I took Wight with me and began my search in the forest.
The top priorities for now is securing food, evolving Wight, and leveling myself up…… and, when all that’s said and done, if I have time, I can visit the Lithuvar Tribe’s village.

It would be nice if we find something delicious in this hunt.
The tributes offered before had rice and boar meat, so that means they definitely exist in this forest, and I’m determined to find them.

For Wight’s evolution…… I aim in returning her former body back.
It’ll be fine in the end, right? I won’t accept it if she’s still a bone on the last evolution.

And, for my evolution…… hm.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
〖Irushia〗
Species: Ouroboros
Status: Normal
Lv: 61/125
HP: 1555/1555
MP: 1505/1505
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

Oh, my HP is now four digits.
This is kind of good, in a way…… should I just not mind it?

My level is still far from being max, huh.
The exp points I’m going to gain at the moment will be slow, so my evolution probably won’t happen any time soon, but…… the next time I evolve, what will become of Partner?
Will you… disappear? [T.N: Foreshadowing]

“Gra~a?”

When we both looked at each other, Partner roared.
…… I don’t think she’s even thinking about evolution at all.

I know I shouldn’t really worry about it since it won’t happen anytime soon, but… I can’t help it.
When two become one, she’ll go back inside me right? It feels like killing her.
Or, will there be more evolutions for two heads?
No, there might even be a possibility of a third head.
Adding just one head already gave me never-ending troubles of both my goals and lifestyle, so if a there’s going to be a third head, I might die from overstress.

I stop walking and start thinking.
If I remember right, the Lithuvar Tribe’s village should be somewhere near here.
Oh wait, if I go reveal myself to them now, they’ll definitely get scared.
However, they didn’t come from the other side…… and, from here, since I haven’t gotten involved, I haven’t been forgotten now, have I?
But, if I mess this up again, I could be restrained and they might realize that I’m not their Dragon God.

While I was panicking in my own thoughts, Partner stared at me with cold dead eyes.

“Gru~a~a……”

After making a “good grief” face, she shook her head and faced forward.
Grumbling her jaw, she’s telling me “hurry up and walk already”, or at least that’s what I think she’s saying from her nodding.

I-I feel like I just lost big time……
What, was I really spaced out that deep in my thoughts?

Oh, that’s right, since Wight is here, visiting the Lithuvar Tribe might not be such a good idea at the moment.
Wight will also have a hard time facing her friends in her current appearance.
I guess I’ll just focus on hunting today. Right, that’s better.

“Gra~a! Gra~a!”

When we resumed walking, Partner withdrew her head.
Then, an energetic sound came out of her mouth.
What, did you find something?
You can just send me your thoughts, you know. The skill leveled up after all.

【“Tasty! Tasty!”】

…… Whether it’s either telepathy or a roar, your thoughts remain the same, it’s slowly starting to get obvious.
Ball Rabbit used to talk a bunch of things before.

Looking to where Partner was staring at, I saw a faint light ahead.
It looks like a human, but it’s somewhat small. Around the same size as your average small animal.
It wasn’t wearing clothes and it was featureless. It seems like it’s a creature that was made of clay with a human figure.

It’s looking at us while hiding behind a tree stump.

Do you seriously…… want to eat that?
At least I don’t. What kind of monster is that?

【〖Ralan〗: Rank E monster】
【Because of their strange appearance, they are often called Forest Guardians, Tree Spirits, and many more regarding the many tales told in many various places.】
【Originally having gentle personalities, they live on by sucking the life out of trees.】
【When angered, something outrageous will happen.】

You are clearly included in my “stay away from me” list.

【“Tasty. Tasty.”】

Give it up, we are not eating that.
No wait, with this rank difference, I think we’ll be quite fine.
Although it’s a good match for Wight so she can level up, but I don’t want her to get involved against this one yet.
Sorry, but let’s look for another prey. It’s not as if something like that will even fill my stomach anyways.

I pull the hungry Partner back and walk in the opposite direction.

“Gra~a! Gra~a~a~a!”

How badly do you want to eat that thing anyway?
I have no idea where you’re getting all these desires from.

I don’t care if you’re a Ralan or whatnot, but would you please leave so Partner will stop thrashing about.
Looking back, the number of Ralan increased to three.
A faint white-emerald light glowed from the tree lined up human figures.
Are they about to eat us?

When our eyes met, the three suddenly shrugged each other’s shoulders.
Then, the light burst and shone brightly, after that, they disappeared.

“Gra~a……”

Partner faces down crestfallen.
You were really serious on eating them, weren’t you?
Sorry, but I am not putting something that weird in my stomach. Don’t get me involved…… I am going to get seriously hurt because of you someday.

Just when I thought I couldn’t find any more monsters, I heard a rustling sound and spotted a glimpse of an Abyss running.
…… I definitely don’t want to get near that thing on purpose.
Even if I defeat it, I can’t really eat it.
But wait, how about I just exterminate it?
Since it’s Rank C, it’s going to give a bundle of exp points for Wight.
Hmm…… Even thinking about that, I still can’t move on from my last experience with one of these guys……

While I was hesitating, my〖Presence Sense〗detected something on the other side.
This presence feels like a human.
Is it someone from the Lithuvar Tribe?

I’m… kinda curious.
I’m only going there to take a quick look…… no, I’ll definitely get found.
But still, seeing as I’m so close to them, it feels like a waste to avoid them now…… right, I’ll just show myself to them for a bit.
Just for a bit, okay? Just for a tiny bit.
I also want to thank for the offerings after all.
I can’t just run from them here.

…… But, if I meet up with them, the main problem is Wight.
I can’t afford to let Wight and the Lithuvar Tribe see each other yet.

I look at Wight, and she looks back at me with a somewhat sad expression.

Uhhh……
I-Is it okay if you observe us from afar then?
I’m just going to shortly greet them, and in the slight chance that I think they notice Wight, we’ll leave immediately.