The day is over and night has fallen while the wagon's running.

The wagon stopped and we prepared to go to sleep.

I removed the branches from the tree, stripped the bark off, and carved the face.

It's to make it work as an Ortem.

It's a simple one, so it won't last long, but the carriage doesn't have enough room in it to carry, to begin with.

It's disposable, so this is fine.

By using the four trees surrounding the wagon as an Ortem, we can set up a ward and raise the temperature.

In short, it's like a heating utensil.

At the same time, I carved an insect repellent, too.

It will make the camp comfortable.

"Wow, amazing! It's warm! I thought you were going to start some kind of dangerous ritual because you suddenly started carving the trees around!"

Mea was excitedly sticky on Ortem.

It was nice to see her pleased, but I'm kind of afraid that this girl might break it one day.

"If we had something like this, we'd have plenty of time to get through the Ice Dragon Season! Wow, I'm jealous! The Marren's can do anything they want!"

"That's a good idea, Mea, I think I'll go to the Marren tribe's place rather than the city. Oh yeah, on the other hand, would you like to go to the Doom tribe's village, Abel?"

How did that happen?

"If you like it so much, I can at least teach you how to make it on the move. I'm sure you're not busy anyway."

"Really? Yes!"

"What, you really want me to teach you? O-okay, I'll stay up all night to prepare to teach you while we're at it. You can count on me. I'll make you a great Ortem-maker."

"Ehh, you have to stay up all night preparing for something like that when you're just teaching? I'm a little scared. Uh, um, Mea is okay after all. Look, it's like, bad to keep cutting trees?"

"It's okay, you don't have to be reserved. I just love to teach people things."

"No, um…… ah, ahh, Ok."

I didn't expect to find someone outside of the Marren village who could I teach Ortem carving.

Shibi wasn't too keen on it because he was after Gizel, but if she was after the heater, she would be able to focus on his training.

James was also looking at Ortem, his eyes narrowing as he looked at it.

"Heh, a very nice flow of magic."

"You can tell?"

"I also know swordsmanship and sorcery to a certain extent. At the very least, you need to have the means to defend yourself to the extent of being able to threaten a magical beast, or you can't travel alone."

He looks like a fragile Older brother, but he seems to be a better fighter than I thought.

Let's not make him angry.

I'm sorry I almost ripped up your burlap bag.

"It can get very cold at night around here, you know. You're a lifesaver."

James smiles at me.

I guess it's a habit of his to make a fake like smile.

I'd like to think it's not because of the burlap sack case.

"Wa wa wa… I'm the one who was saved by James-san! Really, I'm ready for chores and everything, so just let me know if you need anything!"

"You-, you don't have to say that much. One more person on the street won't change that much. I like it more lively."

He's a good person……

He covered himself with a cloth and slept on the burlap sack.

I was a little tired from the unfamiliar carriage ride, but I promised to teach Mea how to carve Ortem tomorrow.

Once you've taken a nap, we'll start getting ready.

We will take turns staying awake, so James should wake you me later.

Let's get some sleep and then we can start getting ready.

During the middle of the night, I used my magic to take down an affordable tree and removed the branches, and I have prepared an affordable log for the Ortem carving.

When I wake up in the morning, the wagons start up again.

We continue through the forest, sharing the preserved food.

I taught Mea this and that about Ortem carving.

It seems to be a good response.

When we get to the city, it might not be a bad idea to go around spreading Ortem.

I felt some kind of magical power, so I suddenly looked behind me.

When I strained my eyes, I saw a pitch-black dog-like beast in the distance.

It's quite fast. It looks like it's going to catch up soon.

"………James-san, isn't that a demonic beast?"

James checked behind him with a sideways glance and gave a small click with his tongue.

"Is that…… Garm?! Damn it! Why at this time…"

Garm, I'd seen the name in a book.

A pitch-black dog, apparently a mutated breed of hound.

The designated danger level is the third from the bottom of the six levels, class D.

By the way, from the D class, if a discovery is made near the city, the obligation to report it is imposed.

**********

A category of beasts called demonic beasts is sometimes born as mutant species due to the magical power of the land or individuals.

Their appearance is sudden and difficult to predict.

Although they are less frequently encountered, they are the natural disasters that one must be most careful about when traveling.

(Quoted in Edna Elbart's "The Ecology of Monsters")

**********

My beloved adventurer, Edna Elbart, spelled out something like that, I believe.

I don't know the details of Edna, but most of the books related to demonic beasts in the Chief's library are Edna Elbart's works.

He must have extensive knowledge and a studious man.

"In fact, it's my first time seeing one. Oh, he's struggling to catch up."

Garm had the appearance of a Doberman with red eyes.

He was drooling sloppily as he came towards us.

"Gulwaaaaah!"

It makes a brave noise and steadily closes the distance to us.

You could try getting a dog as a pet. I'm more of a cat person, though.

Mea drops the carved Ortem with a stunned look on her face.

"James-san! Speed! Speed up, please!"

Don't be so upset.

"Hey, hey, hey. What's up? I'm not good with dogs…"

"Anyway, get rid of all our stuff! It'll lighten things up, and hopefully, they'll shift their attention to that side!

James yells, interrupting my voice.

"Wait, you don't have to go that far…"

Without listening to my restraint, Mea throws the burlap bag to Garm.

Oh, what a waste.

It's still far away so it won't reach, but perhaps that's what makes me feel bad, and the Garm barks at Mea.

"Gulwaaaaah!"

"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I was born!"

Mea cried out as she buried her face in the burlap sack.

"Gu … but … yeah, right! Abel-san, you can use magic, right? Can you distract the Garm with as much fancy magic as possible?"

James shouts at me while holding on his head.

"Well, do you want the fancy one?'"

"Yes!　A little fancy one!"

"Is it enough to get its attention? We need to exterminate or capture them, or else the others will be in danger…"

"Hurry! Whatever is fine, please do it quickly!"

I take out my wand and wave it at Garm.

"Earth, Blade, Shape"

The soil rises and takes shape, and a blade about ten meters long emerges from the ground.

"Gulwaa………Gulwaa?"

The blade of dirt stayed in place and cut both sides of the garum with the nearby trees as collateral damage.

A large dust cloud arose, and several trees fell in a chain of events.

"………What?"

James rolled his eyes and looked behind him, opening his mouth.

The horse ignored James's command and stopped in its tracks, too, looking behind him with his mouth open.

"Ah, ahh, yes. Thanks for the help…… Abel-san, you're strong."

As he said it, James was rubbing his eyes.

He seemed to think that if he looked back a few times, the scene would change.

"Excuse me, burlap sack, one collateral damage…'"

"No, no, It's fine! You don't have to worry about that!"

James said as he shook his head.