Chapter 70

Scattering the seeds is a simple task.

The second and third floors, now devoid of any monsters, and even some areas where the foxes had driven away the animals, significantly shortened the time required.

If only the foxes had appeared, they would have been helpful for this particular mission.

In fact, if I could use the same magic as that fox, it would make things much easier.

If I could climb to the top of the building and use a spell to spread fear, I wouldn't even need to scatter these plants.

The problem is that I don't understand the principle or the mechanism behind it, but I'll try to think about it if I get the chance.

It's not clear when I'll take on such a fort cleaning job again.

"Done. Is it okay to leave now?"

I returned to the fox's room and called out to Tetr.

"Y-Yes, it's fine! It's fine!"

She seemed surprised and answered in a flustered manner. It was a bit suspicious, but it didn't feel malicious. She would probably be fine even if left alone.

"But, before we go—"

I turned my gaze to the three bodies lined up against the wall. Would it be okay to leave these bodies as they are?

The bodies of the men and the fox had their eyes wide open, as if they had died with regret.

I approached and gently closed their eyes. I managed to close the men's eyes, but the fox's were stiff and wouldn't close. It must have died with a lot of regret.

"Do you have any tools for digging… or something?"

I tried to confirm with Tetr, but it was clear from her appearance that she only had a small bag. According to what I heard earlier, she had let go of most of her belongings when fleeing from the men's attack.

"Well, but… are you going to bury them?"

"Yes. It seems a bit pitiful, doesn't it?"

While the saying goes that the dead become Buddhas, I personally don't have any grudges against these bodies. If it weren't for the trouble, I could do something for them.

Especially the fox, since I didn't even know how to eat it.

"Vulshiel's body could fetch a lot of money if sold…"

"Is that so? If it's useful, I'll consider taking it, but what is it useful for? Medicine? Or as a material?"

The words "a lot of money" piqued my curiosity. I could sell it to the guild or Gustav.

"That… I haven't heard of it being hunted, so I'm not sure, but I think there are people who would want it."

"Is it that rare a monster? I've taken down two of them in a row, including yesterday."

"Eh?"

Tetr froze, her eyebrows furrowed, and she had an interesting expression.

Is it that rare for them to appear in succession?

"Maybe they're swarming. If we encounter one on the way back, it would be great."

"No, no, no, no, are you crazy!?"

"Calling me crazy is rude."

When I protested, Tetr pursed her lips and clenched her fists in the air. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Well, since she was just attacked by the monster, it's understandable that she wouldn't agree with me wanting to see more. I should have been more considerate.

"No, I'm sorry. You probably don't want to see that monster again, Tetr."

"…That's not what I meant… but never mind."

Tetr seemed unsatisfied and didn't even try to hide her wry smile.

Now, let's get back to the discussion with Tetr.

We can't dig the ground. If burial isn't possible, cremation is an option. But using magic, which I've already used with ki, would be unnatural, and I doubt she would do it as a memorial.

So, leaving them exposed, water burial, or air burial… or perhaps a bird burial.

"We can't dig, so I'll let the men's bodies flow down the river. Is that okay?"

Water burial should be fine.

"I don't think a memorial is necessary. Just do as you please."

"Understood."

I was prepared to stop if she objected, but Tetr didn't seem to care much about the bodies. She was supposed to have been attacked, but her reaction was rather indifferent.

I checked the surroundings from the window. Since this place was used as a base, there should be a water source nearby, and I remember a river flowing.

Sure enough, I could see the river from the opposite side of the corridor.

"Then, I'll be back."

I carried the two bodies on my shoulders.

They were masked, and I had never heard their voices or spoken to them. That's probably why I didn't feel any particular emotion about their bodies.

I jumped out of the window with the two bodies.

I landed on the trees a few times as a cushion and found the river right in front of me.

"Rest in peace."

I recited a prayer and placed the two bodies in the deeper part of the river.

I had heard that you should prevent them from floating, but I didn't feel like going that far.

I could see blood flowing from their wounds. When I carried them, they were still warm.

They hadn't been dead for long. Yet, fish were already gathering to peck at the wounds.

Death means becoming food for others. I'm sure I will too.

I didn't feel any particular emotion, but seeing human bodies made me strongly realize this.

I climbed back up the wall and returned to Tetr. She was waiting with a complex expression, her arms crossed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Those guys could have been left alone…"

"The bodies are not at fault."

"…I understand, but I can't relate to that."

Well, everyone has their own view of life and death. Especially for her, who was once an enemy, it's hard to understand.

Honestly, I could say I did it because it was part of the job. I did it because they died in this fort. If they had died outside the fort, I would have left them.

Funerals should be done when and how you want to do them.

Now, about the fox's body.

"Then, I'll take the fox's body back. But how should I carry it…"

Thinking about it, I don't have the equipment to carry it. Even with the giant snake, I gave up because of that.

"Don't explorers have large bags for collecting materials?"

"This isn't an exploration mission. I don't bring containers for carrying large items unless it's a collection mission."

The fox's body weighed over 300 kilograms. A cart would be useful… I think there was a room that looked like a warehouse, but I don't think I could move it through the forest, and I don't think there was anything big enough to carry the fox.

Could I use telekinesis? I could, but I've already shown Tetr my ki, and I don't want to use magic.

Could I carry it normally? With activated ki, I could lift it, but… the size would make it difficult to walk. It would be easier if it had handles.

I think it's best to hide it, but it's not that important. If worst comes to worst, I could use magic to carry it. But then I realized that Tetr could use magic.

"Can you use magic to transport it?"

When I asked, Tetr hesitated.

"I can use the 'Follow and Float' spell, but it's too heavy to carry for a long journey."

"How long can you maintain it?"

"Hmm, with this weight… one hour… no, one and a half hours at most. My magic power would run out after that."

She looked away and sighed.

Well, it seems like it's usable.

"Then, please. As a fee, how about 5% of the sale price?"

"Ha!? Were you even listening!?"

"I, I was. You can carry it, right?"

I was taken aback by Tetr's increasingly harsh tone, not understanding what had upset her.

"Are you asking me to carry it for days to Iraline? Don't ask for something unreasonable just because I owe you my life."

"Days? No, it should only take half an hour to Iraline…"

"Eh?"

Tetr froze again. What's going on?

"No, no, it's still over 200 ri (100 kilometers) to Iraline, right?"

"I think it's about that far, but… eh?"

I see.

The discomfort I felt when I asked her to wait here earlier finally made sense.

"Just to check, how long do you expect it to take to get to Iraline?"

"…With magic enhancement, it should take two days, I think."

"…Ah, I see."

It made sense.

Her marching ability is about the same as a regular horse. Even for a magic user like her, moving like Reshid or me is impossible.

"What are you agreeing to?"

"No, the difference in our expectations is clear now."

If I had followed her pace, it would have taken two days to get to Iraline. That's what it means.

I gave a wry smile.

"I'll carry Tetr, who is using the 'Follow and Float' spell. This will solve everything, so please let me do it."

"What do you mean?"

"If you do as I say, we can get to Iraline quickly."

Tetr swallowed her objections. She must want to get to Iraline as soon as possible.

If she still refused, I would have to give up on the repair costs.

But she finally agreed, albeit hesitantly.

"Then, what should I do?"

"First, activate the 'Follow and Float' spell."

I asked her to float the fox first. She reluctantly complied.

"Then?"

"As I said, I'll carry you. The spell will make the object float and follow your movements, right?"

"Yes, but…"

Tetr looked reluctant but had already agreed. It was too late to back out now.

"Excuse me."

"Kyaa…"

I placed my hands on her shoulders and under her knees and lifted her onto my back. Adjusting my ki to avoid interfering with her spell was tricky, but I could manage.

"Then, we'll leave now. I'll try not to shake you, but I'm sorry if I do."

"Wait, what do you—"

Without waiting for her response, I jumped out of the window.

"Kyaa…!?"

I could feel Tetr's body stiffen. It would be best if she held on, but even if she didn't move, it would be helpful.

"Please don't let the spell run out."

That was my only concern.

A scream echoed through the Nerg Forest.

"Kyaahhhhhhhhh!!"

"Please don't scream so close to my face."

I ran, jumping from tree to branch.

I could run faster on the ground, but I didn't want to get the fox's body caught on branches. So, I ran through the gaps between branches, ending up running through the upper part of the forest.

It was difficult to avoid shaking, and I inevitably moved up and down when jumping.

"Hmm?"

Midway through the journey, the strength in Tetr's body suddenly disappeared, and her screaming stopped.

Had she fainted? But when I looked at her face, she seemed conscious, just pale and muttering something.

The spell hadn't run out, so it was good that she was quiet.

I decided to ignore it and continued running.

"We've arrived. Good work."

We reached a wheat field near Iraline in just over an hour. I didn't want to carry her into the city, so I stopped here.

"Let's head to the Exploration Guild on 12th Street."

As I said this, I put Tetr down.

Tetr, who had been silent, couldn't stand on her own and collapsed.

"Are you okay?"

"…I should have refused… I should have just paid the money…"

Tetr's complaints continued like a monologue.

It took her about five minutes to restart the spell.

"Here we are. Good work."

We reached a wheat field near Iraline in just over an hour. I didn't want to carry her into the city, so I stopped here.

"Let's head to the Exploration Guild on 12th Street."

As I said this, I put Tetr down.

Tetr, who had been silent, couldn't stand on her own and collapsed.

"Are you okay?"

"…I should have refused… I should have just paid the money…"