GILF Hunter

Chapter 480: 480 Map

’Guest, I am sorry. I’ve run out of items.’

The Witch said that to Rin, no longer bringing out any new goods.

The members, who had been blankly staring at Rin as she indiscriminately bought everything, only then realized Rin’s intention.

No matter how much a Witch had, there would be a limit to her possessions. If she bought everything, there would be nothing left to sell.

While a few members had been inside a Witch’s shop before, it was naturally their first time seeing the place sold out. They had never even considered that such a thing was possible.

’Sold out?’

’Then what happens? Can we not buy anything?’

The members watching from behind exchanged looks of bewilderment.

If you leave a Witch’s shop without buying anything, you get attacked by the Witch.

But... if the items are sold out and there’s nothing left to buy, what happens then?

Everyone simultaneously turned their gazes to observe the Witch’s reaction with tense faces.

And then....

The Witch looked at the other guests waiting behind and bowed her head.

’I am sorry, but I’ve run out of items. Please use the shop next time.’

’Whew....’

Everyone had been on guard, wondering if the Witch would attack them for not buying anything, but fortunately, she wasn’t unreasonable enough to force such nonsense.

The members let out sighs of relief.

’Then... can we just leave without buying anything?’

’What a relief. I thought we’d definitely be struck by the Labyrinth’s curse.’

Even if they had grown somewhat used to the Labyrinth, purifying Erosion was always a burden.

In particular, since this expedition was for personal reasons, it was difficult to receive support from their respective mercenary groups. Being caught by the Witch in such a situation could have turned into a significant headache.

While everyone was talking with relieved faces, the Witch pulled something from the bookshelf in the back and approached Rin.

’Guest. Since you have purchased so many items... I shall give you this as a special gift.’

’Eh? What is that?’

’It is a map of this place.’

Saying that, the Witch handed Rin a rolled-up piece of paper.

A bonus item received when clearing out all products in the Witch’s shop—the [Witch’s Forest Map].

When Rin unfurled it, a massive map of the Witch’s Forest, densely packed with numerous symbols, revealed itself.

The Witch pointed to a specific spot on the map with her finger and said.

’To buy so many of my potions, you seem like a guest with a great interest in alchemy! If you are interested, please visit this place. I shall leave word ahead of time.’

’Eh? Here? What’s there?’

’It is my garden. Since the things inside are what I grow, you may take whatever you like to your heart’s content!’

The Witch finished her explanation with a bright smile.

...Honestly, she didn’t understand what exactly was there, but Rin nodded appropriately and folded the map to pack it away.

After all, the person who would actually analyze this and make a decision was someone else.

When Rin glanced over at Ian, he nodded with a look that said that was enough.

Thus, Rin and the expedition members were able to safely leave the Witch’s shop without being attacked.

’Thank you! Please come again!’

’...It’s my first time seeing that Witch give such a greeting.’

Ariel muttered reflexively as she heard the Witch’s kind farewell from behind.

When someone bought just one of the cheapest items, she would wear a prickly expression and practically chase them out of the shop. Seeing her like this, she looked like a normal merchant rather than a Witch.

Confirming the shop door had closed, Ariel exhaled and spoke to Ian and Rin.

’Thanks to you, everyone got out safely. I’ll repay you later.’

’No, we also got quite a lot out of it.’

Ariel’s gaze turned toward the large backpack Tanya was carrying. Inside were the potions Rin had just bought in bulk from the Witch.

The Witch’s potions were only difficult to purchase because of the price called Erosion; in terms of performance alone, they were items of considerable value. They were on a different level compared to the potions made by the alchemists in Labyrinthos.

Since they swept up all those items, it would be a massive profit in terms of cost alone.

She didn’t know what the method of dealing with Erosion was, but to think this place could be conquered in such a way.

...Perhaps Fray would know at least a little bit. Since she seemed quite close to Leader Ian.

Curiosity piqued, Ariel decided she should ask Fray about it later.

Leaving the Witch’s shop and walking along the path for a while, the members were soon able to exit the flower garden.

Stopping there for a moment, the members asked Ariel for her opinion.

’We’ve come out for now... but what should we do now?’

’Are we just going back?’

’Let me think about it.’

According to the pre-determined manual, they were supposed to return immediately after encountering a Witch and successfully getting away.

The reason for that rule was the Erosion received at the Witch’s shop. Since it would be dangerous to force exploration out of greed for materials while heavily burdened with Erosion, it was established that they must return.

...But it was a rule that didn’t fit the current situation. Since they had escaped the Witch without any Erosion.

Because they never expected to encounter a Witch and return safely without any damage, they hadn’t set any rules for such a scenario.

How could anyone have made the assumption that someone immune to Erosion would sell out all the goods?

’Come to think of it, Miss Rin received a map from the Witch.’

Ariel spoke, recalling the item Rin had been gifted by the Witch. Everyone’s eyes gathered on the map Rin was holding.

’Leader Ian. Do you mind if I take a look for a moment?’

’Yes. We need to decide on a plan hereafter, so let’s look together.’

Rin unfolded the map she was holding in front of Ian and Ariel, and the members all gathered around them.

The map handed over by the Witch herself contained the entire vast territory of the [Witch’s Forest]. Everything, even the distant places the expedition had never reached before.

Inside that map were numerous memos and drawings that seemed to have been written by the Witch herself.

They were memos indicating the locations and names of objects within the forest. It was an item that could be said to contain practically all the information about this forest.

’Then... what does Leader Ian plan to do?’

Ariel asked while looking at Ian.

Ariel was the leader of the expedition, but since the ownership of this map now belonged to Ian, the authority to decide how to use it rested with him.

Ian looked at the map for a moment and checked the path.

Fortunately, it wasn’t that far to the target point, and it wasn’t blocked by dangerous areas.

It was a situation where the current members could sufficiently enter.

’Let’s all go to this place the Witch mentioned together.’

Ian’s finger pointed to a spot on the map.

It was the place the Witch had introduced to Rin as her [Garden].

＊ ＊ ＊

’Is it this way?’

’Be careful not to stray from the path. It says that if you stray even a little, you’ll be in monster territory.’

The expedition carefully walked the forest path toward their destination.

Passing near several objects used as landmarks and walking toward where the fog deepened, they could feel the surrounding scenery gradually changing.

It was a sensation similar to when they had approached the flower garden where the Witch resided.

’Wait. There’s something ahead.’

Ariel, who was at the very front, discovered something and signaled to the back.

Everyone stopped while guarding the surroundings, and Ian, who was in the middle, approached Ariel from behind and listened to her.

Nothing was visible to Ian’s eyes yet, but Ariel, who had high grades in [Clairvoyance] and [Far-sight], seemed to have discovered something beyond the fog.

’There’s something massive ahead. What does the map say?’

’We should be almost at the destination. There are no other marks nearby.’

’Then is that the place from the map?’

After a moment of thought, Ariel gestured. As they advanced a bit further with the members, Ian and the others could also see the shape of the something Ariel had mentioned.

A giant tree towered beyond the fog.

Ariel asked Ian with a slightly puzzled face.

’Didn’t the memo on the map say... it was a cave? I don’t see anything that looks like a cave nearby. Shall we check again to see if we’ve come the wrong way?’

’The location is correct. Probably where that tree is....’

Before Ian could finish his sentence, a large vibration rang out.

The tree in front of them was moving slowly.

’It looks like the tree is moving...?’

’T-that... that’s an Ent!’

Several members who had seen an Ent before shouted in panic.

However, there was no confidence in those voices. Because the thing in front of them was several times larger than the Ents they had seen personally.

There were few members who had properly prepared for battle upon seeing the Ent move.

It was because the opponent was so massive that they hadn’t even considered the possibility of having to fight it.

Soon, the Ent opened its eyes and looked down at the members in front of it.

’...Hmm.’

Looking over the frozen members one by one, the Ent discovered Rin and nodded.

...To be precise, it didn’t have a head, but it looked as if it had performed such an action.

The Ent spoke toward the expedition in front of it.

’Are these the guests the Young Lady mentioned? Step inside.’

Lifting its roots, the Ent slowly stepped aside.

The entrance to a large cave leading underground, which had been hidden beneath the roots of the massive Ent, was revealed.