Chapter 9
How About Just
Taking One?
Translator : PolterGlast
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Its shook. I had
always been good at finding flexible branches. The string I had tied earlier
was the whisker of a catfish monster that had dried up in the shallows.
"Excuse me," I said while bowing before snapping it off and wrapping
it around the end of the branch. After winding it around the branch and placing
my foot on a rock, I repeatedly threw the weighted end and now... It's shaking.
"Oooooooooh!"
One branch had broken,
so I was already clutching three branches. Some warlord had taught me: three
won't break, probably. "I caught oneeee!!!"
【Fishing Skill has become Lv. 2】
Along with the
announcement, the splashing water from the leaping fish scattered.
Several days had
passed since my encounter with the soldier big brother, and I was surprisingly
living quite decently.
***
"Excuse me, would
one be enough for your offering? Eh? No? Two? But then I won't have any to eat!
One and a half! Please! Please, please! Really? Thank you!!"
As I desperately bowed
my head in a dogeza, the chicken-type monster in front of me opened its mouth
wide with a "kahaa" and powerfully breathed out flames. Along with
the roaring flames, the fish I had caught quickly transformed into a
delicious-looking grilled state. While fixing my completely disheveled bangs, I
took the fish it handed over and swallowed it, then called out "Thank
youuuu!" again to the monster's tail as it left. Of course, I was using my
tamer skill.
Although it was called
tamer, when I looked at the skill description, it only said "You might be
able to get along with animals and monsters?" so I couldn't exactly
control monsters as I pleased. That level of control was a unique skill level.
So, all I could do was exchange labor. I would work hard to catch the fish. So
I asked if they would please cook it for me, and surprisingly, I got an okay
sign. Berries and mushrooms wouldn't fill a growing belly.
"...Ke-urp."
I stared at the skewer
that had held the fish, satisfied, and patted my belly with one hand. "My
fishing skill has finally leveled up too." Then I displayed the window.
Almost unconsciously, I brought up the semi-transparent screen with practiced
ease.
【Name】 Eldorado (8 years old)
【Skills】 Illusion Lv. 2, Flight Lv. 1, Cleaning Lv. 3, Tamer Lv. 2, Detection
Lv. 2, Fishing Lv. 2 UP!
【Titles】 Cloudy Country, Little Girl of the Most Terrifying Witch [Planned],
Clumsy Liar, Wild Child
"......"
Maybe because the
number of displayed skills had increased, it had recently started showing
level-up notifications. But it would be nice if they made other parts easier to
use too. Also, what kind of bug was it that I couldn't delete the titles that
kept increasing on their own? "Damn it," I muttered, but thoroughly
checked the explanation for the fishing skill with my fingertip.
【You feel like fish and water are your friends】
"Yeah......"
No, actually, when I
used it, the rate at which I caught prey was drastically different compared to
when I didn't use it, so it was probably better to use it. But the skill
explanation was always so anticlimactic.
I have used the tamer
skill many times since then. But seeing as it hadn't easily gone above 2, there
might be a big gap between Lv. 2 and 3. Acquiring Lv. 1 was instantaneous.
Finding a foothold and reaching Lv. 2 wasn't that difficult either. But the
problem was the next step. It was probably difficult to truly make it your own.
"Well,
whatever."
Finding good skewers
repeatedly was a hassle, so I stood up while putting them in a simple bag made
of leaves and vines. Since I had also raised the level of detection by one, I
tapped the title section a few times. When I checked the newly acquired title,
I found something interesting.
【Status changed to: Wild Child】
I confirmed the
monotonous announcement for the umpteenth time. And it definitely said
"status." "Oisho, yoisho," I hopped and flew a bit and
checked. My physical abilities had definitely improved. It wasn't a change that
would surprise anyone, but there was no doubt that I could move my body more
smoothly than usual. I could only see the skill display, but I thought there
were probably status displays like HP and MP, just like in the game. Titles
could change that.
Also, I managed to get
"Wild Child" after trying hard to climb trees.
"One, two, one,
two......"
My warm-up was
perfect. I already knew the location of the capital. I steadily advanced
through the familiar forest. My clothes were already tattered, and even if I
had food, I was sleeping in places without a roof every day. My body was
nearing its limit. That's why now was my only chance. My status had improved,
and I had just enough stamina left. It was a mishap for me, but I had also
confirmed that I could change my eye color during my encounter with the older
brother. If I just changed that, no one would think I was a demon.
I wanted to reach the
city quickly. I wanted to mingle with people. Every joint in my body was
screaming in protest, and my cowardly soul was asserting that I couldn't live
alone. ...Though I didn't have any money.
Actually, I should
have been much better situation than the original Eldorado. Even though my body
was that of a child, the memories of an adult had returned to my mind. It was
unexpected that my desire for revenge had inadvertently died, but what was lost
was lost, so there was nothing I could do about it.
While I was thinking
about this and that, I had completely arrived in front of the gate. A single
soldier stood before the solid castle walls. I had come to check several times,
but unfortunately, they kept rotating their shifts, and there didn't seem to be
any gaps to sneak in. Maybe they were merchants or adventurers. People
occasionally went in and out, but there was no doubt that they were properly
checking their passes. When I was desperately watching from afar, I realized
something. I didn't have to go through the main gate by normal means.
No, rather, what if I
just boldly entered from the middle?
When I ran away from
the black-haired soldier big brother, I dashed past him while camouflaging my
whole body. Just for a moment, a very brief moment. During the changing of the
guard, they would still be in front of the gate, but they would avert their
gaze. At that moment, I would run through with all my might, and just when they
looked this way, I would use my illusion skill to hide my appearance.
If they couldn't see
me, there was no need to change my eye color, and without any complicated
steps, I could just concentrate on disappearing. I was suspicious of my own
abilities (or rather, my brain), wondering if it would really work, but that's
where the "Wild Child" title came in. Right now, I could become as
swift as a monkey released from its cage, like the wind.
I had properly checked
the shift change time too. When the faintly audible bell rang three times.
Suddenly, the soldier was called out by the person taking over, and he turned
his face away. Now! I shouted in my mind alone and ran with all my might. The
sound of my footsteps echoed on the cobblestones. Oops, I hadn't thought about
the sound of my footsteps. But I couldn't go back now, so I just ran. Please
don't mind the footsteps.
Once they noticed, as
long as they couldn't see me, I would be fine. The moment the guard looked this
way, I was going to disappear. Or so I thought. "Hauah!?" I slipped
and fell. I tripped on the edge of the cobblestones, rolled all the way to the
bridge railing, and hit my body hard. And then I bounced.
"...Huh? Eh, hey?
Are you okay? Wha-what are you doing...?"
I could very well
understand his confusion. I would also be confused if a child suddenly
appeared, slipped, fell right in front of me, and then didn't move at all. I
had been thoroughly seen. I was dead. Still lying face down, I quietly let my
consciousness drift away. Would it be okay to just run away?
Retry, re-attack.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," I apologized quietly, still facing
down. Please don't look at me. I'll try again. I tried to reverse my crawling,
but I couldn't. My scruff was being grabbed.
"...Where are you
going? It's too suspicious for a kid to be alone. Come to the station for
now."
"Abababababa."
"Hey! Don't
struggle!"
Tears were about to
flow because I was so useless.
I couldn't even think
of a good excuse, so I just thrashed around. I immediately changed my eye color
from red to blue before I could be seen, but I was just too much of a newbie
demon. I had been praying to live quietly at the edge of the city, but I had
jumped straight into a bad end from the beginning.
I had underestimated
things way too much. I moved my arms and legs, thinking I had to escape no
matter what, but they were too short. I was still held by the scruff of my neck
in my tattered clothes, my mouth opening and closing as if wondering what to
do, when I saw the older brother who was looking at me from the same direction I
had come from. His black-purple eyes were blinking. Had he finished his
investigation for now? His clothes were a little dirtier than when I last saw
him, but he still had his magnificent two swords attached to his waist.
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