Chapter 16: 16-16 Forest of Demon Beasts

王都を離れ、半刻ほど北へと歩くと通称『魔獣の森』に辿り着く.

ここでは生息する数種の魔物との遭遇の危険がある一方で、市場で価値のつく植物や木の実などの各種素材が採取できる. 初心者の冒険者はこの森に依頼をこなしに訪れることも多い.

冒険者ギルドの判定する「危険度」はかなり低いのに『魔獣の森』などと物騒な感じの名前がついているのは、誤って危険な場所に立ち入る者が居ないよう警告を促す意味もあるという.

名前も知らずに迷い込んでしまえば、同じことだが.

「これが『魔獣の森』か. 木の密度が高いな……俺がいつも行く南側の森とは木の種類も違うし、大きい」

「ええ. 生態系が少し、違うんです」

ここは、王都近隣でゴブリンが生息する森としても有名だ.

ゴブリンはきちんと対処をすればさほど危険な魔物ではないと言われるが、やはり油断はできない.

人を襲って食べることもあるからだ.

奴らは人に出会えば、食べ物と見て積極的に襲いかかってくるという.

獰猛なのだ.

初心者の冒険者が『魔獣の森』で行方不明となり、骨だけになって見つかった、という話もよくあるらしい.

ゴブリンは、放っておけばどんどん数が増える.

普段は森の中で小動物などを捕食しているらしいが、数が増えすぎると、森にある食糧で腹を満たせなくなり、人里にまで溢れてくるという.

その為、定期的に退治して数を減らす必要があり、国をあげて退治を推奨している.

退治した数に応じて国から報償金が出されるのだ.

とはいえ、『冒険者の聖地』と呼ばれ強者揃いの冒険者がひしめく王都ではゴブリンはさほどの脅威ではなく、本気で退治に乗り出したら、狩り尽くしてしまう.

それもまずいのだそうだ.

魔物の一種のゴブリンといえど、この森の中では何らかの役割を果たしているらしく、ゴブリンがいる森といない森では生態系の豊かさがかなり違うと言われている. その生態系には、貴重で実用的な薬草なども含まれるそうだ.

だから、国はゴブリンの数は減らしつつも、減らし過ぎないように調整しながら、なるべく手付かずのままに環境を保護する政策をとっている.

おかげで魔物を含めた複雑な生態系が保たれ、この『魔獣の森』では他の森よりも珍しい動植物が見つけられるという.

そんな風に、『魔獣の森』は初心者の冒険者のための訓練地として、あるいは収入源として、この上なくいい環境になっている.

──と、いうのが『魔獣の森』に辿り着くまでに歩きながらリーンが語ってくれた話だ.

彼女は色んなスキルを身につけているだけじゃなくて、幅広い知識もある.

この年齢で、本当に凄いことだ.

しかも冒険者ランクは銀級.

将来は立派な人物になるに違いない.

「やはりギルドマスターの言っていた通り、ゴブリンの姿が見えませんね. 数が少ないというのは本当のことのようですね」

リーンは辺りを見回しながら魔物の気配を探っている.

【気配探知】とやらのスキルで周囲の生き物の存在を確認しているのだろう.

「あっ、一つ……魔物らしき反応がありますね. 少し遠いですが、そんなに時間はかからなそうなので、行ってみましょうか」

彼女はそう言って、俺に道を指し示す.

……なんだかすごく、便利な子だ.

俺は全く何もしないまま、彼女に付き従って森の奥へ奥へと進んでいく.

「──何だか、だんだん、薄暗くなってきたな」

Yes, I've heard that there are a lot of old trees in this area and it's hard to get sunlight. Goblins prefer these places.

I think the sun is still high in the sky, but it's dim here.

Goblins are nocturnal and do not like brightly lit places. They live in these dimly lit forests, and during the day they often sleep in dimly lit caves.

The most efficient way to kill goblins is to find the caves where they sleep and kill them by surprise, but it is difficult to find caves if you are not used to them.

So, most of the time, you'll have to kill hungry goblins that roam around during the day, looking for prey.

No wonder they are so ferocious.

Goblins have low intelligence, and unlike humans, they rarely gather in groups, but they do congregate in areas with lots of nuts. If you are unlucky enough to run into one, the danger level rises.

I hope we don't run into such a situation.

With Lean, we know it's unlikely.

But we are getting closer and closer to the presence of the demon.

...... I'm a little nervous.

What's that?

I'm not sure what to make of it.

What is it, Leanne?

No, no, there was definitely a hint of a demon around here. ......

What was it?

It's gone. ......

Gone?　

Gone? - Yes. You could say that it just happened to be defeated by someone. ...... But there was nothing around it. ...... Why ......?

Leanne twisted her head in wonder again.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

Yes, that's true. Yes, I think that's a possibility. Anyway, if you go to the place where the presence disappeared, you should find the body. If he's just died, you can take his body parts and exchange them for cash.

That's right. Since we've come this far, let's stop by.

Somehow, it seems that today is not a good day for goblin slaying.

I'm a little disappointed, but it can't be helped.

Let's just see some real goblins.

Actually, I've never seen a goblin before.

I've never seen a goblin before, but I think that's enough for a first day adventure.

It's not good to be too greedy.

But it's really strange. ...... The forest is too quiet today. There should be some kind of other creature in there. ......?

Indeed, I can't hear any birds singing, let alone any sign of animals.

I wondered if this was the kind of forest I was looking for, but I guess not.

I thought this was a forest, but it's not. I heard that it has a rich ecosystem, so there should be many more creatures.

But I haven't seen any today.

I wonder if that's possible.

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While we were thinking about this, we arrived at our destination.

I'm pretty sure it's somewhere around here...

I'm sure it's around here..." Leanne scanned the area, but there was nothing of the sort.

"There's nothing at ......, is there ......?

Oh, yes... no, wait.

It is true that at first glance, there are no creatures around here.

However, I felt a strong sense of discomfort in my vision.

"...... What is that, ......?

When I looked closely to find the cause of the strange feeling, I saw something (...) in the air.

In what seemed to be an empty space, a small green foot was floating in the air, as if it were faintly transparent.

As I was looking at it, the foot went up into the air as if lifted by something.

As I looked up at it, the foot went up into the air as if lifted by something, and then disappeared as if swallowed (・・・・・・) by something.

A watery splash came from it and landed on my face and Leanne's face.

I'm not sure what to say.　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.

Leanne noticed something and hurriedly activated her skill.

Then...

"......?" "......?

"...... What the hell was that?

As if a transparent veil was lifted, a strange being suddenly appeared in front of us...

It was a giant with green skin, standing on two legs.

At first glance, it looked like a human, but its arms were long enough to touch the ground, and its legs were as thick as three of the largest trees around.

It could hardly be called a man.

On its head is a beautiful reddish-purple jewel, and it is looking at us with beastly eyes.

It was wriggling its fanged mouth, and blood was dripping from the edges of its large mouth.

What the hell is this creature...?

This can't be...

"Oh, that's a ...... goblin ──────!

Lean looked up at the huge body and said with an astonished expression.

"So that's the goblin .......

...... was unexpected.

It is much bigger than I had imagined.

There is a big difference between seeing and hearing, as the saying goes.

I had thought that it was a smaller demon, since it was called the weakest demon.

But what I've heard about it agrees with what I've seen.

They have green skin, they walk on two legs like a man, and their eyes are sharp like a beast.

And they use tools.

Right now, that goblin is pulling out a large tree with one hand.

He's going to use it like a club.

It's terrifying. A demon with intelligence...

They say goblins have low intelligence.

But that's compared to humans.

They are not lacking in wisdom.

In fact, I've heard that they're sometimes more intelligent than other demons.

A demon with such a huge body and yet such intelligence...

It's hard to believe that it's considered a small fish by the adventurers of the world.

But what you see in front of you is the reality.

No matter how hard you try, you have to accept it.

I flinch.

It's much bigger than the cows in the city that I had such a hard time taking down.

Lean's face is tense.

No wonder.

She's knowledgeable and talented, but I'm sure she doesn't have much real-world experience.

"Don't be afraid, it's just a ...... goblin.

I said to myself as I called out to Lean.

A normal adventurer would have to hunt these to reach the threshold of becoming a full-fledged adventurer.

I've heard that these monsters are the gateway to success for beginners.

But for me...

It looks like a huge wall that's hard to overcome.

A green cannibal known as a goblin, the weakest monster in the world.

Even the weakest of monsters is a formidable foe for a novice like me.

But by defeating him, I will surely be able to take the first step toward my dream of becoming an adventurer.

I'm sure I can defeat him.

Not if it's just me, but with Lean.

"I'll beat you, Lean.

I quickly shook off the thoughts in my head and readied the Black Sword.

Fear, trepidation...

Fear and trepidation... they are only shortcuts to death.

"──── Yes, sir.

And so the fierce battle between us and the weakest demon of all - the Goblin - began.

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