Chapter 567 – Gaiden 70) Barbarian Knight (9)
Gaiden 70) Barbarian Knight (9)
“Kiya~ Is our Henry quite right?”
I admired the search team as they moved closer towards the cave I was hiding in. Leading the group at the head of the search team was little Henry, a former student of mine.
“But it’s a little hard to call him a disciple.”
Little Henry called me a brat and trained me as a monster hunter. But in fact, there were really few things I taught him.
In the first place, I was a villain, not a monster hunter, so I didn’t know how monster hunters hunted monsters.
So no matter what I wanted to teach, I couldn’t teach the right thing. Whether viewed objectively or subjectively, it was much more beneficial to receive training from other monster hunters in the village than me.
But I have a manly pride, I say to a kid who only chases after me, ‘Ughhh! I don’t know anything Is there anything I can teach you? Heung heung heung!’ Can’t it be like this?
“I am the best monster hunter in the universe. If I were a monster hunter, how would I hunt monsters?”
In the end, I taught Henry a few things while hypnotizing myself that I was the best monster hunter.
For example, there were things like not to miss even a single detail, constantly observing the surroundings, aiming first if you find a monster, observing the monster and continuing to study.
Honestly, what I taught Henry was something anyone could tell you, but Henry, like a sponge that sucks up a lot of water, grew himself based on the words I told him.
From my point of view, Henry was the kind of genius who didn’t need teaching. Within two months of receiving my teaching, Henry showed off his spirit of hunting small monsters alone. Henry was only 12 at the time.
Of course, I watched for Henry’s safety, but this genius kid easily hunted monsters without my help. He was such a great guy.
“Hmm… Isn’t it? I, a genius, taught you the basics, so the kid grew up like that. If it weren’t for me, he’d just be a kid, right? … I’m afraid…!”
Anyway, the search team was approaching smoothly to where I was.
“If you just come, it’s not fun… Shall we prepare a small (?) Event to create tension?”
The search team had been moving without any engagement so far. It was because I was controlling all the monsters around here.
Most of them succumbed to the power of chaos, but surprisingly there were monsters that refused the power of chaos.
The number was 4 in total, and in the end, the cubs were beaten with all their heart and subdued.
No matter how lofty pride, powerful strength, and even a monster with a violent disposition, it had no choice but to succumb in front of a fist closer than the law.
“It would be better to send the weakest first, right? Hey chicken head!”
“Keep tight!”
[You called!]
An 8m tall monster approached my call.
It was a monster with the head of a chicken with a crown-like crest on its head, the body of a snake, legs very similar to those of a chicken, and wings with feather-shaped stones instead of fur.
This guy’s official name is [Charm.Coca.Tris], But I call him Chicken Head. He had a chicken head, so this guy was a chicken head.
“Go and play with the kids. Don’t kill them.”
“Keep tight!”
[Neck!]
The chicken head moved silently and left the cave. The chicken head, which is in charge of the weakest among the four kings of monsters, will be able to give the search team a moderate amount of tension.
*****
“I’m going to take a break here for a while.”
“I see.”
At Henry’s words, the fast-moving search team stopped and took a break.
“Huh… It’s hard.”
“Yeah. It’s really hard, right?”
The two heroes, who quenched their thirst with water, clapped their tongues at the fast marching speed of the search team.
In order to confirm that the monster lord really exists, the search team reduced rest, meal time, and even sleeping time to a minimum and increased their movement speed. Even the heroes who were proud of their physical strength were exhausted.
Besides, they had to be alert because they didn’t know when the monsters would attack, so the fatigue they felt was considerable.
“Hmm… There’s a colony of mushrooms here? So, maybe there are [Mushworms] Too? That would be nice.”
“…”
Arachne looked closely at Henry, who was constantly observing and examining his surroundings even during breaks.
‘You mean it’s useful?’
In fact, she didn’t like Henry. It was because she was the youngest among the monster hunters.
Being young doesn’t just mean being young. It meant that his career as a monster hunter was short and he lacked experience compared to other hunters.
However, Henry’s performances so far were enough to break Arachne’s prejudice against her.
It’s not a walking encyclopedia, and if you ask something, the answer comes back right away.
In addition, simply by looking at the traces carved on the ground, trees, or leaves, he could find out which monsters were here.
Even though his time as a monster hunter was short, Henry knew more than anyone else. And that knowledge was power in the land of monsters.
‘The land of monsters will change.’
If the pioneering business is successful, people’s residence is no longer limited to the Dark City. Many people will advance into the land of monsters, and houses will be built and buildings will go up on this land.
Even if you go to the construction site right now, you can easily find workers with body strengthening superpowers. It wasn’t long before this land developed like the Dark City.
And at that time, the one who exerts the greatest influence will be a monster hunter who knows well about this land, and Henry, who has shown exceptional abilities among them, will stand out.
If he gets close to Henry in advance, he can have a lot of things for himself.
‘Good.’
Arachne, having finished her calculations, rose from her seat and approached Henry.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. Did I fuss too much?”
“No. I didn’t ask for an apology. I’m just asking out of curiosity, so you don’t have to be so uncomfortable.”
Arachne responded kindly to Henry, who apologized. It was completely different from the stiff attitude he had at first and the occasional flirtation.
Henry, unaware of the change in Arachne’s attitude towards him, replied scratching his head.
“Actually, I was looking around. Master told me to keep observing my surroundings.”
“Is the master coming out again?”
“Yes?”
“No. By the way, did you find out anything?”
“Oh yes. I think there is a habitat for [Mushworms] Around here.”
“[Mushworm]? What kind of monster is that?”
“It’s a monster that lives parasitic on mushrooms. Basically, most monsters are big, but mushroom worms are really small. Should I say they’re almost like caterpillars?”
Henry showed his index finger and showed that Mushworm was roughly this big.
“Really? Is there anything I should be wary of about mushroom worms?”
“No, there’s no such thing. Mushworms don’t eat people like monsters.”
“They don’t eat people? They’re monsters?”
“Yes. They eat mushrooms, not people or animals.”
“Uh… That’s very unusual. But I think you’re looking for that Mushworm. Why are you looking for him?”
“Eating mushroom worms can have an effect similar to that of a stimulant. If I catch a few, I think I’ll use them later.”
“… Eat monsters?”
When Arachne was told that she was eating mushroom worms, Arachne didn’t show it on the outside, but was shocked inside. How could he possibly eat monsters? Then what if you die?!
“Yes. Surprisingly, there are many monsters that can be eaten. Most monsters have very tough meat and stink, so you can’t eat them.
“That’s amazing. You can eat monsters… But you said that the mushroom worm has a stimulant effect? What exactly does it have?”
“There are many effects, but the best one is that it temporarily strengthens superpowers.”
“… Huh? Now what? What makes you stronger?”
“A superpower. Once, other brothers and sisters ate mushroom worms, and then my superpowers became very strong. Thanks to that, I was able to hunt monsters very easily. I always take mushroom worms with me when I go hunting. More often than not, though.”
“…”
Arachne stared blankly at Henry as he spoke with regret. Now all sorts of thoughts and calculations were running through her head.
Eating mushroom worms enhances superpowers?
Whether it’s a hero or a villain, if you have superpowers, everyone wants to have stronger superpowers. Because superpower is power and power.
That’s why many psychics work hard every day to develop their psychic powers. Because the only way to develop superpowers is through hard work.
But can such psychic powers be strengthened with just one act of eating?
If there really is such a dream food, all the psychics in the Dark City will come back with money. Even if the effect is temporary, the fact that superpowers can be strengthened is a surprise to the world.
“… Henry.”
“Yes?”
“We’re friends.”
“Yes? Ah, yes…”
“From today we’re best friends. Oh, do you have a girlfriend? How about a rich, sexy, older woman?”
“Yes?”
Henry was taken aback by the appearance of Arachne, who showed a completely different appearance, as if her soul had changed.
‘Girl friend…’
When he heard the word girlfriend, an unknown girl came to mind in Henry’s mind. It was a girl he happened to see while wandering around the city before, and Henry fell in love the moment he saw the girl.
Unfortunately, however, Henry was shy and was unable to say a word to the girl. I wonder if we could run into each other again after that. He looked for the street where he saw the girl every day, but he didn’t see her until he eventually left for the land of monsters.
Henry’s first love, which came without notice, ended.
“From now on, we… Huh?”
It was then.
Arachne, who was still holding Henry’s hand and talking hypnotically that we were good friends, felt something and hardened her face.
Although invisible, within 100m of the current search team’s center, Arachne’s spider webs were spread all over the place. The monsters could attack the search team, so it was installed for surveillance in preparation for this.
Just now, something touched the spider web spread outside. And it continued to touch the web, coming towards the search team. There was no change in direction. I honestly went straight in the direction of the search team.
“Prepare for battle.”
“Yes?”
“Something is approaching us. The height is about… 3m! Assume that what is approaching is a monster and prepare for battle!”
“Four!”
The heroes, who had been taking a short break at Arachne’s command, immediately got ready for battle.
Heroes capable of ranged attacks climbed trees or hid behind them. And heroes with superpowers that improve body functions, such as body enhancers, spread widely and took their place.
The monster that had been silently approaching soon appeared.
“Ooh oh oh oh -oh clothes ~ !!!!!!!”
“Wh-what is that?!”
“Chicken?!”
“You crazy bastard, what kind of chicken is that big!”
A huge chicken’s head popped out from among the thick bushes. The heroes were stunned by the huge chicken head. With a little exaggeration, the chicken head that showed up now was bigger than a mid-size car.
“I-that’s…!”
And Henry was astonished in a different way than the heroes.
If the heroes were just shocked by the huge chicken head, Henry was shocked because he knew the guy’s identity.
“Everyone look at the floor!”
“What?”
“Huh?”
Henry shouted urgently, but few heroes followed his words. A hero who had not yet grasped the situation met eyes with the head of a chicken.
So-so-so-!
“Uh, uh uh?! My, my body…!”
The hero’s body, which met eyes with the chicken head, began to harden like a stone. The Sanctuary armor and clothes he was wearing, and his body turned to stone.
“Damn it! There was no sign of him!”
Looking at the hero turning to stone, Henry bit his lip.
