Episode 58: Monster Hunter

Escaping from the sewers turned out to be far easier than expected.

Just near the safe zone where Ayaka had been hiding, there was a manhole. We crawled out through it and briefly took cover at Nishitama Station.

While replenishing our magic power with snacks from a convenience store inside the station, we held a strategy meeting.

There, we decided to openly share our respective skills with each other.

Summarizing the skills revealed at that time for Ayane-chan:

○ Basic Skills (not sure if "basic" is the right term... provisional)

《Combat Technique (Advanced)》《Special Moves I–III》

《Natural Healing (Strong)》《Skin Reinforcement》《Bone Reinforcement》

《Hunger Resistance (Strong)》

○ Magic Skills

《Fire Magic I》《Thunder Magic I–III》

○ Job Skills

《Teleportation I》

《Iron Fist》

Something like this (lower-tier skills are omitted).

Incidentally, here are my current skills:

○ Basic Skills

《Sword Technique (Advanced)》《Perfect Maintenance》

《Natural Healing (Strong)》《Skin Reinforcement》《Bone Reinforcement》

《Hunger Resistance (Strong)》

○ Magic Skills

《Fire Magic III》

○ Job Skills

《Defense IV》《Iron Armor》

《Magic Resistance I》

That's all.

"So, that means your level is 20, and mine is 23, right?"

Then Ayaka gently rubbed her temple with her finger,

"Hmm? No? Wait, wasn't Aashi's level 19?"

"What? But when I counted, there were twenty skills..."

"Hmm? Didn't you already have《Hand-to-Hand Combat (Beginner)》 from the start?"

"Eh? I don't have that one..."

"And I've never heard of Nee-chan's《Sword Technique》 skill, either."

"Huh? You mean it's not even an option to choose from?"

"Yeah."

Hmm?

I don't have time to think things through calmly right now, but it seems skills available vary from person to person.

Come to think of it, it felt a bit too convenient that everyone would have access to a skill like《Sword Technique》 when not everyone even ends up with a sword.

Anyway, whatever.

For now, the priority is figuring out how to deal with the tiger's "beast" menace.

"Come to think of it, I don't know this skill of mine...《Step of the Earth I》."

"Yeah, this one?"

Then, Ayaha lightly kicked the ground.

At the same time,

she vanished with a blur and reappeared about five meters behind.

"This. I picked it because it looked super cool, but now that I think about it, I don't really need this against zombies."

"Hey. Can it pass through walls too?"

"That's impossible. It seems to stop right before something solid."

I see, I see.

"So? What's the plan?"

Crossing his arms, he paused in thought for a moment.

"...I've got about three ideas."

"Whoa, cool. Three already?"

"One of them is a high-risk, flashy strategy that could win impressively, another is just pure high risk with no flair, and the last is a boring, safe, and unexciting plan."

"Then let's go for the flashy win!"

"By the way, the first one involves getting swallowed whole by the tiger's 'monster' form, then launching magic attacks from inside its stomach—something like that."

"Right! Safety's the best choice after all!"

"Indeed."

And so it came to pass.

"Shall we make a joke out of monster hunting then?"

▼

Well, in the end.

If suddenly told to fight a monster, you wouldn't think of much, would you?

Only a surprise attack, really.

Cao and I split up and move forward through the shopping district.

The plan is simple. Flank attack.

If I'm spotted by the "monster," Saya will attack from behind; if she's the one spotted, I'll take down the "monster."

If we absolutely have to retreat, we'll escape through the manhole I've already partially opened.

That's the plan.

We'll delay the attack slightly.

Hopefully, that'll make them a bit more careless...

An empty shopping district.

We advance quietly, eliminating the occasional "zombie" without a sound.

We'd already pinpointed the "monster's" location—confirmed by spotting it from the apartment building adjacent to the station.

The "monster" appeared to have long given up on evading us, lounging idly in a slightly open intersection, clearly bored.

We'll narrow our route strictly to the narrowest alleys, forcing the "monster" into a corner.

I've heard that wild animals have sharp instincts, but with visibility so limited and zombies wandering all around, it probably won't be easy to spot it. Probably.

Walking along our planned route, nothing out of the ordinary happening, we suddenly... saw it.

The "monster" tiger.

Apparently, luck is on our side— it seems to be asleep.

I cautiously approach, trying my best to make no sound.

My target... is its head.

If it's a blade imbued with enchantment, aiming for a one-hit kill shouldn't be impossible.

『Gurururururu………gurururururu…………』

Still, you know what?

There's this general impression that sleeping animals tend to be cute.

But when it comes to that "monster," not even a little bit. If anything, it radiates a murderous aura—despite being asleep.

It's terrifying.

In any case, I felt that if I could get close enough, I could finish it with the first strike.

That thought had just crossed my mind.

A figure appeared in an instant—too fast to see.

It was Saiba.

She stood atop the tiger’s head and shouted.

“Got you! ——‘Explosion: Hyoukure’…!”

Her fist emitted a golden light…,

and in the next instant, the tiger’s “monster” snapped its eyes open in shock.

『Gururururrr!』

The "monster" lifted its head just slightly, sending Ayano soaring high into the sky.

"Whoa!?"

Oops.

Bad move.

Her half-hearted activation of her "Ultimate Skill III" rained down like a sudden summer shower, scattering in all directions.

The surroundings were swallowed by a whirlwind of collapse.

Crouching low, I dodged the dust and debris.

Looking up, I saw the "monster" circling around the landing spot of Ayaka-chan, who had been blown into the sky.

Catch it with claws, or catch it with fangs.

It's as if they're saying it all depends on how we feel.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, no way!

Even as death loomed, Saya continued screaming, "Gyaah, gyaah!"

If she dies like this, it would be nothing short of a tragedy.

Of course, I won't let that happen.

Holding my enchanted sword, I charged straight toward the "monster."

"——Gurrr! Gugugug!"

Two targets appeared simultaneously, causing even the monster to struggle to hide its confusion.

Moreover, my blade was wreathed in flames.

I've heard animals instinctively fear fire, and this pig-like "monster" is no exception.

Aya-chan from above.

Me from below.

Kukukuku. Can you see through this attack...!? (Feels like a filler character)

What happened next momentarily surpassed my comprehension.

Simply put, the "monster" suddenly leapt up and knocked Aya-chan out of the air, like a fly.

And where Aya-chan landed after being knocked down was right where I was.

"Ugyaa, sorry! Aya-chan!!"

"――!?"

Crack.

Our heads collide hard, and my vision warps.

Just a few seconds.

I think that's how long I was unconscious.

Otherwise, we'd both be in the stomach of some monster.

"...Ugh..."

Groaning, I manage to stand up, using my sword as a cane.

"Harahore hirere..."

Next to me was Saya-chan, completely unconscious.

I suppose because I have Defense IV, I'm taking less damage.

Well.

I'm a bit stuck now.

A tiger-like monster lands with a thud.

I look up at it.

Saya-chan, unconscious.

"Guru... gururu... ru... ru... ru... ru... ru... ru... ruu!"

Yakko-san seems to be smiling oddly.

Well then.

Of course, I don't have the luxury of escaping while carrying Sayaka-chan.

That means... yes.

The moment has come to choose the most dangerous plan among all I've considered.

Straight-on confrontation.