Chapter 78 – Lost Center
The best way to express the situation was that they were separated.
Menew and Ralph. Mofusen and Totto. With those pairings.
After returning to the main road, they had camped twice, and the Vala forest was still seen to their left as they traveled.
There were also monsters, but nothing too dangerous would appear near the roads. Just a few monsters that Totto could carve up.
Though, one Imp had picked up Mr. Wal’s button eye, which had fallen out during the fight, and run away.
Totto chased after it into the forest. As Mofusen knew the lands well, he ran after him. But the two had not returned.
And so Menew and Ralph entered the forest as well, and then became lost.
“What are we going to do… We really should have waited for them.”
“Don’t worry.”
“You say that, but we have no map or place to meet up!”
“We do have a place. We just need to go there and wait.”
Menew wondered why Ralph was so calm.
“Do you have an idea?”
“We just need to follow that. Obviously.”
Menew turned his head and froze in disbelief.
Ralph left him and started walking.
During the same time, Totto and Mofusen were also lost inside the deep forest.
In the end, they had not caught the Imp. And the place they entered was very difficult to walk through.
Mofusen had been following after Totto, but then realized that Totto would not have the energy to return the same way.
They had managed to come out into a path, but he could sense that there were level 60 monsters in the area.
“Stay close to me, young Totto.”
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault…”
“You were trying to get my eye. Do not apologize for that.”
Mr. Wal said, trying to comfort him.
His eyes did not function as actual eyes. Mr. Wal’s consciousness was inside of the stuffed body, but he could detect his surroundings through the elements.
And so not having one eye meant nothing. This whole trouble was Menew’s fault, as he had not explained this to Totto.
Mofusen had known as well, as he could sense it. But they could not expect Totto to be able to do the same.
While Totto was a first-rate alchemist, he was incomplete in every other way.
“In any case, this is a dangerous place. While we just need to follow that thing, you must still keep your guard up.”
Mofusen wasn’t walking blindly.
While they had been separated, Menew and Ralph should not be that far away.
In that case, if they followed the ‘forest scarabs,’ they should be able to reunite.
Even now, a giant scarab of about 30 centimeters was rolling a dung ball in front of them.
They were much larger in the forest, and were the outside cleaners.
Though they were called forest scarabs, they could be found anywhere outside of the city. From dungeons to fields, they dealt with the waste from monsters and Adventurers.
They were not quite as numerous as the city scarabs, but monsters rarely attacked them. They coexisted, and even if they were stepped on by accident, they would be revived in a day. The gods had given them that cheat.
And so Mofusen followed them in order to reunite with Menew. However, he then stopped suddenly.
Totto stopped as well.
“Indeed, how dangerous for an old man like me.”
Just why the Imp had run to a high level place like this. The reason was in front of them now.
A Skull Knight… A skeleton knight in black armor and cape was standing there.
It wielded a great sword that was about two thirds of its height. It had the air of someone who ruled this area.
It had likely been made from the remains of a knight who died here about ten years ago. And because of that, the level of monsters in the area also went up.
“Young Totto, you must stay right behind me.”
“Ye-yes!”
The Skull Knight was ready to fight, and Mofusen prepared to face it.
However, just then, the forest scarab approached them.
‘Young man, old man. Smell like my junior.’
Mr. Wal interpreted.
‘You going to fight that? Will help you. Because you helped my junior.’
Said the scarab. And then it left its dung ball and faced the Skull Knight.
Mofusen’s eyes widened.
Monsters and scarabs coexisted. Normally, it would not show up like this. It would hide somewhere.
And yet it had offered to help.
“Junior… Do you mean Mr. Menew?”
‘Aye. You always help him. Old man. Allow me to protect the young man.’
How very reliable.
Even Mr. Wal was puzzled. What was Menew? But there was no time for questions.
The scarab moved in front of Totto, and Mofusen stood in front of it. And then the Skull Knight charged.
“Hehe. How impressive. This is quite a burden for an old man.”
Without becoming frantic, Mofusen created a barrier around his left hand to block the sword, and then he moved back.
While Skull Knights did not create waste, they also did not hurt scarabs. And so it did not even look at Totto now.
Mofusen used the trees to jump around in every direction. Did he mean to confuse the enemy?
However, the Skull Knight just waited for Mofusen to come down. Perhaps he had been sensing his presence. But Mofusen was small and fast. It was probably hard to keep track of him.
But then the creature stopped.
Mofusen was out of breath, and returned to his previous spot. And then the Skull Knight swung its sword.
Just then, the Skull Knight was shredded into numerous pieces and fell to the ground and disappeared. Then the crystal dropped.
“Hohoho. Good enough.”
Mofusen had been weaving a web of barrier strings. He had read the Skull Knight’s thoughts.
He created a situation where if it took one step, the strings would slice up its body. And then he panted in order to provoke it.
Mofusen dispelled the string barriers and bowed to the scarab.
“Thank you. We are safe again.”
‘You’re pretty good, old man. Don’t mention it. Junior is over there. Follow me.’
Mr. Wal interpreted. The others had some doubt if it was accurate, but it seemed to fit with the scarab’s gestures.
After that, they were not attacked by any monsters as they followed the scarab.
They soon arrived at the gathering place, and there were already five scarabs at Menew’s feet. And they appeared to be kicking him.
Next to him, Ralph was trying not to die of laughter.
“Hahah! It is very rare to be kicked by a scarab. What do you do to deserve it?”
“No-no! They are just mocking me!”
Kick. Kick. The kicks to Menew’s feet grew stronger.
If you get lost in the forest, follow the scarabs. It was common sense.
The scarabs lived in a wide area that had a gathering space in the center. And humans would make a road nearby.
It made things easier for the scarabs, and if you followed them, you would be able to reach safety.
The lost center, if you will.
Like that, they were able to reunite. And so they said goodbye to the scarabs and returned to the main city road.
Totto was busy talking about the scarab and Mofusen. As for Menew, he quietly fixed Mr. Wal’s eye.
Thanks!