Chapter 48

New Chapter <(_ _)>

It had been about ninety days since the duel with Hayato.

The calendar had changed from Yellow Moon to Red Moon.

In this world, the calendar consists of four months: Blue Moon, Yellow Moon, Red Moon, and White Moon, each lasting one hundred and one days. The first day of each month is called the "Birth Moon," and the last day is called the "Hidden Moon."

The "Birth Moon" is similar to New Year's Day in Japan, and the "Hidden Moon" is like New Year's Eve, but customs vary by country and region.

Today is the first day of Red Moon.

Zangren's sense of time in this world began on this day, for it was the first time he learned about the calendar of this world.

While healing from the wounds of the duel with Hayato, Zangren and Yuki-shiro traveled west along the Alerdoria Mountains and reached the central city of Dorgan, Tansku.

Zangren, as if to avoid any trouble, did not even approach Tansku and passed through it, continuing southward.

Continuing south beyond Tansku, the region of Rolana came into view.

On the map, the boundary between the grasslands and the wilderness seemed to be the border between Rolana and Dorgan, and there were remnants of decayed fortresses scattered here and there.

Of course, there were one or two villages that had the function of a fortress, but Zangren passed through them as well.

It took sixty days from Salehad to the border between Dorgan and Rolana.

Zangren had been carried by Yuki-shiro while his wounds were healing, and after they healed, he ran on his own feet. His body, adapted to high mountains, had a high cardiorespiratory capacity and far exceeded the average hunter's speed of movement.

Upon entering Rolana, the landscape was almost entirely grassland, with forests appearing here and there.

Zangren and Yuki-shiro continued to hunt and gather in the grasslands and forests as they moved further south.

Finally, they reached the capital of the Elrodoria United Kingdom, Rondelk.

Rondelk is a prestigious major city, the central city and capital of the Elrodoria United Kingdom.

However, Zangren, as usual, ignored it and continued southward.

Why did he ignore the major cities?

To reach his destination at an abnormal speed, without being seen, and without leaving any traces.

If someone were to pursue Zangren immediately, they would have to come from Salehad. However, if there were no signs of a ride on a beast vehicle and no sightings in nearby towns or villages, it would be extremely difficult to find him.

Although there was a high possibility that it would be a waste, Zangren thought it was better to do it than not, and he carried out this forced march.

If he were wanted by the Hunter's Guild or Elrodoria, he would have nowhere to go, but there was no reason for Elrodoria to issue a warrant for Zangren.

Alice is the princess of Albaum and cannot mobilize Elrodoria's power.

Even if Alice tried to find Zangren through the Hunter's Guild, the Elrodoria Hunter's Guild is deeply connected to Elrodoria, making it difficult for Albaum's political power to reach.

It could be done through the Albaum Hunter's Guild, but that would risk leaking information to Hayato's enemies, and Alice wouldn't do that.

If Albaum were to put in a serious effort, Zangren's disguise would be meaningless, but thinking that far would lead to a dead end.

For the time being, Zangren decided to only worry about being attacked from behind immediately.

Simply put, he might have avoided Tansku and Rondelk because he felt that there would be trouble if he stopped there.

Where was Zangren heading?

In addition to the snowy mountains, there was another place Zangren had considered as a potential summoning site: the desert.

In any case, he couldn't stay in the Alerdoria Mountains.

Ideally, he wanted a place without a hero.

Since the hero was summoned in Albaum, it would be better to go to a different continent, where there would likely be fewer heroes.

Zangren thought this.

The rough map he had received from Eirida clearly depicted the existence of another continent, which seemed to have a vast desert.

Taking advantage of this, Zangren decided to head there.

He was concerned about whether Yuki-shiro could survive in a hot region, but during their journey, they had passed through dry, hot areas without any issues.

Moreover, it seemed that Yuki-shiro was regulating its body temperature with its own magic.

Yuki-shiro was about two years old and had grown even larger.

It was no longer the size of a snow leopard but was comparable to a tiger.

However, it wasn't as bulky as a tiger; it remained sleek and agile, with shorter legs like a snow leopard.

The membrane between its front and hind legs had grown larger to match its body, and its tail had become longer and thicker.

During this forced march, Zangren had taken the precaution of wrapping Yuki-shiro in the illusion of a black panther.

Incidentally, Zangren had also changed his dark brown hair to a dull golden color using an illusion.

Thus, Zangren and Yuki-shiro raced southward and reached the port city of Osron, their destination on this continent, around dusk, about ninety days after leaving Salehad.

Incidentally, it goes without saying that Zangren had never once beaten Yuki-shiro.

Osron was surrounded by stone walls that rose around the bay and the city.

The towering stone walls were dyed by the twilight, and a faint sea breeze stimulated the back of Zangren's nose.

It was a familiar smell.

The smell of the sea in this world's port cities was no different from that of his homeland.

However, Zangren and Yuki-shiro were not allowed into Osron.

Or rather, they did not enter.

Despite the illusion of a black panther and the display of the deep green ring, the gatekeeper refused them, saying that it was against the rules to bring a beast into the city.

There was no choice since it was a rule.

They could have left Yuki-shiro at the beast stable, but it was already getting dark. Zangren thought that entering the city now would be pointless since he couldn't do anything, so he decided to camp outside for the day.

Thus, Zangren set up camp under a tree near the city's stone walls and lay down with Yuki-shiro as his pillow.

――Gurru?

Yuki-shiro looked at Zangren as if asking why they weren't going into the city.

"Today is fine. We need to find a ship tomorrow, though."

Zangren tickled Yuki-shiro's throat.

――Gau, gauun

Surprised by Zangren's sudden tickling, Yuki-shiro seemed to retaliate by wrapping its now longer tail around Zangren and using the tip of its tail to stroke his chin and nose.

Zangren smiled wryly.

If he were on his knees, Yuki-shiro would be a queen, he thought.

"…What are you doing?"

A husky woman's voice, mixed with a sigh, was familiar to Zangren.

He moved Yuki-shiro's soft tail away from his face.

"…It's Eirida. Showing off your chest again, I see."

Eirida Bargain, a giant with lion-like red hair and brown skin, was standing there in the same red and black corset-type leather armor as before, with her hands on her hips.

"Is that what you say after not seeing each other for a long time? Seriously, the Hunter's Guild told me there was a strange hunter waiting outside the gate with a beast, so I came to check… and it's a beast I've never seen before."

Actually, the gatekeeper had contacted the Hunter's Guild, and Eirida, who happened to be at the guild, was asked to take a look.

"It's Yuki-shiro. Probably a large black panther. It's smart and can understand what you say."

Eirida glanced at Yuki-shiro.

Yuki-shiro yawned as if it didn't know what was going on.

"Large black panther, huh, well, okay. So, why are you dressed like this and hanging around here? You could just go into the city, you know."

"I can't go into the city when it's dark, right? I can't look for a ship, so there's no point in going in. I thought I'd camp out. This hair is just a change of pace."

"Ship? …Oh, wait a minute."

Eirida turned and went back into the city.

Eirida returned.

She was carrying a barrel of alcohol.

The sun had set, and a crimson crescent moon floated in the night sky.

"I reported to the gatekeeper and the guild that everything was normal. Now we can talk in peace. Got it?"

She grinned and raised the barrel and a cup.

Zangren and Yuki-shiro exchanged glances and nodded with a wry smile.

Eirida sat down opposite Zangren.

"You're still the same."

"You too."

Eirida said this and scooped alcohol directly from the barrel with a cup.

Zangren made a bowl and handed it to Eirida.

Eirida didn't say anything and scooped alcohol with the bowl she was given.

When Zangren placed the bowl in front of Yuki-shiro, Yuki-shiro sniffed the alcohol and seemed pleased.

"…Is it okay?"

"Much stronger than me."

Hearing this, Eirida smiled happily.

"To the moon goddess, in gratitude for our reunion, cheers!"

It was a unique toast for hunters.

The two and one raised their cups and bowls slightly toward the moon.

Of course, Yuki-shiro used its tail.

As far as Zangren knew, there was no custom of clinking glasses in this country.

Zangren, Eirida, and Yuki-shiro took a sip of the alcohol.

"Still, you've become quite the hunter."

Eirida said, looking Zangren up and down.

Dark gray leather armor from a coiled-horned great lizard, giant gloves, an old ice warrior's round shield, a kukri and boomerang from a three-horned deer, a magic gun on his waist, leather pants, a leather belt with several wooden test tubes on his left leg, and a knife on his right leg.

Compared to the work clothes and leather armor he wore at first, he looked much more like a hunter.

It was odd to think that he had tried to be a hunter in work clothes and leather armor.

The magic gun on his waist was the three-barreled magic gun that Erika had, which Yuki-shiro had cleverly secured when she was paralyzed by poison. It seemed that Zangren intended to use it to strengthen himself, like with the ice warrior's shield, and when he offered it with a smug look, Zangren could only smile wryly.

Was he planning to act like a bandit every time he was injured? If it was from Erika, he could only think that he had done well.

"Thanks to this armor. Thank you."

"I just took the skin to the craftsman. The money… I got it from Maxim. Ah, damn, I should have overcharged him."

The latter part was said in a tone that suggested it was unpleasant even to say.

Zangren didn't ask what had happened in the past.

"Still, to give me giant gloves adjusted for a human… did you get a hold of something on me, or do you really like me… which is it?"

Zangren snorted.

"Which one, I wonder. Hehehe."

If he had to say, it could be both.

Zangren himself thought it was closer to getting a hold of something on him.

"…Hehehe, serves you right."

Even if Zangren's character was only half the story, Eirida laughed happily.

"So, you suddenly disappeared and then showed up here. What happened? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Eirida and Zangren hadn't met since the day after the hero and the others disappeared into the cave.

Therefore, Eirida didn't know about Zangren and the hero's situation.

The interior of the Alerdoria Mountains was uncharted territory, and in that sense, Salehad could be considered one of the northernmost cities on the continent. However, it was said that the interior of the Alerdoria Mountains was as large as the Dorgan region, so it wasn't as cold as one might imagine from the term "northernmost."

Osron was located on the coast, diagonally opposite.

"Well, a lot happened."

Zangren took meat out of his food backpack, sprinkled salt and pepper on it, and skewered it on a wooden stake as usual, roasting it with a fire elemental he had materialized.

Zangren had learned.

He had to make at least some allies, or he would eventually be in trouble.

It was a fact, regardless of whether he became distrustful of people or missed them.

No matter how much he lived in isolation, unexpected encounters were possible, and Orphia and Maxim wouldn't always be there to protect him.

However, it wasn't something he could easily talk about.

Not only did he need to trust the other person, but there was also the risk of getting them involved if they knew the details.

In that sense, Eirida might be trustworthy in every way, but Zangren still couldn't make up his mind.

"Alright. If that's the case, have you heard about the hero from Albaum?"

Eirida didn't press for details and changed the subject.

At that time, Zangren had fled from the guild as if running away, and Erika and Hayato had proposed a joint hunt, but Eirida had refused.

It was only natural to refuse since they were the only two hunting a six-humped buffalo.

A six-humped buffalo lived in herds and never abandoned its companions, so it was a prey that should be hunted by a group of ten people with assigned roles.

For Hayato, it was a hunt with a small group because he was confident in his own strength, but Eirida had no interest in a hunt where she would be carried by someone else's strength.

If it were a hunt that could be completed individually, any hunter would do.

At that time, Eirida was also concerned about Zangren, who had fled from Hayato as if running away, but she could guess that there was some kind of conflict after the cave incident.

However, it didn't matter to Eirida.

This naive, unorthodox, and unpredictable younger brother-like person was just someone she couldn't leave alone.

"No, I haven't. I hardly ever go to cities."

"Coming all the way here without stopping at any cities… Ha, you're still a strange guy. Rondelk was all abuzz with that rumor, but you wouldn't know if you didn't go to the city."

"Did you go to Rondelk?"

"…Normally, people come to Osron by the shortest route on a beast vehicle from Salehad. You change at Rondelk, but if you don't stop at the city, I wonder what kind of route you took. Are you starting to resemble Maxim? You don't think you can solve everything with muscles, do you?"

Indeed, Maxim had been heading to Rondelk from Salehad, half-naked.

Zangren made a very, very displeased face.

Eirida chuckled and began to tell the rumor about the hero.

At this time, Zangren learned that today was the first day of Red Moon, but that aside, the rumor Eirida told was as follows.

When the hero returned from the trial of fact, he was imprisoned without a trial.

To be precise, the hero's companion, the daughter of an assassin, was imprisoned in the hero's prison in a cold desert, and the other hero, Erika, was imprisoned in Albaum's prison.

Most notably, the hero Hayato himself entered the prison voluntarily, causing a stir in Albaum.

The daughter of the assassin was said to have entered the prison to atone for her sins as an assassin, and Erika had been causing complaints and damage in Albaum under