Chapter 233

233 – Signs of the Manticore

『The traveler I mentioned is a woman who came to visit our village . She was injured by a monster… Detoxification was needed, so we set out to gather the ingredients to make an antidote . 』

Hibi informs me by [Telepathy] . As I listen, I grow more and more uneasy .

It can’t be . But I don’t have the evidence to deny it . What I’ve heard so far fits my suspicions too well . Isn’t there anything I could ask to prove it one way or the other? As I think that, an idea strikes me .

Where was the traveller injured? I question her, watching her face while hoping against hope .

『Where, you ask? She was injured is near the base of her stomach . Fortunately the attacker left her with a shallow wound, but even so…』

My suspicions condense into conviction . I’m nearly certain it’s the manticore . After receiving my [Poison Fang], it must have used [Humanisation Technique] to infiltrate the Lithovar village . To eat their children and then pretend to be a traveller in need of their assistance, it’s got guts .

Leaving it alone would be bad . It’s probably planning on eating more of the children after it heals up .

I look in the direction of where I left the wight . Sorry, wight, it looks like it’ll be a while longer until I can return . I need to check in on your hometown, so please wait a little longer .

Noticing the movements of my eyes, Baron tilts his head curiously . He might be thinking that I noticed the presence of a monster or something .

I change the direction I’m looking, and Hibi closes her eyes and frowns . Oops, that was dangerous . I lightly shake my head to obscure which way I was looking .

As she is now, it woudl be bad if the wight were spotted by the Lithovars . [Telepathy] lets my thoughts be read, so depending on the situation, I can’t be confident that traces of what I’m thinking to myself aren’t picked up on . I’d like to think that it can only pick up on thoughts that I intentionally try to transmit, but seeing as I can’t use it, I don’t know its extent . It would be best to be cautious here . Even though it’s convenient, I should avoid having the miko use [Telepathy] as much as possible .

I want to quickly go to their village, and quickly return, so I need to get the two of them to guide me right away . I crouch down . Urging the two of them to get on my back, I lower my head to the ground .

I’m counting on the two of you for guidance . Hibi slowly climbs on top of me, but Baron stops in place . He sticks his spear into the ground, closes his eyes and inclines his head .

By some chance, could there be a rule that only mikos can ride me? I’m starting to wonder if the previous generation was a womaniser . As a local custom, I can appreciate it . But is it really ok to leave Baron behind as a result?

“Baron, please take care of the herb gathering . ”

“Hah! Even by myself, I will produce results!”

Ah, they’re dividing up their roles . Though they didn’t talk before deciding their roles, so the only-the-miko-can-ride-me theory is still going strong .

But will Baron be able to fend off an abyss by himself? They can suddenly disappear from sight and hide their presence . I haven’t been able to confirm it yet because I really don’t want to look at them for long, but I think they must have some sort of stealth skill .

I rub more of the thick yellow liquid off my arm as I think .

In Baron’s battle against an abyss earlier, Hibi kept shouting something . I thought it was some sort of incantation, but it was probably telling Baron where to move . When the abyss disappeared, Hibi was quick to shout out . She probably used [Presence Detection] or something similar .

It could be that without her assistance, Baron would have fallen to the abyss’ surprise attack . From what I could observe of the situation, it looked like he was only able to get the upper hand thanks to her help .

If possible, I’d like for you to postpone the herb gathering until later . If my prediction is correct, they won’t be needed anyway . Besides, if you tell me what to look for, I’m sure I’ll be able to find them quickly . Though I’d like to escort the wight and treant to the shrine first .

Still, [Telepathy] and [Presence Detection], huh . This Lithovar miko really is outstanding . There’s just the matter of the rough guy bowing his head . There’s a chance wight might remember him . If so, that would be wonderfully convenient .

“Gaah”

“Ubuhaah! Dragon-god-sama!? What are you… What are you…”

My partner, who’s been behaving herself until now, has suddenly picked up Baron with her mouth . Separated from the ground, his legs are kicking feebly .

Eh? W-wait a minute, what is this kid doing?

She places Baron down on her back and looks at me with an impatient expression, as if to say that this is fine .

Please be a little more considerate… I got seriously worried there, you know . For that matter, there’s teeth marks on Baron . She didn’t draw blood, but that’s still bad, right?

We’re monsters, after all . Even for trivial things, each of our movements is terrifying to humans . Baron was seriously frightened there you know? If we’re unlucky, there could be lasting effects . In the future, for these sorts of things…

“Th-the marks of dragon-god-sama’s teeth… H-Hibi-sama! Hibi-sama, please look! This here… see, please look!”

Baron joyfully exclaims, examining an indent on his side, his face bright red . Making a huge fuss, this half-naked man is twisting around, trying to show off his side to the young lady sitting in front of him . Describing it is one thing . The experience of it occurring before my eyes, or rather on my back, is even tougher .

…This person, he’s become a little perverted . I’m started to get a little scared of visiting the Lithovar village . Not everyone will be like this guy there, right? If people start clamouring for me to give them tooth marks too, I’ll be in a pinch . If that happens, I’ll have to do my best to pretend to not understand them .

“Gaa…”

It seems my partner is also pulling away from him . I can read a grimace on her face . She’s stretching out her head, trying to put as much distance as she can between herself and Baron .