Can This Be Called a Victory?
Could this really be called a victory?
Not a few people had died just to bring down a single monster.
An attack by a high-rank monster was always a tragedy. Yet the crowd was not so consumed by grief that they lost their reason. Rather, they calmly took in the situation with their own eyes.
If you lived in Antico—if you lived on the outskirts—something like this was bound to happen someday. It just so happened that today was that day.
"Are you all right?"
"Ah, yes.... Thank you."
The survivors helped one another. They must never forget what had happened today. Though the sound of a few people weeping could be heard, no one let it show on their faces. They had to prepare even more thoroughly so that something like this would never happen again.
The living had to rise by stepping over the bodies of the dead. They could not afford to fall into despair—not ever. That was the respect owed to those who had died.
And so, let us raise a toast to the newly born hero.
I stood before the unmoving ancient Alberoelva, gasping for breath. A sweet taste lingered in my parched mouth. Thick blood that was not human dripped steadily from my greatsword.
I drove the greatsword into the ground. Slowly, I sat down beside it and leaned my back against the blade. I lifted my head and looked up at the sky.
The blue of the clear heavens was dazzlingly beautiful.
So I survived.
"Alice-niiiiim~!"
I heard Pina calling for me. I turned my head slightly to look at her. The way she shouted so loudly without a hint of embarrassment in front of everyone—she must have been that proud of me.
Pina came running over and stood beside me.
"Do you know how hard my heart was pounding the whole time I was watching? There was nothing strange about the idea that you could have died at any moment."
"Sorry. I made you worry too much."
"This time too... that was Berserk, right? You used it, didn't you?"
I nodded at Pina's question.
"Still, it was a little different this time."
If last time it had felt like control of my body had been completely stripped away, this time it was as if my consciousness and her mind had overlapped. Could I even call that "me"?
In the end, either way, the fact that I'd gotten angry seeing people die right in front of me hadn't changed. Even if this body felt no revulsion toward killing people, the moment I saw someone die, I was the type who couldn't just stand by.
I could kill with my own hands—but don't you dare die by someone else's. It was a ridiculous feeling. So self-centered, really.
"...Mm."
"Does something hurt?"
"Just... my whole body feels stiff and sore."
As the aftereffects of Berserk wore off, pain ran through my entire body—the price of forcibly drawing out power. Last time I'd had dry heaves, my whole body had ached, and my head had spun. This time it was just something like muscle soreness and a sense of exhaustion.
...So that was because my body had been taken over last time.
"...Still, you were really amazing."
"Yeah?"
"You looked just like a hero from a fairy tale. Ah, though Alice-nim is more like a princess...."
You didn't need to add that part.
I snorted a laugh at Pina's words and nodded.
"Where's Matillo?"
"Ah, Grandpa... he got a blade stuck in his back protecting me."
"...Is he okay?"
"Yes, we gave him first aid right away. Right now they're gathering all the injured and treating them properly. Alice-nim... are you all right?"
I was fine. At most I had scrapes from dodging its attacks and scratches from scraping against the ground—nothing more. I didn't want treatment for something this minor. It would be better to use the time that would be spent on me treating other people instead.
My sword had worked harder than I had, really.
The Bloodhorn Sword was not in normal condition. Fragments of the ancient Alberoelva's carapace were embedded all over the leather covering the greatsword's face, damaging the blade. It hadn't even been a day since it was made—had I treated it too roughly? Materials were scarce, too... would repairs even be possible? I could already picture Matillo's angry face.
With the tension released, I settled comfortably against the greatsword. The pleasant weariness that comes after a satisfying fight. The thrill and joy of knowing that I was the one who had survived to the end and won wrapped around my entire body.
Rrrrr......
Then, from far away, a monster's low howling could be heard. The Alberoelva that had fled to this place had finally risen to its feet. It rolled its two blue eyes, surveying its surroundings.
So it hadn't died.
At the Alberoelva's sound, everyone startled and tensed up.
"Th-the Alberoelva...."
People feared that the fighting would start again. I looked at the Alberoelva. It was looking at me as well.
Whatever the Alberoelva was thinking didn't matter. The moment it showed hostility, I intended to rise from my seat again.
But the Alberoelva didn't even roar. It only growled lowly. Pina, who was with me, shrank back and warily watched it.
"A-Alice-nim...."
It slowly approached this way. I stood up, put Pina behind me, and drew the greatsword.
If it wanted to fight, I could take it on. My body was a little worn out, but I still had the strength left to fight. My will was not yet dead. If it meant to fight more here, that wouldn't be so bad either.
But the Alberoelva held my image in those blue eyes, then abruptly turned its head. For reasons unknown, it slowly led its massive body into the forest.
Someone watching muttered.
"...It's leaving."
I drove the greatsword into the ground again. The thudding sound of the earth shaking faded, and the Alberoelva's form could no longer be seen. It had taken some time for it to leave, but the important thing was that nothing had happened.
Survival was a critical matter for humans and monsters alike. In that sense, the Alberoelva was expressing a kind of gratitude toward us in its own way. Without causing any incidents, it quietly returned to its own territory.
The threat had completely vanished.
The Association stepped forward to handle the aftermath. As a gesture of consolation for their efforts, the Association paid compensation to everyone who had participated in this subjugation request. But no one was happy about receiving the pay. Too many people had died.
The corpse of the ancient Alberoelva went to the Association's research director. I'd thought I might be able to obtain materials, but with the Association collecting the body, there was no such opportunity. It was a little disappointing, but I didn't cling to the materials.
Matillo agreed to work on the half-ruined Bloodhorn Sword for a while. Even though it was made of Elder Species materials, the weapon's durability itself wasn't that high. The opponent had been a high-rank monster to begin with—and an ancient species different from the original strain at that. Blocking its scatter-shot and shaving down its carapace would naturally pile fatigue onto the greatsword.
"Kid... I'm really glad you're safe."
Matillo didn't say a single word about the ruined Bloodhorn Sword. Instead, he seemed worried about me.
"Is your back okay?"
"This is nothing. I've taken worse."
I was worried about Matillo, who'd taken the carapace blade in place of Pina, but he didn't show his pain at all. He was used to that sort of thing.
"So, kid—how was it? From what I saw, that thing seemed about high-rank monster level."
"...How was what?"
"This time, everyone in Antico joined forces. Next time, you might have to face one alone. Do you have the confidence to win against a monster like that?"
Matillo spoke with a complicated expression. Worry, unease, or perhaps expectation—all sorts of mixed emotions were contained within it.
Facing a high-rank monster alone would be no different from a suicide attempt. Fighting the ancient species today, I'd clearly felt the strength of a predator on a completely different level. They didn't give up easily. Even after taking multiple barrages, they held firm, fighting at full power until the brink of death, making you feel what a true apex predator of the ecosystem really was.
So my answer was already decided.
"Of course. Master Hunters do it all the time, don't they?"
I had enjoyed the contest against them. I wouldn't stop at high-rank monsters. Further still—to the highest rank. Further still—all the way to Miteraos, waiting for me at the end of the world.
I wanted to overcome everything with my own hands.
"...Hmph. Yeah, I figured you'd answer like that. No matter what monster you run into, you'll come back alive without batting an eye."
At my confident answer, Matillo's expression eased and he snorted.
Antico grew bustling again. It regained its vitality as if the Alberoelva's attack had never happened. Pina and I started our days at the lodging just as always.
But the scars remained. The scars left by the blade-like carapace still marked Antico's walls here and there. And it wasn't only the walls that bore scars. The monster had carved scars into each person's heart.
Remembering without forgetting was the best we could do.
"Pina, what about the family trip?"
"If nothing happens... I suppose we won't go...."
Lying sprawled on the bed, Pina still seemed sleepy as she rubbed her eyes and spoke. A major event had passed, so Pina needed a period of rest as well. I'd be bored in the meantime, but it couldn't be helped.
Still, we'd come this far running hard. It had already been five months since I'd fallen into this world. I'd properly started as a hunter for about four of those months, maybe. After running without a moment to breathe, I'd finally faced an ancient species.
The battle with the ancient species. Even though everyone had joined forces to subjugate it, this was a meaningful event. The appearance of an ancient species was precisely the bridge that connected me to the main story.
A monster that had crossed the axis of time. That showed that Miteraos's power was still incomplete. I felt as if I'd drawn a little closer to it.
"We can rest a bit today, right~?"
Pina said languidly, rolling around on the bed.
"Alice-nim, do you have any hobbies or anything?"
"Hobbies?"
"Yes. It seems like all you do is hunt...."
Hobbies, huh. I touched the corner of my mouth at Pina's question.
"Hunting is my hobby."
"Ah...."
Silence settled over the lodging.
Did... did I say something wrong?
"Th-there must be something other than hunting, right? Like reading...."
"...I don't think so?"
"Ah...."
Pina let out another sigh of dismay. Why are you so distressed about this?
Since coming here, I hadn't read a single book. The only thing that interested me was monster hunting. But that wasn't my fault, was it? I mean, this was a place with no computers and no phones. There was nothing to do except go around killing monsters.
"You really are the Butcher."
"Ugh...."
"Hehe, it suits you, so why are you like that? Butcher~."
I hate that nickname so much. Just hearing it makes me cringe. I shook my head and let out a sigh.
There was only one method left, then.
Kill Miteraos, the one who made me this way.
Knock, knock—.
Just then, someone knocked on the lodging door.
"...Ah, who is it at this hour? Someone selling tools, maybe."
Pina sat bolt upright, frowning as she spoke. Even the way she showed how annoying she found it was cute.
I got up and caught Pina as she tried to go out.
"Stay in bed."
"Ah, no. I'll go."
I shook my head looking at Pina's outfit. I'd changed into proper clothes, but Pina, from lounging around, was still in her fluttery negligee nightgown.
After her father's death, with less need to send money home, Pina had started dressing herself up. This was a new nightgown she'd bought with her own money after much deliberation recently. She seemed to like it so much that whenever she had no reason to go out, she wore it all day.
"You're going out like that?"
"...Okay, fine."
Pina flopped back down again. I swept my hair up and stood in front of the door.
"...Who is it?"
"Is Hunter Alice present?"
"Speaking."
"I'm from the Association."
A man's voice I was hearing for the first time. At the mention of the Association, I cracked the door open slightly. I poked my head out just enough for my eyes to show and looked at the man.
"What is it?"
"The Branch Director wishes to see you, Hunter."
The Branch Director? Why was another high-ranking person calling for me?
For a moment, I thought I could hear a princess's laughing voice, clutching her belly and cackling. I looked at the man with suspicious eyes.
"Is this a designated request?"
"Ah, no, it isn't. He simply wishes to meet the hunter who rendered such great service in this subjugation in person."
I blinked several times, then nodded.