Chapter 9

It had been three days since Yū met Clara. By midday, he had already gathered the food and completed a certain task, and now he sat beside Clara in front of the firewood.

"Amazing! You really pick things up quickly, Yū!"

"Really? It makes me happy to hear you say that."

Yū scratched his head as if to say he was embarrassed by Clara's enthusiastic voice. In front of them were the letters Clara had drawn with a stick.

"It's incredible that you can learn magic so quickly. You might be a genius, Yū!"

Clara clapped her hands, excited. What they were doing was a simple magic training session. Among these, the first thing Yū wanted to learn was—

"Well, not that much. But I can understand what Clara says better now."

When they first met, Clara had shown him a translation spell. For Yū, whose goal was to descend to where humans lived, learning language and writing was essential. He also didn't want to burden Clara during conversations.

"Yeah, I think I can understand Yū's words too. I don't get the words that don't exist here, but I'm starting to understand the expressions and nuances."

As a result, their words conveyed more precise nuances to each other. Additionally, because Clara had opened her heart, she herself had become brighter. Yū was happy about this—Clara's bright smile was dazzling, and he felt a bit embarrassed.

But casual chatter had become a part of their magic lessons. It was one of the few entertainments they had in the mountains, and it was already quite enjoyable.

"But, you know, healing requires magic power, so isn't it okay to use the translation spell? Shouldn't you conserve it?"

"It's fine. 'Translation' just slightly shifts the outermost part of the soul, the part that comes out as words, so it doesn't really consume magic power. That's why it's easy."

Clara seemed to be healing her leg with magic. Yū thought that a completely broken leg healing in about two weeks was indeed the power of magic. The explanation was in a highly spiritual domain, which he couldn't fully understand, but he nodded, knowing it wouldn't affect the healing of her leg. The translation spell was indeed simple.

"Besides, my magic power is very abundant. Healing magic usually uses a lot of magic power, but... Yū brings me delicious food."

However, healing magic was a bit different. What impressed Yū the most when he asked about magic was this field. In this world, healing magic was a very advanced form of magic. Even a magician in their twenties or thirties who specialized in healing could only heal a shallow cut that required a few stitches. Recovery, which restores stamina, was apparently easier, but healing—especially the kind Clara was doing to speed up the healing of a broken bone—was a high-level technique. Clara spoke about it proudly.

In other words, a healer in this world was not much different from a surgeon in reality. Yū categorized healing magic as such. It was valuable, just like on Earth, but it didn't have the power to immediately save a life that was about to be lost. The difference was that it could be performed anywhere, immediately, and without tools.

Yū was impressed. Healing magic required a lot of magic power, which made sense. What solved this was—food.

"Everything in this world contains something called mana, which becomes the essence of magic power when you eat it."

Therefore, a healthy diet helped recover magic power faster. Yū let out a sincere sigh of admiration as Clara spoke confidently.

—At the same time, he thought. Since coming to this world, his vitality had been increasing day by day, despite the fact that his nutritional status should be far inferior to that of Earth. Of course, the daily hard labor had strengthened him, but he felt that this was the reason. If this was due to the replenishment of magic power, it made sense.

"...? You look like you understand something?"

"Huh? Do you understand? Well, it's just that..."

Every time he ate, he got stronger because of this. He was about to continue, but Yū didn't get to finish his sentence.

—Clara, who had become more open, now showed a carefree smile. It was a lively smile that made you feel energized just by looking at it. Yū really liked Clara's smile.

—But he saw that this adorable smile had suddenly frozen. In its place was a face filled with fear, a fear that even their first meeting didn't evoke. Her eyes were directed behind him.

Immediately, Yū turned around. There was a large beast there—a deer-like creature with shining horns that glowed even in the bright sunlight of the mountain.

...In a certain sense, it was a mystical and muscular form. Yū was captivated by it, feeling as if time had stopped.

"Dialk...!"

Time started flowing again for Yū when Clara shouted the name of the beast. He was interested in the name of the beast, but he didn't have time to ponder it.

"It's a wild beast called the 'Lord of the Mountain'! Many hunters have been killed by it..."

Wild—Clara's words were despairing for Yū. When he turned around again, he saw Clara trembling, pointing at the beast called Dialk.

Yū knew the dangers of the mountains well. But that was knowledge, not experience. Large beasts were one of the most dangerous things in the mountains. Yū had always maintained a certain level of fear of their existence.

He tried to avoid actions that might provoke large animals and occasionally recalled countermeasures. On Earth, that might have been enough. But—it wasn't enough here.

"Boooooo!"

Standing nearly two meters tall at the shoulder, it let out a roar that clearly expressed its rage. Just being there was unpleasant. For a tyrant who was called the 'Lord of the Mountain,' that was enough reason to kill them.

A massive, horned beast with a presence that seemed to belong to another world was unleashing its unjustified killing intent.

"...!"

There was no way he could win. What should he do? Run. Facing a ferocious beast in a combat-ready stance, running might be futile, but it was better than doing nothing.

...The fact that Yū's first thought was to run was a sign of his confusion.

It was obvious that it was impossible. He couldn't outrun an animal built for running while carrying the injured Clara.

Then what should he do? Yū hesitated for a moment before his thoughts.

He looked at Clara as if to confirm. Clara was completely terrified, and there was a sense of resignation in her eyes. She understood what would happen to her, unable to stand up against the 'Lord of the Mountain.'

...After confirming this, Yū took an axe and ran out, as if propelled.

Away from Clara, to escape the danger on his own?

...No way.

"Over here! Follow me!"

The opposite. To divert attention from Clara and take the danger away. 'Luring.' The ability to make oneself appear as an attractive 'prey' to the target. Against a tyrant who ruled the mountain without hesitation, this ability was incredibly effective.

"Vooooo!"

Dialk chased after Yū, who seemed to be fleeing, to exercise its right to devour the attractive prey. Seeing this, Yū, despite his cold sweat, smiled.

...He couldn't leave Clara behind. Even as he trembled in fear of the beast and hesitated to face it, he couldn't abandon her. No, he hadn't even considered the possibility of abandoning her from the beginning.

So, this was the only option. From the beginning, he had to be prepared to fight.

He slapped his trembling legs to calm them down, and Yū faced Dialk. Perhaps sensing Yū's fighting spirit, Dialk seemed irritated.

It was the first time he had faced a creature larger than himself with killing intent. Still, Yū didn't back down.

Gripping the stone axe tightly, his body was enveloped in a red light. It was the 'Hardening' from the Mail Club.

...Thinking back, since coming to this world, he had only been surviving. Even the abilities he had gained were only used to make daily life more convenient. He thought it would be good to give them a chance to shine occasionally. If it was to save a cute girl—his newly acquired abilities would be satisfied.

"Let's go...!"

He muttered this more to himself than to Dialk. Then, strangely, his fear subsided—

This was Yū's first 'battle' in this world.

◆

The one to make the first move was, of course, Dialk. Yū needed to find an opening in every move, while Dialk, as the king of the mountain, had a sense of 'awareness.'

Standing at the top of the mountain's ecosystem, he was never hungry. He was there to clean up intruders in his territory and to get a tasty snack—Dialk had no tension, as this was an extension of his entertainment.

Shaking his lips and spitting saliva, he exhaled and kicked the ground strongly.

This created a speed that was unimaginable for such a massive body. By adding speed to mass, it became the simplest 'force' in this world.

The pressure of a nearly one-ton body charging at a speed approaching 100 km/h made Yū catch his breath.

Not only that, but Dialk had two sharp horns on his head. They were straight and sharp, like swords, and were weapons to converge enormous kinetic energy.

A direct hit would be fatal. Watching Dialk charge through rough terrain, Yū remembered why he had come to this world.

But Yū was different from when he first arrived.

"Danger...!"

Reading Dialk's straight charge, Yū dodged.

The charge, which seemed slow due to his massive size, was avoided with the right action.

"...Damn! Faster than it looks! I need to be careful..."

Like a bullfighter, Yū turned to face the passing 'Lord of the Mountain.'

On the other hand, Dialk was also confused. There was no resistance where there should have been, and his horns, which should have impaled the prey, were empty.

Realizing this, Dialk turned around a beat later than Yū.

...Seeing Yū standing unharmed, Dialk's anger flared up again. He had his own pride. Letting out a sharp neigh, Dialk charged again.

This time, it was a serious charge, not a playful one. Seeing this, Yū's eyes widened.

"I can see it...!"

It might seem obvious—no matter how fast it was, it was a massive body standing nearly two meters tall. It wasn't that hard to keep it in sight.

So, Yū should have said:

"I read it."

Yū's dynamic vision had improved significantly since coming to this world.

—For example, could you accurately gauge the speed of a car coming straight at you on a highway? It's not impossible, but it's not easy.

Especially if you include the condition of avoiding it, it should be considered difficult.

"Whoa!"

Moreover, this was in the middle of the mountains. The footing was poor, and the sloping ground made walking difficult.

Several bad conditions were stacked—yet, Yū dodged Dialk's charge. The second time, it was almost graceful.

"...You can do it."

Yū felt cold sweat. It seemed he was stronger than he had expected. In his first real combat, Yū realized he was different from his former self.

...But the fact that he still didn't have room to spare was a sign that he understood the situation.

Facing the passing massive body, he gripped his axe. The distance was—far. Far enough that he couldn't reach it.

That's right. When Dialk charged at Yū, he ended up far away from Yū, regardless of his will. It took time to stop the momentum of the charge.

But this left no room for a counterattack.

"Damn, that's unfair..."

Yū muttered, feeling a mental ease from understanding his true capabilities.

But Yū didn't let his guard down. He knew from his own experience that the animals in this world, Vier, had special abilities. The strange creature with shining horns, called the 'Lord of the Mountain,' couldn't possibly have no power.

Sure enough, Yū's guess was correct.

Dialk had the 'power' to be called the 'Lord of the Mountain.' After being dodged twice, Dialk was angry. A small creature—something he had repelled many times—was 'fighting' him.

"Ruuuuuuu!"

There would be no third time. As if to announce this, Dialk neighed and leaped, stomping the ground.

Then—

"Yū, be careful! He's charging!"

From a distance, Clara, who had been watching the battle with bated breath, shouted as if to tear her throat.

Charge. He tried to recall the meaning of the word, but it wasn't necessary.

...Dialk's legs began to glow more brightly than his horns.

Originally, this power—no, the power of the monsters in this world—had no name.

But it was natural that the power of Dialk, which had caused significant damage to humans, would be named for the sake of warnings.

The effect of naming as a warning was significant.

Even Yū, who had never heard of the creature before, recognized the form of its power.

Charge. The meaning was to charge, and to—charge.

When Dialk's legs glowed intensely, the 'Lord of the Mountain' became a beam of light.

"—!"

His spine turned to ice. Yū felt the condensed fear as coldness.

The speed at which Dialk charged after releasing his power was incomparable to before.

Despite his massive size, he charged with the speed of a swallow.

The speed was at least twice, no, three times as fast as before.

Once seen, it was impossible to avoid. The forward attack was faster than a human could barely move sideways. It was a 'killing move.'

But Yū—barely avoided it. He had already jumped before he saw it.

"—Phew! I thought I was going to die..."

It was a close call.

His quick thinking, physical abilities, and Clara's words. Without any of these, he would have died.

The previous charges were one thing, but if he had been hit by the charge, the hardening power wouldn't have helped.

Looking at the passing Dialk, he saw the massive body slowly turn around.

A chill ran down his spine again.

(What do I do...! I have no way to counterattack, and I don't even know if I can avoid the next one...!)

He told himself to think, to think, and clenched his teeth tightly.

But no good ideas came to mind.

...Still, the fact that he was taking this action showed that Yū had a natural talent.

Almost unconsciously, Yū had his back to a large tree. This was also a manifestation of his desire to escape.

But when he confirmed the sensation of the tree against his back and looked up, he thought the opposite.

"...If I do this..."

A tree that couldn't be hugged with both arms. If he could make Dialk collide with this...

The fact that he couldn't stop meant he couldn't change direction immediately.

Using the straight attack due to its speed and weight. If the horns were impaled, it would be a chance to counterattack, or even a chance for a fatal collision. This was the strategy Yū came up with.

The first condition was that Dialk had to come at him—

"Don't worry about it."

Dialk, who no longer made warning sounds, was already gathering light in his legs.

Yū entered a deep, deep state of concentration. He had to make sure Dialk aimed here. If he moved before Dialk's charge, the charge would miss the tree. If he was too slow, the consequences were obvious. ...Besides, he didn't think there would be a third time. The first dodge was already a close call.

So Yū strongly believed this was his last chance.

...It felt like a showdown in a Western movie, Yū thought, but felt it more subtly.

One of the lives would be lost at the last signal. But this analogy was incorrect. The signal to start was left to the duelist, Dialk.

And the signal was given. The unfair "Ready, go" was performed by the one in a better position.

By kicking the ground, Dialk charged like an arrow released.

Yū—read it. He jumped almost simultaneously. Starting with Dialk, they both jumped almost at the same time.

And, at the same time. The moment Dialk's horns impaled the tree and Yū landed on the ground was exactly the same.

The expected fatal collision didn't happen. But Dialk's sword-like horns were deeply embedded in the tree. Still, Yū had no time to hesitate. He saw the strong fibers tearing as the tree began to lean.

"Oooh!"

So, there was no hesitation. He swung his axe at Dialk's head from the side.

The tremendous force in Yū's body, which could jump over two meters vertically, was incredible. The heavy and sharp blow struck Dialk's forehead and shattered the handle of the axe.

It was a powerful blow that could cleave a bear in two.

But—it wasn't enough. It still didn't reach the fantasy.

"Rrrrrrr!"

Dialk was alive. And he didn't even care about the blow.

...It wasn't Yū's fault. The simple axe, made with primitive technology, couldn't keep up with the high-level battle. A weapon that could be called the beginning of human history, made by polishing a stone, attaching it to wood, and reinforcing it with vines, was no different from a stick in this world.

The tree falling felt slow. It meant the tyrant's restraint was being released.

Was it a deadlock? For a moment, Yū felt a sense of resignation.

"Use this!"

But he wasn't allowed to give up.

A voice, as if to encourage and scold Yū, echoed. It was a girl's voice, not the familiar Clara's, but someone else's.

Yū would realize who the voice belonged to a little later.

Now, more than that—his attention was on the sword that had stabbed next to him. The human 'wisdom' of a metal weapon.

His body moved before he could think. It was the second time in his life. The first was when he dodged the first