Chapter 2"Well, I'm What You'd Call an Outsider Too"
Lala, walking through the forest, has a detailed map completely imprinted in her mind. With just her consciousness, she can manipulate the map, zooming in or out at will—a map of unparalleled accuracy. Thanks to this, she discovers that there is a settlement near the forest.
"First things first, contact with intelligent life," she mutters.
With a silver lump on her back, Lala drags a giant bear towards the settlement. Along the way, she observes the creatures lurking around. No matter how well they blend and hide in the greenery, they are powerless against her enhanced senses, strengthened by nanomachines.
"A rabbit with horns, a bird with four legs, a centipede-like lizard, a mouse with tough-looking scales... an array of creatures I've never seen before."
Lala expresses a mix of amazement and bewilderment. Unbeknownst to her, the small animals are also watching her, dragging the giant beast that once ruled the forest. Now that the forest's apex predator is gone, a sense of unrest lingers. The predators eye each other, wondering who will become the next ruler, while Lala swiftly passes through the forest, seemingly oblivious to the tension.
"Oh, a village. That's a relief. It seems to have civilization."
Looking beyond the edge of the forest, Lala spots a cluster of buildings in the far distance. They are simple structures made of wooden boards. She decides to head towards the village.
The surroundings of the village are covered with low grass in a thin plain. Whether the villagers are benefiting from the forest or not, a narrow path is formed through the flattened grass from the village to the forest. Even without enhanced vision from nanomachines, Lala approaches the village, and when she gets close enough to see the buildings clearly, a figure emerges from the village.
"Ah, that village, thank goodness. There seems to be civilization."
Squinting from the forest's edge, Lala spots a cluster of buildings in the distance. They are simple structures made of wooden boards. She decides to head towards the village. The village is surrounded by a thin plain covered with short weeds. The villagers seem to be living off the blessings of the forest, as the grass is flattened into a narrow path leading from the village to the forest. Even without enhanced vision from nanomachines, Lala approaches the village, and when she gets close enough to see the buildings clearly, a figure comes from the village.
"Could that person have something to do with me?"
Half convinced, Lala voices her thoughts. Gradually, the figure becomes clearer, and it turns out to be a woman clad in a coat, riding what seems to be a giant horse. The horse stops right next to Lala, and the rider dismounts, revealing a tall, red-haired beauty. She ties her long red hair into a bundle and wears a full-body leather armor under the coat, with a large sword hanging from her waist. She begins speaking in a language that Lala cannot comprehend.
"Ugh, I don't get it... 'Language Analysis Analyze Language.'"
Unable to understand the language naturally, Lala secretly activates the nanomachines. These nanomachines analyze the sounds picked up by her hearing, cross-reference them with a vast number of languages, and identify patterns. The analyzed information is promptly reflected in Lala's brain. Thanks to the nanomachines performing these tasks with high precision in an instant, Lala gradually begins to understand what the woman in front of her is saying.
"Hey! Can't you understand words? ...This is troublesome."
As her brain recognizes the speech as language, the woman's words start making sense to Lala. Once the basic communication becomes possible, Lala opens her mouth.
"Sorry, I was a bit out of it."
"Well, can you understand the words?"
Finally speaking, Lala visibly eases the woman's tension. Lala, too, confirms that the information obtained through nanomachine analysis is correct and silently breathes a sigh of relief.
"Well, let's put aside the matter of the Arms Bear for now. No, it's not something to put aside... More importantly, who are you, where did you come from, and what's on your back?"
"Um..."
Responding to the rapid-fire questions, Lala chooses her words carefully.
"I'm Lala. I found myself in the forest. As for what's on my back, it's probably the most useful thing in the world right now."
"At least, I know your name is Lala."
The two of them exchange puzzled looks, and a moment of silence ensues.
"For now, your outfit looks a bit shabby. Put this on."
Saying so, the woman hands over her coat to Lala.
Though Lala would have been perfectly fine in the thin light-blue suit hugging her body, she decides to comply with the proverb "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" and puts on the offered coat. Placing the remains of the cryosleep device on the ground, Lala puts on the coat, and the woman introduces herself.
"I'm Eel, a wandering mercenary."
"Wait, aren't you from that village?"
As she thought the woman might be a representative of the village, Lala tilts her head.
"No one wants to deal with a little girl dragging an Arms Bear alone. Well, not that I was planning to take it down myself... That's why I came to the village to check it out."
"Oh, so killing this bear might have been a bad idea."
"No, as long as the bear dies, it's fine for the villagers. It doesn't matter who does it."
Apologizing with a bow of her head, Lala receives the coat and is told the woman's name.
"Anyway, let's go to the village dragging the bear."
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine as long as I'm with you."
Encouraged by Eel's confident words, Lala heads towards the village. Eel leads the horse by the reins, walking beside Lala.
"Eel is a wandering mercenary, right?"
"Yeah. I travel wherever the wind takes me, taking on requests from people in need along the way."
Hitting the sword hanging from her waist lightly, Eel explains. Her well-trained and muscular limbs, stripped of unnecessary muscles, express her experience and strength more than anything else. She is undoubtedly a seasoned mercenary.
"Well, this time, I was kind of taken over by Lala."
"That's an apology. I didn't know."
"Well, it's fine. I still have some savings."
Responding playfully to Eel's teasing, Lala pouts. From her tone, it's hard to sense any harsh feelings, and the two of them are enveloped in a friendly atmosphere.
While exchanging banter, they arrive at the village, near the fence surrounding it.
"...They don't seem very welcoming."
"That's because you defeated the ruler of the forest and dragged it here, an unidentified cute little girl."
Making their way to a simple gate built into the fence, a gathering of villagers wielding farming tools can be seen. They cast skeptical glances at Eel, who has returned with Lala, and puzzled looks at Lala, dragging the giant beast that once dominated the forest.
"Citizens of Kopa Village, rest assured. She may look young, but she's an excellent mage. She's the one who defeated the Arms Bear that now lies before you."
Eel steps forward, speaking eloquently. Along the way, Lala hears the
word "mage" and tilts her head in confusion. Could it be that magic exists in this world?
"She heard rumors of the Arms Bear living in the forest during her travels, bravely took it down, which was originally a job for me, but she beat me to it. The reward I was supposed to receive should be given to her."
After delivering this speech, Eel waits for the villagers' reactions. They exchange glances and talk in hushed voices before coming to a consensus. After a short while, an elderly man with a cane appears.
"I am the village chief. First, let me express my gratitude for defeating the Arms Bear."
"Oh, um, you don't have to..."
"It's just a small token of our gratitude."
Saying so, the village chief hands a cloth bag to Lala. When she looks inside, she finds unevenly shaped gold coins. Apparently, this is the reward for the Arms Bear subjugation that Eel was supposed to receive.
"Lala, give the Arms Bear to the village chief."
"Eh?"
"That's the deal."
Following Eel's discreet whisper, Lala brings the giant bear's body to the village fence.
"Uh...I just knocked it down."
Unable to say that she effortlessly defeated it, Lala waves her hand and bows her head.
"It's only a small amount, but please accept it as a token of our gratitude."
Saying this, the village chief hands the bag of gold coins to Lala. The villagers seem surprised at the sight of the massive corpse being dragged by the small girl.
"Well then, Eel."
"Yeah. Lala and I will leave here soon."
"Is that so? That's a shame."
Despite the apologetic expression, relief is evident in the village chief's dark eyes. There is a hint of joy that cannot be concealed.
"Could you have stayed for just one night?"
Laa, who blurts out such words, is met with a wry smile from Eel.
"Lala, you should try to see yourself more objectively."
"Objectively...?"
"A little girl who single-handedly defeated a magical beast that even a group of adults would have trouble with, dragging it effortlessly. There's no way she wouldn't be feared."
"...I guess so."
Lala nods in agreement with Eel's words.
Then, a certain question arises.
"But Eel, you're not scared, right? And you were trying to take down the Arms Bear by yourself."
"Hehe."
In response to Lala's question, Eel breaks into a deep smile.
She casually removes the leather gauntlet covering her right arm.
"I'm also one of those so-called 'non-humans.'"
From beneath the gauntlet emerges a monstrous hand with sharp claws and tough scales.
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