The Golden Experience Point [Part 1]

Chapter 59: "Assaulting Neighbors"

Two days later, Marion sent notice that she had arrived at the other monster territory. Rare left managing the Great Liebe Forest to Sugaru and Riley, and teleported to Marion accompanied by Kerry and Deas. Like the last time she went out, she wore both an overcoat and Yoroizaka.

"It's been a while since we last met in person. Marion, Ginka, it's good to see you."

"Thanks for coming, Boss."

<It has been many moons, Boss. That there is the neighboring forest.>

Marion and the ice wolf Ginka got along quite well, perhaps because the first element of magic that Marion learned was [Ice Magic]. During their travels, whenever they got ambushed by bandits and monsters, they would work together to take care of their attackers.

"We practiced fighting as a team, but we only got attacked by weaklings that either one of us could beat all on our own..."

"Well, you know, there's a world of difference between getting some practice and getting no practice, so it's better to have gotten some in."

While joking around and catching up on recent events, the party headed over to the monster territory. The neighboring forest had a slightly different feel to it than the Great Liebe Forest did. According to the map, this forest was considered monster territory from as far out as where there only scatterings of trees about, as opposed to the great forest where the boundary was well inside the treeline.

Just like how Erfahren bordered the Great Liebe Forest, there was also a city in this area on the frontlines that opposed the territory. However, it was quite far from where Rare's group was currently located. The road that led to that city ran parallel to the forest, as though fencing off the monster territory; it was the same road that Marion and Ginka had used to get here. There was a decent bit of distance from the forest to the road, about the same distance to that nearby city.

Comparatively, the Great Liebe Forest and Erfahren were closer to each other, which explained why there weren't stronger monsters in the great forest. That could also be the reason Hakuma and the ice wolves fled there. Rare didn't know why things were so peaceful up until now, but she posited that it was probably because the area was intended to be a staging ground for Sugaru. Or maybe it was Deas's instead, but either way, the forest was probably there to nurture a raid boss. Maybe Sugaru couldn't mature into a raid boss in time for the early access beta since the city was too small. Or perhaps her development was to be adjusted based on how many players there were in Erfahren.

Thinking over it again, when the city was constructed and the road paved, the reason there was so much distance between them and the forest could be because this monster territory was just that much more dangerous than the one in the Great Liebe Forest.

"Still, it's something to look forward to. I wonder how we measure up to our rivals here."

<Allow me to be vanguard. It will not do for Your Highness to be on the front lines; we cannot risk the infinitesimal chance of your death.>

"Hm... While it is a bit of a shame, I suppose I must oblige. The plan here in the first place was to become powerful enough to never be killed, so courting death now would be putting the cart before the horse."

Rare was disappointed that she wouldn't be able to experience the forest from the front of the group, but she shouldn't need to lift a finger unless their conquest faced significant difficulty. Deas was more than powerful enough by himself, so she should first allow him to take charge. Rare had never actually seen him lead before, so this was also a way to verify exactly how competent he was.

"Deas, I was thinking of summoning some of the adamantite series; how many do you think would be good?"

<I would like to say that they are wholly unnecessary, but I believe Your Highness would like to evaluate my ability to command, correct? In that case, I would request one platoon's worth. Any more than that and it would be overkill for this campaign.>