Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter 1: Prologue

Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa, I will die, Im seriously going to dieeeeeeee!

It sounds like Im making an excuse out of nowhere, but, I was attacked by a pack of stray dogs outside a village.

Originally, I planned to fight.

However, Ive already tossed my sword aside and am now running away desperately.

To be more precise, they werent stray dogs, but seemed to be more like those monsters, called crazy dogs(1).

I thought that maybe mad dogs would be a good comparison to these ones here, but, they were far more enormous than what I had imagined as normal dogs. My legs began to tremble as soon as I saw drool dribbling from their bared fangs and their glaring eyes filled with madness.

Dogs usually tend to gather in packs.

There were probably 4 of them. Back when I accepted a request from the guild of adventurers in this village, I thought there was no way for an armored person to lose against mere dogs.

I made light of this fantasy world.

Being surrounded, I was about to be eaten alive by those guys.

The moment I thought about various things awaiting me next, I lost my will to fight.

Aahhhhh!

I was prepared for the worst as I knew one of them had aimed for my ankle from behind me, but, for some reason, I didnt feel anything.

My heart was palpitating so much I thought it would burst. I tried to grasp the situation while being awfully calm.

To my luck, the wound wasnt that deep, as the dog had to bite through my thickly-made trousers.

More importantly, the real problem was that its sunken fangs wouldnt separate from me.

Even if I was to dash away, like a startled hare, while dragging that mad dog along, it would still hinder my movements.

Like that, I threw myself forward, leapt in the air, and tumbled.

Gently falling down onto the ground, I rolled heavily forward while feeling the soil in front of me.

At that time, I understood I was going to die for sure.

Ive seen somewhere a movie where a certain guy dies in slow motion. I think the same is happening to me right now.

However, this was a real occurrence and not just a scene from that movie.

Don! My body hit against the ground.

Lying sprawled out and face up, what I saw next were flashing memories of my life till now. I was carelessly thinking about various things from that time.

I was betrayed by my own expectations.

The mad dog jumped onto the top of my chest with a bang and I could feel its weight.

Even though it didnt hurt back when I was bitten, it felt incredibly painful and heavy when a crazy dog sprang up on top of my chest.

Preparing to devour my head, the mad dog opened its big jaw at me.

The inside of its jaw was bright red and there were white, sharp fangs lining the interior.

Ah, there are cavities in this guys molars.

What one should see before death was probably not a dogs cavities.

Thinking that you ought to remember at least your sweethearts face (which I dont have), I gave up and closed my eyes.

I couldnt watch myself being devoured by a dog.

slash

Together with the sound of something falling down with a thud, the weight of the dog disappeared.

Ahhh, have I already died?

Apparently, death doesnt hurt if you dont detest it much.

As expected from a fantasy world.

I wonder if a game over screen will appear after this. Still, I couldnt care less about that.

Thats because writhing in pain and dying after being bitten to death by a pack of dogs wasnt just some joke.

Im thankful that it wasnt..

With my eyes closed, I realized my ankle began to tingle in pain.

Speaking of which, it damn hurtsssss!

Not being able to endure the violent pain running through my ankle, I opened my eyes.

Ahh, the sky is blue.

I was still alive and laying on the ground face up.

While being attentive to my much hurting ankle, I slowly raised my body up. There was a sea of blood around me. The scene looked like it came straight out of a splatter movie.

Whats this? Is it my blood?

That cant be true. The blood was spilling out from the dead bodies of the dogs, which were gruesomely slashed.

It was their blood.

The dog that had pounced on top of me and tried to bite my head off had its own head split by a knife, from which pink-colored brain matter was seeping out.

And then, a bit further away from me, I found a warrior girl, who was thrusting her somewhat large sword into the remaining dog that had completely surrendered.

Kyuuuun an awfully small shriek reverberated from that dog.

Are you okay?

Yes, well. I guess somehow.

It was a lightly armored warrior girl who wore a thick, leather-made jacket and a black Farstian (a garment similar to those thick, cotton-made, cheap jeans). For warriors, this was considered light equipment, but, it was probably crucial for them to be able to move with ease. Her sword was a straight one with a rustic design and a pale radiating light. Judging from how effortlessly she swings it, I could easily understand this girl is strong.

Her vivid, crimson hair that stretches till her shoulders was coarsely bundled up in a ponytail while swaying from a high position. Despite being a girl, she has a large build. Her tempered body is slim, just like the blade of a naked sword, making her style look great.

Its clear her facial lines are that of a westerner, which for a Japanese, like me, is beautiful. Is she in her mid-twenties?

Had I been some beautiful onee-san, I wouldve probably become imperious.

However, it would apply if it wasnt for her face and body stained with spurts of blood from the slain dogs, and the patterned cloth of her drawn sword which she held in her hand.

I know its rude to say this after being saved, but, that gruesome appearance of her looks even scarier than that of those crazy dogs.

Can you stand?

Im fine.. ow.

If I possessed such skills for survival, I would, by no means, choose to be an adventurer or a hunter.

Does she understand the feelings of someone like me?

The warrior Onee-san took the gathered firewood from me and started to cook a dogs internal organs in a frying pan, happily.

You can eat this meat afterwards as well. We can also make them into dried meat, but, as for the liver, you should only eat them when going on a hunt. Delicious!

Yes.

I was encouraged to eat some dogs internal organs.

Indeed, the sizzling sound of the cooking meat stirred up my appetite. There was also the burnt fragrance of delicious looking fat.

I gave it a try and bit the steamy thing served on my wooden plate with all my might.

Delicious..

Right?! Theres still plenty left, so eat, eat.

I used to have an image of liver as something associated with bitterness, but it seems like I was totally wrong.

Rather, it felt sweet on my tongue. This could simply be described as being delicious.

Even though the offal of this fresh crazy dog was soft, it had an appropriate food consistency. The rich taste of its fat went smoothly through my throat, which made me eat to my hearts content.

Ive heard stories about meat being more preferably sold as dried food, but, being able to eat like this, this one here is incredibly delicious and rich in protein too.

As we encompassed the burning firewood and ate together, I was able to befriend and hold a natural conversation with this Onee-san.

Her name is Louise Carlson.

The name of Louise seems to be quite popular in this area, called Silesie.

If I was to use Japan as a comparison, wouldnt it be Hanako? Right now, there are no people named like that here, but, thats because this is a medieval fantasy world.

As one would expect, Louises main occupation is that of a female warrior. She uses her straight sword, but, shes generally skilled in everything, and even seems to be able to fight on a horse. While were at it, shes 24 years old.

Since Im 17, I guess that makes her 7 years older than me?

I guess so..

What are you guessing to?

I ran my mouth without thinking ahead. Well, even if I did, theres no use in thinking back on it.

Now, it wasnt the right time to speak ones mind unreservedly and be infatuated by her.

Thats right, I havent introduced myself yet.

My name is Sawatari Takeru. Im a 2nd year high schooler.

That Hi-gh Schoo-ler, what kind of profession is that?

Ummm, I wonder about that, you see..

A school title was probably not common in this Kingdom of Silesie.

In that case, wouldnt I be an unemployed? Perhaps, an unemployed NEET.?

Since becoming my ideal magic sword hero doesnt seem to be possible, I need to find some job thats appropriate for me.

It looks like Louise has been following me from when I accepted the quest in the guild, because I seemed to be very frantic.

Thats right, now that I think back, I was certainly in a hysterical state after being transported here.

And now, Ive changed completely from being crazy to being depressed.

Despite Louises unsociable appearance, she was actually a kind person. When I asked her if she knew any jobs appropriate for me, I was told that being just an adventurer was no good.

With your skills right now, youll die before gaining any experience.

I see.

Its just like Louise-sama says, I guess.

Your swordsmanship a bit eccentric, but, rational. Thats why I was hesitating to help you, since I didnt know if you could fight.

Ah, I see

My swordsmanship is that of the Hokushin ittou-ryuu style(2).

Despite saying so, I didnt practice Kendo during high school. Instead, I was part of the go-home club.

Once I quickly returned back home after school, I would use the surplus of my time to read about old-style swordsmanship and practice using a bamboo sword.

I was fond of Musashi Miyamoto, so I aspired to become a fine swordsman. Whats more, I also read various Olympic books.

Im one of those so-called chuunibyou guys. Despite me being already a high schooler, being a chuuni is quite weird, isnt? Yeah, you can laugh at me. After all, this is something to laugh about, right?

However, I cannot laugh at my current situation.

Otherwise, Ill die on the battlefield for being half-hearted.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, is what they say.

Im weak.

In addition to this places culture still developing and its bad public safety, I am forced to survive in this cruel world with its violent monsters.

Ah, somehow Ive become gloomy again.

Anyway, Im going to eat to my hearts content, since this dogs organs are tasty.

And then, I helped Louise with transportation of the hides and meat to the village. Once I did so, I expressed my deepest gratitude to her, and even sat in dogeza style, so as to have her find a job for me through the good connections of her friends.

One day has passed since I fell into this world.

I was arrogant to think I could become a hero reincarnated in a different world.

I was also naive to think that death here would result in a game over screen appearing.

I would have disappeared the moment I was about to be killed by those crazy dogs.

Nevertheless, I dont want to die, I want to live through no matter what.

This is what I strongly wished for.

The mad dogs, which tried to kill me, were further slaughtered by the stronger Louise, processed into delicious meat and preserved as a life provision.

I, must live on in this cruel world, where the weak are meat and the strong do eat.

1: Written as Crazy Dog in katakana.

2: One-sword schools. For more detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itt%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB

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