A Chronicle of Life in a Different World

"Let the forest folks know not to approach you. If you come any closer to attacking us, you can fight back. After a while after the employer has started moving, he will proceed in the same direction. If you can't win, ask for help."

With such Axis's words on his back, Reus leaves the camp.

I don't have any particular destination. All we have to do is walk along the outer edge of Lille's Great Forest and look for 'Neck Hunting'.

I had no intention of stepping into the woods. Reurus is not so confident in his arms as to be able to fight against advanced monsters who Axis says are moving fast in the woods with many obstacles.

With the power of Reurus and the sharpness of Dragon Slash, giant trees can be slaughtered without difficulty, but even if time is wasted, the prospects are poor. Fighting in the woods would be a good idea.

Reurus always walks dressed up as a natural body while being attentive to the surrounding signs. If you show me you're clearly on alert, there's a chance that the 'Neck Hunt' won't get closer.

The streets around Lille's large forest were not well developed, but the scaffolding was not bad. The ground is covered with tall grass, and the ground is exposed everywhere. The weather has been nice in the last few days, and it seems unlikely that the mud will take its feet.

From time to time, I feel the signs of monsters stopping my feet, but I'm not going to attack you because Axis is stopping, or because I'm afraid of the smell of vanilla that I can feel from the Dragon Slash.

(Alone...)

While walking in the big forest of Lille on the right hand, Reurus murmured inside.

To be precise, it's not entirely alone. The “connection” between Eliza and Sarah's "contract” was still firmly in the realm. You can also use the Idea Call to talk to Sarah.

Too far away would break the "contract" connection, but as Axis said, Eliza and the others were supposed to follow the Reus at a distance.

This was to fight the "neck hunt" in full condition, but there was also a side to preparedness when the "neck hunt" appeared to Eliza and the others instead of the reals.

Axis says the Neck Hunter is avoiding himself, but he won't be able to completely swallow it. That's why we're close enough to be able to rush anything at once.

If anyone doesn't know anything, they must look like they're taking a breathtaking walk.

However, in this exotic land, we are walking alone to fight advanced monsters, albeit subordinate. But there was nothing realistic about Reurus.

"But... you don't run into them all the time."

Walking with a taste of the air that is likely to feel idle for a long time, Reus murmurs.

Nearly three hours have passed since I started walking, and the sun has passed through Jomtien. Since there is no particular problem, there is no need to talk to Sarah in "Idea Call", and Reurus continues walking with a view of the scenery that is largely unchanged.

Lille's large forest is so vast that it may take some time to encounter a 'head hunt'. Originally, I might have walked around looking for a unicorn, but since I came out from Axis, it is a realuse that I can't help but feel that time passes just by walking like this.

It would be easier if you could fly in from over there like Vaniel.

(... no, no, no. Easy... you're dealing with an advanced monster? If we don't run into each other, we'll never get past it.

Reurus puts his own thoughts into a comic book.

From what Axis has told me, "Neck Hunting" is a difficult enemy for a senior rank, albeit subordinate. I'm hoping that you will come to me with such a dangerous presence.

But it is. The feelings in my chest at this time were only the smell of trouble with the status quo and the obligation to undertake the request. No fear, no tension, confronting advanced monsters.

Reurus, who realized “such a self”, was silent and stunned.

(It's weird... no, it's weird...?

Sixteen years have passed since I was born into this world. He lived more than forty years, including his predecessors, but it is strange not to be so nervous.

--It must be strange.

(When did you stop being afraid to fight...?

When I was a serf in the village of Shena, I was desperate to live.

When I first became an adventurer, I was scared just to confront a horny rabbit.

I was so nervous that I wanted to praise myself for not fainting, such as when I fought Kimira.

- Then what happens after that?

When confronted with enemies, there was someone who could wave his sword without hesitation. When I first fought the Gregorians, I slashed them, even though they were human.

The hesitation about murder, which would have been forbidden in Heisei Japan, was truncated with the word "enemy".

The sense that your spirit is worn out and broken is also in Reurus. Otherwise, we would not have survived the serfdom.

(It looks like a slime, hey....)

Looking back on his conversation with Axis, Reurus scratched his head in a mess.

There are many things I think, but I'm in the middle of a "neck hunt." You should concentrate on searching for enemies around you as much as you think about “useless things”.

Reurus told himself so, covered his slightly disturbed heart, and began the search for "Neck Hunting" again.

So I walked for three days looking for "neck hunting."

Reurus, who ended up empty that day, joined Eliza and the others in the evening to prepare for the night shift.

"There are no shadows or shapes... no, sometimes monsters fall from the neck, so they should be nearby..."

It is a realuse roaring with arms, but there are about three relatively new monster corpses at its feet.

Whether there were any criteria for the Neck Hunt, or whether they were attacking as soon as they found the monster, all the bodies found by Reurus belonged to intermediate monsters.

One haunted bear and two sunflowers. It shouldn't have been a long time since it was killed, because it wasn't completely bleeding out.

There is no doubt that there is a "neck hunt" not far from here. But even then, I won't show up before Reurus.

"We need to get closer... so I'm not sure if you want to be cautious or provoke around where the corpse falls before you can see it."

Axis murmured as Axis was about to exhale to Reus, who brought back the monster's body because it was almost half a day since he died.

"If Grandpa leaves, there's a danger that Eliza and the others will be attacked... but if he leaves too far, my powers will be weak... and I'm in trouble."

Reurus answers quickly, dismantling the monster's body. I didn't think it was fresh, so I only intended to eat it myself.

"Waiting for me to come spiritually... is there anything wrong?

Eliza spoke as she watched Reurus dismantle the monster. Axis was so close that the tone was vegan, but I didn't care about Reurus at the earliest.

"I don't know what to think about that. I didn't think you were that smart... and if you look at this one, it's obviously bad."

"Hey, Grandpa. How tough is it to keep walking without knowing when to fight an advanced monster?

"I suppose you're collecting and eating monster carcasses while saying that... time is good for you, not good for 'Neck Hunting'..."

Axis leans his neck because he can't read the goal of "Neck Hunting".

In the three days that have elapsed since we began our search for "Neck Hunting", Reurus has discovered dozens of monster bodies. All of them are intermediate monsters, and given their rarity, they are a glimpse of the richness of Lille's large forest.

As a revulsion, I can replenish my magic. I'm not full, but my stomach is swollen and long live. They are able to recover the magic they have consumed over the course of their journey for more than a month and save more.

"Well, aren't we going to feed Reurus and have him come home peacefully?

Sarah jokingly said that Reurus was picking up monsters and quickly burning them in flames.

"You're such an idiot... no, you're not?

"Perhaps you're watching out for the“ quality ”of the weapon you're carrying... hmm. I can't just pull it in once I've given you a condition... and I'm in trouble."

Reurus, who laughed lightly at Sarah, unexpectedly turned serious, and Axis scratched her cheek as if she was in trouble. I didn't confirm it in the "neck hunt", so there is no confirmation, but it seems that the possibility is not zero.

"... let's just keep going a little longer. It's been three days, but it's still three days. They should be close enough to find the monster's body."

While saying that, Reurus doesn't even know if "neck hunting" is really coming out. I haven't actually tried it, but even a revulsion can travel a considerable distance in a short amount of time if it does its best.

Without being alert to monsters and bandits, Eliza and Sarah would be able to travel dozens of kilometers in an hour without a "caloric release." If it's "neck hunting", it's not strange to be able to move more distances.

(There was a monster's body just walking around without thinking about it... what a coincidence.)

It's going to be a much longer fight than I thought.

With that in mind, Reurus decided to fill his belly with monster meat for the time being.

― ― And in conclusion, the prediction was wrong.

That night.

The search for "Neck Hunting" was temporarily suspended as the sun went down, and Reurus and the others camped to reveal the night.

To ensure visibility, the carriage was surrounded and the fire was set in three places, with four people awake: Reurus, Eliza, Neddy and Collard.

In the daytime, just walking is not enough fatigue, but I plan to fall asleep after a while thinking about engaging with the "neck hunter." No matter how resistant to drowsiness and fatigue, I thought we should keep things in good condition for now.

When Reurus sleeps, he is going to wake up Axis, who is lying asleep bending his umbilical cord, after being kicked out trying to sneak into the carriage.

But that's only a couple of hours away.

"Speaking of which, you haven't taken any medicine lately, have you? How's your stomach?

"I don't have to take it... no, I take stomach medication when I need it"

Reurus and Collard chat on a time-consuming basis while being alert to the surroundings. Eliza and Neddy are sitting next to each other with a face that looks like Reurus.

As I spoke in that way from time to time, I felt signs of moving from the carriage. When Reurus noticed it, he turned his gaze, and Ruvillia stood there looking sorry.

"I'm sorry... I can't sleep at all, so can I mix it with the story?

"That's fine... please sit as close as you can.

While saying that, Reurus stood up and moved a little. With Ruville sitting by the carriage, Reurus is ready to protect Ruville at all times.

Then Eliza and Neddy sat next to Ruvillia, frightened, pinched.

"Are you okay?

"Yeah... all I have to do is walk with Reurus during the day. It's so much easier than the journey."

Ruvillia smiles softly at Reurus, who checks her condition. However, the expression seeped the colour of fatigue, and Reurus frowned.

"Even so, you look tired. Even if you can't sleep, just lying down and meditating on your eyes will make your body easier."

"No... lying down doesn't make me drowsy. Instead, I'm getting nervous and tired....."

Ruvillia smiles weakly when she says so. Apparently, the body and mind are screaming at the current state of the search for advanced monsters.

(I don't suppose the noble princess will ever have the chance to get involved with a superior monster... that makes you nervous.)

It's unlikely because of Axis, but one second later, the "neck hunt" will hit us. With that in mind, Ruvillia, who thought she was the lady in the deep window, was worried and convinced that she couldn't sleep.

(... no, I have an advanced monster and a skeleton grandfather. It's only natural that I can't sleep....)

"Neck hunting" has a nasty meaning beside it. As a maiden of her age, you can't help feeling afraid.

"Why don't you go to bed with Annemone? You'll be relieved if we hang out for a long time, won't you?

"That's... no, that's right. You may want to try it once in a while."

After hearing Reurus's suggestion, Ruvillia smiles modestly.

"That's right. That's good... hmm?

I tried to use it as a pillow, but it was a revulsion, but the words were unexpectedly cloudy.

Because I smelled a strange smell that I had never smelled since I became an adventurer.

(... no, I smell it somewhere...)

I can't stand the smell of my nose turning. It smells like “rotten meat", ugly.

Realizing this, Reurus quietly stood up for the Dragon Slash.

"... Reurus?

Suddenly, Ruvillia looked strange in the appearance of Reurus with the "Dragon Slash". But I saw Eliza and Neddy standing beside Ruvillia imitating Reurus, making her look stronger.

"... kick"

I felt like I heard such a voice from afar as I tried to tear apart the dark night.