disciple. If Milt had found her first, he would have accepted her as a disciple as well.

It also makes sense that she was targeted by the Tenebris Cult.

「…amazing」

Rosetta was surprised from the bottom of her heart.

The party will be very stable if there were healers and mages.

It just became a well-balanced party instantly.

While walking as we had conversations, we arrived at Rosetta’s hometown village.

It was located about two hours on foot from the Royal Capital.

And is relatively close to the Royal Capital, but was still a distance away from the large highway.

There was a mountain nearby and it was surrounded by a dense and thick forest.

「The countryside is great isn’t it? It’s a village that makes a living from sheep farming and hunting!」

Thus, Rosetta seems to have been hunting beasts in the forest since childhood.

Once we entered the village, the villagers began to notice us and gather around.

「It’s Rosetta!」「Did you fail the Academy exam?」

「Rest easy! I have properly passed!」

「Wow! That is good news!」「Amazin’, Rosetta is the pride of our village!」

The villagers were delighted.

Rosetta introduced us to the villagers.

The villagers seemed to be moved by the fact that Rosetta has friends.

「Is Rosetta being bullied as a country bumpkin?」

「Please, please take care of Rosetta」

After that, the villagers asked Rosetta.

「Rosetta, I’m glad you came but what’s the matter? Are your classes going well?」

「I heard you were in trouble in the letter, so I came to exterminate the bear. There is still some time before classes begin!」

「Thank ye!」

「We requested the adventurer guild, but there are no signs of any adventurers coming this way…」

Then we asked the villagers about the damages caused by the demon bear and the place it last appeared in, and we departed immediately.

Chapter 32

After leaving the village, Rosetta says,

「Saria-chan is also waiting, so let’s wrap this up quickly . 」

「You’re right . 」

It is still morning, and it will be noon in about two hours .

Considering that it would take another two hours to walk back, we can’t afford to waste too much time .

When we arrived at the place where the sheep went missing, Rosetta begins to concentratedly search for traces .

Tina mutters while examining the surroundings,

「Even so, to lose ten sheep in such a short period of time is no trivial matter . 」

When I heard about the damage from the villagers, it was quite a remarkable amount of damage .

In addition to sheep, the crops seem to be damaged as well .

As bears are omnivorous, they eat both meat and vegetables .

「It looks like a great deal of damage . It is likely to affect the future of the village . 」

「Yeah, it is as Will says . It was already a poor village to begin with, now life will be even more difficult . 」

「Please tell me if there is something I can help with . We are friends after all!」

「Thank you, Tina, but I will be sending the allowance here so we will be fine . 」

The living expenses of the students of the Academy of Heroes are paid for in allowance while attending the academy .

Rosetta is saying they will be fine if she sent that money to the village .

However, even if it’s from the Academy of Heroes, she couldn’t possibly get enough money to save the economy of the village .

Rosetta is smiling, but it is blatantly obvious that she is forcing herself .

「If it’s a bear which can eat ten sheep in a short period of time, we might be able to procure high quality raw materials . 」

I say that to try and cheer up Rosetta .

Going by the witness testimony, it is supposed to be a quite large demon bear .

However, it is common sense to take the witness testimony with a bit of skepticism .

When I went to plow the field early in the morning, I found a bear that was ruining the field .

I was very surprised that I started screaming, and the bear left slowly .

The troublesome part in this witness testimony is the 「very surprised」 .

Villagers, who were surprised in fear, often remember the bears to be larger than they actually are .

「It would be better to proceed forward while assuming that there might be more than one demon bear」 Arti mutters calmly .

The prospect of a few bears is more troublesome than only one large bear .

So, as an adventurer who should always assume the worst, Arti’s notion is correct .

「Following what Arti says, demon bears usually don’t form a group . 」

「But I think it is more appropriate than assuming one huge bear which can eat ten sheep . 」

「Yeah, if it turns out to be the case of a group of bears, then we can procure a lot more raw material, so that is a boon in its own way . 」

「Yes . 」

While discussing that, Rosetta comes to a halt .

「It seems to be the case of one huge bear . 」

Saying so, Rosetta points at a large poop .

A larger bear is much easier to fight than a large number of them .

「I also found the footprints . Please follow me . 」

We follow behind Rosetta .

After walking for a while, we find a cave .

「…This is probably its nest . To think that the nest was so close to the village . 」

「Is it inside the nest?」

「Yeah, judging from the footsteps, it’s inside . 」

「Shall I drive it out with my magic?」

「As expected of Tina! I’m counting on you!」

Rosetta’s eyes sparkle, and after thinking a while, she says .

「If the demon bear exits the cave while using magic, we would pull back while attacking it with magic and arrows, and Arti will get close and defeat it with the sword . How does that sound?」

Rosetta is also the originator of the party, so she also thought of a strategy it seems .

She takes on the role of the leader .

「Understood」 Arti puts her hand on the handle of her sword .

「I will back you up . I will make sure to constantly shoot arrows . 」

Rosetta nocks her bow with an arrow .

「What should I do?」

「I want you to deal with any unexpected situation, Will」

「Understood」

I guess it’s the so-called reserved troop . It is an important role to prevent the annihilation of the party .

As the assignment of roles is decided,

「Well, here I go . 」

Tina creates a fireball of one meter in diameter .

It is a fireball that is far more powerful than the average flame mage .

This speaks true to the fact of having received the love of Fire God and Magic God .

「…Wow, amazing . 」

「Being praised by Will-sama makes me very happy!」

Then, Tina shoots the fireball into the cave .

The fireball explodes when it reaches the back of the cave . A loud noise resounds, and hot air spews out from within the cave .

「—GAAAAAAAAA!!」

The angry roar of the demon bear echoes .

「Apparently, it is still fine . 」

If it’s a normal demon bear, a serving of Tina’s fireball should have caused a near-fatal damage .

The creature inside the cave is an extremely powerful demon bear .

「GAAAAA!!」

Soon the demon bear rushes out of the cave . It is of enormous size .

Tina and Rosetta assume battle stance and Arti moves forward slowly .

「Leave it to me . 」

—Slash

At the same time as drawing her sword, Arti swings it at a speed which couldn’t be discerned with the eyes .

The demon bear’s head flies off and its body collapses .

Seeing Arti’s extremely fierce movement, Tina and Rosetta gasp .

Without noticing that, Arti mutters,

「It is finished . 」

「…Arti, that was amazing . It was a wonderful display of swordsmanship . 」

「I have very good eyes, but I was barely able to catch your movement」 Rosetta says .

「When I cut it, it felt like a thin bear with a large figure . 」

「Eh? It was thin?」

In a surprised manner, Rosetta begins to investigate the corpse of the demon bear .

「It’s hard to notice because of the thick fur, but this demon bear is really thin . 」

「Does that mean this is not the one that ate the ten sheep?」

「…That’s impossible . I will go check inside the nest」

「I will go too . Arti and Tina stand guard at the entrance」

Although it is a large demon bear’s nest, it is too narrow for four people to enter simultaneously .

「I understand . Take care, Will-sama . 」

「Please leave it to me」 Arti says .

And then, Rosetta and I enter the nest carefully .