The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 150

While the five of us were playing a card game until the evening, Leanne and the others returned.

“Ah, it’s so cold, so cold.”

“…Phew.”

“We’re back now.”

The three of them took off their shoes and immediately slipped into the kotatsu. Then Annie and Alice put their feet on mine. Their feet were chilly, and now I understood why Annie had said it felt nice.

“How was it?”

“…We defeated a skeleton.”

“There were also zombies.”

“It seems that the undead are unaffected by the dragon’s influence.”

Well, they probably don’t feel fear anyway.

“Were you able to make it to the forest?”

“Yes, we got there safely. Starting tomorrow, it’s the forest.”

I see, I see.

“…Natalia, why do you have a dragon’s scale?”

“I was given it.”

“…Huh? Why?”

“This.”

Natalia pointed to the scattered cards on the table.

“…Ah, you won. Well, Natalia’s strong, after all.”

“What are you going to do with something like that? If it can’t be sold, it’s just a scale, right?”

“Yep. I’ll just leave it here.”

Natalia stood up and put the dragon’s scale back where it belonged.

“Master, what are we doing about the forest from tomorrow? It’s a forest, so we’ll be walking, right?”

AI-chan asked.

“Lily is confirmed, of course. And… maybe Natalia? If we’re going to the Elf’s Forest, harmless Natalia would be a good choice.”

“Oh, I want to go, too. I’ve heard the Elf’s Forest has lots of rare materials, and I want to gather some.”

It seems Annie wants to go as well.

“Alright, we’ll go with that plan, then.”

“…I want to go, too. I don’t want to wait here alone.”

I understand that.

“Alright, then do that. We might meet Lily’s parents, and you’ve known her for a long time, so at least greet them.”

“…That’s true.”

“So, everyone’s going together then. Lily, how long until we reach the Elf’s village?”

Leanne asked Lily.

“It’s close. About an hour?”

“Then maybe it’s better to go in the afternoon… Is that okay with you, Yuuma-sama?”

“Yeah, that sounds fine. If we go in the morning, it might be a bother.”

And I probably wouldn’t be able to get up anyway.

“Then, that’s settled. I’ll come to pick you up in the afternoon.”

“Hmm. Maybe bring some wine as a gift. That would make a good impression.”

“That’s true. I’ll prepare it.”

We decided that all of us would go in the afternoon. That night, we had dinner and went to bed early.

The next day, we took it easy in the morning, had lunch, and then got ready. When Leanne arrived, we teleported.

Upon teleporting, we saw a forest ahead of us. However, the trees were taller than any forest we’d seen before—some reaching tens of meters.

“Lily, we’re counting on you.”

“Yep, leave it to me! This way is easier to walk, so let’s go this way.”

Lily said this and began walking to the right, so we followed. There was a narrow path, and Lily led us into the forest along it.

“What kind of monsters appear here?”

“There are various monsters. Ones you don’t know about, like a large D-rank reptile called a Lizard.”

I wonder if they’re edible?

“D-rank shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Yeah, but watch out for large bears too. They aren’t monsters, though, so be extra careful.”

That’s scarier.

“…Maybe we should go back.”

“A bear is nothing to worry about.”

Alice looked nervous, and Natalia tried to cheer her up, though she was clinging tightly to my clothes.

“AI-chan, we’re counting on you.”

“Understood.”

AI-chan’s search is our lifeline.

“It’ll be fine. Bears leave clear traces and are skittish. They won’t attack with this many people…huh?”

Lily stopped in her tracks and looked at a tree, which was covered in claw marks.

“Enemy approaching, slowly but surely…and it’s big.”

AI-chan looked slightly to the left.

“Maybe it’s preparing for hibernation?”

Lily tilted her head, then climbed up a tree.

“She’s the only one running away up top.”

“No, I’m not!”

From up on the branch, Lily said this as she pulled her bowstring.

“Want me to help?”

“No. You’d just burn it, and that’d be a waste.”

I have other spells besides fire, you know…

As I thought that, Lily conjured a magical arrow and fired. The arrow shot through the air, and then a loud thud shook the ground.

“Ha! This is the strength of a B-rank!”

You’re still C-rank, you know. You said you’d wait until this job was done.

Lily climbed down and ran off in the direction she’d fired her arrow, so we followed. There, lying on the ground, was a massive bear.

“Look, look! Isn’t this amazing? It’s the first time I’ve taken down such a big bear!”

“Impressive, but… are there creatures like this in this forest?”

Natalia was visibly frightened. She showed no sign of letting go of my clothes.

“Hmm, it’s rare to see one this big. And for it to be so close to the edge of the forest… I’d guess it was looking for food before hibernating.”

Huh…

As I listened to Lily’s explanation, I sensed a presence of magical energy in the distance.

“Lily, do adventurers ever come to this forest?”

“Not many adventurers, but hunters do. There are plenty of animals here.”

Hunters…

With that amount of magical energy, though, I doubt it’s a hunter.

“So, maybe an elf?”

“What’s up?”

“Something with a decent amount of magical energy is coming toward us. And it’s fast.”

“Probably an elf, then? They’re all skilled at moving through the trees.”

And you?

Actually, never mind.

“You should be the one to talk. It’s probably one of your people.”

“Got it! Hey there!”

Lily called out in a loud voice.

At that, the approaching elf stopped.

“He’s even more on guard now.”

“Oh, right. Hey! Whoever you are, it’s me, Lily! We just took down a bear—come help us out!”

When Lily said this, the elf started moving again. But as he got quite close, he stopped once more.

“Twenty meters ahead, stopped on a tree to the right,” AI-chan murmured.

“Hey! What’s wrong? It’s me, Lily!”

As Lily called out again, the magic presence shifted, and from the right side, a man stepped out from the trees.

“Lily, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, Dad!”

Ah, her dad, huh. No wonder he was cautious.