Chapter 4

Determined to head for the town, I left Rannu Castle and walked down the narrow path through the dense forest that connected to the Farra Mountains.

I trudged along, heading south towards my destination.

It was peaceful, with no monsters appearing.

(But I need some action today.)

I need to think about my meals for the future, so I should hunt at least one.

Monsters, it’s okay for you to come out.

I’ll invite you to my stomach...

Come on, to the sea of stomach acid.

It’s a dreamland where you’ll dissolve in comfort.

"Monster~ Monster~"

Despite my desperate calls, there was no sign of any monsters.

I look weak, so they should come to me if they find me...

"..."

I’m starting to feel down just by saying it.

It’s getting boring.

The forest, which initially felt fresh, is starting to get monotonous.

Progress is slow, and the ground is muddy from the rain, making it unpleasant, damn it.

Thinking about it, I realize something.

My legs are really short.

My stride is small.

I miss having wings.

Ah, my mobility has drastically decreased...

The mountains are still far away, and I’m starting to get hungry.

Ugh, this might take longer than I thought.

Anyway, I keep walking, walking, walking.

Walking on leaves and branches is a bit prickly.

Hmm, if I could fly, it wouldn’t be a problem, but considering that I’ll be walking for the most part, I need some shoes.

I can clean the dirt off with water magic, but shoes are easier to walk in than bare feet.

I shouldn’t forget to add waterproofing when I get them.

When I get to town, I’ll earn some money and buy shoes.

Thinking about my life after I get to town helps me keep my spirits up as I walk.

I walked all night, and by the evening of the second day, I could finally see the base of the mountains.

Maybe I underestimated the distance...

Not just a little, but a lot, because I don’t have much experience with long walks.

I’m really hungry, though.

Come on, monsters, show yourselves.

If this keeps up, I might end up eating dirt...

No, maybe that’s not so bad.

I’m a gargoyle, made of minerals.

Dirt... a friend? Maybe this could work.

(If this is possible, I’ll never have to worry about food again!)

Wait, wait! Am I thinking dangerously because I’m hungry?

I shake my head to clear the dangerous thoughts.

I thought I could go without food for about five days...

But I’m feeling weaker from hunger even though it’s only been two days.

Thinking about it, I’ve developed resistance to various magics like poison, fire, water, light, and darkness, but I’ve never experienced hunger... It can’t be helped.

There should be lesser orcs and wyverns around here, but why aren’t they showing up?

Did something happen to the forest because Rannu died?

Please, monsters.

Come out quickly.

I pray for the appearance of monsters.

It’s okay, it’s okay, I’ll definitely meet them.

I pray... I pray. Come on!

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Oh, they’re here!

A high-pitched woman’s scream came from ahead.

They’re here! Finally, the monsters I’ve been waiting for!

But it could be a thief or a pervert, not a monster, just from the scream.

My sense of justice and pragmatism drive me forward.

I rush to where the scream came from.

When I arrived, three wyverns were trying to attack a young goblin boy and a slime from the air.

"..."

What woman?

They’re male, and goblins, completely wrong.

Maybe my ears are bad.

The goblin is young and hasn’t gone through puberty yet, so I must have misunderstood.

Well, they are the monsters I’ve been waiting for.

No problem, I’ll ignore the ear issue.

It’s not like they’re perverts or anything.

"EEEK!"

Even if he’s not a heroine,

I need to save the goblin boy.

I’m not a good person, but I don’t want to see a corpse.

Besides, they’ll probably attack me after the goblin.

One of the wyverns dives at the goblin.

"!"

The goblin’s scream doesn’t make me happy, male or female.

I cast a barrier spell to protect the goblin.

I point my hand at the goblin and activate the water magic, "Water Barrier."

A transparent water membrane forms around the goblin boy and the slime.

The Water Barrier pushes back with the same force it’s pushed with, making it effective against the wyverns’ claws, though not against more powerful attacks.

"Alright, don’t leave this barrier if you don’t want to die."

"Wh-what...?"

The goblin is confused by the sudden change.

I stand in front of the goblin, shielding him.

"Looks like you’re not hurt."

"Wh-who are you?"

The wyverns, whose attacks were blocked by the Water Barrier, turn their attention to me.

Their eyes shine with anger.

Normally, I might have let them go, but...

I need food, so I can’t let them go.

They don’t seem to like me either.

I’ll finish them off quickly.

Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, 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