NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32.1
32.1. Endless Summer 1
The next morning, Nord departed early from the Aubrielle estate where he had stayed the night, and headed to the forest with Newt.
This forest, located northeast of Alba Village, stretches from the foothills at the eastern edge of the northern kingdom’s great mountain range.
It is abundant with medicinal herbs and mushrooms growing within its depths.
The forest is vast; the deeper one ventures, the denser the trees grow, and the more profound the forest becomes.
The residents of Alba make use of this forest to sustain their livelihoods.
They cut down trees for fuel, gather herbs and food, and even export harvested timber to nearby cities.
The forest is managed as part of the Alba domain, and the wealth derived from it forms a portion of the Aubrielle family’s fortune.
Nord was walking through this forest.
He left the carriage in the care of someone in Alba Village and proceeded on foot into the depths.
A hunter, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties and was said to know the forest best, was guiding him, so Nord asked him questions along the way.
“Can you tell me about the creatures and monsters commonly seen in this forest?”
“Sure, of course. Though nothing too impressive, to be honest. There are goblins, giant bats, spear deer (Deer Lancers), and occasionally forest wolves, but those haven’t been around lately.”
The monsters described by the hunter were all weak ones that even low-level adventurers could hunt.
“There was once a big commotion when killer bees made a hive in the forest, but adventurers like yourself came to handle it that time as well.”
From his manner of speaking, it seemed the hunter didn’t realize that Nord was Johan’s younger brother—in other words, a noble.
He seemed to regard him simply as an adventurer responding to a request.
That wasn’t entirely wrong, and Nord preferred it that way, as it spared him from unnecessary formalities, so he didn’t bother to correct the hunter.
“I hear the forest stretches far into the depths. Is it the same there?”
“No, we don’t venture deep into the forest. We only go partway in. The monsters deeper inside rarely come to the outer areas.”
“Sometimes, though, herbal bears wander out this way,” the hunter added.
Herbal bears, while strong enough to be classified as crystal-tier monsters, were generally gentle and didn’t attack humans.
However, they loved eating herbs, and their green, medicinally rich fur was a key ingredient in magic potions, which sometimes led to collection requests.
As they talked, they reached a point deep into the forest, far from its entrance.
“Well… sir, I think this is as far as I’ll go.”
“Ah, thanks. That was helpful.”
Compared to the entrance, the forest here was much denser.
The trees were thicker and grew closer together. Looking up, only faint beams of sunlight pierced through the canopy, giving the forest a dim and overgrown atmosphere.
While the area near the entrance was well-maintained by human hands, this part seemed untouched.
Nord thought to himself that he wouldn’t want to encounter a knight spider here.
After walking for half a day from the entrance, he parted ways with the hunter. The man began retracing his steps back toward the forest’s edge.
“From here on, let’s stay sharp.”
“Kyuu!”
Newt, walking beside him with forest-colored scales, let out a soft cry in response to Nord’s words.
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The farther they went into the Alba Forest, the worse the paths became.
Nord, walking through trackless terrain, observed the forest as he deftly made his way forward.
Hanging vines, moss-covered rocks, and mushrooms growing on fallen trees surrounded him.
Gradually, the forest took on the appearance of untouched primeval woods devoid of human presence.
“Gyahh!!”
From time to time, they began encountering monsters.
These were the low-threat creatures the hunter had mentioned, no match for Nord and Newt.
Even now, they had just finished battling a group, with Newt defeating the last one.
“Well done.”
“Kyu~”
Praising Newt for his flawless performance, Nord smiled as the little dragon let out a delighted chirp.
He then dismantled the monsters, gathering edible parts to use for their dinner.
The information he had gathered from the Aubrielle family—the location where stone-tier adventurers had spotted traces of a knight spider—was still a considerable distance away from the forest’s entrance.
Even walking in a straight line, it would take a full day to reach it.
Since they had set out early in the morning, Nord and Newt could push on and arrive there by nightfall.
However, engaging in combat with a nocturnal knight spider after a full day’s trek was not a wise choice.
“Alright, this will be our campsite for the night.”
Nord selected a suitable location for setting up camp.
Understanding that they wouldn’t be moving further today, Newt stopped flying and plopped down onto the ground.
Before night fell, Nord gathered branches and deadwood for firewood, arranged stones into a makeshift stove, and concealed it to minimize the visibility of its light.
Monsters weren’t deterred by fire.
While some might stay away out of caution, aggressive types could be drawn to the light.
This was why careful site selection was crucial for camping.
Many novice adventurers made the mistake of camping without proper precautions, often leading to disastrous attacks by monsters.
Being a crystal-tier adventurer, Nord was well aware of such risks.
The campsite he chose addressed all these concerns.
The faint crackling of the firewood could be heard.
A red flame flickered and climbed inside the U-shaped stone stove, heating the bottom of a camping pot placed above it.
In front of the stove, skewers made from twigs were stuck into the ground, holding chunks of meat and mushrooms.
The heat from the fire roasted the meat, causing fat to drip and sizzle, releasing a savory aroma that filled the air.
“Kyuuu…”
Newt, crouching on the ground, fixed his gaze on the roasting skewers.
Unable to resist the aroma of the feast before him, he drooled slightly, letting out a faint, hungry sound.
Although Nord had already fed Newt raw monster meat, it seemed the sight of the skewers only whetted the little dragon’s appetite further.
Having spent the summer break training Newt, Nord knew the young wyvern’s eating habits well.
He had prepared extra skewers specifically for Newt, separate from his own meal.
“Alright, they’re ready.”
“!”
Nord checked the doneness of the skewers and pulled them from the ground.
He handed one to Newt, who eagerly grabbed it with his forelimbs and began munching on the roasted meat.
Nord also took a bite of his own portion.
As he sank his teeth into the skewer, juices from the meat burst into his mouth, complemented by the well-seasoned salt he had rubbed in beforehand.
The mushrooms he had foraged in the forest were surprisingly delicious, too.
Finishing his first skewer, Nord turned to check the pot.
He grabbed the handle, lifted the lid, and steam billowed out, dripping condensation back into the pot like a miniature waterfall.
The broth inside was simmering nicely.
Nord tasted it with a wooden spoon he had carved, finding it richly flavored with the essence of the meat, mushrooms, and wild greens.
It offered a completely different taste from the skewers.
Then he noticed Newt staring at the pot.
Having polished off his skewer, the little dragon now seemed keen on tasting the broth.
With a resigned smile, Nord ladled some into a bowl he had carved earlier and placed it in front of Newt.
Although it had been intended as Nord’s personal bowl, it now served as a feeding dish.
Newt eagerly lapped up the broth, savoring it, while Nord enjoyed his own share before it cooled.
For a while, the evening meal continued in peaceful silence.
Smoke from the concealed campfire slowly drifted upward, vanishing into the starry summer night sky through the gaps in the trees, carried away by the gentle evening breeze.
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