Humans! Finally Out of the Forest!

With the thrill of escaping the forest, I galloped along in high spirits, and before I knew it, a whole day had passed. It was truly disappointing—I hadn't encountered a single person the entire time. The only thing that had changed was the scenery, and if even this faint path had vanished, things would've been truly bleak.

Ha... No way this is a world with no people, right?

This refreshing landscape was starting to feel like cruel torture. After slogging through that forest for about a month, to end up in a place with such invigorating views and still like this... What the hell was that Homeless God thinking, sending me here?

As I grumbled to myself, a high-pitched shout suddenly echoed from somewhere.

"...s! The left... try!"

......!? Speech? Korean!?

My mind snapped alert, and before I could even think, my body was already charging toward the source. The words weren't clear, but it was definitely a human voice speaking. After more than a month hearing nothing but scream-like cries, the realization that someone was talking there filled me with overwhelming emotion.

Yes! I was worried I might not understand them even if I met people, but it's Korean! The Homeless God must've set it up so everything translates perfectly. Thank you, Homeless God! Ah, is that them!?

As I raced forward, I spotted human-like figures facing off against something that looked like a bright red cow.

High on excitement, I sped up, but then a sudden thought hit me, and I slowed down, scanning for cover.

I'm just a simple horse that can't even talk right now... Better not get attacked, so...

With that in mind, I hid behind a large boulder a short distance away and started watching.

"Argh, seriously! I told you we should've turned back by now! They're keep coming!"

"Haha... Sorry. I just wanted to test our skills properly... Getting some experience points isn't bad, right?"

"Forget experience points— this isn't ending! Look, another one's coming!"

The girl, sounding annoyed as she pointed, revealed another cow just like the one they were facing, slowly approaching the pair. Was it coming to help the other cow? Nah, it felt more like it was watching from afar.

Then the guy took down the cow in front of him.

"Got it, number six! Next!"

"Seriously, we grab that one and bolt, okay!? I'm running out of Esser!"

"Got it, got it. Here it comes!"

Hmm... Looking closer, I saw several red cows lying dead a bit farther off, each one scattered in slightly different spots. Did those two take them down? Ah, the watching cow was charging now? Do these cows have a habit of attacking one at a time? That's why they keep coming in waves?

"I'll stop its legs first! Fire Shot!"

The girl shouted what sounded like a fire skill name, thrusting her staff forward. A small magic circle bloomed at the tip, and three little fireballs shot out, arcing toward the cow.

Ooh...! Magic! Real magic!

While I admired the sight, the fireballs hit the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠charging cow, causing a small explosion. It looked like mini bombs, but the cow seemed mostly fine—just its legs halted mid-charge.

"Good. Here I goooo!"

The guy yelled and dashed in, swinging a decent-looking sword gripped in both hands down on the cow. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠With a wet thud, the blade sank into its flank.

Hmm... Looked like a cool overhead strike, but it didn't cleave it in two like I thought?

Before I could finish the thought, he yanked the sword free, circled to the side, and unleashed a flurry of quick slashes.

"Haaaaah!"

Not wild swings—the movements were pretty solid. Before the cow could turn, its flank was half-torn apart. Not a one-shot dealer, but sustained damage type swordsman, huh? At the same time, I saw the girl hurl more fireballs at the wound.

"Shiiiek...!"

Thud!

The cow, wildly twisting to headbutt him with its horns, collapsed to the ground before it could connect.

...?

What? That cow's body isn't disappearing? Is it different from the monsters I fought in the forest?

"Haa, haa... My sword's starting to feel heavy."

"Ugh, seriously. I thought we'd just do quests and head back early, not farm Mad Cows like this... We didn't even take a quest for them, and we can't carry all this. Experience points are all we get."

"Haha. Still, Mad Cows give good experience, and it was a solid skill check, right?"

Hmm... From what I could gather, they seemed like beginner guy-girl friends or lovers out testing their skills. Wonder if I can see their status windows?

"Puhihhing (Status Window)"

I whispered to summon their stats. I couldn't see the forest monsters' stats, which was disappointing, but humans...?

Ooh...! It works! No idea why monsters don't show but humans do, but I'm thrilled anyway.

While checking their status windows, I took a closer look at their appearances.

The girl, Lizbet, had faintly pinkish hair that screamed "isekai"—slightly wavy, reaching just past her waist. The color felt completely natural, no weird dye vibes. Her face matched her 19 years: high school senior or college freshman look. Cute with a hint of sharpness, giving off total tsundere energy. Still, a real beauty. Small earrings dangled from her ears. Height around 160cm? But her breasts... way too massive for her frame. I couldn't guess the exact size, but on Earth, you'd only see that on women who'd gotten implants. About the size of her own head? My junior down there was twitching like it was calling out—total illusion bait.

Her outfit was prim: white blouse, knee-length red skirt, white stockings, and matching brown flats. A hooded cloak on her back screamed "proper mage."

The guy, Als, was average all around... Light brown hair, about 170cm tall, lean build. Plain but not bad face. Leather armor, mid-sized sword—perfectly "average." His clean features could look good with some grooming.

One shared trait: matching marks on the backs of their right hands, barely visible.

Levels 18 and 20... No real sense of scale yet, but probably newbie adventurer tier. Their experience caps were lower ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than my level 12 max, but the titles stood out. Lizbet had "Rising Rookie," and Als was a freaking "Hero"—rookie or not, that's the hero, right? Why don't I have a title? Did I stumble on some big shots?

As I pondered that, another red cow charged from behind the girl, who was sighing at the guy.

!? They didn't notice!?

The guy was wiping his sword with a cloth, thinking it was over. It was closing fast—too late if they spotted it now.

Hey, hey, behind you! That cow bastard's charging silently!?

I yelled internally, but they seemed convinced it was done after the last one, no more around.

Nooo!

Too late to hesitate—I kicked off the ground and charged. I'd never gone full speed before, but my legs moved on their own.

Fuck! I can't even talk!

They freaked out spotting me barreling in. My head spun with thoughts of this monstrous horse charging speechless, but my legs wouldn't stop.

Fuck it! Soccer kick, you cow fucker!

Even I was shocked by my speed as I reached the girl, ignoring her grabbing her staff to aim at me. I leaped, twisted, and unleashed a rear-leg kick. The cow flew 10 meters in its charge direction, twitched, and dropped dead.

"......Huh?"

"......Wha... Huh? That black monster... what...?"

They uttered dumbstruck words. Fair enough—huge horse bursts out and saves them.

Maybe now they'd see me as a trustworthy animal, try communicating, or take me along...

"L-Liz! Get behind me!"

"Kyaaah! What is that monster!?"

Fuck. Looks like I blew it.

"Wh-What is that monster? Never seen one like it... One kick on a Mad Cow..."

"What...? No pollution around, but I sense Tesser energy. And that vicious look—first time seeing it..."

No clue what Tesser was, but one-shotting their Mad Cow apparently terrified them. Fair—sudden hulking, ugly horse appears and kicks to death what they struggled with magic and dozens of sword strikes. They were just kids, 18 and 20.

Still, I saved them—overreacting much?

"Puhihhing, purluk... (No, I'm not a monster...)"

Fuck. Just horse noises again. What now?

"Wh-What was that creepy neigh...? No pollution, but still... Demon Beast!?"

"No way! The Cursed Mountain Range is still far off!"

"What else explains a monster like that!? No pollution, but Tesser energy—it's definite!"

"Urgh..."

The guy groaned at her explanation. Cursed Mountain Range? The one I escaped from? It was cursed?

"Liz... I'll buy time. You run."

"Don't be stupid! Why'd we become adventurers together!?"

"Puhhing, purrruk (Wait, I'm...)"

"Listen, Liz! Rookie adventurer or not, I'm a Hero! Even against a demon beast, I can give you time to—"

"Didn't you see it charge!? No escaping that! And Als, what's the point if I run and leave you!?"

"Puhihhing (No, like...)"

"I'll block it even if I die—run! I won't let you get hurt!"

"No, no! Better we die together than you die and me alone!"

They bickered with grim faces. I shook my body trying to communicate, but a horse couldn't express shit. Just made it worse.

Soon, they gripped their weapons with resolve. Especially the hero guy—bluish energy rose from his body.

Fuck, this is bad. Frustration boiled inside at not being able to speak. Shouldn't the god have given me language!? Am I really supposed to play monster!? What kinda shitty god screws people like this!

Heat built in my body. What to do? Bolt? But then I'd be wanted or something. Resentment at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Homeless God who dumped me speechless, the two kids staring me down ready to risk their lives. Staring back, my desperation for a language skill grew. At the same time, dizziness hit like something boiling inside.

"No, I was trying to save you guys...!"

"...!?"

"...Wha!?"

"Puhhing!?"

Words—proper Korean pronunciation—burst out.

"It, it spoke!?"

"Wha...? Wha!? It speaks... N-No way it's not a demon beast..."

"Wha... Wha!? It can taaaalk!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Overwhelmed by the Korean from my own voice, I circled them excitedly without realizing.

"Kyaaahoooo!!!!!!!! Speech! Uahahahahahaha!!!"

"Kyaaak, wh-what!?"

"W-Wait...!"

"Kiyoooooot!!!!!!!"

My joyful prancing went on for a while.