Vaughtort highland….
Plains that provide many sources of life. The air is cool but tends to be a bit cold. The water that flows from the Grenaldine River to the Pirn River is still clear and occupied by abundant aquatic fauna.
Up to the Vaughtort valley, there are lots of fields where staples are made. The Beastrians, or the animal human race in Vaughtort village, favor cassava over rice. While the fields belonged to the Elves, they were more inclined to grow potatoes. Well they coexist and have preferences. Living peacefully in a difference is common.
The Vaughtort Forest, following a stone trail leading up to the plateau deeper and farther. Most of the wild plants here are safe for consumption. Some are looking for medicinal herbs such as shield mushrooms and frozen lime leaves.
Although, local residents are still put on alert. Because the forest is not only used by intelligent beings, several carnivorous creatures such as grizzly wolves and shell dogs are of concern to the residents.
Even though…
Passing through the forest will meet the valley again. The valley is a place where people seldom pass. Well, except for people who are lost or just acquaintances. That being said, going down into the valley must pass through Vaughtort Forest.
In the valley there is a two-storey wooden house with two small gardens. It was occupied by a young man, Humanian, of the human race, who was said to be a retired soldier and veteran of expedition or eksploration team.
It is said that the man took a big part in the great war.
His retirement days, which are still alone, are used for fishing in the river in front of his house. Stream of the Vaughtort River.
“Uncle Moritz!” The little boy, the little white rabbit beastrian dashed over to the man who was fishing alone.
“Beng! Don't run, boy!” The little bunny beastrian mother took part in a jog worried that her child would fall and slip.
“Huh? You're that naughty boy who took potatoes in my garden?" The man called Moritz put down his fishing rod and grabbed the boy. He stroked his head in a friendly manner. "What? You want to steal again?”
“Hey! We agreed yesterday to forgive each other, right?” Beng, the little rabbit sulks. Then he whispered. "Besides, my mom is here. Don't be too loud!”
Moritz immediately stood up and released Beng. He greeted the beastrian rabbit woman wearing a black dress and white hair with pigtails, Beng’s mother.
“Hello, Mr. Moritz! I'm sorry because, Beng, I often bother you without my knowledge!” Beng's mother then gave him a pink box tied with cloth. “Well… we are harvesting sweet potatoes. If you like, please!”
"Ah, you don't need to bother Mrs. Atilla," Moritz unwrapped the box.
Instantly the delicious smell hit Moritz's nose. The sweet potato is actually frozen sweet potato. But somehow what made Moritz confused was that it looked golden and very tempting.
The delicious smell was as bright as Mrs. Atilla's smile who greeted him kindly.
“What are you talking about? I and some of the mothers in the next village also thank you, because you have saved our child! We didn't expect there to be quite a number of Grizzly wolves in the forest!” Mrs. Attila took Moritz's hand in an instant and leaned closer while sincerely thanking him.
For a moment it embarrassed Moritz, especially when something soft touched him.
“E-eh y-yes… T-that's normal…. But could you step back a bit, madam?”
“O-oh…. Excuse me,"
#Cresekkresek!
Moritz's fishing rod suddenly swayed on the grass.
“Eh? Uncle, uncle! The fishing rod is moving, thougt!”
Moritz asks Beng to help carry the box temporarily. Moritz spontaneously shot his hand to grab his fishing rod that was about to jump into the river.
(Huh!? How come it's so strong?!)
Moritz, whose hands tightly gripped the handle of the fishing rod, dragged his feet little by little into the river.
“D-do you need any help, Mr. Moritz?!” A worried Mrs. Atilla behind but not sure she can help.
It began to see bubbles and small whirlpool circles in the river. Meanwhile, Moritz's strong purple fishing line has curved like a lowercase "n"
“Please stay back!”
Mrs. Atilla embraced her son, Beng, backwards. The trees, especially the bamboos in the Vaughtort Forest, creaked in the strong wind.
(Tch…! I have no other way!)
Moritz's leg almost fell off.
(Nautilus Blessings!)
Mrs Atilla and Beng saw small particles and water bubbles covering Moritz..
------------------------ Skills Information ---------------------
Nautilus Blessings – Tier VII Skill – Nautilus Blessings strengthens physical strength 7x and weakens creatures' strength 7x. Blessings cannot be thwarted by a lower tier blessing removal Skill.
Moritz's hands were seen to be covered in glistening water. Now his legs can back up and away from the river hole.
The muscles in Moritz's arms started popping…
Pulled the fishing rod ....
(Ergggghhhhh!)
Pulled again...
Moritz sighed, sweat couldn't stop dripping from his forehead.
(Errgghh! I… have never pulled this hard! A fish or a pile of iron, huh!?)
He pulled again….
The whirlpool was getting bigger. Then a fish head appeared out of the vortex. It is the size of a human head.
“HEAAA!” Moritz's last pull managed to drag the fish out of the river.
The fish lifted far enough to land two steps behind Mrs Atilla and Beng.
The body of the fish was as tall as Mrs. Atilla, who was now trembling with fear. Its scales are shiny like green crystals. It mouth was still moving – closing and opening. The fish body was still writhing fast.
“O-oh… Goddess Gaia! What creature is this!?” Mrs. Atilla screamed in fright, stepped back, and covered her son's eyes.
“Hmm….” Moritz walked over to the fish. He pulled out the hook that had injured the fish, then cast a spell to heal the wound in the fish's mouth.
Beng let go of his mother's hand and rushed towards Moritz with curiosity. His eyes twinkled as if amazed by the big fish he had never seen.
“Beng! Do not come close!" Her mother was worried and rushed after him.
“What fish is that, uncle!?”
Moritz held the scales while stroking the fish's head. Instantly the fish began to calm down and squirm a little.
“Moldrin’s Sturgeon. Actually we can't catch this fish. Even so, I don't even use bait for this fish, but…”
“Ehhhh~? Even though it was hard, you know?” Beng little disappointed.
“Um… why can't you take that fish, Mr. Moritz?”
“Now then, this is important for the Moldrins….” Moritz immediately lifted the fish and then returned it to the river. He refused to explain in more detail.
(What's going on? Why do I feel something strange? Catching even a small Moldrin Sturgeon requires the dryad's blessing and special bait…. But… i-I am just using earthworm bait, right?)
Moritz checked his pocket and took out a plastic bag. He wanted to confirm what he was thinking. Sure enough, it contained writhing earthworms.
"Wow! Uncle must have used that special worm!?"
"No. It's just an earthworm."
(Should I confirm with the Dryads? I hope Bihice isn't going anywhere….)
"Let's forget what happened just now, you two let's go inside first!" Moritz smiled kindly, inviting them to visit the warehouse.
Madame Atilla and Beng were amazed by the interior that resembled an Elven building. Wooden floors and walls. Even for a man, his house is very clean.
Instead of the box presenting Mrs. Atilla, Moritz gave her two jars of jam.
“Wow~! W-why are there black auras, Mr. Moritz?” Mrs. Atilla's eyes widened with curiosity. However, it tends to be less convincing.
The jar of jam that Mrs. Atilla was filled with a dark gray purple liquid and covered in a black aura.
“Ah, it's Mutant Strawberries. Quite popular in the desert town of Tel Midrayv. Well, at that time I bought quite a lot, ahahaha!”
“Tel Midrayv?” The two guests of Moritz looked confused. They had only just heard the name of the place Moritz mentioned.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Moritz quickly took bread from his fridge and told them to try the jam themselves.
When the jam was spread on the surface of the belly of the bread, the thick liquid seemed to seep. Now the bun was emitting the same black aura. It… maybe looks little bit annoying than convincing.
“T-this… ahaha… I… am a bit unsure,” Mrs. Atilla looked reluctant to taste. Even Beng had closed his eyes. “But… why don't they have a smell huh, Mr. Moritz?”
“It unique, right? At first I thought so. But… believe me, it tastes better than any strawberry jam!” Moritz brought the bun emitting a black aura closer to Mrs. Atilla.
Because Moritz insisted with his friendly face, now Mrs. Atilla discouraged her. The bread was slowly put in her mouth, then….
“Emmhhh! Th-this is…” Mrs. Atilla immediately answered his son, Beng. “Beng! beng! You have to try this, boy!”
"NO!"
Hearing that, Mrs. Atilla was even more driven to force him. He chipped the bread from his bite. He tickled Beng's waist.
“MAAA~! It tickling me! AHAHAHAHAHA! Eup-“
#Munchmunch!
"How delicious, anyway?"
Beng immediately finished his mother's remaining bite.
(Oi, oi, what does this little rabbit want?) Moritz was a little irritated.
"How, Mrs. Atilla?”
“I feel a bit of a mixture of blueberries and strawberries. Mmm… ah there is mint and lychee sensation too. I didn't know it was this complex!”
The two guests of Moritz were very grateful. Both of their faces were covered in awesome and they looked impatient to try the jam at home.
"By the way, it's late. Can I take you?”
"Uh why ask? Hurry up!” said Beng spontaneously.
(This little b-boy!)
"Shhuh! Be polite, Beng!" Mrs. Atilla then turned to Moritz. “Ah no need, Mr. Moritz! I have some spells for camouflage. An elf, Miss Esta recently held a self-defense magic lesson for the villagers,"
“Hmm…. However, grizzly wolves aren't just rely on their eyes. Their nose could smell from Pirn to Grenaldine,"
Moritz's explanation that worried them, made Mrs. Atilla hesitated.
“But, if you just accompany us….”
"Ah, I also have a need with the village chief. So why not… together?"
(Nah, not really. I can go to the village anytime….)
"Oh, I see! I'm grateful!"
After Moritz locked his house, they immediately climbed up the valley. Then into the forest. Moritz cast several detection spells. Because it wasn't the grizzly wolves and the shell dogs he was worried about, but something else he wasn't sure about yet.
About five days ago, when Moritz found Beng and his friends, they were intercepted by a grizzly wolf in the vaughtort forest. Moritz doesn't think the grizzly wolves or Beng and company are at fault. But because Moritz felt someone used wide field magic on the forest.
(After all… neither a grizzly wolf nor a shell dog should be able to smell Beng. I've cast tier four stink camouflage magic on all the villagers of Vaughtort, while the creatures around here are only up to tier three.)
(And both the grizzly wolf and the shell dog, wouldn't come if there wasn't a smell. So who? Or… what?)
Moritz was always used to expressing his problems through his own mind. For him, if he could minimize someone's fear, it would be better for him not to reveal this fact.
(*”You need help, buddy?”*)
A typical deep and resounding voice echoed through Moritz's mind.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
