Well, from an eagle's perspective, monsters are just prey, so I suppose we can't be friends.
The wyvern who became my sworn brother was an unusual case. Even if I knew some monsters, it was questionable whether they would help me as readily as the wyvern did.
People couldn't be trusted, so animals were the best option after all. I needed to first decide on a definite destination, then look for animals that could help me.
I spread out the map. Deciding on a destination wasn't difficult. I just had to aim for the most remote and desolate place possible.
But the problem was how to get there. Looking at the geography of the vicinity, most of it was mountain ranges.
"To contact animals, I'll need to go into the mountains first."
I would inevitably have to camp. And if I failed to persuade wild animals in the mountains, the danger that would return to me couldn't be ignored.
Just because communication was possible didn't guarantee that all animals would help me.
Ultimately, this meant I needed to bring along at least minimal measures to protect my safety.
"Would there be a magic tool shop in this countryside...?"
I thought money could solve everything, but if there's nothing to buy with money, this also becomes a problem.
If only I hadn't abandoned my bag in the previous city due to the knights' search, things would have been better.
[Anelli, I need to go now. My babies will be waiting.]
"Ah, I see."
Things were already overwhelming, and with the eagle leaving too, I felt even more troubled. I smiled and sent the eagle off.
Anyway, in places with dense trees, it wouldn't be easy to receive the eagle's help, so accompanying me would be useless.
[I'll introduce my babies later! Anelli is my friend after all.]
"Yes, raise them well."
I don't know when we'll be able to meet again though... I gazed up at the eagle soaring into the high sky.
I stood transfixed, watching the eagle's retreating figure until it became a dot, then finally turned around.
I'm hungry. Even a small rural village would have a restaurant, right?
I almost passed by it because its exterior was so shabby I couldn't believe it was a restaurant.
If it weren't for the bustling sounds and delicious food smells coming through the slightly open door, I wouldn't have given it a second glance. After hesitating briefly, I boldly opened the door.
Along with the smell of food, all kinds of sweat odors and body smells mixed together rushed in. Perhaps due to poor ventilation inside, the air was quite stifling and hot.
I knew I wasn't in a position to complain, but my stomach turned enough to make me forget my rising hunger.
The restaurants I frequented in the big city weren't like this. Thinking about it, those places catered to numerous tourists, so they had to be good.
This was truly an unexpected difficulty. Without realizing it, I stood there covering my nose, and at that moment, my eyes met with a server passing by hurriedly holding food dishes.
I quickly lowered my hand, but it seemed they had already seen my action. Judging by how they turned away coldly without any greeting.
It was true that my rudeness was significant, having covered my nose upon entering a restaurant. I couldn't blame the locals for their unfriendliness.
I looked around for an empty seat. At a long wooden table, over a dozen people sat close enough for their shoulders to touch. From what I could gather, it seemed I'd have to share a seat.
I would face situations worse than this in the future, so I should naturally get used to this.
Ah, I still needed time. Whether at the temple, or when moving between lodging facilities after leaving the temple, I had never eaten at a restaurant like this.
"Excuse me, can I get my meal packed to go?"
I asked thinking it would be better to eat alone in a narrow inn room. At least I could prevent the mishap of choking or vomiting from being unable to overcome my nausea.
"Packed to go?"
The employee let out a hollow laugh as if they'd heard something ridiculous.
"I don't know where such a precious person has come from, but we don't do that here."
He didn't even try to hide his sneering. Though he called me a "precious person" with words, he didn't seem to feel any need to actually treat me as one.
Probably because I was alone. A truly precious person wouldn't be wandering around alone like this.
"Then is there a bakery nearby..."
"The village is small, so you won't need directions. But even if you go to a bakery, will you be able to eat? Flies get mixed into their dough there."
Should I just starve?
I was seriously contemplating this when I saw a few farmers sitting inside the restaurant looking this way and whispering.
At the same time, I turned around without a greeting. I burst out of the restaurant immediately and started walking down the road randomly, but I heard several footsteps behind me.
I quickened my pace as much as possible pretending not to notice, but I was soon caught up.
"Hey, just a moment."
"Why are you going in such a hurry?"
Their rough calls carried a trace of laughter. I clenched my teeth and turned to look at them with feigned composure.
How much would it take to bribe them? I narrowed my eyes and scanned their faces, and the other person frowned.
"You're a young lady who really doesn't fit this countryside at all."
"If we escort you home, can we get a reward?"
"No matter how I look, her attitude is that of a wanted criminal."
My mouth went dry at their murmuring. It was fortunate they didn't recognize my face immediately, but at this rate, they might try to find a wanted poster and compare my face.
"My circumstances are not your concern. Go on your way."
"How is it not our concern? Someone like you, miss, is a walking purse a hundred times out of a hundred."
"Right, right. This good opportunity..."
The farmer couldn't finish his words. Because of a dark shadow that suddenly leapt in. It was a large gray wolf that had darted swiftly and soundlessly between me and the farmers.
"Argh, what kind of beast is this?"
"It's a wolf!"
Startled by the wolf's threatening momentum as it bared its teeth and growled, the farmers stumbled backward. Of course, I too was frozen in surprise.
[Bully many against one! You shouldn't torment your own kind!]
At the wolf's incredibly righteous cry.
"H- hurry and call the vigilantes!"
"A wolf has come down to the village!"
The farmers, who had been keeping their distance, seemed to realize the wolf wasn't going to attack them immediately, and hurriedly turned and started running away.
The wolf, which had been glaring at them running away breathlessly, turned its head toward me. Its black pupils held wild ferocity.
The wolf bared its teeth.
[Leaving the pack is dangerous. Where is your pack leader?]
Oh, what a windfall. A righteous wolf, no less.
I was trying to suppress my overwhelming feeling at this unexpected fortune, and just as I was about to open my lips.
"Good heavens, I told you not to pounce recklessly!"
[I don't deal with cowardly and weak males.]
Someone suddenly appeared in my field of vision. Tall with a lean build, he immediately bowed his head to me in apology.
"You must have been quite surprised. I'm sorry!"
Thanks to that, the first thing that caught my eye was his disheveled red hair. As if showing his wandering lifestyle, dust was faintly stuck to his curly hair.
He seemed to have expected I'd be surprised, and hastily made excuses.
"I'm truly sorry. Please don't be alarmed. He looks fierce, but he won't bite."
He showed a harmless smile as if to reassure me.
Through his long bangs, striking golden eyes appeared then disappeared. They were round yet slightly upturned at the corners, just like cat eyes.
A cat, yes a cat, but something about it felt gentle, should I say like a dog-like cat?
...It feels like an insult, but there was no more suitable expression. With his shabby attire added to that, it really gave off the feeling of a stray cat that's like a dog!
[To think of ignoring a fellow kind's danger! With this attitude, you'll never become a pack leader!]
"Hey, you startled this person!"
[Let go! You weak one! When do you intend to grow into a proper male!]
"Don't worry, he's full right now. He's just acting like this because he was startled by the commotion."
[To have a weak male like you in my pack! It's shameful!]
I watched the wolf shaking its head wildly and the man who, while swept along by that force, was stubbornly holding onto the wolf's head.
This man seemed to be the wolf's guardian... or owner, or subordinate, I wasn't sure, but they were definitely companions.
Also, it seemed correct that they couldn't understand each other's words at all.
"You can let go now."
The man, who had been teetering while clinging to the wolf, looked up at me with difficulty. Anyway, holding on like that didn't seem to stop anything.
"I'm not scared. Thanks to that wolf, I avoided a dangerous situation."
"...Is, is that so?"
[Foolish one! My fur has all gotten messy!]
When the man fell away, the wolf shook its body. Ah, that wolf is quite tempting.
"You don't seem to be from this town..."
Without taking my eyes off the wolf, I cautiously broached the subject. There was nothing good about letting the man know I could communicate with the wolf, so I wanted to create a situation with just the two of us if possible.
For that, I first needed to separate this man.
"Ah, yes. I'm an ordinary adventurer."
"Would you sell this wolf to me?"
"Pardon?"
The man was surprised at my proposal and opened his eyes wide. I smiled at him and spoke in a deliberately generous voice.
"A brave wolf like this is exactly what I need. I'll pay whatever price you name."
The man looked at me with bewildered eyes, then glanced awkwardly at the wolf.
"I'm sorry, but he's not for sale."
"No matter how much you ask, I have the ability to pay that amount."
"I won't sell him no matter how much you offer."
The man's voice as he answered was very firm. I frowned and gazed at him for a moment, then decided to change my target. I met the wolf's eyes directly and spoke gently.
"I like you. Come with me. I'll let you eat fresh raw meat every day."