[Original Novel] The Wicked Wizard Episode 13

Episode 13: Forest Jewel

The three horns on the head of Ray the goblin.

"I've heard they represent time, space, and matter."

Ray revealed the meaning of his three horns.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

The traveling swordsman, Alun, crossed his thick, muscular arms and tilted his head dramatically.

"In other words—the abilities of you goblins have to do with time, space, and matter...!"

Lumi, the former spirit, had a beautiful light shining in her red eyes.
Unlike Alun, who had no idea what Ray the goblin was talking about, Lumi, as a former spirit, seemed to intuitively understand the meaning of Ray's words.
However, Ray himself,

"Who knows? I still don't get it myself."

Even though he had been taught the meaning of his horns, he didn't understand his own abilities.
Ray knew nothing about the true power of a goblin's special ability—the Goblin Bonus Point. He was only aware that his physical abilities were superior to those of a human. He assumed his parents, being adults, could use special abilities.
Ray had left his parents without being taught about his special abilities. It seemed to be the teaching of the goblin tribe that each individual should discover and develop their own abilities.

"I was also taught that the three horns stand for energy, courage, and perseverance."

"That's quite different."

Alun pointed out, half-squinting. It had changed from the three grand elements that represent this world to a philosophy of grit.
The reason Ray was revealing the details about his horns to Alun and Lumi was because the wizard Rayol, who had been with them just a moment ago, had suddenly said,

"I hear a calling from over there. You lot, wait here."

That was what he had said.

"Huh? A calling?"

Alun asked back involuntarily. However, Rayol just started walking deep into the forest without any explanation.

"Rayol...! I understand that Ray is a goblin—but tell me about your journey, and about the destination of your journey...!"

At that moment, Alun called out loudly to Rayol's back.
However, Rayol's reply was,

"I suspect that you and Lumi will be forced to listen to my story whether you like it or not soon enough. There will be time while we are working with our hands. Long stories are perfect for times like that."

He left those mysterious words behind and disappeared beyond the trees.
In the forest, Ray, Alun, and Lumi were left behind.

"Did you hear something?"

Alun asked, but Ray didn't know either. However, Lumi replied,

"I felt like I heard something faintly—like a voice singing from far away."

She answered.

"Singing? That makes it even more of a mystery."

Rayol's subsequent "task of moving his hands" was also a mystery. Being left behind with someone who didn't understand either, there was nothing but confusion.

Um.

Ray, having taken off his hat, decided to explain about his horns to fill the time while he didn't know what else to do. Then, Ray talked about his past. How he went to town, caused a stir with some minor mischief, and was sealed away due to a misunderstanding by the humans. How he was saved by Rayol after a long passage of time. And that he had just started traveling with Rayol. Ray apologized for pretending to be a human boy until now.

"The journey to collect hats was also a lie."

"It was a lie?!"

Alun seemed genuinely surprised. Ray hadn't expected that he had believed it that much. After telling the whole story, Rayol still hadn't returned. Just as Ray was about to explain about Rayol's journey and this world on Rayol's behalf, Rayol finally appeared.

"I received so many of these. Now, I need your help with the work."

Huh!?

Ray, Alun, and Lumi stared at Rayol in surprise. In the arms of the returning Rayol—there were countless glowing green orbs.

"What are those!?"

It was something Ray was seeing for the first time too. He thought they were probably some kind of energy. However, it seemed Lumi had never seen them either. As for Alun, he looked completely bewildered, as if the objects were neither man-made nor plants.

"They are Forest Jewels. A gift from the Master of the Forest."

Rayol smiled broadly and gestured with his chin for everyone to head over there.

"Forest Jewels!?"

"The Master of the Forest!?"

"A reward!? And what do you mean by 'over there'!? Where are we going!?"

Ray, Lumi, and Alun asked in succession.

"The Forest Jewel is a precious gem. If you breathe on it and wash it in river water, it becomes a beautiful stone. The Master of the Forest is the master of this forest. It seems it has been troubled for many years, having been infested by those ten monsters and having the forest ravaged by their malevolent energy. The voice we heard earlier was the Master of the Forest. It called us because it wanted to reward us for defeating the monsters. It wanted to give us the Forest Jewel. So, we got it. That's why we're heading to the river ahead."

Rayol answered everyone's questions all at once.

"Come on. Help me wash it in the river. We'll sell the jewel in town and split the money."

Splash, splash, splash.

As promised, Rayol honestly told Alun and Lumi about his journey—a journey to graduate from being human. He also told them that this was his third time in this world, about the monster Woybile that had destroyed the world twice, and that defeating that monster was the purpose of his journey.

"You... are you planning to become a monster?"

Although he seemed a bit unsure of how to respond given the many questions and points to address, that was Alun's first remark.

"Naturally."

"Why?"

"As I said before, I am graduating from being human."

Splash, splash.

Lumi listened in silence, and Ray didn't interrupt Rayol's story, focusing instead on the work. This was because the Forest Jewel seemed happy with the river water, bouncing excitedly on the surface of the water.

"Hey, don't struggle so much!"

"I know, I know, it's fun. Calm down."

He chided the Forest Jewel like that, but according to Rayol, the Forest Jewel is an energy entity, not a living thing, and it stabilizes as a material by 'working' to petrify itself. Furthermore, 'stabilizing as a material' is the complete form of the Forest Jewel, which is the final form of its energy and the desired destination for the Forest Jewel.

"Alun. Because of that, my destination is the foot of a mountain called Mount Sekihaku in the neighboring country, where Woybile is said to sleep. It is an extremely dangerous journey. I don't mind if you decide to quit at any time."

Rayol said this with a serious expression while pulling up the Forest Jewel, which was trying to dive deep into the river happily. Sunlight caught the water spray, making it sparkle.

"Quit?"

Alun grabbed the forest jewels in his hand and shouted.

"Defeating a monster that will destroy the world? Count me in! Once I've heard a story like that, I can't just stay silent! I'm going too!"

Rayol stared at Alun, looking slightly surprised.

"Oh?"

"Use my power too! For the sake of the world--"

The green glow of the forest jewels was clear and endless, as if one could be drawn into it. The water's surface was sparkling.

"You're brave."

Rayol smiled at him.

"I won't let you be the only monster."

Alun returned the smile.

"No, that is my wish, though."

"I don't care about that."

There was still time before dusk. Everyone climbed out of the river. The forest jewels, having enjoyed the river to the fullest, had all safely petrified.

"Oh. I can hear a song."

As they passed through the forest, Lumi turned back and murmured.

"It seems they are wishing us a safe journey, telling us to take care."

Rayol turned back and bowed to the forest. Everyone followed Rayol's lead and bowed deeply. They arrived at the next town before evening. The forest jewels sold for a very high price. The green light illuminated by the candlelight,

"It's only natural that we are valuable!"

It seemed to be puffing out its chest with pride.

◆Work published on Shousetsuka ni Narou◆