On a bright and sunny afternoon.

Today, instead of wandering the First Forest, I am walking through the forest along the road that stretches from the southern side of the town.

The cursed lands are filled with adventurers seeking commissions or hoping to make a profit, but this forest is different.

This forest is also quite large, and it does have monsters and beasts, but… they are of normal strength. As a source of income, it’s not particularly lucrative, and adventurers who gather in the capital don’t find it much of a hunting ground.

So, is it left unattended? No, that’s not the case.

This road connects to the village ruled by Luban, and there’s a lot of human traffic. The people here have hired guards or arm themselves, but sometimes, monsters that have escaped from the cursed lands make their way here and nest, so we can’t afford to be careless.

If left to the civilians, the damage would increase, and eventually, traffic would decrease.

However, Luban’s village is a key point for Riana’s river transport, and it’s not good if the connection between there and the capital is severed.

Because of this, the Knight Order patrols this area.

And today, just like usual, the same thing is happening.

Moreover, there was a proposal to try marking this area as a wolf’s territory to maintain public order, so as an experiment, I came here with one of the wolves to patrol the forest. And I’m participating in this, too.

It’s been a while since I last hunted here—maybe since the time I helped clear the forest to make way for the road?

People rarely enter here, and the grass is deep, making visibility poor…

It’s not really a problem for me, but there could be something lurking, so I need to stay cautious.

So, as I drift through the forest, looking for monsters, something suddenly catches my eye.

“Hm…?”

There are scratch marks on a thick tree, like claws have scraped it.

The height… maybe about 2 meters?

It’s not a wolf, is it?

What could it be…?

As I ponder while observing the claw marks, I suddenly hear the sound of a whistle from a distance.

It’s from the knights accompanying me.

Next, I hear the low growl of a wolf.

Is something going on?

I hurriedly head in that direction.

“Don’t stop! Drag it to the road!”

The knight’s voice grows louder. It seems they’re in combat with something large, but could it be the creature responsible for these claw marks?

They’re mounted, and it looks like they’re trying to move the fight out of the forest, likely because combat in the woods is difficult.

If that’s the case, I’ll get ahead and prepare to intercept.

◇

“I see it! …Wait, it’s huge!?”

Having gotten ahead and moved to the road, I prepare for battle and watch the knights pulling their target closer.

After waiting for a while, the lead knight emerges from the forest.

Then, the second and third knights… and the wolf.

Finally, the large creature appears… and it’s a massive bear.

Whether it’s a monster or a beast, it’s enormous.

When it stands, it looks like it’s nearly 3 meters tall.

I’m not sure when the bears in this world wake from hibernation, but at least it doesn’t seem emaciated.

It would be tough to fight in this forest, even for mounted knights.

The wolf is… well, it’s unscathed.

It’s circling the bear, barking and keeping it distracted.

Thanks to that, the bear can’t focus on a single target.

…

It seems like I could leave this to them, but the knights are armed with short spears and swords.

They’re steadily landing hits, but at this rate, it’ll be hard to land a charge with the bear’s size and speed, so I should join in.

I move directly above the battlefield, observing the situation and waiting for the right moment to intervene.

The knights notice me, but the bear, bothered by the wolf’s distraction, leaves the skies unguarded.

After waiting a bit longer, the bear swings its front paw, stopping its movement and creating an opening.

“Hm… now!”

Seizing the opportunity, I activate the 【Scarlet Bee Needle】 and use my right leg to stomp down on the bear’s head.

While it didn’t collapse in one strike, it seems to have lower endurance than the boss bear I fought in the past.

The damage hits, and the bear staggers.

I immediately follow up with another kick, aiming for its head.

However… it’s tough.

It doesn’t fall.

Should I use the 【Shadow Blade】?

“Lieutenant!”

Hearing a shout from the side, I turn to see the knights have backed off and are preparing to charge.

It looks like I can leave it to them now.

“Got it! Leave it to me! Flash!”

I retreat while activating 【Monkey’s Arm】, open the umbrella I’ve been carrying, and aim a magical blast at the bear’s face.

It’s a blinding attack, even in broad daylight, and from such a close range, this should be strong!

The bear lets out a loud roar and stands still, holding its face.

At that moment, three knights charge, accelerating toward the bear.

“…Whoa. That’s some power.”

The three spears slam deep into the bear, followed by the knights drawing their swords and charging again, slicing at the bear as they pass.

That was the final blow.

It was simple, but incredibly effective.

The knights raise their swords in victory, and even the wolf joins in with a howl—seems like they’ve got a good rhythm together.

…Should I do something too?

Yay!

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sera ・【Hideout】 +1【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind Garb】 ・【Floating Orb】 +1【Shadow Blade】【Scarlet Bee Needle】【Fairy’s Eye】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Danrem’s Thread】【Serpent’s Tail】【Ankle Bracelet】【Amber Shield】【Purple Wings】【Red Sword】【Monkey’s Arm】 ・4 cards

Seriana ・【Area Identification】 ・【】 ・39 cards

Elena ・【】 ・【Green Fang】【Amber Sword】 ・4 cards

Alec ・【Strong Strike】 ・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】 ・9 cards