Watching Jeanne eat heartily in front of him, Yuda found himself enjoying the meal without noticing the surroundings. As hunger turned to fullness, a pleasant lethargy set in, bringing fatigue. Having been battered by rain all day, it was too comfortable to finally escape it and rest leisurely. But something was missing.
A bonfire.
Although they were using fluorescent liquid made by alchemists for light, it provided no heat. Needing to dry his wet robe and leather boots, Yuda pondered. Breaking these every five minutes was wasteful in cost.
I really need a bonfire.
But starting one on this wooden floor risked burning the whole house down.
After thinking briefly, Yuda opened his palm to summon Altemia, gripping it reverse-handed, and plunged the blade into the wooden floor.
Its legendary sharpness allowed it to sink in effortlessly.
A light draw cut the wood cleanly like paper into the desired shape.
“Need any help?”
“No, it’s fine. Take some rest.”
Jeanne offered to help seeing Yuda trying to do something, but he shook his head.
Once the square frame was done, he pulled a shovel from his 〈Inventory〉, scooped mud from outside to fill the hole, and packed it firmly with his foot.
Fetching the mud was a bit annoying, but the task didn’t take long.
He broke the exposed wooden planks from making the frame, stacked them on the mud, and lit dry firewood on top.
“Done!”
The distinctive crackle of burning wood filled the air, and the fire’s light illuminated the dark interior unlike the fluorescent liquid.
Best of all was the warm heat enveloping his body.
Yuda nearly clapped at the excellent result from brief labor.
Jeanne stared blankly at the bonfire Yuda created. Who’d think to start a fire indoors?
“Now, shall we wash up and rest?”
With a proud face, Yuda spoke to Jeanne while opening a space in the air to pull out soap and towels.
There was nothing missing in the 〈Inventory〉.
Thanks to the wealth from hunting black wolves, he had regularly bought necessities from general stores and clothing shops, and the day before leaving Serenia Castle, he had stocked up heavily.
Even if thrown into a barren desert, he had enough varied items to survive.
Taking the towel and soap, Jeanne looked at Yuda enviously and said,
“Sorry to bother you, but could you get my bag too?”
Yuda nodded and retrieved her personal backpack he’d been holding.
“Then I’ll wash up quickly too.”
Jeanne headed to a blind spot out of Yuda’s view.
The dilapidated house had holes in the walls and spots where planks were removed to cover the adventurers’ bodies, providing many exits outside.
Yuda planned only to wash his feet and hair, but the sound of Jeanne undressing suggested she intended to bathe in the rainwater.
She’s bold.
Does she not even consider that I might peek?
As he removed his wet socks, Yuda pondered.
The pouring rain outside looked far cleaner compared to his original world.
Naturally, since this world lacked cars or chemical factories.
“Maybe I should take a quick shower too.”
He had sweated a bit, and a shower would relieve this muggy feeling.
But at the door, undressing made him shrink at the thought of being watched.
Soon, he stripped fully, including underwear, and began soaping up under the rain.
Coming to this world allowed experiences impossible in his original one.
A man showering naked in a dark forest, it was a truly one with nature.
“Hoo.”
He scrubbed until the soap was gone, making squeaky sounds.
Though the rain wouldn’t stop, he whimsically wondered if it might while washing.
As the refreshing soap scent emerged, his mood lifted, and he hummed unconsciously.
Finishing his quick shower, Yuda, his initial shyness gone, roughly toweled off, grabbed his clothes from the floor, and returned to the bonfire.
His rain- and sweat-soaked underwear and socks were unfit to wear or store, so he tossed them into the fire.
The flames licked like a lizard’s tongue, consuming the clothes.
A momentary black smoke coughed up, but he ignored it.
While putting on new underwear and pants, Jeanne appeared, having finished washing, with her robe and coat over her arm.
“…!”
Seeing Yuda changing, she flinched and retreated to the corner.
She seemed to lean against the wall.
“My apologies.”
“It’s fine. You can come out now.”
With no reason to be embarrassed, Yuda casually said while putting on his top.
He strung a line between walls and hung his all-day rain-soaked robe.
Water still dripped from it.
Since the floor was dusty, he spread a clean cloth.
Nothing more to do.
They had eaten enough, and he placed his wet leather boots near the fire.
Now, they just needed to get enough sleep.
Yuda pulled extra firewood, placed it by the bonfire, and laid down.
There was no conversation with Jeanne.
The pouring rain and crackling firewood harmonized subtly, pleasing the ears.
Cool air from outside holes diluted the unpleasant odors inside.
Alone, he would be scared and alert, but with Jeanne and the auto-save from obtaining Altemia, sleep came easily.
It was sweet slumber—or so he thought.
By the feel of being shaken, Yuda slowly opened his eyes.
Shaaaa!
A pleasant voice cut through the pouring rain.
“Wake up, Yuda.”
It was Jeanne.
He didn’t know when she’d woken, but she was already in boots, coat, and robe.
The weakened bonfire suggested he’d slept quite a bit.
But he was still drowsy.
“You need to get up and prepare quickly. Something seems to be coming.”
“?”
Something coming? He wanted more sleep, but couldn’t ignore it, so Yuda hurriedly put on socks, boots, and tied the laces.
Like a private changing in the army—lightning speed.
Donning his coat and robe, he heard screams buried in the rain.
“!?”
-Help! Please, anyone, save me!
“It’s a person. What should we do?”
Expecting her to rush out, she asked Yuda’s opinion instead.
Different from her unilateral actions in Aslan.
Woken not by choice but by someone, with rain still pouring, his foul mood improved slightly.
To save them.
Pressing his robe’s hood down, Yuda walked to the door.
The pouring rain and muddy ground made him hesitate.
Jeanne, behind him, sighed softly too.
“It’s dreadful. Having to trek through that rain again.”
“What’s worse is we might have to come back.”
Yuda smiled bitterly and took the reluctant step.
But outside, he couldn’t tell the scream’s direction.
The rain drowned it out.
After brief hesitation, he activated 〈Shadow Sorcery Form 1 – Shadow Spread〉.
The bonfire’s leaking light created shadows that rapidly covered the area.
Better than visual confirmation.
With enough mana, it could extend up to 1km.
Results appeared immediately.
Red dots appeared successively on the 〈Map〉.
No, there was no need to go.
The presumed screamer, spotting the house’s light, was running toward them.
Yuda opened his palm.
Red energy rose, placing Altemia in his hand.
“Save me! There, please!”
A man dashed frantically through the forest.
He was covered in mud, as if he had rolled around.
Behind him, dark figures were chasing him.
They seemed to deliberately slow, grinning, waiting for him to tire and fall.
“They’re coming. Jeanne, protect the man. I’ll handle the wraiths.”
“Yes. Be careful!”
They dashed without deciding who first.
Vigorous steps splashed muddy rainwater, soiling clothes and robes.
The approaching man, relieved, smiled through tears and fell.
Tension released, his legs gave out.
It’s not time to relax yet.
A wraith reached for the screaming, rolling man.
Yuda threw Altemia from his left hand.
A red trail flashed; the dagger pierced the wraith’s extended hand and embedded in a tree trunk.
───────!
Absorbed into the dagger, the wraith screamed in agony.
Some other wraiths, seeing this, charged at Yuda with hostility.
Good, come at me instead.
That’s much easier.
Excluding the aggroed wraiths, he threw daggers at those heading for the man.
Despite the distance, skill corrections and Altemia’s amplification made his accuracy near 100% even in the rain.
With few wraiths, it didn’t take long to dispatch them.
Jeanne handled the one persistently fixated on the man.
Having cleared the situation quickly, Yuda walked to Jeanne.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Yuda turned to the still-trembling man on the ground.
“How about you? Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine! Thank you, really! Thanks to you, I survived!”
Looking up at Yuda, he expressed gratitude.
They needed to hear what happened.
Supporting him, they returned to the dilapidated house.
Adding remaining firewood revived the dying bonfire.
Seating him by the fire, Yuda removed his robe.
Brief running had muddied his robe and clothes.
“Here, dry off with this and tell us where you’re from.”
He nodded, taking the clean towel Yuda offered.
After a brief deep breath, he slowly began speaking.
“I-I’m… a hunter from Cheriu Village.”
Jeanne’s gaze turned to Yuda.
“And what happened?”
“W-Wraiths… Wraiths from the forest attacked the village. People sleeping woke in shock to eerie screams. The wraiths attacked those inside houses. Those who fled outside ran to the central meeting hall. Luckily, they saw us as toys they could kill anytime, so they didn’t attack us fleeing to the center right away.”
Calming as he spoke, his words smoothed from initial trembling.
“By chance, a priest from elsewhere and some adventurers were staying at the hall. The priest’s holy power kept us safe briefly. But… protecting so many for over ten days alone was too much. Plus, food in the hall was scarce. Thinking we must request help from Caora Castle before it’s too late, a few including me volunteered to rush out. They saw us but didn’t chase immediately. They followed slowly with amused eyes. Then speeding up, we scattered in panic while fleeing… and as you can see, I got help from you.”
He bowed his head deeply.
Continuously wiping his hands and arms with the towel, he looked at Yuda.
“E-Earlier, I saw you easily hunt wraiths… It’s shameless, but could you help our village?”
