Chapter 8: Eastern Forest (1)

Sunny days quickly gave way to cold rains that showed no sign of letting up, relentlessly pouring tons of water onto the ground. When I say the rains were cold, I mean it with all seriousness. In central Russia, you don't typically get that bone-chilling sensation after just a couple of minutes in the rain. But despite the cold temperatures, the locals weren't in a hurry to change their clothing styles for something warmer. They were used to it, and I'd have to adapt as well. It's already the fourth day since the 'meeting,' and the streets are still slick. Fortunately, I got a city tour on a warm day, or I would have made a terrible first impression.

Despite the weather, I decided to choose a real assignment. I couldn't afford to procrastinate. It's better to adapt to these inconveniences because things can get a lot worse on actual missions. Besides, I need the money. Muscles require food, a lot of food. Then there's clothing and rent to save for in advance; otherwise, I'd end up on the streets, and living there isn't a pleasant prospect.

I considered all available options beforehand and discussed several of my choices with my friends and even some seniors. I wanted to keep the best balance between payment and danger.

The essence of the task I selected is to pacify the overly aggressive volcanoes in Magnolia's 'Eastern Forest.' Summer is coming to an end, and the volcanoes that couldn't find a suitable territory and mate over the summer are now forced to look for both near human settlements, endangering the kingdom's peaceful citizens.

This happens every year around the end of August. The government, of course, isn't willing to tolerate this and sends requests to all the guilds, thereby protecting the cities and maintaining the population of these rather aggressive magical creatures at an acceptable level.

Total annihilation is not the best solution, as the first and last war with these beings in the past demonstrated when one king began moving in that direction. During those years, raspberry ants, which had been one of the main food sources for these primates, started occupying their territory and attacking everything living with greater aggression. Only artificial breeding and supporting the volcano species managed to restore the balance and teach humanity a lesson.

Even though I chose this task as my first, I shouldn't forget that volcanoes are still quite dangerous, even for experienced wizards. That's why I picked two friends as my partners: Wakaba and Macao. They are considered strong wizards and, no less importantly, experienced.

I've become even closer to Erza in less than a week. Joint training and communication have brought us together in an incredible way. Besides Erza, Natsu and Gray helped me a lot with sparring and physical training, giving me quite the competition. They are, after all, wizards of the guild, despite being younger than me in many ways.

I thought about asking Erza to accompany me, but she's still a child, and she hasn't undertaken such a mission yet, unlike the pair I chose.

***

"Ready, kid?" Macao slapped my fragile back as we stood at the entrance of the guild.

"Heh, of course, he's ready! Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked the seniors to share their experience!" A hazy man with sunglasses winked at me while lighting a cigarette that looked similar to those in my previous world.

I didn't even have to respond to their agreement; they were already completely immersed in the atmosphere of the elders who needed to pass on their knowledge to the younger generation. It's impossible to pull them out of these rosy dreams about the future, where the three of us will seduce beauties and slay dragons...

"All right, let's go. But first, we need a bit of a warm-up. What do you think, Wakaba?" Macao grabbed me by the shoulder, leading me back into the guild toward the bar counter. "For success!"

"Haha, you're right, Macao. It's a sin to jump into battle without warming up. What do you think, kid?"

"I'm a child," I smiled at their words, but still followed. It wouldn't hurt to have some water or juice to shake off the jitters. However, they paid no attention to my words, lost in their thoughts.

"They want to buy me a drink, don't they?"

"What will you have? Oh, by the way, what's your name again? Sa... Sodju?" As he bought alcohol, the blue-haired man struggled to remember my name (unsuccessfully), taking the first sip of the drink he'd just bought.

"It's Satoru Gojo," I corrected, requesting a glass of orange juice. It's the best drink in this guild. The bright citrus tang complements the slight sweetness and the bitter hint of the zest, creating a delightful combination. It's clear that it was freshly squeezed.

"Your name is quite complex," scratching his head, he exhaled smoke, dropping ash on the floor. The man with the Japanese gangster hairstyle, gazing at passing women, asked me for a favor. "Can I just call you Sato?"

"Sure, no problem," I don't mind how people call me. If it's not offensive, it's fine with me. It's even more convenient for me to understand.

"No-no, Sato, that won't do," Macao complained when he saw me with a juice. "I told you, we need a warm-up. Juice won't warm you up. Try at least..." He handed me a wooden mug, offering a drink. "Each team has its own specialty. Since you're with us now, be kind..." He looked meaningfully at his drink.

"Sure, Sato. That won't cut it," Macao chimed in, not hiding his disappointment. "As I said, we need to warm up. Juice won't do that. Please try at least..." He handed me a wooden mug, offering a drink. "Each team has its own signature thing. Since you're with us now, please..." He gave me a significant look, then at his own drink.

Refusing wouldn't be polite, so I took a sip. I was half-expecting the bitterness, but surprisingly, I didn't taste it. In its place, I felt acidity and the taste of alcohol. It was more like fermented fruit compote that my grandfather used to make in a metal barrel. Or it felt like walking past a dumpster behind a supermarket in the summer. Not the most pleasant taste.

"Haha! Didn't like it? It's good stuff, isn't it? I enjoy it!" The wizard with a cigarette charged up with a couple of sips, moving the cigarette away from his face to keep it from getting wet.

"Well, the warm-up went well. Now we can go. You didn't forget anything, kid?" Macao inquired.

"No," I shook my head. "Food and water for the journey, a knife, spare clothing, a sleeping bag, a lighter, and some rope," I listed everything to make sure I didn't forget anything. It would be awkward to leave behind something essential on such a significant mission. A small oversight can sometimes cost you your life, as this mission isn't as straightforward as it might seem.

"Good job," Wakaba praised, running his fingers through his hair, giving me a nod before heading out of the guild.

***

Entering our hunting grounds, I immediately sensed the strong scent of the forest. After the rain, it had a unique fragrance, saturated with the nuances of dampness and vegetation, becoming even more potent. Together with the coolness, it presented a harmonious bouquet of delight to my nostrils.

The Eastern Forest of Magnolia itself was quite unusual for me, a resident of another world. In just half an hour of walking, I encountered a considerable variety of wildlife. It ranged from tiny insects, mushrooms, and various types of moss to extraordinary animals. For instance, flying lizards, squirrels with chitinous armor, and birds that resembled flying mice with beaks.

But what surprised me the most were Macao's words. The rain had been going on for quite some time, and the lowered air temperature forced most of the wildlife to seek shelter in burrows and caves, which meant that what I'd seen was only a small part of this ecosystem. This is one of the most dangerous places in Fiore.

Out of curiosity, I poured mana into my eyes and immediately understood what was happening. The concentration of magic in this area was simply astounding. I felt as if I were in a fog made up of a vast array of different colors. Though they were somewhat muted, they were sufficient to deprive me of my advantage. My magical vision would be useless until it adapted to these conditions.

But that wasn't my primary concern. This environment serves as a fantastic catalyst for the growth of my eye abilities, but my main goal is to become stronger and gain experience in physical combat. The training with the guys has improved my close combat skills, and my incredible control over magic has made my body more resilient, fortified by mana from within. Not to forget about spells and magic in general.

"Let's stop here, Wakaba," the wizard asked his friend, sitting under a tree.

"I'm fine with that; it's a good spot. We can rest and set up camp," he replied, straightening up. "So, kid, how about fetching some firewood and maybe some logs if you find a fallen tree? Just don't go too far, keep it close. This is no ordinary forest; it can be quite dangerous," he instructed while lighting another cigarette. "Oh, here's a small axe for you. You can use it to chop wood or defend yourself. If anything happens, shout, and we'll come to your aid," he reassured me, handing over a compact yet stylish axe.

"Thank you," I said, heading off to gather wood.

The place they chose was indeed excellent. A small open area with many trees and a stream where we could catch fish. Also, just a few dozen meters from our camp, we found berry bushes. I won't eat them until the seniors confirm they're safe. I learned my lesson from a previous life. I once got poisoned that way. It's fortunate they weren't very toxic, but I'll remember that lesson for the rest of my life.

The berries I found now looked quite appetizing. Bright red, or rather maroon, in color, they resembled large raspberries and tempted me to eat them fresh, looking even more beautiful after the rain.

"I should gather a few to show them."

I picked about five berries, avoiding touching them with my bare hands. I shook them into a container using simple movements to avoid any contact. Then I closed the container. If they are indeed poisonous, even a small amount of juice could harm the skin or eyes if the urge to scratch arises.

Next, I did what they asked: gather firewood. I couldn't find any fallen trees, so I returned to the camp.

"Oh, Sato, you're back!" Macao waved at me, sitting on the ground, digging a small pit near the water. "Put everything here." He pointed at the pit after getting up.

"Excellent! Now we can have a snack and get ready to go. As you've heard, the goal is to eliminate fifteen volcanoes in this area and report back to the client."

Usually, volcanoes live much deeper in the forest, so you don't need to worry about provoking the others. But now is the time when they are united enough to fight for each other.

"Eliminate" means killing?" I asked somewhat disinterestedly while taking a can of food from my backpack. This question was just to keep the conversation going, nothing more.

"That's absolutely right, kid!" came Wakaba's voice from behind, as he emerged from behind some shrubs with a small tree about three meters long. Despite getting wet from the precipitation, it was evident that it had fallen quite some time ago, managing to dry out. "Aren't you afraid, or has morality set in?"

"If we don't do this, they'll kill the townspeople or harm women, which is even worse. They don't survive that; they're all over three meters tall. Do you understand what we're dealing with here?" Macao smirked, using his magic to dry the wood he'd collected.

"Yeah... In the past, a hundred years or more ago, this wasn't uncommon. Although they're fighting against it now, cases like this still happen every few years or more," Wakaba acknowledged to himself, taking the axe from me and beginning to chop wood for the campfire. Macao then ignited it with his fire magic.

"That's right," Macao added, throwing all the canned food into the fire. "We'll divide up."

After a brief pause, Wakaba began explaining further. "I'll go with you, and Macao will go alone. You're quite talented, I've seen how you spar with the others, but remember that animals are not people. They can be unpredictable and aggressive, especially this time of year."

"Alright," Wakaba said, pulling a knife from its sheath in his backpack and attaching it to his belt. The knife was given to me as a freebie on a previous job in the city, and it was quite a decent gift. It served as a tip for a job well done, for which I'm grateful. I didn't have to buy or borrow anyone else's.

I was confident in my abilities and preparations, but a slight fear and unease still resided in my heart. My partners noticed and began to support me with conversation and stories from their lives, for which I was grateful.

So, I sat there, listening to them, with the sounds of the campfire, eating canned meat and porridge until it was time.

***

"It's time," the smoky wizard announced, standing up. "Now is the time for hunting volcanoes. Until morning, they'll be active, and that's when we'll catch and eliminate them. We'll bring their carcasses back to camp and refresh here. Volcano fur is worth quite a bit. So, if you want to earn more, kid, you'll have to put in the effort!"

Macao also got up, taking his knife, a water bottle, and some dried meat just in case. All our other belongings were buried, wrapped in cloth to prevent theft. "Good luck, Wakaba, kid. I'm heading left," he waved goodbye and began to move away.

"You too, Macao. Watch out there, old man!"

"Haha. If anyone's an old man, it's you," he laughed as he disappeared into the undergrowth.

"Now it's our turn," Wakaba said, patting me on the shoulder and heading to the right of the camp. "Stay close, Sato. If you get lost, we'll have a hard time finding you. The master won't be pleased, and his wrath is terrifying."

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