Hot Spring Tour – Steam
For three days after that, I swung while thinking of the ogre.
Three days was not enough to raise your skill.
It was the time it took to erase the thoughts from my mind, and be able to swing like I always did while training.
As I swung my sword in the village plaza, the celebratory mood in the village changed, and there was tension once again. It wasn’t that I wanted to make them anxious. But I was glad that I could remind them that it wasn’t over.
I had planned to depart on the fourth day, but it rained, so I rested instead.
And then the morning of the fifth day.
It had stopped raining in the night, and the ground was starting to dry off. As a morning mist covered the place, it would likely be sunny for the rest of the day.
“So you are going now?”
“Yes. Sorry for making you wait.”
“We waited half a year. Five days is nothing.”
The chief shrugged his shoulders.
“It may not end today. If I do not return within a week, you should think of me as dead.”
“…”
The villagers that had come to see me off, gasped when they heard this. It was no joke. If I failed, they would have to make a report at the Deroslo guild.
“You-you will be fine, Mr. Ajifu!”
“Ye-yes! You trained so much!”
Urzon and Metto believed in me. While the training didn’t mean much, I understood how desperate they were.
“I hope so… Well, yes. I will return victorious.”
“Of course!”
“There’s no doubt!”
They said, saluting me as if imitating a knight. But I was no knight.
I unsheathed my sword and raised it in the air.
“Well, I’m going now.”
“Please come back safely.”
“Please win!”
My hands were shaking, and so I held them in front of me and made a fist so they couldn’t see.
Yes, I was scared.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the ogre’s glowing red eyes. Every time I felt the wind, I recalled the pressure of their punches and kicks.
I had survived the first encounter, and now I had to go back to that. My body was resisting the idea.
However, no, it was because of that, that I had to return. If I ran away now, then another wall would be built. Like when I couldn’t defeat the goblins.
There was no point in denying that I was afraid. But I had made up my mind.
Without turning back, I went down the forest road. I recalled the backs of Rowar and Nenreko. How they had only been looking forward.
Yes. That day. I came here because I was chasing after that back.
It was what I aspired to be like. Even if they were younger than me. And as their teacher, I could not lose now!
“Alright!”
I slapped my face with both hands. When I raised my head, the mist was starting to fade, and the forest was filled with refreshing air. I could see well.
I followed the path as well as I could remember. Though it had only been five days, it felt somehow nostalgic. They had drawn me a map, just in case. And I checked it as I walked towards the valley.
“Water.”
I filled my cup and had my lunch while walking. I didn’t go to the stream, as it would take longer.
There was a reason that I wanted to rush ahead. Instead of the valley that Metto had pointed me to on that day, I went in a different direction, where there was a mountain that looked easy to climb.
From what the two had told me, the place with the salt was in the far back of the valley. And that was likely where the ogres were.
However, I didn’t think they were in the exact spot. If they were targeting prey that came for the salt, then they would not want to scare them away.
So if headed there directly, it would be like walking into a trap.
“Oomph.”
I started to climb the steep slope. Obviously, both sides of the valley were mountains. But what was important was that the mountain I was currently climbing went along the valley until the end.
The ogre had been very cautious. But I had been thinking during the last four days.
In spite of being so cautious, it seemed like it had taken quite some time for it to arrive after the goblins started to make so much noise.
It was possible that it had gone out somewhere… But it was also possible that its sharp senses did not cover such a wide range.
But since I was not sure, it would be dangerous to make assumptions. Regardless, if I had a higher position, I was more likely to spot them first. At the very least, I wouldn’t have to worry about them coming up behind me.
That was why I decided to head to the valley from the side.
“Oh!”
When I arrived at the ridge, I saw the mountain range contusion far into the distance, and white mountains beyond.
One of the unexplored places in this world. Mount Zekeum.
From what I heard from the villagers, it was incredibly dangerous in itself. But there were also powerful monsters who blocked anyone who might attempt to enter.
However, that was not my adventure. I would leave it to some mountain climber…
In any case, I was preoccupied. Even though there was still some way to go, I was already inside of the ogre territory.
When I looked down from on top of the mountain, there was only a sprawling forest. Even if there were ogres, I would not be able to see them.
Still, I searched for any movement as I stealthily continued onwards.
However, I could not sense any monsters in the forest. It was no surprise. As I continued to walk, I got closer to the other side of the ridge. I was almost at my destination.
The reason that I chose this side, was that it had a good view of the point with the salt. Also, there were cliffs around the river. The ogres would not be able to approach me easily, and if they were targeting prey, they should be on the other side.
On the other hand, the cliff was steep, and I would not be able to get down from the other side. But right now, I just wanted to know their location.
Once I knew where they were, I would just retreat for the day, instead of forcing myself to cross the river. As the valley grew more narrow, I was able to see the other side. And then I saw the view that I had been told about.
The trees opened up into a rocky area. And then a short distance from the river, there was a place where steam rose from the ground.
So that’s the hot spring!
It did not seem so far away from where I was. However, there was no actual body of water. I could not even see a small stream.
Also, the area that the steam was rising from was also small. However, there were trees growing close by, so it was unlikely to be poisonous gas.
Some of the rocks were white. Probably from the salt. As there was no yellow, there must not be any sulfur. I wanted to get even closer so that I could smell it, but I had to defeat the ogres in order to reach it. How frustrating.
Looking down from here, the ogres were still nowhere in sight. Either they were in the forest, or in some blindspot. In any case, I could not go down right now.
I continued to watch the forest while trying to sense their presence. Up until now, I had not sensed anything other than animals.
I was already quite deep into the valley. Perhaps the ogres really did have a narrow detection range. Though, it was too early to make assumptions.
And so I went on a little further, and saw that on the opposite side of the cliff, there was a small waterfall.
And below, a large boulder.
It looked like there was something on top, just where the sunlight hit it.
Was that…a living creature?
I hid in the shadow of a tree and stared. While it was far away, I could not lower my guard.
After some time, the thing turned over on its other side.
The thick limbs, the head…humanoid shape…
And the horns.
There was no doubt about it. An ogre.
Thanks!