It was already around 5 p.m. when I returned to my training grounds.

On my way back, I took my time exploring the surrounding area; after all, knowing your surroundings can be very useful in a fight or flight situation, as earlier.

Okay, I admit it was optional for the earlier flight, but who knows what other wild animals or even monsters lurk deep within the forest?

To be honest, I'm not sure if it was three beasts or just animals that grew a little too big.

If that's the case, then did I just kill my first monsters?

No, I find it hard to believe.

After all, monsters are said to despise the barrier and prefer to live as far away from it as possible. I wouldn't have come here if it hadn't been for Syrus's confirmation, but I figured I'd be fine as long as I didn't go too deep into the forest.

If these three were simply over-buffed animals, it would imply that the barrier only affects monsters and not animals.

That makes sense to me.

But that doesn't mean there aren't any other stronger animals around, and I can't afford even the slightest injury if I don't want to be caught by Maa or Syrus, so I'd better play it safe.

As I previously stated, on my way back, I took my time inspecting the surroundings, and while doing so, I was fortunate to come across a tree hollow filled with water.

It was a truly fortunate discovery because my entire body was covered in blood.

Obviously not my blood, but the blood of the three warthogs.

That discovery was truly a gift from the gods for me, as I had brought spare clothes but no water to clean myself.

I had become particularly worried since I didn't know how I was going to get all of this blood out, and I obviously couldn't go home like that.

Then, by chance, I came across the purest natural water this forest has to offer.

It must be stated that it was not simply "water" in a tree hollow; rather, it was a soup made of water, dead leaves, moss, and mosquito larvae.

But, hey, I couldn't afford to be picky given the circumstances.

When I was finished with it, I resumed my investigation with the hope of finding other similar tree hollows filled with water.

After a while, I discovered eight similar hollow threes in the area I'd explored. These things will come in handy if I come across any other creatures like that again.

So, when I returned to the training ground, I decided that it was enough for the day, and I went back to the barrier.

When I saw the barrier, I took off my backpack, retrieved my clean clothes, and put them on.

After that, I hid my backpack in a tree.

I couldn't risk being caught with two daggers and bloodstained clothes on my back, especially since there isn't a single safe place in the manor other than the library, and that's only if I don't get caught midway.

As a result, I decided to leave my backpack here.

Then I headed to the barrier.

Something strange was happening at the barrier when I was about 5 meters away.

Earlier this afternoon, the barrier appeared to be a watery wall, but now it appears to be a fog wall.

As soon as I enhanced my body with aina, a lightning bolt flew from the barrier to me.

I managed to avoid the light, but it was a close call.

The first bolt of lightning was quickly followed by five more.

I ran with all my might and, with great difficulty, managed to avoid them all.

I rushed back into the forest with all my might, and after a short while, I noticed that the barrier was no longer sending lightning bolts after me.

I could still see the barrier from here, and I noticed that it gradually returned to its usual water-like appearance.

"Wait, what was that?"

I knew what happened with the barrier, but I didn't understand why it chose me as a target.

What happened earlier is what happens when a monster approaches the barrier.

The barrier's primary goal is to protect humanity, and it accomplishes this in three ways.

Defense: Thanks to the force field, nothing can go in or out.

Repulsion: This is more of an unintended consequence than a deliberate action. The monsters despise the barrier's sense of confinement.

Offense: Any monsters that approach the barrier are automatically attacked by it. When the barrier is offensive, it loses its invisibility and transforms into a massive fog wall. Depending on the invader's weakness, it can launch elemental attacks.

These shots were unmistakably aimed at me.

So now I'm considered an invading monster, huh?

The barrier must have made a mistake of some sort, this can’t be.

I approached the barrier once more, but this time I was more careful to keep it in sight.

The barrier maintained its watery appearance until I was 5 meters away from it.

It quickly devolved into the foggy appearance that it had earlier.

I immediately retreated into the woods.

When I returned to where I had been, the barrier had regained its watery appearance.

Dammit. If things continue like this, I won't be able to return to the manor.

Haaaaaaaa! Dammit.

Over-panicking will not help me keep my cool and think.

The barrier is clearly reacting to me.

Nothing like this happened when I entered the barrier.

Then there is something that might be different between me earlier and me now.

"Think, think, think Ronandt, what could have caused the barrier to react this way? I can't turn into a monster in just the span of an afternoon, can I? "

"Aaaaaaaa~ Calm down, Ronandt, first take a deep breath in… Yeah, like this, now a deep breath out... Nice... Now, think...

I can’t think of anything.

Oh no, wait.

If I remember well, when I entered the barrier, I had my backpack on.

Could it be?

I rushed to the tree where I hid my backpack.

I put it on and went once again to confront the barrier.

I slowly approached the barrier, very cautious of the moment it would shift into its foggy appearance.

When I reached the spot where it usually happens,

Nothing happened.

I carefully approached the barrier, and once I reached a distance where I could reach it, my hand passed through it.

Feeling that I was safe, I walked through the barrier.

Once I was on the other side, I fell on my knee.

"Fuuuuu!" I vent out a sigh of relief.

I wasn’t injured or anything.

I was just exhausted.

FI thought I was going to be locked in this forest forever.

The chase earlier was nothing compared to this.

I never missed the human goddamn continent so much.

I wonder what's inside my-

All things considered, it's enough for today. I’m going to take care of this tomorrow.

For today, I'm done with both the forest and this stupid barrier.

I hid the backpack in a nearby bush and made my way to the manor.

The fence enclosing the manor domain was soon in view, and as I got closer, I noticed two or three men’s voices conversing on the other side of the wall.

"You’re sure she saw something?" said one voice, surely belonging to one of the guards.

"How am I supposed to know? It was her who saw it, not me." replied a second voice.

"Makes sense. And even if it was true, how are we supposed to deal with that? A column of smoke rising into the sky, huh? We’re guards, not firefighters. " I recognized the voice. It belonged to the newbie who replaced the fired guard.

Oops, it seems that the smoke column could be seen from the manor.

"Hahaha, yeah, but you better watch your mouth in front of the harpy."

I wonder who this "harpy" could be.

Yeah, she won't be sorry if she fires you if she sees you slacking off," a third voice retorted.

Aha! I see now who is the famous "harpy.".

"Yeah, you guys don’t have to worry; I know that already."

"Okay, guys, I think that should do it, " solemnly declared one of the voices.

After a while, they all just left.

It seems that these guys were sent to check if the fence was okay, I suppose. Because otherwise, I don't understand what they had come here to do.

Seriously, what were you guys trying to do? Wasn’t the problem coming from outside the domain? Then why are you just stopping at the fence?

Ah~ whatever, time to go home.

I leaped over the fence and landed once again perfectly on the other side.

I started inspecting my surroundings right away.

There is no one in sight. I dashed to the manor with all my might.

When I got closer, I noticed that the window I came out of had been closed. No, all of the back windows had been closed, leaving only the door to the kitchen open, at least on this side of the manor.

I came to a halt and began to walk slowly.

I enter the kitchen quietly and walk through the door. I could have gone unnoticed, but I believe I've used up all of my good fortune for the day.

"Monsieur?" said someone in a not-so-manly tone.

"Oh, Mathéo, how are you doing today?"

Matheo was the name of the cook of the manor.

When I was younger, the perfect word to describe the man was "beer-bellied," but he has evolved.

The beer-bellied Matheo is no more.

Today’s Matheo is what I could call a chubby man.

"I couldn’t be better, sir," he said, while caressing his belly. "What brings monsieur to my humble cuisine?"

"Nothing~ nothing, I was just passing by," I said, pointing to the door leading to the adjacent room.

"I see," said Matheo with a nod.

"And now that I think of it, Matheo, Have you ever cooked a warthog? "

"Warthog?... There are two or three recipes that come to my mind, but I've never personally cooked one.

"I see, but I’m sure that as long as it’s Matheo who is cooking it, it will be tasty."

"Merci Monsieur, It makes my day to hear that. "

I gave Matheo a two-finger salute and made my way to the library or my room.

Just when I was about to climb the stairs, I stumbled upon Maa, who was just going down the stairs.

"Ah~ma, I thought that you were still in the library. May I inquire where exactly the Young Lord was all this time? " Maa said, in a rather inquisitive tone.

"I left the library earlier to relieve the bosom of this humble one, and then went to the kitchen to have a little chat with Matheo, and here I am."

"I don't really like the order in which you did all this, but whatever. You should stay within the manor. " saw something strange coming from the barrier earlier," she said as she descended the stairs.

"Something strange?"

"Yes, a wall of fog. It happened twice, but it didn't last long before it disappeared into thin air. "

When she said that she had already reached the ground floor, where I was.

"I wish I could’ve seen it. It must have been very impressive to see, " I said with a smile.

"Yes, it wa-." She stopped mid-sentence and began to sniff around. "What is this smell ?"

Could it be?

"What smell ?" I said innocently.

"Something smells like wet dog," said Maa, with disgust painted all over her face.

"You know what I think I-" My sentence was cut off by the noise of the entrance door being opened.

The ones who opened the door were the three guards from earlier.

" We’ve investigated the place and we haven’t found anything strange, ma'am."

Seizing the opportunity, I started to climb the stairs with the intent of going straight into my room and taking a bath before Maa noticed that the "wet dog" smell came from me.

"I see. You may go, but remain vigilant during your rounds, I have a bad feeling about that thing. "

"Yes ma'am." said the three of them in unison.

They were about to come out of the door through which they had entered when I asked Maa out loud.

"Say Maa, do you know what a harpy looks like?"

When I said that, I saw the backs of the three guards straighten.

"I do, what of it?"

"Oh, nothing, it’s just a new word that I’ve learned, so I was wondering if you were to happen to not know what it meant. Obviously you knew. " I said while addressing a gentle and warm smile to the guards.