Chapter 9

We started walking through the forest.

Reisha, who was leading the way, held a sword, and behind her, Maria and I walked side by side.

"Is it okay to walk in the forest? I've heard there are no landmarks and we might end up going in circles."

Reisha, who was leading, asked.

"Don't worry. I brought a compass, so that won't happen."

We were walking north.

I don't know what lies ahead, but it's better than the south, which the unfortunate Maria suggested.

"How long will it take for our magic to recover enough to fly?"

"Without using any magic, it should take a few hours. However, we need water and a warming spell, so it will take half a day. If you can endure, it will take a few hours."

"That's impossible."

"It's impossible."

Unfortunately, we are pampered nobles.

We can't endure.

Moreover, both Reisha and Maria's clothes are in tatters.

Without a warming spell, we won't be able to survive the night.

"Reisha, if you find any animals, make sure to kill them. We have no food."

"Right... By the way, can anyone here cook?"

"......"

"......"

Reisha asked, but as nobles, we can't do such things.

"Just cook it. If we get sick, Maria can use a healing spell, so it will be fine."

"Ha... We've had quite an eventful couple of days."

"It's an adventure. A very valuable experience."

If we had stayed as royalty, we would never have experienced this.

Well, I didn't really want to, either.

"Right... Both of you, step back! It's a goblin again!"

Maria and I stepped back as Reisha instructed.

Then, Reisha lunged forward and sliced the goblin in one stroke.

"Hmph! No one can defeat the incomparable Reisha."

Reisha, who instantly killed the goblin, struck a cool pose again.

Perhaps that was her catchphrase.

"Reisha is really amazing."

Maria praised Reisha.

"I have confidence in my sword skills."

Indeed, her sword skills are impressive.

I don't know why a duchess's daughter is so skilled with a sword, but she really is.

"Reisha, it's good to be cool, but don't overdo it. If you collapse, it's over."

"I know. Maria, don't waste healing spells. Conserve your magic."

To be honest, Reisha, who is walking in front, has branches caught in her dress, and it's in a terrible state.

"Okay."

Maria looks worried, but we are all in tatters.

We need to get out of the forest and find a town as soon as possible.

We continued walking, but it gradually got darker.

"Can we really move at night?"

"We can use a light spell, but to conserve magic, it's better to rest. Night monsters are also scary."

I don't think they are there, but I'm afraid of zombies or nocturnal strong enemies.

"Let's rest somewhere."

"Um, about the food...?"

Maria timidly asked.

"If we can't find a place to sleep, we'll have to go without it."

"That's so... I don't like this diet..."

I don't want to diet either, but there's nothing we can do.

We continued walking, but we only encountered goblins.

I don't really want to eat goblins.

Can they even be eaten?

"I'm getting hungry..."

"Me too."

Walking on an empty stomach is quite tough.

"...Both of you, would a wolf be okay?"

As Maria and I were complaining, Reisha asked.

I turned to the front and saw a wolf baring its fangs in front of Reisha.

"Oh, it's a wolf!"

Maria, scared, hid behind me.

"Finish it in one strike. Don't let it escape."

"I know. The incomparable—oh!"

As Reisha was about to say a cool line, the wolf pounced on her.

Well, I didn't expect the beast to wait.

Still, Reisha thrust her sword into the pouncing wolf and finished it in one strike.

"Great! Dinner!"

Reisha pulled her sword out of the dead wolf, grabbed its tail, and started dragging it.

"What a tough person!"

"Really."

That's the image of the future princess, a duchess's daughter.

Maria and I followed the tough and incomparable Reisha.

As we walked, it got darker and darker.

"I'm at my limit... Let's camp out soon."

We can't go any further.

"Right... There's a cave over there."

Reisha pointed to a rock formation, and indeed, there was a hole.

"That's perfect. Let's use it as our bed."

We reached the cave, gathered dry branches, and made a campfire with my fire magic, then sat down.

"I'm tired..."

"Understandably so."

"Me too."

We took a break around the campfire.

"By the way, how are we going to eat this wolf? No one can cook, right?"

Maria asked, looking at the wolf nearby.

"Let's just cut it up, skewer it on branches, and cook it."

"That's the only way."

I don't know any other way.

"I can't do it."

"I'm not expecting you to."

Really, really.

"I'll do it. Reisha, lend me your sword."

Actually, give it back.

"Here. This sword is amazing."

Reisha handed me the sword.

"Of course, it's the royal family's treasure."

I answered while cutting the wolf.

"Using such a treasure as a knife..."

There's nothing else, so it can't be helped.

I've never dissected an animal before, but I cut the wolf up, skewered the meat on branches, and passed them to Reisha.

Reisha grilled the meat over the campfire.

"There's no seasoning, right?"

"There's no way. Maybe we can eat it with some herbs? It might taste like herb-roasted meat."

"I don't know which ones are herbs... I'm sorry, I'm useless. I'm from the countryside, but I don't know anything."

Maria looked down, feeling dejected.

Well, even if she's from a nature-filled countryside, Maria, as a noble, wouldn't know much.

"Don't say that. You're the one who will be most useful. If we get sick, you can heal us."

Can wolves even be eaten?

I've never eaten one before.

"I'll cast a healing spell before we sleep. I don't think we'll get sick."

I'm glad Maria is here.

If it were just Reisha and me, we might have died from food poisoning.

"Hey? Is this good enough?"

Reisha showed me the grilled meat.

"I don't know... Since I don't know, make sure to cook it thoroughly. There's no seasoning, so let's focus on filling our stomachs."

"That's true."

Reisha started grilling the meat again.

"What tough prince and duchess's daughter..."

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