813 Bear, enters the forest - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

The ribbon is a guidepost. "Moreover, a ribbon can be a lifeline for adventurers. If you happen to find it when you're lost, it might lead you back." "But do you really need to go that deep into the forest?" "Normally, no. But unknown places fill a certain type of adventurer's heart. To feel alive. Those who want to see something new before anyone else. Those who want to make a name by defeating strong monsters. And people like me who want to find rare herbs. Many thoughts are tied to these ribbons." Considering all that, these aren't just mere guideposts. There were those who achieved their goals beyond here, those who turned back, and perhaps some who never returned. "That's why no one removes these ribbons." "..." "Still, as I mentioned before, there are people with ill intentions, so you must not rely on the ribbons too naively." I'm aware that not everyone is good. Just the thought that among these heartfelt ribbons could be some with malicious intent leaves me speechless. "So, I thought any adventurer venturing deep into the forest would know about the ribbons." Mane narrows her eyes and looks at me. "I didn't, but that's because I don't need them." "You don't?" "I have these little ones." I glance over at Kumayuru and Kumakyuu. "With Kumayuru and Kumakyuu, they can recall places we've passed, so I don't need guideposts." With a bear's mapping skill, I can understand areas we've covered. It's the same for Kumayuru and Kumakyuu. If we've been there once, they remember it. Therefore, even if I nap on their backs, they'll take me to our destination. "So, you mean you can return here without getting lost?" "As long as Kumayuru and Kumakyuu are with me, yes." Mane looks at Kumayuru and Kumakyuu, eyes wide with amazement. "They're truly incredible bears! Not just aware of locations but also able to detect monsters, they're strong, fast, can shrink in size, and they're soft." The 'soft' part might not be related to their greatness, but Mane seems quite impressed by it. "I prepared some ribbons just in case you ran out, Yuna, but it seems that was unnecessary." We're heading into a dense forest, so it's uncertain how many we'd need. It seems yesterday, aside from finishing tasks, she was preparing for the outing. No wonder she fell asleep soon after we set off. "I understand about the ribbons, but it's pointless if we don't know where the adventurer who saw the herbs entered the forest." There are as many ribbons as there are adventurers entering the forest. "According to what I heard from the adventurer, they entered from the starting ribbon." "The starting ribbon?" "The first one you notice, this ribbon. It begins with one ribbon and gradually branches out." A tournament bracket flashes in my mind. It's like an inverted tournament bracket. "So, there are countless destinations?" "Some adventurers took the same path, others chose differently. Each path taken by adventurers leads to different destinations. Whether it's herbs like us, or for monster subjugation, or various unknown explorations." That's true. If we look even closer, the targeted herbs might differ, and the monsters too—different creatures mean different directions. "Do we just follow the ribbon?" "Unfortunately, we can only track it to a certain point. While exploring, they encountered a horde of monsters and had to detour, moving around until they stumbled upon the herbs by chance. They said they found some other adventurer's ribbon on their way back." "So, we follow the return ribbon of the adventurer?" If we can't follow the path forward, then tracing back would be the way to go. "They said they came back to the starting guidepost, so either way, we'll begin from here." It seems reaching the destination won't be easy. We head into the forest. I'm on Kumayuru's back, and Mane is on Kumakyuu's. First, we'll move in the direction the ribbons indicate. There seems to be a path worn by many adventurers, resembling a beast trail. From the backs of Kumayuru and Kumakyuu, the raised vantage makes it easier to see far. "It's quite convenient. I was a bit anxious hearing we'd be traveling on bears, but knowing this comfort, I won't ever ride a horse again." "Is it quite different?" "Absolutely. The stability is incomparable. I didn't fall asleep despite the rhythmic sway, and to top it off, it's soft and comfy." I'm glad she's enjoying it. It's better than her refusing to ride. "But from here on, we need to be cautious. Likely more frequent encounters with monsters, and perhaps even ferocious ones." "If any monsters are nearby, Kumayuru and Kumakyuu will let us know, so I doubt we'll face surprise attacks." Though, if we encounter an exceptionally swift creature, a fight might be unavoidable. "These bears truly are remarkable. Yuna, I must reiterate, I won’t be much help in combat." That’s the point of having an escort. Mane, though a half-elf, appears not to be strong. When we ran into wolves a while back, she said, "Do you think a recluse researcher would be strong?" It's a bias to assume elves are adept with magic and can battle monsters. It’s easy to think all elves are skilled in wind magic. Just as all dwarves aren't blacksmiths, there are dwarven merchants and chefs too. "I’ll protect you no matter what." In the worst case, I have the escape technique of the bear’s teleport gate. "That's reassuring. Though, hearing it from someone dressed as a bear sounds odd." Mane relaxes, and her tension seems to dissipate, enabling her to appreciate the surroundings. After moving for a while, Mane raises her voice. "Hold on a moment." Kumayuru and Kumakyuu come to a stop. "What's wrong?" There's no sign of monsters nearby. "Let me off, Kumakyuu." Once Kumakyuu lowers its body, Mane dismounts. She approaches a patch of wild grass and crouches. I dismount from Kumayuru and join her. Mane is gathering some leaves growing there. "What's that?" "A herb needed to make mid-level stamina recovery potions." "Is it rare?" "Yes, it's quite rare. It grows by drawing in the strength of the surrounding soil. There's a theory that it grows by absorbing the energy from deceased monsters. Some research indicated that people who buried monsters managed to grow it, and they claimed the experiment was a success in their books." So, there could have been a monster that died here. "Eventually, it was found that magic stones influence its growth. Thus, it's unsuitable for cultivation due to the high costs." Depending on the number of magic stones required, the cost might be too high, making cultivation impractical. "Do you mind if I take a moment to gather some?" "Go ahead. I'll keep watch around us." "Thank you." Mane packs the leaves she collected into a small cloth pouch. She finishes gathering the herbs without any monster disturbances. "I'm done." Mane looks delighted to have obtained the herb. We resume our journey. Despite moving forward, the scenery remains unchanged. The forest stretches endlessly. Without the bear's mapping skills, we would have been hopelessly lost. If we're going to make progress, markers like ribbons are indispensable. After about an hour, we spot the ribbon. I'm relieved to have reached the next one successfully. "There are more ribbons now." Three red ribbons hang from the tree branches. It's suddenly a junction. "Which way should we go? By the way, that direction has monsters." The bear puppet gestures toward a route with six wolf signals. "I'd rather avoid encountering monsters. Kumakyuu, can you bring us closer to the ribbons?" Kumakyuu follows Mane's instruction and approaches the ribbons. Mane stands on Kumakyuu, inspecting them. "But with so many ribbons, wouldn't even the people who tied them lose track?" If there were a hundred ribbons, it would be impossible to identify your own. "You really don't know, do you, Yuna?" Mane sits back on Kumakyuu and takes out a ribbon from her item bag. "The end of this ribbon has a magic circle sewn into it. Once you run magic through it, it only responds to the person who did." When Mane touches the end of the ribbon, a magic circle glows and appears. "This way, they can tell if it's their ribbon." Even so, if there were a hundred, verifying each would be quite a task. "By the way, we made these at the Magic Bureau. They might be pricier than regular ribbons, but they're quite popular." Research alone doesn't bring in money. Even hiring Mane and her fellow researchers requires funding. Selling useful items to the public might be their way of earning. "But doesn't it cause issues if other adventurers can't verify them?" "If they can't afford these ribbons, then surely they shouldn't be venturing deep into the forest, right?" Mane answers straightforwardly. "If an adventurer can't even afford these marker ribbons, it means they're not earning enough to justify the risk. Venturing deeply into the forest would be akin to courting death." Indeed, in our previous world, it would be like entering a forest without a map or compass. These days, location could be tracked with a phone or GPS, but here... Mane chooses a ribbon and we proceed in that direction. She mentioned she's heard from the adventurer up to a few paths ahead where they encountered monsters.