Chapter 195

The Little One
Having finally achieved her long-awaited D-rank, Joan had only half a month left before starting at the academy—but of course, she wasn’t spending that time preparing. Instead, she was out completing guild requests every day. And today was no different…

Today’s request was the extermination of horned rabbits in the southern forest, the Crimson Woods.

[Horned Rabbit] A rabbit with a single horn growing from its forehead. Its fur is white or brown, and it’s considered the weakest type of magical beast. When it makes eye contact, it charges.
Its meat is delicious. The fur is used for accessories, and the horn is an ingredient for antidotes.

Apparently, restaurants, armor shops, and apothecaries all requested them at the same time, so they needed a large quantity.

And of course, today’s partner was Pearl.

“Alright, we’re here. Let’s see if there are any bunnies~”

“(Mm~ I don’t sense any around here yet.)

“Then let’s head deeper in.”

(Got it.)

In spring, the Crimson Woods were lush with fresh green leaves, and a gentle breeze carrying the scent of new growth drifted through the forest.

“Mmm, the forest in spring feels so nice~”

Stretching her body atop Pearl’s back, Joan sighed contentedly.

(It really does~... Oh! There, over there.)

Even while running, Pearl kept searching for their target.

Before them stood a white horned rabbit. It let out a kyee and charged.

“One down.”

(Ah, there’s another one over here… Two.)

A short distance away, Pearl had already captured a brown horned rabbit.

“Alright, let’s keep going and catch as many as we can!”

(Okaaay!)

In just under an hour, they caught 30 white and 20 brown rabbits.

Finishing earlier than expected, they followed Pearl’s lead to a spring deeper in the Crimson Woods.

“Wow~…”

The place Pearl led her to was a spring of crystal-clear water bubbling from the earth. The water was unbelievably transparent, a stunning emerald green. Upon closer inspection, Joan realized it wasn’t the water’s color, but the color of the sand at the bottom. Around the spring bloomed colorful flowers, birds chirped from the treetops, and the whole area had a mystical atmosphere.

“It’s so beautiful here…”

(Right? Mom used to bring me here when I was little.)

“Really? … Is it okay? For me to come to a place filled with memories of your mom?”

(Of course. Sure, it’s a place with memories of my mom, but I’d love for it to become a place with memories of you too. I’ve always wanted to bring you here once I became an adventurer.)

“Thank you, Pearl.”

(Ehehe, you’re welcome.)

Joan dipped her hand into the spring—it was icy cold, as expected from snowmelt water.

While having tea with Pearl by the spring, the birds suddenly stopped chirping.

Scanning the surroundings, Joan noticed a tree swaying, despite there being no wind.

“Huh?”

Looking closer, the tree was walking toward the spring.

“Ah, a Treant.”

[Treant] A walking tree. They patrol the forest to protect it from intruders, teach young trees how to defend themselves, do weeding and sow seeds, and generally care for the forest.
Possesses enough strength to shatter solid rock with ease. Resistant to arrows and poison. Only axes or fire can inflict serious damage.

The Treant approached the spring, raising its branch-like arms. After a moment, it lowered them. One of the branches held something—not a flower, leaf, or fruit, but something else entirely. With its other hand—branch—it scooped water from the spring and gently dabbed the object repeatedly.

“Hey, Pearl… what’s it doing?”

(Dunno… Want me to ask?)

“Huh? You can talk to it?”

“It’s more like… telepathy.”

“Ah, I see. Okay, then please do.”

Joan reminded herself that Pearl wasn’t just a dog, but a monster.

(Joan, I asked. The Treant said it found a ‘small one’ collapsed in the forest, so it brought them to the spring.)

“Pearl? Do you think I could take a look? Maybe I can help.”

(Yeah, I’ll ask.)

After a short exchange…

(Okay, the Treant says if there’s a chance the little one can be saved by a human, then go ahead.)

“Thank you. Treant, I’m coming over.”

Not knowing if it understood her words, Joan still called out. The Treant waved an empty branch as if beckoning her.

As she approached cautiously, Pearl added,

(It’s okay, you can just walk up. I already told the Treant if it hurts you, I’ll zap it with lightning.)

“Uhh… Thanks, Pearl.”

My kid… totally just threatened a Treant…

The Treant extended its branch holding the small one toward Joan. Nestled in its grip was a creature covered in frosty-blue fur, curled up tightly, its breathing labored as if in pain.

(Tell me its condition… Search.)

[Small One (Tentative)] Condition: Poisoned
Note: Stung by a Killer Bee; poison spreading through body.

“Crap. I need to detox them, fast. Treant, can you hand them over? I’ll try to cure them.”

The Treant extended the branch further. Joan gently took the small creature.

(Whoa, so fluffy… I wanna snuggle it…)

“Joan, antidote first.”

(Ah, right…)

Joan laid a towel across her lap, placed the small one on it, took out a soup dish from her storage, and filled it with room-temperature water using Aqua.

“This water has detox properties. Can you drink it? … Ah, Pearl, can you tell them?”

(Got it.)

With Pearl’s encouragement, the small one weakly lifted its head and drank. After about a third of the water, it curled back up, but its breathing stabilized.

Casting Search again—

[Small One (Tentative)] Condition: Healthy, but hungry
Note: Poison fully removed by Joan’s water.

“Thank goodness… Hehe, you’re hungry? But what can you eat?”

(Probably anything.)

“Really? Then… how about bread and warm milk?”

Joan poured hot milk and bread into the soup dish, making an instant bread porridge.

The smell of milk made the small one perk up. With Pearl’s reassurance, it hesitantly tasted the porridge. One bite was enough to reveal the deliciousness, and soon it plunged its face into the dish, devouring the food.