After the conversation with the leader of the adventurers' guild, we took a mission that involved obtaining a plant with apparent healing properties. The reason for getting it is quite simple. Although this is a Rank F adventurers' mission and doesn't offer much money, a very specific case occurred that made me take this mission.

Apparently, some adventurers have been returning extremely injured from the forest about a week before we arrived here. The reason is that some monsters that you would usually encounter deeper in the forest are coming to the outskirts.

However, this doesn't affect the city's forces much since the adventurers who get injured in these cases are usually low-level ones. Thanks to this, the price of the plant has practically quadrupled. Despite that, there aren't many adventurers interested in this type of mission.

The reason is quite simple. There is apparently an herb that is very similar to the one we're supposed to look for. Often, adventurers end up taking the wrong plant, rendering all the effort they put into gathering it useless. Fortunately, that won't be a problem for us.

"Fujiwara, are you ready?"

I asked while looking at Fujiwara. At the moment, we were in a relatively open part of the forest, surrounded by various types of plants and flowers, among which the one we were looking for should be found. Upon hearing my words, Fujiwara put a smile on her face and said.

"Of course"

Saying that, Fujiwara started walking around while looking at the plants. After a few minutes, Fujiwara came back to us and began pointing at the plants in sequence.

"All of these in this corner and half of the ones below"

Said Fujiwara, pointing to the plants we should gather. After that, we started pulling out the plants and putting them all in my storage. By the way, we recently discovered that Fujiwara's analysis ability doesn't only work on living beings. It seems that weapons, clothes, and plants are also considered when using the ability.

With that, she can know the name along with a brief description of what she's analyzing. After spending some time collecting the mission's plants, we began to head back to Guinovam as it started getting dark.

The path was mostly silent until we reached the forest's exit. While we were walking, Aoi-sensei looked at me and asked.

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"Makoto... what were you and the guild leader talking about?"

Aoi-sensei's question drew doubt in her eyes, and it also caught the attention of the other girls, except for Ana, making them all look at me. Seeing this, a sigh escaped my mouth.

"Do you remember the Goblins we encountered in the forest?"

I said while looking at Aoi-sensei. Upon hearing my words, she nodded, indicating that she still remembered.

"Apparently, they live in caves, usually in small groups"

I said as we continued walking. In my mind, I was thinking about what my next words would be.

"For these monsters to be coming to the forest outskirts, it only makes me think of one reason"

Hearing my words, Aoi-sensei's expression had slightly changed. It seemed she was starting to understand where I was going with this.

"Which is?"

Asked Aoi-sensei as she looked at me. With a small sigh, I slowly move my lips and say.

"That something much bigger and dangerous is making them flee"

I said, causing all the girls to look at me with surprised expressions as they finally understood what I was talking about.

"And that's why we need to gather enough money to leave this place. If I'm right, the thing that is making them flee should reach this city soon, and it will likely bring along a horde of other monsters fleeing from it"

I said, making the girls thoughtful. Depending on the perspective, it might seem like I'm running away like a coward, and honestly, I don't care about that. While I'm confident that I'll be fine, I don't want to put my companions' lives at risk for a bunch of people I met less than a week ago. But there was one person who probably thought differently.

"If this is true, we can't run away. We are strong, and we can help the people of this city. Many will die if we do nothing... even that child"

Said Aoi-sensei as she placed her hand on her chest and wore a pained expression on her face. It's not like I didn't understand what she was trying to say, but I had already decided beforehand that I would prioritize the safety of my group.

"I... I also agree with Aoi-sensei... I think we should try to help them since we can"

Saemi suddenly said. Hearing her words, I looked at her face and could see a certain determination in her eyes.

"Well, since both of you want to do this, I don't mind helping you. But of course, I will prioritize my safety above others"

Fujiwara said with a smile on her face. I found it quite amusing that she would say something heroic and selfish at the same time and still boast about it. Since the three of them had made up their minds, there was only one person left.

"Ana, what are you going to do?"

I said, turning towards Ana. Upon hearing my words, Ana's sleepy eyes turned towards me, suddenly coming to life within seconds.

"I will do whatever Ma-kun wants"

Ana said as she looked at me. Hearing her words, I remained silent for a while, contemplating whether I should help them or not. As I thought about it, the image of the little girl named Ivy appeared in my mind—the sweet innocence of her smile suddenly tainted by a desperate look, with incessant tears streaming down her eyes, made me tighten my fist.

(Damn, when did I become someone so heartless... this way, I'm not much different from Shinji)

With that thought in mind, we returned to Guinovam.