Yeah, it's good!

　I couldn't help but squeal in admiration at the happiness that filled my mouth.

　It was time to eat that night.

　The four of us were seated at the counter in the dining room on the first floor of the Adventurer's Inn "Arsen's Delicious Food", eating the food that was served to us.

　Crunch, crunch, crunch.

　I'm already engrossed, shoveling the food into my stomach.

　Even Solstice, seated next to me, is silent for a long time, gobbling down three servings of food.

　Arsen Polk, the owner and chef, laughs and brings us another plate of food.

(Really, the food here is great!)

　I don't know, but I can't help but smile.

　Ms. Illtimina chuckles.

You both bite down harder than that, don't you?

　I cautioned.

　But with our appetite in control, we both just nodded and continued to eat the newly served plate of food, without any time to reply.

''Already...''

　Mr. Illtimina sighs.

　Mr. Kilt looked at us like that with a wooden mug of liquor in his hand and laughed somewhat happily.

　Then.

Owner, have you noticed anything unusual around here lately?

　He called out to Mr. Arsen.

'Is that unusual?'

　Mr. Arsen finished putting his plate on the table and asked back.

　Kirt-san nodded.

'Hmm, as I'm leaving tomorrow to explore the forest, I wanted to get some information from you. Anything. Let me know if there's anything that comes to your attention.'
'I see. ...I see.

　The good-natured shopkeeper ponders for a moment.

　Then.

Oh, by the way,

　snappingly

　He struck a hand that was as plump as freshly baked bread.

'About two months ago, though, there was a story about a shooting star that fell down in the Great Forest.

A shooting star?

　I don't stop eating and just sharpen my ears.

　Mr. Quilt says, "Ho? I muttered.

'I heard that a hunter saw it in the forest. But it seems that the star fell on the deepest part of the planet, and no one has been able to confirm it.

　...to the depths of the forest.

　We're aiming for that Aldoria Grand Forest, the deepest layer.

"Hmm.

　Mr. Kilt nodded and gulped down his mug.

'Shooting stars, huh? ....Anything else?
No, not really.

　Mr. Arsen shook his head.

Also, the wife of a local clothing store has just had a grandchild.

　I smiled.

　Mr. Kilt laughed too.

'Well, congratulations on that.'
Yes, sir.
Mm. I'm sorry I had to pull you away.

　As he said this, Mr. Kilt gave Mr. Arsen a few Lido coins as a tip.

　Mr. Arsen said.

Thanks for this.

　I take it with horror.

　Then he went back to the kitchen to carry the food for the other guests in the same dining room.

　Mr. Illtimina cut the meat of the dish with a knife.

A shooting star...?

　I muttered.

'Two months ago would coincide with just about the time Marle and the others met Moa, the goddess of love.

　crunching

　When he finished, he took a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

"Mmmm, yes.

　Mr. Kilt's golden eyes narrowed faintly.

'I wonder if it has something to do with the oracle of the goddess Yacour.

　I nodded.

　Then I tipped my mug of liquor again.

　And while Solstice had just flattened one plate and moved on to the next.

Well, you'll find out when you get there.

　I say.

　And her mouth is blocked again by the food.

　Mr. Kilt chuckled.

　'Mug, mug, goggle,'

　I'm going to swallow my food.

'Solstice is right. So now, let's enjoy the food here, shall we?　--I'm sorry, Mr. Arsen!　Can I order dessert?

　I called out to the well-dressed shopkeeper while raising my big hand.

''..........''
..........

　Mr. Kilt and Ms. Illtimina look dismayed.

　They immediately chuckle.

Well, at least for tonight.
Yes.

　The two adults nodded at each other.

　While overhearing such conversations, that night me and Solstice conquered the dishes that were served one after another.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The next morning we wake up at sunrise.

　Katya, Kashan.

They will wear their own equipment, such as the "Fairy Sword" and "Fairy Iron Armor".

(Good)

　With my backpack full of stuff on my back, I'm ready to go.

　The other three had finished their preparations for departure at about the same time.

''Then, let's head to the Aldoria Great Forest and Deep Sections.
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Yeah.

　At Mr. Kilt's command, we left the room.

　As we walked down the stairs, we found the owner, Mr. Arsen, waiting for us on the first floor.

　I had been taught before that he was already up at this hour to prepare breakfast.

　He smiled and

We're leaving, aren't we?　Please, take care of yourself.

　He bowed his head.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

''Mm. If you don't return in ten days, contact the adventurer's guild 'Moonlight Wind' in the royal capital.'
I understand.

　Arsen-san nodded with a serious face.

　He ran an adventurer's inn, so he must have encountered such situations before.

　And.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you would like to take a look at this.

　He holds out something wrapped in a cloth.

(????)

　Mr. Quilt takes it.

'What's this?'
Here's your lunch. It's the least I can do, if you'd like.

　Oh!

(Mr. Alsen's lunch!)

　I'm sure it will be very tasty.

　Solstice next to me, her red eyes twinkling, too.

"I'm sorry. I'll take it.
Yes, sir.

　Kilt-san thanked him and Arsen-san nodded with a smile.

　That precious lunch was also tucked away in a sandbag-like package, and once again, Kilt-san carried it on her back.

''Then,''

　Kilt said and started walking to the doorway.

　We followed.

I'm off.

　I smile at Mr. Arsen, and I smile at him.

　He smiled.

'Good day, Marle, ladies and gentlemen.

　He waves a plump hand at us.

　We left the adventurer's inn "Arsen's Delicious Food" while being seen off by the owner of the inn.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　We walked down the main street of the city of Medis and headed south to the main gate.

　It's still early morning.

　There were few tourists in the city, and more people were seen setting up their shops.

'First, we'll head south through the Great Forest of Aldoria.

　As we walked, Mr. Kilt said.

'Let's keep going, we'll reach the Toggle cliffs. We'll find your fallout point and descend into the depths from there.
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Okay.

　We nodded.

'First, we'll go to the tower where they say Merle lived. Is that okay?

　We nodded once more at Kilt's confirmation.

　And so the four of us finished the formalities at the reception desk at the Daimon, and then we walked out of the city of Medis.

　Zach, zach.

　We walked down a grassy hill.

　Beyond the hill, he could see a large forest of green leaves.

　The Great Aldrian Forest.

　Except for the deep part, it's a relatively safe forest, a forest that gives a lot of blessings to its neighbors.

　But on the other hand, the deep part of the forest is uncivilized.

　It's a very dangerous place, with only 10% of adventurers coming back alive.

(............)

　I used to live in a place like that........

　Even though I didn't know it, I still shudder after all this time and admire myself for what I was a year ago.

　Eventually you reach the border between the forest and the meadow.

'I can't believe I'm coming back...'

　Solstice looked up at the trees in the forest and muttered with deep emotion.

(Yeah....)

　I nodded my head.

　The Toggle cliffs are about 40,000 yards or 40 kilometers away,

　Kilts says.

"We're in no hurry," he says. Let's take three days to make our way through this forest.
Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.

　We agreed.

All right, then. Let's go.

　Mr. Kilt announced in an iron voice and led the way into the forest.

(.........Okay!)

　I take a deep breath and prepare myself.

　I start walking after Kilt-san.

　Soltis and Illtimina-san follow.

　And so the four of us finally begin our journey to the depths of the Great Forest of Aldoria.