Traces

11. Traces

Once they emerged from the forest, a wide grassland stretched out before them in a downward slope, and after a short while, something resembling a road came into view. The presence of a road meant that a town or village lay ahead.

"If we get onto the road, it'll lead us to a town called Orun, which connects to the highway. From there, I think we can take a carriage to the border town."

Tori spoke as he unfolded a considerably weathered map. Shia peered into the map before looking up at him.

"Is Orun a town you know too, Tori?"

"Hmm? I wonder? Probably... no, I don't think I've ever stopped there."

"Then maybe there are some delicious things there that you don't know about?"

"Hmm? Haha, I hope so."

Shia had taken a great liking to the local specialties of the first town they'd visited, and now, every time they arrived in a new place, she made it her mission to search for the local delicacies and specialty products.

Walking forward with excitement, wondering what this town would have, Shia suddenly paused, her eyes catching a building a short distance ahead.

Looking closer, she noticed similar structures further ahead, and then even further still.

As they advanced, they naturally drew closer to them. Up close, they were robust buildings made of stacked stone. They were too small to be called houses; it seemed they would be full if ten people entered.

They were slightly taller than a two-story building, with cylindrical walls that narrowed toward the top. Several small, window-like holes were open in the walls, and there was a slightly larger hole—likely the entrance—situated at about Tori's height. A few protruding stones leading toward it appeared to be steps.

(What are these buildings?)

Noticing Shia's gaze, Tori stopped with an "Ah," and beckoned her over to one of the mysterious buildings standing beside the road.

"Shia, this is a Tochka."

"A Tochka...?"

"You can think of it as an evacuation shelter. The carriage driver mentioned it, remember? Landbulls appear around here once you cross the pass."

"Landbulls... he said they were... magic beasts."

"Right. In an open area like this, there's nowhere to run, right? The forest to the side is a bit too far away, which is why these buildings exist."

"Hmm."

Shia placed her feet on the protruding stones and climbed nimbly up to the entrance.

Tori didn't stop her, so she peered inside. The floor of dirt and gravel was level with the entrance, and nothing else was inside except for a similar set of stairs that wound upward along the wall.

Peeking back outside, she saw another, larger hole near the top, which seemed to allow access to the roof. It felt like a tiny tower.

"Usually, there's nothing inside. They're emergency shelters, after all. If you spot a Landbull, you take refuge here."

"They can't get in?"

"It would be impossible. Even I would have to squeeze through that entrance. A large magic beast obviously couldn't. Besides, Landbulls have the characteristics of cattle, so their primary attack is charging."

"Charging..."

"That's why the area below the entrance is reinforced with packed gravel and soil. This is a Tochka specialized for Landbulls."

Shia pulled her face back inside to look around one last time, then, instead of using the stairs, she leaped down with a thump in front of Tori.

"Well, entering one of these doesn't make you completely safe, but it's enough to let a beast pass by."

"Can't we just defeat the magic beasts?"

"We could. If we mobilize enough people and proper equipment. But it would be wrong to hunt them all down simply because they're dangerous, wouldn't it?"

"Wrong?"

"Yes. If we did, the balance that has already been established would be destroyed."

"Hmm..."

Shia groaned. She felt like she understood, yet at the same time, she didn't. But ultimately, that amounted to the same thing: she didn't understand.

As Shia knit her brows in concentration, Tori placed a hand on her head with a gentle pat.

"You don't have to think that far ahead yet. That's something the adults who keep the world turning should worry about."

"Mm... okay."

"Alright, let's pick up the pace. I want us to reach the town before dusk."

"Are Landbulls nocturnal too?"

"Most magic beasts are. Unless something extraordinary happens, they usually rest somewhere during the day. That's why it's best to travel while the sun is up. —Now, let's go."

They set off, but before long, they found themselves stopping once again.

The town was already visible in the distance, and there was only one road. Since there was no chance of getting lost, Shia, who had been walking with a bounce just ahead of Tori, came to a dead halt. She turned her head left and right, then lifted her nose, sniffing the air.

"Shia?"

"Tori, I smell blood."

"Eh?"

Tori knit his brows as Shia looked back at him with a clouded expression.

"Do you know where it's coming from?"

"Probably... this way."

Following Shia's lead, they headed a short distance away from the road.

As they drew closer, the scent finally reached Tori as well. However, it wasn't the smell of blood, but a foul, burnt odor.

"This is..."

Tori murmured.

The place they reached indeed had scorched grass, as if it had been burned. Furthermore, the ground was gouged, suggesting that a battle or some kind of struggle had occurred.

And the most unpleasant smell was coming from right beside them—a spot where the earth had been overturned. It was slightly mounded.

Shia couldn't bring herself to get any closer; she stopped a short distance away, pulling the collar of her hood up to press against her nose.

(Since she's staying back, this is perfect.)

Tori lightly brushed away the mounded soil with the tip of his boot. Instantly, an overwhelming stench of decay spread. Even Tori covered his nose and mouth and recoiled slightly.

A short, scream-like sound came from behind him.

Looking back, he saw Shia, who had retreated even further, with her ears completely flattened, trembling as she watched him. Naturally, Shia's nose was far superior to his own. Tori hurriedly pushed the soil back into place.

It was exactly as he had imagined; he had confirmed it.

(But what is the reason?)

After all, they were still quite far from the town.

"Tori...?"

At the small voice, Tori snapped out of his thoughts, shook his head slightly, and headed back toward Shia.

"It looks like there was some kind of conflict involving... animals."

"Between... people and animals? ...Is there a body buried there?"

"A carcass. Probably an animal's."

"Hmm..."

Shia's face remained tense, as if the smell still bothered her, so Tori urged her forward and they quickly left the area.