2-11 On the Move
I was completely burned out, pure white...
Along with the liberating feeling of not having to fear monsters anymore, I'd let go of way too many other things.
The play itself had gone back to basics with missionary position, but it's like how hunger is the ultimate spice for appetite.
By the third or fourth time, I stopped counting. I just kept going until nothing came out anymore. That was it.
Once I started feeling a bit more relaxed midway through, I think I managed to please Sarsa too...
Last night I was a little premature, so there's some lingering anxiety...
Just a little, though.
Not always.
"Good morning, Master."
"Y-yeah."
As I lay in bed reflecting on last night, Sarsa, who had gotten up first and was sorting the luggage, noticed and greeted me.
When moving, we stuff Don into Sarsa's bag, and I carry the tent on my back.
Clothes and food are stored in extradimensional space as much as possible, so even just the two of us manage somehow.
Food doesn't always fit perfectly, so Sarsa ends up carrying some. We split the monster materials between us.
In combat, we ditch the tent and retrieve it later. That's a bit of a hassle.
Should I... hire a pack carrier?
"Well, we're managing for now, so it's fine. Alright, Sarsa, first things first—let's cash in."
"Yes."
We headed energetically to the monster hunter guild and exchanged the materials and magic stones we'd brought.
We'd sold or discarded heavy or perishable materials back at base, so it was mostly magic stones and stuff we hunted on the way back.
Totaling up: 13 silver coins and 36 copper coins. Minus 1 silver for fees, leaving... not quite 30 silvers.
Hmm. Meh.
No, we're earning, sure.
But expenses add up, and expanding the party means gold coin territory.
Wonder if there's another damsel in distress getting attacked by monsters somewhere. Nah, last time worked out, but trouble's more likely. Pass.
I submit reports monthly like a good boy—maybe the white-haired kid will reward me with cash. Yeah, right.
...Next report, I could add something like "Will take paid requests for specific investigations."
Can't read that guy's mind, but if he's really sending people here for intel, he might bite.
Anyway.
"Any info on the Cross Point area?"
"What kind of info?"
After finishing the material sales, I went to the counter and asked the young female guild staffer.
"I want to gauge the danger level. Near Eneito Base, uh, I spotted a Feragen."
"Yes."
"How about around Cross Point? Any sightings?"
"Feragen and other dangerous monster sightings, right? Please wait a moment."
The guild staffer went into the back, leaving me twiddling my thumbs for about five minutes. When she returned, she carried a thick stack of documents.
"Here's the latest monster info... 1 silver to borrow, plus another silver for detailed analysis."
"What's the analysis?"
"A guild staffer accompanies you and helps interpret the necessary info from the docs."
"Do it."
I shelled out two precious silvers for intel.
The same receptionist stuck with me. Not just searching the doc sea, but explaining interpretations and her own speculations. Pretty solid service.
TL;DR: No Feragen sightings near Cross Point. Other data suggests it was just a stray that wandered downstream.
No signs of powerful monsters descending from the mountains or upstream. Zero such reports.
Though midstream spawn points are producing a bit more monsters, causing some trouble.
"What's causing the increase?"
"Unknown. But spawn point output has cycles, so probably just hitting one."
Makes sense. More monsters mean more jobs, too.
She shared local monster details too, but skipping those.
Overall trend: more pack-hunting types.
A pain for small parties—numbers game. Sure, this world has solo terrors like giant dino Rebeus, but still.
Once I reach Tarureskind, the capital, maybe try recruiting a party. For now, sticking with Sarsa tag-team.
Games usually counter mobs with AoE magic, right? This world's magic lacks that... or it's super high-difficulty with huge MP cost, so no dice yet.
"Any warrior squad requests for mercenaries to tag along on subjugations?"
They usually split into small units, as we've seen. If that's not enough, hiring local mercs makes sense.
"There are warrior squad requests. But they go to the mercenary guild first, so not always here. Tarureskind HQ gets direct ones, though. Not fully mainstream yet. And those gigs are high-risk. Could even be bait duty."
"Gotcha. Mercenary guild here too?"
"Yep, HQ in Tarureskind, branches in gateway towns."
"Huh..."
Monster hunter guild's so convenient, forgot about it.
"We offer a service pulling small-party requests via mercenary guild—for a fee, we vet for suitability."
"Like what?"
"Monster hunts, not extreme difficulty, clear terms and conditions—no vagueness."
"I see."
Checked anyway—no suitable ones available in Tarstira now.
Plenty in Tarureskind. Cross Point occasionally gathers mercs for hunts.
Lately rookies flooding in, so they request intros only for solid fighters.
"Looks safe enough. After a recharge, let's head to Cross Point."
"Safe travels."
The staffer smiled brightly; I couldn't help grinning back.
"So, you came to see me?"
Tsutsu, the guild staffer, readied his wooden sword with a grumpy face. World's apart from other staff.
"Nah, not here for you. Heard there's a free staffer for sparring."
"Hmph."
Snorted at me. Why the mood?
"You vanished so suddenly, thought you croaked."
"Aw, missed me?"
"Like hell! Don't care about you. But no Sarsa-chan was a bit lonely."
"Shut up."
Sarsa's mine. She swings her greatsword-sized wooden blade in protest, but he dodges easily and whacks her with a normal one.
Should be reach-disadvantaged, but his spacing's perfect.
Won't teach beyond "watch and steal," so steal it I shall.
And so, I passionately kissed the guild training floor after ages.
Stayed in Tarstira three days: mornings challenging Tsutsu, nights challenging Sarsa. Then, off to Cross Point.
Told Tsutsu this time. No big reaction, but he looked sad parting with Sarsa. She still ignores him. Heh heh heh.
Cross Point's two days straight west of Tarstira.
Skirt goblin forest (full ignore), hit Kansen River vicinity.
It's the east-west road linking gateway Tarstira and capital Tarureskind—better maintained than grasslands, frequent warrior squad patrols.
Right/north: grasslands, then western forest ahead. Left/south: goblin forest, then rocky badlands.
Watch for badlands monsters pushing north. Aggressive subhuman spawn point there; they raid the road.
Good sightlines mostly, so magic + magic gun for first strike.
Checked requests pre-departure—no Cross Point escorts.
Tarureskind-Tarstira runs are regular orgs with solid guards; ad-hoc rare. They'd use big local merc groups anyway.
Fair.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
Handled west gate formalities and left Tarstira full of vim.
West road's busy-ish: people, wagons passing or overtaking.
Warrior squad tank-wagon with magitech rumbled by.
Sarsa explained; neat stuff.
Imagined this world's battles as spearmen mobs and mounted officers charging. More advanced, maybe.
Defenses packed with magistaves, ironclad barriers via defense magic. Obvious, really.
So arrows or fire arrows won't cut it.
No shock if they have anti-magic mechs or magic war machines.
Army camps northwest; might see en route.
Peaceful enough for such musings.
Presence Detection skill barely pinged beyond passersby.
Rare pings ended quick—hunted before I arrived.
Mostly goblins straying from their forest.
Local gobs: short, light-brown subhumans. Storybook tough goblins?
In Teba region's monster hordes, just sideshows.
No events; camped open grassland at night.
No inns here; wild camping everywhere.
Anything could happen—Don's on night watch.
Night night.
"Gii, gii!"
"Oof."
Stomach impact wakes me.
Eyes open: Don belly-flopping again, squeaking urgently.
Activate Presence Detection: yeah, something prowling around.
Thanks Don, but why always gut-punch wakeups? Scowl, shake off sleep, sword on back, magic gun ready, peek outside.
Pitch black, silent... but Presence Detection catches a group halting, watching from afar.
Fireball
Not attacking—lighting up. Reveals four-legged dog-things frozen.
"Monsters. Hyena-like."
Dog family for sure, but face, patterns, vibe more hyena.
Meanwhile, reshape earth into mini-wall and ditch.
Instant defense. Prep Wind Wall too. Spam fireballs at hyenas.
That kicked it off—they charge.
Lead 2-3 dodge fireballs, spew something. Wind Wall up—good call; projectiles hit and cancel.
"Spitting stuff... tch."
They keep spitting, I block; meanwhile rear rush closes in.
Sword-smack hyenas leaping mini-ditch/wall.
Tiny, but jump needs airtime—predictable.
"Hya! Take that!"
Hands full? Sand Wall deflects. Fireballs for light/aggro too—MP dipping.
Before next play, backup arrives: arrows nail distant spitters.
"Master, sorry for the delay."
"Go."
No range worry—full agro.
Straight-line leapers turn into whack-a-mole. Then rear boss barks; pack peeks back, retreats.
"Dog monsters everywhere."
Sigh. Checked locals; too many dog types—names blur.
"Guomo, I think. Magic stones only sellable part, but they're decent value."
"Nice. Stones-only's perfect."
Meat/skins? Heavy, hassle. Stones bag to extradim—easy.
High-value stones? Win.
"Quick butcher. Cover me."
"Got it."
30 mins: Sarsa guts 10-ish Guomo. Back to bed.
Good ni—
"Giii!"
Thud! Gut weight—gweh. Nearby... dog shadow.
"Again?!"
"...Didn't sleep."
Rub sleepy eyes in tent. Sun up. Total sleep enough for function, but constant wakes? Murder.
Damn hyenas.
"Good morning."
Sarsa woke me—prepped breakfast early. She's ponytailing her lengthening straight hair lately. Didn't have ponytail kink, but suits slim leather-armored archer Sarsa. Huntress vibe.
"Yeah, morning."
Crush friend hunger and drowsiness; chow down.
Dumpling rations + fish jerky. Inland pricey, but splurged for gourmet Sarsa.
I dig it too. Salty? Fish over meat.
"Master, a word?"
"What's up?"
Mid-gnaw on skewered grilled jerky, Sarsa pauses.
"Checked with Far Sight: parties nearby. One's warrior squad, I think."
"Oh."
"Ahead: aggressive pack subhumans, right? Join up?"
"Join? Hm."
Didn't think that far.
No full party, but cooperate through danger zone? Negotiable maybe.
But negotiate? Cooperate? Meh.
So,
"Tail the warrior squad sneaky-like."
"...Um."
Sarsa makes face, but it's my rational plan.
No chit-chat hassle; proximity means natural teamwork on monsters. Bait risk, sure.
Least likely baiters: warrior squad. Past vibes.
Don't full-trust impressions, but duty-bound, low chance they ditch monsters.
"When squad moves, we do. Far Sight range. Possible?"
"Yes, I'll try."
Not thrilled, but game.
Squad clears monsters = safer. Less loot, but travel mode.
"Squad's moving."
Stand. Decent distance; slow pace, no catch-up.
"...Master."
"Yeah?"
"Another party's tailing squad."
"..."
Same idea.
Direction-dependent bust, but westbound. Phew.
Pass eastbound party; stealth-tail squad rear.
"Other tailers' distance? Squad notice?"
"Pretty close. They know."
"Right."
I'm sneaky-cheaty; they're blatant. Ballsy.
"No shooing off, huh."
"Nope. But if spotted or guild complaint, trouble. I'd avoid."
"Yeah."
Soft no to my sneak op. Ignore.
Co-camp same direction? Normal spacing. Excuses ready if snitched.
Squad fast; lag risk, but monster stops keep pace.
Can't Far Sight constant—MP killer. Every 30 mins.
Lunch soon? Squad skips? Pain—then Sarsa calls.
"Attacked! Surrounded."
"Squad?"
"Yes. Tail party caught too."
"Shit. What now."
Sarsa on hill, scoping.
"...Subhumans. 50+."
"Squad?"
"20-ish squad, under 10 others."
"Bad."
Squad not clueless; routine? ...But 30 vs 50+? Wins mean casualties. Help won't anger.
Worst case: squad loses/retreats, leftovers hit us.
Avoid: full sprint escape or assist. ...Hm.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Sarsa steels up. How much unleash?
"Sarsa, sorry—approach observing. Magic gun if dire, magic if even, sword if winning."
"Leave it to me."
Jog forward.
...Far...
Breathless, enemies clear: earth-skinned nudes. Top-heavy, no-neck jut-head bipeds. Comic/movie critters. Bone sticks/spears.
Local subhumans, yeah.
Update from Sarsa:
"Even."
"Roger."
Left: mini Wind Shield.
Right sword up; spawn/shoot 3 fireballs from tip.