“It doesn’t look like there’s much movement.”
“True.”
Rick and Clift stay vigilant even as they hear me and Guilford.
It’s past midnight, and although the moonlight is illuminating this clearing, the forest is pitch black. It’s hard to see even with the Night Vision skill.
I’m using Presence Detection and Magic Energy Detection with Map, but the sea devils aren’t moving. Or rather, there isn’t much movement in their reactions.
It’s not like they’re not moving at all, it’s just little movements.
This tells me they’re awake, but not one leaves the water.
Still, we have to stay cautious. We move our eyes slowly, making sure to take in what we’re seeing.
The number of reactions hasn’t changed, but there could be more hiding.
I’m still feeling aftershocks from the attack on the town, when I had a hard time because I relied on skills too much.
Then again, being too on edge is taxing, so I need to relax a little too.
It’s one thing to be like this for a short time, but it’s tiring when it’s prolonged. And it’s hard to stay focused when you ignore fatigue.
That’s the hard part of keeping watch.
“All the monsters here are weird.”
Says Guilford with a sigh.
I think it’s more that we’re not used to them.
This world doesn’t have seas. Not that I’ve seen anyway.
Maybe there are if I go outside of the seven countries, but there are no records of those areas.
Is there something beyond the dark forest… I’m curious, but I’m busy with something else.
“We just have to take them down.”
Says Rick while looking around.
“Rick is right. And we can just run away if we feel like they’re strong. Especially Sora, since you’ll try to do something about it. Please think about when it’s time to retreat.”
“Tell that to Argo too.”
Guilford says with an awkward smile, and Rick silently nods.
Although I think I can take them down if I try different things with my many skills.
“…I’ll be careful.”
I say, and Guilford smiles awkwardly again.
Nothing happens after that, until it’s time for others to take over.
I take the last shift with Rurika, Chris, and Sera.
“Are you tired, Sora?”
“I’m okay.”
Chris is worried, but I don’t feel tired. It’s not like I’m just trying to reassure her.
I figured drowsiness would be my toughest enemy, but I did sleep well, even if it wasn’t for long, so I’m all right.
I’m also used to this. We’re going around with Argo’s party, but it was just the six of us when we were looking for Eris, and we had to keep watch too.
Although we also relied on golems.
“Any enemy movement?”
“Some are moving a little, but none are leaving the pond. From what I see on Map, anyway.”
“…There aren’t any reactions around us.”
Says Rurika while looking around.
“So Sora, are we staying in the dungeon until we get the magic stones we need, or are we leaving in the meantime?”
“I think we should leave if we want to know what’s going on outside…”
“Moving into the hunting ground is a pain.”
Rurika stretches and finishes my sentence.
This floor is too rough for wagons.
We could use Transfer, since the layout of this dungeon doesn’t change outside of specific times, but we could end up in the water.
We can time the tides, but we don’t know if time moves the same way here and outside.
No, wait. Could I solve that with Farsight? If I use Farsight to check where we’re headed with Transfer, we won’t drop in the water. In fact, we could return here regardless of the water level.
“Sora, talk to us, don’t reach conclusions on your own.”
Says Sera as I think about this and that. I look up and see Chris and Rurika are also looking at me.
I tell them my idea.
“Then we could go back.”
Says Rurika, sounding a little exasperated, and Chris and Sera smile awkwardly.
We keep chatting while staying alert, and I see movement on Map.
“It’s happening. Three? Are they scouts?”
Rurika is right, they’re coming. And yes, three of them.
That’s not a lot considering how many are in the pond.
It makes sense to assume they’re scouts.
Chris wakes up the others, and we prepare for an attack.
Engaging them in the forest would minimize damage to us, but we want to face them in an open area to see how they fight.
“…They’re not coming.”
The sea devils stop not long before they reach this open area, and stay there.
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