Chapter 56: Azure Wind Swift
As Ren walked through the forest, watching the scenery between the trees, a chirping sound came from above.
“Pipipi…”
Ren jolted. He looked around and spotted the shadow of a bird on a high branch a short distance away. He quickly raised his bow.
Holding his breath, he carefully took aim and released the arrow.
Thwump.
Rustle rustle!
The vibration of the bowstring lingered in his fingertips. Still gripping the bow tightly, Ren stared into the bushes beyond.
About ten meters ahead, bright blue feathers were scattered across the shrubs. When he rushed over, he found a larger bird-type monster twitching faintly, half-buried in the bushes, its wings trembling.
Ren exhaled and slung his bow over his shoulder.
He quickly placed the blue bird-like beast into his small box. Its feathers were translucent blue—beautifully clear. It looked like the feathers could easily be used for quills.
“An Azure Wind Swift… maybe?”
Its feathers are so transparent.
▪ Azure Wind Swift
Characteristics: Wind attribute magical beast with translucent blue feathers
Behavior: Flies at extreme speed riding wind currents; excels in aerial combat
Remembering the adventurer guild’s documents, Ren finished it off. The moment he tried to stab it, the bird violently shook its head in resistance, causing the knife to sink deeply into its chest area instead. Blood splattered inside the box, and something small rolled out.
“Is that a magic stone?”
After letting the blood drain into the ground, he picked up the object, washed it with water magic, and carefully cleaned it with his fingers.
It was a semi-transparent green stone about the size of his thumb. Deep, clear green—like sunlight filtering through forest leaves.
Ren held it up between his thumb and index finger.
Just then, sunlight poured through gaps in the canopy.
The light passed through the stone.
In that instant, the green gem brightened as if glowing from within. Inside its translucent core, faint but powerful patterns resembling a small swirling current—like a miniature tornado of wind—seemed to move.
“Wow… that’s beautiful. It’s a blue beast, but the magic stone is green.”
The green glow shining through the sunlight felt both cool and alive, as though it contained the vitality of the forest itself. Watching it, Ren even felt a faint breeze against his cheek and narrowed his eyes.
“Alright, I’ll keep this instead of selling it to the guild.”
Carefully, he stored the beautiful green magic stone inside his box. He also picked up the scattered blue feathers one by one. The smaller ones wouldn’t work for quills, but they were pretty, so he wrapped them in cloth.
As he walked, occasionally picking medicinal herbs, he ventured deeper into the forest.
Between the trees ahead, he noticed something resembling reddish-purple fruit.
“…Could it be?”
He quickened his pace and approached. Beyond the bushes was a tree covered in clusters of reddish-purple fruit. Each cluster formed a sphere larger than Ren’s fist.
He picked one.
It felt soft yet firm in his hand, with a faint sweet-and-green aroma.
“Wild Heal Berry, right?”
He recalled the documents he had recently seen in the adventurer guild archive.
▪ Wild Heal Berry
In spring, it produces white flowers and fruit that grows in clustered spheres about the size of an adult fist. It contains healing properties, making it valuable as a medicinal herb, but it is also popular as food. It tastes sweet and tangy.
Be careful when transporting, as the fruit is easily crushed.
He washed one with water magic and took a bite.
The small berries burst, releasing sweet and tangy juice into his mouth.
“…Delicious.”
Ren couldn’t help but grin.
Since they were easily crushed, he placed them directly into his box as he harvested them.
That was when—
Rustle.
An unnatural sound came from the other side of the trees.