Chapter 19

A black mass.

It reminds me of the impression I had when I found Karen.

That means there's a possibility that it's a living creature.

By the way, are there any monsters in this forest that my sister talked about?

I've only seen wolves, dogs, and birds.

I haven't encountered any monsters yet.

...

Could Karen and Coa be monsters?

Hmm, monsters are creatures that attack people, right?

I think the hero said that monsters are what he defeats to become stronger.

Wait, is that wrong? It's the demon race... hmm?

If we consider that creatures that attack are monsters, then Coa and the others, who don't attack, are not monsters.

Ah, Karen did attack... but it could be due to a curse.

I look at Karen, who has been perched on my shoulder ever since we met.

She gazes back at me with her big, round eyes.

Not a monster!

...

The problem is what's trapped inside that mass.

I should probably go underground.

A sound approaches from outside the barrier.

It sounds like trees rustling.

When I look, I see the three of them running away.

Huh?

They're dragging something cursed.

What, this is really scary.

Actually, I have a bad feeling about this.

I'm glad Hio, Shion, and Crow are back.

But in front of me is a huge, cursed prey.

They must have hunted it down and brought it back while looking for food.

It's cursed, though.

It's cursed!!

The three of them are wagging their tails, as if asking for praise.

I petted their heads and praised them thoroughly.

What cute guys!

So, calmly.

There's no option to not eat what they've brought back.

I'll purify the curse!

I'll clean it from corner to corner!

"...Purify"

I imagine a vacuum cleaner sucking up every bit of dust.

Since I was irritated by the curse, I screamed in my head, "Whoever put this curse, take it back!"

I put all my feelings into my voice and purified it as if in prayer.

In front of me is a prey with no trace of a shadow.

I'm very satisfied.

It would have been better if I knew what it was.

This must be a monster I've never seen before.

It looks like a boar, but it has four tusks.

Each one is huge.

Most importantly, the size... I can't tell, but it's huge.

Yeah, it looks like it will be satisfying to eat.

...

Wait, who's going to butcher this?

Coa and the others can probably eat it as is.

Chai too.

What about Karen? If she's a carnivore, she should be fine.

I'm the only one who needs to butcher it!

So, I have to do it!!

...

As my gaze wanders, it meets Shion's expectant eyes.

...I'll eat it, I'll butcher it and eat it.

Don't worry, I can do it if I try!

If only I knew how to butcher it!