Chapter 59: What Happened in the Forest

　On the next day of rest, Henry, Sophia and I decided to go to the forest.

　The story began when I went to the Orta Herb Shop for the first time in a long time to make a potion and found that they had started selling fresh medicinal herbs.

　Fresh medicinal herbs in early spring were expensive, probably because they are still collected in small numbers. The price was almost ten times that of dried herbs. According to the shopkeeper, this does not mean that they are ten times more effective.

“If you use a lot of dried herbs, the potion’s effects won’t be much different than those made with fresh herbs.”

　Then, now that money is not a concern, I can buy fresh medicinal herbs or plenty of dried herbs. But I could not resist the desire to pick medicinal herbs. Born and raised in Tokyo, I don’t remember ever picking anything wild. I only ever picked strawberries at a strawberry farm. In the end, I gave up on fresh herbs and bought only dried herbs.

　When I mentioned it to Henry, who came over for lunch, he thought about it for a moment and then invited me to go out with him.

“Would you like to go with me to the woods to pick medicinal herbs on your next day of rest?”

“Do you know where the herbs grow, Henry?”

“I know where they grow. It is only a day trip away. The reason other people don’t go there to pick them is that the forest where medicinal herbs grow is called the lost forest, and it makes people lose their sense of direction. Many people got lost and ended up walking endlessly through the forest until they ran out of energy, so now it seems that only experts in collecting herbs go there.”

　What is the reason for losing one’s sense of direction?

“Won’t that forest be dangerous for us too?”

“Don’t worry. I went to that forest secretly when I was a teenager and I didn’t have any problems. Maybe it’s because I’m half beastman that I don’t get lost. Maybe because there is not much food in that forest, we don’t hear about any wolves or bears. At most, there are wildcats, but wildcats rarely attack humans.”

“You went to the Lost Forest alone?　How many times have you been there?”

“Maybe four times by myself. I didn’t get lost at all, so I lost interest there.”

　What a surprise. I never thought this guy would take such an adventure. When I looked at Henry, he looked uncomfortable.

“It’s called youthful indiscretion.”

“Next time, please tell me about your other youthful indiscretions.”

“In exchange for the heroic tales of Mai-san, who used to be a wild girl.”

　I didn’t take any chances and kept my mouth shut. My stories aren’t really something to brag about.

　With Dion and Karin’s permission, we decided to take Sophia along as well.

 “Oh, that forest? Can I ask you?　I’m sure she’ll be delighted. And with Sophia, you won’t get lost,” 

　Is a beastman’s sense of direction really that great?

　A day of rest. At exactly eight o’clock, Mr. Henry came to the store on his horse. Today he is wearing a sword belt. This is the first time I’ve seen Henry with a sword, but he looks cool.

“You can use a sword too.”

“It’s an aristocrat’s hobby, more or less”

　Then he whispered in my ear in a low voice.

“If you use magic in front of Sophia-chan, it will cause a lot of trouble, won’t it?　If something happens, I will use my sword, and even in the worst case, I’ll transform and fight. Sophia-chan doesn’t know who I am or where I’m from.”

“I see. I understand. But I will also protect you and Sophia.”

　Henry is really so smart. I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

　The three of us rode Henry’s beloved horse, Iris, and headed for the forest. Sophia was in a good mood all the way, not shy or intimidated by the horse. Iris was more kind to Sophia than she was to me. I feel like I can sense her love.

“I like going out with you, Fee-chan!　Iris likes it too!”

“I brought my lunch today, so let’s have lunch in the woods.”

“Yay!”

　Mr. Henry seems to be enjoying himself, too. He sometimes giggles as he listens to Sophia and I chatting about trivial things. We traveled for about two hours by horseback. When we arrived at the forest, the sun was  quite high in the sky.

　When I arrived at the forest, I somehow understood why so many people were getting lost. The forest is surrounded by mountains and the whole forest is a basin. Maybe they can’t use the sun to find their direction.

　But as I went deeper into the forest I realized that it was not just the terrain. There is a haze hanging over the forest.

“It is this mist that allows medicinal herbs to grow well.”

　Mr. Henry knew a lot about this area.

　We got off Iris and the three of us walked. Medicinal herbs were growing everywhere. Sophia, who had been quietly watching me, tugged on my sleeve.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Fee-chan, I want to run.”

“Is it perhaps, do you mean you want to run as a dog?”

“……Yeah”

　That won’t do, especially with Karin and the others trying so hard to hide it.

“The reason this child wants to transform is because her dog-type beastman blood is boiling. I know how you feel. Do you want to run as fast as you can?”

“Yes, I do!　But will you get angry if I go woof woof?”

“I won’t be mad. I know you’re a puppy. Besides, your tail is already out.”

　Sophia-chan panicked and held her butt. It was true! Her cute tail was lifting up her skirt. I had heard that she could transform freely, but there was no sign of her tail returning to its original shape.

“Fee-chan, I can’t get back halfway.”

“I’ll talk to Sophia’s family. Mai is not at fault.”

“But ……”

“This is a force majeure because her tail came out before you even gave your permission, Mai. I guess she hasn’t yet figured out the trick to get back from a half-way state. It looks like it’s going to get uncomfortable if it carries on like this.”

　Mr. Henry chuckled. I squatted down and spoke to Sophia-chan, who was squirming around looking down.

“You’ve grown a tail. I’ll talk to your father and grandmother. But wait a minute. I’ll make sure no one else is around.”

　I released a thin, broad burst of magical power. If there was a human or a beastman, he would see the light. Even in the fog, it would be easily recognizable. I looked around and saw that there was no one nearby. Sophia couldn’t wait any longer, and as soon as I said “OK,” she transformed into a dog.

　Sophia-chan happily runs around the forest. Her short limbs are moving furiously and fast. She was breathing heavily with excitement and sniffing wildly. How cute she is! I called out to Sophia as I gathered up her clothes and put them in her backpack.

“Don’t leave my side.”

“Yeah!”

　Sophia-chan runs around, making a rustling noise as she pushes her way through the undergrowth.

“I’ll watch over her. Mai-san, please pick the medicinal herbs.”

“Thank you.”

　Sophia-chan didn’t leave my side and just ran around in circles nearby like a good girl. She kept running so much that I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking, “She’s really running that much!” Then she suddenly stopped, raised her head, and looked at me.

“I smell blood!”

“What?”

“I smell blood! Over here!”

　Illustration (By Mitemin)

　Sophia puts her nose to the ground and follows the smell of blood. Henry pulls out his sword and asks her a question.

“Can you tell if it’s human blood or animal blood?”

“Human blood!　I know, Fee-chan!”

“Oh, yeah? Then will you keep looking for me?”

“Yes!”

　Henry whispered to me as I looked around.

“I think this girl, a dog-type beastman, has a keener sense of smell than I, a half-beastman. Let’s rely on her here. Mai-san, please be ready to use magic at any time.”

“Got it.”

　I walk along, releasing sensing magic and also preparing my water magic. My hair, clothes, and shoes are getting damp from being in the fog all the time. Sophia-chan is running around, wading through the grass, not caring that her fur is getting wet.

　Suddenly, Sophia-chan looked up. She raises her small, black nose high and probes the air.

“Almost there!”

　How badly injured is the bleeding person?  Did the injury happen by accident, or was it self-inflicted? Was he attacked by an animal or a person? If the person was hurt by another, is the other person still around?

　I feel nervous about situations that I would never encounter if I were in Japan.

　At the same time that Sophia shouted “I found it!”, I felt the magical power bouncing back at me.

　The woman was sitting on her buttocks with her back against a large tree. A little distance away, a cat a size larger than the transformed Sophia was scampering around. The big cat had a murderous look on its face.

“It’s a bobcat. Mai, please stay here with the child”

　Mr. Henry drew his sword and slowly walked up to us. I put a ward around myself and Sophia-chan.

　The bobcat menacedly approached Henry, wrinkling its nose and showing its long, thick fangs as it growled. When Henry drew his sword and closed the distance, it backed off a little, but it didn’t seem to want to give up on the woman.

“Mai!　This bobcat just had a litter. Her milk is turgid. I don’t feel like slaying it, so I’ll transform and chase it away. Please keep Sophia-chan safe.”

“Eh?　Eh?”

　Are you going to turn into a cat in front of that woman? No way? I thought as I watched, and with the sword at the ready, he started to unbutton his shirt with his left hand. Sophia was excited and breathing heavily. Although there was a barrier up, I held up the doggy Sophia with my left hand to stop her from running off. My right hand is always ready to serve water.

　Mr. Henry’s transformation was over so quickly that I could hardly believe my eyes.

　A human-sized black cat leaped toward the bobcat.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter