“Arata! Start a fire, I'm hauling him up.” Rachamah shouts in his direction.

  She's a monster… as expected of the strongest creature I've met in this world, though I suppose I haven't met the Erlking yet. Nonetheless, there is some wood already chopped and ready, none of the other oni seem like they want to fight as only the women, children and the more intelligent men were left.

  As the fire starts, a chunk of unappetizing meat is suspended over the flames. Propped up against the flames were skewers of forest mushrooms.

  “Say Rachamah… don't we kinda feel like the bad guys? I was kinda an intruder, so it's unwarranted in a way?” Arata questions.

  “The guys that would've thrown you into the pit and wanted to have you fed to the moss?” Rachamah comments back.

  True point… maybe we're all batshit insane then. Nonetheless, Arata pulls off a mushroom skewer.

  “I was thinking about their this or one of the fae knights, but… You should try eating a being corrupted with the Erlking’s magic if your body can handle it?” Arata explains, trying to pose the idea in a way she wouldn't refuse immediately.

  Rachamah tilts her head in confusion, “Yeah? Wasn't that the whole point? You figured out my ability from the manual. I ate some of the sand moss from the floor of the arena.”

  Disgusting! Why would you- Arata cuts his thoughts off, handing Rachamah a skewer which she downs in one bite. Then another, then another and finally the ones she picked off of Goichi’s corpse.

  Arata questions, “Do you feel any different?”

  Rachamah comments, “they’ve got a distinct umami… good pairing with meat, there are ones which seem to have a sensory deprivation effect, the variations affected by the Erlking are meant to heighten pain alongside dopamine receptors…”

  Why does she talk about this like wine tasting? Arata zoned out after hearing that word, staring closely at her. To avoid seeming distrusting he asks, “like a spicy flavor?”

  “No, like grinning uncontrollably while you are beaten to death.” Rachamah corrects, only leaving more questions.

  I guess that explains why they were simultaneously addicted to death matches and shrooms.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  With that, Arata has nothing more to say, watching Rachamah gorge herself on the hunt, handing her some water as slowly Chive and her elves approach camp.

  “Arata… is that who I think it is? Hi Rachael!” Chive exclaims.

  Rachamah continues to slowly eat as the fairy zips around her before finally speaking, “Good seeing you again onion.”

  Immediately, all the elf soldiers go completely quiet. They don’t want to risk saying anything during such a moment. It’s hard to tell which expression is on Chive’s face.

  “Ahahaha, so you still do have that sense of humor. According to Arata you're our best shot at killing the Erlking… you're really fine eating those mushrooms.” Chive shivers a bit at the sight.

  “It's so I can adapt… eating it helps me understand the inner workings of the abilities. If the corruption is along the lines of making a Regalia, then I can ensure it's unable to touch me. I can resist the change of soul shaping. Probably why you brought me here, Arata.” Rachamah points out.

  Arata nods before deciding to ask, “Can you absorb any abilities that may be useful from the mushrooms?”

  Rachamah pauses for a second, “No, the more souls I consume, the less each soul is defined… I only use a limited number of techniques. I can only use four moves.” Rachamah raises her eyebrow at him like this was obvious information.

  What's with this bird I found on Route 1?! Next time why don't I just shove candy down your throat until you one-hit kill the Erlking?!

  “Rachamah… we’ll be trying to meet up with the hero’s party so the sooner we can be done here the better. I can keep moving without sleep since it's only going to take two days. I assume you don't need sleep either?” Arata questions her. In response, Rachamah nods yet her attention turns to the elves.

  “Just worried about our guides… how can they move at our pace?” Rachamah mentions to which Chive clears her throat.

  Chive pauses before stating, “They’ve been given a forest fairy’s grace. You should know by now, as expressions of the forest’s magic as long as there is mana in the forest… those influenced by a fairy never runs out of energy. Its inverse is why the alraune are like zombies.”

  Arata nods before standing up, the oni all around them seemed to turn docile so he decides on just leaving. The longer we spend trying to reach them, the more likely it is they'll be in danger.

  With that, Rachamah tries talking with her mouth full, yet no real words leave her throat. She swallows back the rest of the Oni meat before accompanying Arata.

  “Arata, Chive, I’m thirsty. Get me some water, anyone?”

  Chive obliges, handing over her pouch in admiration, “As you command, Rachamah. Anything else you need? The trek through the forest gets quite boring.”

  Chive rests on Rachamah’s shoulder, talking into Rachamah’s ear. She giggles, receiving back the deadpan responses Arata always got.

  She said she was inspired by Rachamah and me. Surely she doesn’t mean just Rachamah, not the best role model. Arata’s eyes drift away from the two ladies onto the camp behind them.

  He regretted asking Rachamah, she had no sense of morals. They did want to kill him yet Arata despised having to blame people for factors outside their control.