The Noble Lady Without Magic Aims to Become an Adventurer! - Chapter 69

About half a day into our journey, the carriage came to an abrupt stop, accompanied by the shrill neighing of the horses. A magical beast had appeared on the road ahead. A repellant smoke bomb was thrown to drive it away, but it seemed ineffective, and we had to remain stationary for a while.

Carriages traveling on the main roads from the royal capital to the various territories are equipped with safety measures. Both the roads and the carriages are imbued with scents and sounds that repel magical beasts. Some carriages even draw small amounts of magic from passengers to maintain protective barriers during travel. Ours was cloaked with a concealment spell to make it less visible to magical creatures.

After waiting for a while, it became apparent that the beast wasn’t leaving. Fars and I spoke with the coachman and decided to investigate.
“Senpai, the coachman said it’s a Bloody Bear that’s likely been driven out of its territory during a dispute. Wasn’t there a request for that in the guild?”

“Indeed. Let’s take care of it and check one off the list. It’s just one Bloody Bear. This time of year, territorial disputes are common due to the breeding season. Fars, your sword’s been sharpened—why don’t you try it out?”

“Me? Alright! I’ll do it. A test run, huh? I’m excited!”

With a grin, Fars unsheathed his sword and approached the Bloody Bear. The beast, likely agitated due to the breeding season, growled and adopted an aggressive stance before charging at him.

Fars deftly dodged its attack and struck back. Normally, his counterattacks wouldn’t cause fatal wounds, but this time, blood gushed from the bear’s shoulder, and it collapsed immediately.
“What?! No way!”

Fars’s astonishment was audible.

“Fars, stop gaping and finish it off.”

Senpai’s words brought him back to reality, and he quickly severed the bear’s head.

“Whoa! This sword is incredible. The sharpness is unbelievable!”

Fars seemed more excited about the sword than about slaying the magical beast. With a blade that sharp, I couldn’t help but feel eager to try it myself.

Meanwhile, Arnold-senpai efficiently disposed of the bear, burning the body to mask the scent of blood and burying it at the roadside. The coachman thanked us, and we reboarded the carriage to continue our journey.

Having adventurers on board seemed to reassure the other passengers. The carriage, once filled with tension, now echoed with laughter and song.

We finally arrived at the northern village as the sun began to set. After an entire day on the carriage, my rear was sore.

Since it was already evening, we decided to book rooms at the inn. I, of course, had a private room, while Fars and Senpai shared one.

After regrouping in the dining hall for a meal, we discussed our plans for the next day before heading to bed. Travel days are always like this—simple but tiring. I fell asleep almost immediately.

The following morning, after breakfast, we prepared to leave. Knowing we might have to camp, we packed plenty of provisions. The innkeeper kindly prepared bread and soup for our lunch, which we gratefully took with us.

We left the village and began walking along the path leading into the forest.
“From here, we’ll be collecting plenty of materials. Use the gathering bottles I handed you to store everything you find,” Arnold-senpai instructed.

““Understood!””

We divided tasks and got to work, focusing on gathering herbs, plants, and insects. The requests were likely placed by an alchemist, given the similarity to the materials Senpai often collected for his work.

The fact that they could afford to place a guild order meant they had considerable funds. I couldn’t help but envy them as I continued plucking herbs.

This forest was relatively well-maintained, with enough sunlight filtering through to create a vibrant ecosystem. Deeper in, where magical beasts would be more formidable, the forest would likely become denser and more untamed.

While searching, I spotted a peculiar mushroom growing on a fallen log. It glowed faintly and didn’t resemble anything I’d seen before. Was it safe to touch? Though it looked edible, I couldn’t be sure. For now, I decided to collect it carefully.

“Fars, find anything good?”

“Hmm, just a few plants I don’t recognize. You?”
“I found a type of mushroom I’ve never seen before. I wonder where Senpai went.”

“Probably up in the trees.”

“Sounds about right.”

We continued chatting and calling out to each other as we worked. Staying in communication was second nature to us after years of living in the village. Senpai didn’t need the same treatment—he always stayed within earshot and was strong enough to handle himself.

By the time we’d filled all the bottles Senpai had given us, we only had the beast-hunting requests left.

Senpai rejoined us, and together we searched for magical beasts. After some time, we heard the crunch of dead grass underfoot. Tension gripped us as we prepared for whatever might appear.
From the bushes emerged a Wide Snake.

The snake lifted its head about a meter off the ground, staring us down. At around three meters long, it was quick and agile—dangerous if we weren’t careful.

I drew my sword and struck swiftly. With a downward slash, the snake was cleanly sliced in two.

“What just happened?! The sharpness is on a whole new level!”

I stared at my sword in disbelief. It was still the same trusty blade, only recently sharpened. No enchantments had been added, and yet…

“Surprised, Marloa? I felt the same when I cut the bear earlier. It’s amazing, right? I think I’ve discovered the secret to Arnold-senpai’s strength!”

Fars seemed overjoyed. We’d have to thank Margue for her work.

We continued hunting the beasts listed in the requests, steadily making progress. Eventually, we reached a riverside.

“Let’s take a short break here,” Senpai said, sitting on a large rock. We followed suit.
“What’s left on the list?” I asked.

“Fifteen rabbits. After that, we’re done with the hunts. However, I still haven’t found the material I’m looking for.”

Unusual—Senpai hadn’t found what he needed.
“What are you looking for?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I need something with elasticity.”

“Maybe something from the slime family?”

“Slimes aren’t elastic enough. I need something different.”

“How about we gather materials as we go and camp here for the night?”

Fars suggested, and Senpai nodded in agreement. With dusk approaching, it wasn’t wise to continue traveling.

We each focused on different areas: Fars searched for small animals, I looked for insects, and Senpai focused on plants.

While searching, I found a plump green caterpillar. Its body had a soft, springy texture, but it couldn’t withstand magical energy—it burst when I tried infusing it. Gruesome, but it wasn’t the solution.

Next, I thought of the threads from a Black Spider. These weak magical arthropods were harmless unless they multiplied excessively, in which case they were easily dealt with using fire magic.

Despite scouring under leaves and stones, I couldn’t find any. Resigned, we prepared to set up camp.

Dinner was simple: bread and a soup made with dried vegetables and bacon.

As I sipped the soup, I thought of Violeta’s cooking. She always made warm, comforting meals, unlike the often cold food served in noble households.

The night passed quietly as we chatted about recent events. Taking turns keeping watch, we settled into our routine for the evening.

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