818 Bear, defeat the bat - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

I create a bear-shaped light to illuminate the cave. "You really do love bears, don't you?" Mane remarks while gazing at the bear-shaped light. I'm not sure how many times she's said it by now, so I simply don't deny it. "I prepared some lights, just in case." Saying this, Mane takes out something resembling a lantern and a flashlight from her item bag. "Mane, you can use magic, right?" "Only basic spells. So while I can use light magic, I often rely on magical tools." Mane hangs the lantern on her waist, as a precautionary measure. It seems she's thinking about various scenarios, like getting separated from me or if my light spell fails. With Mane and me riding Kumayuru and Kumakyu, we enter the cave. The bear's light brightens the way inside. "Adventurers go into these caves too, huh?" "They do, whether it's to exterminate monsters, hunt for valuable herbs, or gather ores. The reasons vary for each adventurer." In games, it was common to enter for similar reasons. "But why are you asking me, a researcher? You're the adventurer here." "True, but I'm curious why someone would willingly enter such damp and dark places." "Well, I certainly agree with that." Thanks to the bear's light, the cave is well-lit. With this much brightness, we shouldn't face any sudden snake attacks. I check my detection skills. There’s a snake-like presence nearby. When I look in that direction, I see a snake, curled under a small rock, eyeing us with its long tongue flicking out. It’s either Mane's medication working or a result of Kumayuru and Kumakyu, as the snake shows no intention of approaching. As we proceed cautiously, we hear something fluttering above us. "Yuna, above." Mane seems to have noticed too and looks up. I also glance up to see countless bats hanging from the cave's ceiling, occasionally flying about. Checking again with the detection skill, there are no sinister signals. Meaning, the bats aren't monsters. "Creepy." Mane makes an expression as if she’s looking at something she dislikes upon seeing the bats clinging to the ceiling. I’m not fond of bats, just like snakes. Frankly, not many would claim to like bats — with their rodent-like faces and unsettling wings. If I had to choose between keeping a bird or a bat, I'd undoubtedly choose the bird. "Are they watching us?" It might just feel that way because they’re frightening. Part of me thinks it might be best to eliminate them, but then the thought of dead bats raining down is even more revolting. Even if we dodged the fallen bats, the ground would be littered with their corpses. I definitely don't want to tread over that. Even if it's Kumayuru and Kumakyu walking, moving away seems the best option. "Kumayuru, Kumakyu, let's dash through." "Ku~un." As Kumayuru and Kumakyu start running, a flurry of wings flaps behind us, signaling that the bats have started chasing. They seem to perceive us as prey once we fled. "Yuna!" Mane yells. The bats attack, their mouths wide open, fangs bared. They're about to bite! I unleash a small whirlwind using wind magic. Inside the cave, the whirlwind engulfs the bats. I won't hold back if they’re attacking. The wind's blades shred the bats' wings, and once I stop the whirlwind, a large number of bats crash to the ground. Without their wings, they can't fly anymore. "By the way, do bats have any medicinal value?" "I don’t use them." It seems she won't be collecting them. I also decide against retrieving them into the bear box and choose to leave them be. As we distance ourselves from the fallen bats, nearby snakes begin to stir. Although I brace myself, the snakes move past us. Upon turning back, I witness something unpleasant—a snake opens its wide mouth and swallows a bat whole. "Ew." "What is it, Yuna?" "Mane, don't look back." Despite my warning, Mane glances back and sees it. "Ew." Mane reacts the same way I did. "I told you not to." "Telling someone not to look only makes them more curious." To be honest, I agree. When told “don’t look,” I too become intrigued and want to see. Maybe the correct response should have been “nothing important.” I glance back once more. With fewer bats now and more snakes, by the time we return, the bats might all be gone, and the snakes' bellies full. I do feel a bit sorry for the bats, but they attacked us first. If they hadn't, I would have left them alone. Even as I ponder the harsh reality of survival, we continue through the cave. We make a right turn, descend, then make another right, climbing an incline. Snakes appear here and there, but none attack. "Lots of snakes around." Snakes are by the walls and rocks. "Should we get rid of them?" Since they're not approaching, I could just take them out with magic from a distance. "By the way, can snakes be used in medicine?" "Not for potion-making. Adventurers might eat them though. I've never tried it, but I hear they're somewhat tasty." I've heard of people eating snake meat. Yet, that doesn't mean I'd gut, cook, and eat one here. I definitely can't prepare a snake. Perhaps Fina could? As these thoughts flit through my mind, we proceed. Occasionally, a bat flies overhead, a snake watching cautiously, but besides the bat attack, we're progressing smoothly. Amidst this, Mane suddenly cries out. "Kyaa!" Kumayuru and Kumakyu halt abruptly, and I scan the surroundings. There's nothing of concern. "Sorry, water just dripped on me from above and startled me." Indeed, water droplets are falling from above. Unfortunately, one seems to have landed on Mane's nape. Keep an eye on my detection skills; I've been sensing something unusual for a while. "Ku~un." Kumayuru seems to have noticed it too and whines. "What's wrong, Kumayuru? A monster?" Mane asks since Kumayuru's reaction matches when she spots a monster. "It seems there are some people up ahead." There are two human presences. "People? Could they be adventurers?" The forest is freely accessible, so it wouldn't be strange if adventurers are around. Personally, I find interacting with them bothersome, so I'd rather avoid it. The detection skill indicates they're a bit farther ahead, so we won't meet them immediately. Moreover, the skill can’t tell if they're inside or outside the cave. They might be resting, showing no signs of movement at the moment. "What should we do if we encounter them?" "Avoid them at all costs. Just because you meet an adventurer doesn't mean they're good. If you're attacked here, no one will come to help, and if you're killed, the monsters can eat you and dispose of the evidence." It's true, not every adventurer is like Jade or Blitz and his group. Every profession has its good and bad people. "It's not good to be suspicious, but trusting too easily is just as dangerous." For the time being, if we encounter them, we'll keep our distance and observe. We proceed without encountering monsters or bats, and everything seems to be going smoothly until Kumayuru and Kumakyu suddenly stop and whimper, "Ku~un." "What is it?" Mane is startled. I quickly check with my detection skill. The human presence is moving, and fast. They're running? Following close behind is a snake. They're being chased by a single snake? Does that mean they can't even take down one snake? While there's a chance they might not be adventurers, it's hard to imagine any ordinary persons this deep in the forest. "What are they saying?" Mane asks. "They're saying a person is running away from a snake and heading towards us," I reply. Mane falls into a thoughtful silence at my words. "What do we do?" My job is to protect Mane. I can't move on my own whims. "I said earlier it's best to avoid getting involved, but I also don't like the idea of leaving someone to their fate." "So, you're saying we should help?" Mane shakes her head. "But I can't fight, so I can't ask to go help. And I can't tell you, Yuna, to fight. But..." It seems she's hesitant to abandon them. I also don't want to stumble upon a dead body in our path. "For the record, I can easily take down a snake," I say, giving Mane a little nudge, both for her sake and mine. "True. I also have some snake-repelling medicine. We might not have to fight." Kumayuru and Kumakyu start running. "Run faster!" "We can't keep going." A male and a female voice echoes through the cave, followed by the sound of something heavy slithering. I have a bad feeling. "Kumakyu, hurry!" With my urging, Kumakyu and Kumayuru, who Mane is riding, pick up speed. "Yuna, I see them," Mane states. Perhaps due to her elven blood, she spots them before I do. A few seconds after her words, I can see them too. Two people are running. Behind them, a massive snake gives chase. My detection skill labels it as a snake, but for a creature of that size, the name should reflect something else.