Canal's Heroics? (Part 2)
Salem’s Point of View
We arrived at Shinana Village before noon and planned to check the orc cave in the forest in the afternoon. Canal said he wanted to come along, so when we asked Nat, he said that as long as it wasn't a bother, we should take him along. So, we took Canal with us into the forest.
Thanks to the Knights Order leaving markers, we were able to reach the vicinity of the cave without getting lost.
"Something's up ahead." Gregory, who had gone ahead to scout, reported. As we continued down the path toward the cave, Gregory came back.
"There are five goblins at the cave entrance. The cave was originally their dwelling, so they might have returned now that the orcs are gone."
"With five at the entrance, there might be a significant number inside the cave."
"Reinhardt said the cave isn't very deep. Also, when the numbers were high before, they spread the smoke from Sleep Grass throughout the cave, which slowed them down and even put some orcs to sleep." Canal added.
I wanted to ask more questions, but we had to deal with the goblins first.
"I have Sleep Grass, and I can use my barrier to keep the smoke from escaping the cave for a while. It's worth a try."
"I'll take care of the goblins at the entrance with my magic. Meanwhile, you guys burn the Sleep Grass in the cave." Allie and Linka agreed.
Allie and I engaged the goblins at the entrance, while Gregory and Will burned the Sleep Grass at the cave's entrance. Once Gregory and the others exited, Linka sealed off the entrance with her barrier.
After a while, Linka knocked on the barrier from the inside, signaling that it was time to release it. We readied our swords, and as soon as the barrier was lifted, about fifteen goblins came rushing out. Two of them were Goblin Soldiers.
While I was dealing with the goblins in front, a large water sphere was launched at one of the Goblin Soldiers in the back, covering its face. Unable to breathe, it struggled and soon stopped moving.
I took down the other Goblin Soldier, and we also finished off twenty-three goblins that had been asleep or sluggish inside the cave.
Forty-three in total. That was quite a number.
Just as I was about to call Canal, Allie was already shaking him.
"Canal, what was that magic just now!?"
"Uh, Reinhardt said our water magic has no power even if we shoot it from a distance. So, instead of interfering with those fighting in the front, he suggested we cover the heads of monsters in the back with water spheres to suffocate them. He said the bigger the target, the easier it is to hit. So, I tried it."
What kind of thought process does Canal’s friend have? The bigger the monster, the more troublesome it is, and he thinks of it as a larger target that’s easier to hit…?
Allie slumped in frustration after hearing that.
"Canal, that was impressive, but your magic is still developing. It’s fine when you're with high-ranking adventurers like us, but never go into the forest with just kids."
"Yeah, I know. Reinhardt also said he only goes into the forest with strong people. That’s why my dad only let me go because I was with you, Mr. Salem."
"Canal, you have to introduce me to your friend, Reinhardt." Allie insisted.
I’d like to meet him too.
"I’d be willing to give up my reward for this job just to meet this Reinhardt. I can use water magic, but my mana is low, so I haven’t used it much. I want him to teach me how to produce hot water and boiling water." Will, usually quiet, also pleaded.
Canal said he meets Reinhardt twice a week when his uncle, who belongs to the Westland House’s Magic Divison, teaches him.
If the Magic Divison members are personally training them, those two must have a lot of mana.
Canal promised to talk to his uncle about it.
I really want to meet him.
After cleaning up the goblins and collecting proof of the subjugation by cutting off their ears, we returned to the village.
When we arrived, Nat called Canal over, saying the village's communal bath was now full of water.
Canal invited everyone to join, and we all headed to the communal bath. Using his boiling water magic, he adjusted the temperature for the bath.
Maybe it was because it was after a battle, but the bath felt even more relaxing than usual.
What do you think about this chapter?
