My〖Presence Sense〗detected a group of 1, 1, and 3 people.
The person in front of the group of three started running towards me alone, but shortly after, the other two followed.
And then, the other two who were alone in different locations, also started running at me. The way they moved simultaneously was creepy.

There’s a high chance that they have some kind of communication device.
So, they have someone with〖Presence Sense〗with them and they have something like a long-range version of〖Mind Speak〗?

And then, I suddenly thought of the Dragon God’s shrine maiden, Hibi.
I’m sure I remembered that Hibi was able to keep track of the Abyss even when it hid its presence, and she was also able to call me with〖Mind Speak〗at a distance too.
Maybe one of them is Hibi?

I stand completely still as I sensed them getting closer, while Alo panics in a frenzy.
Alo probably also knows that they’re coming this way.

But, just because something is coming here, is that any reason to lose your cool?
However, right now, Alo is acting like she doesn’t want people to see her, and she was already wary about the humans ahead as if she knew that there would be people here. So then, Alo really was already here before.

I don’t know how much Alo remembers about her past life, but ever since arriving here, she’s been getting more cautious as we delve deeper into the forest.
Hibi said that it’s best to leave the Manticore alone in this side.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lithuvar Tribe knew something about this place.

Okay then, I guess it’s time I hide Alo and find out who these people really are.
In the case that they’re hostile, I won’t lose against five mere humans.
It’d be great if they’d just run away though.

I open my mouth and look at Alo.
Alo stops panicking and I put my mouth near Alo.
Then, I try to tell Alo in my mind to hide in my mouth.
Alo hesitates before going inside.

…… Her expression remained still like earth as ever, but I’m very sure she didn’t want to.
Sorry, Alo.

“A~a! A~a!”

Partner opened her mouth as well and said “You can enter here too” in my mind.
I quickly get in between them and cover Alo from Partner.
Partner stares at Alo as if she’ll punish her if Alo doesn’t get in her mouth.

I know that Alo’s earth-made body will get wet and fall apart because of my saliva.
A decaying scent enters my nose as Alo gets in my mouth…… Right… Alo’s an undead.
Maybe the reason why Alo was hesitant was because she thinks her smell might bother me.
Her character may be more complex than I thought.

I’m gonna have to be extremely careful not to swallow Alo up while keeping〖Presence Sense〗on the entire time.
They’re almost here.
The ones heading this way from three directions have surrounded me, they timed it at the same time I stopped moving too.

…… The chances of them being hostile is incredibly high.

I’ll have have to keep my mouth closed while fighting them so they won’t see Alo.
I’m worried they’ll just find her with〖Presence Sense〗, but since she’s undead, they probably won’t sense her as human.
Plus she’s rank D, so as long as they don’t find out who she really is, I might be able to fool them.

I heard something approaching as if the air is being cut.
I then immediately shift my tail back and just barely managed to avoid an arrow behind me.
And then, I turn around to meet the attacker in the eye.
I’m sure the arrow itself would’ve dealt less damage, but the problem was the arrowhead. There was black liquid oozing from the tip. It’s poison.

【〖Mors poison (modified): Value C+〗】
【A poison mixed with〖Mors〗made by a mixture of a dozen poisonous plants as a broth.】
【Tribal groups living in forests often make use of it during hunts.】

…… Tribal people who live in the forest, huh.
Wait, doesn’t that mean……

While I think of that, another arrow is shot at me from another direction.
Sorry, I know that I have resistance to poison, but something like this won’t even stick to me.
You move slow too.

I turn my body and remove the arrow.

“Gra~a~a~a~a~a!”

Partner let out a〖Roar〗.
She wasn’t feinting nor provoking them, just that… seems like she was just frightened by the sudden assault from out of nowhere.

Then, two half-naked men wielding spears appeared before me.
The materials for their cloth and the handles of their spears kind of look like the Lithuvar Tribe.

While holding their spears tight, they approach me.
Their eyes show a great deal of hatred.

B-But why?
Why are they pointing their weapons at me……?

“Come back! I told you our only aim for now is to confirm its identity!”

A voice came shouting from the two men, and they looked back.
It was a woman holding a large staff.
She wasn’t Hibi, but she was dressed like one of the Dragon God’s shrine maidens.

She’s probably the one with〖Presence Sense〗and the long-range〖Mind Speak〗.
But, wait… if she has long-range〖Mind Speak〗then why did she have to shout that loud……?

The woman points her staff at me.

“Yushi, a, rafu”

Then, she closed her eyes and uttered those chants.
A blinding light then illuminated the area from her staff.

“Gru~oo!”
“Gra~a~aaa!”

Guuurgh, there’s even an echoing sound ringing in my head.

I tried to keep my eyes focused on the woman, but eventually, the light made me lose sight of her.
She’s shouting and giving orders to her men.

And, with a loud thud, I heard Partner’s head drop on the ground.
It may be plain, but it sure as hell can be quite a powerful one-shot skill.

【Obtained Resistance skill〖Intense Light Resistance: Lv1〗.】
【Resistance skill〖Confusion Resistance〗has risen from Lv1→2.】

…… And, these skills again.
I’d like to never experience these kind of things, you know.

I attempt to open my eyes and look around.
When I used〖Presence Sense〗, it seems like those five already ran away.
I know I could just easily go after them, but I don’t feel like doing it.

The real question is, what were the Ryujin followers from the Lithuvar Tribe doing here and why did they suddenly attack me?
Will something bad happen if I show myself to them?
No wait, she said something about confirming my identity.
…… Hm? Could it be that they’ve never seen me before?
Well, it’s true that I don’t remember seeing them before too.
And, more importantly, they ran at the opposite direction of the Lithuvar Tribe’s village.

Attacking a figure of worship such as their own Dragon God.
And, what Hibi said about that direction where the Manticore ran.

Don’t tell me… they’re divided in two?
They both shove monsters in each others direction, shooting poison arrows at a figure of worship then retreating, plus this level of hostility.

W-What’s the right thing to do here?
I just happened to enter this place without knowing anything.
But, I can’t really blame them for hating me just because of that.