Chapter 27: Harassment
Just as I thought, even after releasing Koo-chan and the others, the Tree Climbing ability I got from Koo-chan hasn’t disappeared.
When I Tamed and immediately released the Goblin and Horned Rabbit, I’d been wondering about the relationship between abilities and those trailing numbers.
Koo-chan’s and Bee-chan’s numbers decreased and even vanished, but there was no change.
If that’s the case, I figured it must be related to the Tree Climbing or Poison Immunity I selected when I Tamed them, and it seems I was right.
I couldn’t bring myself to test it with abilities like Voracious Eater or Charge, though.
After releasing Koo-chan and the others, I circled the area and then returned to town without doing anything else, so Dorado and his group looked puzzled, but they didn’t say anything.
After stocking up on a large amount of food, seasonings, and other supplies over about two days, we headed to Osius Village with Dorado and his group.
We left Zandra through the south gate, walked along the Tanzas Highway for a day, and then headed east on a road barely wide enough for a cart to pass. I heard Osius Village is at a dead end.
Dorado and his companions are apparently mid-tier in the village, but they can still easily defeat Wolves or Dog-type monsters.
Dorado is the leader of the “Fangs of Osius,” and with him are Yans, Gorhen, Yujin, and Zebul, making five of them.
The higher-ranking members are away on a subjugation mission to another village and won’t be back for a while, or so I heard.
When we set up camp, I created a Dome, and when we took out our simple camping cots, they were dumbfounded.
“What, you both have Magic Pouches?”
“And judging by Shinya’s Short Spear, is that a Rank 3?”
“I get that you earn well, but how?”
“This is all thanks to Shinya-san,” Fran explained. “He saved my life, and when we rescued the kidnapped granddaughter of a wealthy merchant, we received Magic Pouches and a large sum of money. He also taught me the basics of magic. When we met, I had only just started hunting seriously.”
“Tell us more.”
“The granddaughter of a wealthy merchant, you say?”
“We definitely need to hear the details on that.”
In a world with little entertainment, they eagerly latched onto Fran’s story.
I left the detailed explanation to Fran and enjoyed some tea by myself.
Fran began her story from when she met me, starting with how she was being chased by six Adventurers when we encountered each other.
It looked like it was going to be a long story, so I decided to retreat into my Camping Barrier alone and go to sleep first.
Even if they’re Fran’s acquaintances, I don’t have the nerve to sleep alongside strangers I don’t know.
After a few days, I’ll probably have a better sense of their character, so until then, I’ll sleep alone.
Fran regretted starting her story from her encounter with me, but it was too late; they pestered her for every detail until she was about to break.
When she got to the part about escaping with Mina and old Hanna-san, she pleaded, “I’ll tell you the rest tomorrow, so please let me sleep!”
I woke up feeling refreshed, but Fran looked sleep-deprived.
The way Dorado and the others looked at me was different from yesterday, probably because they’d heard the part about how all the bandits who attacked us were annihilated.
She was forced to continue her story while walking and looked utterly exhausted, but they didn’t try to ask about her receiving a Magic Pouch or the amount of the reward.
In this regard, even though she’s a younger apprentice, they maintained the courtesy of not prying into matters outside their ‘family,’ which I found admirable.
We arrived at Osius Village around the time the sun began to set. It was surrounded by sturdy wooden palisades, and the houses were also robustly built, a stark contrast to Zandra.
Fran was welcomed, but I, a stranger, was kept at a distance, feeling like an outsider.
A meeting to confirm the Brown Bear situation and plan the subjugation began immediately. Since I was just an observer, I excused myself.
I borrowed a spot outside the cabin where Adventurers stay and set up my Camping Barrier, much to the astonishment of the man who guided me.
I could hear him muttering something like, 《What’s a total newbie, a useless Tamer, doing with something like that…》
He clearly doesn’t know that this Camping Barrier, which looks like a rock, allows me to see and hear everything outside perfectly.
He wandered around the barrier, inspecting it for a while, but since it just looked like an unmoving rock, he got bored and left.
After he left, another group came by. They stared at it curiously, poked it, and were generally being a nuisance.
Just when I was getting really annoyed and about to yell at them to be quiet because they were so loud, a group of brats showed up as if taking their place.
《So this is that so-called barrier thingy, huh?》
《Yeah, looks like the guy Fran brought with her.》
《I wonder what Dorado-san and the others are thinking, bringing back a useless girl like Fran.》
《Rebun-san’s Fire Magic is way more amazing, so why are they taking that coward?》
《I’m going on the Brown Bear subjugation too, so I’ll show them the difference in our strength.》
《But to think her companion is a Tamer…》
《And apparently, his abilities are rock bottom.》
《Well then, they’re a perfect match for Fran, aren’t they?》
《When we get back from the subjugation, maybe we should rough ’em up a bit.》
《Let’s teach them again what happens when they act all high and mighty around us.》
I see. No wonder Fran would be happy if I taught her various things about magic. And there’s no way she could win an 8-on-1 fight.
Her magic skills wouldn’t improve much staying in the village, and if she went hunting with people like this, she’d likely end up as bait.
If she wanted to improve her skills, going out and training was the quickest way.
Those guys who tried to use her as a porter, and the slave hunters, must have been unexpected for her.
These guys seem to have similar personalities to the ones who shot fireworks into my tent.
I don’t act high and mighty, but if they’re looking for a fight, I’ll give them a fitting response.
Just as I was thinking that, one of them fumbled with the front of his pants, pulled out his ‘little thing,’ and started pissing!
This guy, unforgivable!
Fran, still looking sleep-deprived, came to wake me up, and one of the guys from yesterday’s ‘pissing squad’ was with her.
The way he was brazenly staring and sizing me up reminded me of the delinquents who hang around arcades, and Fran looked uncomfortable too.
“Morning, Fran. And you are?”
“Huh? Me? I’m Rebun of the Flames. We’re going to subjugate the Brown Bear, so you two better not get in my way.”
Rebun of the Flames, huh? He gives himself his own epithet?
If it’s Fire Magic, he should go for something cool like ‘Owen of the Raging Flames.’
Though he’d get kicked out of the Guild and become a wanted man.
“What’s so funny!”
“Oh, sorry about that. It’s just the first time I’ve met someone who gives themselves their own epithet.”
“Are you making fun of Rebun-san!” one of his cronies yelled.
“No, no, I’m the type who doesn’t go against people who seem strong, but…”
“Rebun, Herald, you should stop messing with Shinya,” Fran interjected. “Haven’t you heard the story from Dorado-san?”
“We heard. He’s a rock-bottom Tamer with Ability 1, and your friend, right?”
“Birds of a feather flock together, weaklings like you.”
“Don’t you think it’s pathetic that guys who look four or five years older can’t even bully someone younger without ganging up?” I retorted.
“What! You damn brat, watch your mouth…”
“What are you all doing! We’re leaving!” Dorado called out.
“Shinya-san, let’s go,” Fran said.
“Wait! What about your luggage!” Rebun demanded.
“You’re noisy. We have our luggage, so don’t worry about it. Let’s go, Fran.”
“If you have Magic Pouches, then carry my luggage too!”
“Unfortunately, they’re just Rank 1 Magic Pouches, so no can do! If I put your stuff in there, we’d probably have to walk without any food, so I refuse!”
I refused with a casual smile, and he kept yelling behind me, but I completely ignored him.
So, Dorado’s group of five, Fran, me, and ‘Rebun-chan of the Flames’ set off to subjugate the Brown Bear. Rebun kept glaring at me with eyes that seemed to be cursing me.
Yans the scout was in the lead, followed by Dorado the leader, Fran, Rebun, and then me.
Rebun, pretending his pack was heavy, would occasionally shove Fran in front of him or try to trip her by tangling his Short Spear with her legs.
Usually, Fran might be alone, so perhaps he could harass her as he pleased, but today he’s forgotten I’m watching from behind.
《Who’s nearby?》
《Number 42 here.》
《Number 28 is here too!》
《Number 3 as well.》
《Master, leave it to Number 1!》
《Alright then, Numbers 1, 3, 28, and 42, in that order, body slam the face of the guy walking in front of me. Number 1, you can sting his nose. Number 3, sting his cheek! Numbers 28 and 42, sting his head.》
《Number 1, going in!》
《Number 3 is going too!》
《The head, huh~》
《Number 28, it’s a race!》
Just as I heard a 《Bzz》, Rebun’s voice cried out, 《Ouch!》 He immediately swatted his hand, but Number 3 was just flying away from his cheek.
As the buzzing faded and Rebun was sighing in relief, Bee-chan and the others collided with his head and flew off.
《Ah, aaahhh!》
“What’s wrong?” Dorado turned around at Rebun’s cry.
“Looks like he angered some bees,” I said.
“Did Rebun do something to provoke them?” Dorado asked, looking at me.
“Not really. It seems they got angry because Rebun was harassing Fran.”
“To Fran… But Fran isn’t a Tamer.”
“Fran has been traveling with me for over half a year. She sometimes gives them food, so the Killer Bees don’t attack her; they’re probably protecting her.”
“Is that even possible…”
“Well, you know, nudging her from behind, trying to trip her by tangling his spear with her legs… he’s pretty sneaky for an older guy, isn’t he~”
“Are you doing something like that to a companion you hunt with? If you do that to a companion you entrust your life to, you’ll be abandoned when it truly matters,” Dorado said.
Rebun, clutching his head and groaning, seemed to be in too much pain to even reply to Dorado’s reprimand.
“That looks painful. It only ended like that because I asked them to stop, but if you do anything unnecessary, you’ll die.”
“You’re the one who made them do it… I’ll remember this!”
“Do you really think bees listen to orders? There’s a limit to how stupid one can be.”
“Shinya-san, he’ll be a burden like this, so I’ll have him drink an Antidote Potion.”
“Can’t be helped, I guess. Let him drink that delicious one we got from Kuma-san.”
“Of course. The one whose awfulness has Shinya-san’s seal of approval.”
Ugh~ I remember now. She just had to say something unnecessary.
The unpleasantness of it being grassy-smelling and bitter, making my tongue feel rough as if it were mixed with unripe persimmon juice.
Fran dripped the Potion onto his bluish-black swollen nose and cheek, then handed him the rest.
I wonder if her not pouring it over his head is Fran’s way of getting a little revenge.
Since he was unsteady on his feet, I reluctantly decided to take Rebun’s luggage.