402-Episode 402 Go ahead

　What’s on your mind right now, Mr. Elfin?

　Suddenly, Leanne and Monica show up…and what do they think of me disappearing with Finia?

　Maybe he was just mad.

　My ploy was to have Leanne and Monica lurking in the dungeon beforehand to try and cheat.

　I think my thinking is leaning more towards this.

　If the two of them were in a dungeon that no one was supposed to be able to enter, I can’t help but think so.

　Really, those two, where did they appear from…..

　Well, I’ll think about that later.

　Anyway, Mr. Elfin…and the other phoenixes will think I’m working with Lean and Monica.

　I have to get them both to deny that.

　Also … they’re probably planning some more nonsense anyway, so I have to stop them.

　We have to stop that too.

‘So, but, um… what are we going to do?　We don’t even know where we are…

Oh….

　The two of them are dreading it, but they have a plan.

‘With time, we can return to the phoenix tribe’s home.

　Make a tentative agreement with a large number of animals and search for a village using human tactics.

　This way, it might take some time, but we’ll be able to find them for sure.

　However, we don’t have time right now.

　There’s no guarantee that Lean and Monica won’t make the next move…

　Most of all, I’m worried about Kanade and Chiffon, who are being held hostage.

　That’s why I’m going to find them another way.

Instead of going back to the phoenix village, let’s go find Leanne and Monica first.

Well that’s the hard part, isn’t it…?

No. With those two on the trail, it’s not so hard to track them down it’s pretty easy.

　I don’t think he’s going to stay in the phoenix tribe’s village like that.

　Once outside, he should be making an encampment to rest his body for his next move.

　A fire is a must when camping.

　Not only does it keep you warm, but it also serves the purpose of keeping animals and demons away.

Only people can use a fire. No one but Leanne and Monica would use a fire outside in a situation like this. We can look for that.

Nah, I see… but how?

”I’m going to need some help, but, uh, I saw you on the way to the Phoenix Clan’s village, so maybe you’ll be around here… oh, there you are.

　After finding the all-red bird and calling it in, he makes a tentative contract.

‘It’s … what … what is it?’

This bird is called a plover. See, it’s all red as fire?　So, hydrilla.

Nah, I see…

It has an interesting habit of resting its body near a hot spot. It seems that its basal body temperature is low, so it naturally looks for a hot spot. It has an amazing ability to detect heat from several kilometers away.

Oh, and then….

　Feenya seems to understand what I’m thinking, and she gets a convincing look on her face.

”Yeah. First of all, I’ll have this guy call his friends……..

　As the distinctive chirping sounded, about ten more hydrillae appeared.

　All tentatively contracted.

”Please.

　I asked them to fly in unison.

　A myriad of fluttering feathers sounded.

　A dozen or so hummingbirds flew in circles above us, probably looking for a heat source.

　Perhaps they are looking for a heat source.

　And about half of them flew to disparate places…

　The other half of the group gets together and flies in one direction.

‘Let’s keep up with that group,’

Okay.

On!

———-

　It’s been a while since I ran through a strange land.

　Even though I have the strength that I signed a contract with Kanade, I am indeed starting to run out of breath.

　Without paying attention to me, the hydrilla continues to fly straight ahead.

　If this wasn’t for Leanne and Monica, I would cry.

”Ho, really…….is that human up ahead?”

　Finia is riding Sakura.

　Sakura’s strength is limitless, or she doesn’t look as if she’s tired.

‘I’d like to think they’re aiming for the fire since the five birds are reacting, but if this is just a wildfire or something, I’m going to cry.

Well, it’s possible…

‘If it’s a wildfire, I don’t think it’s going to happen because you can tell from a distance by the smoke or something… wait. Stop.

Huh…?

　I noticed this and quickly ducked into the nearby bushes.

　Finia was scowling, but Sakura seemed to understand what I was trying to say and continued to duck into the bushes.

”What’s going on…?”

Don’t be silly…

　Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bonfire.

　I couldn’t see anyone, but the bonfire was still burning.

　Perhaps they are temporarily out of their seats.

“Ta, bonfire!

Good. Looks like you got the right answer.

What are you going to do…?

I’ll wait for Leanne and Monica to come back and… no. But first, let’s do a little splash.

What do you want me to do?

———-

‘Hahaha, phoenix tribe?　What’s one of them?　They’re so badass.

Phew, that went well.

　Lean and Monica next visited the village of the呀Wolf tribe.

　There, they used Monica’s power to pretend to be the phoenix tribe and call the demons to them.

　They were successfully tricked, and their hostility towards the phoenix tribe was growing.

　If they repeated the same thing to both races, it would soon lead to an all-out war.

　Then they would have to crush each other…

　Beat the last one left.

　It’s an easy job.

　Not only that, but it’s a lot of fun.

　The strongest species dancing for good in the palm of my hand it was so funny I almost couldn’t stop laughing.

”Ah but I’m a bit tired from all the times I’ve transitioned and summoned them…”

‘Then let’s take a break, shall we? We’ll leave it at that, and you’ll be ready to camp in no time.

‘I’d prefer a bed if it were true. Well, you can’t be that extravagant.

　Leanne and Monica returned to the encampment.

　They rested by the fire.

　It was comfortable and I couldn’t help but get depressed.

‘….What?

　I feel a tingle, and I wake up at once.

　But my body doesn’t move freely…………………….and I fall to my side.