Monaka and Kotone rush up through the huge Don Turtle-filled place.

They both looked half relieved and half as if they were about to cry.

“Leo-kun! .... I’m glad you are fine ” “Thank goodness you’re alive and well, Master.”

I wanted to stay with them both, but that’s not how it works.

The reason for this is that the real guards will come running as soon as they hear the commotion.

“Listen to me, both of you.

There was a state of emergency declared, which means there was something bad going on around here.

I’m going back to the house now, so you guys go back to your house.

And don’t ever, ever leave Onesco or Tomoe.”

Monaka and Kotone must still be coming here under the watchful eye of their valet.

I said something that was not meant to be nailed down or heartfelt to either of us.

“I only deal with the best of the best, and I’ll stop being your master if you escape the living quarters and go down in rank.

That’s why I’m staying home and staying quiet during the state of emergency, okay?”

My heart ached a little as Monaka and Kotone looked at me like children abandoned by their parents.

I leave them in the hands of Onesco and Tomoe, who arrive late.

Then I quickly left the living quarters before the guards arrived.

My mind is buzzing like never before as I walk quickly back to my home in the woods.

“What the hell is going on ....?”

When I returned home, gasping for air, I took my water bottle from my coat pocket and opened it at once.

As the water quenches his thirst, he lets out a gasp and furrows his brow.

“I’m thirsty. ....?”

It’s been quite a few days since I joined this school, but this is the first time I’ve ever craved water.

And that’s what .... is all about.

The effect of the range spell of “thirstlessness” has worn off.

“But three days ago, I thought the vice principal said in the morning meeting that they were going to do maintenance. ....?”

Besides, it’s unnatural to be so thirsty so suddenly.

Even if you can cut it, the effect of range magic is supposed to fade away slowly.....

“Could it possibly have something to do with the declaration of a state of emergency?”

Either way, we’ll need to make sure we have a way to stay hydrated.

But for this day to come, I have a good idea of where the water is.

I left the house without even sitting down in my chair.

I dragged Mark and Tom to a pond in the woods.

And then I was immensely disappointed.

“Yes, the pond was filled in ....!”

The pond is filled with soil and looks like a tombstone.

I knew that it was not due to a natural phenomenon, but clearly due to human hands.

The reason is that a sign saying ‘It was a shame’ was standing on the top of the earth.

At that moment, I understood it all.

“I see, that’s what’s happening!

The maintenance of the range magic of “thirstlessness” meant that the area of effect was limited to the school building and the living quarters. ....!

And on top of that, they even reclaimed the pond, which means that the principal and vice principal are trying to starve me ....!”

Humans are fine without a little food, but they can’t live for a week without water.

But with the ‘Ranger’ ‘Survival Technique’ skill, I can get water from plants and such.

Besides, there’s plenty of clean water in the school building.

It’s got running water, fountains, and a pool.

The school building must be crawling with security guards under a declared state of emergency.

But with my skills, it’s easy to find water in the school building.

Yeah, it’s not like I’m the only one.

Me, if I’m alone, .....

I looked at all the animals gathered around the pond.

They all look at the reclaimed pond and have a despairing look on their faces like, “This place is no good either. ....”

They got caught up due to me, which ended up making them lose their watering hole.

Of course, animals may be able to quench their thirst by drinking the morning dew, but there is a limit to that, too.

I looked around at them for a moment and then .....

I climbed on top of the heap, snatched up the joke of a sign and threw it away.

“Guys, it’s my fault Pond’s in this mess.

I’m so sorry for taking away your precious water.”

I don’t know if they understand me.

But I said it with all my heart.

“I’m gonna find a new watering hole for all of us.

So I want you to trust me and follow me, and we’ll find water.”

I said and walked off the heap, heading deeper into the forest.

The only ones who followed me were Mark and Tom.

“I guess that’s just the way it goes. ....”

There is a way to raise the parameters of “charm” and take them without a choice.

But I didn’t want to do that.

“‘If that pond is being reclaimed, then all the other watering holes may be ruined.

No matter how hard I look, I may never find a watering hole.

That’s why I wanted only those who would believe in me to follow me.

But .... I can’t ask them to believe me when you’re talking to the animals I’ve hunted so much. ....”

But either way, I’m gonna find a watering hole for my animals.

“‘But how do I go about finding a watering hole ....?”

In the first place, the wildlife must be more professional at finding water than I am.

And yet, the fact that they are so overcome with despair means that this surrounding area must have been wiped out.

“‘Which means we’ll have to look pretty far.

There’s no way I could find it if I walked around aimlessly. ....”

I’m suddenly reminded of something.

It was once when I was looking for stones for clay to make pottery.

‘If there are volcanic rocks without volcanoes, was there once a river in this area?’

Maybe there’s a source nearby if we look hard enough.

“‘.... Yes, let’s just follow where the volcanic rock is!

Then we can find the tributaries of the river, and hopefully the headwaters!”

I take out a map of the area from my coat pocket.

From where we first found the volcanic rock, we walked on, guessing the terrain.

Then I found a depression where it looked like there used to be a river.

“‘All right, let’s follow this towards the back of the forest.

However, there is no guarantee that there is a river ahead.

It’s just a thin hope, like a spider’s thread.

“But now I’ve got to hang on to it. ....!”

I walked for a few hours, praying.

The depression had been buried by earth and sand and had ceased to exist.

I wasn’t tired, but the mental drudgery would bring me to my knees with a gulp.

“The only lead I have is gone. ....! What the hell am I supposed to do, ....?”

Suddenly, I felt countless footsteps behind me and turned around.

Mark and Tom, who were behind me, also seemed to have noticed something unusual and turned the back of their fuzzy heads towards me.

Zap, zap, zap, zap. .....

The true identity of the fawn bringing the animal army is ....!

The fawn in the lead looked familiar.

“You might be the first .... I’ve ever trained!

Could it be that you’ve convinced everyone to ....!”

The fawn nodded and let out a “kewl!” and jumped up and down in front of me.

I was about to falter, but then I felt motivated again.

And then a miracle happened.

==========

Name Leopin

Occupation Battle Axe User

Lv 17 ? 18

HP 1010

MP 1010

Status

Life 101

Endurance 101

Toughness 101

Spirit 101

Resistance 101

Agility 1001

Concentration 101

Strength 101

Magic 101

Dharma 101

Intelligence 101

Liberal Arts 101

Five Senses 101

Sixth Sense 101

Charm 1

Luck 5

Dexterity 400 ? 500

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Changeable occupations

Production System

Lumberjack

Appraiser

Shin-Ra Carpenter

Masonry

Leather Craftsman

Woodcrafter

Potter

Confectioner Pastry Chef

Artisan Fireworker

Exploration System

Ranger

Treasure Hunter

Mapper

Earth Vein Master (NEW!)

Combat System

Battle Axe User

Ninja

Martial Artist

Trapper

Trainer(Tamer)

==========