With Alo, Lesser Treant, and the Baby Arachne along, we marched inside the forest as a group.
I definitely don’t want to get spotted by the Lithuvar Tribe right now, so we headed to the opposite direction.

The Baby Arachne are just crawling around everywhere, but after they get left behind a distance, they run after us in a panic.
…… I’m about to feed you tons of Abyss, so I can’t have you running off like that.
Oh, what am I saying, they can’t hear my thoughts and I can’t give them orders mentally like Alo and Treant, so it can’t be helped.
Hey, if you just let me feed you for granted, you’re gonna end up fat and bulky that you won’t be able to hunt for yourselves, you know.

For now, I’ll focus on leveling up the Baby Arachne to rank D.
That way, they’ll become more durable.

With my〖Presence Sense〗on, we traverse the forest with caution, while also trying to avoid any Lithuvar Tribe encounters.

Glancing at a green light above me, I look up and see a group of small dwarf-like creatures sitting on the branches.
It’s the forest dwellers, Ralan.
They’re all lined up on a branch and staring down at us.
Their numbers went up from last time, now there’s eight of them.
Did something happen that made them increase?
And, though I’m not calling them out on their weight or anything, but the branch they’re sitting on is wavering.

The Ralan remained immobile and kept on staring at us.
So they really are watching over me?
It’s kinda creepy though.

Hey, do you think I’m coming around as your ideal Dragon God?
When I asked them that using my mind (assuming they can read minds), there was no response.
After observing us for a while, they all steadily went down from the branch and ran at the same direction.
Eventually, they disappeared, leaving no one behind.

…… As always, they’re a mysterious bunch.
Should we go after them?

But, that direction leads to a shallow part of the forest, meaning I might stumble against lost travelers there, and I don’t want that to happen with Alo and the rest of this unsightly parade of monsters with me.
The last time I followed after the Ralan, they led me to the anti-Ryujin village.
But, the Ralan couldn’t have any particular motive to make me follow them that time…… it was just coincidence, right?
Before, and even now too, they always disappear on the direction I’m heading to.

【“This way, this way!”】

While I was thinking about stuff, Partner began pulling me to a different direction.
Seems like she found something again.
I expand〖Presence Sense〗to where Partner is pointing.

I felt something big.
Looking at the ground, its footsteps were already big enough to make the ground rumble.
It might be a colossal-sized monster.
I can’t really check its status from here, but from how its moving, I’m guessing its speed isn’t that high.
Me and Partner can provide support from behind, so should we shove these guys to whatever the hell that big lump of exp is?

The large monster seems to be heading towards us, so I stood at a high place to see if I could intercept the enemy beforehand.

No matter how big it is, it should still be smaller than me.
It should be about the size of the Little Rock Dragon.
Remembering those times when I let Millia ride on my back, it’s somewhat nostalgic.

And then, while I was busy reminiscing about the past, a tall tree ahead of me suddenly fell down.
Looking below, I saw a huge bull with brown fur, roughly six meters tall.
Its mane is so long, I found it bizarre.
It had red eyes, and with its heavy breathing, I could tell that it was in a state of confusion.

This big guy might be tough to beat.
Anyway, at this distance, I should be able to check its status now.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Species: Grafant
Status: Enraged
Lv: 27/55
HP: 342/361
MP: 125/153
Attack: 152
Defense: 167
Magic: 98
Speed: 64
Rank: C

Characteristic Skills:
〖Short-tempered: Lv-〗〖Automatic HP Recovery: Lv 1〗

Resistances:
〖Physical Resistance: Lv 2〗〖Poison Resistance: Lv 3〗〖Falling Resistance: Lv 4〗

Normal Skills:
〖Horn Lance: Lv4〗 〖Rush: Lv3〗 〖Pound Strike: Lv2〗
〖High Jump: Lv3〗 〖Meteor Dive: Lv2〗 〖Power: Lv3〗

Titles:
〖Powerhouse of the Forest: Lv 4〗〖Foolhardy: Lv 3〗
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

…… Alo’s stats are〖Magic: 42〗and〖Speed: 22〗.
In all the battles we’ve learned so far, we need at least half the attack power to even break through their defense.

If I wound it in one spot and the others keep attacking that one spot, then the exp points would be distributed throughout everyone…… but then again, I could accidentally one-shot it, and I don’t want that.

We’ll still only attack it in one spot continuously.
With my speed, Alo and the others should be able to blow it away with our attack.
More importantly, I’m glad it doesn’t have any suspicious-looking skills.

There are skills I haven’t seen before, but judging from its name, it’s probably just an attack that rushes head-straight forward.
If I can get Alo and the rest behind it while I occupy it from the front, their attacks are sure to hit.

〖Meteor Drive〗will likely damage a large area, and if it tries to follow it up with〖High Jump〗, I can read its movements when it does.
It’ll most likely jump high up and then fall straight down.
Since it looks like it takes a while to prepare all that, I’ll have time to safely get Alo and the others away and maybe even dish out a counter.

Its level is fairly high so it should offer a good amount of exp points.
To protect themselves from the next attack by another Abyss, we can’t waste this chance.
If ever they can’t fight anymore, we’ll determine whether the situation is on the red before we decide to escape.
With the tense situation going on around the Abyss lately, we’ll one day be eaten by them all.
Training or not, we’re doing this seriously.

Still, to think that Partner found the Grafant before I did.
I should’ve paid attention more on my〖Presence Sense〗.

【“Looks, delicious. Hunt it, hunt it!”】

…… Aah, so that’s why.
Somehow, that was within my expectations.

I aim at the Grafant’s feet and fire a weak〖Wind Slash〗.
The magic blade of wind sliced through the air and slightly cut its feet.

Of course, if I feel like it, I could cut its feet anytime.
But, that shot was intended to alarm it.
If I shot with my full power, it might get scared and run away.
It’s better to show it that our attacks are at its level so it won’t get intimidated.

“Bu~umo……?”

The Grafant raises its thick neck and looks up at me.
Its eyes were blinking at me wildly.
If it were human, did it just say “the heck do you think you’re doing……?” at me?

I attempt to make myself look smaller so the Grafant thinks I’m a weakling.
This is the opposite in my world where the small animals make themselves look big to scare off predators.
I move my back a little farther, spread my wings a little slightly, and fire more weak〖Wind Slash〗.
The blades of wind hit the Grafant’s forehead, but it didn’t even graze it.

【“What're ya doin……?”】

Partner, feeling worried, leans in closer to me and gives me a nuzzle.
N-No, you don’t understand, I’m just trying to lure that thing here…… wait, you aren’t acting weak like me.
Come on Partner, do what I do.
Sink in your neck like me.

“Bu~umo~oooooooo!”

The Grafant moos at me and charges towards us.
Seems like we provoked it enough.