Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Diet (6)
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The rumor started among the guards.
The guards occasionally received cheap booze as rations. Someone must have overheard them gossiping wildly while drinking it. At first, no one believed it easily.
And it was no wonder. The rumor was about me, Hans, having hunted Blade Wolves. Hans, of all people? That good-for-nothing Hans had gone hunting?
It was only natural for such talk to spread. In the refugee camp, the image of the Time Stop Breeding Uncle was the worst. Appearance aside, his behavior was just plain loathsome.
While everyone else worked hard...
He lounged around and ate alone.
Of course his reputation was in the gutter.
So people didn't like the Time Stop Breeding Uncle much. Some had even demanded he be kicked out entirely. Fortunately, that didn't happen.
Anyway, for someone with such a rock-bottom reputation like the Time Stop Breeding Uncle—aka Hans—to have subjugated a Blade Wolf? Who would believe that? I wouldn't have either.
If it had been baseless, the rumor would have died quickly. And honestly, I wished it had. But the next day, the guards officially announced that I had done it.
"We successfully subjugated seven Blade Wolves."
"What? Blade Wolves actually came?!"
"So that rumor was true...?!"
The guards confirmed it outright. They even recovered the corpses and had them stuffed as trophies. Naturally, people had no choice but to believe the rumor. That was the problem.
The rumor started snowballing. He was a famous knight from the past. A swordsman who had retired for some reason. All sorts of tales were flying around.
In the end, I couldn't take it and ran away.
I misjudged. In the game, Blade Wolves weren't that strong, so I'd handled them like trash mobs right in front of everyone. That was the mistake.
But in this world, Blade Wolves were a source of unimaginable fear. Sure, they were low-threat monsters.
That only held true in places with elite knights and solid defenses, like the capital. In a poorly equipped refugee camp, Blade Wolves were a disaster.
"I thought too small. Damn it."
I wiped the sweat from my brow and sat against a tree stump. Piles of firewood were scattered on the ground in front of me. Right now, I was using "gathering wood" as an excuse to hide outside the camp.
It wasn't a great situation. The attention was bad enough, but now I was on the verge of being pushed into things beyond my abilities. Sure, with my time stop power, I wouldn't die...
But relying solely on time stop in this bleak world felt too risky. That's why I was building my strength—to survive and return to my original world.
Somehow, I'd ended up with way more credit than I deserved. Like some sword saint who slays every monster with a single draw. Who was that supposed to be? Not me, that's for sure.
"Haa... this should be enough."
The sun was dipping low. I finally stood up slowly. I'd trained in the woods while hiding out and chopped wood for firewood.
I called it an excuse to run, but we really did need firewood. It was excellent fuel. Especially now, with winter approaching, firewood was a lifeline.
Still, gathering wood meant leaving the camp. Going beyond the refugee camp's stockade was incredibly dangerous for civilians. Nine times out of ten, you'd run into monsters and lose your life.
"I chopped way more than I thought."
But now there was a problem. There was too much firewood—way too much. Trying to kill time, I'd overdone it. No exaggeration: I'd piled it mountain-high on my carrier frame.
I hadn't expected this much. But I couldn't just abandon it. Fuel consumption was already insane on normal days. Come winter, it'd be even worse.
"Hoo... no choice."
Reluctantly, I activated my ability. Colors drained from the world around me. In this gray-tinted reality, only I could move.
Confirming time had stopped, I shouldered the load. It was far heavier than expected, but I could manage. Bringing this back would let me rest a bit.
Even woodcutters didn't chop this much. Get ambushed on the way back, and you're done. So they made quick, small loads.
Can't blame them. To civilians, monsters were the grim reaper. But I didn't care. I had time stop.
"Huff, huff."
I'd planned not to use it. Monsters could attack again like last time. If the cooldown hit then, I'd be in real danger. That's what I thought.
But I couldn't leave the firewood. Each piece was money. Barter ruled the camp now.
Food and usable goods trumped cash, especially with winter coming. Firewood's value had skyrocketed.
"Finally made it."
A normal walk would've taken under twenty minutes. The weight dragged it to over an hour. I panted heavily but felt a quiet pride.
From chopping to hauling this mountain—it must've burned some fat. With that thought, I released time stop.
Just as I entered the camp gate, the guards called me over. More precisely, Guard Captain Andrew urgently wanted me.
"The captain's looking for me?"
"Yeah, something urgent. He said bring you right away if spotted."
"...I've got a really bad feeling about this."
And that feeling proved right. Nearby was Setia, the refugee camp run by its leader. They'd lost contact three days ago, the captain said.
"So we have no choice but to send a search party."
"I see. But what does that have to do with me...?"
"I'd like you to lead the search party."
"???"
I was screwed. Me, leading a search party?! What the hell?! I wanted to refuse, but I couldn't. Everyone was watching!
"Sorry, but you're the only one we can trust with it."
"Why me for such an important role...?"
"Because you're the Sword Saint, aren't you?"
That's not me, I tell you!!! I never imagined it'd escalate this far. I felt a bit wronged, but I got it. If I were captain, I'd have picked me too.
Damn it. All I could do now was hope nothing bad had happened in Setia.
Refugees were people who'd lost their hometowns, territories, or nations. To survive, they banded together. It wasn't a bad choice.
Sticking together let them hold on somehow. And it made meals easy. A sizzle echoed as blood and chunks of flesh splattered around.
Undisturbed by the pitch-black darkness, blood splashed onto her brilliantly shining golden hair. But she had horns on her head. And eyes black as ink.
Even an idiot could tell she wasn't human. She sighed and popped what she held into her mouth. A crunch, then bursting blood.
"Please, stop! I beg you!!!"
"Mmm~ That's the taste."
The middle-aged man seemed to be the little one's father. Bloody tears streamed from his eyes. The helplessness of failing to protect his child. And the blazing hatred.
The perfect seasoning.
When she finally put the head in her mouth, he was beyond sanity. A beast consumed by hatred stood there. She licked the blood from her fingers clean.
"I'll kill you. I'll kill you! I swear everything on it!!!"
"I wanted to eat you too, but old meat turns me off."
"W-What did you say...?!"
"Sorry. I wanted your child to meet you in my belly."
"Gaaahhh!!"
The girl smiled and raised her hand. Nearby, a drooling Blade Wolf sprang into action. It was three times bigger than normal.
"Curse you, you wretch! Gourmet Eater!!"
Just before being devoured whole, the man spat his curse amid bloody tears. The girl smiled, lightly pinched the hem of her black dress, bowed her head, and replied.
"If you must, please call me Gourmet Eater Anieta."
Eating children in front of their parents. Showing lovers their beloved being cooked right before their eyes. Then serving it up. That was the name people gave her.
Gourmet Eater Anieta.