"Hey, wake up. Gilik, let's get ready and go out."
"Nnh ... Is it already time?"
Pedel was gluttonous when it came to alcohol, but when it came to work, he showed a sharp and unexpected side.
Although he was temporarily demoted to C-rank due to the penalty, it seemed that having risen up to B-rank wasn't for show.
I've been living in Pedel's base ever since we teamed up as Jeweler Ordoff's escorts.
Even now, I was sleeping wrapped in a blanket on the old sofa in the corner of the kitchen/living room.
For me, I could stay away from my sisters who bother me about this and that, and for Pedel, he could be carried home even if he was so drunk that he lost track of what's going on.
I thought I was the one who was worse off, but it was certainly more convenient here to go to work.
When I brushed off the blanket and got up, it was still dark outside the window, as if it were just before dawn.
Pedel had already finished changing his clothes and started inspecting his equipment.
When I washed my face in the bathroom, there was a dirty bastard on the other side of the mirror.
His hair was messy, and a thin layer of stubble covered his chin, making him look like one of the lazy adventurers you often saw in the Guild.
I scooped up some water with my hands again and roughly rubbed my face.
The bastard on the other side of the mirror looked as dull as ever, only his eyes had gotten a little worse.
I took off the shirt I was wearing and wiped my face and body.
The cold February air stung my skin, and my sleepiness finally left me.(TN:Not sure what they consider the names of the month, and whether this should actually be the literal 'Second Month'.)
I opened my bag, which I had thrown at my feet on the sofa, and looked for a shirt to change into, but couldn't find one.
Come to think of it, I didn't remember doing laundry for the past few days.
From among the shirts thrown out on a nearby chair, I chose one that looked decent and put it on.
It seemed a little damp, but I had no other choice.
"Gilik, you should check your sword as well."
"About that, I'll finish it when I get back."
"Even so. As an adventurer, it's important to check the weapon you're entrusting your life to before you start your day's activities."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it ..."
Although I answered in a sulky tone, Pedel's story was true, and it was a habit that should not be missed by someone who was heading out to subjugate monsters.
Today, we planned to enter the Devil's Forest in search of prey.
If a weapon was not able to perform as it should, it could lead to the loss of life.
I pulled out my great sword from its sheath and looked it over in the morning light that was beginning to shine through the window.
There was some minor chipping on the blade, but it wasn't bad enough to need sharpening yet.
When I lightly hit the inner part of the sword with my fist, a surprisingly clear sound was heard.
I put the great sword back into its sheath and changed to my knife.
This was in good condition with no blade damage.
I carried the great sword on my back, hung the knife from my waist, and fixed the sheath to my thigh for ease of movement.
I just put on my cloak and hung my bag over my shoulder and I was ready.
"How is it?"
"Okay, let's go out."
Leaving the base in the warehouse district of the western part of the old city, we headed to the southwest castle gate that bordered the Devil's Forest.
We turned left along the western wall we came across.
At the end of the road, we could see the castle gate, the garrison post, and a food stall.
There were a number of food stalls catering to travelers near the northeast castle gate towards Marburg, but this was the only one on this side.
To exit from the southwest castle gate, you needed to be accompanied by an adventurer of B-rank or higher.
We weren't able to use it during the penalty for dropping ranks, but now that Pedel had returned to B-rank, we could now use it.
As I approached the castle gate, I noticed that a tunnel had been created in the west wall that wasn't there before.
At the end of the tunnel was a sturdy-looking iron gate, and on the other side was a black-scaled Lizardman glaring at me.
"Pay it no mind ... Damned brat ..."
"Gilik, don't foolishly get irritated in the morning."
"Keh ... I'm not particularly irritated."
On the west side of the ramparts surrounding Volzard, the Devil's Forest had been cleared out and a new ramparts was built up.
A new city block had been completed, but about half of it was privately owned.
It seemed that the land was created by the monsters used by the disgusting Kent bastard who picks a fight with me every time.
A house was being built on that land using the money earned by the monsters.
Pedel forced me to take him to see it from the top of the ramparts, but I saw that it was an extravagant structure with a huge garden and even a pond.
According to Pedel, there was nothing to complain about because the money would be spent on construction workers, interior furniture, and taxes.
But that didn't mean it wasn't an eyesore.
I started partnering up with Pedel, and he took me everywhere for drinks, but there was never a time when the girls at the bars didn't talk about that damned brat.
I wished he had gotten caught up in some prostitutes looking for money and contracted a disease down there, but it seemed that the girls who he had already laid his hands on were very guarded.
He was abusing me with his saucy words, but he was a pathetic bastard who was being whipped.
Before entering the Devil's Forest, I ate breakfast at the food stall near the castle gate.
The stall owner was quiet and unfriendly, but the bread he sold tasted good.
After eating the bread with stewed meat and chopped vegetables, and the bread with ham and cheese, along with a cup of hot milk tea, I moved around a bit.
This side of the castle gate was a safe zone where you could walk unarmed, but once you stepped outside, you were in monster territory.
"Let's go, Gilik."
"Yeah ..."
We went outside the castle gate, but the gate was never opened except to let a horse-drawn carriage pass.
People passed through the side entrance next to the gate.
The side entrance was built in the form of a tunnel next to the gate, and was only wide enough for two adults to walk side by side.
There were two iron doors in the passageway, one on the inside and one on the outside, and there were garrison members waiting at each of them.
The two doors were never opened at the same time except in emergencies, and it seemed that when one was opened, the other must be closed to prevent monsters from entering.
After showing our Guild cards to the member next to the inner door and writing our names and return schedule on the ledger, the bolt was finally raised and the door was opened.
When Pedel and I entered the passageway, the door was closed, and the bolt was lowered, and a member of the staff sent a signal through the viewing window.
Even after receiving a signal from the member in charge of the inner door, the member in charge of the outer door did not raise the bolt.
"Lookout tower, is there anything wrong?"
"There are no monster around, so release is allowed."
The door was finally opened after contacting the members of the watchtower through the speaking tube and confirming that the surrounding area was safe.
"There are no reports of monsters moving more violently, but please be careful."
"Got it. Let's go, Gilik."
"Ou!"
Pedel exited the side entrance and looked back at the castle gate after walking a little.
What lay ahead of his gaze was the flag of the Volzard Family hoisted above the castle gate.
"West wind ... Okay, let's continue on the highway. Don't let your guard down."
"I know."
Normally, when we walk along the highway, we sound the iron rings to ward off monsters, but since our goal is to subjugate them, we proceed with bated breath.
From here on out, we're in the realm of monsters, and we can't afford to neglect even reading the wind.
Pedel's position is on the right, and I'm on the left.
My weapon is a great sword, and it's easier to pull it out and attack the enemy on the left.
On the other hand, Pedel's weapons are a dagger and a special stiletto, making it easy to deal with the opponent on the right.
"Hey, Gilik. Do you know that the number of carriages going to Resenburg is increasing?"
"No, I don't know. Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure, but it seems that those who are drowning in debt are being transported to Resenburg and sold as slaves."
"What is that ..."
According to what Pedel had learned, some groups in the entertainment district were drowning idiots in debt by drowning them in alcohol, women, and gambling.
Before they became aware of it, the amount of debt had become an immense amount, and if there was no way to repay the money, it seemed that they were sold in Resenburg as migrant workers.
"Gilik, you may have a big body, but you're still a child inside. Don't be fooled by a frivolous woman."
"Keh, don't you bastard get addicted to alcohol and get sold off."
I have someone I've decided on, Myuu-ane, so like hell I would get seduced by a monster covered in heavy makeup in a bar.
Now that I've gotten rid of the rank down due to the penalty, I have no choice but to move up.
As we continued along the road for a while, we started encountering Goblins from time to time.
However, there were herds of three at most, and they left after just ringing the iron rings.
"Okay, Gilik. It's time to leave the highway. Which is better, south or north?"
"That kind of thing, it's obviously south."
It was said that the Devil's Forest that separated Volzard and Resenburg was created by the wooden monster Trent that came from the southern continent.
It seemed that the continent we lived on was still connected to the southern continent deep within the Devil's Forest.
It was said that people once lived on the southern continent, but now the continent was ruled by monsters.
And, it seemed that many of the monsters living in the Devil's Forest have come from the southern continent.
As we stepped into the forest on the south side of the highway, Pedel ripped up some grass and threw it away.
The grass was carried by the wind and blew towards the highway.
"Good, the forest depths are upwind. Let's keep going like this, but be careful not to get cut off from the back."
"Something like that, I won't overlook something like that and end up making a mistake."
As we left the highway, the danger increased as the range of visibility narrowed.
Though he verbally abused me and hit me, when it came to his ability to find enemies, Pedel was better than me.
The difference between me and Pedel was the difference in experience.
Until now, I have been keeping an eye on the dangers around me as Myuu-ane's bodyguard, but in the first place, the danger level of the place where I operated was not as high as the Devil's Forest.
Besides, the enemy search we were currently doing was a search for the enemy to hunt prey.
It wasn't about walking away from danger, but stepping into it and defeating the opponent.
Naturally, the size of the risk was different, and the accuracy required was also different.
"Gilik, it's Orc footprints. They're still fresh."
"Which way are they heading?"
"They're heading towards the east."
"Let's chase."
"Maa, wait ... There are probably three of them. This guy, this guy, and, this guy."
Pedel showed me the footprints left on the ground.
To be honest, I noticed it, it certainly looked like three of them were walking side by side.
"If it's just three of them, we should be able to defeat them with a surprise attack."
"That's no good. If we chase from here, we'll be upwind. Orcs have good noses, so they'll probably notice us before we launch a surprise attack."
"Keh, it's still just three Orcs."
"That's no good. This is the Devil's Forest, not the forest in the direction of Marburg. The golden rule here is to subdue the enemy without getting hurt. With the distance we've covered so far, it would be suicidal to return home with the smell of blood all over the place."
"Tch, alright ..."
Pedel was cautious to the point of being annoying at times, and although I often complained, he never compromised.
He valued his own safety more than his earnings, and his actions were based on the premise of returning to the city safely, which was probably why he had been able to survive as an adventurer so far.
In the end, we decided to give up on this group of Orcs and move on.
"Hey, Pedel. What would you do if the herd was headed upwind?"
"It's the same. The only time we move to subjugate them is when there are two or less."
"If we can launch a pre-emptive attack, we can take something like three, right?"
"That's no good. We don't have the means to attack from a distance."
"Are you saying we should add a magician or an archer?"
"Otherwise, you could learn something."
"Unfortunately, I'm not good at using attribute magic."
My attribute was water, but no matter how many times I tried, even basic attack magic didn't work.
It couldn't even maintain its spherical shape, let alone a water arrow.
On the other hand, if I used magic to strengthen my body, I should be able to defeat most people.
"In that case, think about a bow or some other throwing weapon."
"Fancy weapons like bows don't suit my personality, is there anything else?"
"If you're looking for power, then it's a throwing spear. Others use small axes, but the most common one is a throwing knife."
"A spear ... that's not bad."
"Don't just think about when you're going to use it. You have to carry it around in order to use it. Think carefully about whether you can move properly while carrying the great sword and even a spear on your back."
"Fuun, one or two spears, that's no big deal."
If I could put it on the outside of the great sword's sheath, I would be able to carry around two or three hand spears.
If I threw them while strengthening my body, I could probably use them as a weapon from a long distance.
"Gilik, wait until we get back to think about it. It looks like there's a lone Orc."
Pedel pointed to the footprints of an Orc that seemed to be heading west.
There were no other Orc footprints found in the surrounding area.
"Okay, we'll chase it. Don't let your guard down."
"I know."
I left tracking the footprints to Pedel, and I kept an eye out to make sure we weren't being followed.
It would be no good if we were so distracted by our prey that we ourselves became the prey.
As we continued to chase at a short trot, I saw the back of an Orc walking in front of us.
Pedel ripped some grass into pieces and threw it to check the wind direction.
"Let's go it, Gilik. Just do it all at once. I'll go around from the right side."
"Okay, let's go!"
Pedel weaved between the trees and tried to approach the Orc from its blind spot.
I unsheathed my great sword and quickly closed the distance between us in a stabbing stance.
I suppressed my footsteps as much as possible until the Orc noticed me, and the moment it noticed me, I attacked it at full speed.
"Uraaaaaa!"
"Bumo! ... Bugiiiii!"
With a preemptive blow, I slashed the Orc's thigh in two.
I whittled away the orc's will to fight with a series of piercing attacks.
The face, neck, side, knees ... Pedel thrust his special stiletto into the Orc, who was on the defensive.
"Bugiiiiii!"
With Pedel's stiletto, only the tubular part with the sharp barb could be removed.
Blood overflowed from the tube remaining in its body, making it a disgusting weapon that drained its prey of its physical strength.
"Gilik, look for an opening and go for the neck!"
"Come on! Raaaaa!"
A stab of the great sword caught deeply in the nape of its neck, and as soon as I pulled it out, fresh blood gushed out.
"Bugii ... Buu ... Giii ..."
The Orc's profuse bleeding from the nape of its neck slowed it down rapidly and it collapsed into a sitting position.
"Gilik, stay alert and finish it off!"
"Alright ..."
I approached while being careful of a death throes counterattack, and slammed my great sword against the Orc's neck.
The blade of the great sword directly hit the bone of the neck, crushing it while emitting a dull sound.
Approximately two-thirds of the Orc's neck was torn off, and the flame of life was completely extinguished.
"It's finished, Pedel."
"Okay, it's big."
Pedel tied a water magic tool to a tree a short distance away, rolled up his sleeves, and began preparations for dismantling it.
He wielded a knife and retrieved the stiletto that was still stuck in the Orc.
After tearing its stomach open and taking out the magic stone, he tore its stomach even wider and pulled out its internal organs.
After washing off the bloody hands, knife, and magic stone, he quickly put away the magic tool.
"Okay, we'll wait in that bush."
"Alright ..."
As always, Pedel's skills were nothing short of admirable.
We hid in the bushes on the windward side of the carcass of the Orc we killed.
This Orc would be used as bait to attract other monsters.
The screams of the Orc, the smell of blood scattered around, I felt the attention of the monsters in the surroundings had gathered.
This was a dangerous time for us too.
It would be fine if a single Orc or Ogre approached, but if a large group of monsters approached us, we would immediately be in danger.
"Pedel, here they come!"
As I endured the tense time, I saw a large shadow moving in the depths of the Devil's Forest.
It was hard to see because of the backlight, but judging from the Silhouette, it was probably an Ogre.
"Let's run away, Gilik."
"Why is that. Look, there's only one."
"It's no good, that's a Rock Ogre. My stiletto won't cut through it."
"Keh, in that case, I'll defeat it myself."
"That's no good. You can't defeat a Rock Ogre right now. Don't underestimate a Rock Ogre's hardness. Besides, the smell of blood is flowing and time has passed. Before you can defeat the Rock Ogre, there is a high possibility that other monsters will gather. If that happens, we won't be able to escape."
"Kuh ..."
The Ogre that approached while I was arguing with Pedel was definitely about twice as big as a normal individual, and its skin was reddish and rough.
Rock Ogres had hard skin that made it difficult for swords and spears to pass through it, and it was said that it would take three time as many people as a normal Ogre to subjugate one.
With my current ability, I could barely defeat an ordinary Ogre.
In other words, it was an opponent that I couldn't defeat unless I fought with three people.
The Rock Ogre walked up to the Orc carcass, looked around, and then turned its attention to the bushes where we were hiding.
It didn't move, and seemed to be watching us intently.
"Pedel, isn't it aware of us?"
"Don't raise your voice. Even if it notices, it will choose the one that is easier to eat. Once it starts eating, we will use the shadow of the bushes to move away and go back to the highway."
The Rock Ogre was still glaring at us without taking its eyes off us.
"Gilik, don't look at it, kill your presence ..."
"Damnit ..."
I took a deep breath and turned away from its glare, the Rock Ogre grabbed the Orc's internal organs and began to eat them.
"Gilik, let's pull back ..."
"Damnit, that guy, it looked at me and sneered ..."
"You're here to raise your rank, aren't you? If you want to show off and die, do it alone. I'm pulling back ..."
Pedel spoke in a low voice and began to use the bushes to get away from the Rock Ogre.
"Damnit, I'll remember this ..."
I'll hone my skills, gain experience, and someday I'll be able to cut that bastard's neck off.
I followed Pedel towards the highway, keeping my eyes on the Rock Ogre.
"Hey, wake up. Gilik, let's get ready and go out."
"Nnh ... Is it already time?"
Pedel was gluttonous when it came to alcohol, but when it came to work, he showed a sharp and unexpected side.
Although he was temporarily demoted to C-rank due to the penalty, it seemed that having risen up to B-rank wasn't for show.
I've been living in Pedel's base ever since we teamed up as Jeweler Ordoff's escorts.
Even now, I was sleeping wrapped in a blanket on the old sofa in the corner of the kitchen/living room.
For me, I could stay away from my sisters who bother me about this and that, and for Pedel, he could be carried home even if he was so drunk that he lost track of what's going on.
I thought I was the one who was worse off, but it was certainly more convenient here to go to work.
When I brushed off the blanket and got up, it was still dark outside the window, as if it were just before dawn.
Pedel had already finished changing his clothes and started inspecting his equipment.
When I washed my face in the bathroom, there was a dirty bastard on the other side of the mirror.
His hair was messy, and a thin layer of stubble covered his chin, making him look like one of the lazy adventurers you often saw in the Guild.
I scooped up some water with my hands again and roughly rubbed my face.
The bastard on the other side of the mirror looked as dull as ever, only his eyes had gotten a little worse.
I took off the shirt I was wearing and wiped my face and body.
The cold February air stung my skin, and my sleepiness finally left me.(TN:Not sure what they consider the names of the month, and whether this should actually be the literal 'Second Month'.)
I opened my bag, which I had thrown at my feet on the sofa, and looked for a shirt to change into, but couldn't find one.
Come to think of it, I didn't remember doing laundry for the past few days.
From among the shirts thrown out on a nearby chair, I chose one that looked decent and put it on.
It seemed a little damp, but I had no other choice.
"Gilik, you should check your sword as well."
"About that, I'll finish it when I get back."
"Even so. As an adventurer, it's important to check the weapon you're entrusting your life to before you start your day's activities."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it ..."
Although I answered in a sulky tone, Pedel's story was true, and it was a habit that should not be missed by someone who was heading out to subjugate monsters.
Today, we planned to enter the Devil's Forest in search of prey.
If a weapon was not able to perform as it should, it could lead to the loss of life.
I pulled out my great sword from its sheath and looked it over in the morning light that was beginning to shine through the window.
There was some minor chipping on the blade, but it wasn't bad enough to need sharpening yet.
When I lightly hit the inner part of the sword with my fist, a surprisingly clear sound was heard.
I put the great sword back into its sheath and changed to my knife.
This was in good condition with no blade damage.
I carried the great sword on my back, hung the knife from my waist, and fixed the sheath to my thigh for ease of movement.
I just put on my cloak and hung my bag over my shoulder and I was ready.
"How is it?"
"Okay, let's go out."
Leaving the base in the warehouse district of the western part of the old city, we headed to the southwest castle gate that bordered the Devil's Forest.
We turned left along the western wall we came across.
At the end of the road, we could see the castle gate, the garrison post, and a food stall.
There were a number of food stalls catering to travelers near the northeast castle gate towards Marburg, but this was the only one on this side.
To exit from the southwest castle gate, you needed to be accompanied by an adventurer of B-rank or higher.
We weren't able to use it during the penalty for dropping ranks, but now that Pedel had returned to B-rank, we could now use it.
As I approached the castle gate, I noticed that a tunnel had been created in the west wall that wasn't there before.
At the end of the tunnel was a sturdy-looking iron gate, and on the other side was a black-scaled Lizardman glaring at me.
"Pay it no mind ... Damned brat ..."
"Gilik, don't foolishly get irritated in the morning."
"Keh ... I'm not particularly irritated."
On the west side of the ramparts surrounding Volzard, the Devil's Forest had been cleared out and a new ramparts was built up.
A new city block had been completed, but about half of it was privately owned.
It seemed that the land was created by the monsters used by the disgusting Kent bastard who picks a fight with me every time.
A house was being built on that land using the money earned by the monsters.
Pedel forced me to take him to see it from the top of the ramparts, but I saw that it was an extravagant structure with a huge garden and even a pond.
According to Pedel, there was nothing to complain about because the money would be spent on construction workers, interior furniture, and taxes.
But that didn't mean it wasn't an eyesore.
I started partnering up with Pedel, and he took me everywhere for drinks, but there was never a time when the girls at the bars didn't talk about that damned brat.
I wished he had gotten caught up in some prostitutes looking for money and contracted a disease down there, but it seemed that the girls who he had already laid his hands on were very guarded.
He was abusing me with his saucy words, but he was a pathetic bastard who was being whipped.
Before entering the Devil's Forest, I ate breakfast at the food stall near the castle gate.
The stall owner was quiet and unfriendly, but the bread he sold tasted good.
After eating the bread with stewed meat and chopped vegetables, and the bread with ham and cheese, along with a cup of hot milk tea, I moved around a bit.
This side of the castle gate was a safe zone where you could walk unarmed, but once you stepped outside, you were in monster territory.
"Let's go, Gilik."
"Yeah ..."
We went outside the castle gate, but the gate was never opened except to let a horse-drawn carriage pass.
People passed through the side entrance next to the gate.
The side entrance was built in the form of a tunnel next to the gate, and was only wide enough for two adults to walk side by side.
There were two iron doors in the passageway, one on the inside and one on the outside, and there were garrison members waiting at each of them.
The two doors were never opened at the same time except in emergencies, and it seemed that when one was opened, the other must be closed to prevent monsters from entering.
After showing our Guild cards to the member next to the inner door and writing our names and return schedule on the ledger, the bolt was finally raised and the door was opened.
When Pedel and I entered the passageway, the door was closed, and the bolt was lowered, and a member of the staff sent a signal through the viewing window.
Even after receiving a signal from the member in charge of the inner door, the member in charge of the outer door did not raise the bolt.
"Lookout tower, is there anything wrong?"
"There are no monster around, so release is allowed."
The door was finally opened after contacting the members of the watchtower through the speaking tube and confirming that the surrounding area was safe.
"There are no reports of monsters moving more violently, but please be careful."
"Got it. Let's go, Gilik."
"Ou!"
Pedel exited the side entrance and looked back at the castle gate after walking a little.
What lay ahead of his gaze was the flag of the Volzard Family hoisted above the castle gate.
"West wind ... Okay, let's continue on the highway. Don't let your guard down."
"I know."
Normally, when we walk along the highway, we sound the iron rings to ward off monsters, but since our goal is to subjugate them, we proceed with bated breath.
From here on out, we're in the realm of monsters, and we can't afford to neglect even reading the wind.
Pedel's position is on the right, and I'm on the left.
My weapon is a great sword, and it's easier to pull it out and attack the enemy on the left.
On the other hand, Pedel's weapons are a dagger and a special stiletto, making it easy to deal with the opponent on the right.
"Hey, Gilik. Do you know that the number of carriages going to Resenburg is increasing?"
"No, I don't know. Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure, but it seems that those who are drowning in debt are being transported to Resenburg and sold as slaves."
"What is that ..."
According to what Pedel had learned, some groups in the entertainment district were drowning idiots in debt by drowning them in alcohol, women, and gambling.
Before they became aware of it, the amount of debt had become an immense amount, and if there was no way to repay the money, it seemed that they were sold in Resenburg as migrant workers.
"Gilik, you may have a big body, but you're still a child inside. Don't be fooled by a frivolous woman."
"Keh, don't you bastard get addicted to alcohol and get sold off."
I have someone I've decided on, Myuu-ane, so like hell I would get seduced by a monster covered in heavy makeup in a bar.
Now that I've gotten rid of the rank down due to the penalty, I have no choice but to move up.
As we continued along the road for a while, we started encountering Goblins from time to time.
However, there were herds of three at most, and they left after just ringing the iron rings.
"Okay, Gilik. It's time to leave the highway. Which is better, south or north?"
"That kind of thing, it's obviously south."
It was said that the Devil's Forest that separated Volzard and Resenburg was created by the wooden monster Trent that came from the southern continent.
It seemed that the continent we lived on was still connected to the southern continent deep within the Devil's Forest.
It was said that people once lived on the southern continent, but now the continent was ruled by monsters.
And, it seemed that many of the monsters living in the Devil's Forest have come from the southern continent.
As we stepped into the forest on the south side of the highway, Pedel ripped up some grass and threw it away.
The grass was carried by the wind and blew towards the highway.
"Good, the forest depths are upwind. Let's keep going like this, but be careful not to get cut off from the back."
"Something like that, I won't overlook something like that and end up making a mistake."
As we left the highway, the danger increased as the range of visibility narrowed.
Though he verbally abused me and hit me, when it came to his ability to find enemies, Pedel was better than me.
The difference between me and Pedel was the difference in experience.
Until now, I have been keeping an eye on the dangers around me as Myuu-ane's bodyguard, but in the first place, the danger level of the place where I operated was not as high as the Devil's Forest.
Besides, the enemy search we were currently doing was a search for the enemy to hunt prey.
It wasn't about walking away from danger, but stepping into it and defeating the opponent.
Naturally, the size of the risk was different, and the accuracy required was also different.
"Gilik, it's Orc footprints. They're still fresh."
"Which way are they heading?"
"They're heading towards the east."
"Let's chase."
"Maa, wait ... There are probably three of them. This guy, this guy, and, this guy."
Pedel showed me the footprints left on the ground.
To be honest, I noticed it, it certainly looked like three of them were walking side by side.
"If it's just three of them, we should be able to defeat them with a surprise attack."
"That's no good. If we chase from here, we'll be upwind. Orcs have good noses, so they'll probably notice us before we launch a surprise attack."
"Keh, it's still just three Orcs."
"That's no good. This is the Devil's Forest, not the forest in the direction of Marburg. The golden rule here is to subdue the enemy without getting hurt. With the distance we've covered so far, it would be suicidal to return home with the smell of blood all over the place."
"Tch, alright ..."
Pedel was cautious to the point of being annoying at times, and although I often complained, he never compromised.
He valued his own safety more than his earnings, and his actions were based on the premise of returning to the city safely, which was probably why he had been able to survive as an adventurer so far.
In the end, we decided to give up on this group of Orcs and move on.
"Hey, Pedel. What would you do if the herd was headed upwind?"
"It's the same. The only time we move to subjugate them is when there are two or less."
"If we can launch a pre-emptive attack, we can take something like three, right?"
"That's no good. We don't have the means to attack from a distance."
"Are you saying we should add a magician or an archer?"
"Otherwise, you could learn something."
"Unfortunately, I'm not good at using attribute magic."
My attribute was water, but no matter how many times I tried, even basic attack magic didn't work.
It couldn't even maintain its spherical shape, let alone a water arrow.
On the other hand, if I used magic to strengthen my body, I should be able to defeat most people.
"In that case, think about a bow or some other throwing weapon."
"Fancy weapons like bows don't suit my personality, is there anything else?"
"If you're looking for power, then it's a throwing spear. Others use small axes, but the most common one is a throwing knife."
"A spear ... that's not bad."
"Don't just think about when you're going to use it. You have to carry it around in order to use it. Think carefully about whether you can move properly while carrying the great sword and even a spear on your back."
"Fuun, one or two spears, that's no big deal."
If I could put it on the outside of the great sword's sheath, I would be able to carry around two or three hand spears.
If I threw them while strengthening my body, I could probably use them as a weapon from a long distance.
"Gilik, wait until we get back to think about it. It looks like there's a lone Orc."
Pedel pointed to the footprints of an Orc that seemed to be heading west.
There were no other Orc footprints found in the surrounding area.
"Okay, we'll chase it. Don't let your guard down."
"I know."
I left tracking the footprints to Pedel, and I kept an eye out to make sure we weren't being followed.
It would be no good if we were so distracted by our prey that we ourselves became the prey.
As we continued to chase at a short trot, I saw the back of an Orc walking in front of us.
Pedel ripped some grass into pieces and threw it to check the wind direction.
"Let's go it, Gilik. Just do it all at once. I'll go around from the right side."
"Okay, let's go!"
Pedel weaved between the trees and tried to approach the Orc from its blind spot.
I unsheathed my great sword and quickly closed the distance between us in a stabbing stance.
I suppressed my footsteps as much as possible until the Orc noticed me, and the moment it noticed me, I attacked it at full speed.
"Uraaaaaa!"
"Bumo! ... Bugiiiii!"
With a preemptive blow, I slashed the Orc's thigh in two.
I whittled away the orc's will to fight with a series of piercing attacks.
The face, neck, side, knees ... Pedel thrust his special stiletto into the Orc, who was on the defensive.
"Bugiiiiii!"
With Pedel's stiletto, only the tubular part with the sharp barb could be removed.
Blood overflowed from the tube remaining in its body, making it a disgusting weapon that drained its prey of its physical strength.
"Gilik, look for an opening and go for the neck!"
"Come on! Raaaaa!"
A stab of the great sword caught deeply in the nape of its neck, and as soon as I pulled it out, fresh blood gushed out.
"Bugii ... Buu ... Giii ..."
The Orc's profuse bleeding from the nape of its neck slowed it down rapidly and it collapsed into a sitting position.
"Gilik, stay alert and finish it off!"
"Alright ..."
I approached while being careful of a death throes counterattack, and slammed my great sword against the Orc's neck.
The blade of the great sword directly hit the bone of the neck, crushing it while emitting a dull sound.
Approximately two-thirds of the Orc's neck was torn off, and the flame of life was completely extinguished.
"It's finished, Pedel."
"Okay, it's big."
Pedel tied a water magic tool to a tree a short distance away, rolled up his sleeves, and began preparations for dismantling it.
He wielded a knife and retrieved the stiletto that was still stuck in the Orc.
After tearing its stomach open and taking out the magic stone, he tore its stomach even wider and pulled out its internal organs.
After washing off the bloody hands, knife, and magic stone, he quickly put away the magic tool.
"Okay, we'll wait in that bush."
"Alright ..."
As always, Pedel's skills were nothing short of admirable.
We hid in the bushes on the windward side of the carcass of the Orc we killed.
This Orc would be used as bait to attract other monsters.
The screams of the Orc, the smell of blood scattered around, I felt the attention of the monsters in the surroundings had gathered.
This was a dangerous time for us too.
It would be fine if a single Orc or Ogre approached, but if a large group of monsters approached us, we would immediately be in danger.
"Pedel, here they come!"
As I endured the tense time, I saw a large shadow moving in the depths of the Devil's Forest.
It was hard to see because of the backlight, but judging from the Silhouette, it was probably an Ogre.
"Let's run away, Gilik."
"Why is that. Look, there's only one."
"It's no good, that's a Rock Ogre. My stiletto won't cut through it."
"Keh, in that case, I'll defeat it myself."
"That's no good. You can't defeat a Rock Ogre right now. Don't underestimate a Rock Ogre's hardness. Besides, the smell of blood is flowing and time has passed. Before you can defeat the Rock Ogre, there is a high possibility that other monsters will gather. If that happens, we won't be able to escape."
"Kuh ..."
The Ogre that approached while I was arguing with Pedel was definitely about twice as big as a normal individual, and its skin was reddish and rough.
Rock Ogres had hard skin that made it difficult for swords and spears to pass through it, and it was said that it would take three time as many people as a normal Ogre to subjugate one.
With my current ability, I could barely defeat an ordinary Ogre.
In other words, it was an opponent that I couldn't defeat unless I fought with three people.
The Rock Ogre walked up to the Orc carcass, looked around, and then turned its attention to the bushes where we were hiding.
It didn't move, and seemed to be watching us intently.
"Pedel, isn't it aware of us?"
"Don't raise your voice. Even if it notices, it will choose the one that is easier to eat. Once it starts eating, we will use the shadow of the bushes to move away and go back to the highway."
The Rock Ogre was still glaring at us without taking its eyes off us.
"Gilik, don't look at it, kill your presence ..."
"Damnit ..."
I took a deep breath and turned away from its glare, the Rock Ogre grabbed the Orc's internal organs and began to eat them.
"Gilik, let's pull back ..."
"Damnit, that guy, it looked at me and sneered ..."
"You're here to raise your rank, aren't you? If you want to show off and die, do it alone. I'm pulling back ..."
Pedel spoke in a low voice and began to use the bushes to get away from the Rock Ogre.
"Damnit, I'll remember this ..."
I'll hone my skills, gain experience, and someday I'll be able to cut that bastard's neck off.
I followed Pedel towards the highway, keeping my eyes on the Rock Ogre.
