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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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They say time flies when you’re busy.
After weathering the Berserk episode, I returned to my usual routine. Moving around, preparing for the inevitable arrival of more uninvited guests.
My first priority was finding a new hideout. I needed a new place to live before I could move my belongings. But finding a suitable location proved more difficult than I’d anticipated.
My current cave had been carefully chosen after years of searching when I was younger. It was spacious, with established infrastructure.
Multiple chambers, a natural water source, and surprisingly low humidity. It was an unusually good cave, which was probably why I’d chosen it in the first place.
Naturally, my standards were high.
Caves were rare, even for someone like me who frequently roamed the forest. It took me nearly two weeks to find a new place.
“Hmm…”
And even then, I wasn’t entirely satisfied. I’d chosen it simply because it was close to the deep layer but relatively free of monsters.
It was less of a cave and more of a… pit. Closer to the surface than underground, and not very deep. It would offer some protection from the rain, at least.
‘Well, it’s not deep enough for people to enter easily…’
I smiled wryly, trying to be optimistic. It was the best I could find in two weeks. I kept its location secret.
I spent the next week clearing out the clutter in my old cave. Sorting through the piles of items in my storage.
“I’ve become a hoarder…”
Even though I lived a simple life in the forest, I had accumulated quite a bit of stuff.
Toiletries, towels, food supplies, seasonings. I had a habit of stockpiling months’ worth of supplies since I couldn’t visit the city frequently.
It minimized trips and reduced the risk of exposure. It hadn’t been a problem before, but now, with the need to move, it had become a burden.
I wanted to take everything, but there was too much. And my new pit wasn’t very spacious. I had to decide what to take and what to leave behind.
“I need to process that tiger meat soon, too.”
The pile of items I was leaving behind was enormous. Years of hoarding, thinking ‘I’ll use it someday…’ had come back to bite me. My past self was useless, as always.
I decided to use the old cave as a storage space.
‘I’ll just come back for things when I need them.’
I finished my preparations. There was no time to waste. The subjugation force could arrive at any moment, so I had to hide quickly.
I moved to my new home.
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A week had passed since I’d moved into my new pit. The cold winter had passed, and spring had arrived. I’d endured another Berserk episode.
An A, of course. This time, I’d weathered it in my new home.
…It wasn’t easy.
Enduring the pain in that shallow pit…
Fortunately, no monsters had stumbled upon me, but the bloodstains would undoubtedly taint the air. I wouldn’t be able to sleep with the smell of blood.
So, I dragged my exhausted body and cleaned the pit. I was tired, but the lingering smell would make it uninhabitable. I then went to a nearby lake to wash myself.
“Phew…”
It hadn’t been long, but I was already finding several inconveniences. Well, I had to adapt.
People continued to visit the forest. Chae-rin and Ha-neul were regulars, of course. But the way we met had changed.
Instead of them visiting my cave, I now went to them. It was a bit of a hassle, but… I needed to stay informed.
“It’s unusual for you to be the messenger. Where’s Chae-rin?”
“She’s busy leveling up.”
“Ah.”
I mostly asked about the knights’ movements. If a subjugation force was coming, the knights would be the first to mobilize.
“You don’t have to worry too much. They seem very busy lately.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. With Dantalion and all. And Lemegeton’s been acting strangely. So, the knights are investigating.”
Apparently, someone had been buying lumber and bricks in bulk. The buyer’s identity was still unknown, but Ha-neul suspected it was Lemegeton.
They were probably building something. And Dantalion was still out there. So, the knights were busy.
I sighed in relief.
“Phew…”
That was good news. I could live a little longer.
Then, a thought occurred to me.
‘Wait, then I didn’t have to move, did I?’
My old cave was much more comfortable.
But I quickly dismissed that thought. I couldn’t be complacent. The subjugation force could arrive at any moment. Staying in the new pit was the safer option.
‘Well, I did create a secret passage in the old cave, so it might be okay…’
Regardless, time passed.
Life continued as usual, except for the change of residence. Hunt, eat, sleep. Repeat. I did get bored sometimes, but I could always find people entering the forest to talk to.
“Where did he go?”
“I can’t find him anywhere.”
I hid from those I didn’t want to meet.
“Hello everyone! Today’s content is—!”
I occasionally appeared on Chae-rin’s stream.
“I have some surprising news today. Someone among the otherworlders has learned to use Sword Qi. And it’s someone from my country.”
I’d chat with Ha-neul and Chae-rin, gathering information.
It was a relatively peaceful life. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, and no one had found my new pit yet. It seemed the outside world was busy, too busy to care about me.
But as time went on, my dissatisfaction with my new home grew. It was inconvenient in many ways.
First, the entrance was too wide.
The wind howled through the pit. Even after reinforcing the entrance with wood, the wind still found its way in. It would be nice in the summer, but the thought of winter filled me with dread.
Second, the floor was uneven.
Even with blankets, I could feel the bumps and rocks digging into my back. It was uncomfortable to sleep.
And then there was the long walk to the lake to wash myself, the cramped space… the list of inconveniences went on.
I would have endured it… if it weren’t for the final straw.
I finally snapped when another Berserk episode hit a month later. Fortunately, it was a B. My new home would be spared from being drenched in blood.
“Haa…”
As always, my libido surged. I started to… take care of myself to suppress the urge.
Alone, naked, in a pit, with nothing to… help me along. It was a bit pathetic, but I had no choice. While Berserk B was easier to handle than A, it was still not something to be ignored.
As I was… relieving myself…
An uninvited guest entered the pit.
“Kyuu…?”
It was an adorable rabbit. Enlarged by demonic energy, but still a fluffy white rabbit. As a herbivore, it didn’t attack me. It just stared.
“…”
A moment of awkward silence hung in the air. Its red eyes reflected my naked form. The feeling was… indescribable. Like it was mocking me.
It quickly hopped away, but the shame lingered, tormenting me.
It was a long night…
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“Ahh, my old home is the best.”
A few days later, I returned to my cave without hesitation. The familiar scenery welcomed me. A comforting sight I’d known for over a decade.
‘That’s right.’
Even if someone found me and killed me, I’d rather die in my own home. I couldn’t live in that pit.
“Wow, it’s gotten dusty.”
I hadn’t completely abandoned the pit, though. It was uncomfortable to live in, but monsters and people rarely went there. I would use it as a backup hideout if the subjugation force came.
I had dug a secret passage in the old cave, so I didn’t have to worry about being surrounded.
I cleaned the cave and lay down. This was where I belonged. I couldn’t just leave a place I’d lived in for over a decade.
As I was resting…
“Hmm?”
Thump thump.
I heard brisk footsteps approaching. Three armed women. Judging by their weapons and armor, they were high-level adventurers.
They saw me and started talking amongst themselves.
“Is this him?”
“Yes. This is the demon-blooded bastard!”
“Wow, he’s quite handsome. Worth the trip to this dangerous place.”
I activated ‘Player’s Eye’ as my guard went up. A strange group. One was an otherworlder, and the other two were Gaians. It seemed the otherworlder had brought them here.
I asked,
“Who are you? Why are you here…?”
“Why do you think, asshole?”
One of the adventurers grinned.
“We’re here for the bounty on your head.”
They drew their swords and charged.
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[Your Text Here]
Rest in peace, moronic murderhobos.