CH 11

Oh? Was the log just continuing on while I was freaking out about the mutant factor?

“Condition [Collect Materials from A Monster That You Subdued Yourself] is satisfied. The following derivative skills have been released:

・Concealment” [1]

Concealment…?

Well I can imagine the effect without explanation, but let me check it out and see.

“[Concealment Lv.1]

Makes it difficult for others to detect your presence.

The higher the level, the more you can hide your presence from sight and hearing.”

That’s right.

I’m glad to see that the effects live up to the name.

…Well, if I stay here forever, something might smell the blood and come. Let’s move quickly.

Why don’t I check the effects of [Concealment]?

How do I activate the skill? Shot Boost is a passive skill that activates on its own, but this is an active skill that I have to turn on by myself, right?

No, I shouldn’t have to think so hard about it.

I don’t really give a command to each muscle that I move when opening a paw. It’s all involuntary. If I think about using it, I can thoughtlessly switch it on…maybe.

My body suddenly feels like it’s becoming heavier over time.

Hmm?

Does this mean I’m activating the skill? Does my body feel heavy because I’m recoiling from the skill or because it’s consuming some kind of energy (let’s call it MP)?

Either way, I don’t think it’s something that I can use for long periods yet…

Regardless of that, I continue to sneak around.

On the way, I find a kubinagaita that seems to have picked up the scent of fresh blood, but it doesn’t seem to react to me at all, even when I am as close as three meters. Apparently, the effect of Concealment is certain.

But…now that I can activate my skill…I’m exhausted…

The weight on my body that I feel while using the skill seems to be an MP consumption thing. Well, since the skill has a level indicator, I guess I’ll get used to the feeling and it’ll get better over time…maybe.

Oh, no…I’m so sluggish that I don’t have the energy to go any further.

I’m tired from walking, my first battle with a demon and the energy consumption from using skills…Even if I didn’t have the body of a kitten, I probably wouldn’t be able to move…

I decide to muster the last bit of energy I have to climb a tree and rest.

＊ ＊ ＊

A cold wind wakes me up.

“Mi…”

It’s freezing…

When I look up, I can see the starry sky through gaps between the overgrown trees.

When I fell asleep it was probably around noon because the sun was right above me, and now it is pitch black in the middle of the night…I was only going to rest for a little bit, but I must have passed out hard.

Wow, I slept so well!

I stretch my body and check my condition.

I feel fine other than being hungry. Sleep is the most important factor in staying healthy, after all. Once you get used to sleeping on a branch, it is pretty comfortable…No, it’s not that good.

I drop to the ground with the lightness of a steeplejack.[2]

I fill my stomach with half-eaten dried meat and an apple, then think about the future.

It’s so dark at night.

Even in the daytime, it’s hard for the sunlight to pass through the dense trees, but now it’s almost pitch black. With my cat eyes, however, I can see a lot more.

I wouldn’t have dared to move in the dark before, but why don’t I go walk a little? It seems like I can fight demons and predators at least. I can even use [Concealment] to avoid combat completely if I need to.

In the dark forest, I start walking downstream.

The buzzing of insects…

Rinrinpiipii. The cold wind is blowing, but the bugs are doing their best to create an atmosphere.

Oh, that’s right! When I put the corpse of the demon into the Collection Box, I was wondering if I could put something in while it was still alive? If I can, wouldn’t that be the strongest attack ability? I would be able to kill anything just by touching it.

I don’t have the guts to attempt such an experiment on a demon at the drop of a hat…So, for now, I’ll ask the insects around here to be a noble sacrifice for my cause.

As I followed the sound of the bugs, I soon found a black one with bell-like wings making a sound. I immediately tried to catch it and put it in the Collection Box, but…

“Items that are deemed ‘alive’ cannot be placed in the Collection Box.”

I was rejected as expected.

That was no good…Well, something as convenient as a one-hit-kill ability shouldn’t exist, should it?

I apologize in my heart to all the insects that I caught and released them.

I thought to myself, “If I kill the bugs too, the corpse will be treated as an item, right?” I did think that, but I didn’t feel like chasing insects that had disappeared into the bush, so I decided to go back to the river.

………

………………

……………………

After about an hour of walking, I came to an open area.

The trees had been cut down and the land had been messily cleared. It continues in a straight line through the forest.

This is…a road, right?

“Myah!”

The simple bridge over the stream that I had been chasing until now made me cry out involuntarily.

Okay, this is a good sign, isn’t it?

If I follow this road, I will reach the place where people live!

Now, which—way—shall—we—go…?

“…?”

Huh?

A light flickers at the end of the road, and there are multiple figures around the light…and? Hmm…it’s hard to tell from the darkness and distance, but that’s maybe a carriage…?

What should I do?

The best thing to do would be to have those people pick me up and take me to the nearest town. The worst thing that can happen is those people will try to kill me…Well, you might be thinking, “What kind of situation would require an attempt on a kitten’s life?” I’m not sure.

What do I do…? Do I try to make contact with them, or should I run away and avoid getting involved?

…No matter what I do, I’m a kitten and can’t hope to communicate verbally. Let’s wait and see what kind of people we are dealing with.

I enter the forest to a place where I can spy on the path.

I activate [Concealment] to erase any sign of myself….I’m still a bit concerned that my body feels heavier when I activate it…

……

After waiting for about five minutes, I am able to see it properly.

It’s a carriage.

A carriage pulled by two horses. There are nearly ten people who seem to be escorts around, perhaps because something…or someone important in this leatherback carriage.

And, not all of them are—humans.

All of the figures illuminated by the unreliable lights hanging from the carriages are what could be called deformed.

One has light purple skin and horns like a cow. One has arms sprouting from his back like wings. One has a tail shaped like an iron ball. One has a face like a rat. One has an entire body covered in red and black scales.

Every single one of them is armed with weapons and armor.

…What the hell are these guys…? They aren’t human no matter how you look at it.

I wonder if that’s what a normal human being is like in this world?

Yeah, no . The two I saw when I woke up in this world were normal humans. These people are abnormal, after all.

While maintaining [Concealment] , I try to get closer.

“This is really annoying…!”

The four-armed mutant in the lead says, to which the bull-horned one replied in agreement.

“Yeah. Why don’t we just make the humans carry the luggage?”

In response, the rat-headed coachman said without hiding his anger.

“The Demon Lord’s word is absolute. Are you going to defy him?”

The Demon Lord? Eh? What? There’s a fantasy figure like that in this world? No, wait, what? Speaking of which, the two guys I met when I first came here were talking about “Heroes”, right?

Is it possible that a battle of light and darkness is raging between Heroes and the Demon Lord? If that’s the case, I definitely don’t want anything to do with it.

The name “Demon Lord” seems to be an absolute leader to these monsters, and as soon as the name is mentioned, the expressions on the faces of the four-arm and bull-horn who were grumbling harden.

“No way! I wouldn’t defy the Demon Lord! You know!”

“Well, do you guys understand how important this “load” is, don’t you?”

Maybe the two people who weren’t talking pitied the two, and a deformed shape with an iron ball at the end of his tail walking beside the carriage opened their mouth.

“Don’t be so hard on them. With such an unfulfilling escort mission, anyone would be tempted to complain.”

The other guards nodded their heads in agreement.

“I understand that the Demon Lord is worried about this cargo being taken from him, but there isn’t anyone who would try to take it now, is there?”

“Well, I generally agree with you there, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a possibility.”

“That’s right. That’s why we’re here on this escort mission.”

“And, it’s not just about the humans. There is also the possibility of being attacked by a powerful demon.”

From this conversation, I gather that these monsters are subordinates of the Demon Lord?

They’re moving in response to an order to carry something important, so the important thing is something that shouldn’t be given to humans, something that humans want…right?

I mean, am I going to be attacked by demons? I thought the Demon Lord releases demons to harass humans…but is that not the case here?

….I’m not going to get into danger, but I’m a little curious.

If it’s something that the Demon Lord has them carry around with great care, this is a rare item no matter how you look at it.

I should take a shot at the treasure—!