The monster, my familiar is dead. Malek said that familiars that go berserk cannot be unsummoned and can only be killed. While standard familiars are unsummoned before death berserk familiars are not supported by the summoner's life force.

The atmosphere around the wagon is sorrowful, while the ambiance should be uplifting my spirit was too heavy. I continue reading the volumes as we begin heading to the direction of the forest once again.

After reading the 28th volume we arrive in a town.

This town is probably an eighth of the size of Rodenheim city, yet much larger than the earlier village. While there are a few people wandering the streets they seem lifeless, the shops appear to be closed. If I had to use one word to describe this town it would be 'dead' this city is like a corpse with minor traces of life still remaining. 'What caused this?' I question what could have caused such pained expressions on the faces of these people.

I look towards Malek and he nods at me. Tucking the 29th volume away in my bag I hop down and walk over to one of the few towns people out and about.

"Excuse me, what happened in this town?" I talk to the nearest person hoping that I can figure out what is wrong here.

"That is, erm- excuse me!" The middle-aged woman runs off as best she can to not answer my question.

'What...?' I don't believe I did anything strange. Something seriously strange must be going on in this town.

In attempt to figure out more Malek and I head to the tavern for a room, and to hear what is going on.

Entering the tavern I am surprised to see that there is no one there except for the owner. 'This place is too strange, what is going on in this town.' A thought suddenly pops into my mind, wait a second, the tavern owner is the only man I've seen in the town so far, not that I've seen many people.

"Excuse me, what is going on in this town?" In a cold tone Malek asks the owner the question both of us had been wondering, he leans forward and reveals a sharp glare aimed at the owner.

The nearly sixty year old man is visibly startled and sweat drips from his forehead.

"I-I'm sorry I can't talk about it right now..." The man stutters while attempting to explain to Malek that he cannot state what is going on.

"Hmmm, so you aren't going to talk huh?" Malek leans back to standing while still keeping his ice cold glare on the old man, reaching into his robe he acts like he is about to grab a weapon.

"Uaaah! Please wait, there is no need to get violent. We aren't supposed to tell outsiders, but I will tell you, just please don't hurt me!" The old man yells in fright believing his life to be in danger.

"Haha, I wasn't planning on hurting you, but please do tell us what is going on here." Malek's glare disappears and now has an unsettling smile on his face.

'The transition is too creepy!' I nearly yell at Malek that the smile is even more unsettling than the glare was.

"A-alright, well bandits have been attacking our town for the past few months, we have requested assistance but the kingdom won't help us, and we can't afford to hire a troop of adventurers. Our craftsman have been making weapons and armor for the younger adults so they can try to surprise the bandits."

"Hmmm, who came up with the idea to attack the bandits? I don't believe that it was someone from the town."

I understand where Malek is coming from, the people from the town would be too scared to fight back in fear of losing their lives.

"Oh, it was a foreigner, a young lady." The old man holds his chin trying to remember about the young lady. "Ah yes! She had brown hair and blue eyes, I believe her name was Raven."

"Where can we find this person?" I chime in and the old man seems surprised at first, compared to Malek my presence was rather small.

"Uh well, they led the group of fighters North to lay a trap and face the bandits. They only left recently, so you should be able to find them."

"Thank you, we'll be taking our leave." Malek leaves after saying farewell and I follow close after.

We return to the Wagon and begin traveling northward.

"Why are there so many bandits in this area?" I ask Malek this question.

"Hmmm, I am not so sure myself, such things are not my specialty."

"Could they be a part of the bandits from the village that were incinerated?"

"Possibly, if so that means they will be easier to finish off."

I nod in agreement and read a bit before we reach our destination.

--

Directly ahead of us is forest of tall evergreen trees, from the darkness an ominous aura emanates.

'What's with this sense of foreboding.'

Malek and I disembark from the wagon and enter the forest, walking through the forest the feeling of worry grows stronger. After ten minutes of walking we enter a clearing, my eyes take a moment to adjust, the sense of foreboding disappears.

Dozens of men dressed in heavy leather armor with swords strapped to their waists move barricades and place traps.

"Hooo, this is quite the operation." Malek seems slightly impressed with the cohesiveness of the people.

"I'm going to look for this foreigner." I wave to Malek as I go in search of this young lady.

'Hmmm, oh it looks like there is a commotion over there.' To my left I see a large amount of people coming and going. 'I will head there.'

Getting closer to the area I get a clear view of the young ladies back. A familiar back. Her chestnut hair tied back into a messy bun while her leather armor fits snugly against her body. Remembering to breath I grab the chest of my shirt and exhale. A smile creeps across my face as I call to her.

"Maddy!"

She turns with a questioning look on her face.

'Uuuuaahh! I didn't think I would get to see her this soon in the game!'

My passive skill [Cute Restoration] kicks in and removes any sense of sorrow I had felt previously.

"Oh it's just you..." Maddy greets me with a depressed tone, but teasing smile.

"Just say hello!" I yell back.