Chapter 43 – Dryad and Alraune Part 2

『Alraune』. A race which was one rank above the Dryads.

They have powerful magical energy compared to Dryads, and also can borrow the power from plants of forests and use variegated magic.

They have high intellect, and are considered to be elder-sister figure of the Dryads.

And, that Neil-chan continued……

These girls, the『Dryad』and『Alraune』, are races living in this forest since old days.

The Dryads are born from the magical energy residing in plants, and the only 3 Alraune in this forest, guide and coach those Dryads. Like that they had been cohabitating.

The people of『Flower Valley』do know this……but they don’t come in their forest unless for picking up some herb found only here. Like medicinal herb.

These『Dryad』and『Alraune』are believed to be guardian deity of this forest, hence they never do lumbering work in these girls’ forest. Neither do they invade here.

And, if they entered the forest, then even if they met these girls by pure coincidence, they would not harm them.

……There are also people who would take the posture of praying and leave offering for them.

「Well, we live by just eating water and fruits……so the times they leave offerings like meat or fish, it causes us troubles……」

Ah, is that so?

These girls were living quietly like that, but today, around afternoon……they spotted shady men in the forest.

They were different from the people of city that come for picking up herbs……they were several men wearing dangerous equipments. Neil-chan and others spotted them.

Then, some of them, noticed the girls, and attacked them.

……And, we reach the story before.

Two of them were the guys I got done with before, and were now tied up a strong-looking ivy made by Neil=chan’s mangic.

At the time we finish hearing the situation from Neil-chan, the girl being patted on head by her, Lily-cha,

「Recently, there has only been strange things happening in this forest……」

「? Strange things?」

Said in a sad voice.

Strange things……『only been』? What does it mean?

Hearing further, it turns out that Neil-chan and other Dryads……have felt that recently, the state of forest is different from usual.

The appearance of kidnappers, is a given, luckily no one has been abducted yet.

Demons that never came out in this forest, started appearing,

The corpses of demons killed mercilessly by someone were discovered,

And the guaranteed『biggest』unusual event, according to Lila-chan is……

「Couple of days ago. There was a big lizard」

「Lizard?」

「Yeah. A lizard walking on two legs. Its tail was long, and it also had very sharp fangs and claws. I was frozen in place and even though I would be eaten……but it kept on walking without doing anything」

「I also saw that! I’m sure the corpses of demons is its work!」

「Scary~!」

「……Or so it is. I, although……haven’t seen it yet……」

……Hm……

A lizard walking on two legs, I see……is it, after all, a demon?

I asked Elk for any clues……but to no avail.

The demons appearing here are plant-type, animal-type and insect-type, so she had no idea about this one.

Well, in the animal-type demons there sure is lizard-type demon……like『Lizard』, but it walks on four legs……Ah, but,

There were『Lizardman』that came out during the escort of Trader Group. They walked on two legs and fought with swords in hands. Just like a lizard-version of goblin.

……But they don’t appear here……even the Dryads said it didn’t had any equipment or sword……so it must different demon.

‘Then what is it’……I was again perplexed……

……At that time,

——SFX: *sniff*

「…………!!?」

My nose……sniffed out a particular『scent』coming from deep in the forest.

Immediately after……inside my mind, the memory regarding the source of scent flashbacked……and suddenly cold sweat poured out of my whole body. My body……stiffened in a second. I got goosebumps.

I didn’t care about, Elk and Neil-chan, who got startled after noticing my expression……and immediately stood up.

「M-Minato? Wai……Wh-what happened!?」

「Elk and others too, just become a stone, and don’t dare to move. Don’t move away from me」

「Eh?」

「Get to it! I don’t have time to explain!」

I give out orders in clear, yet not loud voice.

Although Elk seemed to know nothing, but……looks like she understood the dire situation, and albeit being perplexed abided by my orders. ……Great.

And I stood in front of the girls, facing the way scent was coming from.

Judging from the scent……it seems pretty far. The wind was flowing in our direction that I was able to grasp the scent, truly luckily. Probably, the other has not noticed us……I think.

The scent of demon was different than most of species……If I had not known about it before, then even with my enhanced olfaction, I won’t be able to scent out it.

At most……I can understand, if it’s on the level of horse or dog.

……But,

I know『that guy’s』scent.

I can’t forget it, even if I want to.

……And while thinking that……I remember the talk Lila-chan was doing before, about that『Lizard walking on two legs』

I see……even that guy walked on two legs, had long tail, sharp fangs and claws……and was a lizard.

……In that case, the unidentified demon appearing in this forest is……Hey hey, don’t tell me……!

I drew the worst case scenario in my mind……and kept on protecting the girls without exterminating the nervousness.

……Some minutes later.

The source of scent……as expected didn’t notice us.

It slowly walked away……to a distance that I couldn’t smell the scent anymore.

Confirming that, and after some more minutes of vigilance……I let out the power.

I signed Elk with hand, saying『It’s fine now』……and got rid of vigilance.

At that moment……because the mental fatigue was occupying more space in my mind, I felt tired.

It is fine……that we weren’t discovered……

But……the scent from before, is without a doubt『that guy』…… Don’t tell me, it was in this forest……? In that case……

「H-Hey Minato」

「Hm……What?」

I looked at her and saw her looking at me with concerned eyes, well it’s normal.

……Well I should tell……to her.

The moment I tried to explain to her, who seemed to want to know『about it』,

『『『Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh——!!!』』』

……I heard several hoarse screams from……the direction of city.

What is it this time!?