We arrived at a rather small village. The map says we’re now in Dalsnir. Hmm, it’s already nighttime, so I think it’d be best to look for an inn to sleep in. She parks the iron wagon near the village pond. This place has lots of magic-powered lanterns for a small village, and even a wooden fort! There’re also a bunch of tents inside the fort. Maybe there aren’t enough houses for everyone? Though the tent dwellers look like they got here in a hurry. Maybe they’re refugees? There isn’t any war nearby, though. Whelp, I’m going to look for an inn. My stomach’s rumbling, so hopefully one that serves nice big meals.

I also noticed a bunch of stuff going on. Local watchmen, hunters from the Guild, armed mercenaries, and even a few Death Kor- wait, what the hell’s going on? Why is there a small army in this village? I asked a watchman about this, and he was confused, thinking I was a Guild member and that I should know, maybe because of how I was dressed, but then he explained that there was a mimic bear in the woods that was terrorising everyone. Ah f-ck, not those horrifying nightmarish… things! A maneating plant would look like a pretty flower beside a f-cking MIMIC BEAR! And there’s one nearby right now? No f-cking way! I asked him if there was an inn inside the fort. He said no, but nevertheless told me to stay inside the fort for my safety. Ughh… uhmm… well, I have to tell Miss Gertud about this.

I came back to Miss Gertud and told her what was going on. She grabbed her rifle, for protection. I told her to park the wagon inside the fort for our safety. Ludvig asked me what was going on, and I told him what the watchman told me—there was a mimic bear and we needed to stay behind a small army while they go out and kill it. Inside the fort, Gertud told us to stay in the wagon, but I’m going outside to ask some more about what the hell is going on. I told her I’d be fine, and she just worriedly sighed.

I sat down near the campfire in the middle of the fort. The folks were nice, talking about daily life and that kind of stuff, almost like a big family. I asked them how many mimic bears there were that they had to call in the Death Korps. One Kattnius hunter said that there’re either 5 or 6 of them. Huh? Oh sweet Holy Mother, there must be a nest nearby if that many were seen at once! The Death Korps are out there with the local hunters, searching for the nest so they could destroy it, though they left 4 soldiers in case the mimics came near the village. I know they’re elite soldiers trained in all forms of combat, but I seriously doubt 4 would be enough. Well, at least they’re here to begin with. I can’t deny I feel much safer seeing them around. I also asked if any of the “Giants” would be involved to deal with the mimics, but there is still no answer from the Guild. It would be easier if they could come here and be done with it.

As you may very well know, ladies and gentlemen, those creatures are the stuff of nightmares. Even with a whole battalion here, everyone’s still afraid of it! And let me tell you, they’re right to be afraid. You really don’t want to be inside their gaping belly-mouths, and you’d better pray for an instant death if you were unfortunate enough to be a victim of one. For young and inexperienced adventurers, I recommended not going to the woods alone, if at all. At least bring someone else along or, better yet, join a big group to better your chances of survival. Magenbushers, fire-enhanced Hakenbushers, or fire elemental magics are the best accessible options for fighting one, but you can also use other higher class magics, like blood, feral, or dark, among others, if you’ve mastered them. Ughaa… I put the wrong enhancement on my Hakenbusher… oh well.

I heard gunshots and roaring. The battle has begun. Everyone in the camp stood up and got their weapons, so I pulled out my Hakenbusher and prepared to fight. Ughaa… the gun noise got louder and louder; they must be getting close. I nearly dropped my notebook while climbing the fort tower, looking for the best spot to shoot from. Then, we saw two Death Korps soldiers, a handful of experienced mercenaries, and some local hunters fighting against that f-cking thing in close quarters. Normally, you shouldn’t be anywhere near it while fighting because they can launch their tentacles and pull you inside them, and once they caught you, you’re done! We fired our weapons to help to the group who was fighting on the ground. We all saw that bastard, mauling and killing many good warriors.

Well, we killed that bastard! The wounded Death Korps solder then cast a very powerful fire spell to burn the damned mimic to a crisp, just to be sure! F-ck! Another one managed to break into the fort. We shot at that piece of sh-t again and again and again! I saw Miss Gertud using her Ostsee weapon at that thing! Though her shots barely scratched the monster, pissing it off even more. And then, and then, it grabbed Miss Gertud with its tentacles! We all thought she was done for, but oh boy, right at the last minute, the thing was chopped clean in half. We looked to see who killed it, and it was former Caserine Gunhild!! She arrived just at the right time! She then unleashed her blood magic to set the thing’s carcass on fire. I was going to thank her, but then she leaped forth and killed the last mimic as it tried to bust down the gates. Wheww…

I went to hug Miss Gertud and Ludvig, I thought I was going to lose them! She just smiled and told me that she’s fine and to go to sleep. Ngyuh… she nearly made me cry!! I also overheard something from a Hundmenn mercenary talking to his fellows—out of around three hundred folks around the village fighting the creatures, 34 were killed and 67 more were wounded. We got lucky, I guess. It puts me at ease to know that those things are dead. Hopefully a second party could find the nest and burn it down. Well, I’m off to sleep in Gertud’s iron wagon. I’m damn dead tired from that fight.

"Last night, Eros told me to take her notebook and write things down while she sleeps. It is early in the morning now, so I might as well. I went outside my car, and someone called my attention. She gave me a sack of money, saying “You did well, even risking yourself against that bloody mimic. I threw in a bit extra for you.” I was confused, but I thanked the kind woman and took the money anyway, since we might need it. I carried the heavy bag to the car, and walked around. Some of the houses were damaged in the fighting, and the shops are not open yet. I am trying to look for the unknown woman who saved me last night, so I could properly thank her.

After a few minutes of walking, I found her fishing by the lake. I approached her and offered my sincerest thanks, and she said that it was nothing, as she was just protecting her fellows in battle. I offered her some of the money, and she refused, saying she already got a huge share for killing most of the monsters. I asked for her name, and she told me she was Gunhild Rosenberg af Germanyth. I introduced myself in turn, and she asked me if I have eaten, and after I replied no, to call Eros and Ludvig so the four of us could prepare breakfast and share a meal together. She was about to cook some skewered Macula fish she got from the lake." - Gertrud Wallen [ Terra Britania ]

Miss Gertud woke me up and gave me back my notebook. She told me that someone invited us for breakfast. When I asked who, she said it was Caserine Gunhild! I was like “EHH? FOR REAL?!” I was really happy and honoured to be invited for breakfast by Her Majesty, but Miss Gertud looked confused and asked “Why are you so excited about breakfast with her?” I told her who Caserine Gunhild really was, and the look of shock and embarrassment on her face was priceless. She just met a member of royalty. She was really confused at first, and then she ran back to Caserine Gunhild, bowing and apologising. Hahahaha! I think Miss Gertud embarrassed Caserine Gunhild more than she did herself after all the looks they got! Well, I carried Ludvig, half-awake, so we could all eat breakfast~!

Macula is often considered a fish for commoners due to its abundance in Volland. Normally a plain-tasting fish, Miss Gunhild did a good job flavouring it well.

Oh, Caserine Gunhilda still recognises me! She gave me a hug… muugh… it’s very nice of her, but she hugs way too tightly! I introduced Ludvig, who just muttered a half-awake hello. Caserine Gunhild giggled and introduced herself to Ludvig. Oh, uuhh… she told me she doesn’t like beingg called “Caserine” since, well, she isn’t one anymore. I’m going to call her Miss Gunhild then. Ooohhh, those look like skewered Maculas, I just wonder how those taste! You see, she was one of those who taught Miss Thyra a few things about cooking, so it’s bound to be good!

Miss Gunhild sprinkled some mixed spice powder on the Macula and gave it to me on a bowl of sweet roasted yams, doing the same to the others. Hmm! It smells really good for a basic ragtag campfire meal! Ludvig instantly woke up after eating a small piece of skewered fish, and Miss Gertud said the spice gives it a nice flavour and gives the mouth a bit of a tingle. I took a bite too, and WHOOM! I never thought Macula could be this delicious! Macula has a reputation for being a cheap fish with not much flavour, but Miss Gunhild’s spice mix definitely punches your tongue with a flavourful fist! And the meat is cooked perfectly tender; I could even describe it as a bit creamy. And the sweet yam, this isn’t just some run-of-the-mill yam! The texture is almost gooey, it melts in your mouth, and has a nice mild honey-like taste that coats your tongue. She told me, it is an outworldish variant of sweet yam she picked up from Neu Breslau. Aha, I see! She stopped by there too. I wonder if she also has some of their canned goods? Hueee~

Nghwaa! I ended up eating two whole fishes and three whole yams; my tummy is full now~. Miss Gunhild then put something beside the Campfire. Hmm… it looks like another canned food, and my guess is correct! She then opened them and gave them to us, and I don’t understand what’s written on it. It looks like some Oriental language, but there is a little translation below it. Hmm it reads “Sweet Maize Drink”. Hmm? It sure resembles and even sounds like Mayez, an imported crop brought to Volland from the New World by the Gerseniche Riche. I really want to visit the New World someday! Anyway, the drink is mildly sweet, and the campfire gave it a nice warmth. Fyuuh! Good for cold mornings!

"This breakfast is quite delicious. The fish was soft, savoury, and spicy, and the yams were really nice! And it was all nicely finished with the sweet maize drink! I still cannot believe that I was cooked for by a royal!" - Gertrud Wallen [ Terra Britania ]

"This Sweet Maize is awesome! A-and the breakfast also! I really like spicy food! The yam really balances it out, too. Uhh, uhh! Thank you, Miss Gunhild for saving my big sister and for inviting us to a delicious breakfast!" - Ludvig Wallen

While they started talking about their personal lives and stuff, I told them that I’m going to take a walk around the village. Hmm, I see hunters and mercenaries already waking up and preparing their respective breakfasts; some of them are even packing up. Oh, a Human girl approached me and gave me a pouch of money, saying “Thank you for helping out.” Well, to be honest, I just don’t like those goddamned creatures. I asked if a second party managed to find the nest, she told me took an entire Death Korps squadron to burn it and kill the last mimic bear. TAKE THAT, F-CKERS! Ehe, moving on, I thanked her and told her to stay safe. A hunter who seems to have recognized me gave me a bottle of fruit brandy! Wow, what a nice guy! Looking around, most shops here are not open yet, except one, with a sign written in Warrenich…

It says “Uein’s Warrenich Magical Herb”. Uhuu… merchants, hunters, and mercenaries are already gathering around and buying stuff. Interesting. I asked a hunter about this shop, she just said she heard from somewhere that this place makes interesting potions, elixirs, and poisons. A merchant told me I could get odd spices made from toxic herbs here, and that those spices are considered by many as a luxury good. Holy sh-t! Anyway, the shop is run by a Wood Elf and a Warrenich. I know some of the goods here are quite poisonous. I’m just wondering if this so-called spice is really okay to eat. They told me that it’s fine as long as I don’t eat too much. Seems concerning. Welp, I bought a small jar of what seems to be False Moonberry leaves soaked in something. Yeah, False Moonberry; just one fruit is enough to give anyone a slow painful death. I don’t know about the leaf, though. The shopkeeper told me that this one’s already been processed by being left submerged in a solution, so it is kind of edible? I guess there’s only one way to find out. I took one leaf and popped it in my mouth. Hmmm… it’s tingling in my mouth, kind of similar to the sensation of Einnfit Wasabi, though the texture is more like soggy spinach. Hmm… maybe I can use it as a substitute for Wasabi? Hehehe, I’m smort!