Chapter 95 - Chapter 94: The Beast That Started It All
The second day of the second week of the Month of Fire.
It is the height of summer, with hot days continuing day after day, but this world has no such convenient thing as summer vacation.
It is tolerable since the humidity is not high, but it is still hot.
Mika, thinking things like "I wish I could drink a cold beer~," listened to the boring lecture.
"Mika, do you have any free days next month on the Day of the Sun?"
During lunch break, while eating with everyone in the Leventein Group, Cleiria asked such a thing.
"Free days? I'm free anytime, though?"
Mika's schedule for the Day of the Sun has nothing on it except quests.
One could say it is a schedule worth a few gold coins, but he is not working that hard.
In fact, he is earning too much, to the point where even he is a little scared.
"Well, that is good."
Cleiria smiles brightly.
"My father will be coming to the Royal Capital next month. He said he would like to meet you at that time. He sent a message to confirm your schedule."
"...Nn... Ah...!"
He was speechless.
It was a summons from the Marquis (old man) of all people.
Cleiria is smiling, but everyone in the room is grimacing.
"Mika is amazing. My father has already received many requests to meet him once he arrives in the Royal Capital. However, such requests are generally declined. Yet, my father, despite his busy schedule, said he wants to make time to meet you."
Cleiria seems genuinely impressed, but Mika feels like he is not alive.
(Meeting with the Marquis... what kind of punishment game is this?)
He should have listened to Cleiria's business first.
No, even if he had listened, it would have ended up the same.
There is no way to refuse a summons from the Marquis.
Even for Mika, who does so many reckless things, he was not that reckless with his life.
Everyone in the Leventein Group listening around him turned eyes filled with sympathy and pity toward him.
(Don't look at me with those eyes, Cecilia...)
Cecilia, sitting directly in front, had eyes like a dead fish.
"Mika-kun, are you okay...?"
Rimliche asked with concern.
"I-I'm okay... probably."
Even the guard knights standing behind Cleiria were turning eyes filled with sympathy toward Mika at this moment.
Cleiria directed her carefree smile toward Mika.
"I will let you know again once the detailed schedule is decided."
"Ah, yeah, um... will you do that?"
Mika struggled desperately to force a smile.
(Should I pull on his cheeks?)
Thinking somewhat vindictively.
■■■■■■
The third day of the third week of the Month of Fire. Early morning.
Mika was flying toward a mountain more than a day's ride away by shared carriage, north of the Royal Capital.
Recently, he had been doing only "Curse-type" quests, so yesterday on the Day of the Earth, he looked at the request board thinking, "I want to do a normal request."
"Curse-type" quests pay very well, so it is a luxurious problem, but honestly, he was a little bored.
"Wraiths" are more certain to win than Sou-Labi, and "Skeletons" are usually not found.
Even if they are found, they are slower than Wraiths, so they are not opponents that can be defeated unless one lets one's guard down.
For that reason, while looking at the request board thinking, "I wonder if there are any interesting requests out there," he found one.
"C-Rank, Agu Bear subjugation. Two gold coins."
Agu Bear.
The beast he saw for the first time after coming to this world.
The beast that became the trigger for Mika to become interested in adventurers and beasts.
It seems like the request was just posted, but the adventurers in the Royal Capital seem to have no intention of taking it.
When he asked the guild staff member in charge of information about the location where the request was posted, it was a village more than a day's ride away from the Royal Capital.
This request seems to be "first come, first served," which is why the adventurers in the Royal Capital are skipping it.
"If I go now, nearby adventurers will subjugate it first."
Walking for more than a day just to be passed would be a waste.
The reward is not high enough to take such a risk.
It takes two days just to go and return.
If one takes the risk of being passed after spending that much time and effort, it is better to earn one gold coin nearby.
Many adventurers probably make that judgment.
However, Mika asked the guild staff member in charge of information various questions to gather information and decided to go, even if it was a miss.
The Agu Bear seems to be a beast found fairly everywhere in this country.
It has been confirmed to inhabit the whole country, but basically deep in forests and mountains.
It seems to inhabit places where a lot of magic power is gathered.
But sometimes individuals appear outside such habitats.
When that happens, they attack villages.
(Exactly the pattern that attacked Rish Village. ...Honestly, I was scared back then.)
How should he put it? A nostalgic yet hair-raising, strange sensation.
To be honest, back then, he did not think he could win against such an opponent.
He just desperately gathered courage and thought about creating an opening with a single "Fireball" to protect his family.
(Can I win against it now?)
Confidence... is not lacking.
Just saying it this way shows a lack of confidence, but it is not that he lacks confidence.
He cannot confidently say "I can win!" with too much confidence, but he has gained more magic cards.
He has trump cards like "Thousand Edge" and [Physical Enhancement].
Most importantly, he has gained experience.
Now, he thinks he can fight the Agu Bear head-on.
Yes, he felt it without any burden.
"...This village."
East of the mountain he was aiming for.
From the sky above the village adjacent to the forest at the foot of the mountain, he looks down at the village that posted the subjugation request.
A village adjacent to a deep forest at the foot of a mountain. The location is exactly like Rish Village.
Does the Agu Bear like this kind of terrain?
Observing the village while lowering altitude from the sky.
Several houses were severely damaged and ransacked, but nothing moving could be seen.
When he heard the details of the request, he received an explanation of the situation to some extent.
The village is currently uninhabited.
It seems one farmer was sacrificed when the Agu Bear attacked.
Thanks to that, the villagers managed to evacuate in the gap.
However, during that evacuation, one vigilance committee member was sacrificed as well.
So, the total number of casualties is two.
Honestly, considering such a ferocious beast attack, it can be said to be a miracle that only two people were sacrificed.
Literally, it would not be strange if it had been total annihilation.
So, the only things moving in this village now are either the Agu Bear or adventurers who came to subjugate the Agu Bear.
Other possibilities can be almost ignored.
"I can't find it."
He checks while lowering altitude, but he cannot see the beast or the adventurers.
Are they inside the undamaged houses?
Did they already move somewhere else?
("If they moved somewhere, it will be troublesome.")
If they entered the forest, there is no way to search.
Even if they went somewhere other than the forest, there is still no way to search.
"Hm?"
At that moment, he saw smoke rising faintly from one of the half-destroyed houses.
("A fire...?")
When he saw the request sheet yesterday evening, he heard information that the villagers had evacuated, so if it was a fire mishap from then, it should have spread throughout the house by now.
In other words, that fire likely started after that.
If the fire started recently, there is a possibility that an adventurer is there.
("As I thought, someone beat me to it?")
Mika checked the surroundings and landed in a position where he could not be easily seen from other houses, away from the source of the fire.
Since there did not seem to be anyone around the village, he should not be seen by anyone.
Mika has manifested "Limiter Off," "Absorb," and [Physical Enhancement] since leaving the dormitory.
From here, he stops "Low Gravity" and uses "Big Ear" and a ten-meter magic range.
Mika cautiously approaches the house where the smoke was rising.
If it is an adventurer there... well, it cannot be helped.
He will yield to the party that arrived first.
But there is another possibility.
Mika keeps a sufficient distance from the target house, hides behind an object, and moves to the side of the house where it was destroyed.
From there, he thought about peeking inside a little.
It seems the fire is lit on some of the scattered wood that flew out when it was destroyed.
It does not seem like the house itself is burning.
The inside of the building is dim, and the back is not visible.
He strengthens "Big Ear" and cuts out the sound of the wood exploding.
He searches for other sounds.
If it is an adventurer, he should hear voices or footsteps.
But what reached Mika's ears was neither of those.
...Chuckle, Huff... Chuckle... Huff... Gooch, Chuckle... Huff...
Mika instinctively pressed his forehead and sighed.
The sound of chewing something watery and rough breathing like a beast.
(Still the burning wood pieces... so, where did you get the food you are eating now?)
The Agu Bear does not use fire.
Then, the cause of the fire is probably the adventurer.
And the Agu Bear is still alive.
It seems to be eating now.
In that case, the general situation is as imagined.
(Attack at dawn, counterattack. That's about it.)
Is it frustration?
Mika knew that his head was heating up at the fact that an adventurer (comrade) was defeated.
Mika slowly stood up from where he was hiding and walked normally toward the house.
Gwoooooooo!!!
When Mika approached about twenty meters from the half-destroyed house, he heard the roar of the Agu Bear.
It seems it noticed Mika's presence.
Mika grimaced and slightly dampened the volume of the roar.
Then he stopped right there and waited for the Agu Bear to come out.
Then, a pitch-black mass came out of the half-destroyed house.
That black mass slowly stood up and spread its arms.
Gwooooooo!!!
And it roared again.
The Agu Bear's four eyes shone red and bright, and the memory of that day came vividly back to mind.
His body seemed to stiffen at the memory of that time.
Mika desperately gathered courage and tried hard to stir up his shrinking heart.
(It's pretty big... about two meters or so?)
The Agu Bear is said to exceed three meters when it is large.
But this individual is not that big.
By the way, the Agu Bear is classified as a medium-sized beast.
All the beasts Mika has defeated so far are classified as small-sized.
And the Agu Bear seems to be the smallest among medium-sized beasts.
Then, how big are normal medium-sized ones? It seems they are classified as medium-sized up to about four meters.
In other words, large-sized ones exceed four meters.
He definitely does not want to encounter them.
However, the classification by race is just a guideline, and there are individuals exceeding two meters even among small-sized beasts.
There are also individuals under two meters and over four meters among medium-sized beasts.
It seems to be set as a rough guideline considering weight and other factors.
Mika points his left hand toward the Agu Bear,
Gwooooooo!!!
And a roar is heard again.
But it is not the Agu Bear in front of him.
"Eh? ...What?"
Where from!?
Mika is confused for a moment, and the Agu Bear in front of him charges.
"Tch! 'Stone Bullet'!"
Bashushushushushushushushushushushushu!!!
He fires the rifle-type "Stone Bullet" like a machine gun, showering dozens of shots on the charging Agu Bear's body.
But the Agu Bear does not stop and charges straight through.
"Damn it!"
What kind of toughness is that?
Mika jumps sideways to dodge the Agu Bear's charge and immediately regains his posture.
From behind Mika, who turned to face the charging Agu Bear, the sound of the house being destroyed came, and a roar was heard again.
Gwooooooo!!!
Gwoooooo!!!
Matching that roar, the Agu Bear in front of him also roars.
(There are two Agu Bears!)
He glances back for a moment to check behind him.
Another Agu Bear comes out, destroying walls and ceilings, from the house where the Agu Bear just came out.
(It's huge! It easily exceeds three meters!?)
The newly appeared Agu Bear seemed to have burns on half of its face and shoulders.
(So this is why the adventurer who arrived first was defeated!)
He had not heard that there were two Agu Bears.
Whether it was solo or a party, he does not know, but probably the adventurer who arrived first could not handle this irregular situation and was defeated.
Mika hesitates for a moment on what to do.
Mika intended to challenge this Agu Bear subjugation without flying.
Honestly, if he flew, it would be an easy job of just shooting down from above.
But can he say he became stronger by winning that way?
Of course, a win is a win no matter what method, and if he created a situation where he could attack unilaterally, creating that situation is also one aspect of strength.
But what Mika hopes for in this Agu Bear subjugation is not that.
A C-rank combat class like Diego defeats one Agu Bear alone.
Mika and Diego have different strengths, so it is not the same combat method.
Still, he wants to challenge and defeat it openly and squarely.
He was thinking such things.
("...I'll do it...!")
Mika starts running toward the Agu Bear that charged just now.
"Stone Bullet!"
While firing "Stone Bullet" continuously, he passes the side of the Agu Bear to resolve the pincer attack state.
Even while taking dozens of "Stone Bullets," the Agu Bear does not fall.
It charges at Mika again.
"It's too tough! Is it a monster?"
Well, it is something similar.
Mika flies sideways to dodge the charge and regains his posture.
Is "Air Cutter" more effective than "Stone Bullet"?
Gashan, Bakibaki, Garango, Gashagasha, Bakibaki, Bakibaki!!!
The passing Agu Bear crashes into the house, knocking over pillars and furniture messily, and gets buried in the falling ceiling.
Mika looks at the remaining burnt Agu Bear.
The Agu Bear lowers its posture and prepares to charge.
Gwuaaaaaaa!!!
The Agu Bear charges while barking.
"Air Cutter!"
Mika meets it with "Air Cutter," but the Agu Bear charges without caring.
The vigilance committee member of Rish Village said the terror of the Agu Bear.
He said it is truly terrifying that it charges without caring how many attacks it receives.
All the "Air Cutters" hit.
The Agu Bear scatters blood spray.
Still, it charges.
"You guys! Change your name to Boar!"
Being headstrong is not the exclusive property of boars, but while cursing like that, Mika dodges the Agu Bear's charge.
At that time, the Agu Bear that crashed into the house with a loud noise and was crushed by the ceiling slowly came out.
The burnt Agu Bear also rolled on the ground due to the momentum of the charge and stood up again.
("...You're still alive over there...")
Looking at the Agu Bear coming out of the house, he involuntarily lets out a sigh.
The two-to-one situation remains unchanged.
The Agu Bear has been injured, but it is unknown how effective it is.
Mika is unscathed.
However, if Mika takes even one hit, it is considered the end... of his life.
Actually, Mika's equipment is the same as usual: a leather chest plate, gauntlets, and leather boots.
When he thought about subjugating the Agu Bear, he thought about updating his equipment, but there were no sizes that fit Mika.
Specialty shops did not have them either, so there was nothing he could do.
So, he has to challenge this strong enemy in his usual style.
He thought he could do it if it was just one, but he never expected to face two at the same time...
("...Well, this is a good opportunity. I'll try it out.")
Muttering that, Mika backs away and creates distance from the burnt Agu Bear.
("Is this enough?")
The distance to the burnt Agu Bear is about fifty meters.
He keeps an eye on the other one and stays alert to interrupt and withdraw at any time.
"Great God of Fire, the seed of creation. O great power that envelops all things."
The magic power inside Mika moves on its own.
"Fire of karma that burns all things, the power to return to ash, now here. Gather, Limit, Intense, Explosive. Flame!"
Mika's magic power is completely stolen.
He manifests the [God's Miracle] of [Explosive Flame] aimed at the burnt Agu Bear.
Sudodododoon!!!
Flames rise with the blast wind, and black smoke rises.
Pushed by a blast wind like a heat wave, he involuntarily retreats.
This is not the magic practice field with mechanisms to suppress the effect on the surroundings, but the raw [Explosive Flame].
Indeed, the spread and rise of the flames are stronger than when he used it in the magic practice field before.
Most importantly, such a heat wave did not come in the magic practice field.
There was a blast wind, but not with such momentum, and he hardly felt the heat.
("...If my magic power increases like this, won't the blast wind destroy me too...?")
It is an all-in bet without argument.
If that happens, he will have to seal this [God's Miracle].
The Agu Bear that came out of the house seems surprised and looks at the place where the explosion occurred.
And the burnt Agu Bear, which became prey to [Explosive Flame], was alive as a full-body burnt Agu Bear.
"How tough are you? Really."
But it feels like it is barely alive.
All its fur is burned, and its reddish-black rotting skin and flesh are exposed.
One arm is blown off, and it is just standing somehow.
It is okay from a distance, but if seen up close, it would be very gruesome.
"Air Cutter."
With countless "Air Cutters," he manages to behead it, cut off its limbs, and tear its body apart.
And thus, it becomes a mountain of huge chunks of meat.
"Phew... Done."
He tilts his head and cracks his neck.
He points his left hand and continuously shoots "Stone Bullet" at the remaining standing Agu Bear.
The surprised Agu Bear is pushed by the momentum of the "Stone Bullet" and falls on its butt right there.
Looking at such an Agu Bear, Mika shrugs his shoulders.
"What are you standing there for. ...Next is your turn, you know?"
He muttered lightly like that.