The vastness of the forest

Three days since starting the search in the Forest of Death, we have yet to find the Hermit Peach.
The three days were spent searching all day, laying a marker as a teleport point before the sun sank, then teleporting to the Sanctuary mansion and returning again the next day.

「We’re seriously having no luck finding it.」
「Please forgive me. It would seem that in the Forest of Death, even the Spirits are hindered by miasma, unable to search long distances.」
「No, it’s not your fault, Sophia. I think it’d be unreasonable even for the Spirits to locate the Hermit Peach in a monster nest this vast.」

Spirits like mana but avoid miasma, and there were a few places known as monster nests. In such places, even Spirits who were contractually or closely related with the Elves and Dwarves were reluctant to move too far from those Elves and Dwarves.

「Well, there is nothing better than finding it quicker, but we still have time, so let’s do our work thoroughly without rushing.」
「Indeed. We must search carefully so as to not overlook it.」

Sophia and I were downcast for not knowing where to find the Hermit Peach, but Maria and Berkut were having fun everyday for some reason. When I looked properly, even Laeva and Marnie weren’t all that dissatisfied either.
And then, Akane shook her head, exasperated.

「Figure it out, why don’t you. It’s troublesome looking for the Hermit Peach, but unlike the other times, aren’t they just having fun spending time with Takumi? Put more effort into understanding women’s hearts.」
「……sorry. Everyone, thank you as always.」
I think it was different for Berkut and Laeva, but now that I think about it, I should reflect on not spending more time with Maria and Marnie lately.
「Okay, let’s go today too?」

Pulling myself together, I teleported us to the Forest of Death at the point marked yesterday.
When we teleported to the marker which had a simple barrier raised around it, the scenery before us changed to the Forest of Death.

「Now then, let’s do our best today too.」
「Yes.」
「「「Okaay!」」」

Since Kaede who had wide search capabilities as well as Ferryl and Seru who had sharp senses were present, there were no surprise attack from monsters and we were one-sidedly on the preemptive, so it could be said that we were safely exploring the untrodden Forest of Death.

「Haa~ I’m beat.」
「We had learned of its approximate range from Dryas-sama, but even then, the span of the forest is too vast.」
「Takumi-sama, please head to the bath first. I will wash your back.」
「Master! Kaede will enter with you!」

We heard about the approximate expanse from Dryas, but that approximation was absurd. The Great Spirits might be the types of people that don’t mind the minor details.

We searched all day until the sun went down, and though it was minimal effort, we fought quite the number of monsters and returned home.
Marnie headed to the kitchen to prepare food, and Lulu-chan followed her to assist. I headed to the bath first as Maria had suggested.
Sophia and Maria washed my body while Kaede played in the bath. At first, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed at a mixed bath with them, but I’ve already gotten used to it. I seriously think I am a happy man. Leaving Kaede aside, today only Sophia and Maria were here, but usually Marnie join in too.
After soothing my tiredness with a bath and eating Marnie’s homecooked meal, I headed to my room to prepare for the search that would resume tomorrow.
Our search in the Forest of Death reached the 10th day, still without a single clue.

「Takumi-sama, with Berkut is getting that strong, will Vart-kun and Valto-kun be alright?」

As Sophia talked to me, my gaze pointed towards Berkut who was splendidly handling the magic spear that came from me against a midboss class monster, one on one.

「……well, men aren’t all about strength……maybe.」

「Takumi-sama, I think that is impossible. I can’t imagine Bagworm and Tattered Rag to be good matches for Berkut.」
「Hey, at least call them by their names.」

Vart-kun and Valto-kun’s wish to become stronger than Berkut seemed like extremely unlikely to come true. Then when I tried to follow up that men aren’t all about strength, Maria added on that those two were hopeless.

「Berkut getting stronger is good for the entire Aligerous Tribe. If they can support her from the shadows, they don’t need to be that strong.」
「Takumi, give up on those two. Those two are nothing to Berkut.」
「Lulu also has the same view nya.」

Since even Akane and Lulu-chan were saying that, I who had forced out a follow up became the absurd one. They call me “aniki” so I really want to help them, but Valto-kun and Vart-kun weren’t well received by our female group.

Ahh, she defeated it by herself……what to do. She’ll probably get even stronger by the time we find the Hermit Peach.