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Chapter 123: Camping Preparations
I took Butler’s educational lecture to heart as we continued our march along the edge of the forest as we headed northeast.
I can’t help it, you know? I have clusters of oranges growing back in my house, and I still have the memory of Japan’s supermarkets ingrained in my mind. It’s hard to just forget all about Japan’s pricing of goods. Right, Canum’s climate might be too cold to grow oranges, but maybe mikan oranges will be fine?
Anyway, the fortress city cuts through the forest, and it’s located in the eastern most part of this area. The abandoned mine, our destination, was farther east from the fortress city, and it’s in the depths of the forest. We don’t plan to go to the citadel, but the horses won’t be able to go further into the forest, so this route along the edge was the fastest, if we considered time.
It’s not as if the route is straight given that there are bodies of water and there are no well-maintained roads, so we had to rely on the terrain’s layout as well as our memory to navigate our way. It’s impressive how they remembered the location of ponds within the woods, not to mention the general direction, despite that.
Normally, it’s also possible to take the longer route via the city roads, but for stronger folks who are good at hunting, the route nearer to the forest is more advantageous since they don’t have to worry about food and water. Inns along the main road are often rip-offs and they had to squeeze into the rooms like a can of sardines.
Well, for me it’s still nice that there’s a roof overhead and walls around. It’s already much better compared to how I lived back when I was still on the island.
We encountered a group of relatively huge monkeys, but they didn’t appear again after we slayed the first few ones.
「Take care not to kill one from the group of black monkeys. The entire troop’s gonna chase you stubbornly to the ends of the earth if you do. 」
Dinosso was teaching the kids, and of course I’m listening carefully too.
Okay, let’s avoid black monkeys as much as we can, shall we?
「All hell breaks loose when you slay the one with the lightest shade among the pink monkeys that live further South! 」
The kids were really happy while Chris striked a pose.
Chris is popular among the kids, not because they find his exaggerated gestures comical, but because his behavior is the same regardless of whether he’s dealing with a kid or an adult.
When Retze and Butler realized that the three kids were watching, they worked more slowly than usual while interjecting explanations from time to time so that the young ones could easily understand the process.
Dean also treats them like a good-natured big brother. Ash is trying her best not to look scary, but she still ends up looking scary. Even so, the kids seemed like they have gotten used to that, and they’ve been gradually interacting with each other more.
And here I am, taking advantage of that and learning as much as I can.
「Listen carefully, okay, here’s the thing, you have to be prepared to accept that you won’t be able to go back to being normal if you make Jean your role model, okay. 」
Dinosso warned the three kids with all seriousness.
「How nasty. 」
「I am also of the same opinion. 」
Grinning Butler, are you agreeing with Dinosso? Or with me?
Hey, I just tried putting a hammock up, you know. The sky looks suspiciously dark, and I’m kinda nervous being on the ground like this. Besides, we’re in the middle of the forest, so there’s no shortage of branches we could use.
「Nevertheless, I believe that regarding this matter, it is fine even if we do not return to being normal. 」
I threaded the rope through the eyelets on the edges of the monitor lizard sheet, tied both ends, then secured the rope to the tree.
Butler deftly copied me as he set up another hammock. He also copied me as I stretched the rope and made a tent above the hammock.
Each person got one small and one big lizard sheet from me, and they also kindly patronized the rucksack from yours truly.
「We’re back. 」
「We got a lot of fish~ 」
「I got a feeling I made a mess of this again… 」
Ash, Shiva and Retze.
Today’s hunter-gatherers were these three plus Dean and Chris. Retze didn’t have to worry that much since there’s enough for everyone, although nothing beats being able to eat to your heart’s content.
「We prepared the cots while we’re free. 」
「Even if you tell me it’s a cot, it’s kinda hard picturing it since It’s something I’ve never even seen before. 」
Well, I agree that we made a small paradise for kids in this forest.
「We’re back! Black deer! 」
「It’s a huge one, I tell you! 」
Butler and I took the game, Shiva and Retze handled the fish.
「So, why here? 」
「It’s pretty unique! 」
Dean stared at me with dubious eyes, while Chris looked around grinning from ear to ear.
「Swaying is fun! 」
「Bed! 」
「Cot! 」
The kids happily tossed around.
「Hey! We’re camping out in the dangerous outdoors! Having a bit of fun is fine and all, but you need to do the things you need to do! 」
The daddy scolded the kiddos.
Even if monsters won’t approach us because we’re many, letting our guard down even just for a bit might possibly lead to danger.
「Ye~s. 」
The trio answered before running off to help with the other chores.
「Oh goodness me, Jean must be the culprit behind this, right? 」
Urk!
「I mean no harm. 」
I’m the one averting my eyes now, and yes, I’m also the one happily watching the trio frolicking around earlier.
「It’s fine, those look quite comfortable, too. Besides, it’s more terrifying if you’re already perfectly sensible right off the bat. It’s just that, Jean, you’re just like our kids in a sense that you’re lacking in wariness, so — 」
Shiva smiled and advised me while being considerate of my feelings.
「You seem like the type who gets so engrossed in your work that you won’t even notice if a monster appeared, after all. 」
Dinosso also drove his point home.
Dean and Chris were also happily horsing around, but they could immediately respond since they are both well attuned to the presence of monsters.
It isn’t easy curing this lack of vigilance that I cultivated over the past eighteen years of my life in Japan. Well, I can ask the spirits to warn me of dangerous things and I also have the option of leaving 【Search】 on 24/7 but since we’re already here, I have to learn as much as I can while there are people around.