“Hey, Ermine. Is it possible to get out of this mini garden?”

It was a sudden question that came to mind.

There’s no specific prohibition against going outside through the pink flower arch, and since there were so many things to alchemize, I hadn’t really thought about it before. But what is it like outside this mini garden…?

“Of course. But there are magical beasts outside.”

Magical beasts… I guess it makes sense in a fantasy world.

“Then, does that mean I can’t leave this mini garden at all?”

Alchemizing is fun, but doing only that forever…

“Well, if you’re with Koko, it should be fine. There shouldn’t be any stronger magical beasts than those in this forest.”

“Koko is that strong?”

She does seem fierce with her three-white-eye look, but is she really strong enough to defeat the strongest magical beast in the forest?

Or is it that there are only weak magical beasts like slimes in this forest?

Yeah. That must be it.

“I’ll stay here, so you should go for a walk with Koko and Robo.”

“Will Koko come with me?”

“Only as far as the forest.”

“Why only to the forest?”

“Well, it’s her territory…?”

I tilted my head along with Ermine, who was tilting his head as he spoke.

“I thought Koko was only in this mini garden.”

“When she doesn’t show up sometimes, she’s hunting in the forest.”

Ooh… So that’s how it is.

If she’s that strong, it should be reassuring.

Then let’s go ask Koko.

“Oh, there you are. Koko-san!”

Koko, who had been sunbathing on the red roof, looked down at me as if to say, “What is it?”

“Um, I want to go to the forest. Can you come with me?”

But Koko turned her face away as if uninterested.

Yeah. I thought it would go like this. Just as I expected.

“If we go to the forest, we might find new materials, and then I could expand the range of dishes I can cook.”

So far, the dishes are mainly vegetable-based. There’s an egg of unknown origin, but no meat dishes.

According to Ermine, there’s a town with people beyond the forest, so eventually, I’d like to go there to buy meat.

To do that, I need to get through the forest first, so I’d like to start by exploring the forest.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

Just as expected, Koko reacted to the word “cooking” and seemed willing to listen to me.

“There might be new mushrooms or fruits in the forest… And of course, I plan to have Koko taste any new dishes I come up with.”

Reacting to “new dishes,” Koko came down from the roof and chirped.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!”

Then, as if to say, “Follow me,” she headed toward the flower arch.

“All right, let’s go, Robo!”

“Woof!”

With Robo wagging his tail and following, we went under the pink flowers.

I jumped with both feet to cross the boundary.

It felt like a memorable first step!

“Oh, we’re outside.”

It was a bit anticlimactic to easily step outside the mini garden, which I had thought was impossible to leave.

Speaking of which, wasn’t it here that Robo’s mother passed away…?

I glanced at Robo, but he didn’t seem particularly concerned.

Feeling somewhat reassured, I followed Koko.

Now, I wonder what kind of mysteries this forest holds.

With excitement, I followed Koko.

So far, the plants here are mostly similar to those in the mini garden.

Moreover, they look worse, with leaves that are withered or smaller than those in the mini garden.

“Are there no unusual things?”

Since the mini garden was full of wonders, I imagined the forest would be just as full of mysteries. But no matter how far I go, it’s just an ordinary forest.

In fact, even though I hear birds and animals in the distance, I don’t see any of them. Well, that’s mysterious in its own way.

Still, what about never encountering any living creatures?

Could it be because I’m with the strongest Koko in the forest? Is that why other magical beasts are too scared to come out?

I’d pass on ferocious animals that see me as prey, but I’d gladly welcome encounters with cute small animals like squirrels or rabbits that might live in the forest.

“Koko!”

Koko stops and points out anything unusual when she finds it. Each time, she tosses it into her bracelet.

I’ve lost track of what and how much she’s collected, but since obtaining new materials should increase the recipes, I’ll check the alchemy book later.

“I want to get to the town and buy meat soon.”

It’s impossible to get meat by hunting it myself, so I have to buy it from a shop.

Buying it means I’ll need money.

I wonder if the potions I make can be sold.

I hope they can be sold.

As I was thinking about this, a rustling sound came from the bushes in front of me, and a giant snake, about my height, appeared.

“Eek! A snake!”

Wait a minute!

Aren’t the standard starting monsters in adventures supposed to be slimes?

I wasn’t expecting such a big monster to appear right away!