Finally defeating the Human-Faced, we began walking away from the ruins .
We walk along the side of some fallen trees .
Currently, I’m leading our group while Eve is holding our rear .
Seras is walking behind me .
Liz and Slei were following behind Seras .
Slei has now returned to her first form .
It appears that she feels a bit tired because of her transformation .
Her third form particularly accumulates fatigue from her .
Pigimaru is comfortably snuggling in my robe just as usual .
It seems he also was quite tired from our combination technique .
[It’s more peaceful than I thought . ]
Standing at the rear end of our formation, Eve answers .
[It would be alright if the other monsters were the one chasing along the tracks of this Human-Faced but... that could also mean there were many monsters who have seen the Human-Faced when it moved . ]
I interrupted her words .
[It could probably be the opposite . ]
[It’s possible that they were moving away, avoiding the Human-Faced . ]
Even back at the Disposal Ruins, there were no other monsters in the area near the Human-Faced .
The Human-Faced were monsters avoided by other monsters...
Perhaps, there may even be a custom where they would give up on the prey that the Human-Faced had set its eyes on .
[Fumu... It seems that the monsters weren’t able to coexist in the Demon Zone like we thought . ]
[I had the impression that this place would be swarming with monsters but there are surprisingly fewer monsters in this place . ]
[In that case, you could even say that the monsters in here were quite conscious about their own territories huh . ]
[.................. . ]
[Mhmm? What’s wrong, Touka?]
[No, it’s nothing . ]
While saying that, I was actually observing Eve .
Just a while earlier, she was influenced with the victory from the battle against the Human-Faced .
“Only a few people were able to bring down the Human-Faced . ”
It seems that Eve became quite shocked from that .
Just as we were leaving the ruins...
“I still can’t feel whether this really is reality or not . Even though this was indeed possible through that power you used before, but I still saw that Human-Faced dying right in front of my eyes... I feel quite of strange . I feel kind of exalted and somewhat bewildered...”
There’s a bit of excitement in the air around her when she said that .
However, Eve has now returned to how she normally acts .
It’s an enemy that I couldn’t be careless with, but it also isn’t something that makes me hopeless when fought against .
A perfectly flawless monster—- isn’t something I could describe this one .
I’ve experienced fighting against two Human-Faced so far .
You could fight them enough depending on how you planned it .
......Well, I can’t really deny that most of it is because of the great power of the Abnormal State Skill .
As thoughts were running through my mind, I muttered .
There certainly is the eeriness that I could feel from it, but it this creature is still full of mystery .
Even the extensively knowledgeable Seras doesn’t exactly know anything about it .
The most ferocious of the most brutal enemies .
The most sadistic of the cruelest enemies .
I take out the triple-layered hemp bag from my backpack .
The contents were still slightly warm .
I opened the bag while we’re still walking .
Seras suddenly peeps in .
[Is this a material used for a Forbidden Technique?]
Inside the bag is a part of the body of the Human-Faced we defeated just now .
A portion of it was still throbbing .
[There weren’t any raw materials written in the “Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts” that could be acquired from the Human-Faced but... I felt like it looks like one of the illustrations I’ve seen added inside it . In that case, I thought whether we could use this as a substitute or not . ]
Seras tilted her head as she looked up to my face .
[You’re talking about that one in page 167?]
As expected, I won’t remember what page that one is on .
However, it seems that Seras remembers it .
[I already forgot what that ingredient was for—]
Looking like she’s a bit glad, Seras raises her white index finger .
[You’re talking about the “Gem of Voice Amplification”, right?]
[Yeah, that’s right . ]
“Damn it...” I scratched my head .
[You’ve perused the book a lot that it seems like Seras knows more about the “Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts” than I do . ]
Whenever we had free time, I’ve always seen her perusing the book .
Seras straightens her back .
She then looks forward and gently brushes away her blond hair .
[I was indeed just really interested with what you’re reading at first, but I thought I could be more helpful to Touka-dono in this regard . ]
[I also intend to thoroughly read after I find some spare time, but it might be more likely that I’d end up having to rely on Seras for the contents regarding the book . I’d be relying on you at that time, okay?]
Placing her hand over her chest, Seras respectfully nodded .
[Please leave it to me . ]
[Suddenly apologizing... I was just reading a lot because I like reading . ]
[Even so, that really helps me . ]
There’s a bit of liveliness in her reply . ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novèlfire.net
[........................ . ]
The book lover, Seras Ashrain .
I thought it would only be a matter of time when she would be interested in the “Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts” .
My reading time has decreased since I entered the Demon Zone .
It wouldn’t be bad if I leave understanding the contents of the book to Seras for the time being .
[Since I’ve been leading our group, I’m a bit nervous...]
[You’re nervous, is it?]
Even after I’ve left the Disposal Ruins, I still can’t get rid of my habit of talking with myself .
Seras then spoke as she leaned forward and peeked at the bag in my hand .
[By the way, Touka-dono, there also other things I’ve learned that may be useful in regards to the materials for the Forbidden Techniques— I- Iyaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh————-!]
Reflexively, I stepped back a bit .
Suddenly screaming (?), Seras falls down on her butt .
She looks like blood was drawn from her face .
As expected, I would be surprised with that scream of her just now...
How should I say this... That sounds like a real scream, you know?
Did she feel disgusted by that part of the Human-Faced that I’ve harvested?
When she looked into it a while ago, she acted quite normal though .
Did something change over that time?
I looked into the bag in my hand .
There was something of a different color mixed in the bag .
I pinch the thing out and lift it up .
[Earthworm...? Ah, this must have slipped in while I’m collecting the material . ]
[To- Touka-dono... I don’t know if I could say that thing sounds quite tough... or quite creepy... Anyway, that’s dangerous...]
I wonder what she meant as tough and creepy .
[I know already, so I think you should close your legs first . ]
I throw away the earthworm towards the nearby bushes .
[Are you not good with them?]
[......to put it plainly, yes . ]
[Even though you look quite fine with Pigimaru’s tentacles or that Human-Faced wiggling tongue?]
[In spite of that, I’m still not good with earthworms . ]
Seras stands up and brushes away the dirt off her butt .
She had a rather dignified expression on her face .
I feel like she’s trying to smooth over her composure .
“Erhem”, Seras solemnly clears her throat .
[However... That is a really unbecoming weakness for a proud knight . If you were to have lost composure for being disgusted at something , you would disgrace your reputation as the Former Holy Knight Leader of Neia—-]
[That’s quite unexpected . To think that you had a weakness , Seras . ]
[——-Iyyaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Touka-dono already threw that away, why are you holding that now, Eve! Are you sane!?]
After being reproached by Liz, Eve trudgingly returned back to the rear .
To think that Seras would be disturbed like that .
This might not be a good thing to say but...
I was able to get a glimpse of an interesting aspect that I never expected .
Well, it was also important to know what your comrades were weak against .
Moreover, the atmosphere unexpectedly calmed down .
We have to be careful for most of our time while in the Demon Zone .
There wasn’t any presence of monsters around the area .
Clamouring isn’t so bad once in a while .
I look towards the three people walking behind me .
[.....................]
In fact, the other three people were exhausted already .
Our enemies wouldn’t just be the monsters we encounter .
I dare say that this place, the Golden Demon Zone isn’t somewhere we could afford to rest .
The only place I can think of as the only place we could rest in this Demon Zone...
We advanced even further .
[The air has become more humid . ]
Holding down her hair that’s fluttering in the breeze, Seras said .
[It might rain for a bit . ]
The surrounding scenery has changed .
Somehow—- the color of the trees and their leaves look darker .
Is it proof that we have finally entered the deepest part of the Demon Zone?
[......I’m quite worried about those things I’ve been seeing for some time . ]
The rocky surface stretching out from the opposite side of the group of trees .
I wonder if we could describe those as a small mountain range?
They were spread out like a wall .
I told Eve to check out the map .
I looked towards Eve who was also looking my way .
We’ve been thinking it won’t be long now .
So that’s how it is .
We’ve finally come this far huh...
[Based on where we are— If we increase our pace, we may be able to arrive tomorrow or the day after that . ]
The place where the Witch of Taboos live is already near .
Hello, this is LazyCat . I would like the readers to know that would have a short hiatus next week . Normal Update Schedule comes back in March 23, 2020 .