Chapter 12: Desire for Meat
The “Torchu Mountain Range” was a hangout for demons. Our protagonist Hiiro Okamura had to pass through there to get to his destination “Surge” and thus was…
running away with all his might. As for the reason, an annoying amount of demons was chasing after him.
He slipped into a gap in the cliff, letting the demons go past him.
While he roamed around, he found a plant growing on the roadside. That plant bore fruits, which emitted a sweet fragrance like strawberries. Moreover, the fruits were rather large and he plugged the plant, thinking it could serve as food.
And then he remembered that the woman at the counter in the Guild taught him about the demon called “Torchu Disaster Plant” before coming here.
Not knowing that it was the “Torchu Disaster Plan”, he froze up on the spot without understanding what was going on, whereupon a swarm of demons advanced upon him.
Even while thinking so, he held his breath and checked the surroundings. It looked like the demons were gone.
There were easily over ten of them. For now it was the right decision to hide.
“Still, I’m hungry.”
“Guess I’ll check it out.”
Gulping down, he surveyed the area, looking for the one responsible for this. But as far as he could tell, no one was around.
No one around. Delicious grilled fish right in front of him. An empty stomach. And again, no one around.
He couldn’t hold himself back. Just at the moment he tried to take the fish,
A terrible killing intent came from behind him, so he jumped widely to the side. At the place where he had been at before, now stood a man thrusting a wooden pole into the ground.
While saying so, he pointed the pole at him like pointing a finger. The man had short ruffled hair in blue colour. He looked like in his 30s. Even covered by armour, it was noticeable that he had quite a muscular build.
(Still…)
“Boy! Name yourself! Trying to snatch food from me, the great Arnold, is inexcusable! State your name!”
“I’ve nothing to give to you! State your name and begone!”
“……..Mh, first, hear me out.”
The man asserted by impressively throwing out his chest.
“Yeah! What about it?”
“Don’t take me for a fool!”
“G- Grrr! So demanding. How did your parent raise you, you damn brat!”
“Say what! Who are you calling grumpy!”
“U- Uncle…”
Her big eyes had clear sky-blue pupils. But right now, these eyes were filled with anxiety and her small body trembled lightly.
For some reason the man was running his mouth about him, but Hiiro glanced at the little girl, whereupon she hid herself startled.
“Mh? You understand what, brat?”
“Were you never taught how to ask for a favour, brat!”
“You’re in no position to say that!”
(So fast… And he isn’t even serious yet.)
(Mhm, this brat has some good moves)
Hiiro grabbed the hilt of his “Piercer”. The man also seized the broadsword on his back. Tension was in the air and silence spread, whereupon a scream resounded. It came from the girl called Muir.
“MUIIIIIIIIIR!”
Arnold succeeded in cutting off the arm that tried to seize Muir by applying the momentum of his charge in his sword swing.
While spraying blood around, it swung its other arm, but the man parried it with his sword and desperately protected Muir behind him.
“It’s okay! Leave this to me and take cover.”
“Damn!”
(Kuh! What now! Do I use it… No, it would endanger Muir too…!)
“Hey~ Can I eat now?”
“Hey, hold it! Eating now!? Colour me surprised! Read the atmosphere, damn it!”
“I- If you see it, help me!”
“Say what!”
…What to do?
(So, what to do… The growling is annoying. Do I secretly snatch some food? Nah, he’ll notice…)
“Hey, what’s your problem, old man.”
“Okay~ Listen well, fool! Y- You can have these fishes! So help me out! Th- This is a deal! If you want to eat, obey me!”
“Wha!?”
“Right now, I can just snatch the fishes and run away!”
“Can’t take a joke, huh.”
Hiiro truly handled things at his own pace.
The moment he though that, Arnold cut off a demon’s arm and that very arm brilliantly fell down on the fire.
“N- No waaaaaay!?”
“…Well, time to move along.”
Hiiro was about to leave when he was hastily stopped.
“Grr…”
But if he couldn’t get Hiiro’s cooperation, he would have to fight the ferocious demons while protecting Muir. He would’ve no trouble against them on his own, but since he had to protect Muir, it was difficult.
“Mh?”
“Sheesh! It’s my last resort! I- I’ll give you some of the ‘Aqua Hound Meat’, so help meee!”
“You don’t know!? It’s a first-grade meat! Eating it grilled, will make your tongue melt and get you addicted!”
Hiiro’s eyes sparkled.
Hearing that reminded him of the “Addicted Seafood Noodles” that he had eaten in ≪Victorias≫. It had been delicious. Incredible delicious. He wanted to eat it again by all means.
“Hey, you better not be lying.”
Arnold narrowly dodged the claw of a Barbarous Kong.
At that time, a Barbarous Kong seized Muir and lifted her towards its mouth. Apparently it attempted to eat her.
“Shit!”
“GUAAAH!?”
“Easy there.”
However Muir only received a soft sensation. Not a shred of pain. When she slowly opened her eyes, there stood Hiiro with “Piercer” in his hand.
“Eh, ah… Yes.”
Muir looked at Hiiro absent-minded. Arnold made a sigh of relief once he confirmed Muir’s well-being. However, Hiiro frowned displeased, bothered by their attitudes.
“Ah, yes…”
“Old man, don’t stare into empty space and fight!”
“Ridiculous. As if these guys could kill me.”
Hiiro totally intended to slaughter the enemy. To kill them without mercy. That was how he handled demons attacking him.
“Too troublesome to deal with them one after another. Old man, line them up.”
“Just do it. Talking later.”
Sighing resigning, Arnold sharply glared at the scattered Barbarous Kong.
“So bossy.”
“≪Explosive Wind Claw≫!”
The demons in the maelstrom were lifted up into the air with no way to resist.
Seeing that, Hiiro muttered in admiration. Arnold could’ve sent them flying like that anytime, but didn’t do so as Muir had been close by.
The Barbarous Kong were whirled up in midair while vacuum blades cut up their bodies. Before long, they fell down, all lined up like Hiiro had requested.
“Yeah, perfect.”
“H- Hey, what are you…?”
He bluntly discarded Arnold’s question. Arnold became sullen, but watched attentively like he was told.
“Perforate, ‘Piercer’.”
Arnold had his mouth gaping wide open on this scene. Knowing little of that, Hiiro slowly let his sword drop to in front of him after he was sure that it had pierced all four of them.
Hiiro felt through the blade how they passed away one after another while groaning.
These words marked the end of the battle.