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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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The next day…
“Alright, let’s go.”
There was no need to wake up early, so he slept in until almost lunchtime.
After finishing lunch at the inn, they prepared to depart for the… uneven plains.
Clang.
The sound of metal against metal as he picked up his sword.
“…You brought that sword.”
Luna, always one step ahead, commented.
“Of course. It’s my right.”
The second sword he had acquired from the lackey at the academy.
He had rightfully demanded compensation, exercising his consumer rights.
The lackey had protested, but the consumer always won.
“…I’ve never heard of such a right.”
“Luna, I’ve told you before. It’s not me who’s wrong, it’s the world.”
How could a world exist where the seller didn’t compensate the buyer for damages?
You had to fight for your rights.
“Enough about that. Let’s go.”
“You’re the only one who needs to get ready…”
“Oh, right.”
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There were various modes of transportation in this world, but the most common for ordinary people was the carriage.
There was teleportation and wyvern riding, but teleportation was reserved for the super-rich, except for those times when it was used as a plot device to get the protagonist into trouble. And wyvern riding was expensive.
Even carriages were divided into two types: cargo carriages and passenger carriages, which were basically taxis.
They were currently riding in a passenger carriage, heading towards the uneven plains.
“My butt hurts…”
The rattling noise and the bumpy ride on the unpaved road were a far cry from the smooth, comfortable taxis he was used to.
Luna, however, seemed perfectly fine… or so he thought.
“Hey! That’s cheating!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your tail! I’m jealous! Give me one!”
She had curled her tail beneath her, using it as a cushion.
While he suffered, she was comfortable.
“I should bring a cushion next time…”
This world had its perks, but it also had its downsides.
No phones or computers, for one. And a severe lack of entertainment options.
That’s why he resorted to monster hunting.
And the most annoying thing…
Buzz.
“Damn it! Mosquitoes!”
The bane of all mankind.
He had thought he’d left them behind on Earth.
The road to the uneven plains was an unpaved path through the forest, avoiding monster territories.
But the dense trees lining the road were like a mosquito breeding ground.
They had been fine at first, but as time went on, more and more mosquitoes appeared, buzzing around him, eager for a blood meal.
He wasn’t sure about strength, but mosquitoes were probably the fastest creatures in existence.
Even One Punch Man couldn’t catch them.
“Grrrr…”
“Luke, calm down.”
“How can I calm down in this situation?!”
Even Gandhi would resort to violence if he were in his shoes.
“How are you even okay, Luna?”
“Hee hee… look closely.”
What was he supposed to look at?
Was she saying mosquitoes were repelled by her beauty?
“Your narcissism is disgusting.”
“…I meant look around me, not at me.”
Oh.
She had phrased it ambiguously on purpose.
He leaned closer and examined her surroundings.
“What’s this?”
He had to squint to see it, but there was a faint current of air swirling around her.
“I’m creating a barrier of wind to keep the mosquitoes away.”
Such a cheat skill!
Who needed bug spray or mosquito coils? Magic was the best. Even advanced human technology couldn’t repel mosquitoes so easily.
“Why didn’t you do that sooner?”
“You didn’t ask.”
This slave was living the life.
“…Just you wait.”
He caught a few mosquitoes and put them in his pocket for… later.
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“Five copper coins.”
“Here.”
They arrived at the uneven plains and paid the coachman.
Unlike Earth taxis, which used meters and gasoline, carriages used horses, so the fare was calculated based on the distance traveled, according to the map.
“KYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
“…What was that?”
“Just stretching.”
“…?”
Ignoring Luna’s strange look, he stepped out of the carriage and surveyed the uneven plains.
The vast expanse was dotted with dark gray Rhino Horns, grazing peacefully.
They really were herbivores.
The contrast between their appearance and their behavior was striking.
“Did they say these things attack when provoked?”
“Yes… even herbivores need a way to defend themselves.”
It was the food chain, after all.
Even earthworms wriggled when stepped on.
These herbivores had developed a defense mechanism: their horns.
“Those horns look perfect for weapon crafting.”
Rhinos were known for their sharp horns and powerful charges.
These Rhino Horns were similar, but their horns were blunt and thick.
The large, rectangular horns looked like unrefined ultra greatswords.
“Luna, can you break those horns?”
“…I don’t think so.”
“I didn’t think so.”
They needed the horns, but they were supposedly incredibly strong. How were they supposed to break them?
The solution was simple.
“Let’s just cut off their heads and bring them back. The blacksmith can handle the rest.”
“You’re actually only taking the heads this time?”
“The blacksmith is better at dismantling than I am, and there’s no point in giving Adela a free dissection show.”
He took out a thick, long steel stake and a hammer from his inventory.
He hammered the stake into the relatively flat ground, humming and wiggling his hips.
“You seem enthusiastic for someone who’s not getting paid.”
“Of course! Hunting is fun!”
He had complained about the lack of entertainment, but monster hunting in this hyperrealistic world was the best form of entertainment.
Who needed mobile games with cute daughters or fancy VR?
2D heroines brought to life were unbeatable!
Adela had said there weren’t many requests for Rhino Horns because they weren’t profitable, but she didn’t understand the joy of the hunt.
She needed to experience reincarnation like he did.
Maybe into a world without monsters but with advanced technology.
“Luna, help me out here.”
He tossed a thick steel wire rope to Luna, who had been watching him work.
“Connect the stakes with this.”
“Okay.”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of hammer against steel echoed through the plains.
“Done!”
“Me too.”
“Alright, let’s lure them out.”
Moooooooooooooooo—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just as he was about to start luring them, a loud bellow echoed through the plains, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.
He stood up and looked towards the source of the sound.
“What’s that?”
“A Named Monster… a mutated individual. It’s evolved differently from regular monsters.”
Thanks, Speedwagon!
He remembered the Named Monster setting from the novel. But…
“That’s a Named Monster?”
It looked like a regular Rhino Horn with a different color palette.
Like a lazy RPG developer recoloring an existing monster and calling it a new one.
But more importantly…
“High-grade weapon material?!”
This was a chance to get better materials for his weapon!
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