CH 8

I was faced with a problem.

That problem is my meals.

I have the food, which happens to be the orcs that we hunted for earlier.

But there are no utensils or tools, and no seasoning either.

It’s all raw, so the only thing that awaits me is an upset stomach.

I at least want to cook it well, but there aren’t frying pans here. I guess I’ll just have to peel off the burnt parts after I place it on a fire…

“Humans really are inconvenient.”

You wild creatures! Cooking is the epitome of culture, you know! It’s delicious, you know!

While thinking that, I had to grab a stick and wash it, to be used as a skewer for the meat I would cook.

I can feel myself slowly descending back to the wilderness.

Around noon, I was brought out by the grandfather.

I’m not sure about what exactly, but it has something to do with my training.

“I’ve arrived, sir.”

“Ooh, you’re here, Ryu.”

There stands the grandfather, wagging his tail happily. Is he mistaking me for his grandchild or something…

“Are you sure it’s fine to favor me so much? There are quite a lot that don’t think good about it.”

“It’s fine, I was the one to let you in. If anyone has complaints, they’re going to have to beat me.”

Beating the grandfather, yeah that’s probably impossible.

“So, what’s this about my training?”

“It’s this.”

He showed me a fallen nut on the ground.

“Am I supposed to crush this with my bare hands or something?”

As I fiddle with it though, it doesn’t seem that hard to crush…

“No no, I was thinking I’ll have you eat those to increase your [Resistance].”

Ooh, [Resistance]. So this is a poisonous nut.

“I’ve heard that humans increase their [Resistance] by intaking poison little by little, so I thought you should do the same.”

It’s true that high [Resistance] and the [Cancellation] skill will be necessary for me going forth.

“Thanks sir. These nuts aren’t too poisonous though, right?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll only suffer stomachaches and such.”

It should be fine if that’s what the grandfather is saying.

With that, I ate the nut.

In the evening, we went hunting again.

This time, the target was the cockatrice.

Pork in the morning and chicken at night, huh.

The cockatrice is a tough opponent, with eyes that turn you into stone if you’re seen and a poisonous snake as a tail.

But it also has its weaknesses.

The biggest one is that it is night blind, and it also can’t fly (It’s a chicken after all). The snake tail is also very frail, and so as long as you can kill it before it gets you, it’s not a problem.

Even with those weaknesses, there’s a huge concern, being that I was told to kill one all by myself.

“You okay Ryu?”

“I’m not ok…”

Of course I’m not fine. Even the orc during the morning was a monster that a party of B-rank adventurers go hunt for, and now to do this…

“Can I not help him, grandfather?”

“No. It’s easiest to convince those not in favor of him staying here if he displays power deserving of being with us.”

“But Ryu is mine.”

“Even if so.”

Ojou worrying really concerns me about the strength of the monster.

“I’ll come help out if it’s really necessary.”

Then just help out from the start please…

""

“Look, there’s one”

There I see a massive chicken.

It’s sleeping, but if it wakes up I doubt my hands would even reach its neck.

And the snake tail… there it is. I should get that first.

I’ll get the snake with a slash at its head, and then move on to the chicken after.

“I’ll be going then.”

“Don’t die or turn into stone or anything, yeah?”

Ojou rubs her cheek against my face.

It’s not the time for thoughts like this, but the fur feels sooo good.

“I know.”

Alright… Let’s get this!

I jump right out of the thicket and sprint towards the snake.

But the snake woke up before the chicken body!?

Well it’s still fine, the snake was my first target anyway!

I grabbed its neck and stabbed it straight through the head. It really is weak as long as you watch out for the poison.

“Keeeeeeek!”

The chicken’s mad! Of course it’s to be expected after I cut off its tail, but I don’t want to die either!

Now what should I do next… I know it’s night-blind but with it being mad and all, it’s still a huge danger.

Then first should be the legs! It can’t fly, so if I can make it immobile!

“Haah!”

I’ve got its legs!… Wait, stop jumping… And now it’s flying?! Even though it’s a chicken????!

You’ve got to be kidding me, it flies even though it’s a chicken? How should I attack it then… Ow! What was that, my skin got grazed by wind!

Which means it can even use magic?! I need to retreat for now and hide in the shadows.

I observe it from the shadows, and it continues to stay flying.

Then, I’m gonna need a long-ranged attack as well if I want to do anything.

But what should I do? I only know magic that I need in my daily life.

The only hands I have available are the fang and… my MP! Can I attack it by pouring my MP into the fang? I need to try it.

I slowly pour my MP into the fang, adding a little extra than it probably needs because I’m not sure about how much I should pour. Let’s just see how it goes from here!

“Die!”

I swung the fang like I was slashing at the cockatrice’s neck.

Wait, something really came out! Like a black string!

And its neck was cut just like that.

I, I really killed it.

The cockatrice comes falling down, missing its head. It doesn’t feel real. I won, but I don’t feel like anything’s changed.

“Ryu?”

Ojou! Right, you said you would be watching.

""

“Um, are you ok?”

?

“You just looked sort of lonely.”

“I’m fine, I think.”

My face was probably just empty because I didn’t really feel like I actually defeated such a monster, not because I felt lonely.

“You did well, Ryu.”

“Sir!”

“Now you’re really part of the pack.”

“Part of the pack?”

“Yeah, you know about not everyone being accepting of you, no? So I told them to accept it if you’re able to defeat it by yourself here.”

“Oooooh…”

So that was why I was told to hunt one…

“Ryu!”

Ojou supported me up as I was about to fall, with my knees giving out from the release of tension. Oh, it’s so soft. It feels so good…

“Ojou, I’m tired.”

“Good grief.”

Ojou curled up like she was wrapping around me. Yeah, it’s warm and so comfy.

“Goodnight ojou.”

“Wait what, you’re gonna sleep here?”

“Yeah.”

I felt like I heard a sigh, but I fell into a deep sleep.