Chapter 121 - The Courage to Stand Up
『The Slow Life of an A-Rank Adventurer』 has also started serialization on Nico Nico Seiga.
Also, the second chapter has been released on Web Comic Action.
Having successfully entered the forest, Kyle and I continued straight toward the mountains in the back.
Sunlight was filtering into the forest, drawing dappled patterns on the ground. Since it continued into the depths, it was as if it were inviting us.
A faint wind blew, making the leaves rustle, and the scents of various plants and the faint smell of beasts drifted by.
It was a peaceful place, but today the air was a bit heavy.
That was because Kyle, walking beside me, was walking while being on guard.
As long as one enters a forest where monsters exist, it's not bad to be on guard of the surroundings.
However, humans are not such clever creatures that they can stay concentrated forever. If you don't relax where you can, you'll just get tired.
While I sensed the presence of monsters coming this way, I deliberately didn't inform Kyle of anything.
And when the approaching presence rustled the bushes with a snap, Kyle immediately readied his bow and reached for his quiver.
"A Horned Rabbit—"
"It's not. It's just a rabbit."
What came out in our direction of travel was a rabbit with brown fur. It didn't have a ferocious face like a Horned Rabbit, nor did it have a horn.
"...Ah, yes. It's just a rabbit."
Kyle watched the rabbit disappear into the depths of the bushes with a somewhat disappointed look.
If it were the usual calm Kyle, he would have noticed it was just a rabbit. It seemed he was losing his composure because he was too concerned about the Horned Rabbit.
"Kyle, we're still in the forest, you know? If you keep your nerves on edge like that, you won't be able to fight a Horned Rabbit in the mountains."
"...You're right. If I think about it calmly, Horned Rabbits rarely appear in the forest."
Taking a deep breath, Kyle slowly returned the arrow to the quiver.
"When I think about it, since the Dragon Slayer Aldred-san is sensing, there's no way we wouldn't notice the approach of a monster."
"That's true, but stop calling me by the name Aldred, okay?"
"Isn't it fine, Dragon Slayer Aldred. I think it's a very cool name."
If he truly thought so from the bottom of his heart, he wouldn't use such an amused way of calling me or show such a smile.
But perhaps he had cleared his mind with that, as I felt the tension leave Kyle's shoulders.
The stiffness in his face vanished, and his posture while walking with his bow became natural.
When he can say such cheeky things, it's proof he's returned to the usual Kyle.
Even so, he has a difficult personality. I felt I understood a bit of Lauren-san's feelings of taking care of him while always saying he's cheeky.
◆
After walking through the forest for a while while sensing so as not to fight monsters unnecessarily.
Kyle and I finally stepped into the inner mountains where there were many monsters.
Whether he trusted that I was reading and sensing the presence of monsters or not, Kyle was not tense and on guard.
He seemed to be taking in information within his own range, using his vision, sense of smell, and skin.
"There's a pair of Dials in the right direction."
In the right direction Kyle pointed, there were two Dials, monsters resembling giant deer with a total length of about three meters. Since they were rubbing their skins against each other, they were likely a pair as Kyle said.
They were only slightly visible through the gaps in the trees, and their wheat-colored skin made them hard to find as they blended with the fallen leaves, but it seemed Kyle was able to perceive them properly.
"We're only aiming for Horned Rabbits right now, so let's detour and proceed from the left side."
"Understood."
Without voicing any objection to my judgment, Kyle nodded and followed.
This way, his spirit won't be worn down before encountering a Horned Rabbit.
He's calm and in a natural state.
Actually, I had already sensed a Horned Rabbit, but given this state, it might be okay to let him fight now.
Having decided that, I started walking in the direction of the Horned Rabbit.
"...You've already found one, haven't you?"
"Did you notice?"
"No, your way of walking changed, Aldo-san, so I thought maybe..."
If he's calm enough to observe that much, there should be no problem.
"That's right. We're heading to the Horned Rabbit now. Are you ready?"
"I'm fine. Let's go."
When I checked just in case, Kyle nodded firmly, so we headed to the Horned Rabbit.
When we came out to a flat area where the intervals between trees were wide, I could hear the sound of stepping on fallen leaves irregularly in the distance.
Kyle heard it too and must have noticed the presence. He looked as if he had caught his breath.
When I peeked out from behind a tree to observe, there was a Horned Rabbit about twenty-five meters ahead.
The Horned Rabbit was digging up the soil with the long horn on its head, perhaps trying to eat tree roots. It was absorbed in that and didn't seem to notice our presence at all.
It was a perfect chance to take it down.
However, Kyle only stared at it and showed no sign of readying his bow.
His eyes were wide open, and his breathing was somewhat rough.
Was he remembering the time he was attacked, or the sight of Lauren-san getting injured while protecting him?
Even though he tried to stand up to it, when he faced the monster, the trauma from that time resurfaced and his body stopped moving properly. The same symptom as adventurers who had fear carved into them by monsters.
"Kyle, are you okay?"
"A-Aldo-san..."
When I placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke to him, Kyle was drenched in sweat even though he hadn't done anything.
His complexion was bad, and he had a cold sweat.
Kyle's body, which had fear carved into it, was probably whispering to run away with all its might.
"Do you want to run away?"
"...I want to run away. But if I do that, I won't be able to return to being a hunter anymore."
That's right. If you run away even once, your body and instincts will remember running away.
If that happens, you'll never be able to stand up to monsters or ferocious animals again, and you'll be a failure as a hunter.
A hunter who can't hunt prey has no value.
"For the sake of the Master who raised me until now, and for my own sake... I have to fight."
Kyle's complexion wasn't good, but the color of his eyes wasn't dead.
A certain flame of fighting spirit was burning.
Having confirmed that, I nodded with satisfaction.
"...I see. Then, as a fellow disciple, I'll help a little. Even if you miss your arrow, I'll draw its attention for you."
"That helps. To be honest, because my hands are shaking, I don't feel like my arrows will hit much."
Kyle's left arm, which was gripping the bow, was shaking, perhaps due to fear.
It would likely be difficult to pierce the Horned Rabbit with Kyle's bow.
"I think you know, but the finishing blow..."
"Yes, I'll stab it with my own hands even if I have to use a dagger. A famous A-rank adventurer is in the vanguard. If I can't defeat it with that, I'll be a laughingstock."
"That's right."
Normally I would be humble, but I swore to Kyle that I wouldn't get injured. Right now, I have to be the absolute strong one as the A-rank adventurer Aldred, so I spoke boldly.
It's a fact, and I can defeat this level of monster with just my bare hands or a stone.
"...Somehow you're cooler than usual. Isn't this better since you won't be told you lack dignity?"
"Shut up. If you can say lighthearted things, you're fine. Hurry up and defeat it."
Since a cheeky reply came from Kyle, I slapped his back to give him a pep talk.
Then, Kyle began to take deep breaths.
I moved away from Kyle, who had entered a state of mental concentration, and hid behind a tree slightly ahead.
The Horned Rabbit had its face thrust into a hole it had dug, perhaps eating roots.
It was in a chance state since it was eating, but it was on guard of its surroundings while chewing.
If we entered an attack state, it might notice.
Even so, there was sufficient distance from Kyle. Even if he missed his arrow, I was there, so it was safe enough.
Kyle, finished with his deep breaths, took a step out from behind the tree and notched an arrow.
In the quiet mountains, the sound of the bowstring creaking echoed faintly.
Then, the Horned Rabbit, perhaps noticing that, moved its ears and turned toward us.
Kyle, overwhelmed by the red eyes filled with murderous intent, fired his arrow in a panic.
It happened to go on a trajectory that would hit the Horned Rabbit, but it lacked speed and power and was deflected by the horn.
The Horned Rabbit gathered strength in its legs and leaped in a straight line toward Kyle.
I pulled out a self-defense dagger from my waist and stepped into the line of fire.
"Aldo-san!"
"It's okay, Kyle."
While hearing a panicked shout unlike the calm Kyle, I thrust the dagger forward and parried the horn of the approaching Horned Rabbit as it was.
The Horned Rabbit, whose direction of assault was diverted, flew toward our diagonal rear and landed.
It looked back at us, seemingly wondering why it couldn't pierce through.
This time it decided on me as its target and gathered strength in its legs again.
It leaped, but the speed was slow, and if I knew where the attack was coming, avoiding it was easy.
I moved half a step and avoided the Horned Rabbit's attack as it flew to stab my stomach.
Next it flew aiming for my right leg, so I raised my leg. Next was the left flank, left leg, right thigh.
"Avoiding such simple attacks is easy."
"E-Eh, the Horned Rabbit's charge is quite fast though..."
"More importantly, how long should I keep avoiding? The sun will set at this rate."
"I-I know!"
When I said that, Kyle tightened his expression and readied his bow.
A Horned Rabbit has a pause before leaping.
If he remembers Lauren-san's advice, he should aim for that...
"Ah..."
Kyle fired an arrow aiming for the Horned Rabbit, but the opponent was already gone, and it vainly pierced the ground.
Even so, Kyle didn't give up and notched the next arrow.
Even though there's a fatal opening, the Horned Rabbit is moving around with extraordinary jumping power.
To immediately take aim and fire an arrow requires considerable skill.
For Kyle, who is a hunter apprentice, executing that was difficult. His arrows ran out before an arrow hit the Horned Rabbit.
In that case, there was only one method left.
"...Kyle."
"I'll do it! I'll step forward!"
When I called out, Kyle pulled out a dagger from his waist and stepped forward.
The Horned Rabbit was glaring at Kyle, perhaps on guard against the new enemy that had arrived.
Kyle's face as he faced the Horned Rabbit was stiff, and his limbs were shaking.
Right now, Kyle is fighting the fear of standing up to a monster.
That is something Kyle himself must break through, and even I, who can easily defeat a Horned Rabbit, can't do anything about it.
But as a fellow disciple and as a companion, I can help him break through.
The Horned Rabbit entered its pause to leap. From its gaze, the trajectory was Kyle's stomach.
Kyle, who was frozen with fear, likely couldn't move half a step to avoid it.
But, he just shouldn't run away. As long as his heart doesn't break, it will work out somehow.
"Stab it from above! Kyle!"
"U-Uooooooooooooooooh!"
Kyle shouted as if to brush away the fear, and holding the dagger in a reverse grip, he swung the blade down on the charging Horned Rabbit.
It was beautifully thrust into the neck of the charging Horned Rabbit.
"Gyu, Gyuuu!?"
A crushing scream leaked from the Horned Rabbit, and fresh blood sprayed out, wetting Kyle's cheek and body.
Kyle continued to apply his weight firmly, letting the blade bite deep.
The dagger pierced through the Horned Rabbit's neck and pinned it to the ground.
The Horned Rabbit's body convulsed with a twitch and then stopped moving.
Then, Kyle slowly raised his face while breathing roughly and sweating.
"Ha, ha, ha... Aldo-san. I defeated it, didn't I?"
"...Yeah, you did well standing up to the monster without running away. Congratulations on the subjugation."
"T-Thank you very much..."
At my words, Kyle said his thanks as if savoring the joy and shed tears.