The Little Prince in the Ossuary

# Survivors (4)

At the north end of the village, the path across from the woodshed leads to the ranch.

Winter after the hunt came here first because I was expecting it.

Horses have swarming habits and auditory instincts. If you feel safe even if you run away from danger without leaving the herd easily, you return to where you used to stay. Even more so was the horse that was raised in the hands of man from the beginning. If there are horses that survived the mutant group that passed through the village, it is likely that they will return to the ranch.

It's a possibility.

“I didn't get a good look inside. ”

It was Lieutenant Escamyla who led the troops and checked north of the village. Along with her workforce, she makes her way to a fork near the woodshed and shakes her head to winter, asking about the situation on the ranch.

“There was an open field of view beyond the fence. I just made sure there was no major threat, and then I stepped back. ”

I wanted to save limited ammunition. As long as it's clean outside, there won't be many mutants in the room, and if the node is guarding as much as it is fixed, it will be fine.

“So we don't know what's inside yet. ”

“Yes... but I wonder if I can really find a horse." The wooden block in the direction of the road collapsed. It must have been the mutants who discovered the prey. ”

“I'm not expecting much either. It's still worth checking out. ”

This is the end of the conversation. Winter falls on the road between the civilians with three platoon members who volunteer to hunt.

I see a rusted tin roof first. It was a storeroom for hay and food. Next to it is a trailer for transporting horses. Beyond that, the tall building is the burial ground.

The arena left one door open. Inside, it was dark and quiet. But winter could hear his breath there. Mutant, I guess. Either way, he breathes harder than a human.

Quack quack

You open one of the doors. to gain sight of the people who follow, and to make sound on purpose.

Bluish!

The look on the soldiers' faces brightens as they hear the horse's thunder. Corporal Felipe Morales' best officer's horse.

“Oh, my God, there it is. I didn't expect it at all... ”

There were five of them. It's only dawn. Since it was a place where he learned to be safe all the way, he must have spent a dark night here since returning to the ranch.

“Back off a little bit. They're watching out for us. ”

The horses were leaning their ears back in unison. The four show their white faces and step back with their heads raised. It was a frightening reaction. The other one was a big, poisonous one, waving his tail while keeping his head low. It was an aggressive signal.

Fortunately, in winter, there is a skill called Horseback Riding. Learning to ride the Salinas River on a stormy night. I had to burn one more person, so I got a high level.

Horseback riding does not just give you the ability to ride. It also includes taming.

Even if it wasn't, it was an experience of knowing how to act. I learned it several times. It was hard to find transportation as useful as horses when the fuel was cut off in all the last worldview. Perhaps the value of horseback riding or horse rides has increased quite a bit in this world view.

In front of the cautious and slow approach of winter, the brawn of the chief's horse slumps.

Hair was the color of darkness. A sleek Priscian variety. Chego is 17 hands loose. The rancher must have cared a lot about him.

“Well, good boy. It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. You can stay put. ”

Good boy, Good boy. I don't know what it means exactly, but I'm sure you've heard of it, so you'll know it's a compliment. With a calm voice, Priscian bares his teeth like a camel and smells winter. Horses are clever. If they had been chased by mutants, they would have learned a unique odor.

Winter scratched around the horse's neck and shoulders. The horse closes its eyes and puckers its lips.

“Yeah, it feels good, doesn't it? ”

I like it better when winter comes back slowly and scratches my butt.

Oh... I was impressed by the rifle I was watching from a distance.

The leader does not refuse human touch, and the rest of the group's ears stand still. He showed teeth or swung his nose. The affinity that grade 10 gave him as a calibration helped a lot in this situation.

“You can come closer now. Come slowly so the horses don't get scared. ”

Three men, including Corporal Morales, followed the movements of winter's hands to narrow the slower streets. Meanwhile, winter secured the horseshoes hanging on the wall. There was quite an old mix, but there were plenty of numbers. The share of the rancher's family seemed to include extra.

“You must have the most abundance in your arms. Name…… Excel? Is that your name? ”

The leader's words reacted positively to the name imprinted on the saddle. I lifted my legs, but there was no resistance. Horseshoe was a little worn, but good.

“Lieutenant, are you going to eat them now? If I catch one, there 'll be a lot of meat. ”

A question from a soldier who scratched a horse's neck like winter. The other two looked at the questioner pitifully and said it wasn't winter.

“If you were, you'd ask me why I know how to ride a horse. ”

I asked when I was recruiting volunteers before I left. I wondered if I could get a horse. As a result, it was good to check. Sergeant Morales is from Texas and has worked on a ranch and knows how to drive a horse. I have a clue that I'm incompetent.

Unlike the chief, the other four were quaters with no distinctive features, but that doesn't mean they're useless. Winter says.

“We have to use it as a vehicle. Luckily, I'm not sure if I'll have enough fuel in time or a Fuel Stabilizer to mix it with. The closer you get to the populated areas, the worse the road gets. ”

If the gas station was in good storage, we could use the fuel, but as there was no way to confirm it, we would always have to put stabilizers together.

Road projections are a problem. If it was just Route 101 through Port Roberts, it wouldn't be stuck in an abandoned car. Given the ongoing bombing of the Air Force here all year round, it's like Yaji's driving.

“And if you get enough vehicles to burn an entire squadron, you have to basically walk. Vehicles are for supply and patient transportation purposes only. So a horse would be a big help. Would it be all right if I put a captain on it, or would it be good for reconnaissance? ”

With winter mobility, the most powerful force, the troops will be much safer. We could have scouted the march in advance, eliminated small threats in advance, lured the enemy in a different direction, or avoided them if neither was possible.

“I know what you mean... …. ”

Private Ian Schultz, the soldier you wanted to eat.

“They need to be fed. I've heard that you eat and drink quite a bit, but can you handle it? I think it's better to just use it as food. ”

Winter, when she put the horses on all five of them, made a gentle smile.

“Don't worry about it. The farms and ranches will cover hundreds of kilometers ahead. Not to mention a meadow or a canopy or a pool. ”

Winter has passed by here once. This is not the story of the world view. When civilization finally had to flee to the wallpaper in total collapse. I didn't have enough detail to remember where it was, but it was as sure as I could not help moving on a horse.

In fact, it was similar wherever I went, even if not here. except in deserts, mountains, urban areas. It was because the United States was the world's largest agricultural and livestock country.

Schultz was noticeably disappointed. Hungry? Food was given preferentially to the workforce. Winter seemed to know inside.

‘I wish things could have been easier. ’

Although volunteered, it would have been more than half mandatory. Of course you don't want to wander the mountains and forests without roads with a weary body. I read it in a familiar way, but I didn't want to blame winter.

“It should be easy to pick up your prey right now. I'll save you the trouble of going back and forth. ”

Corporal Morales smiles bitterly at the spinning words.

“I doubt we'll be able to catch that many. ”

As long as I didn't know exactly what winter was, it was natural to think like this.

There was nothing to fix. You'll see for yourself soon.

“Hop on, Morales. Schultz and Harper, grab the reins and drag 'em off one by one. Maybe I should leave one at the Node. I'm going to go around the outside. Maybe there's more. ”

Winter on Excel catches the other one together. He seemed to have the worst temper. Even if it was affected by Amity, there was a chance to kick out the soldiers. If you get wrongly beaten, you will die of illness. There was no medic.

Winter climbed a lush hill at a lightly running speed and found the fence that separates the ranch was wide open. As you get closer, it doesn't appear to have been mutated. A lock hangs steadily on one side of the door. Looks like the rancher left it open when he fled.

‘It couldn't have been easy to think this far in the middle of an emergency. ’

You make a left half turn past the gate, but you only find fragments of bone that are hard to guess.

After I reported that I had the horses at the Central HQ, I tied one to the inside of the fence in front of the Node, and winter was the only time I went hunting.

“You all have pest control, right? ”

In front of winter, Morales made eye contact with Private Schultz and Private Harper, then nodded.

“Of course.”

A town in the middle of the mountain wall that makes it easy to get pest medicines.

In order to hunt, you must head west to the foothills. It's because the forest is thick and the wind is coming from that direction. He was sprayed with a unique scent. Animals in the range of at least hundreds of meters, up to several kilometers, are nervous when the body odor of a human is in the wind.

Movement speed was not fast. There were two rifles that didn't know how to ride. Even though winter had the ability to practice, it was difficult to teach horses in the middle of the hunt.

‘We need to be impressive here. ’

The goal is to get food, but that's not all.

Tracking commenced. Look for traces and smells. Winter is usually sensitive to the stench of varieties, with considerable remuneration resulting from "Pursuit." This also worked against wildlife.

Winter raised the original grade 8, Trace, to grade 13. It is less important and consuming than the combat class, so it is not too burdensome at this time.

The Trace, which had entered the realm of genius, quickly caught the first trace. It was a footprint.

‘Rabbit……? Let's find out what's too bad. ’

Although not nearly as fertile as Australia, fertile rabbits were treated as potentially harmful animals. Unlike ordinary animals, which were designated as being able to hunt for a certain amount of time, number, and the daily limit, rabbits were able to catch them without any restrictions throughout the year.

That doesn't mean it's easy to catch.

Traces of grass, twisted or broken branches, small excrement or obscured footprints, etc. were very clear in the winter's eyes. It was my sixth sense as a correction that made me notice it.

You can see roughly when it passed.

At the point of convergence at this time, winter put up its hands to stop the formation. He approached with a drawing of an arc with his prey in Wind , so he might not have noticed yet. I can sense the direction more clearly when I get off the horse.

I'll move alone.

Three Morales below, who confirmed the call, nodded and lowered their position.

Winter approaches swiftly through a gap in the forest where the wind blows. You hide yourself in the bush and catch the target.

Distance is approximately 30 meters.

It was a jackrabbit with very large ears and black water in the tail and tip of the ear. The front leg was long, so it was very different from the rabbit that usually comes to mind when I just stood still.

Winter, when I was quietly tapping the trigger with my fingertips, I thought I'd save at least one bullet. Place a rifle grip and draw the Great Sword. Preparation step is to grip the fist tightly. Pull your arm back and wait for the moment. It wasn't a question of guessing. I just wanted to avoid being stuck in the trunk.

‘When the intestine explodes, we have to throw away a lot of small meat.... ’

But it's hard to catch up. Even if you are confident that you will not lose at speed,

He moved gradually in the same spot. As soon as I turn my back to this direction, the winter throws out the Great Sword with fierce force.

Kwaek!

The sound of steel digging into an animal's head. Seeing the enormous power contained, it flew in an invisible straight line, leaving inertia even after the whole day was impacted. The small body slides, then the inertia is reduced, then it rolls into a ditch.

Artwork Reviews

# Q&A

Q. Erin's bard: @ is a sympathy of the great old... Just show me the next part and everyone will worship!

A. My sympathy is already depleted, so... there's nothing I can show you. T

Q. Reynesis: Where are you from on @ eBook? Have you ever been to Ridybooks?

A. I was talking about the Ridybooks.

Q. Jadserran: @ In fact, you've been distracted by what you're still saying... Originally, life was a continuation of black history. It's all black history later on.

A. Haha. I'm sure you will, but I believe it will be less than ever.

Q. If you are a subordinate: Based on the combat strength of @ winter... what is the longest field? compared to other people on average -- infiltration, ranged shooting & sniping, guerrilla warfare, white war, civil war -- I personally think guerrilla wars are the most specialized.

A. Well... I've never thought of it that way... but it's hard to come to a conclusion.

Q. hia: Can using @ skills increase my rank?

A. It is, in principle, possible and practically impossible.

Q. Bug: Can't you use a @ helicopter to collect parts and oil for air support and reconnaissance?

A. There are no mechanics.