Volume 1 Chapter 22 I Couldn't Find It, But...
"Hmm hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm♪"
I was in the best mood ever, competing for first and second place in my life.
I could confidently say that the recent date was a huge success.
When that mysterious guy interrupted, I thought things would go downhill, but in the end, Kyunei hugged me and even thanked me. At that moment, I was filled with confusion, but looking back, I can't help but feel lucky to have been so close to such a beautiful woman.
Women are so soft, aren't they? Especially around the chest area, it was unbelievably soft, like nothing else in this world.
Even now, after a few days have passed, just thinking about it makes me naturally start humming.
"Hmm, hmm hmm, hmm hmm──"
"To be honest, it's creepy."
"Shut up, I'll splash saltwater on you!"
"Isn't that unfair!?"
And today, as always, I have enjoyable conversations with my partner while working as a mercenary.
"Jokes aside, it's time to calm down. These kinds of excited times are the most dangerous, you know?"
What Gram says makes sense. I've already stepped into the forest. I took a deep breath and brought my energy back to normal.
"Partner, even though you're not what you seem, you're good at switching up, huh?"
"Don't judge a book by its cover."
After working hard and earning money, my savings were almost at the goal amount. I was prepared for several months, but I never thought I could get this far in just a month.
But at times like this, it's important to go back to basics and do my work calmly as usual.
Rushing can lead to mistakes, as they say. The moment just before reaching the goal is the most dangerous time.
"I have to be as careful as smashing a stone bridge and building a new iron one."
"That's not even a stone bridge."
While chatting away, I'm also searching for my familiar prey, the big rat. Today, I'm aiming for ten of them.
But today was different from usual.
"I wonder. There were usually so many big rats around, but today there's not a single one."
Even though I searched for the usual time to catch two or three, I couldn't find any big rats.
──Even before that, I had a strange feeling since I stepped into the forest. It's like something I usually see is missing.
"........"
"Gram?"
My partner, who was just joking around with me earlier, is now silent. I can't read his emotions because he has no expression, but there's a serious atmosphere.
"It's strange."
"No, I just said I felt strange a little while ago."
"No, it's different... it's 'too quiet'"
When he said that, I realized what was causing my strange feeling.
In the forest, not only monsters but also various wild animals live. Usually, I can find at least one of them from a distance.
However, right now I couldn't sense any of those signs.
"...Like the calm before the storm?"
"If that's the case, then it would mean that you in the midst of it all would be forcibly dragged into the commotion, partner."
"What's that? Scary... huh?"
From deep within the forest, I noticed a figure coming towards me, pushing aside the grass and leaves. It was a Kobold that I had seen many times recently.
The monster with a dog's head came straight at me, roaring loudly as it lunged towards me.
"Hiss!"
I quickly pulled out a spear from my back and twirled the tip around, exhaling sharply from my mouth. I diagonally slashed the Kobold's body in mid-air as it bared its fangs. The Kobold, losing its momentum, fell to the ground with a thud and sank into its own pool of blood.
"Kobolds always seem to show up. Should I just make up something like 'It's Big Rat meat' and sell this guy?"
"Don't get discouraged just because the prey you're looking for, the Big Rat, hasn't shown up."
"Just kidding, just kidding."
If I do something like that, I'll face serious penalties from the Mercenary Guild. The most severe punishment could lead to permanent expulsion from the guild and arrest by the military. On the other hand, a lighter penalty could just be a fine.
It's ironic to do mercenary work to earn money and then end up paying fines for breaking the rules.
However, it's a concerning situation, even if it's meant as a joke.
After going on a date with Kyunei, I continued to enter the forest to hunt the day after. But I've noticed a sudden increase in encounters with Kobolds compared to encountering Big Rats. I've already hunted three Kobolds today alone. Of course, there's a reward for defeating Kobolds, but since I accepted the request to exterminate Big Rats, I want to make sure to complete that task properly.
Still, I really can't seem to find any Big Rats today.
"Alright, partner. Another one added. Contact in three seconds."
"Could you give me a heads up a bit earlier next time, please?"
I was feeling really rushed, and as I turned around to swing my spear──
Something silver suddenly appeared from the bushes and cut it off before I could even react.
"Whoa!?"
I couldn't quite understand what had just happened as the Kobold sprayed its insides and blood everywhere from the cut.
Before I could even process, I was frozen in shock, still in the motion of swinging my spear, when someone familiar jumped out.
We had only met once before, and barely exchanged a few words. But I remembered her vividly - the silver hair, fox-like ears, a tail swaying from her backside, and a feminine charm that even other women would envy, along with a rich chest that moved with every step. She was 'Silver Flash', a skilled female mercenary.
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