Side story (Prelude): Forest Ranger (Souta POV)

Huf… Huff.

Souta: “I DID IT!”

After months of training, I finished the last test that would make me a forest ranger.

Druid: “Nice work, Souta. You have hanged in there and deserve the title of a Forest Ranger.”

He surrounded me with leaves using a spell that I could not understand.

I felt power surging in me, and the world seemed so much lighter.

My class now is a Forest Ranger!

I darted here and there from the top of the trees.

It’s so much easier now that I am a ranger. I tried using my bow while I’m jumping from tree to tree.

I hit 3 of 3 in my intended targets.

. I tried summoning a companion, but no one came.

“For that, Souta, you’re going to need to speak to the spirit beasts first before they come to your aid. Come, let us get you one.”

This quest is going to be a lot easier if I get a companion that I can ride on.

By the way, the Druid is a lot nicer now than before. He appreciates my work and does not try to chase me away anymore by giving impossible training (which I passed). He still won’t give his name, though.

Druid: “Here we go…”

He clasped his hands in prayer, and wisps started to appear from the trees.

“Try and approach the-wisps, Souta. Once you get close, you will be able to talk to them and visualize them. To choose one of them, you have to pour your mana into the wisps that you have chosen, and it is yours.”

Woah.

I saw a fox, rabbit, wolf, bear, deer, a horse, maybe? And some other forest animals.

I chose Bear because I believe I can ride on it, and it can cover me from melee attackers.

I talked to it first to see how it fares.

Souta: “Hello, Mr. Bear.”

Spirit Bear: “You can call me Harry. I am a Spirit Bear.”

Souta: “Is it okay to choose you as my companion?”

Harry: “In my case, I will be the one who chooses and looking at you… You are worthy of my strength.”

I was surprised.

Souta: “Why, though?”

Harry: “You have a pure and strong heart. Instead of giving up, you still live on and seek to thank the person who helped you find hope to live.”

Oh, so he can see my memories.

Druid: “Pour your mana into the wisp and behold power beyond your imagination.”

Hmm….

I poured in my mana.

The wisp glowed brightly. It rose up and suddenly goes down and boom!

A small bear came out.

Souta: “Woah… Power.”

Harry: “Heh! Of course, when you summon me, I’m going to start at the bottom.”

Souta: “Hahahaha!”

Harry: “Hahaha!”

The Druid and I laughed and talked for a bit after that. Harry seemed to enjoy roaming around the forest for a while.

Druid: “Souta, here you go.”

Druid-sensei gave me a bow made of Elderwood, one of the most durable and light materials that could make a bow.

Druid: “It was mine when I was still a Forest Ranger. I gave it to you because you are precisely the same as I back then. Human and stubborn.”

Souta: “You were human?”

Druid: “Humanity is something I abandoned a long time ago, but Yes, I was human.”

Looking at his appearance, having some branches come out of his skin and clothes made me really think he was a tree-man.

Souta: “Thank you very much, Sensei.”

Druid: “Before you go on your journey, Souta.”

He gave me a map.

“In this map, I have pointed out some villages that could have useful party members for you. Create a party; you’re going to need them to survive the Dead Lands.”

Souta: “How did you know this? You were always here in the forest, right?”

Druid: “I do go out from time to time.”

Then he smiled.

Souta: "Won't you tell me your name? I don't know if I'm coming back. I wanted to thank you properly."

Druid: "I'll tell when you come back with the Old Man you admire so much.

I was kind of sad to go, but I need to do this.

Druid: “So, go! Hurry. I believe that it’s better to go early since the war just ended. If you give it more time, the monsters might respawn.”

Souta: “Okay, sensei!”

Then we waved farewell to each other.

He looked a bit sad then. I never knew if he was unhappy after that.

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So, let’s see Arundulla village? Village of knights?

I went in. It is a typical village with farmers and fishers.

Women were going around chasing their kids.

Kids are happily running around without the worry of monsters attacking them.

The only different thing is that a lot of warriors stand guard. Some even dueling in the middle of the afternoon.

Children were watching excitedly at the battles — aspiring warriors, perhaps.

A town guard approached me.

Town Guard: “Afternoon, mister, You look like a ranger. What business do you have with Arundulla?”

Souta: “I’m looking for a party member.”

Town Guard: “Oh. Even when the war is already over, adventure is still out there, huh? You should go to the inn. If you don’t find anyone there, they could still direct you to someone who could be your companion.”

Souta: “Thanks, Sir.”

Town Guard: “You're most welcome.”

I walked to the inn. Looking at the merchandise here, it’s all plate armors and greatswords. Sometimes sword and shield equipment.

I looked at my pouch, and I think I still have around ten gold or less maybe.

I arrived at the inn. It’s a small inn that has a feeling of being home.

I went in. Merry people could be seen, eating, and drinking and singing for the victory that has been given to them by the gods.

I walked towards the innkeeper.

Souta: “Hey.”

Innkeeper: “Hi there.”

The innkeeper looked like he was a warrior still at his old age. He was wearing a full plate and all.

Souta: “I’m looking for a party member.”

Innkeeper: “Adventure, is it? Let’s see…”

He looked around at the people at the inn.

Innkeeper: “Many of them are already retired… but I think Roln will be able to help you out. You have to convince him.”

Souta: “Convince?”

Innkeeper: “He’s going through a rough patch right now, and I think he needs something to cheer him up. Maybe an adventure would be good.”

Souta: "Okay.”

Innkeeper: “But don’t get on his bad side. He’s very strong. He almost made a scratch on me, hahaha!”

Then I saw a scar on his forehead.

An axe made it, I assume. I thank the innkeeper and left.

He looked scary, but I approached Roln.

Souta: “Hey.”

Roln: “Hey.”

Souta: “…”

Roln: “…”

Souta: “…”

Roln: “…”

A few minutes pass while we're there doing nothing.

Finally, I think Roln is about to speak.

Roln: “I’m glad we understand each other.”

Souta: “Yeah.”

Roln: “Speak.”

Souta: “I want you to join me on a journey across the Dead Lands.”

Roln: “Say no more. Let’s go.”

Souta: “Good.”

Just like that, I got him to join me. Now two more.

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Next would be Len, the village of mages.

While traveling here, I had some short meaningful conversations with Roln.

“Class?”

“Knight.”

“Role.”

“Tank.”

“Weapon?”

“Fists, greatsword.”

“No shield?”

“Body is my shield.”

“Okay.”

It was like that.

Hmm. Mage huh.

This village, Len, looked like a collection of bookstores. Most of the people are wearing glasses. Roln told me, albeit in concise sentences, that these glasses sometimes have translation magic so that they can read ancient or rare books.

Amazing. I think I’ll look for some nature magic books here.

In the center of the village, a tower is overlooking the town. It’s not that high, but I think it is the central academy for the mages here.

Let's look there.

A ranger and a knight would look weird walking in an academy, right?

I walked into what looked like the desk of the attendant of the academy.

Souta: “Hello, hello.”

Attendant: “Yes!?”

She was sleeping and was awoken by my calling.

After a few self-slaps to the face, she's able to regain some composure.

Attendant: “How may I help you, sir?”

Souta: “I’m looking for a mage to join my party.”

Attendant: “Oh sir, all the mages here are in training, and the others are working in the capital. No one would be able to assist you here.”

Souta: “Okay… How about you, though? You look capable?”

She had glasses and unkempt hair. Also, she wore a ragged cloak that does not fit her job.

Attendant: “Look capable!?

Souta: “You’re a mage too, right, and I think you can help us.”

Attendant: “Help you!? Ah, Oh, No. I simply can’t.”

Souta: “Please.”

Roln and I bow our heads.

Attendant“Okay… If you think I can help then. I’ll just leave a note here, and we're good to go!”

Souta: “Really?”

Lea: “They won’t notice anyway. My name is Lea. Let’s go!”

Souta: “Okay.”

Even if she turns out to be incompetent, we can still train her to be better rather than looking for someone young and inexperienced.

Now there's three of us — last one.

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The last village is a normal one. It's called Relo.

Let’s see, the guy written here on the notes says that he’s called Alno.

An adventurer and explorer class, huh.

Souta: “Hello there, I’m here to see Alno.”

The village elder pointed me to his location. I saw his house and entered.

A lot of maps were hung up around the house. These maps even cover the walls.

He should’ve been called a mapper.

Souta: “Hey…”

Alno: “Oh? What is it, visitors?”

Souta: “We need one more person on our party for our journey across the Dead Lands towards the south region.”

Alno: “Reaalllyy!!!??”

He went up to me, excited.

Alno: “Let’s go quickly! I’m going to map that place and be on the right track towards my dream. Mapping this continent!”

Souta: “That’s settled. Let’s go.”

From what I've heard, there have been no attempts at mapping the deadlands since it's so dangerous.

He brought a huge backpack and mapping tools. For his weapon, he brought a short sword and a dagger.

I don’t think I’ll be relying on him for battles anytime soon.

With this party, we started our journey to find my savior.

I'm searching for an undead, huh? I think I’ll tell them that my goal is to go to the south region in the meantime.