Chapter 18

The smoke from the 100th Killer Rabbit dissipates into the air.

Just hunting ten of them was enough to level up, and I’m now at level 4. I received 6 SP, but I’ve kept it in reserve just in case. I’ve mostly dedicated my points to Luck, but if there’s a situation where I might die without using it, I want to use it without hesitation.

“...”

Use it... Ugh.

Even in a pinch, I might hesitate.

It feels too precious...

As I’m thinking this, the smoke seems to rise with a will of its own and starts moving.

“Wow, that’s fast!”

Unlike the first floor, there are no corners here. Perhaps because there’s no need to slow down, the smoke moves at top speed from the start. But I’ve grown too. My Agility stat is 66. If I run at full speed, I should be able to catch up!

The smoke crosses a river and charges through the plains, showing no signs of stopping. Along the way, several goblins were present, but strangely, they fled as if they were afraid of the smoke.

“I’ve never seen them so scared. And there’s no dead end here. Where is it heading...? Damn, it’s heading into the forest next!”

The smoke ignores the young trees and weeds growing haphazardly and glides smoothly through. However, I’ve never ventured into the forest before, so I’m tripped up by the unfamiliar undergrowth and trees, losing sight of the smoke.

“Damn, but it was heading straight somewhere. If I follow a straight path, I should be able to catch up!”

Mysteriously, no monsters appeared in the forest as I ran through it, and I suddenly emerged into an open square. There was nothing here—no flowers, no plants—just an empty space. The smoke had completely disappeared by the time I arrived.

A large, pudgy rabbit with a body like a giant boar glared at me. It had two sharp, twisted horns on its head, even more menacing than those of the Killer Rabbits, and its blood-red eyes were filled with pure malice, as if it harbored the accumulated resentment of all the Killer Rabbits I had slain.

“Appraise”

＊＊＊＊＊

Name: Murder Rabbit

Level: 20

Equipment: None

Skill: Swift

＊＊＊＊＊

“Giiii...!”

“Swift? I don’t know this skill, but from the name... it disappeared!?”

Where did it go? No, wait.

“There!”

“Gii!”

Bang!

I turned my sword sideways just as the Murder Rabbit’s horns were right in front of me. I managed to block it with my sword, but the sudden charge left me in a terrible position. The horns slammed into the blade of my Iron Sword, and the force made my arms numb, and a deathly metallic sound rang out from the sword.

This is bad!

“Ugh... Take this!”

“Gii!?”

Using my strength, I swung the sword and kicked the Murder Rabbit’s head as it turned away, creating some distance.

Crack! Crack!

I managed to escape from its reach, but the sword shattered at the base in that instant. It seems its headbutt can shatter iron. I somehow sensed it coming from the side and drew my sword, but was that thanks to the Premonition skill? Honestly, I would have died without it.

With the sword broken in one hit, if it had hit my armor, it would have been a fatal blow. I’ve lost my weapon, and my armor is useless. ...Should I run?

Fortunately, the surroundings are a forest. With that bulk, it can’t get through. Right now, I really want the steel equipment that the stalkers and Hobgoblins had. My stats have increased, so I should be able to use it without any problems. With that equipment, I might be able to fight this thing properly.

“I’m underprepared.”

To be honest, I underestimated the rare monster. I thought if I could beat it on the first floor, I could do the same on the second. That was a delusional mistake.

I’ve learned my lesson. Now, I need to do what I have to do.

“Running is winning!!”

“Giiii!?”

I turned my back on the Murder Rabbit and ran into the forest with all my might.

“Giiii! Giiiiii!”

It’s yelling behind me, but of course it’s angry that its prey is escaping.

“Sorry. I’ll come back for a rematch once I’m better equipped...”

Bang! Crack! Crack! Crack!

“Huh?”

Bang! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

Bang!! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!!

“No way... That thing is charging at me!”

Not only that, it’s using its skill to accelerate, knocking down trees, and when it loses momentum, it backs off and charges again. It’s closing the distance by repeating this!

“Ugh”

“Giiiii!”

Bang!! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!!

I dodged to the side at the last moment, and it plowed through several trees. It seems it can’t stop once it starts running. It’s really like a boar.

Before I could relax, I heard the sound of trees being knocked down from the other direction.

“Damn, I can’t run. Even if I get out into the open, it’s only because the trees are in the way that it’s not running at full speed. On the plains, it would definitely catch up!”

Then, I have no choice but to face it...

“With the sword broken, the only weapons I have now are magic and...”

While running, I opened my backpack, and it came flying out.

“Can I use it? No, if I do it right...”

I continued to run and formulate a plan, aiming for a suitable place to execute it.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

I’m back at the first square. After a long chase, it seems the Murder Rabbit lost sight of me.

According to the map, it’s still wandering around in the forest. Is it unable to leave the forest, or is it detecting my presence in the forest due to its intense resentment...?

Anyway, I’ve prepared everything I need to defeat it here. Everything is ready, and I’m mentally prepared. All that’s left is to face it head-on!

“I’m here, big rabbit! I’ll take you on!!”

I shouted loudly to call it. This plan relies on its resentment, but it has to come first!

“Gii! Giiii!”

With its cry, the sound of trees being knocked down can be heard. It seems to have taken the bait. According to the map, it’s coming straight toward me from the front. The first stage of the plan is a success.

I held the weapons in both hands, placed spares at my feet, and moved my backpack to the side to avoid hindering my movements. Come whenever you’re ready.

“Giiii!”

Bang! Crack! Crack! Crack!

“Almost there.”

Several trees nearby were knocked down. It’s almost here.

This place is a mess because of it. While thinking about that, I predicted—no, I was certain—where it would appear and extended my arm in that direction.

“Fireball”

I generated a Fireball in front of me. As expected, it appeared right in front of me.

Bang! Crack! Crack! Crack!

“Fire!”

Boom!

“Gii!?”

No matter how fast it is, in this straight-line situation, I can definitely hit it. And it can’t stop in the middle. I formulated this plan based on its actions. Using it in the forest could start a fire, but in this square, I should be safe.

However, a rare monster isn’t so weak that it would die from one Fireball. Despite being burned by the flames, the Murder Rabbit continued to charge. I threw my second weapon at it in quick succession.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I threw the Killer Rabbit’s horns. I deemed the Iron Knife unsuitable based on the state of the broken sword. Thanks to my high Strength and Dexterity stats and the Throwing skill, the horns penetrated deeply into its head.

“Gii... Giiii...”

It lost its balance and fell, but its eyes were still alive. It was trying desperately to get up.

“What, you’re still alive? I have more of your friends’ horns, big rabbit. Take them!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Finally, after throwing the spare horns, it collapsed. Smoke began to rise from its body.

“Phew, I finally took it down...”

I confirmed that my level had risen from 4 to 25 and collapsed on my back, exhausted.

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