"That's right, let's go to the forest!"

The day after the last training session with Alicia and the others.

I, Izumi Yuuri, was shouting that in my room at "Yuugumo Inn."

There are several reasons for this.

First, I found something while I was casually checking my belongings.

A golden shining stone, this was a token of friendship given to me by a white dog I met on the first day I arrived in this other world.

I was thinking of visiting when I had time, but the past few days have been filled with intense training with Alicia and the others, and my muscle soreness hasn't fully healed, so I couldn't move around much.

However, I have no plans today, and I'm feeling great.

It's truly the perfect opportunity to go out and have some fun.

Then, that's decided―

"Alright, let's go!"

I set out towards the forest where I met the dog, holding only my sword.

◇◇◇

"Hmm hmm hmm hmm~"

A few hours later.

I was walking through the forest, humming a tune, feeling quite pleased with myself.

"Wooof ―Gyaun!?"

"Wooof! ―Wooof!?"

"Kisyyaaaaaa ―Gyau!?"

The monsters that attacked along the way were all defeated with energy-efficient movements, precisely cutting only their cores.

I feel like there are unusually many of them, but is it just my imagination?

"Oh, didn't Walter mention a while ago that there have been more monsters appearing in the forest lately?"

It might be due to that influence.

Well, since only monsters weaker than the slimes we fought last time are showing up, it's not a big deal.

While walking and thinking about such things, I finally arrived at my destination.

A particularly massive tree suddenly grows in the middle of the forest.

Last time, I received this golden stone from the cave of that great tree...

I wonder where that dog from back then is now.

It was at that moment when I tried to search using "Presence Detection."

"Woooo~f!"

"Whoa, a dog!"

When I heard a barking sound and turned my gaze in that direction, there was a dog with glossy white fur.

There was, but...

"...Huh? Did you always have such a big size?"

Somehow, it had grown incredibly.

Last time, it was only about the height of my waist, but now it's higher than my chest.

Has it really only been about ten days since then, and yet they've grown this much?

"Or could it be that it was a different dog back then..."

"Woof, woof! Woof, woof!"

Just as I was about to carefully observe it, the dog suddenly turned towards me, showing its belly and barking.

Oh, this is surely a sign of friendship that dogs show!

No doubt about it, that's the dog from that time!

Regarding the size, I still feel like it's getting bigger, but this is another world.

Well, such things probably happen quite often.

See, like during a growth spurt.

"More importantly, it's been a while since we last met. Shall we have some fun?"

"Wooooo~f!"

Did the dog understand my words? It let out a joyful bark.

For about half an hour after that, the dog and I played around and had fun.

It was during that moment that I heard it.

"■■■■■■oooooo!"

"...What is that?"

A scream that seemed far from human reverberated through my eardrums.

Since the voices can be heard overlapping in layers, the source is probably far away.

Despite that, the volume is incredible. It makes me want to shout, what kind of monster is screaming?

To uncover its true identity, I direct my gaze towards the direction of the voice.

Then, it was found immediately.

Probably, the distance from here is about 2 kilometers.

A giant shrouded in some kind of black mist was emerging from within the great tree.

From here, I can't tell exactly, but it's at least over 40 meters.

It's so big it looks like it might suddenly charge at me.

Could that also be a type of monster?

The aura of the slimes I defeated and the monsters I hunted on my way here today was clearly on a different level.

"W-woooooof."

"Dog?"

At that moment, the dog suddenly let out a weak voice, as if trembling in fear.

It seems that the dog is afraid of that thing.

If possible, I want to take it down right now to put my mind at ease, but I don't know how strong that crucial thing is.

Could it really be an existence at a level I can defeat?

However, it was right after that.

A shocking sight suddenly catches my eye as I observe the black giant.

Two figures could be seen leaping over the massive trees, approaching the giant.

I was well acquainted with the girls whose long, golden, and red hair stood out.

"Is that... Alicia and Ceres?"

No doubt about it. It's those two.

While I was thinking about such things, arrows and what seemed to be magic continued to attack the giant from below.

It was probably Tio and Monica.

"...I don't really understand the situation, but it seems like everyone from the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] is fighting that giant."

However, despite the relentless attacks, there is no sign of the giant falling.

Somehow, the expressions of Alicia and the others that frequently come into view also seem strained.

It seems that the giant is an enemy even the S-rank party led by Alicia is struggling to deal with.

...Seriously, what a monster.

"Whoa! ...The shock reaches even here?"

As I was thinking about such things, the ground began to shake from the impact of the giant's attack.

They are indeed fighting a monster with truly extraordinary destructive power.

It must be a situation where they'd even want to borrow a cat's paw.

In the midst of all this, what can I do?

After desperately thinking, I arrive at one answer.

"Alright, I’ve made up my mind."

And then I declared it with all my might, without hesitation.

"―Let's escape from here with all our might right now!"

...Huh? I'm not going to support Alicia and the others?

No, no, that's impossible. Even if I went to the struggling S-rank party, I'd just be a hindrance at best.

In that case, it's much better to escape to a place where I won't get caught up in it.

So, with that in mind, the dog and I decided to start evacuating immediately.

"Let's go, dog."

"Woof woof~"

Just in case, I'll take the dog with me to avoid getting caught up in the aftermath of the battle.

―That was supposed to be, but that policy quickly fell apart.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaa!"

"Woof! Woof!!!"

"Raaaarrrrrrrrrrr!"

The overlapping cries of countless monsters.

It was as if a massive number of monsters had appeared to block my path.

"...No, that's not..."

When I tried using "Presence Detection," it seems that there are monsters not just here.

Dozens, no, hundreds of monsters were advancing towards the giant of black mist.

"Could it be that the giant is calling for reinforcements?"

A movement that can only be interpreted that way.

However, if that's the case, Alicia and the others are in danger.

Most of the monsters are low-level ones that even I can defeat, but there are just so many of them.

If the Black Mist Giant and the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] are in a stalemate, external intervention could potentially disrupt that balance.

After much deliberation, I reached a conclusion.

"There's no helping it, I might as well cut it down as much as I can."

If it were a giant of black mist, that would be one thing, but I should be able to take down a monster of this level without any problem.

If there is a concern, it is that there is a dog here.

It is unclear whether we can fully defend while fighting.

Therefor,

"Hey, dog. If possible, try to hide around there so the monsters don't target you—"

"Woooooof!"

"―Huh?"

At that moment, an unexpected sight came into view.

The dog lunged at the monster with swift movements, and with that momentum, it bit off the neck of the bear-like creature with its sharp fangs.

It's not just that.

Using the back of the collapsing bear as a foothold, it jumped to the next monster beside it and, using its fangs and claws in the same manner, took them down one after another.

I swallow hard.

"Were you that strong all along...?"

Even though they are low-level opponents, to so one-sidedly ravage the monsters like this...

It's hard to believe this is just a regular dog.

Why does this dog have so much power?

There can only be one answer to that.

"I see... You weren't just an ordinary dog, you were an amazing dog."

No doubt about it.

My intuition is telling me I'm right.

From now on, I will call it a dog out of respect.

It's a rank-up.

"Well, that's not important right now."

Anyway, I realized that dogs have enough strength to defend themselves.

With this, I can focus on exterminating the monsters without worrying.

"Alright, let's do this."

I expanded the range of "Presence Detection" and quietly recited it as it was.

"--[Silent Wind Slasher: Swift]."

Yesterday, I also used the [Silent Wind Slasher] against the monsters that appeared in the city.

That improved version is a new ultimate move designed for mass extermination, increasing the range and number of slashes while reducing the power.

I continued to slash as many monsters as possible within my reach from here.

No matter how many times I cut them down, new ones kept appearing, so in the end, their numbers must have exceeded a thousand.

The change came about three minutes later.

"...What?"

Feeling a strange presence, I suddenly turned around on the spot.

To my surprise, the giant who had been peering out from the massive tree was no longer there.

"Could it be that Alicia and the others defeated them?"

It hasn't been that long since the battle started, but as expected of an S-rank party.

I was once again filled with admiration, and then, right after that.

My "Presence Detection" caught sight of a person or shadow approaching at an incredible speed.

Despite being in a vast forest filled with numerous obstacles, the figure was being blown away in a straight line.

It must be piercing through all the trees that block its path.

―No, that's not right. Something's off.

I don't sense any vigor from that figure.

Yes, it was as if I wasn't flying on my own, but rather being blown away by something―

"Thinking comes later."

I had a bad feeling, so I kicked the ground hard and closed the distance to the figure in one breath.

―And then, I caught the girl who had jumped in.

"Seriously...?"

After seeing the girl, I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Even in the midst of the great forest, the emerald hair shines exceptionally bright, with slightly pointed ears.

In that hand was a bow snapped in two, and she was pressing her abdomen in apparent agony.

I knew that girl well.

"Tio, are you alive?"

In response to that call, Tio Autumn looks at me with vacant eyes.

"...Why are you here in a place like this... cough."

As evidenced by the fact that she was coughing up blood, Tio was clearly suffering from severe damage.

Chapter 26: Alright, I’ve Made up My Mind