Somehow… I can tell. I'm no longer in the region of forest that’s ruled by Orcs.

“If we just head East for around two more hours, we should be able to reach our destination.”

Even as I say so, I want to turn back. What is this unpleasant air?

“Chief Vyra, are you feeling alright? You're sweating.” Fiara looks at me with concern.

“Ah, something is… repulsive… about this place. I'll be fine.”

“Hm… well, I feel somewhat lost being outside of Orc territory, but I can still ignore it.”

“Maybe because the chief has the Holy attribute?” Dodoran supplemented Fiara’s thought process.

“Ah!” Fiara pounded one fist on her other hand. “That must be it. We’re in Fomor territory now. The Fomors are monsters, but they’re descended from true demons. Most of them obtain the Demonic attribute sometime within their lives. We’re also so close to the base of the Black Mountain, the Demonic attribute must be saturating the air by now.”

Is that the reason I feel like I'm completely surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered?

“Let’s just keep moving. I don't like standing around in a place like this.”

We didn't head very far south from the village, but the thinner tree canopy let more of the summer heat in. Thankfully it was a dry heat, but it still wasn't pleasant. I feel very thankful that Orcs can sweat, unlike regular pigs.

Hm?

The group is moving forward steadily, when I suddenly stop, ears twitching. I can't hear anything, exactly, but I definitely felt a sound just then.

“... Chief?”

Ah, sorry Fiara. Right, even if I did hear a sound, it must be very far away.

“Sorry. Let’s just keep going.”

She nodded and I continued to lead the way.

My ears twitch again. It's closer than last time.

“Chief?”

I stopped again, so Fiara called out to me.

“I definitely heard something.”

“Well, other creatures live in this part of the forest. It would be stranger if we didn't hear anything.”

“Ah, that’s true…”

Once again, we resume walking toward the base of the mountain. Nearly a minute passes, and I feel a shiver travel down my spine. I hear a sound again, but it isn't far away anymore. It comes from directly behind my neck.

“Grief.”

“Eeee!” For the first time in my life, I squealed like a pig in terror. I jumped and launched myself several feet forward, turning around and drawing my bone mace. Sweat drips down my forehead and rolls off my snout. My eyes soon focus on the source of my panic.

It’s nearly translucent. A wisp of black fog, vaguely gathered in the shape of a skull. It has white pinpoints of light for eyes, staring directly at my in hunger.

“Pain.”

By the time I turned around, it was already within a foot of me again. I squeal in panic and swing my weapon at it, but the attack completely goes through it.

“Chief Vyra?!”

I can hear the others shouting at me, and I see them looking this way. From the expressions on their faces… can they not see this thing?

“Torment.”

Wawa, it's moving closer again. Back off!

In a panic, I somehow remember to cast at it. If this thing isn't of the Demonic attribute, I don't know what is.

The thing is only as big as the palm of my hand. It manages to dodge my spell.

“Guys, there’s some kind of evil spirit here!”

I doubt they can fight this incorporeal thing without Holy magic. In fact, they don't even seem to be able to see it, and it certainly doesn't feel like attacking them. I must look completely insane right now. I feel like I'm going crazy, too. I need to calm down and kill it already.

“Loss.”

I manage to land a proper attack. On contact with my , the evil spirit thing evaporates and is gone. I lower my arms and stare widely at nothing. I'm breathing heavily from the tension alone. My limbs feel shaky.

“Chief Vyra?!” Fiara shouts again, trotting over and offering her shoulder for me to steady myself. “What happened? You suddenly went berserk!”

“Ah… I don't know what that thing was either. It was almost invisible, like a tiny black skull made of fog. It kept staring at me and trying to get closer, saying ominous things. Gods, what the hell was that?!”

[[Information is not accessible. User did not perform an .]]

You expect me to remember to use at a time like that?! Eh, wait, I asked for the Gods just then, didn't I?

“Chief, none of us could see or hear anything. Are you sure you're feeling alright?”

“It was definitely real, Fiara. I didn't imagine something like that.”

I'm sure I don't look very convincing when I'm trembling like this and sweating like an Orc, but it's true.

Fiara frowned and stayed quiet for a moment. I heard the men a short distance away whispering that I had gone crazy.

“... You really saw something, right?” she asked seriously.

“I swear it's true. I don't know if it really was dangerous, but it made me feel like my life was at risk.”

“... I'm choosing to believe you. If you see one again, please calmly shoot it down in one hit. It's dangerous if you start flailing against an enemy we can't see.”

“Eh?”

“““Heh~?”””

Even I'm surprised that Fiara believed it on my word alone. Now the men are looking at her like she’s crazy too.

“Shall we continue? I would like to quickly finish this and return home.”

“Ah… yes.”

I'm touched, Fiara. Really, thank you.

I'm able to relax my shaking body and return to a steady march. An hour passes, and now I can see countless War Monkey tracks beginning to converge. It looks like there was a mass exodus here a while ago.

I give a couple of hand signals indicating that we’ll be in stealth formation from here on; silent. We don't know if whatever scared off the War Monkeys is still there or if it’s long since moved on. But if it’s something that can kill us, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Still, when I consider that we could be walking toward another one of those things from earlier, I can't feel safe no matter how quietly we move.