Strange Visitors

It was the 6th day since I came to this world. According to this world's calendar, it has already been a week. It was quite eventful, wasn't it? Back then, I was just a regular student, attending classes every day, the same neighborhood, the same roads, the same environment, the same delinquents in school, the same people crying for unrequited or failed love... It will be wrong to say that I hated them. It was merely a lack of interest, profound boredom, one that comes from being grown-up of it. Some people say that the opposite of love is in the utter disinterest. That definitely makes me someone severely lacking the wonderful feeling of love. Maybe they were not wrong, or... entirely off the mark.

Maybe that was why I was so delighted when I came to this world. I have no knowledge of what happened to my body, to the me in that world. One of the possibilities is that I have been declared missing. Or maybe my dead body was simply lying there in that classroom. Or, in the rarest of chance, somebody else has entered my body and is living in that world as me; like I am occupying this body. Maybe, that person is also keeping quiet about his different memories and enjoying a new different life in that world. Well, there is no way to confirm, so we can only make speculations for now. But for the current me, I have wholly adjusted myself to this body and have made it my own.

To be honest, I do miss my parents, my siblings, and that small bunch of weirdos I used to call best friends. Nevertheless, this may be very selfish of me, but...the me from that would have died, and have been reborn as a different individual in this world; except with his memories still there. So, I want to live a happy life in this world and make others happy as I inevitably move towards the end of my life. Though my lifespan is vast, there are no such things as forever. At times, some of the uneventful memories from back then also become hazy, and that really scares me. I fear that, if I lose my good memories, my convictions, and the principles that I have held on to for my whole life, I will become just an empty shell. I might also go down the path of destruction because of all the grief that is hidden inside.

Well, that is only the worst-case scenario. Please don't worry about that, 'cause I do remember all the good memories, all very clearly. And I doubt that I will ever forget them. Moreover, Mimosa and the prof. are always there for me, looking after me like guardians, and I love them a lot. It is their utmost trust that I can continue without any worries. I am also learning combat techniques to protect myself and those that I love. I am also training to use magic so that I can find a way of livelihood. Hence, I am sure that I will be able to live here.

Talking about my power, I think my level has increased a lot after I absorbed all the life force from Mimosa's sword. Accordingly, my maximum mana capacity has also increased. I felt lighter when I got down from the bed. I also tried achieving full body enhancement after. Though the mana consumed was more, I felt way stronger than before. According to Mimosa's estimate, my level is well above 1000, though it is not near hers. Still, the number doesn't come up in the id card. It is always shown as (unknown). Well, I shouldn't complain, though, as I am like an irregularity in the system. Similarly, Mimosa's age is also not shown. She has also become an irregularity after being trapped in that crystal for an unknown period.

I was very excited to go outside, i.e., in the Forest, to test my strength and try to control my full-powered self. During breakfast, I told Mimosa about my recent developments, and she was delighted to hear that. Though she had predicted as much, still, my level-up to such a degree astonished her. The Professor was also pleased, and he said that I might have already surpassed him in raw strength and combat techniques. Though he is more inclined towards studying magic systems and environmental history, he was also a veteran adventurer in his days and survived quite a lot of dangerous battles. My excitement level went up further.

Mimosa asked me to go alone for a hunt today in the evening. This should serve both as my training as well as a collection of food and materials for us. If I hunt the Armbrus wolves, its fur and skin can be sold separately for a high price in the market. Moreover, Mimosa can drink its blood, and its meat can be cooked to make exquisite dishes. Though the mountain deer, Aries, is also tasty, they cannot match the umami-filled hard red meat of the wolves. Also, there is no need to worry about overhunting. The females of those wolves give birth to about 8-10 pups each year. Considering about 5 of them survive and mature, there should be a lot of them in the mountains. Apparently, there are also frost wyverns further up in the mountains. But their population is not that high. So we hunt them only once a year in the summers. According to the prof. their meat is even tastier than the wolves and goes very well with high-quality wine. Ah! I can't wait for the summer.

The wyverns are Pterodactylus-like creatures, but with a stronger body and adept at long-range magic attacks. Out of curiosity, I asked the Professor about other reptilian beasts. He recounted that he had actually seen and fought several such creatures. One of his descriptions matched the features of the T-Rex. And I was again very excited to hear that. Seeing an alive T-Rex is one of every boy's dreams.

----

After breakfast, I studied some other plants in the garden. When the sun was high in the sky, I retreated indoors to the library. Well, it is not like I get sunburned. It is more of a mental weakness that I inherited from my past life. Bright sunlight makes me slightly uncomfortable. But I do love how the beautiful flowers and green plants in the garden glisten under the majestic rays of the sunlight. It is soo soothing!

Today, I was looking for the second volume of the book that I read yesterday. I found a rather ancient copy after searching for some time. The letters were printed on thick paper, and the quality was deficient. These days books are published using modern magic engineering technology. But this copy looks like it was written using primitive methods. This might be more than a thousand years old, I thought.

I sat down under a tree in the garden and read the book. And as I continued, I was more and more engulfed by the book. Apparently, my surprises for the day were not over yet...

According to the book, the mana of a specific individual takes unique properties as the person grows and develops. And as per its traits, it can render various select properties on the matter. As someone with red attribute mana can use his or her mana to lower or increase the temperature of matter. That is how heat can be generated by magic, and that was how I formed the superheated bullet yesterday. But that is not all. Mana itself can be converted to create something out of nothing. Some master-level craftsmen can even create precious metals themselves, after working on such metals for a long time. So, one needs to first deeply understand the substance that one wants to create by studying it. I think that probably means that one needs to understand the molecular structure if we speak in terms of science. Only then, it is theoretically possible to create it using mana.

Using my knowledge of the simplest and the lightest substance I can think of, I tried to create it. I collected a little mana atop my palm and simply imagined it converting into the substance. I noticed that my mana was disappearing fast. Well, as the colorless gaseous substance cannot be seen with the naked eye, I guess it is diffusing into the surrounding air as quickly as it forms.

So, I tried a simple test to see if my experiment was a success. I tried the burn test, and... that was pretty dangerous. As soon as I increased the temperature, there was a large super hot bluish flame atop my palm. I was lucky that my skin is callous. Otherwise, my face would have suffered some severe damage.

But! But isn't it super exciting? To be able to create anything that I want, by expending my mana, which is almost infinite if I make full use of my unique skill! This has so much potential!

Excitedly I tried to create the next lightest element. But to my disappointment, nothing happened. The mana ball was not changing in any way at all and simply dispersed away slowly.

No matter how much I thought, I couldn't understand it. I did successfully create the first element and then applied the same process to create the next element or other heavier elements. But it was a failure again and again. It is not like I don't understand the atomic structures of the elements. There might be something else in this world, something... different that I don't know.

Well, the physical laws seem to be the same on the macroscopic scale. But, there is the possibility that it might be different on the microscopic level.

So to know more, I decided to read other books. But then I heard Mimosa calling for lunch. Ah! I was so into the book that I didn't notice the time. Well, I shall continue some other day.

After lunch, I helped Mimosa as usual. Then I took a small nap in the quiet garden house. When I woke up, it was already afternoon.

There was a cup of tea near the bed. Ah! Mimosa. She is always looking after me like. I warmed it a little with magic and sipped slowly while relaxing in the verandah facing the garden. Unfortunately, there are no sunset views in the middle of a forest, and the darkness falls faster.

So, I quickly washed my face and put on my outdoor gear. The wolves come out in the evening to hunt, as they have 'dark vision,' and that gives them an advantage over many preys. Thatswhy it will be easier to find them if I set out now.

----

I activated full body enhancement from the beginning and went out with full power. The strength felt overwhelming, and I could control it with a little extra effort. My speed has probably reached that of the fastest trains from the Earth. No, I guess I can even surpass them. I played for some more time, learning to control the power. And, slowly, darkness fell on the Forest.

I could hear the howling of the wolves coming from the distance. By heightening my senses, I could precisely tell their direction. So, I immediately headed towards them. Surprisingly, they came further down the mountain today. Moreover, there were many of them, as if the whole pack had come for hunting. There were growing cubs among them too. If they advance further, they might enter Alison and attack the townsfolk.

So, I decided to chase them away. I confronted them and attack with several 'wind sphere's. Now, that my level has increased, I could control mana more precisely and form the spell at a surprisingly fast pace.

But, none of the spheres hit the wolves. They easily evaded the magic attacks with their agile movements. Nevertheless, I am not disappointed. As my motive was to just scare them away. Moreover, the 'wind sphere' spell is not useful for long-distance attacks.

The blast of the spell did its job, and the wolves retreated with their young ones. But a few of the courageous males stayed behind probably to keep me busy while the pack escapes. I can recognize their gender because the females are entirely white. Only the males have beautiful orange patches in their fur.

The male wolves did their job bravely by keeping me busy with their magic and physical attacks. They were not backing down, no matter how much I dodged or nullified their attacks.

So, I decided to kill one of them. That would probably scare them, and I would also get my today's prey.

I took out my knife and attacked the biggest one of them, which was supporting the others from the rear. The enormous amount of mana he was emitting marked him as pretty strong and my magic perception abilities were sending warnings. I realized that it will be dangerous to ignore him.

He was about 1.5 times the size of a normal Armbrus wolf. The orange markings on his fur were so beautiful that they looked almost like tattoos. His eyes were big and shined deep orange. But the most peculiar feature about him was his small white horn, like that of an antelope. Though it was a horn, it somewhat resembled ivory. What could be the use of a horn to a carnivorous animal? I thought.

And that question was answered as soon as I tried to approach him. He pointed his horn towards me as he jumped to take some distance. Sensing considerable disturbances in the air, I defensively jumped back too. And immediately, a massive bolt of plasma hit the spot where my foot was.

Oy oy! That high voltage attack could cook someone alive. Though I have resistance for thunder attacks, I highly doubt I will remain unharmed if I take that attack directly. He was using his horn as an electrode to direct his attacks, making pinpoint hits. Damn... this guy is dangerous.

I counterattacked with my mana bullets, but he defended against them with his own mana bullets that he shot from his mouth. He stared directly in my eyes, and I stared back. This is a perilous situation. Both of us are predators, and the side at a disadvantageous position will be the one hunted by the other. I cannot make any mistakes here.

Suddenly, I heard a howl on the distance. It was from one of the males who had retreated with the females. I could tell that had already escaped further up in the mountains as I concentrated my presence perception in that direction.

The alpha wolf let out a small growl, and the rest of the wolves retreated too, leaving only the two of us interlocked in a furious battle. Both of our magic attacks were ineffective on each other. I couldn't carelessly approach him either, and he was maintaining the distance with all his power. I knew that he was stalling for time... and he had succeeded in his efforts. When all of his pack members had run away, he retreated too.

Yare yare! He was the winner this time as he flawlessly completed his objective. Well, I respect his bravery and intelligence. Though it is frustrating to let go of my prey, I shall think positively. Let's be optimistic that I will catch my prey next time.

----

I went further south-west, opposite the lake, in search of other prey. I was able to venture into unknown depths of the Forest because of my heightened abilities. Well, there are no pressing problems, and I have quite some time before nightfall, so I can continue my hunt.

If I am correct, then by continuing further, I will go out of the Red Forest and reach the headwaters of the Abwoth river, which starts from the northern part of the Aster mountains. After running for some time, I sensed many presences further deep inside the Forest. And... they were definitely not of that of beasts.

That's unusual, as I have heard that no people are living in such remote parts. Though that is a claim made by some brave adventurers of the past who ventured deep in the wilderness. Some people might have settled here in recent times because of unavoidable circumstances. But still, living here alone, cut off from civilization, is also very difficult. They might be some powerful hill tribe, or so I guess. I decided to go and check while looking for probable prey at the same time.

----

I was atop a very high branch of a tree near the southern entrance of the Red Forest, looking at the mysterious group of people that I sensed from far away. Whom I was suspecting for some hill tribe settlement was actually a traveling party. I could see several specially made horse carts, probably used for rough road travel, many temporary tents and toilets, outdoor cooking, and many rough people, who are carrying weapons, drinking and singing near bonfires. Are they some kind of traveling nomadic, hunter-gatherer tribe? I wondered.

One of the men, who was with his comrades around a bonfire, seemed to have noticed my presence. Though he had not been able to pinpoint my location, his predator-like eyes were scanning the treetop.

The man looked sharp with his high-grade armor and strong magic presence. His muscular build amplified the effect of the fierce aura that he was emitting, and his black hair and mustache accentuated his expensive-looking black leather armor.

Moreover, one of the dwarves seems to have noticed me too. Dwarves are similar to humans, except they have a small height with reddish-brown skin and a larger head with brown or white hair. Most of them are muscular, with only a few obese individuals.

The old dwarf, with a long beard, looked straight at me with strong murderous intent. He pointed his left hand towards me and started gathering mana, and a second later, a small shard of rock was formed and was shot towards me. The rock shard was very slow and lost most of its momentum as it reached the branch on which I was standing and struck the tree trunk a few feet away from me.

The black-haired man from before quickly obstructed him and told him to stand back. Then he looked straight at my eyes and shouted with a firm voice, "We have already spotted you. If you mean no harm, then come down and report your real intentions of observing us."

Yare yare! I have been seen through, by this man. I have to be very careful around him, I guess.

I quietly jumped down and approached him, suppressing down my magic presence to a bare minimum, which was taught to me by the prof. before going to the town. Additionally, I showed my bare hands to imply that I mean no harm.

"Ho, from ya appearances, I say that you're a pixie lad, aren't ya?" the old dwarf commented. "Haven't seen those in a long time..."

The big black-haired man continued after, "I am Alderman Yon, Captain of the expedition team organized by the 'Silver Hammer' guild, under the orders of His Majesty King Agonis El Von Chrysanthos. We started our journey from the commercial town MoonHarbour and have mapped the southern parts of the Abworth river." Saying so, he pulled out his id card and showed it to me.

----

Name: Alderman Yon

Level: ____

Race: High Human

Age: ____

Sex: male

----

He probably hid his level and age, as the fields appeared blank. It is possible to protect your info while showing your card to someone else, but it is not possible to make something new appear on it. And as a matter of fact, it is entirely natural to not reveal your level and age, to hide your real power.

Then he asked me to introduce myself. I hid my level, age, and 'High Undead' racial tag and showed my card, and politely introduced myself. As for a reason of me being in the Forest at that hour, I mixed in some lies with the explanation.

"Hello Captain, my name is Kenny. As you can see, I am a Sprite, so I look like the pixies." As sprites are said to be the ancestors of the elves and the pixies. I continued, "I live in a Ruin located in the northern part of the Red Forest with my relatives as its caretaker. I came for a short hunting trip. Then I happened to sense your presence and decided to check on you. So you see, I mean no harm. "I requested, "Please don't attack me like before." Though I doubt that he will be able to harm me, it is better to avoid unnecessary fights.

"That's amazing. For you to come alone inside this Forest for a hunting trip. You must be pretty strong." said another young dwarf who was standing behind the old dwarf. He introduced himself to be a dwarf mage.

"No, no, I am not that strong. I just avoid the dangers after sensing them." I said. Even today, I couldn't catch a wolf.

After listening to our conversation, some more people gathered. But the Captain didn't mind them and continued, "Hmm... so you live in some ruins inside the Red Forest. Then you might be very familiar with the Forest."

"Well, indeed, I do know most of the northern and southeastern parts of the Forest. But, today is the first time I have come this far in the south-western end. I relied on my perception abilities to venture this far." I said.

"But still, you are far more knowledgeable than any other person here." He smiled and continued, "You see, our last objective of this expedition is to find a route to the great plains of the east, which frequently occur in the legends and stories. There are also accounts of them being very fertile and hospitable for the living. But to do that, we will have to safely cross this dangerous mystical Forest. Although I have already sent for reinforcements, I think it will be reassuring with you guiding us. What do you say?"

To find a way to the east, he said. Hmm... I didn't know that the east was unknown lands. Didn't Mary-san say that her house is somewhere in the east? Wait a minute... Mary-san is not a living person. She is a strong High Wraith. Those things are very dangerous for ordinary people. There might be other unknown threats too. And that might be the reason why nobody lives there. Should I tell them to halt their expedition and warn them?

I cleared my throat and politely said, "Though the Red Forest is particularly safer with only some fierce wolves that occasionally come down from the mountains to hunt, the same cannot be said of the east. As far as I know, you will find many dangerous beasts and other monsters after you cross the southern shoreline. I fear that the east is not as hospitable as you imagine. So, it will be better to stop the expedition for now and return back. I can guide you through the Red Forest to the lakeside city Alison. From there, it will be safer to return to MoonHarbor."

"You little runt! What did ya say? Retreat now? We have already crossed the murderous Hissing Forest and survived in the cold and dark nights in the headwaters. We've also defeated the mystical Shadow Cats. And ya say we are weak?" the old dwarf shouted angrily at the top of his lungs.

Yare yare! I didn't mean to belittle your strengths. I just told the truth based on my personal experiences.

"Calm down, Alfosdor." the Captain reprimanded him. "What Kenny says is not outrageous in any way. There may be many other dangerous monsters ahead in our way. We will have to be careful." Then he looked at me and said, "I want to thank you for your advice, Kenny. We have indeed lost some of our active members in fierce battles. But I have called for reinforcements from Alison. And they will be arriving shortly. With their support, I think we will be able to handle most of the beasts. And, if you guide us through the safest path with your knowledge of the Forest, we will definitely be able to keep the encounters to the minimum. Additionally, if you help us, I promise to offer you a large sum of money as a reward and right to directly join the 'Silver Hammer' guild without any major issues."

The old dwarf, Alfosdor, was very shocked after hearing that. "Master Yon. Will be alright to let this little runt join our honorable guild without any test?" He asked.

Huh... test? Do I have to give tests in this world too? I thought. Anyway, he said that reinforcements will be coming from the town. Well, if they are at the level of Mimosa or the prof., I guess there will be no significant problems. Still, guiding such a large group of people through this Forest will take a long time. And I will be away from my sweet home... I shall go and ask the prof. for permission. I doubt that he will refuse. *sigh* All this feels a little unreal. I came to practice using my powers and hunt a wolf, but was requested to take part in an adventure... To be honest, I am very excited.

"Well, I cannot give my consent without asking my guardian. So, I would lie to make a short trip back to take their permission." I said with a small smile.