### Chapter 15: Preparation, Winter Forest
Jiro nodded in understanding, then took the request form and returned to Guild Master Makarov with Erza.
After confirming that there were no problems with the request form, Makarov gave the two more detailed information.
"This request was issued by the Mayor of Magnolia.
It's just a routine cleanup mission, so don't rush, take your time.
The main thing is to ensure your own safety."
Jiro was rarely serious, nodding with Erza and promising:
"We will be careful, Master."
...
After saying goodbye to the Master, and telling Cana and Gray.
The two left the guild together under Gray's envious and Cana's worried gazes.
After leaving the guild, Erza didn't rush to take Jiro out of the city.
She first went to a magic item shop that Jiro had visited a few times, pushed open the door, and walked in.
"Welcome."
As soon as the two entered, they heard an enthusiastic greeting.
Erza nodded to the young man sitting behind the counter, who looked less than 20 years old, and responded:
"Big Brother Knight, I brought Jiro to buy some items needed for going out."
Knight didn't neglect the two because they were just two young children.
On the contrary, he walked out from behind the counter very enthusiastically and personally selected items for them.
"Well, I didn't expect Brother Jiro to be able to go out on missions so quickly.
Then we really need to prepare well."
Saying this, Knight reached out and took a small brown leather bag from the shelf, then quickly stuffed items into the bag, explaining as he stuffed:
"This is the new model spatial water bottle that can store a whole liter of fresh water.
Here are two antidotes, basically essential for going into the wild.
There's a bundle of rope that can automatically extend and retract, a compass that will never get lost, signal flares for calling help in danger..."
Watching Knight continuously stuff things into the small bag, even if Jiro wanted to reach out and stop him, these just happened to be essential items for going out, none of which could be missing.
When he didn't know how to politely remind Knight that he was penniless.
Knight handed the bulging small bag to Jiro, adding with a smile:
"These are all worthless little gadgets. Consider it my gift to congratulate you on officially becoming a Mage.
In the future, when you make money, remember to come spend it here at my place."
Jiro was speechless for a moment, not knowing whether he should accept it or not.
But in the end, he took a deep breath and solemnly accepted the small bag handed over by Knight, expressing his gratitude sincerely:
"Thank you very much, Big Brother Knight. I will come often in the future."
"Mm, having those words is enough. Be careful when going out on missions, you must protect yourself well."
Waving his hand, he said goodbye to Knight who saw them out the door.
Jiro weighed the almost weightless small bag, sighed, and slung it behind his back.
"I owe another big favor. It seems that ever since I came here, I've been taken care of by everyone."
Erza smiled and explained:
"Big Brother Knight is just like that. Although he says it's to better bind customers.
But actually, anyone who goes there to buy things can always get a good price."
"Mm, he's a good person."
...
Afterward, the two packed up their moods and officially set off to leave the town.
Coincidentally, the mission location was the forest to the east, which was exactly the forest where Jiro first arrived in this world.
Only at that time, he was on the outskirts of the forest. This time, the mission required going deep into the forest where it was easier to encounter Vulcans.
As soon as they entered the forest, Erza drew the knight sword at her waist.
Jiro also carefully guarded against the surroundings, ready for an accidental encounter with the enemy.
In this tense atmosphere, Erza, holding the sword in one hand and scanning the surroundings, suddenly said coldly:
"Jiro, let me say this first. I am not an object that needs anyone's protection.
When the battle starts later, I will go first and you just support from the side."
"Huh? So you were awkward for so long on the way just struggling with this?"
Jiro had seen long ago that Erza was holding back words to say to him.
He just didn't expect that after all that, it turned out to be this.
He sighed and said as a matter of course:
"Of course you go first. When it comes to fighting monsters, you are the senior. I understand this bit of logic."
Erza breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to be looked down upon by her companion and considered not strong enough.
"But," who knew Jiro would add at this time:
"If we really encounter danger, it's only right for the older brother to stand in front and protect the younger sister.
Do you understand? Little sister Erza who is one year younger than me."
"You guy..." Hearing him bring up age, Erza was about to refute indignantly.
But she saw Jiro suddenly run towards a big tree as if he had discovered something.
Erza had no choice but to suppress the depression in her heart and quickly catch up.
In front of a big tree as thick as an adult's waist, Jiro reached out and stroked the multiple crisscrossing claw marks left on the tree trunk, analyzing seriously:
"There are new and old ones. The owner of the claw marks must sharpen its claws here often to cause these traces.
No mistake, it must have been left by a Vulcan. Next, as long as we look for feces or footprints on the ground nearby, we can find the target!"
Looking at Jiro who, after analyzing, began to stick his butt up looking for traces on the ground.
After carefully observing the scratch marks on the tree, Erza coughed lightly and reminded in a low voice:
"Cough cough, um, Vulcans are a kind of monster that doesn't have the habit of sharpening claws.
Because they have intelligence close to humans, they usually only excrete around their nests."
Jiro, who was lying on the ground with his butt up, suddenly stiffened. Then he stood up nonchalantly, patted the dirt off his knees, and continued forward:
"Let's go. Let's go deeper. This place is still far from the Vulcan's nest. Let's strive to find one today and complete one-tenth of the mission progress."
Looking at Jiro's back pretending to be calm, Erza couldn't help but chuckle.
Considering Jiro's face, she didn't expose Jiro's clumsy performance just now and was about to step forward to follow.
But suddenly feeling the ground under her feet trembling slightly, her expression changed immediately. She raised her sword horizontally in front of her chest while shouting a reminder:
"Careful, something is approaching!!"