The Forest at the Beginning

Back when I knew nothing.

But now it's different. I should have gained some strength by now.

Even though I'm tattered...

Looking at my torn clothes, I recall everything that's happened.

"We're almost at the main road. Other groups should be there too. What do you think, Taro?"

"What do you mean, what do you think?"

"Let's just say, you've run away from your country, haven't you? It's unlikely that news has reached other nations by now."

"So that's it... a fugitive. You two may be uncertain, but I'm definitely one then."

He pauses, lost in thought.

"Alright, I've decided. For now, I'll be a burden. I won't be able to move around for a while anyway. When I enter town, I'll hide inside a wooden crate."

I rummage through my belongings.

"Use this—this is a transformation gemstone. It's tricky to handle, but it should change your appearance."

I hand the purple gemstone to Coil.

"Hey, I'm not good at handling magic stones."

"Just a little change—any change at all should be enough to fool people."

"...I get it. By the way, what about Lirka?"

"I'll... just do my makeup. Watch me."

Lirka grins proudly.

The road continues on. Under the pleasant sunlight, drowsiness sets in.

I'm still not fully recovered—soon I start to feel sleepy.

"Sorry... I'm going to rest for a moment."

And with that, I let go of consciousness.

The steady vibration feels pleasant.

That sound echoing in my ears... no, it's getting intense...

The vibration of rapidly spinning tires pushing against the ground resonates through my body—shaking me from head to toe...

Wait, is it too intense?

I jolt awake, lifting my face. I lock eyes with a large number of eyes, their gaze fixed on me. Yellow and black fur, eight legs...

A wide pair of fangs spread sideways...

It was a spider.

But it was impossibly large. I couldn't comprehend how it was moving at all.

It looked as if two buses had stacked on top of each other and were charging at me.

There was no doubt—such a creature could only be a monster.

"! You're finally awake, Taro—full speed now. What should we do?"

"How did this even happen all of a sudden!?"

"It appeared out of nowhere just a moment ago."

As she spoke, Riruka shot an arrow. The arrow struck the monster perfectly.

However, just as a sharp "clack" echoed, the arrow was deflected.

As expected, a monster—its armor impossibly thick.

I quickly drew my crossbow and fired a specialized bolt.

My target: the monster's eye.

The high-speed arrow struck just below the eye.

It didn't penetrate, but it struck firmly. Damn it! The power's too low. Not quite ready yet? For some reason, the flow of mana feels off.

Wait—magic isn't even activating!?

The beast, startled by the attack landing on it, let out a shriek and accelerated its pursuit.

"Trouble—unless I do something, it'll catch up."

What now!?

Just as I was desperately trying to think of a way to stop its legs, the monster’s mouth suddenly bulged open.

Drawing on my experience fighting such creatures, I immediately realized this attack was extremely dangerous.

If I got hit by it, everything would be over.

Without hesitation, I hurled a small barrel containing high-grade fire magic stones and oil.

The magic stones instantly heated to extreme temperatures, causing the oil to explode.

The white, sticky substance shot from the monster's mouth was scattered by the explosion, flying outward.

The fragments that landed around hardened and turned black.

What the hell was that!?

You can't escape something like that with a magic trike.

"Coil! Don't let it hit you at all!"

"I know that! But we can't go any faster. Do something about it!"

"Damn it!"

My head's spinning.

How do you even take down something that tough...?

That's it from the inside!

Biologicals with stiff bodies can only be taken down from within.

We have to open its mouth and destroy it from the inside out.

As soon as the strategy is decided, I grab my usual gear.

"Tarou, are you okay?"

Rilka asks, clearly worried.

"I'm sorry... I can't say I'm fine, but I'll do my best."

With that, I nock an arrow onto my crossbow.

Secure my feeble body firmly to the platform.

The chances are slim.

If I don't hit it in one shot...

Aim carefully and release the special arrow. Then activate the wind magic stone, accelerating forward. Though not at a magical-level speed, it's more than enough.

The beast abruptly halts its movement, trying to catch the arrow.

But catching a tiny, fast-moving arrow while facing the beast is no easy task.

At the base of the fang! The accelerated arrow pierces deeply, causing one of the fangs to droop limply.

Good, just as planned.

The other fang too, I can't let it go!

Even though I've only shot one special arrow, I'm breathing heavily through my shoulders, unlike usual.

I take aim once more.

The monster is stunned by the paralysis in its own mouth, panicking.

Seizing the moment, I drive the special arrow into the base of the other fang. Accelerated by the wind.

Both fangs droop limply, and the mouth opens wide.

The monster, utterly confused, continues its charge.

Now's my chance. While it's still acting oddly, I'll burn it all to ashes.

Pulling out a small barrel filled with fuel from the cargo bed.

Using the wind crystal, I push the barrel forward. The magic still won't activate.

It's strange—something that always worked before is gone, leaving me uneasy.

The barrel barely reaches inside the monster's mouth, and gets wedged deep into its wide-open maw.

Rilka loosed an arrow, igniting it at just the right moment.

The arrow struck the barrel perfectly, setting it ablaze.

In an instant, flames spread rapidly, and the monster spewed fire from its mouth.