Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Cockatrice Hunt
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More or less like that, we pushed deeper into the forest for quite a while longer. We should've run into other monsters along the way, but maybe because of the powerful predator cockatrice lurking around, nothing showed itself. They'd all probably fled.
It was so empty that for a moment, I wondered if I'd somehow ended up hiking my neighborhood mountain. The journey was that peaceful. If we'd just brought a picnic blanket and a basket of sandwiches, it would've been a full-on picnic.
"..."
After the fight with the moss wisps, there was nothing to do but mindlessly follow William's heels. But the real reason this quest was a fucking nightmare was Winia's nagging.
She yapped nonstop like she had some disease where her guts would rot if she kept her mouth shut for even a second, gnawing away at my sanity. I was going insane. I could've paid any price to shut her up.
"..."
"Hey, blackie, you deaf? Want me to pierce your ears? I've got a needle."
"How do ears get eaten?"
"Wanna talk shit? You think I'm too lazy? Huh?"
"Sorry."
If a monster showed up, at least I wouldn't have to listen to her during the fight. I was screwed, totally screwed. All I could hope for now was that William would find the cockatrice quick. I hated that bastard cockatrice so much for scaring off every other monster.
"Hoo, hoo... I see."
I turned my head, and Kobson was peering at the tracking skill with an expression like he'd hit the jackpot. Admiration leaked from his mouth now and then.
William didn't seem to care one bit. Monster tracking was a skill and asset in itself, but he didn't say a word—guy must have a saintly personality.
"Halt."
William, about to push through the underbrush, said it quietly. At his word, Winia—who'd been chattering like a freakish bird—shut her mouth, and Kobson drew his sword. The guy used both axes and swords. Tension spiked. Was the cockatrice right ahead?
The heavy atmosphere shifted so suddenly that I swallowed hard.
"Found the nest. As agreed, I'll take point. You lot protect Winia."
The stench of blood and rotting flesh wafted over from ahead. I drew my sword as that eerie rotten smell hit me. Monster nests always reeked like that—piles of shit and half-eaten scraps.
"One, two, three... chicks... looks like six. Not a tough fight."
With that, William silently slipped through the brush, gesturing us forward. We crept carefully after him...
And there it was.
A massive cockatrice slumbered in a nest pieced together from random plants and debris, brooding over its chicks.
—Grrr... purruru...
Listen to that horrific breathing. I swear I'd never seen anything so overwhelming in my life. Bigger than the drakes pulling fancy carriages I'd glimpsed occasionally, it was a perfect monster.
That big, hard-looking beak looked tough enough to crack a human skull like an egg. And those razor-sharp talons? No need to describe them. D+ difficulty was no joke, fuck. I was stunned internally, but William and Winia's faces were calm.
"Heh heh... this'll fetch a nice price, Winia."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Roast 'em."
Flame Arrow
Massive fire arrow manifests!
Winia chanted her spell. It was in some magical language—unintelligible. With the incantation, a red magic circle formed at the tip of her staff, and crimson mana gathered visibly before my eyes. Wind kicked up. Chanting Winia looked dead serious, nothing like when she was nagging me.
—Kreet?
The cockatrice sensed something and woke from its deep sleep. It tilted its head at us, then snapped to attention and tried to spread its wings.
But.
"Flame Arrow."
Winia's cast was long done. The massive flaming arrow...
That scorching red projectile slammed straight into the cockatrice.
—Boom!
—Kreeeak!
The Flame Arrow's power was beyond imagination.
The insanely fast fire arrow hit the cockatrice's chest and exploded massively. The beast screamed, flames scattering. Three chicks got roasted in the blaze.
Incredible splash damage.
I was so shocked I muttered, "Holy shit, fuck."
Somehow, that calmed me. Time for the real fight. My grip tightened on my sword.
"Protect Winia!"
William shot forward like the wind. Ignoring the three remaining chicks charging at him, he barreled straight for the cockatrice. The burning-feathered cockatrice looked like a phoenix. But William deftly swung his longsword, slicing off the tip of its wing.
—Kreeeak!
His movements were unbelievable. Was this the skill needed for C-rank? I admired his efficient strikes and footwork claiming the shortest path.
"Hey, barbarian. Those chicks are coming our way."
"Yeah."
Kobson spat on the ground. The three leftover chicks rushed us. The other three... yeah, already barbecued and sprawled out. The smell of charred meat wafted over... chicken, basically.
One shot for that kind of power—mages were fucking OP, no wonder I couldn't stand up to her.
That was why I never sassed Winia. One hit like that, and I'd be paste—no way I'd even dream of rebelling.
"Blackie, I'm tired."
Winia plopped down playfully. She stretched lazily and poked my cheek with her staff.
"You can handle the rest, right?"
I had nothing to say, but whatever. This was solid. Winia had done her part. Mopping up the trash mobs was me and Kobson's job.
"Fuck, leave it to me."
—Queeeee!
I aimed my sword at the ostrich-like charging chicks. Chick cockatrices were trash mobs. Dumb as birds, smaller size class. Crucially, shorter than me.
The key in a brawl with monsters was size and weapons. Most small monsters were smaller than humans, and I always had my sword.
Fighting a weaker foe with a sword—that was the basics of hunting. No fear because I'd win for sure. Trash mobs couldn't breach a sword-wielding human's range.
The only scary part was the medical bills if I fucked up and got hurt.
—Kieeek!!
The nearest chick cockatrice leaped from close range. I dropped my knees and body low, then thrust up into its belly as it jumped higher than me, timing my stab perfectly.
—Kureeak!
"Kobson!"
I shoved my shoulder into it with the sword embedded, wrapping my arm around its neck. Long necks were their weak point. Used my knee as a lever to snap its neck.
—Crack!
"You idiot!"
I tossed the limp body aside and bolted to Kobson. Two chicks were on him. He was rolling on the ground, screaming pathetically. Glanced at Winia—she was chin-propped, watching like it was entertaining. No sense of danger for her.
"Drararargh!!"
"Not you too, asshole!"
I burst out laughing as I ran, teasing Kobson.
Getting his ass handed to him by two birdbrains while rolling around? Hilarious. Kicked, pecked. He tried standing each time, but the furious chicks' onslaught made it tough.
Even if smaller, they were muscled runners.
One wrong hit, and he'd be done. I jumped right in.
"Die!"
I exploded off the ground, stabbing one's side with the rebound force. Squelch—the blade sank to the crossguard in an instant. Felt amazing. Tip poked out the other side.
—Kieeeeeee!!
The skewered one wailed and toppled. Too hyped attacking Kobson to notice me. Forgot that if they ganged up, we could too.
"Get up, you wimp!"
"Gh... thanks."
I hauled Kobson up by the hand. Now two against one, we cornered the last chick. It finally spread its wings and screeched threats, but that shit was laughable.
—Queeak! Queeak!
"Heh heh. Pathetic. Totally pathetic. Isn't it, barbarian?"
"Heh heh heh, fucking ridiculous."
Furious from the beating, Kobson closed in and swung his axe. Clean strike—half the chick's neck severed, blood spraying as it fell.
—Clap clap clap!
As we caught our breath after decapitating the downed one, Winia clapped. Grinning ear to ear, high energy—she'd enjoyed the show.
"Nice job!"
Even I thought we did fucking great. Difficulty-wise, like kobolds? Chick cockatrices weren't that threatening. Two of us handled three easy.
I headed with Kobson to help William.
William fought like a pro—every drop of his sweat matched rivers of cockatrice blood. When it lunged with its beak, he dodged and sliced flesh. If it held back, he pressed in. One-sided beatdown.
The cockatrice was clearly over 2.5 meters, but no match for longsword William. Honestly, I'd have no clue how to kill that thing.
"Hey! Winia!"
William called, and Winia finally stood, dusting her skirt. She raised her staff, chanted again—
Fire Bolt
Small fireball launches!
"Fire Bolt."
Unlike Flame Arrow, a small fireball whooshed—straight to the cockatrice's chest and detonated.
—Kweeeek!
That was it. As flames erupted on its chest and it screamed, William's longsword traced a sharp arc, severing the wing root. He yanked the blade free fast and jammed it into the stump.
—Thud!
The massive body crashed. Blade hit the heart. Still breathing, but that was all—spitting blood, convulsing. Me and Kobson rushed to William.
"Incredible!"
"Amazing!"
William waved it off, then executed it executioner-style—severed the head.
—Slash.
The head rolled free, unleashing a foul stench.
"...Hoo."
William caught his breath.
"Grab anything valuable from the nest. I need to butcher these first."
Me and Kobson fetched the huge bag. The nest was piled with bones and unidentifiable rotting corpses—slim pickings for valuables.
"Uh, fuck. Hey, Kobson."
"What?"
We cleared vine-like debris, revealing huge eggs. Five of them, hidden. No cap, if fertilized, this was jackpot. Monster chicks and eggs sold big at arenas.
Of course, William and Winia's share—nothing for me.
"Fucking priceless."
We rummaged more, but nothing else worthwhile. Bones or horns? All shattered—the beak was too tough.