Chapter 59: So What?
The next morning, I searched for prey for our hunting training, but wouldn’t you know it, at times like these, I could only find Goblins.
Since it couldn’t be helped, we used Goblins for basic practice. I had my ice-powered companions go easy on them. Linna instructed Fanna to get behind the Goblin, but Fanna seemed hesitant about how to make her attack.
So, I had Mii-chan show her an example.
Mii-chan trotted behind the Goblin that was facing off against my ice-powered companions and slashed its Achilles’ tendon and calf with her claws.
Since I had asked her to set an example, after slashing the legs of about two Goblins, she looked at the newcomer with a smug “try it yourself” expression.
“Fanna, do it!”
At Linna’s voice, Fanna slashed the Goblin’s leg and quickly moved away.
Fang Cats are a species that don’t typically hunt large prey like Goblins, so Linna had to teach her various things until she got used to it.
The Achilles’ tendons of Horn Boars and Elks are tough, and her claws weren’t powerful enough to cut them, so Linna taught her hit-and-run attacks targeting the thighs.
Linna also taught her the roosting spots of Red Chickens, Kokekkoos, and Chiki-Chiki Birds, and how to attack them at night, then drop them to Linna waiting below after dawn.
Mii-chan was the one doing the teaching; I was just an attendant and explainer.
It took three days to teach her, but I felt she had become a sufficiently useful Tamed Beast, so we decided to part ways.
“Thanks for looking after my wife. If you ever come to Emden, feel free to call on us anytime.”
“I’m so grateful to have finally Tamed a Fang Cat, something I’ve longed for.”
Linna looked overjoyed, with Fanna perched on her shoulder, nuzzling her tail.
I, too, learned a fair bit about the abilities of a normal Tamer, and it was a great discovery to confirm that I could overwrite the Tame on a Tamed Beast already Tamed by another Tamer.
Of course, I don’t think I can overwrite the Tame on a beast that isn’t dominated, so I decided to add any potentially useful beasts to my domination.
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It had been a while since I was last in Zandra, but this time, I prayed that I wouldn’t get caught up in any trouble.
Of course, the gods I prayed to were the myriad gods of Japan.
Even after checking with my Skill, the number of Slimes was still 5, unchanged. I confirmed that the Tame was still effective even after nearly a year of neglect, but Kumagoro the Ring Bear was gone.
When I went to check on the Honeybee Queen’s hive, I found one Slime.
It seemed to be faithfully following my orders to occasionally come and knock away anyone trying to destroy the Queen’s hive, so I gave it a small Horn Boar as a reward.
I told the Honeybees I’d come back when the flowers started to bloom and decided to return to Zandra.
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I sold my game twice, and my funds exceeded 5,000,000 Dahla. I remembered the five bags of Gold Coins from Milene-sama and headed to the Commerce Guild to check.
After a transfer of 54,800,000 Dahla from Milene-sama, there was another transfer of 185,690,000 Dahla about two months later.
The 4,800,000 Dahla seemed to be for the Nectar, calculated at four Gold Coins per teacup, so she was buying it at a pretty good price.
Even including the disposal cost of a Magic Pouch or Magic Bag, I don’t know which, 185,690,000 Dahla was an exceptional amount.
I was impressed that Owen the Hellfire had accumulated quite a bit.
I didn’t seem to need 240,490,000 Dahla anytime soon, so I just confirmed it and left it alone.
I decided to spend my time relaxing in the Grassland and forest until the flowers were in full bloom, but after stopping by the Adventurers Guild for an ale for the third time, some tails appeared.
This time, I had no idea who they could be. If it were just one or two, it wouldn’t be a big deal, so I ignored them and left town, but they didn’t seem like such easy opponents.
As I was crossing the Grassland just before dusk, nearing the edge of the forest, I sensed numerous gazes. I put Mii-chan down and pulled up my hood.
Mii-chan led the way to our campsite, but they were only watching, not attacking.
《Hoo-chan and the others, stay away for now and keep an eye on those watching me.》
《Master, shall I bite them to death?》Mii-chan asked.
《Not yet. How many people followed us from the city?》
《Eight, and a few more,》Hoo-chan reported.
《This is Number Two. There are seven in the forest.》
《What about your side, Mii-chan?》
《Eight over here too.》
So the tails have merged, making it 24 or 25 people, or even more, huh.
It would be nightfall soon, so if they were waiting for that, they must be people who knew about Bee-chan and the others.
Very few people in Zandra knew about Hoo-chan, so maybe they thought Mii-chan was the only one I had once the sun set.
It was impossible to increase my Tamed Beasts now, but I thought I could manage with my Magic-Imbued Clothing, Agility, and Jump.
However, Zandra really is like a fountain of trouble for me.
As I was thinking such carefree thoughts, I heard thwip-thwip sounds, and arrows landed at my feet.
They attacked me in an open area with no tall grass around, a place with good visibility.
I raised my collar to hide my mouth, tightened my hood to firm up my guard, and then ordered Hoo-chan and the others to aim for their legs and immobilize them.
〈…〉
〈…Tsk!〉
〈Agh…〉
I could sense silent screams and astonishment, but they seemed to be a rather tenacious bunch.
Their encirclement formation was crumbling, so it looked like they were taking considerable damage.
I heard a yelp like 〈Gyan!〉, but it didn’t sound human.
《Maste…》
《What’s wrong, Hoo-chan?》
《Hoo-chan! Hoo-chan, answer me!》
《Mii-chan!》
《Yes, Master? What is it?》
《Stop your attacks and watch from cover.》
《Understood.》
I lost contact with Hoo-chan and the others, but it didn’t seem like I had time to check with my Skill.
My Search showed their numbers had decreased, but I could feel the encirclement tightening, and I occasionally saw faint lights in the darkening thickets and tree shadows.
Bad feelings often come true.
《Mii-chan, go see why the grass is occasionally lighting up.》
Though fewer in number, the rain of arrows hadn’t stopped yet, so I crawled towards the darkness.
As I was catching my breath, Mii-chan contacted me, reporting that the injured were able to move again.
My bad feeling grew stronger.
Just then, my vision turned crimson, and a deafening 〈BOOM〉resounded.
Damn it, why is she here?!
Another shot landed in front of me with a roar.
There was no doubt they were targeting my location.
I immediately got up and sprinted at full speed. Taking advantage of a stumble, I used a wall jump to change direction and plunged into a thicket, then used the darkness to move.
While I was doing that, a third Fireball landed near where I had just been.
The interval between shots was about as long as it takes to quickly say a short children’s rhyme three times.
She probably couldn’t do silent casting and was using rapid incantations, but Amadeus’s Blessing was not to be underestimated.
I Jumped with all my might in the direction the Fireball had come from, and as I landed, I pushed off again.
There! A woman, standing up and checking the area where I had been.
When I turned to face her, she noticed me too and prepared to shoot a Fireball, so I immediately dived sideways to escape.
The launched Fireball was slow! It reminded me of Fran’s early Stone Arrows.
The woman couldn’t use Teleportation Magic, so I decided to deal with her later and searched for the man, but he was nowhere to be found.
He must be hiding somewhere, aiming for me, so I had Mii-chan look for him.
《Mii-chan, do you remember when that man and I fought, and lots of Bee-chans came?》
《Yes, I remember, Master.》
《That man from back then should be hiding. Find him without being seen.》
《Understood.》
Alright then, while Mii-chan is searching, I guess I’ll take care of the woman.
I Jumped towards the spot where the Fireball had come from, leaping into a group of men standing with swords and bows, knocking them down with my Wooden Sword as I closed in on the woman.
I aimed a straight overhead strike at the woman’s face, but my body hit something just before impact and was repelled.
I had forgotten this one could use Barrier Magic too.
I switched to my Demon Steel Short Spear and took a few light practice swings.
She was pointing her palm at me and muttering something, so the moment I shielded my eyes with my arm, the gap turned red, and an explosion roared.
It was worth having even my gloves made with magic enchantment.
I don’t know if she’s a wild mare or a brazen wench, but I unleashed King’s Pressure on her at full power.
She froze, her pale face contorting, but in that state, she wouldn’t be able to chant.
I swung the Short Spear and slammed it into her Barrier. With a 〈DOOM〉sound, followed by a light 〈PANG〉, the Barrier broke.
Just as I was about to step forward, he appeared before me, kneeling on one knee and dripping with cold sweat.
“Wait,” he said, holding his palm towards me to stop me, but I had no intention of waiting.
I took a step forward but hit something again and couldn’t advance. Can this guy use magic without chanting?
《Eri, that damn cat got my leg. Heal me.》
Oh ho, your calf’s been sliced clean open.
If it were your Achilles’ tendon, you’d be writhing in pain. Too bad.
You seem to think you’re safe inside your Barrier Magic, but you’ve apparently forgotten it was shattered in two hits last time.
《Take this!》 I swung my custom-made Short Spear down for a strike, but 〈CLANG〉—that sound is different from last time.
《Haahahaha! I reinforced it because you broke it before. You won’t break it this time!》
Hoh, in that case, I’ve also been thinking of a way to pierce it in a single blow.
You’re telling the woman to heal you, thinking you’re safe inside the Barrier, but she’s completely frozen, body and soul, by my King’s Pressure.
Aiming for his heart, I hurl my Short Spear with all my might.
It pierced through with a 〈THWACK〉 sound and embedded itself in his shoulder.
He turns to me with a look of astonishment, but you know, even if you hit reinforced glass with an iron bar, it’s hard to break. However, if you use something hard with a sharp tip, it shatters easily.
Smiling brightly, I bid him farewell.
《Wait! If you kill us, that old man won’t stay silent!》
《Don’t worry about that.》 Saying so, I behead the woman he’s desperately shaking.
《Damn yoooou! You actually did it!》
《And what of it? I’ll send you to follow her right away.》