"Yup." I replied back as he started to lead us into the forest and show us so of the creatures that live in the forest. Seeing all the creatures in question and in such numbers made wonder how so of the magus back ho would salivate at the thought of attaining one of these creatures.
...
Thankfully they can't do that here. This was a peaceful place and a set ecosystem, I don't want to imagine even one of those crazy people here experinting on the creatures. Although I would like to see their reactions if they were to et the Undines of this world. Clearly an example of stereotypes going way off the mark.
"Interesting." I noted with great interest at a creature that reminded of a white stag. The huge antlers were roughly the size of my torso and it had a huge crest on its chest that it displayed proudly for all to see.
"Like that one?" The guide nodded his head proudly at the deer. "That is one of the most popular ones in the area, especially for those who seek to get its antlers. It has great dicinal value and since it sheds every few months during a new moon, it is often sought after. Of course, that ant a lot of troublemakers co after it." He sighed heavily before muttering. "Damn poachers..."
Ah, looks like he was having the sa problem as the ones back ho. My sympathies to him.
"Ah that is a very grand looking creature!"
"It is! Mitelt-san, what do you think?"
"... Yes, it is rather majestic in a way."
I turned to find the trio of young girls standing together and having a conversation. It was sowhat unusual seeing Mitlelt with them, but from the looks of it, it seed that Asia and Ruruko were trying to strike a friendship with her during the tour. It was slow, but at least they were making progress compared to the others, given that the fallen angel was showing a semi-resigned but slightly cheerful disposition when talking with them.
Further thoughts got interrupted when Satooji-san let out a light call and a blue light attracted my attention to a tree where I saw, to my surprise, a small dragon with bright blue scales resting on top of a branch.
"Ah a sprite dragon, and such a beautiful hue!" Rias remarked as she looked at it. I had to admit, the dragon did looked rather glamorous with the blue glow despite its size. It reminded of a blue gem hit by a soft light.
It seed to have sensed our presence, as it let out a cute yawn before opening its eyes, blinking sleepily at us. Lightly stretching, it opened its wings and fluttered towards us, lightly tilting its head at each one of the mbers. As it ca towards , it seed to pause for a mont while its eyes grew alert. It stopped right in front of and continued looking at with a steady gaze, occasionally titling its head to the sides as though it was curious about . After a while, it flew past and made straight for the junior girls of the group.
"Erm~ what?" Mitelt blinked as the little dragon paused in front of her and sniffed her lightly in curiosity. Then with a rather cute gesture, it lightly bumped her cheek and lightly rubbed its head on it. It then looked back at her and opened its mouth wide to let out a cute squeak, making her blush in embarrassnt. It did the sa for both Ruruko and Asia, before settling on top of Asia's head and taking a nap.
"So cute~"
All the girls swooned at the gestures made by the little dragon, and they took turns to lightly pat the head of the dragon, who rely opened an eye each ti it happened and just let out another squeak.
I smiled lightly at the interactions before a scent caught my attention to my part of the forest It was at the far end of one of the darker portions of the area, but the scent was quite noticeable. There was also the contradicting presence that seed malevolent, yet benign in nature. I took a quick glance at the two groups before silently making my way to that spot.
It should be fine, but better safe than sorry.
...
It did not take that long to find the area where I felt the presence. It was at the foot of a small hill where the trees towered over and there were a few rock formations around that channeled water to a nearby lake. At the face of the hill, there were several other rock formations that surrounded the entrance of a cave, making it look like the gateway to so boss fight.
But I could tell that sothing intentionally made it in such a way it would be a death trap if one was not careful; so of the bigger rocks had claw marks that cut deep into the rock, and the cuts were really clean with the occasional cracks along so of the harder materials.
The scent was stronger here, and now I could detect faint scents of ozone, steel and oddly enough, wild canine. I could also feel the Prana around here being extrely thick here, like a blanket that covered the area. Likely the creature in question exuded the Prana to use as a detection system in case there were intruders.
"Oui boy, co back here!" I blinked at the guide who apparently ca after running. He grabbed his knees and hefted hard while wheezing, a clear sign that he was not in good shape.
"Boy, we got to leave now! This side of the forest is not safe for us!" He managed to choke that out while inhaling deeply.
"Why?"
"This is where the Forest Guardian is staying, and he does not like intruders of any sort!" Satooji-san hissed nervously as his eyes darted in all directions. "This guy is very picky about any visitors coming into the forest, so it has taken residence here. We should leave now!"
I was about to say sothing when a growl broke the silence of the forest and the Prana around us suddenly felt very cold to the point of freezing, I could almost see the breath coming out of our mouths as we exhale. Slowly, I turned my head to the cave entrance where I could see two glowing eyes staring right back at with killing intent. I could hear slow footsteps echoing from the entrance and oddly enough the sounds of tallic clicks was in ti with it.
After a few seconds, the beast ca out of the entrance and stopped at the ledge in front of us, watching us both with narrowed eyes. In the darkness, I could only see the golden eyes intensively checking us both with its breath coming out of its mouth in a thick puff. After a while, it seed to dismiss us and start to groom itself. It was in that mont that the moon peeked out of the clouds and I finally laid eyes on the creature before .
"Is that... A wolf made out of blades?" I blinked at the unusual sight that was in front of .
"Close, all my sources indicate that this is a creature that is a distant relative between a Komainu and the Hokkaido Wolf." Satooji-san replied nervously as he tried to edge back to the big tree behind us. "He is one of the rarer creatures around, even rarer given the odd mutation that gave him that type of features."
"Wow..." I let out a sound as I looked at the creature before . It felt so surreal as I looked at the manner its flesh and black fur seed to fuse perfectly and naturally with the silvery-black steel plates that made up the back portion and then to the steel spikes that protrude from its shoulders.
The head had so blades coming out of the skull, giving the impression of a small crown of steel on it, and the mouth was evenly and seamlessly fused with the steel, making it look like it has a special armor for the head alone. In the moonlight, the steel shone with a type of radiance that was natural in a manner that could not be replicated even with my swords.
It was without a doubt a beautiful creature.
...
Hey guys If you want an extra chapter, you need to throw so power Stones ;)
...
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