Hero's Adventure (3): It Began with Wild Animals
“Uncle Jack? What's that? A rabbit? Whoa!”
“I was chopping wood when a massive horde of rabbits came fleeing out. Even just swinging my axe roughly at them got me this many.”
Dozens of rabbits lay dead, struck down by the axe of Jack, the woodcutter. And that didn't even account for the far greater number that had escaped. The village chief's daughter took it all in with wide-eyed wonder.
“There were that many rabbits, yet we haven't seen meat around here for ages. Were they just really good at hiding? Or are our hunters just that bad?”
“Who knows. We're just happy to have fresh meat after so long. Here, take a few for yourself. Share some with the chief and that young traveler who's staying with you for a bit.”
“Yes! Thank you, Uncle Jack! As expected from someone with muscles like yours—your heart's just as big! Oh, by the way, that guest of ours wants to learn how to work with wood. Could you teach him if you have time? Ah, not for free, of course! When tax time comes, I'll knock a little off your share as thanks! Thanks to him, we've got some extra hands, so I can even pick up a side gig! He said he wants to learn all sorts of things, so it'd be good for both of you, right? Not that I'm forcing you or anything! Only if you're okay with it. And only if you have the time!”
“Uh, sure, yeah. No problem on my end. He might end up working as a woodcutter if he settles down here, you never know.”
“Right? Aaah, I hope he does settle down. But for some reason, he seems hesitant. It'd be perfect if he'd just plant roots here in our village! And we're always short on wood, so you end up climbing the mountain almost every day, Uncle Jack. Chopping trees is dangerous work, too. We really need more people. And look at those muscles! Incredible! With build like that, he'd handle woodcutting no problem! Aaah, I wish he'd decide to stay and tell us his name already.”
“W-well, I'd better get going.”
“Yeees! I'll enjoy these rabbits!!”
With that, the woodcutter Jack handed over three rabbits and hurried off. The lively girl grabbed the ears of her three dead rabbits and skipped joyfully back home.
No one noticed the anomaly unfolding in that moment.
It started with the rabbits.
Then came flocks of mountain birds, small squirrels, and the like.
Finally, even large beasts like deer and wild boars joined the exodus.
Animals that were rarely spotted even if you went looking for them were now fleeing en masse in the same direction. It was hardly a normal occurrence.
And then.
“Hurry! In here! Everyone else has already evacuated—we're the last ones! Quick!!”
The girl grabbed the Hero's hand and led him to the back of the village, where they slipped into a cleverly concealed cave.
“Phew. We should be safe here. It's an emergency shelter. First time it's actually been used, but... we've kept up with the maintenance, so it should be fine. Probably.”
The Hero eyed the girl and asked, “What's going on?”
“No idea. A few days ago, the animals started going berserk, and now even fierce predators like wolves and bears...”
“Wolves?”
“Yeah. Hunter Conner came back badly bitten by one. Luckily, treatment came in time, so he'll live... but he said there were way too many. Wolves usually hunt in packs, sure, but this was excessive. And even bears, which are smart enough to avoid human territory... Come to think of it, the rabbits too...”
“Too many animals?”
“Exactly! And according to Conner, they were all stampeding in the same direction, all at once. Super weird, right? It's not like they were racing or anything.”
The Hero's face grew pensive at her words.
“That sounds like... they're fleeing.”
“Huh? Fleeing? The predators? The ones that don't fear humans?”
“There are things in this world that can make even those beasts run.”
Realization dawned on the girl's face.
“No way... a monster?”
“Yeah. And not just any monster. Something strong enough to scare off that many predators...”
She nodded, finally understanding.
“Yeah, that makes sense. I've heard monsters can wipe out whole villages if they're dangerous. But it's odd. Monsters don't usually show up around here—pilgrims from the Life Temple pass through all the time.”
“Who knows. Maybe it's bold enough not to fear pilgrims.”
“True. But you seem to know a lot about monsters, huh?”
“Oh? Well... I've studied up on them.”
Hmm. I did teach him plenty about monsters. For now, it's just animals mutated into monsters. Who knows what'll come later.
“If it's a monster... we'll have to hide out here for a while. Hope we have enough preserved rations...? And that Dad hasn't snuck any out for his drinks...”
“If it's a monster, I know how to handle it. I should go alone.”
The girl freaked out and tried to stop him. “What? No way! It's dangerous! Super dangerous! I don't know if you've seen one up close, but they can end a life in an instant! No! Absolutely not!!!! I won't let you!!!”
“But...”
“No means no!!! I won't let you!!! If you're really going, knock me out first!!! And be ready to be hated so much you'll never show your face in this village again!!! I'd really hate you!!! I'm serious!!! No joke!!!!”
Troubled but gentle, the Hero awkwardly patted the girl's head.
“It's fine. I've been thoroughly trained. A monster's nothing to me.”
Hmm. I trained him thoroughly. Most monsters couldn't even scratch him.
“Nothing to you...? Who are you...?”
The Hero gently nudged the dazed girl aside, drew the sword from his back, and gripped it firmly. A massive, ornate silver blade. Its extraordinary presence left her speechless.
“That sword... no way...”
The Hero simply nodded curtly, saying nothing.
“I'll be back. Stay hidden.”
“W-wait!!!”
She lunged to grab him, but he had already vanished.
The entity that had terrified the animals into fleeing was, indeed, a monster.
A colossal serpent. Each scale gleamed like a small shield on its enormous body. Large enough to crush a minor peak in its coils. A monster rivaling the sandworm I'd fetched to train the Hero.
Sharp fangs dripped with deadly venom. A tail that whipped like a felled tree trunk.
Even a human army might struggle against it.
The Hero faced the behemoth without hesitation, tightening his grip on his sword.
The Hero began the battle!
The serpent lunged at the Hero the moment it spotted him, as if he were a dire threat to its life.
And he was. The Hero had the power to slay it.
Its massive body whipped forward in a charge, fangs bared and venomous.
The Hero deflected it effortlessly. Fast for its size, but not beyond his reflexes. A sidestep was all it took.
But the serpent was tenacious. Crack-crunch!! It snapped several thick trees in half before halting, then whipped its head toward where the Hero had dodged and charged again. This time, he leaped upward to evade.
As if anticipating it, the serpent's massive tail lashed like a whip toward his airborne position.
Claaaang!!!
A thunderous boom unfit for scales and hide—like striking an iron pillar. It could shatter boulders.
“That all you got?”
Not a scratch on the Hero. Even midair, he'd parried the tail with the flat of his greatsword, sending it rebounding. The only mark left was a deep dent in the serpent's tail.
“Kieeeek!!!!”
“Loud one, aren't you.”
The serpent shrieked in agony. The Hero readjusted his grip on his greatsword.
“I'd prefer you back off, but I doubt that's on your mind. Fine. Time to carve you up.”
With that, the Hero and the colossal serpent charged at each other once more.
Unaware of the faint shadow creeping over them.