"Imagine leaving the Demon Forest only to turn right back around and head into it again…"

"It’s like we never left," Rio said with a small laugh.

We walked along the dirt road that cut through the grasslands. Occasionally, a carriage would pass us or we’d come across an empty one heading back the other way, but we were the only ones traveling on foot.

"Walking like this really makes it obvious—there’s nothing out here," I said, glancing at the barren scenery.

"The grass is shorter than in the fields we crossed yesterday, so at least we can see further around us," Rio observed.

"Which only highlights how empty it is," I countered.

"True," she said with a chuckle.

After an hour of walking, scattered trees began to appear. By the second hour, patches of exposed dirt replaced the grass, signaling our approach to the forest. Along the way, we encountered a wolf-like monster that we swiftly defeated and stored away in my dimensional storage.

"It’d be nice to carry our kills visibly on the way back," I said, considering our options.

"Why not just keep using the dimensional storage?" Rio asked.

"Well, hauling a kill back on our shoulders would make it more obvious that we’re the ones who took it down. Might help avoid unnecessary trouble," I explained.

"Good point… though it’s a bit inconvenient," Rio admitted with a sigh.

Eventually, hunger got the better of us. We ventured off the road about a kilometer into the grasslands, cleared an area with earth magic, and set up an impromptu kitchen. Using a magically created stove and cookware from storage, we whipped up some soup and steak.

"This is good, but we could really use more seasoning," Rio said, savoring a bite.

I nodded. Our supplies were functional but basic.

After nearly four hours of walking, we finally reached a clearing. The road seemed to end abruptly here, but a narrow path extended further into the woods. This must have been where the shared carriages heading to the Demon Forest dropped people off.

"All right, time to find those Regulus Fruits," I said, surveying the area.

"Let’s check further in," Rio suggested.

The Regulus Fruit was a fist-sized, oval, red fruit covered in thorns. It was sweet and delicious—basically a cactus fruit, though the trees that bore it could grow as tall as three meters. Unfortunately, with so many towering trees in the forest, spotting them from above wasn’t an option.

"Shall we split up as usual?"

"Sounds good. We’ll cover more ground that way," I agreed.

We separated, keeping just within range of each other’s presence detection skills but out of sight.

"Looks like there are a few others around," I muttered, sensing occasional flickers of movement from other adventurers. I ignored them as long as they weren’t on a collision course with me.

However, after about an hour, I noticed four distinct presences ahead, directly in my path. To avoid an encounter, I adjusted my course slightly, but…

"Why are they closing in?" I grumbled.

Despite my attempt to divert, they continued moving toward me. Clearly, they’d noticed me.

Deciding there was no point in avoiding them anymore, I stopped and waited. Soon enough, two figures emerged from the brush—a heavily armored red-haired man and a leaner, lightly equipped one.

"…A kid?"

That was their opening remark. I sighed internally.

"Can I help you with something?" I asked.

The red-haired man glanced back and waved to someone behind him. Moments later, two women in robes stepped into view—probably magic users.

"We were just surprised to sense someone wandering the Demon Forest alone. It’s dangerous out here," the red-haired man explained.

"Ah, I see. No need to worry—I’m not alone. I have a partner," I replied calmly.

"I… see…"

Despite my assurance, the group exchanged hushed whispers.

"Still, I don’t see this partner of yours anywhere…"

"Oh, she’s nearby," I said, glancing past them. Sure enough, Rio was closing in while suppressing her presence.

"Actually, she’s right behind you," I added with a smirk.

The two men spun around, startled, as Rio stepped into view. Their tense expressions betrayed their surprise.

"Something wrong, Shu?" Rio asked, tilting her head.

"Nope. They were just concerned about a ‘kid’ wandering alone in the forest," I replied, emphasizing the word kid.

"Ah, I see," Rio said, smiling faintly.

The four adventurers resumed whispering among themselves, though their body language suggested they’d relaxed slightly.

"Sorry about that," the red-haired man eventually said, scratching his head. "We were heading back to town and thought we’d offer to escort you, but… it seems like you’ve got things under control."

"Thank you for the offer, but we’re fine," I said politely.

"Heh, fair enough. Take care, then," the man said, gesturing for his group to follow him as they walked away.

"So, not all adventurers are bad," I remarked as we watched them go.

"Seems like it," Rio said with a small smile.