The Baronial House, in a Sudden Big Pinch

The next day.

Very early morning, before the sun had even risen.

The rain had let up a little, but it was still drizzling on and on, and through it I was wandering in a daze in the dim forest behind the mansion.

Zashu.

It's been arranged that I don't have to guard Sara-chan at this hour.

Because since the roof board incident, the baron, Madam, and Sara-chan have been sleeping in the same room.

Since the baron himself can put up a pretty good fight, my early morning free time got to stay mine, safe and sound.

Or rather, it would be a problem if it weren't.

If I don't eat my fill in advance during this time, the rest of the day is just unbearable.

Zashu.

Ever since Sara-chan invited me to go to the academy together yesterday.

I just can't concentrate. My mind's elsewhere, as they say.

I can't sort out my feelings.

Zashu.

Sara-chan is a friend.

I hadn't realized it, but apparently, Sara-chan was my friend.

And a friend like that asked me to stay together with her from now on.

I'm very happy.

Zashu.

Let me try to remember my life goal.

It's “to eat a feast with Omake-sama in a warm house.”

......Looked at a certain way, that goal, now that I'm employed by the baronial house, has already come true, you could say.

After all, I get to eat food someone actually cooked, indoors, sheltered from the wind and rain.

If I take Sara-chan up on her invitation, this happiness will continue.

Zashu.

But, but, still.

There's a part of me that wonders if that's really okay.

Because a cushy life like that won't make me strong.

Going to the academy, with Sara-chan. That's an experience in its own way too, I think, but......

But will that let me get strong like Master?

Zashu.

I heard the academy is in the royal capital of this country.

Life there will surely be even more restrictive than it is now.

I couldn't train in the forest, and I probably couldn't hunt for snacks whenever I liked either.

Would I be able to endure that kind of life?

Zashu.

From here on, how, do I want to live?

Zashu.

........................

Zashu.

............

Zashu.

......

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

Zashu.

<......iii! Emi, Emi! Hey! Listen to me, Emi!>

......Eh? What? What's wrong, Omake-sama?

<Haah, I finally got through to you! Emi, you're spacing out way too much! Take a look around you!>

At Omake-sama's words, I look around.

What I find, strewn all over the forest, are headless Topopolock carcasses, carcasses, carcasses......

Huh? Lots of snacks lying around, huh? Yay?

Apparently, without even realizing it, I'd kept on hunting every Topopolock that caught my eye.

I pick up a nearby Topopolock, and bari bari mogu mogu......

Gulp.

Wait, huh?

............Aren't there way too many Topopolocks?

<You're way too late noticing, Emi! I've been warning you over and over this whole time, and yet you, Emi......!>

“Migya! Migya! Migya!”

“Migyagyagyagyagyagya!”

“Migyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Whoa!? Sorry, Omake-sama, save the lecture for later!

Shaking the bushes, a new pack of Topopolocks bursts out and charges straight at me.

About 10 of them.

For now, I wipe them out with a sweep of 【Infinite Pebbles】.

“Migyaaa! Mi, migyaaa!”

“Migyaaaaaaaaaaa!”

Even so, they won't stop, the voices, voices, voices of the Topopolocks echoing through the forest......!

Look closely, and their three red eyes are glowing all over the dim forest.

<There are clearly far too many! This is not normal! I think it's safe to say a Topopolock stampede is underway!>

S, stampede!? What's that!?

<A mass rampage! Maybe all these days of rain flooded their habitat, or a landslide crushed it...... I don't know the cause, but either way, at this rate the Topopolocks will pour out of the forest! And the first place to get hit will be......>

The baron's mansion...... which is right next to the forest!?

<Luckily, the stampede is still in its early stages! If we act now, by strengthening the barrier and so on, we can definitely keep the damage down!>

I get it, so what I need to do right now is......!

<Report, to Baron Martz!>

......Roger!

Kicking off the ground, kicking off tree trunks, bounding along, I race back to the baronial house at full speed.

With this running style adapted from 【Grasshopper】, even at my current level I can move about as fast as a car on a highway, in previous-life terms.

The trade-off is that raindrops pelt me like bullets, but I put up with it under 【Body Strengthening】.

In less than a few minutes, the mansion comes into view.

Looks like no Topopolocks have come swarming out around here yet.

<I suppose we made it just in time?>

Alright, let's hurry.

I'm still soaked with rain and smeared with blood and grime, so I'll dirty the mansion a little, but I'll clean it up properly afterward, so hopefully they'll let it slide.

<Would Baron Martz still be in his bedroom at this hour?>

Probably.

Sorry to barge in while he's sleeping all snug with his family, but this is an emergency.

I'm going to have to drag him out of bed.

With that thought, I set one foot into the entrance hall. And just then.

BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!

A piercing sound echoed throughout the mansion.

......Eh? What is this?

<!! Emi! 【Magic Perception】!>

Urged by Omake-sama, I hurriedly activate 【Magic Perception】.

Hm?

Eh?

EHHHHHHHH!?

<The barrier protecting the mansion...... has vanished!!>

......The Salar baronial house, in a sudden big pinch.