Rising from the Slum City of Reincarnation in Another World ~ Gathering, Hunting, and Living a Slow Life by Eating

Chapter 86 The forest and an unsettling atmosphere

“It’s Saturday.

I’m thinking of going to the Exis Forest with everyone.

We’ve become quite familiar with exploring the forest.

We walk while collecting various plants.

We came across a grapevine, but it seems the season is already over, and the fruits were sadly inedible.

“Meow, I wanted grape jam.”

“Well, we can’t beat the seasons.”

I stroke the slightly sulking Minya.

“Aww, meow meow.”

As soon as I stroke her, her eyes narrow, and she returns to being in a good mood.

Such an easygoing little one, so adorable.

“Gob-gob.”

Oh, it’s a goblin.

There are four of them.

We all attack together.

Even Minya joins in, swinging her staff.

Since Ciel is equipped with a mace now, she also joins the battle, and we have the advantage in one-on-one fights.

Lania quickly takes down one with a Fire spell, and the situation becomes clear, allowing us to defeat them one by one.

“It was goblins, meow.”

“Yes, meow.”

Ciel, with her meowing tendencies, seems to be handling it better than expected.

At first, I couldn’t shake off the image of their menacing and terrifying faces.

Those goblins were really intimidating.

We’ve come a long way in our growth.

And so, we continue further into the depths of the northern side.

We haven’t ventured this far before.

“Ah, wow!”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Meow!”

Everyone is in awe of the magnificent tree.

【Metasequoia – Plant – Excellent Quality】

It’s a Metasequoia tree, reaching up to the top, towering high above.

With its immense size, it could probably be seen from afar.

No other trees grow within the shade of the giant tree, but there’s a cluster of unfamiliar mushrooms and other plants thriving nearby.

“Look, look, it’s a Fairy Ring!”

“Oh, yeah.”

“It’s so mysterious.”

“Meow.”

It’s my first time seeing it too.

According to modern theories, the mycelium of mushrooms spreads in a ring-like pattern, forming a circle where the mushrooms grow.

In folklore, it’s said that passing through this ring can transport you to a fairy realm.

However, in reality, there are often different reasons for such phenomena in other worlds.

Upon closer inspection, there’s a sparkling purple stone at the center of the Fairy Ring.

I pick it up.

【Bloody Bear’s Demon Binding Stone – Demon Stone – Excellent Quality】

Oh, this one’s definitely worth a gold coin, I suppose.

When it comes to the demon stones of powerful monsters, they usually fetch a hefty price.

The price increases exponentially based on rarity and strength.

It’s not a proportional relationship, so the price digits can increase by one at a time.

【Bloody Mushroom – Mushroom – Inedible (Poisonous)】

Oh, I see.

These red-capped mushrooms growing in the Fairy Ring. Their stems are white.

With a name that sounds like they could suck blood, I present to you the “poisonous” delight.

Yes, it’s dangerous to eat. Full of risks.

They have a remarkably appetizing appearance though.

They bear a striking resemblance to the Amanita mushroom.

Well, they also resemble the Fly Agaric mushroom.

These mushrooms possess a deadly combination of potent toxins and sinful umami flavors.

I’d love to try them once, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

They’re undoubtedly delicious, but you’ll be on the brink of death.

Now, let’s remember this place as a landmark and continue a little further.

“Wow, it’s beautiful. Amazing!”

“It’s so beautiful.”

“Meow, meow.”

Now, we’ve arrived at an open space without any trees. It’s a field of flowers.

It’s incredible.

Pale blue flowers are blooming all over the place. Just to be sure, let’s appraise them.

【Bluebell Herb – Medicinal Herb – Excellent Quality】

Medicinal herbs that grow in such suitable locations tend to be of excellent quality.

“Oh, Bluebell herbs, huh? They’re quite intriguing. If I recall correctly, they’re used as an anesthetic. Not many skilled herbalists can handle them, but they’re valuable herbs.”

“Thank you, Lania.”

“You’re welcome.”

Let’s gather about ten of them for now. It seems uncertain if we can sell them, though.

Alternatively, we can have Melun-san take a look at them.

“Yay, meow!”

“Meowww.”

Once again, Minya and Ciel are running around.

Or rather, they’re managing to run without stepping on any flowers.

Come to think of it, that’s quite difficult to do.

“They’re so adorable.”

“Yeah, they are.”

It feels like a recreation of a past moment.

Back then, it was a field of yellow flowers.

But this time, it’s a field of blue flowers.

It’s like being in heaven.

A golden-haired little girl and a silver-haired girl with cat ears frolicking in the flower field.

“Oh, a fairy!”

“Huh? Where?”

“Hmm?”

We all simultaneously look in the direction Minya is pointing, but there’s no one there.

Or rather, we can’t even tell their size.

I hope they don’t say something like “two centimeters.” The distance is a bit far, and human eyes aren’t that sharp.

Maybe Minya can see them because of her elven blood?

I’ve heard that beastfolk have excellent eyesight.

Elves are also known for their keen senses, right? But I think it’s more about sensing their presence.

There’s also a story about elves being able to see magical energy, called magical sight. Hmm.

Let’s make this place a checkpoint and change our route as we head back.

I’ll gather everyone and return.

“Wow, this way feels strange, meow.”

As expected, Minya was the one who noticed it.

Following Minya’s guidance, we arrive at a small hollow.

Yes, there’s no other way to describe it but as a hollow.

It’s filled with moss and small mushrooms scattered around.

Strangely, there are several small purple stones lying around.

I’ll pick them up and have them appraised.

【Slime’s Magic Crystals – Magic Stone – Excellent Quality】

Hmm, these are also excellent quality, huh?

There are quite a few of them, almost twenty in total.

All of them are excellent quality.

Could it be that they bred here? I don’t know why they died, but is this possibly a graveyard for slimes?

“I’m certain. This place is a magic energy accumulation.”

Lania murmurs, as if struck by a sudden realization.

Lania is quite knowledgeable. Her parents are specialized adventurers, so she has extensive knowledge in that area. And being a descendant of nobility, she has a decent grasp of general knowledge as well.

“Oh, a magic energy accumulation, huh?”

“Ed, did you know about it?”

“No, just the name.”

When it comes to magic energy accumulations, they often appear in fantasy novels. When they grow larger, they can turn into dungeons. But I haven’t heard many good things about them.

“Are there any negative health effects?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure about that.”

“I see.”

Not knowing about it shouldn’t be much of a problem, I suppose.

“Minya, please grant us your blessings, just in case.”

“Understood, nya.”

“Lady Raffalier, please protect us.”

Minya traces a sacred seal.

Ah, the atmosphere is changing somehow. In terms of color, the purple hue is gradually fading and turning yellow.

It’s a kind of magical perception or magical sensitivity. Even I can vaguely sense it. Every human being has some level of sensitivity to such things. In the church, this yellow feeling is also present, so it seems to be the color of blessings and a sign of the holy attribute.

I notice yellow butterflies fluttering around. It’s just a small hollow.

In modern terms, you could say it’s like feeling negative ions. But that sounds a bit mundane, and it’s not quite the right description. It’s difficult to put into words.

And then, on the way back…

That’s where the problem arose.

We encountered goblins.

Six encounters in total, with numbers ranging from one to four goblins each time.

Each encounter resulted in a battle, and while we managed to collect their magic stones, I felt tired somehow.

With our current party, we no longer struggle in combat, but the mental fatigue accumulates.

When we went to the Adventurer’s Guild to exchange the magic stones for money, they were surprised by the number of encounters with goblins. I also honestly reported finding the Bloody Bear’s magic stones.

The total price was fifteen gold coins. Hooray!

If the story ended there, it would be great. However, these battles with the goblins were nothing more than a prelude.