Chapter 74

First, Yararai, who could barely keep up with his eyes, suddenly leaped and performed a light step, jumping up to the buffalo's face.

Seriously?

Yararai thrust an extremely thick estoc, which looked like a steel beam of a high-rise building, into the buffalo's forehead. The buffalo, finally recognizing the enemy, let out a loud roar. Blood was gushing from its forehead, but it didn't seem to be a fatal wound. It raised its front hooves to intimidate Yararai.

"Gotcha!"

Hag, who had somehow made his way to the buffalo's feet, struck one of its hind legs with a massive iron mace. The buffalo, which had been standing on its hind legs, naturally let out a scream and fell over. When that huge body, several times larger than a mammoth, collapsed, the shock was so great that the pile of logs where we were hiding collapsed. It was like a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. We needed earthquake-resistant design.

I took Chelina's hand and pulled her to a safer place. But when I turned around, the epicenter was already silent. Yararai and Hag had ganged up and crushed the buffalo's head.

"Monsters... great battle..."

Scary, I sincerely vowed never to anger Hag and Yararai.

---

Cheers erupted from all around. Those who had been running around, those who had tried to fight with sticks, those who had fallen into the river, and even those who had dug holes to hide their heads, all gathered to praise Hag and Yararai.

"Wow, you guys! I didn't think you could take down a rogue buffalo with just the two of you!"

"Wow! I've never seen anything like that before!"

"Will you work with us?!"

"Idiot, why would someone with such skills work in a lumberyard?"

"You're right."

"Hahaha!"

They were surrounded by bare-chested men and beastmen.

"Hmph. I could have handled that level alone."

"That's my line."

The two began to exchange barbs.

"Wait, wait! Stop fighting! Read the room!"

I hurriedly intervened, trying to stop the two from starting a fight without reading the room.

"Hmph. Whatever."

"Good, as long as no one is dead."

The two put their weapons back on their backs, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Truly, Lord Yararai and Lord Hag, to take down a buffalo without a single injury is truly amazing."

"I was so shocked I couldn't even speak."

"You were speaking."

Chelina chuckled.

"Don't joke. It didn't seem like any buffalo I know. It looked similar, but the size was different."

"According to scholars, they grew larger to store more nutrients for long journeys across the wilderness."

"Wouldn't that be a net loss in terms of energy consumption?"

"Energy...?"

"Never mind."

"I'm curious."

"I don't really understand it either. Just... think of it as a unit of force or something."

"Ah."

How do you explain thermal energy or kinetic energy?

"Still, this is a big catch, especially after the last one. It might even benefit the citizens."

"With this, many people will have food. I had buffalo meat before, and it was quite delicious."

"Yes, it's a feast. Since it's not the official hunting season, the jerky and salted meat makers probably aren't prepared, so fresh meat will likely be quite cheap."

"That's great."

"Yes, it is."

As I looked up at the massive body, which resembled a toppled building, Yararai and Hag finally freed themselves and returned. Neither of them had a single drop of blood on them.

"Akira, are you hurt?"

"Thanks to you, I almost panicked and blew myself up."

"Then, it's good."

"Hmm. We'll have a feast tonight."

"Lord Hag, I think the guild will buy the buffalo, so that might not be possible."

"Those merchants are always so tight-fisted!"

"It's the rule. I'll negotiate to add a bonus to the reward."

"Hmph. Fine. Damn..."

Hag grumbled. I understood his frustration.

"With a catch this big, you two splitting it would still be quite a substantial income."

"Hey, Chelina, how many people usually hunt these things?"

"Well... at least ten, I'd say. During the hunting season, it's in the thousands."

Ten people... can they manage?

"That's amazing. A formation of a thousand people might be a sight to see."

I'm not into war, but formations get my heart racing.

"...You might see it."

Hag answered in a low voice. I didn't understand what he meant.

"Merchant guild?"

Yararai also raised his head and looked into the distance, in the direction of the city gates.

"Is that... the national army?"

Chelina whispered.

I looked in that direction and confirmed a large group of people heading our way.

...This is bad.

At that moment, a jolt ran through my back.

I had a bad feeling.

I've never been wrong about these feelings. After all, my entire life has been nothing but bad things.

Of course, this prediction would come true.

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