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TL: ALT
Chapter 157 – Jennifer’s Scout Caravan Day 2
When I woke up and went to the dining room in the morning, I found breakfast bread waiting for me.
It wasn’t the flatbread that Chel-san makes, but rather black, hard bread.
“Good morning,”
“Good morning. If you like, there’s some boar soup. Would you like some?”
The mountain man in the kitchen asked me.
“I’ll have some.”
The soup looked like a stew of vegetables and pork, but the seasoning was good. It warmed my whole body and slowly woke me up.
“I went down to the river before sunrise to fetch water, but I found a Poison Spider’s corpse on the mountain path. Was that your doing?”
“Yes, probably. I thought the mountain animals would take care of it, but apparently not.”
“No, the crows will eat it. But it’s dangerous to face a Poison Spider alone.”
The mountain man seemed concerned. He must have bad knees because he limped over and sat in the chair in front of me. He seems to know that food tastes better when eaten together.
“It was a reflex. I just swung the mace without thinking.”
“A single blow like that wouldn’t dent a monster’s body. Where have you been all this time? You’re not from around here, are you?”
“From the demonic land. I’m a messenger traveling to spread the art of survival.”
I showed him the manual, but he didn’t seem interested.
“Is the demonic land a remote area on the eastern edge of the country?”
“Yes.”
“No one can live in a place like that, can they?”
“People live there now. There aren’t even ten of us, though.”
I took the royal seal and certificate from my pocket and showed them to him.
“Is that real? If it is, you should hire an escort.”
“If an escort can keep up, I’ll take one. The people in the demonic land are incredibly fast.”
“How fast?”
“It takes about half a day to travel from the demonic land to White Ox…”
The mountain man laughed, thinking it was a joke.
“It takes five days, even on horseback. That means you’re faster than a horse.”
“Even I, who is much slower than Makyo-san, can outrun a horse. Huh? Was that strange?”
Come to think of it, I don’t think there are any humans who can move faster than a horse. My extraordinary life in the demonic land had made me forget the norms of the outside world.
The mountain man looked at me as if I had lost my mind.
“No, more importantly, I heard that the villagers in the mountains are suffering from monsters. I want to defeat them as soon as possible. Do you know where they live?”
I thought it would be better to change the subject so that he wouldn’t think I was strange.
“The abandoned mine at the top of the hill is where the Poison Spiders live.”
The mountain man regained his composure and told me.
I held the bowl away from me so the soup wouldn’t spill as I spread out the map.
“Where is that?”
“Here.”
The mountain man pointed to the abandoned mine where I had finished my hunt the night before.
“That’s already taken care of. Anything else?”
“Taken care of?”
“Last night, I went inside and killed all the Poison Spiders. I crushed the eggs, too, so it should be fine.”
“…”
The mountain man stood there with his mouth agape.
“Want to check?”
The mountain man nodded.
There might be some Poison Spiders outside that weren’t in their lair last night, so I decided to check after breakfast.
As expected, it seemed that all the Poison Spiders in the lair had been hunted down.
“It looks like you killed them all with one blow…”
“Yes. I don’t enjoy torturing monsters. Oh, this is a healing potion from the demonic land. It’ll be good for your knee.”
The mountain man’s knee recovered quickly. Excited, he said, “I’ll do anything you tell me to do.” Perhaps showing the power of the demonic land is more effective than explaining it in a manual.
We returned to the mountain hut, grabbed a shovel and a hoe, and headed for the abandoned mine.
Besides Wild Bears, there were also familiar monsters, such as Vespa Hornets. I decided to hunt them down. The mountain man lamented that villagers living in the mountains had seen them, but no adventurers had come to hunt them down.
I set a pitfall trap at the mine’s entrance and lured the monsters in with bait.
“Is this how you always hunt them down?”
The old mountain man asked as I roasted meat at the entrance of the mine to lure the monsters inside.
“Pretty much. Oh, here they come.”
Gah!
Thud!
I swung my hoe down onto the skull of the Wild Bear, and it fell into the pit and couldn’t move.
“Monsters with heads that don’t split open and die are generally pretty rare.”
“I guess so…”
“Even though I know these monsters, it’s easy because they move as expected. If you want the fur and magic stones, take them out. Another one is coming.”
I carried the Wild Bear’s corpse out of the pit and threw it aside.
After defeating eight Wild Bears in total, we headed for the next mine.
The mine was closed because it was infested with Vespa Hornets. The tools and rest area were left untouched.
“We could still get some iron…”
The mountain man told me this while hiding in the bushes far away from the mine and watching the Vespa Hornets.
“How do you take its attacks?”
I asked the old mountain man as I watched the hornets move at an extremely slow pace, but he said that was their normal speed.
“It’s actually pretty fast.”
I had assumed that, since the dungeon was nearby, the monsters wouldn’t be weak, but I was wrong. Does the dungeon’s influence not affect the vegetation or types of monsters?
Just in case of another attack, I hid in the shadows and set up a slime wall where the flying Vespa Hornet was heading. It was knocked to the ground.
Bam!
Its abdomen burst open, and it stopped moving.
I swung my hoe and cut off its head.
The other Vespa Hornets sounded their warning wings, and a swarm flew in from all directions. They only attack with stinging needles from their abdomens or bites from their heads.
Since these monsters don’t use any special magic, there’s no way to dodge their attacks. I just kept using the hoe to turn the approaching Vespa Hornets into mincemeat.
“This hoe might be better suited for killing monsters than for farming.”
Thud.
All I had to do was swing the hoe down between the heads and chests of the fallen Vespa Hornets.
The work was easy.
I entered the mine, destroyed all the Vespa Hornet larvae and eggs, and trampled everything in my path. I emerged without breaking a sweat, and the sun was high in the sky.
Once again, I didn’t observe or judge anything.
“Did you do it?”
The old mountain man asked excitedly.
“That’s not how we fight in the demonic land…”
“Eh…?”
He stared at the mine, looking confused.
“Even if you look, the Vespa Hornets won’t come out anymore. Where next?”
“Ah, the only place left is the village.”
There were several villages in the mountains, and one of them had been attacked by monsters.
“My husband was killed by an Arachne, and my child was taken away by a Harpy…”
An old woman from one of the mountain villages testified.
The village was surrounded by mountains and had only a small amount of land for farming. The villagers lived by gathering mountain vegetables and mushrooms.
There used to be an inn where miners could rest, but most of the mines have been abandoned, and the inn has disappeared, too.
“How old was the child?”
“Six years old.”
The old woman with the hunched back didn’t look like she could have given birth six years ago.
“How long ago was that?”
“About 30, no, 40 years ago.”
“Well, that’s something we can’t change. Could you tell me about the current damage?”
As soon as I said that, her son, who had been kidnapped by a Harpy in the past, came running from the fields in a panic.
“I’m sorry. If my mother said something, I apologize. People rarely come to the village, so she was confused and didn’t know what to say.”
“I see. Have you had any problems with monsters?”
“Not exactly monsters, but deer and boars have been ravaging the fields, and we don’t know what to do.”
It seems the damage wasn’t caused by monsters.
Without hunters around and no way to hunt the animals themselves, the local wildlife has multiplied and attracted a wolf monster called the Black Wolf.
“For now, we’ll set some pitfalls around the village, so keep that in mind.”
Some young men in the village were dressed like bandits.
“The only people they admire are bandits. Merchants are hated here.”
The old man from the mountains explained.
“If you like, you can watch. It’s easy work.”
I told the young men as I started digging pits with a shovel.
Just as I was about to put bamboo or poison in the pits, an old woman brought me some poisonous herbs.
“It’s an anesthetic. Can you use it?”
“Thank you. It would be helpful if you could bring as many as possible.”
Inspired by the old woman, the young people returned with a basket full of poisonous herbs.
About 30 pitfalls were set up around the village. Red ribbons were tied to nearby trees as markers.
“I think this will be enough for the deer and boars. Now, build fences around the fields. You won’t need axes or swords for the final blow. A hoe will suffice for dealing with the monsters of this mountain. It might also be a good idea to get some dogs. Any questions?”
“Can you dig pits this quickly?”
One of the young men asked. I had indeed dug the pits quickly, but perhaps I should have taught them more carefully.
“It’s a matter of practice. The more you do it, the better you’ll understand where to set them and how to dig them.” Now, I’ll teach you how to deal with monsters when they come.”
I handed out the Demonic Land survival manual. Since many of them had difficulty reading, though, I used the old mountain man as an example of a real monster and explained methods such as “observation,” “judgment,” and “stopping their movements.”
“If you understand these methods, you should be able to survive as an adventurer outside the village without becoming a bandit.”
“But won’t the townspeople mock or deceive us?”
The villagers seem to lack the courage to take that first step.
“There are certainly bad people, but if you don’t like it, you can always leave. If it really doesn’t work out, come to the demonic land at the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Estinia. That’s where all the exiles gather.”
After that, I left a manual in the village and visited other villages and mines.
Along the way, I saw Harpies on the cliffs, but they weren’t attacking anyone.
The old mausoleum ruins, known as the bandits’ lair, were being used as a nursing home for injured miners. There is a hot spring there, so it seems like a good place for hot spring therapy.
I repaired the mountain road that had been blocked by a landslide, and my work in the mountains was finished. Ultimately, I didn’t get to fight as I had in the demonic land.
“Now people will be able to come and go, even in winter. You’ve saved us.”
The mountain man smiled and ruffled his beard.
“I’m glad I could be of help…”
“My knee’s healed, so maybe I’ll go back to being an adventurer.”
The old mountain man seemed to have been an adventurer in the past.
“Good luck. Take care.”
I signed the request form and headed down the mountain.
Although I didn’t feel like I’d done much work, I received a proper reward at the town’s adventurer’s guild.
Looking at the silver coins I’d received, I felt uneasy.
“Is this manual not effective outside the demonic land?”
While eating soft bread and white soup for dinner in the guild’s dining hall, I realized how naive my assessment had been. I couldn’t understand why I had left the demonic land to sell this manual.
It seemed better to look for people suitable for the demonic land in this area, but I couldn’t find anyone promising.
“Emergency! Emergency!”
A guild employee suddenly shouted.
“A herd of Cyclopses has appeared in the western plains! Adventurers with combat experience, head to the western plains immediately! The reward will be generous!”
Cyclopses are one-eyed giant monsters. I don’t know how big they are, but they must be larger than ordinary goblins and kobolds.
“Even a single Cyclops can destroy a village, so a herd could destroy a town.”
Veteran and mid-level adventurers checked their equipment, loaded their bags, and left the guild. The newcomers, apparently experiencing their first emergency quest, were confused and just gathering information. A group of weak female mages huddled in the corner of the dining hall.
Unlike people from the demonic land, they couldn’t cast spells quickly. They said, “There’s nothing we can do.”
Since I’ve finished dinner, it might be a good idea to go see what’s going on and try to defeat the Cyclops.
“Excuse me, could you lend me a shovel?”
“Huh? A shovel?”
“Yes.”
I explained the situation to the guild staff, who gave me a shovel.
“You’re the messenger from the demonic land the other day, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever dealt with a Cyclops herd?”
“No, I’ve never dealt with a Cyclops, but I fight monsters the size of huts every day.”
“If you can’t handle a Haze Turtle or a Treant, you won’t survive in the demonic land as it is now.”
“…I see.”
“Believe it or not, I’ll just ask you to lend me a shovel for now.”
“Yes, of course!”
They gave me several shovels and told me to take whichever one was easiest to use.
It would be better to have more people, just in case.
“Are you free?”
I asked a group of magicians standing nearby.
“Would you join me in defeating the Cyclops?”
“If we go, we’ll just be ridiculed for being useless.”
A magician who seemed to be a mid-level member answered. It seemed possible to talk to them.
“You’ll be ridiculed if you stay at the guild. How about digging holes far away?”
“If we don’t get close…”
After consulting their companions, they agreed to accompany me. They immediately prepared a large bag containing healing potions and portable food for the hunt. However, I told them it wasn’t necessary.
“You don’t need to bring anything. All you need is a shovel, so wear something light and easy to move in.”
I told them not to bring their robes or staffs, but they said they wouldn’t be recognized as magicians without them, so they decided to wear them anyway.
As the sun set, I left town with a group of female magicians who were carrying shovels.
There were carriages waiting outside, but we couldn’t leave until everyone had gathered. The veteran adventurers were busy preparing at the blacksmith’s and the apothecary’s. It looked like they wouldn’t leave until late at night, so we decided to walk.
We veered off the road and climbed a small hill to get a better view. The grassland was dotted with short trees, and I could see for miles.
To the west of the road, near a small river, I saw dust flying in the air. A young man wearing leather armor who looked like an adventurer was being blown away.
There are eight Cyclopses in total. They were about four to five meters tall. They are not as bulky as the Haze Turtles from the demonic land; they are slender and wield clubs. They must have come to the plains because they were running out of food. They let out a cry and rushed toward a bear.
“Let’s dig while the Cyclops are chasing the bear.”
“What? Here?”
“We already know what their weapons are. They’re just swinging clubs. I don’t think their shouts will have any abnormal effect. Come on, let’s make a quick decision.”
We dug pitfalls on the hill.
I dug five, and the magician party dug one. Maybe trap-making requires practice.
After digging twelve pits, I headed toward the Cyclops to provoke them. The moon was bright, so it wasn’t too dangerous.
“Can you cast a spell?”
“It’s impossible to hit them from here.”
“I see. Then just get ready. I don’t think it will be necessary, though.”
The Cyclops are quite far away, fighting bears. I can hear the bears growling as they flee into the cracks of the cliffs.
Let’s lure them here one by one and see how fast they are.
I picked up some small stones and approached the cliff.
I threw the stones at one of the Cyclops’ heads. It screamed.
Thud!
The Cyclops, hit in the head by a pebble, crouched there for a while. Was the head its weak point?
The other Cyclops noticed the unusual situation and spotted me. Seven of them ran toward me at once.
They were giants, so their steps were large. However, they were slow, and I had time to turn around and wave my hands to guide them. It was as if I were guiding them on a trap tour.
I jumped over the pit and reached the top of the hill. As I continued throwing pebbles, an enraged Cyclops stepped into the pit.
Thud!
The Cyclops fell, one leg in the pit.
Thud! Thud!
All of the other Cyclopes chasing me fell into the pit and were unable to move.
All that was left to do was crush their knee bones with a shovel. I crushed each bone one by one, completely destroying their legs.
“Use magic or whatever you have to finish them off!”
I instructed the magicians, and they attacked with balls of fire.
Since the targets weren’t moving, the magic never missed. Seven Cyclops corpses lay on the ground.
The Cyclops that had been crouching down after being hit by pebbles had fallen and been mauled to death by bears.
Veteran adventurers arrived later in a carriage, but it was too late. The battle was already over, so I asked them to clean up the mess.
“I’ve never defeated monsters so easily before.”
“We want to form a guild of female magicians and challenge the dungeon.”
“Would you like to join our party? No, never mind.”
After dividing the reward, the magicians invited me to join them, but I declined. Our goals were different.
“Everything you need to know is written in the Demonic Land Manual. If you ever find yourself questioning your strength while exploring the dungeon, visit the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Estinia, where the demonic land lies.”
I handed them a copy of the manual and left the Adventurers’ Guild.
It seemed like the best course of action was to continue defeating monsters and learning about the demonic land through experience.
It was already nighttime, but I started running along the road. I wasn’t tired since I hadn’t done much work.
The night breeze felt pleasant, and since there were few people around, it was easy to run. Before I knew it, I had passed through the plains.
If I keep this up, I’ll just be handing out manuals. I haven’t met anyone suited for the demonic land yet.
It’s been two days since I left the demonic land.
“I need to hurry…”
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