The next day, guided by Urla, Rest headed to a forest within the territory of House Lavender.
It was called the "Forbidden Forest" by the people and was a restricted area that no one could enter without the margrave's permission.
Before Rest's eyes, thickly overgrown trees blocked the way, making it difficult to see even a few meters ahead.
"There really are no signs that anyone has been here... By the way, why is this forest called the 'Forbidden Forest'?"
"Monsters, strong."
"So it's prohibited because there are strong monsters... Well, I suppose that's not impossible..."
Like the Sabnock Plains, there were several places in this world where one could lose one's life just by stepping in.
This forest might be one of those places.
"By the way... what kind of monsters are there?"
"Black..."
"Black?"
"Like... people?"
"You say 'like'..."
Were they apes, or something?
Since Urla's words were not very clear, Rest couldn't figure out what the black monster really was.
"Do you have the ring?"
"The ring? What are you suddenly talking about?"
Was she talking about the rainbow crystal ring she had asked for before?
That ring was still being processed, so he hadn't brought it here...
"I gave it to you."
"Ah... are you talking about the ring you gave me before?"
"Yeah."
"I have it. It's this one, right?"
Rest reached into his pocket and took out the ring Urla had given him before.
He had kept it in the back of a drawer the whole time, but when he was summoned this time, he remembered it and brought it along.
"Put it on."
"Put it on? This one?"
"Yeah, give it here."
No sooner had she said it than Urla took the ring from Rest's hand.
Then, taking his hand, she forcibly slipped it onto his finger.
"Mm..."
It was his left ring finger.
In this world, engagement rings did exist, but there weren't any specific rules about which finger to wear them on.
So, there probably wasn't any particular meaning behind Urla putting it on that finger... but still, he couldn't help feeling a little strange about it.
"Good. This should do it."
"Could it be... this ring is some kind of pass?"
"Mm."
"I see... thanks."
The ring had no crest or letters engraved on it. What kind of meaning could it have?
If I had to say… the purple radiance matches House Lavender, I suppose.
"Monsters. Be careful."
"Yeah, I'll go ahead, so stay back."
Rest steps on the branches and leaves, advancing deeper into the forest.
At the same time, he casts [Presence Detection]. He senses the presence of countless creatures in the forest.
(Well, of course there are… I'll cut out creatures with mana below a certain level. Mark those that might pose a threat.)
By limiting the information coming into his brain, he increases his perception range and accuracy.
With this, he won't be caught off guard even in the unlikely event of a surprise attack.
"Diamond Bear… none here."
There are no creatures of that size near the forest entrance.
It seemed it wouldn't be easy. They needed to go deeper into the forest.
"Moreover… there they are! Monsters!"
"Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle!"
Letting out a strange cry, a large strange bird flew out.
What appeared was a creature about two meters long, covered in colorful feathers, like a chicken.
The strange bird opened its large mouth and lunged at Rest, trying to bite him.
[Wind Blade]!
"Crack!"
The wind blade slashes the bird's neck, blood gushes out, but the bird only flinches slightly.
With bloodshot eyes rolling, it leaps again.
"I see… quite the tough one, isn't it."
He pours even more mana into his wind blade than before and releases it.
This time, the strange bird's neck is cleanly sliced off, and it collapses to the ground, motionless.
"Stronger than I thought… Looks like I need to stay on my guard."
"As expected of you."
Urla offers a word of praise as she plucks a comb-like feather from the severed head of the strange bird.
"Hmm."
"Oh?"
Then she tucks it into Rest's chest pocket.
She gazes at Rest's clothes, now decorated with the brilliantly colored feather, and nods in satisfaction.
"Good."
"…I see. Well, glad you like it."
She is a girl with a truly incomprehensible sense of aesthetics.
Deciding not to overthink it, Rest turns and heads deeper into the forest.