Ten times... TEN GODDAMN TIMES!!!
This is the number of times this same situation happened!!! From the time I killed that first snake until a little before sunset when we stopped to form a camp, I had to kill ten more snakes in the same damn way!!!
Red Red Red Red Red!!!!!
I'm soaked in blood... My clothes are feeling squishy and mushy... And I stink of an iron-like stench...
They say that humans get used to different situations really fast... But there are also some situations that only worsen the more they happen... This must be such a case... At the beginning, I was able to quickly kill them in a single movement. But by the tenth time, I was already hesitating so much that I ended up getting scratched by it's attack... It stopped bleeding fast, but I still had to use one of the antidotes...
I'm tired... Not as much physically as mentally though... Which is actually surprising, considering I've never been the athletic kind... Expression is amazing after all; it even helps with our physical endurance...
It only takes a 30 second sprint while using expression, to reach a small water stream from our camp. We've already checked the path beforehand, but I'm still paying attention.
We decided to position our camp far enough from it that it wouldn't attract the attention of the monsters that came to drink from it, while still being close enough so that we would have an accessible water source. Also, so we could still scream at each other in case something happened while separated…
I check my surroundings, and don't find anything that might seem dangerous...
For now...
…
The water is crystal clear and shallow, it barely reaches my ankles. Also, I don't remember the book mentioning any possible horror that might lurk inside such a shallow water source, especially in a beginner's area...
I take off my armor and the clothes I bought in this world, and I wash myself… I watch the clear stream turning red after touching me… But the blood covering me isn't coming off…
I use the soap we bought and start brushing myself with more strength, but the blood still won't come off!!! I frenetically scrub the blood splatters, but instead of turning cleaner, I notice the blood only spreads more and more through my whole body. Soon, after covering me completely, it starts to spread both to the upper and down sides of the stream, turning them as fully crimson as me. In no time, the stream, the land, the tress and even the sky are painted in red…
Nononononono!!!
Get off of me!!!
I try to step away from the water, but from inside of the red stream, many snakes start surging and coiling around me.
I struggle, but can't move an inch...
I then notice that the snakes are missing their heads, and from their wounds, more blood gushes at me.
'S-stop!' I try to say, but as I open my mouth, blood sprays inside it as well, and I start to choke...
I am covered in red. In a deep scarlet, I`m surrounded by death, as the victims condemn me for their massacre. I could have taken the road, but instead I decided to come here, in order to train myself and make a living out of their deaths. The trail of bodies I`ve left in my wake won`t ever decrease.
The blood is dripping from me, forming a stream of red over my body…
Immobile, I cannot do anything… Aside from producing these helpless tears, which drop in a useless, hypocritical manner, as if they were trying to wash me clean…
However… The fact they are also red themselves, is proof of my failure…
…
I remain this way for what feels like an eternity…
Until…
"Hey! Aren't you done yet!?" Airi's distant voice brings me back to reality.
I check my surroundings and find nothing unusual…
The stream is clear again, and there is nothing binding me. I'm simply kneeled inside it, hugging myself… My cheeks are still moisty… But I notice that somehow I had already managed to clean myself halfway.
…
*Caham!*
"I'm almost done! Just a minute!" I scream back.
…
I finish washing myself and clean my dirtied clothes, now I just need to hang them to dry. Until then, I put on my original clothes from my world. I also equip my mostly cleaned armor. I can finish taking care of it in camp.
Then I head back.
…
…
…
"Hmph, you sure took your while in there. What were you even doing in the bath for so long---" She interrupts herself and puts on a disgusted face. "Actually, do not answer. I do not wish to know."
She's aware I'm not fifteen, right?
Actually, why did she even bring that up!? Don't expect me to follow up on her misplaced jokes!
…
Huh?
Why is she backing away this time…?
"What is it this time? I cleaned the blood… *whisper* and even the barf…"
"No, it's just… There are times when we speak where you simply remain quiet and make odd faces… And it goes on for a while. Honestly, it is somewhat concerning at times…"
Wha--- What does she mean!?!?
It might be true that there are many times when I don't know how to respond to a situation… B-but saying I'm creepy and that I scare people is going a little too far, right?
It's only natural not to say anything unless you have something nice to say.
"…"
W-what? Now she's the one standing there quietly, staring at me.
"…"
She doesn`t say anything. And I start to suspect there might be something behind my back. But as I look behind, there's nothing important there.
"…"
She continues to stare at me.
I try moving around, but she simply follows me with her eyes.
Staring at me, silently…
"…"
"O-ok! Ok1 I get it! B-but I'm not like that! I-if you want to say something, then just say it already! Stop staring at me for no reason…"
"Uncomfortable, wouldn't you agree? There's no need to think too deeply when someone is simply trying to make some small talk. Rather than staying silent, just say anything that comes to mind."
"Anything that comes to mind…"
"Wanna die, punk?"
Her reaction to my childish joke isn't very mature…
Her eyes are always burning. But the scary part is when the flames begin to burst to the outside as well, such as right now…
Ok, I`ll have to admit I`m partially to blame for this, when she just wanted to talk a little. Also, she didn`t take a bath yet and has some blackish goo covering her, so she might be a little more irritable…
Let`s see, what should we talk about then…?
C'mon brain, good conversation starters…
Hmmm, maybe something like…
"Do you come here often?"
Akane looks down, takes a hand to her face and shakes her head.
For the first time since I've seen her, she doesn`t look angry, she`s just shaking her head with a blank face.
"This is a different world, you know…"
Yeah. And I often take the subway to come here during weekends…
Not! If she responds that seriously to a joke, then it screws over the whole conversation!
I-I wasn't actually trying to hit on her (?), ok!?
But now I actually feel like I just came crashing down after being rejected!
"I have camped in forests before, however. 'Normal' forests though, not monster infected ones such as this…"
…
She did!? That's seriously impressive, at least for a city boy like me… That does explain how she was able to guide the way so well.
"So you had that kind of hobby…"
"Not exactly… It was supposed to be part of my education…"
So she actually had a backstory of being raised by wild animals…? That would explain a lot…
"I am unsure of what you might have just assumed, but it must be wrong, idiot. I grew up in the city, but my instructors decided it would be a good experience. In order to develop my independence and adaptability skills, and such."
"Instructors…?"
In plural, even?
And they sent her to train in the mountains--- I mean, in the woods? I wouldn`t be surprised if she told me she managed to beat up a bear…
Wait…
"… It's all in the past now. I should better go wash before it gets dark."
"Wait, before you go, can you just tell me… Did you learn the ge@r fourth while beating up some random animals in the jungle? Is this the reason why you look like a Gorilla Queen when you're very angry?"
"…"
"J-just kidding! *Tehee!*"
Since I apologized quickly, I made it out safely. She only gave me a single well-placed punch.
…
…
…
While Akane went out to wash herself, I spent time by reading the adventurer's book.
…
If I had to describe it again, all I would be able to say is 'interesting!' once more.
It's like reading a fantasy story, a survival guide and a monster encyclopedia, all at once.
There are maps, various places descriptions, their history, and also the profiles of many historical figures and weapons. As well as some info on survival techniques, and different plants and monsters, with pictures.
…
A world of swordsmanship and magic!
Mighty heroes and demons!
Their whole lifestyle is based on pure fantasy and mythology!
Truly interesting! This world seems just like a game--- Or rather, it is exactly what the games and our modern culture have been trying to portrait! This feeling of excitement and anticipation! So many possible adventures! The feeling of wanting to explore the unknown!
This world would be truly perfect!!!--- If it were really a game or a novel...
To know that what is written in here actually happened...
History written by fear and blood, an endless war. Their historical individuals are decided mainly by their skill in killing others.
All of that while the weak population has been forced to hide and pray for these legendary 'heroes' to appear... While in truth those self-proclaimed 'heroes' were nothing but a bunch of cheaters, who mostly didn`t even care about this world...
How suffocating this feeling of powerlessness must have been... When all they can do is pray for some random players...
Heh... Not that the heroes situation is any better... Dragged here without any option... And basically forced to fight under someone else's orders...
Not that I'm one to say, since I'm the Demon Lord (lol).
Though… Can I really say my own world is any more fair…?
…
…
…
When will I be able to meet Tsubaki again…?