Day 551-560/Day 555

Still needs editing/proofreading. ~Miraclegrass
Day 555 / 85th day
The 4 people who belonged to ≪Code of Wisdom≫ that I rescued yesterday:
*A small professor who is a tanuki-type beastman who is the representative
*A boy who is an apprentice combat chef
*A big, muscular man who is a veteran warrior
*A black witch who specializes in【Abnormal Status】magic
I'm going to go to ≪Sin City≫ with them. Three of them, Professor Tanuki, the apprentice boy, and the black witch, whose mobility was unreliable, were straddling the silver-gray wolf, while I and the big muscular warrior were walking in front of it.
We try to avoid combat as much as possible, but if we can't avoid it, we actively try to kill the enemies. In that case, I was the one who would be leading the fight. It's a good thing that I'm not the only one who can't be bothered to do anything about it, and if I do, I get all the credit.
The monsters that guard ≪Sin City≫ are mostly golems. The materials from the golems are of good quality and can be used in various ways. There are also many interesting mechanisms, which will motivate me to make a new golem when I return home. I'd also like to take down the "starving sinners" for their abilities, but I haven't encountered any other than the group I killed earlier. That being said, the reason why this happened is because of the overlap of each person's intentions.
First of all, the 4 members of ≪Code of Wisdom≫ were in the process of fleeing outside. However, they were spotted by a monster on the way, and although they escaped, they were hunted down. It would have been fatal for them to have attracted not only the "starving sinners" that were relentlessly targeting them, but also the golem.
The remaining members of the team could not get through all of them, and even if they could, they would be eaten alive. But luckily, I needed to return the favor of the information I had gotten from the middle-aged adventurer's notebook, so they escaped to my vicinity and saved my life.
I killed all the monsters, collected what was left of the golem, and ate all the "starving sinners", which tasted bad but whose abilities I was worried about. There were 8 of them, but they still tasted bad. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like I was going to throw up.
According to my notebook, there are still some large species left, so I'm sure I'll still be tasting bad, but whatever. The 4 of them who were saved by me decided to follow me instead of heading out. I'm sure there are many reasons why they decided to do so.
There were many reasons why they decided to follow me. If they followed me, there was a chance that they could rescue the others who were left behind. I'm sure he'll want an escort to get home alive, and he might even be able to investigate some uncharted areas. He also seemed to be interested in me, as I was the one who was going to eat the "starving sinners".
The apprentice boy and the big muscular warrior looked like they wanted to get out of the house as soon as possible, but Professor Tanuki and the black witch were eager to go, so I didn't change my direction. Personally, I think it's great that they have the mentality to continue the investigation if they can, when there's a high possibility that their friends are dead or have been eaten and wiped out, but that's beside the point.
I, on the other hand, wanted the knowledge that Professor Tanuki and the others had. If I could get the information for the price of an escort, I would not lose anything, I would even get too much. You can ask them about this and that on the road as small talk, and even casual things can be important information. In particular, the information about the ≪Sin City≫ is highly valuable now.
It's a good thing that I was able to hear Professor Tanuki's thoughts on the events at the Holy Tower, as well as the history of the ancient city, including the large species of starving sinners. This alone would be enough to pay for an escort. But in addition to that, the black witch taught me about magic.
The black witch taught me about magic, and by actually dealing with the golem, I was able to see, feel, and understand the flow of magic power, and was able to use simple magic. Black Goblin King (Fallen species) seems to have high specifications in this area, and once I understand it, I can use it with the touch of a finger as if was easy as breathing. There were still some things that could be improved in terms of power, but for now it would be nice to have various ways to use.
As for the rest, the food prepared by the apprentice boy was quite delicious. It is said that the minimum requirement to become a full-fledged combat chef is to be able to secure the ingredients and cook the food yourself, but the apprentice boy was not yet good enough. However, he seemed to have a talent for cooking, and when we provided him with ingredients, he prepared them deliciously. I'm not very good at real cooking, so I was grateful to have someone who could cook for me like this.
Despite the unexpected increase in the number of companions, we proceeded smoothly, and about 2/3 of the way through ≪Sin City≫ we heard an explosion a short distance away. It was not just one, but a series of explosions. It indicated that someone was using magic and was fighting. I quickly turned around and exchanged a glance with Professor Tanuki, who was astride the silver-gray wolf, and we ran off.
According to the exchange on the way, if there were any survivors of ≪Code of Wisdom≫, we were to rescue them. This was a request from Professor Tanuki, and I was given a high quality magic item in advance just for accepting it. If there were others to be rescued, I would be paid an additional fee for each one.
In other words, you make money just by accepting the contract, and you make even more money if you save them. Even if we couldn't save them, we would still get additional rewards as long as we acted, so it would be a shame not to do it, and it was a very convenient request.
That's why we were so motivated, and we rushed to the scene to take on a large species of Marsat Pekuto, the "giant starvation sinner". We found a man and a woman being attacked by a group of about 20 "starvation sinners" led by Marsat Pekuto. The man and woman were struggling. They were soaking their entire bodies in blood, but they fought the enemy with all their might, using magic and wielding stiff swords. The coordination of each of them was outstanding, and it was clear that they were highly skilled.
With their backs against the building to prevent being attacked from the rear, they limited themselves to being attacked from 3 directions, left, right and front. The battlefield was on a narrow street, which made it as difficult as possible for them to take advantage of the difference in numbers.
If they had been fighting the same people, men and women might have been able to fight and win even if their opponents were more numerous. But this time, the opponents were wrong. They were 3 times larger than ordinary "starvation giants", and their skin was covered with metal, as if they had eaten golems. The group led by these "starvation giants" was not afraid of death.
Even if a limb is cut off, it will regenerate by eating the limb that was cut off. Even if they die, other "starvation giants" will feed on their corpses, strengthening them and attacking them. If the "starvation giants", who are enjoying the situation with a fearless smile on their faces and waiting at the back of the group, enter the fray, they will be overwhelmed.
If they did nothing, they would be defeated in a few minutes and the men and women would end up being eaten. However, there was no doubt that the man and woman were members of ≪Code of Wisdom≫ and Professor Tanuki and the others were calling their names.
This is a great opportunity to get a bonus, so I attacked them from behind with my red spear in hand. For now, let's start the first attack with a full-throttle throw of the【Blood-Draining Spear】. The spear, strengthened by the duplicate activation of the ability, pierced the nape of the enemy's head, the "starving giant".
...
It was a wild battle, but I managed to eradicate the enemy. No matter how good the "starving sinners" were at regenerating, I was sure to take them out if I ate them one by one. Every time I did this, I had to feel bad, but it was no use, since I was more certain to kill them if I ate them head first than if I pierced their hearts.
It was a time that tested my patience, but as I bit into a "starving giant", which was clearly more intelligent than the others, I suddenly heard a voice in my brain and obtained a new item called the "Secret Key of Starvation".
【Ability learned: Resistance to Hunger】
【Ability learned: Sin of Hunger】
【Ability learned: Guardian of Hunger】
I was able to learn multiple abilities at the same time. I've been thinking about both the items and abilities I've obtained, but the discomfort from the bad taste and the lethargy in my stomach got the best of me, so I moved on quietly today.
I'll think about it later. I decided to do so and continued on my way while holding back my nausea, and by late evening I was able to pass through ≪Sin City≫ and continue on.
For the evening meal, the apprentice boy made a hot stew for the additional men and women, which I ate and felt relieved. The warm, softly seasoned stew was so delicious that any remaining bad taste seemed to disappear as quickly as it had appeared. I knew I would feel better if I ate good food. After eating, my head finally started to spin.
The item I had obtained, the "Secret Key of Hunger," would surely be used somewhere in the Holy Tower. That's just a guess at the moment, but I have some evidence.
The ability that you have just learned, "Keeper of Hunger," can only be maximally effective when you are guarding something, but if you activate it, you will only become abnormally hungry, and your physical functions will improve or your magic will be enhanced.
It doesn't do anything to improve your physical functions or enhance your magic power.
This is a very useless ability, but when I tried to use it, I felt a strong attraction to the Holy Tower. It seemed to indicate that there was something there that needed to be protected. So there must be something in the Holy Tower.
In addition, the first time the "starving sinners" and Professor Tanuki and ≪Code of Wisdom≫ encountered each other was when they began to investigate the Holy Tower. It's also possible that the holy tower in the center of ≪Sin City≫, the "Starvation Sin, Divine Punishment" that may be the reason why the ancient city was destroyed, and the "Secret Key of Starvation" item.
There must be some kind of hardship and glory waiting for us. But unfortunately, I have a goal now, so I'll move on, but if I have time on the way back, I can go see the Holy Tower.
Thinking of other things to do, I ask the apprentice boy for more food. As I get more energetic, I feel even hungrier. I ate more than usual, partly because of the effects of my abilities, and partly because I was hungry. I also took out a new bottle of sake, and after drinking it today, I slowly fell asleep.
----
RAWS
“八十五日目　／　五■五■五■目”
昨日救出する事になった≪叡智の法典≫所属の四名――≪叡智の法典≫代表のタヌキ系獣人で小柄な教授、戦闘料理人見習いの少年、ベテランシェルパの筋骨隆々大男、【状態異常】系の魔法を得意とする黒魔女――と共に、≪不徳の罪都≫を進んで行く。
灰銀狼には機動力に不安が残るタヌキ教授と見習い少年と黒魔女の三人が跨り、俺と大男シェルパはその前を歩いていた。
　
極力戦闘は回避して行くが、避けられない場合は積極的に仕留めていく。その場合、主に戦うのは先頭を歩く俺だった。
下手に手を出されても困るので丁度いいし、仕留めた場合は全て俺が貰うので損もない。
≪不徳の罪都≫で襲ってくるモンスターは主にゴーレムだ。
ゴーレムから採れる素材は質もいいし、そのままでも色々と使い道がある。面白い機構も多く、帰ったら新しいゴーレムを作ってみようとやる気も出てくる。
"飢餓罪人"もアビリティ目的で討伐したいが、レアなのか先に仕留めた集団以外では遭遇していない。
それはそれとして、なぜこうなったかと言うと、それぞれの思惑が重なったからだ。
簡単な流れを整理すると、まず≪叡智の法典≫の四名は外に逃げている最中だった。
だが途中でモンスターに見つかり、逃走するも追いつめられた。執拗に狙ってくる“飢餓罪人”だけでなく、ゴーレムまで引き付けてしまったのが致命的だっただろう。
残されたメンバーでは全てを相手に切り抜ける事はできず、削る事は出来ても喰い殺される寸前だった。
しかし運よく中年冒険者の手帳から得た情報の恩を返す必要があった俺の近くまで逃げてきて、結果として救われる事になる。
俺はモンスター達を全て殺し、ゴーレムの残骸を回収した後、不味いがアビリティが気になる“飢餓罪人”も全て喰った。
八体いたが、やはり不味い。吐きそうになるのを我慢して喰ったのは久しぶりの感覚だ。
手帳によればまだ大型種も残っているはずなので、まだまだ不味い思いはしそうであるが、それはともかく。
そうして俺に助けられた四人だが、そのまま外に向かうのではなく、俺についてくる事になった。
そう決めた理由は色々あるだろう。
先に進む俺についていけば、取り残された仲間を救出できる可能性もある。生きて帰る為にも護衛は欲しいだろうし、ついでに未探索地点の調査もできるかもしれない。
それに"飢餓罪人"をバリバリ喰い殺す俺自身にも興味があるようだった。
見習い少年や大男シェルパは早く外に出たそうにしていたが、タヌキ教授と黒魔女が乗り気だったので方向性は変わらなかった。
個人的には仲間が死んだ／喰われて全滅している可能性が高い状態で、調査を続行できるなら続行するというメンタルが凄いなとは思うが、それはさて置き。
対して俺は、タヌキ教授達が持つ知識が欲しかった。
護衛代として情報が得られるなら損はないどころか貰い過ぎるくらいだ。
道中では世間話としてあれこれ聞けるし、何気ない事でも重要な情報だったりする。
特に今は≪不徳の罪都≫に関する情報の価値が高い。
“飢餓罪人”の大型種を始め、古代都市の歴史なんかも色々と気になるし、聖塔での出来事をタヌキ教授の考察混じりで聞けたのは良かった。
それに産出するマジックアイテムの情報も嬉しいし、ゴーレムの種類や役割なども重要だ。
これだけでも護衛代としては十分だろう。
しかしそれに加えて、黒魔女からは魔術について教えてもらった。
実際にゴーレムを相手にしてもらう事で魔力の流れを見て、感じて、理解する事で簡単な魔術なら使う事が出来るようになった。
黒小鬼王はその辺りのスペックも高いらしく、理解すれば呼吸するように指先一つで行使できる。
威力としてはまだ改善できる点は見つけられるが、とりあえず使える手段が増えるのはいいだろう。
後は、見習い少年が作ってくれる料理は結構美味かった。
一人前の戦闘料理人になるには材料の確保から自分自身で出来るようになるのが最低条件らしいが、見習い少年はまだ実力が足りない。
しかし調理については才能があるらしく、食材を提供すると美味しく調理してくれた。
本格的な調理は苦手なので、こうして美味く調理してくれる存在が居るのは素直にありがたい。
そうして予期せぬ同行人が増えつつも順調に進み、≪不徳の罪都≫を通るルートの三分の二を越えた辺りで、少し離れた場所で爆発音が轟いた。
それも一度だけでなく、連続して響いている。それは誰かが魔術を使い、戦っている事を示していた。
サッと振り返って灰銀狼に跨るタヌキ教授と視線を交わし、俺達は駆け出した。
道中でのやり取りで、万が一≪叡智の法典≫の生き残りが居た場合、救出する事になっている。
これはタヌキ教授からの依頼であり、俺は受けるだけで高品質なマジックアイテムを前払いで貰った。そして仮に救出すべき相手が居た場合、一人につきさらに報酬が追加されていく契約だ。
つまり受けるだけで儲けもので、助ければ更に儲ける。助けられなくても、行動さえすれば追加報酬はあるので、やらないのは勿体ない、非常に都合がいい依頼だった。
そういう理由からやる気が出ている俺達は現場に急行して、“#飢餓罪人__マルサート・ペクート__”の大型種――“飢餓罪巨人マルサート・ギル・ベクート”に率いられた二十体程の“飢餓罪人”の集団に襲われる男女を見つけた。
男女は苦戦していた。
全身を血に濡らしながらも全力で敵に抗い、魔術を行使し、剛剣を振るう。
それぞれの連携も抜群で、実力の高さが伺えた。
背面から襲われないように建物を背に、左右と正面の三方向から攻撃されるのを限定している。
戦場は細い街路だったので、相手の人数差を出来るだけ生かし難い状況にしているようだ。
同じヒトを相手にしたら、男女は相手の数が多くても順当に戦い、勝利する事もできたかもしれない。
しかし今回は相手が悪かった。
普通の“飢餓罪人”達よりも三倍ほど大きく、ゴーレムでも喰ったのか皮膚が金属で覆われた異形の“飢餓罪巨人”に率いられた集団は死を恐れない。
仮に四肢を切り落としても、切り落とされた四肢を喰って再生する。そして死んでも他の“飢餓罪人”が死体を喰らい、強化されて襲い掛かって来る。
それに集団の後方に控え、悍ましい笑みを浮かべて状況を楽しんでいる“飢餓罪巨人”が参戦すればその時点で押し負けるだろう。
何もしなければ数分後には押し負け、男女は喰われて終わりだった。
しかし男女は≪叡智の法典≫のメンバーである事は間違いないらしく、タヌキ教授達が名前を呼んでいた。
となればボーナスゲットのチャンスなので、俺は朱槍を片手に背後から奇襲を仕掛けた。
とりあえず、初撃は【血抜き槍】の全力投擲から始めよう。
アビリティの重複発動で強化された投げ槍は、狙いたがわず敵の頭である"飢餓罪巨人"のうなじを貫いた。
――それから乱戦となりつつも、何とか敵を殲滅する事に成功する。
幾ら“飢餓罪人”に優れた再生能力があったとしても、一体一体確実に俺が喰い殺していけば確実に仕留める事が出来た。
その度に不味い思いをしなければならないが、下手に心臓を貫くよりも頭から喰った方が確実に仕留められるのだから仕方ない。
俺の忍耐力が試される時間ではあったが、他よりも明らかに知性を感じた“飢餓罪巨人”も頭から丸かじりすると、唐突に脳内で声が聞こえ、新しく【飢餓の秘鍵】というアイテムを得た。
【能力名【飢餓耐性】のラーニング完了】
【能力名【罪業・飢餓】のラーニング完了】
【能力名【飢餓の番人】のラーニング完了】
そしてアビリティも同時にラーニング出来た。
入手したアイテムとアビリティ、そのどちらも気になるが、不味さからくる不快感と胃腸のもたれにやられて、今日は大人しく先に進んだ。
深く考えるのは後にしよう。
そう決めて吐き気を我慢しつつ足を進め、夜遅くには≪不徳の罪都≫を抜けて先に進む事が出来た。
夜食として、増えた男女の分まで見習い少年が温かいシチューを作ってくれたのでそれを食べてホッとする。
温かく柔らかい味付けのシチューは残っていた不味さがスッと消えていくように美味かった。
やはり美味い物を喰った方が元気になる。
飯を喰い、そこでようやく頭が回り始めた。
手に入れた【飢餓の秘鍵】というアイテムは、きっと聖塔のどこかで使う筈だ。
それは今はただの予想でしかないが、幾つか根拠はある。
丁度ラーニング出来たアビリティ【飢餓の番人】は何かを守っている時にだけ最大限効果を発揮できるが、発動したら腹が異常に空くだけで、身体機能が向上
するとか魔力が強化される何て事は一切ない。
使い勝手が悪すぎて使い道のない分類のアビリティだが、しかし試しに使ってみると聖塔方面に強く惹かれる何かを感じた。
まるで守るべきなにかがそちらにあるのだと示しているようだった。
だからきっと、聖塔には何かがあるのだ。
それに“飢餓罪人”とタヌキ教授達≪叡智の法典≫が初めて遭遇したのは、聖塔の調査をし始めた時だ。
≪不徳の罪都≫の中心にある聖塔、古代都市が滅びた切っ掛けかもしれない【飢餓罪・神罰】、【飢餓の秘鍵】というアイテム。
何かしらの苦難と栄光が待ち受けているに違いない。
ただ残念ながら今は目的があるので先に進むが、帰りに時間があれば聖塔を見に行ってもいいだろう。
その他にも色々と考えつつ、見習い少年に料理を追加で頼む。
元気になってくると、腹がもっと空いてきた。アビリティの効果で腹が減った事も加わって、普段以上に喰った。
新しい酒も取り出して、今日は飲んでからゆっくりと寝た。
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Category:Novel
Category:Re:Monster ~ The Dark Continent ~ Vol. 3