Phantom monster Stardust Oaks.
This monster, which is difficult to touch and even witness, has a part that can be used as an ingredient.
Fresh milk.
It seems that there is a description in the history book that Rafina is investigating, that this Stardust Oaks milk was squeezed and used as an ingredient.
Also named after its name, “Stardust Milk”, it is sweet like honey, more than twice as rich as normal milk, and rich in flavor.
The explanation of the guild master continued.
” ‘Stardust milk’ is the most important and featured ingredient among the five ingredients. This alone is worth more than 80 million.”
“Haha 80 million !!”
Pamela took her eyes off again.
And once the story is finished, Pamela straight up asks.
“In other words, in order to get ‘stardust milk’ from Stardust Oaks, Kure is essential.”
“I need kure, the power of Pamela is also necessary. What I want to be my partner is not Kure, but Pamela as an Elemental.”
“Fufufu … That’s Pamela-chan. What should I do? Zelet-kun says it like this.”
“I don’t want Kure to be in danger, but … but Zelet seems to be motivated. I’ll take it! This job!”
At first, Pamela was confused, but at the end she agreed.
“Hmm. Good reply. But be careful-both. The enemies are probably not limited to monsters.”
“What do you mean?”
Pamela blinked her eyes, and Olivia had a mysterious look on her face.
“It’s possible that Stardust Oaks sightings are already out there.”
It is said that the forest was packed with several peers and hunters in addition to the food providers of the culinary guild here.
“And … It is a large forest that stretches from our Kingdom of Vanahia to the neighboring Kingdom of Carneria. Because the border is in the forest, it is difficult to distinguish, and the ingredients caught here are a common property of both countries. It’s supposed to be ~ “
“There is a possibility that someone from the Kingdom of Carneria will come out?”
“The monster food boom has begun over there. You can’t miss this information.”
“It’s hard because there are many competitors. I wonder if it’s okay.”
“What are you saying, Pamela? No matter what kind of monster or human comes, there is no better hunter than me. And this time there is Pamela. No problem.”
“Zelet …………. Thank you.”
Pamela turned red to her ears and thanked me.
I haven’t said anything to be thanked.
Elemental Is rare. It can be said that it is impossible to arrange them immediately.
Currently, we are the leaders in this competition.
However, it depends on the other party.
“Zelet-kun, are you worried about anything?”
“No, nothing … Pamela, go to bed early today. We’ll be heading for the first carriage tomorrow morning.”
“Uh, yeah! Then I have to go home and make tomorrow’s lunch box.”
Pamela’s voice was bouncing.
Good grief……. It’s not a hike, though.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
After two hours of swaying in the carriage from our city, we arrived at the forest near the border of the neighboring Kingdom of Carneria.
The forest named Etowafu Forest is one of the most dense areas in the Kingdom of Vanahia and has provided us with various blessings and resources since ancient times.
There are more than 120 types of plants, including demon grass.
There are more than 400 species of wild animals inhabiting, and it is said that there are about 500 species including monsters. This is the highest area of forests in the Kingdom of Vanahia
The abundant water resources, nuts and mild climate nurtured life and turned it into a biotope of flora and fauna.
It is ironic to me that an elf, who has become firmly established in the life of the city, progresses through it.
“Zelet, there’s a nest of Mukugidori.”
Pamela is a little excited.
Probably because she came to a big forest for the first time in a long time.
Both me and Pamela are elves. I used to live in the woods. After that, Pamela decided to live in the city with her father and left the forest, but after that, I was also attacked by the village, and when I moved under my master, Pamela lived in the same city. That’s why.
Even so, it’s quite a lot of fun.
Even though it’s not a hike …
“Zelet! Look at this!”
Pamela found a side hole in the woods and pointed her finger at it.
The Etowafu Forest is a forest created after the lava of a nearby volcano has flowed in and has cooled and solidified. As a result, these holes were opened all over the forest, making it a hideout for wild animals.
“Isn’t there Stardust Oaks here?”
“Don’t look into it carelessly. It’s still good if it’s a bat, but it could be a monster’s nest.”
“Gee!”
Pamela hurriedly hides behind me.
Good grief……. Have you ever had such a laid-back hunt?
However, the monsters that live in this forest are ranked F at the bottom and B at the top.
If Stardust Oaks were to exist, it would be the first A-rank certified monster in the Etowafu Forest.
After a lunch break, we went deeper into the forest.
So far, there is no appearance or evidence of Stardust Oaks.
After all, it is different from chasing ordinary monsters and animals.
This is because the other party is something that doesn’t leave any traces for us to track it.
Rir’s nose doesn’t seem to detect that odor either. I went through the forest without stopping and checking.
On the contrary, there are traces left by the hunters.
Probably the same people who heard the rumors. Perhaps they aren’t aiming for “Stardust Milk” like we are, but are trying to subdue Stardust Oaks and make a name for themselves.
Because it’s a phantom monster. If you can subdue it, you can sell your name.
“Zelet … If you were still a hunter, would you come to subdue Stardust Oaks?”
“Come on. If he’s a human being, he might have subdued him.”
“Hmm”
“what?”
“No, I just thought it was like Zelett.”
“??”
Let’s leave Pamela alone for the time being.
This is a hunch, but we probably won’t find Stardust Oaks in the dark clouds.
However, when I continue to observe it, it is a truly mysterious forest. In some places, there are traces of bears and monsters biting the trunk in unnatural places.
That is not all. Even though it is so dense and thick with trees, the forest is quite bright. When I turned to the ground, a small branch that looked like a pruning was rolling.
It’s like someone is taking care of it.
“Zelet, have you noticed anything?”
“That’s right … This forest is bright.”
The Etowaf Forest has a longer history than the Kingdom of Vanahia, with a history of nearly 1000 years. The bottom of the forest was dark even in the daytime because the trees that grew up in search of light were growing branches, but the Etowafu forest was strangely bright.
Is this also the influence of “phantom monsters”?
“The forest is bright? By the way, isn’t it? Is the lighting better than the forest we lived in? What’s worrisome about that?”
“I felt a little uncomfortable. How about the spirits?”
“No … Actually, I’ve been watching it often, but there are too many spirits. What’s wrong with them? It seems that they’re also looking at kure.”
“Kyuru”
Kure, who had released the ghosting, appeared and raised his hand like the contractor.
This is just an experience.
Is it really terrible to search for a monster that has become a semi-spiritual body?
“It can’t be helped. It’s a little rough treatment, but …”
“What are you doing, Zelet?”
“It’s easy. let’s invite it over there.”
“What do you mean to invite? How?”
“Use this …. Prim”
“Ai ~”
Prim unloaded the mountain of luggage she was carrying.
From that, a certain kind of human face is taken out.
“That is … the fruit of Gubagara?”
That’s it. It’s the fruit of Gubagara.
It was once brought out by Olivia during the culinary guild registration test when examining my unique attributes and magical power.
This time, I borrowed it from the guild. I’m grateful for this because I have expenses over there.
“Zelet ……. Maybe ――――”
Pamela starts to frown.
Apparently, she knew what I was trying to do.
As expected, she’s my childhood friend.
I can put in the same magical power as in the test while holding the fruit of Gubagara.
At the moment, countless buds pop out from the fruit of Gubagara. As it was, it formed a trunk so as to be intertwined, and extended upward. In addition, the roots spread in search of soil nutrients.
When I noticed, it pierced the surrounding trees and increased the number of branches and leaves, and red and green-brilliant two-colored leaves were overgrown.
The Gubagara tree emits a scent that monsters like and attracts them, sucking up their magical power.
Stardust Oaks also has a special appearance, but it was originally a monster.
There should be some reaction.
“That’s Zelet for you. It’s a nice idea.”
“Thanks for the praise, but there is one drawback to this strategy.”
“that’s——“
Dodo Dodo Dodo Dodo Dodo Dodo Dodo! !!
Suddenly, countless footsteps came into our range.
It was now approaching the Gubagara tree where we were standing.
It’s not just one way. Sound can be heard from all directions.
We were already surrounded.
“Hey … this is …”
“The monsters are drawn to the smell of the Gubagara tree.”
“After all, it’s no good!”
Pamela makes her face blue.
“What are you going to do, Zelet?”
“What am I going to do? … Pamela, what are you talking about? You’re supposed to tell me. Rir, Prim, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Awoooo! !! “
Rir howls.
It’s been a long time since we did a real hunt. Rir was delighted to feel that she was going wild.
“Ai ~”
Prim also grows greatly on the side.
After doing some preparatory exercises, she just said, “Come on.”
“Only Rir and Prim”
“It’s enough”
“really?”
“Pamela is behind me …”
I don’t think it’s necessary.
You can see the monster at the beginning. It’s a greyhound that lives in this forest. The rank is “C”. It is a large wild dog-like monster with a red mane growing from its forehead to its neck.
Its nose is good and its eyes are good. Not to mention agility, all the claws that extend to the tips of the limbs are sharp.
It’s like a wild hound that lives in the forest.
Rir and Prim each headed for a swarm of greyhounds attacking from opposite directions.
Rir shines her fangs and Prim swings up.
“Wow! “
“Hya!”
Dogoonnnnnnn! !!
There is a roaring sound.
At the moment, each attack hits the leading greyhound directly.
It was good until the monsters stopped, but Rir and Prim’s attacks didn’t stop there.
With a shock wave, it was like being pushed back by the wave and blowing off the greyhound that followed. All that remains is the trace of the impact that spreads like a fan.
“………… So Strong!”
Pamela, who was staring at me seriously, was trying her best to squeeze out those words.