Chapter 226
Cruelty
Translator : PolterGlast
The next day. We packed our bags and decided to depart
immediately. Since we had already confirmed the location, we should be able to
arrive there without taking too much time.
「Phew... I've gotten a little bit
nervous.」
「Me too! Veronica and Mona
said it was strong, after all! It's an opponent we can't let our guard down
against!」
「It's true we can't drop our guard,
but there's no need to feel that pressured. From what I saw with my own eyes,
the Kaonashi was overwhelmingly stronger.」
「Hearing that puts me a little at
ease! Well, it'd be a problem if Kaonashi-class monsters showed up that regularly anyway!」
The battle with the Kaonashi seemed to have grown the
two of them mentally as well, and it looked like the tension drained from their
slightly stiff bodies. In terms of pure physical strength alone, the King
Garil might be superior, but looking at it comprehensively, the Kaonashi
is overwhelmingly stronger. In the first place, the two of them should have a
good affinity against opponents who challenge them to hand-to-hand combat, and
I think it's possible to defeat it if they can fight properly.
If I had to raise a point of concern, it would be the
bizarre atmosphere drifting about that place. If they get swallowed up by the
atmosphere, the outcome of the battle will become completely unknown all at
once, so how well they can maintain their composure will be the key. While
walking and thinking about such things, we arrived at the forest where the King
Garil's dwelling is located in no time.
There's still some distance even after reaching the forest,
but we will proceed with vigilance from here on out.
「It's kind of a normal forest, isn't
it!」
「It really is. There are few
monsters, giving the impression of a peaceful forest.」
「We're still at the entrance, after
all. If we proceed further in, you'll understand why there are so few monsters.」
「Ah, the thing you were talking
about, Graham! The King Garil does cruel things, right?」
「Yeah. Brace yourselves as we move
forward.」
A forest that not even monsters approach. The thing that
revealed its true colors appeared surprisingly soon. —Within the forest
enveloped in fresh greenery, a bright red scene jumped into our vision.
「Uwa! Is this... blood?」
「Probably. A Wild Boar has
been eaten to death. Judging from this state, it was likely played with by the King
Garil.」
「Judging from the smell and the state
of the blood, it hasn't been that long, has it?」
「Yeah. Presence-wise as well, I think
it's near its dwelling, but it might possibly be active right now. Prepare
yourselves so you can react no matter when we're attacked.」
A parent and child Wild Boar had been gruesomely
killed, their torsos torn to pieces. Without a doubt, it was the work of the King
Garil. It was quite a shocking sight, but to be able to witness it this early was actually a good thing, I think.
Their bodies are stiffening from tension, but at this stage,
it's not a problem. Humans are creatures of habit, and if we consider that
we've been given time to get used to it, we're lucky.
「I understand what you meant when you
said 'cruel', Graham! The King Garil is way too dangerous!」
「Just thinking about how it killed
those Wild Boars earlier is terrifying.」
「There's probably an aspect of it
simply enjoying itself, but there's also a high possibility it's doing it to
instill fear in other creatures. It's better not to think too deeply about it.」
Urging caution to the two whose consciousness had turned
outward, we once again advanced toward the dwelling. As we proceeded relying on
my memory, the King Garil's dwelling came into view. As usual, the prey
the King Garil had hunted down were impaled on the bare trees. This
time, not only beasts and monsters, but it seemed to have attacked an
adventurer party, as five humans were skewered from bottom to mouth.
「This is... even more gruesome than I
thought.」
「If we hadn't received your warning,
I might have lost my nerve! This is just too gruesome!」
「I told you, didn't I? It attacks
creatures it deems as food and stocks them up like this.」
「Losing one's composure at this
sight, leading to the birth of new victims... that kind of loop has been
created, hasn't it.」
Losing your nerve is no good, and losing your cool in anger
is no good either. If you can't maintain your composure, you'll become the
perfect prey for the King Garil, who tries to push through with sheer
power. This time, there was the prior verbal explanation, and then the tragedy
of the Wild Boars. By reaching the King Garil's nest in stages, Ginia
and Aoi are also able to maintain their composure, but the majority of
people would likely lose their cool.
「Exactly. The most important thing
when fighting the King Garil is acting without being swept away by
emotion. The moment I feel you two have lost your cool, I'm jumping in to help.」
「It's fine! I've run simulations
countless times!」
「Me too. It is a cruel sight, but we
will deal with it calmly and—we will definitely take down the King Garil.」
Judging from their eyes, they seem to be fine. Having
finished my final checks, I stepped further into the King Garil's
dwelling. In front of a place resembling a bed piled high with straw, I could
see the King Garil I had spotted before playing with something.
It seems it was playing with the weapons the adventurer party had possessed, swinging around a sword that didn't fit its body size like a child. It brings about an indescribable feeling, but the fact that it's playing means it's a chance for a surprise attack. Quietly sending a signal to Ginia and Aoi, I issued the instruction to launch the attack.
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