Since the barrier's feasibility as village's defense has been confirmed, Sari summoned back the goblins that were hiding deep in the forest .
The rest of the surviving goblins were either infant or children that were even younger than Daidalian . As such, I didn't immediately leave but, with Baum helping them carry their luggage and escorting them .
My foot still felt sore since I pushed myself too hard on yesterday's travel, so I was riding Baum, using him as my mount . I held on to the goblin bows and other various items . All these items, including myself, added up to quite a heavy load, and yet, Baum was carrying all of it . It might be ineffective if seen from other's perspective, but it was not necessarily true .
Since Baum didn't have hands, he only able to carry a small sum in one go . Thus I acted as substitute for Baum's hand . If we worked it out like that, all the load was taken by Baum . But, he had underwent power boost so this amount of weight was nothing . Even if I'm a 180 cm tall, this entire load, including myself, weighs only just over 100 kg . Well, it's nice to see him so energetic .
I was curious of Baum's strength, so I suggested a mock battle once, but I was rejected . He said that he didn't want to turn against a person who had saved his life, even if it was only a mock battle . Since I didn't persist any further, this talk was ended there .
During these three days, I was on a good term with the goblins . The children were also polite, there was nothing like discrimination against a gargoyle . They even consoled me from having lost my wing .
I grinded Roche grass and applied to potion made from it to my wings . Such potion wouldn't able to heal my wings which was burned by demon king, but the sensation was great .
The goblins were grateful to me in regards to the barrier, they even asked me to live with them . Living was nothing but sorrow up till now, I was a being that was hungry for love . Their invitation made me happy, but I had to reject it even if it was painful .
Time passed, now was the fifth day since I came to the goblin's village . I once again became Baum's rider while gathering food in the forest . Daidalian had asked me to enjoy myself, but as I was about to travel alone, I wanted to learn survival skills even for just a bit .
Therefore, here I was, collecting food inside the forest .
Ummmm, this seed is slightly edible, this fruit also somehow edible, I'm doomed if I eat this grass...…
"Bigi"
"Eh? All of them can't be eaten? It sting me a bit but I can eat it . "
'This guy never learn', you might think of me like that, but I have poison resistance that basically allows me to eat anything . Eating it unprocessed usually tastes awful though... . .
In case of Torrent's seed, even if it wasn't poisonous, eating an unroasted one leaves a really bad taste in your mouth similar to eating mud .
<>
I wished you won't misunderstand me, it wasn't like I didn't have a sense of taste but I have simply never eaten delicious food . I wouldn't deliberately eat poisonous food, even more so after I'd tasted Daidalian's cooking .
But, this was this and that was that .
It won't always be possible to eat delicious unpoisoned food . In order to survive the worst, I've decided to research 'the way of eating delicious poisoned food' .
Thus I gathered as much poisoned food as I can . Perhaps it can be delicious depending upon the cooking method . Thought I wouldn't ever dare to serve my experimental results on a dining table .
I knew this was a challenge that no one has even dared to try . Because if one can choose, they won't eat something like poison . This was a lonely battle which can be shared with no one . Since they will die once they taste it… . .
If you tried it because you hated losing, it was like putting a cart before a horse .
I stuffed the poison into the leather bag that Daidalian made for me . I felt guilty using this bag, which was made with great effort, like this . I hope he doesn't mind it .
As I entertained these foolish thoughts… . .
I felt a fluctuation from the barrier that I'd constructed . Basically, when there were abnormality in the barrier, it would be transmitted to the maker .
Nnn?
Someone other than goblin had touched the water barrier?
"Baum, seems like a stranger has touched the barrier . Send a message via telepathy to Daidalian . "
"Bigigi"
The situation wasn't dangerous since the barrier didn't break, but I wanted to make sure .
Baum was still in the middle of using telepathy, so I waited for a while... . .
"Bigi Bigigi"
It seems like the telepathy has ended, but having been panicked, Baum was slightly trembling .
"Bigi"
"Hmmmmmm"
"Bigigi"
"...… . . "
These days, I can somehow understand what Baum wants to convey, but it's a bit troubling at times like this, when I need to know the details .
For something like that to happen now .
"Just do what you see fit"
I left all the decision to Baum . It would take time to learn the details, and I also couldn't verify the response of the matters . After receiving my instructions (?), Baum ran to the village like there was no tomorrow .
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Wait! Fast! Too fast!
This speed was about 60 km/hour, wasn't it... . .
I wasn't thrown off because my hands and legs were fixed to Baum's body . With this speed, it won't take long to reach the village . And soon, the village was already in sight .
"Give up already, Rize . They will return soon"
"Geeeez! What the hell is this barrier? Please let me in at once!"
"I-I'm sorry Rise-san, since the telepathy had been sent over... . for now, please drink this to calm you down . "
Daidalian and Sari were coaxing a girl .
"I'm calm! Humph! *Drink water* Hiyaah! *kicks barrier*"
"Rize-chan never listen to what other people say, I'm sorry, I'm sorry"
When I arrived at the village, what came into my sight was an ill-tempered elf girl who noisily kicked the barrier, intending to go inside, and a dryad who kept on apologizing .
What... . is that . That's quite a sight . I don't want to go there though .