Aiming for a Cozy Life in a Dangerous Forest in Another World! - Chapter 18
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- Chapter 18 - Let’s Solve the Problems 1
Chapter 18: Let’s Solve the Problems 1
We had two problems.
We needed new clothes for Kaito and Pola, and the hunting grounds were becoming depleted.
I especially wanted to get them new clothes quickly, but it was easier said than done.
None of us knew how to make clothes, or rather, how to make thread or cloth, and we didn’t have any materials.
The only realistic solution for us was to somehow wrap magical beast fur around our bodies to supplement our clothes. Fortunately, Kaito knew how to process the hides.
So, I decided to focus on the problem of the declining prey.
The only thing we could do was to expand our usual range of activity and go where the magical beasts were.
I told Kaito and Pola I would be venturing out a bit further, and they said,
“Onee-chan, we’re coming too.”
“Yeah! Pola wants to explore too!”
That’s what they both said.
……Honestly, I was hesitant. We were going to uncharted territory.
It was strange, but even though I initially couldn’t tell the difference between one part of the forest and the other, I gradually learned to recognize our approximate location based on the way the trees grew and the terrain.
I still tilled the earth and left markers as a precaution though.
This time, however, we were going to a place we had never explored before. We might get lost if we had to flee suddenly. And because we were looking for prey, we would have to go further away from the rocky mountain where our cave was located. This meant it would take longer to get back to the cave.
Considering all of this, I decided Kaito and Pola should stay behind. But just as I was about to tell them…
“We can’t let you go to a dangerous place alone, Onee-chan. We’re not strong enough to fight yet, but we can keep watch and help you search the area. I wish Pola could stay behind, but I can’t leave her alone…”
“Onii-chan! Pola can stay home alone! But today I want to go with Kotoha-nee-chan!”
…I guess I had no choice.
I couldn’t ignore Kaito’s concerns, and his knowledge of this world would be helpful for exploring the forest.
I was a little worried about taking Pola, but it was true that leaving her alone in the cave was also scary.
“…Fine. But don’t stray too far from me!”
“Okay!”
“Alrighty!”
And so, the three of us set out to explore the forest beyond our usual range of activity, following the river where Kaito and Pola had been swept down.
♢ ♢ ♢
For the next three days, we ventured further than usual, following the river. We successfully hunted several Fangrabbits and Forest Tigers.
But the biggest achievement was that Kaito and Pola each managed to hunt a Fangrabbit on their own.
Pola’s method was the same as mine: long-range sniping with high firepower. But Pola couldn’t use 『Earth Magic』, so she created ice bullets with 『Water Magic』 and shot them. She named it 『Ice Bullet』 and used that word as her activation key.
Creating ice with 『Water Magic』 seemed to be easy for them to visualize since they had seen and touched the ice cubes I created, and both of them were now able to do it.
However, only Pola, who excelled at magic, could use 『Ice Bullet』, which involved shaping the ice into a bullet form for greater lethality.
Kaito’s 『Water Magic』 had reached level 2, but he was still struggling to manipulate what he created.
Pola was overjoyed after hunting her first Fangrabbit. She was beaming the whole day.
We decided she could keep the magic stone from the Fangrabbit as a memento of her first hunt, and she would often stare at it with a happy smile.
As for Kaito, he was trying to master combat using 『Physical Enhancement』.
It seemed that as long as he had 『Physical Enhancement』 activated, he was able to withstand a Fangrabbit’s charge without any problems. He would take a few hits, wait for an opening, grab and break its fangs, then finish it off with a kick to the head. However, depending on the Fangrabbit’s movements, he sometimes ran out of time before he could finish it off within the time limit of 『Physical Enhancement』, and I would have to take over, or Pola would.
I guess it was something you just had to get used to through practice.
But perhaps because he was using 『Physical Enhancement』 so much, his magic power had increased, or maybe his 『Physical Enhancement』 was lasting a little bit longer.
It seemed like the best way for Kaito to get stronger was to keep training, fighting with 『Physical Enhancement』.
As usual, we had Rin store the prey in its 『Magic Box』 and then butchered it slowly back at the cave.
Time seemed to flow normally inside the 『Magic Box』, but there was no air, and perhaps there was a preservation effect from the magic because the meat was still fresh even when we butchered it back at the cave.
However, Rin could only store about four Fangrabbits or one Forest Tiger in its 『Magic Box』.
Rin’s 『Magic Box』 was “Minor,” so this was probably its limit.
On the fourth day of our hunting expeditions, Kaito and Pola each took down a Fangrabbit, just like yesterday. We were on our way back to the cave when, all of a sudden, Rin started trembling in a way I had never seen before. It then hopped up and down a few times.
I felt like it was trying to tell me something. I focused on Rin, and I sensed anxiety, fear, and a strong urge to run away.
I was confused and looked around. But I didn’t see anything.
We were already within our usual range of activity, in an area where we no longer saw any magical beasts.
And even if a Fangrabbit or Forest Tiger appeared, it wouldn’t be a problem.
I was about to pick Rin up and head back to the cave when,
BOOM! There was a loud sound, and something large emerged from the ground in front of us.
…As the dust settled, a large snake emerged from the ground, its body raised and facing us.
♢ ♢ ♢
It had a thick black body with yellow, lightning-like patterns.
Two sharp fangs gleamed from its open mouth, and it flicked its red tongue in and out. Snakes used their tongues to smell and to gather information about their surroundings, if I remembered correctly…
Its red-black eyes glinted ominously as it stared at us.
We froze, unable to move, like frogs being stared down by a snake.
It was so large that it made all the Fangrabbits and Forest Tigers we had faced until now seem small.
……We couldn’t run. If we turned and ran, we would be eaten immediately. I forced my trembling legs to stand firm and launched a 『Stone Bullet』 at the snake.
The stone bullet struck the snake near its neck, around the area where its head met its body. But the fight didn’t end there like it usually did.
My attack, which was powerful enough to gouge out whatever it hit, an attack I had launched with all my might, hadn’t left a single scratch on the snake.
The snake simply recoiled slightly.
Having been attacked, the snake seemed to have determined I was an enemy. It lunged at me, attempting to bite me.
I hoped 『Automatic Defense』 would protect me. Just as I was about to launch another 『Stone Bullet』,
“Don’t you dare hurt Onee-chan!!!!”
Kaito shouted as he jumped and punched the snake in the face.
However, the snake deftly moved its head to the side, avoiding Kaito’s attack. It then pulled back, waited for Kaito to lose his balance in the air, and head-butted him.
…Kaito was sent flying, crashing into a nearby tree.