A few days away from Monroy

Currently, were becoming closer to the Demon Zone.

We may arrive in the Demon Zone by tomorrow.

[Welcome back.]

Washing clothes at a river, Seras looks up.

Just a while ago, I was shopping in the nearest village.

Currently, were camping lightly inside a forest.

[Im sorry, Touka-dono. Ive left all the resupplying up to you.]

Basically, Im in charge of procuring supplies.

[Well, its because my face isnt identified by anyone. If I just say Im a traveler, no one would suspect anything.]

Wringing out the water out of the clothes, Seras smiles.

[Well, Im not as good at acting as you.]

[Im just good at removing my presence and slipping into crowds.]

Were-leopards and Dark Elves would surely stand out.

Seras certainly have that ability to change her appearance.

However, her beauty would still attract the attention of others.

Her ability to change her appearance isnt omnipotent.

She couldnt significantly change her appearance.

She couldnt alter her age and gender.

She also couldnt change the physical features of everything below her head.

She said that she focuses most of her ability on altering the shape of ears, so she could change the other aspects that much.

I gave the things Ive bought to Seras.

[Once we enter the Demon Zone, you wont have to use the power of altering your appearance. You should be able to sleep normally without depending on my <Sleep>.]

It seems that Seras doesnt have any compensations left that she had to pay.

If she were to use the power of the spirits, she wont be able to sleep for a while.

However, she could sleep if I were to use my <Sleep>.

If you were to think about cheating, this should be considered one.

However, the spirits havent made any complaints even now.

[Wheres Eve and Liz?]

[Theyre taking care of the horses over there.]

Together with Seras, we went towards where the two of them were.

[Youve returned, Touka.]

[Touka-sama, welcome back.]

It seems that Eve and Liz reached a point where they could pause what theyre doing.

[Pinniii~]

This time, Pigimaru is house sitting again.

Pigimaru is currently being held in the embrace of Liz.

It looks like theyve become close friends,

Now then

[How about we start eating?]

The sun is about to set and the sky is about to turn dark.

The weather has been favorable these past few days.

It was quite sunny today too.

The temperature is quite moderate and we passed our time peacefully.

We sat down in a circle.

Todays dinner is as follows.

Broiled meat.

Some fruits.

And the main dish, stew.

We decided to use the ingredients that wont last long today.

As for seasoning this stew, I entrusted it to Liz.

[It would be great if its palatable]

I sip some of the soup.

Delicious.

[I guess I could leave food preparation to Liz from now on.]

[Ah Thank you very much.]

[Pimumuu~]

Apparently, it also suits Pigimarus tastes.

However, it was quite a curious sight for me to see the soup being consumed in his body.

The color just disappears without mixing into his body.

Crouching down, Liz gently pets Pigimaru.

[Fufu Thank you, Pigimaru-chan]

[Pii~]

I called out to Seras who had begun cleaning up with haste.

[Seras.]

[Yes.]

[Ill clean that up, so help Liz change her clothes.]

I bought some clothes and equipment for Liz today.

I cant rent someone elses because of the difference in size.

Liz has been wearing the same clothes until now.

Most of all, we will soon be entering the Demon Zone.

Liz cant just enter into that area unprotected.

She would need armor to protect herself in case of emergency.

[Though I said that This is the only thing that fits Lizs physique.]

There are hardly any options I could pick when it comes to armor for children.

By the way, I simply measured Lizs size along the way.

[It seems that some noble from somewhere has made her daughter wear this once, but it ended up being thrown away. It was supposed to be a gift for her, but she didnt like it.]

And, he said that noble has just thrown it at the village where he passed by at that time.

Seras is closely checking the equipment.

[It feels like its already a complete set of equipment. It looks like it puts heavy emphasis on its appearance, but the protection it gives itself is quite good.]

This would protect Lizs body more than the current clothes shes wearing.

I looked towards Liz.

[Is that armor fine with you, Liz?]

[O- Of course! Thank you very much, Touka-sama!]

[If you dont like it, you dont have to force yourself, you know?]

[T- Thats not the case at all. Rather, Touka-sama had to go out of his way just to buy this clothes for me Im actually quite glad.]

Shes too meek

[Seras.]

[What is it?]

[That complete set of equipment, you could take away some of the parts based on your judgement and replace them with cloth.]

Seras giggled.

[Understood.]

For the me right now, I cant do anything but bear a grudge towards that noble with a detestable hobby.

Our journey to the Demon Zone has been fairly smooth.

It must be because we were able to travel almost out of the sight of others.

Before, Eve and Liz said that they have travelled together.

Theyve also travelled while trying to hide from the eyes of the public.

Thats why theyre already used to travelling like this.

Seras Ashrain was a fugitive.

She also has been keeping her travels hidden from the eyes of the public.

Ive also been travelling while hiding my identity.

The point is that everyone knows how to travel away from the eyes of the public.

Eves ears that could keenly detect sounds.

Eves night vision that gives her visibility even in the dark.

These two had also played a role in our smooth travel.

[Its a bit roundabout, but it seems weve finally arrived before the Demon Zone.]

Eve looked at the distant gentle hill.

If we were to follow the road and descend down from that hill, we would be able to enter the Demon Zone.

Weve made some detours because weve been avoiding castles and forts scattered about in the area.

The people in those castles and forts were the ones hunting monsters that have come out of the Demon Zone.

There are not many instances of that happening, but there were still some rare chances that monsters would appear.

Even though thats the case, they also havent covered up the whole area.

There are also some places where they were scarce.

Therefore, there are some cases where some monsters get past.

In fact, we have encountered some golden-eyed monsters before we arrived here.

Well, I hardly had the chance to make my move though.

Incidentally, weve released the horses in the forest before we arrived in front of the Demon Zone.

We cant bring them along in the Demon Zone.

That was Eves decision.

Currently, weve kept our luggages to the bare minimum.

I stood next to Eve.

[It looks like a sea of trees.]

This is the scenery I could see from the top of the hill.

There was complete darkness spreading out in a forest.

I couldnt see the other side of the forest at all.

There was certainly a curtain of mist in the distant forest but

From the scope of the area I could see in, it currently reflects the silence of the Demon Zone.

[That is?]

I could see a really large tree in the distance.

Obviously, its the only oddly gigantic tree in the forest.

[Thats the Corrupted Tree.]

Eve answered.

[Corrupted Tree?]

[It is said that it was originally a holy tree. Currently, it may have become the symbol of the Demon Zone.]

[The other name for the Golden Demon Zone was the Great Ruins, right?]

[Umu.]

There used to be a civilization in the past there huh.

You could say that there were ruins all around the world.

Did this world already got destroyed once?

We decided to take some rest before we entered the Demon Zone.

We will depart tomorrow morning.

As expected, we would need to be in tiptop shape.

After we finished setting up our camp, we took some rest.

[By the way, Eve, do you remember to find the whereabouts of the Witch?]

[I dont.]

[Hmm? Ah, so you have a map to go there huh.]

[No, I dont have such a thing.]

Wait a minute.

[-]

No, it would be alright.

Eve definitely knows where the witch is.

Weve confirmed it through Seras lie detector.

[Dont worry, Touka.]

Eve stands up.

Looking down on me, she held out her hand.

[Stand up. And then, fill it into me.]

I stand up.

[What am I going to fill in?]

[Your magic energy.]

[In your arm?]

[To be exact, into my right hand.]

[I understand.]

Eves voice is filled with confidence.

This may be some kind of special way to show the whereabouts of the witch.

I held unto Eves hand.

Her claws kind of feels like those of a beast.

However, her hand feels just like normal human skin.

[Should I really inject magic energy into your hand?]

[Umu. Just like Elves, us were-leopards werent good at kneading magic energy. It takes time for us. But if youre a human whos knowledgeable with magic, you should be able to do it quickly.]

No, Im not that knowledgeable about magic though.

However, thats the case huh

I could read the mechanism of how this works.

[Im going to start.]

[Umu.]

I started injecting my magic energy.

I remembered that time.

That door in the Disposal Ruins that opens and closes when I injected my magic energy.

My hand started to shine in a bluish-white hue.

The faint light started moving into Eves palm.

[Nhnn Mhmm The feeling of being injected with magic energy feels strange]

[Oh?]

From Eves palm, an emblem started floating out into midair.

It started floating until it hovered in front of my eyes.

It looks like a holographic image.

Theres also that.

It kind of feels similar to the Status display

Seras and Lizs mouth were wide open.

Even Pigimaru looks quite impressed

[Pumii~]

as he cried out.

The emblems shape started changing.

[This looks like a simple map, doesnt it?]

Thats the first thing I thought it resembles.

[Umu. This glowing green dot over here is probably our location.]

I could also see another glowing dot on the map.

Its situated north of the green dot.

[That is to say, this red dot in the north is]

[Its probably where the Witch of Taboos is. My father told me that.]

[I see, so thats how it works huh]

[Its because we cant make a map of the Demon Zone. But with this, we just need to move knowing that we would make these two glowing dots closer to each other.]

[Is it the witch that taught him how to make this emblem that turned into a map?]

[Thats what I heard.]

[Hmm? Does that mean youve never met the witch?]

[I havent.]

I heard that the inheritance of this emblem has been restricted.

It was only inherited by the tribe chiefs and their children.

Eve explained so.

Then, Eve must be the daughter of a tribal chief huh

Well, I wont intrude into topics like that.

The whereabouts of the Witch of Taboos.

That means the path we have to venture has become clear.

Thats enough for now.

Although were still resting right now, the Forbidden Curses are steadily getting closer to my grasp.

[Alright, well be taking some rest today.]

I turn my back on the Demon Zone.

[And tomorrow, we would finally enter the Demon Zone.]