The next day.
Today was the day when they would finally try taming a ril bird. To that end, I, the four mbers of the duke family, Jill-san, Zeff-san, Camil-san, and Hyuzu-san walked the road toward the mines.
The ojousama and the others were donned in armor and had a weapon with them just like when we went out to train at the mines before, but in my case, I was wearing my latrine-pit cleaning outfit. Being the only one dressed like this sure makes stand out from our group…
Incidentally, we also couldn’t use the carriage in order to train the ojousama. She might actually have quite a bit of stamina. We’ve been walking all this ti, and although we might be taking breaks from ti to ti, I still think it’s amazing that she hasn’t complained.
“Fuu… Ryouma-san, are you alright?” [Elia]
“I’m alright.” [Ryouma]
“You sure have a lot of stamina.” [Elia]
The ojousama was gradually getting tired, but it’s not really sothing to make a fuss about.
After all, we were walking up a mountain trail, and the road wasn’t paved, so I think it’s already comndable that she’s not complaining.
Camil-san seed to have thought the sa thing as he encouraged her.
“It’s alright, Ojousama. You’re stamina is already amazing compared to normal children your age.” [Camil]
“That’s right, Ojousama. Don’t compare yourself with Ryouma. This guy is just abnormal. Any normal child would have long been out of breath, but this guy isn’t even sweating. Sweat a little, won’t you?” [Hyuzu]
“Even if you tell that…” [Ryouma]
That’s a physiological phenonon, so…
“But seriously, boy, most people would at least sweat easily without having to be told that’s the norm.” [Hyuzu]
“I know we’re not going very fast to match the ojousama’s pace, and I’d understand if you were a trained expert like us, but you’re still just a child, aren’t you? Just what kind of training have you been doing?” [Camile]
“Hmm… To put it briefly, I was trained to the limits. Whenever I fell or rested, I’d get beaten up so hard to be heavily wounded, and then I’d be asked if I’d rather keep getting beaten or train. After doing that everyday, I ended up like this.” [Ryouma]
“Was your master a demon from hell!?” [Hyuzu]
“Can’t refute that.” [Ryouma]
When I was a child, I was really scared of my dad. So much that I couldn’t even breathe when I was in front of him.
While I was thinking that, it seed it was ti for us to set off.
“We have to get moving again before Elia cools down completely.” [Reinhart]
“It’s just a little bit more.” [Hyuzu]
Like that we started walking again, then after so 30 minutes of walking, the road curved and we entered into a forest. After another 30 minutes, the air started to sll really bad. So, this is the stench of a marsh.
As we continued along, the redbrown-colored marsh ca to view.
We seed to be sowhere by the very borders of the forest and the mine. We were inside a forest, but there were few trees, and the marsh felt as if the earth from the abandoned mind had collapsed and flowed into it.
The sll only got worse as we approached the marsh. The ojousama had to cover her mouth to endure it.
“This is the marsh I was talking about. The sll you’re slling cos from the fallen leaves and the rotting corpses of various organisms inside the marsh.” [Reinhart]
“What a horrible sll…” [Elia]
“It certainly stinks, but unless you can adapt to this, you won’t be able to explore the other regions.” [Elize]
Oh, yeah. Reinbach-sama has supposedly fixed the Jamil territory up, so it’s a lot bettor compared to the other regions… Wait, does that an that the other regions sll like this all the ti? Oh, dear. Let’s hope not.
“Hmm… It seems the grell frogs and the ril birds aren’t in this marsh yet. This isn’t the only marsh, so let’s check the others.” [Reinbach]
As such, we started walking again. 10 minuted later, we found a marsh 3 tis bigger than the previous one. This ti, 30 adventurers, 30 monster tars, and over 200 birds ca to view.
“Those are ril birds!” [Reinhart]
“Those are…” [Ryouma]
“They’re beautiful…” [Elia]
The ril bird resembled a large parrot, but it had a tail that you could find from long-tailed fowls. Its body was blue, but its head and tail were covered with beautiful green feathers. No wonder it’s so popular. It looks so strange with the marsh as its backdrop.
They’re really beautiful, but I think the surrounding adventurers will beco a hindrance.
“They went that way!” [Adventurer 1]
“Hurry up and catch the grell frogs!” [Adventurer 2]
“Ah!?” [Adventurer 1]
“Hurry! Before it gets eaten’. [Adventurer 2]
The adventurer entered the marsh and started competing with the ril birds for the grell forgs.
Tough-looking n played about in the mud, trying to catch redbrown-colored frogs – the sa color as the mud – with either their nets or their hands… It was a sweltering sight.
anwhile, two young n brought out their instrunts by the side of the marsh.
“Ryouma, Elia, look. It seems those two want to try their hands at taming the ril birds.” [Elize]
The other man started blowing his flute. It seed to be a recorder of so sort. He didn’t seem very skilled.
“How important is musical skill when trying to ta a ril bird?” [Ryouma]
“It’s hard to say since the ones judging are none other than the ril birds themselves.” [Sebasu]
“As word says, there was even a case when a monster tar played confidently only to be rejected, then in a fit of anger, slamd his instrunt against the ground, causing a discordant sound to play, and was then able to form a contract with a ril bird.” [Elia]
“I don’t know what to say to that…” [Ryouma]
When the man finished playing, the ril birds all started chirping out in unison.
“Kera kera kera kera kera kera kera!!”
“Ahahahahahaha!”
The man’s performance was t with the laugh of over 200 birds.
Volu 2 Chapter 66 part2
The birds laughed in mockery.
Caulkin-san said that the ril birds would chirp in alarm whenever they didn’t like one’s music, and it just so happens that the way they would chirp then is really infuriating.
So this is what he ant by that! …True. After hearing it it’s certainly not good on the ears.
This sort of stuff seems to be happen frequently, though, as the adventures aren’t reacting one bit. Instead, they’re using it as an opportunity to gather even more grell frogs. And even after finishing, they just ignored the guy.
“I think you can tell just from the birds’ chirps, but this is how a failure looks like. Taming like this is impossible. You can try again if you want, but if you do it too many tis, you might get attacked. So, at most, you should only try twice.” [Reinhart]
While Reinhart-san was explaining, the other man started playing with his flute.
This ti was even worse than the guy before, as the ril birds started laughing before he could even finish.
Getting roasted by so birds seed to have struck a nerve, though, as the man unsheathed his sword and entered the marsh.
“T-That’s not good… Be careful, everyone.” [Reinbach]
“Ha!” [The four guards]
At Reinbach-sama’s words, the four guards stepped forward.
Sebasu-san and Reinhart-san also stood alert, while the madam covered for and Elia.
“Ke!” [Ril Birds]
“GUAH! E-Eek!!” [Frustrated Musician]
The ril bird nearest to the man seed to have sensed danger coming from him and his sword, as it chirped and attacked him.
As a shallow wound was left on the man’s shoulder, he cried out in pain.
“Wind magic.” [Ryouma]
At that, the other ril birds also looked at the man.
When the man saw that, his anger quickly cooled and fear took its place as he ran for his life.
The people nearby were caught up in the clamor, and had no choice but to also retreat.
The ril birds casted wind cutter at the fleeing back. Their accuracy wasn’t very good and they kept on missing, but the man ran for his life regardless.
“You can’t lose your cool like that. Ril birds may be gentle, but they’re not weak. If you look down on them and try to force them into obedience, they’ll fight back.” [Elize]
While the madam was warning us, I noticed that the man was running toward us.
That’s bad!
The man managed to reach the bank of the marsh, but he seed to have lost his focus and stopped. It was then that one of the ril birds casted a spell and got the man by his legs.
“KUAH!? AHH…” [Frustrated Musician]
“Earth wall!!” [Ryouma and Camil]
“Keh!!” [Ril Birds]
Camil and I imdiately cast our spells, erecting a wall made out of earth between the man and the ril birds.
The ten wind cutters that shot for the man made a shaving sound, but our earth walls managed to hold.
The wind cutters stopped, but then in the next mont, a loud chirp resounded.
“Kukeh! Kukeh!! Kukeh!!! Kukeh!!!” [Ril Birds] [1]
“Kyaaa!” [Elia]
“GU!?” [Reinhart]
“Is this!?” [Reinbach]
“Get a hold of yourselves!!” [Reinhart]
For so reason, everyone started acting as if they were in pain. The ojousama even started shaking and tottered. Fortunately, the madam and Sebasu-san were able to quickly support her.
What’s going on!?
When I looked around , even the adventurers in the marsh were suffering. There were even so who lost their minds and were crouching as they scread.
To affect such a large area… Not to ntion this powerful mana I’m sensing. No matter how you look at it, the culprit must be the ril birds’ chirping.
But which bird?
I searched for the source of the sound and mana, and in a few seconds, I managed to isolate everything to a single bird. Apparently, it was using a wind magic technique similar to mine as it amplified its own chirps. Because of that I was able to quickly find it.
“Silent!” [Ryouma]
I casted a spell toward the culprit bird. It was a spell ant to stop the vibrations in the air. And just as I’d hoped, the sound stopped and everyone’s expression softened.
Looks like it was effective… Unfortunately, it’s not so simple, as the ril bird was resisting.
That ril bird is probably using a spell similar to my Big Voice that increases the vibrations in the air.
I’m using a spell that works the exact opposite of that, but because of that, it seems this has suddenly turned into a battle of control.
If I slip for even a mont, the sound will return.
Our control is equal… No, it’s gradual, but I’m being pushed back. If I can’t win with control, then…
I’ll win with brute force!
I used significantly more mana than before and casted the spell again.
“Silent!” [Ryouma]
“…Kukeh!”
After a few seconds of struggling, the ril bird realized that it was at a disadvantage and flew away. The ril birds followed it and left.
I stayed wary of any attacks from the air as the flock of ril bids flew away.
“They ran? …I guess it’s over for now then?” [Ryouma]
[1] – The bird wants a cookie. Cookeh! Cookeh!?
Volu 2 Chapter 66 part3
“Camil, heal that man! Jill, Zeff, Hyuzu, get those fainted n in the marsh and bring them to shore! Sebasu, how is Elia?” [Reinhart]
Reinhart-san gave out orders and then checked with Sebasu how Elia was doing, but it was the ojousama herself who answered his question.
“I’m… Alright…” [Elia]
“Are you okay, Elia? You’re not hurt?” [Reinhart]
“Yes… I was just scared suddenly, but… that’s all. I’m okay now.” [Elia]
“I see. That’s good… Ryouma-kun, thank you. That was you just now, right?” [Reinhart]
“The cause was that ril bird’s chirping, right? Well, it seed like that, at least, so I stopped it, but what exactly was it doing?” [Ryouma]
“Huh?” [Elize and Elia]
When I said that, the madam and the ojousama reacted.
“Ryouma-san, you didn’t feel anything?” [Elia]
“Was I supposed to feel sothing?” [Ryouma]
I just thought the birds wouldn’t shut up. That’s why I could leisurely look around. But everyone suddenly started acting like they were out of their minds. Now that was shocking.
“You just thought they were noisy? That’s it?” [Elize]
“Yep.” [Ryouma]
The madam was really confused when she heard my reply, so Reinbach-sama and Sebasu started explaining.
“The ril bird Ryouma stopped probably wasn’t just a ril bird. That’s probably an advanced variant, a nightmare ril bird. They can use dark magic too on top of wind magic. Their most striking feature is that they can inflict ntal damage via dark magic.” [Reinbach]
“This spell of theirs inflicts fear and confusion. It can also cause hallucinations and even knock people out. Just like those adventurers.” [Sebasu]
Sebasu-san pointed toward the people who’ve been dragged back to shore. Jill-san and the others had dragged them back to safety, and most of them were sitting, but a part of them were either still unconscious or crouching in fear.
“That spell sure is terrifying…” [Ryouma]
“That’s just how strong it is. Physical strength is different from ntal strength, so even vegetarian adventurers could lose consciousness. Those adventurers are still just neophytes, so it’s not surprising that they’d end up like that.” [Sebasu]
“And even if you build up your endurance, it will still hurt. You’ll just be able to endure better.” [Reinhart]
Co to think of it, I have a ntal Pain Resist skill, don’t I? Maybe that’s the reason why I didn’t feel anything.
When I asked them, the confused madam suddenly said ‘that’s it!’
Apparently, my resistance is so strong that I didn’t even feel a thing.
They say that I probably won’t be affected much by ntal attacks, but I’ve never really thought up any counterasure for them in the first place. And while it’s good that they can’t affect , not even knowing I’m being attacked is pretty bad. I should be careful…
While we were chatting like that, Jill-san and the others ca back. Looks like they’re done helping the adventurers.
“What’s the damage on their side?” [Reinhart]
“The guy who caused everything is the only one wounded, but we’ve already healed him, so he can return to town without any problems.” [Jill]
“But what are we going to do now? All the ril birds flew away because of that guy.” [Camil]
“Shall we look for their nest?” [Ryouma]
“That might be a bit difficult. When ril birds fly, they use wind magic to call the winds and ride them. That’s why their speed is in a league of its own, but that also ans the area we have to cover if we’re going to be looking for them is going to be really big.” [Camil]
“Let’s wait for a bit. We ca all the way out here, so I’d at least like to give it a try.” [Elia]
Because of the ojousama, we decided to wait here for a while. During that ti, the adventurers gradually recovered and the fainted ones also started waking up.
But they no longer seed to be in the mood to hunt or maybe it was just because the duke was around, but regardless, the adventurers all left. The only ones left were us.
I made us so seats near the marsh, and we passed the ti talking idly to each other.
Apparently, the nightmare ril bird’s ntal attack was really powerful, but attacking to stop it would cause the rest of the ril birds to fight back, so the situation would just turn into a bigger ss. As such, the best response usually is to either just endure the nightmare ril bird’s attack or run.
I wonder if my Silent was okay since it wasn’t actually an attack, but just sothing ant to mute the sound. It’s a good thing that Caulkin-san and the duke’s family told beforehand not to attack the ril birds.
Also, it seems that the ril bird’s advanced variant has only been spotted once in 10 years. It’s an extrely rare monster. Although things turned out pretty badly, being able to see one in the flesh is our good luck.
“How did it look like?” [Elia]
“It seed darker than the other birds. Like a deep blue and green. It had a luxurious feeling to it. Other than that there’s also…” [Ryouma]
As we passed the ti idly chatting like this, an intimate atmosphere suddenly filled the area.
“It won’t be long before we have to go our separate ways, huh?” [Elia]
When the ojousama said that, it finally occurred to that they ca here specifically to see a ril bird and try their hand a taming one.
Us coming here today ans that they’ve accomplished that goal, so they’ll be leaving soon. We probably don’t have much ti left together.
Uhh… What should I say here?
‘I see?’ That’s a bit too apathetic.
‘Don’t go!’ A 40 year-old uncle saying that is kinda gross.
I an I might look fine on the outside, but ntally speaking it’s really not okay for .
‘We’ll et again’ Yeah this is the one. I’d like to say sothing more clever, but this’ll have to do.
“But it’s not like you won’t be eting anymore, Elia. Right? Ryouma-kun.” [Elize]
Ahh… I took so long thinking up a response that I got beaten to the punch.
“Of course.” [Ryouma]
“If you exchange letters, you’ll be able to keep in touch.” [Reinbach]
“…You’re right! We can et again! Ryouma-san! Please write a letter! I’ll write you too!” [Elia]
“Sure!” [Ryouma]
“Idiot! If you’re a man, you should at least give her a hug!” [Hyuzu]
As Hyuzu-san said that, he hit from behind, causing to almost fall off my seat.
“Woah! What are you doing? And what are you thinking!? Aren’t you her guard!? You should be stopping from doing stuff like that!” [Ryouma]
“Hah? But it’s more interesting like this!” [Hyuzu]
Hyuzu-san said with a grin on his face and a thumbs up.
“Is that okay?” [Ryouma]
“As long as it’s a hug between friends. Yeah. Between friends… Friends.” [Reinhart]
“It’s nothing to fret about. Really. You’re both about 10 years-old. You’re children.” [Reinbach]
Reinhart-san was making a slightly complicated expression, but Reinbach-sama didn’t seem to mind one bit.
I guess hugs are like a greeting here? Kinda like westerners?
“See? Well, co on then. If you’re a man, give her a reaalllll hard one. ‘Sides, if you don’t do it quickly, it’ll get awkward.” [Hyuzu]
“…” [Ryouma]
“GAHA!? Y-You…” [Hyuzu]
It was starting to get annoying, so I gave him a body blow. A realll hard one just like he wanted it.
When I turned around, my eyes t with the ojousama’s.
She seed to be blushing a little.
But this sort of reaction makes things harder for .
Looking for a way out, I turned to the madam again, but she seed to be intent on just watching things go.
Scratch that. I’m pretty sure she’s having the ti of her life right now…
“What… are you doing… GUFU…” [Hyuzu]
Hyuzu asked as he held his stomach and crouched down in pain.
“Just trying to cover up my shyness… Don’t mind …” [Ryouma]
I can’t believe I just said that… Though I did just hit him all of the sudden. Was it that painful?
“Like hell you were just trying to cover your shyness!? If I hadn’t trained this body I’d be out cold right now! …Owwww …Why does it hurt so much when I’m wearing armor?” [Hyuzu]
“Oops. Sorry about that. It’s beco a habit.” [Ryouma]
The blow I used is specifically ant for people with armor, so of course it hurts.
…Ah, not good. I’m also starting to beco real tense.
Calm down, !
A strange atmosphere filled the area…
“…” [Ryouma]
“…” [Elia]
“…” [Ryouma]
“…” [Elia]
“Pirorororororo!!” [???]
“!?” [Ryouma]
“Fueh!?” [Elia]
…Only to be broken by a whistle-like sound.
When we turned around, the ril birds had returned.
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