Chapter 3 of 10
Chapter 3
10 min read2,530 words
Before posting, I read it over many times to check for typos and awkward sentences, but every time I reread it, I find something. Huh?
There are reports of typos, so maybe I should just leave them alone! (That's not good)
Good morning.
It seems the sun has started to rise, and the sky has become quite bright.
‘Creak!’
‘Squeal!’
I’m currently being chased by goblins.
At a glance, it might look like we’re playing a friendly game of tag.
From the outside, I might seem quite calm, but they’re actually pretty slow runners, so I’m pretty much okay.
Huh?
My AGI (Agility) value is zero, and theirs is around 50, right?
These guys can’t even run as fast as half my top speed. Huh?
I can’t run at full speed in the forest, but I’m still comfortable enough to escape.
What’s going on?
When I was about 50 meters away from them, I understood the reason.
“...Damn, this is it...!”
In front of me, there was an open space without trees.
I thought maybe someone was camping there, so I ran into it.
There were five or six goblins there.
I was lured in!? I thought they were just running slowly,
on purpose! They were trying to lead me here!
‘This is your escape route... You lost the battle of wits with these goblins!’ Is that what they’re trying to say? No, that’s the wrong way around!
‘Gaaah... Mmm... Gyaa!?’
‘Gick!?’
‘Gyaa-gyaa!?’
Hey, did they get tired of waiting and react a bit late to me?
Don’t yawn at me. I’m tired too from walking and running all night.
But this isn’t the time to be annoyed! Turn! Back! I have to run away!
...!?
‘Gih...! Gigi...! Hah-hah...!’
‘Gii...! Gih-geho...!’
Two goblins had already caught up to me from behind. Damn, I should have run away faster! Am I an idiot?
And they’re out of breath, did they actually run pretty seriously? They look really exhausted.
I was surrounded by the goblins. This is the worst.
I can’t escape.
Should I fight? Against this many? I have to deal with at least two, right? No way.
In this situation, there’s only one action I can take!
“H-Help...”
“Someone, please help meeeeee!”
A loud cry for help! If no one is nearby, I’m done for, but there’s no other option!
Maybe because I suddenly shouted, the goblins seem to be taken aback, but it’s your fault!
I don’t want to scream so pitifully, but this is a matter of life and death!
“Help meeeeee!”
‘Gigi...! Gii...!’
‘Gyau...!’
Did they realize my cry for help was a call for rescue? Immediately, a club-wielding and a knife-wielding goblin attacked me!
“Eek!”
I let out a scream and tried to dodge.
Thud!
“Gah!... Ugh...”
I dodged the knife, but the club hit my side.
It hurts... But I thought my ribs would break or at least crack. It’s surprisingly okay.
Are they trying to torture me slowly with weak attacks? Are they some kind of emperor from another universe?
‘Gyaa!’
Oh no, the second knife attack!
I can’t dodge it, I thought I was going to die, when
With a loud bang, the heads of the knife-wielding and club-wielding goblins caught fire.
‘Giiii! Gah...!’
‘Gyau...!’
When the flames dispersed, they fell forward, smoking from their heads. Their status display turned red, indicating they were dead.
What happened?
Could it be... rescue?
“Are you okay?”
Someone was standing behind the goblins, speaking.
A woman? Looking in the direction of the voice,
I saw a short-haired girl with a sword at the ready.
She’s not Japanese. Her face looks more foreign.
It’s a strange thing for a foreigner in another world to say, but...
“Can you move?”
“Eh, ah, yes!”
I was asked again and responded without thinking.
By the way, do they speak the same language in another world? Hooray for convenience.
“Then stay back. It’s dangerous.”
She said, turning her sword towards the remaining goblins.
Can she fight against that many?
Before I could think, she ran towards one of the goblins and
With a swift slash, she cut the goblin’s throat and killed it.
She’s fast. Clearly at a different level from the goblins.
This might be over in no time.
...I thought it might be rude to check her status, but I did anyway.
Almantine
Lv 9
Age: 16
Race: Human
Class: Apprentice Paladin
Status: Low MP (Minor)
[Stats]
HP (Health): 196/196
MP (Magic): 14/113
SP (Stamina): 30/85
STR (Strength): 90
ATK (Attack): 90 (+30)
DEF (Defense): 82 (+20) (+10)
AGI (Agility): 95 (+16)
INT (Intelligence): 112 (+5)
DEX (Dexterity): 56
PER (Perception): 80
RES (Resistance): 78
LUK (Luck): 42
[Skills]
Swordsmanship Lv2
Attack Magic Lv2
Martial Arts Lv2
Throwing Lv1
[Experience]
Total EXP: 1759
Next Level: 2000
[Equipment]
Iron Sword (Enchanted, Intelligence Boost)
ATK +30 (INT +5)
Lizard Leather Chest Guard
DEF +20
Boots of the Wind
DEF +10 AGI +16
She’s strong, right?
I only have kobolds and goblins as a reference, but she’s clearly much stronger.
Her equipment... feels like a beginner adventurer’s. Or maybe not, since this is a game-like world.
But the equipment bonuses are pretty impressive. Safety boots...
Slash, slash
‘Gii! Gik!’
She disabled a goblin by slashing its arm and then slit its throat, killing it.
Thud! Thud!
‘Gyaa! Gabu!’
Another goblin jumped at her, but she kicked it in a sensitive spot (male-specific) and then stabbed it in the heart.
Wow. For some reason, the kick looked the most painful. The sound was really bad. It made a kind of whooshing noise...
There were three goblins left. I thought they might realize the difference in strength and run away after seeing their comrades die so easily.
‘Grr...!’
‘Giri...!’
‘Gii...!’
They glared at the girl, as if saying, "How dare you harm our comrades. We won’t forgive you."
They seem to have a strong sense of camaraderie and don’t intend to run away without avenging their fallen comrades.
It feels reckless, but I’m a bit impressed.
‘Gruu...’
As I was thinking this, a goblin with a bow aimed an arrow at the girl.
‘Giri...!’
‘Gii...!’
“...!”
Trying to close the distance before the arrow was fired, the remaining spear-wielding and knife-wielding goblins charged at her.
They must have realized they couldn’t defeat her one-on-one and decided to work together!
She reacted to the two goblins, but an arrow was fired at her in the gap.
Dangerous!
“Haah!”
A fireball was released from the girl’s hand, and with a loud bang, it knocked the arrow out of the air.
Was that... magic!? Real magic!?
The fireballs that burned the heads of the two goblins earlier must have been this. Wow, it’s really magic!
This is definitely another world. I’m a bit moved.
...Huh?
“Ugh...”
Right after releasing the fireball, the girl staggered and held her head.
What’s wrong? Did she get hit by an attack!?
I quickly checked her status.
Status: Low MP (Major)
MP: 6/113
[Low MP (Major)]
<When remaining MP is below 10%, it significantly impairs movement and perception.>
What! Low MP means she’s almost out of MP!
From the MP consumption, it looks like each fireball costs 8 MP.
She used two to save me earlier, and one just now. So she didn’t have much left to begin with.
She was trying to fight against so many with such little MP left.
...To save me.
‘Guhuhu...’
The bow-wielding goblin laughed and tried to fire another arrow.
If this continues, an arrow will hit her in an unprotected spot, and she might die.
Not on my watch, you bastards!!
“Hey!”
The stone I threw hit the bow-wielding goblin in the face,
‘Guhii!?’
Whoosh! The arrow’s aim was off and
Thud! It hit the spear-wielding goblin in the butt.
‘Gyaa---!!’
Ouch, that looks painful.
But I don’t feel sorry for them. Not at all. It really does look painful though.
There’s no mercy for these scoundrels who laugh and try to shoot arrows at a wobbly girl.
I grabbed the club from the burned corpse, which was still smoking, and ran at the bow-wielding goblin with all my might.
‘Gugu!?’
“Daaaah!”
I swung the club with all my might at the goblin’s head, which was panicking after hitting its comrade with the arrow.
Crunch, and the bow-wielding goblin’s head was crushed.
At the same time, its status display turned red.
So, even with zero stats, I can still kill them.
What was I so scared of? Ah, how embarrassing.
And I made such a frail girl exert herself and put her in danger. Ah, I’m in trouble, I want to die.
Next is you.
“You bastards!”
‘Gyaa!? Beba!’
Crunch! Thud! The face of the goblin whose butt was just pierced collapsed, scattering teeth and eyeballs.
I felt a bad sensation in my hand, but more than that, I felt ashamed of myself and a strong hatred for the goblins.
‘Giiii!!’
The last goblin charged at me with a knife, a desperate look on its face.
It seems intent on stabbing me.
But I’m not afraid of you anymore!
“Come on!”
Just as I was about to counterattack,
Whoosh! Thud! The sword thrown by the girl pierced the goblin’s head.
The last goblin’s life ended without even a scream.
I confirmed the goblins were all dead. We made it through the crisis.
“Haa, haa...”
I let out a deep breath. Cold sweat started to pour out.
No good, I was just riding the momentum and adrenaline during the fight, but now I realize how reckless I was.
I killed two. I had to kill them quickly to protect the girl or myself, but the feeling of hitting them is still in my hands. It’s disgusting.
The last one, I don’t even know where it was hit. If the girl hadn’t thrown the sword, who knows what would have happened.
Oh no, the girl is about to fall over!
“Hey! Are you okay!?”
I rushed over and supported her body, which was about to collapse.
Investigation? Not now! It’s an emergency!
“I’m fine. I just used too much magic.”
“Is that so... I’m sorry, I made you overexert yourself.”
She really fought hard until she was wobbly. I feel really guilty.
“You saved me, thank you. If you hadn’t come, I would have...”
“No, I think it was okay. I mean, it was a fluke.”
The girl said, looking at the goblin with the crushed head.
Her mouth seemed to be twitching a bit...
No, it was just a fluke. She doesn’t usually do this kind of thing.
“It was a fluke. I was desperate.”
“You can’t defeat monsters with a fluke. Are you a combat class?”
“No, I... But, more importantly, using too much magic means you’re out of MP, right?”
“Yeah. My whole body feels weak, and my head is spinning.”
In that case, it’s this.
...I hope it doesn’t turn into a Ge*in or something. Her MP is really low, but I hope she’s okay.
I took an Ephi fruit from my bag and gave it to her.
“This fruit can restore a little MP if it’s fresh. Eat it.”
“...This is an Ephi? I’ve never seen one so white and plump. Is it okay?”
“Of course. I made you overexert yourself, and you saved my life.”
“...Thank you.”
Ah, they say “itadakimasu” in another world too.
She bit into it cautiously, as if asking, “Is it really okay?”
“...! It’s delicious...”
“I’m glad.”
She really seemed to enjoy it, munching away. Is she a hamster?
Her expression didn’t change much, but is she a stoic character? By the way, her face is so small.
She has a slender build, but her curves are well-balanced. Wow, that’s great.
Oh no, this girl is incredibly cute up close.
Wait, calm down. She’s a minor, almost a decade younger.
This is an emergency. She’s my savior.
If I think the wrong thing, I might end up like the goblins with a “Thud!!”.
...Yeah, I’ll stop looking at her weirdly. I don’t want to be impotent.
While I was thinking these slightly perverted thoughts, I realized she had finished eating.
That was fast.
“Itadakimasu.”
“Did it help?”
“Yeah, but I’m still a bit weak...”
The girl tried to stand up, but her body wobbled.
Maybe her MP hasn’t recovered to more than 10% yet.
“You shouldn’t overexert yourself. I have more Ephi, so if you can eat, you should.”
“But, they seem expensive, and I feel bad eating two...”
“It’s okay. I said before, you’re my savior. I won’t complain if you eat all the fruits I have.”
I showed her the Ephi fruits rolling around in my bag.
“...I can’t eat that many.”
“Can you eat one more?”
I took out an Ephi and handed it to her.
“Yeah, thank you.”
She said and started eating the Ephi, making a crunchy sound. Yeah, she’s cute.
...My brain has been whispering “emergency, emergency” this whole time, but I’m ignoring it.
While eating, she stopped and spoke.
“Almantine.”
“Eh?”
“My name. You can call me Alm if it’s too long. Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, nice to meet you, Alm?”
Sorry, I already know. I saw your status (without permission) earlier.
“I introduced myself first, sorry. I’m Kajikawa Hikaru.”
“Kajikawa Hikaru? That’s an unusual name. And it’s long.”
Yeah, your name is also pretty long. But that’s not the point.
“No, Kajikawa is my last name, and Hikaru is my first name. Call me whatever you like.”
“Last name? Are you a noble?”
What makes me look like a noble?
And in this world, do only nobles have last names?
Alm only had a first name too.
“No, in my hometown, it’s normal to have a last name. I’m just a commoner.”
“Okay. Can I call you Hikaru?”
“Yeah.”
I felt a bit happy that she called me by my first name.
No, wait, she’s a minor! When did I become a lolicon!? I have almost no experience with women, but I’m too sensitive!
“Where are you from? Can you get back on your own?”
“No, I can’t. I woke up in the middle of a forest at night. Honestly, I have no idea where I am. I’m from a place called Japan, have you heard of it?”
“Japan...? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought...”
Realizing I had nowhere to go, I decided to have her guide me to the nearest town.
...Yeah, it’s nearby (a two-hour walk).
It’s tough for someone who’s out of shape, but it’s better than walking all night.
Okay, when we get to the town, I’ll find a place to stay and sleep. We’ll figure out the rest from there.
Ah, what about money.
I’m feeling a bit more relaxed now.
Yeah, it’s reassuring to know there’s a place with a lot of people.
While I was thinking about these things, I hadn’t yet noticed the change in my own status.
I thought it couldn’t get any worse.
Thank you for reading.
By the way, the goblins didn’t intend to lead me to a group; they just chased me and ended up in a group. What an idiot.