Dream Life Vol II Chapter 23.2: “Northern Forest”

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 I saw this as an opportunity, and with the same momentum I had when I closed the distance, I thrust my sword between the enemy’s jaws with a “Take this!”

 

 Centipede, perhaps not anticipating this move, wildly swung its jaw out after I pulled my sword out. But I had expected that, and it didn’t even graze me.

 

 The centipede clacked its jaws, but slowly stopped moving.

 

 

 I carefully kept my distance, wary of the centipede’s movements. But the centipede, which had slowed its movements, slowly lay on the ground, clear bodily fluids pouring from between its jaws.

 

 Meanwhile, Liddy had reached the wounded man. The young swordsman had been chewed halfway through his torso, along with his entire leather armor, by the powerful centipede’s jaws, and a large amount of blood was spilling. By the time Liddy tried to cast a healing spell, he was already gone.

 

 

 I approached the centipede carefully once more, ignoring the still rustling legs, and thrust my sword into the joint behind its head.

 

 Bertram’s sword pierced through the thin membrane of the joint and sliced through every nerve in it.

 

 The centipede’s head came off with a thud, and at last the Giant Centipede died.

 

 

 As I was confirming the centipede’s death, the adventurer I had saved–a male swordsman of about 20 years old–approached me.

 

 

“I was saved, thanks… Hey, you’re just a child!” (Swordsman)

 

 

 The man exclaimed as soon as he saw my face, immediately apologizing looking quite embarrassed and holding out his right hand.

 

 

“No, I’m sorry. Thank you for your help. My name is Ian. I am a seventh-rank adventurer.” (Ian)

 

 

 I sheathe my sword and take his right hand.

 

 

“My name is Zack. I’m not yet a registered adventurer, but if you’re hurt, I can help you.” (Zack)

 

 

 Ian said, “Only Gem had died. The one that was attacked,” he says, shaking his head sadly.

 

 Liddy moves away from the dead adventurer, Gem, and joins us in our conversation.

 

 Ian looked at Liddy’s face and gulped, but quickly returned to a serious expression.

 

 Liddy says to Ian, “I’m Lydiane,” and holds out her right hand.

 

 As she shook hands with Ian, she said, “I’m sorry about that boy Gem,” and her expression clouded a bit, but she soon looked at him with a serious expression.

 

 

“But it’s not our fault we were late. As you know, there was no need for us to intervene. I wasn’t going to help you guys if this boy, Zack, hadn’t said he was going to help you. You understand that right?” (Liddy)

 

 

 Ian nodded, “Yeah.”

 

 

“I’m sorry about Gem, but I don’t expect you to help when I am in that situation. First of all, if I were in your shoes, I would have run away immediately.” (Liddy)

 

 

 Then, looking at his own party members.

 

 

“If you guys hadn’t come along, there might have been other casualties… I’m going to return the favor someday, somehow.” (Ian)

 

 

 Liddy said lightly, “You don’t have to worry about it,” but she looked at me with a grave expression.

 

 

“You were just lucky this time. Attacking an opponent of higher rank is not just reckless, it’s suicidal. Please, you should understand this.” (Liddy)

 

 

 Liddy’s tone was sterner than I have ever heard, and I flinched.

 

 

“I understand that this could have been dangerous not only for me but for Liddy and Sharon as well. I apologize for that. I’m truly sorry.” (Zack)

 

 

 Liddy smiled and hugged me.

 

 

“I hope you understand. …I’m afraid I’m going to lose you, so don’t do anything rash.” (Liddy)

 

 

 Her arms trembled a little as she hugged me.

 

 

(At that time, I couldn’t accept the death of a person. I didn’t want to think of anything else if there was a chance I could help. Liddy was trying to tell me that that wasn’t good enough. That’s why she talked to Ian about that… The death of a person… Speaking of which, I saw someone get killed for the first time…) (Zack)

 

 

 I suddenly became aware of the death of an adventurer named Gem. Then I saw someone get killed, and the shock of it hit me slowly.

 

 

(I don’t even know him. He was just a stranger. And yet, to have someone killed is such a shock to me. …I can’t stop shaking to think if this was Sharon… if this was Liddy…) (Zack)

 

 

 Liddy notices how I’m doing and hugs me tightly once more. That managed to stop my body from shaking.

 

 

(If I were in this situation, Sharon would be more upset. …How pathetic am I. I’m a grown man, I’m so busy thinking of myself…) (Zack)

 

 

 I turned around to speak to Sharon.

 

 She looked a little sad that I was being hugged, but she didn’t seem shocked by the battle or the death of someone.

 

 I bowed to her and said, “Sorry.”

 

 

“I was about to put Sharon in danger. I need to cool down a little more.”

 

 

 She shook her head,

 

 

“Well, you were cool… And I wasn’t scared. I believed that Master Zack would protect me…” (Sharon)

 

 

 It was so direct that it made my face heat up. Sharon’s face turned red as well.

 

 As we stared at each other in silence, Liddy said, cutting in, “Okay, okay. We’re still in a dangerous forest.”

 

 

“I’ve collected the magic crystal stones, but what are we going to do after that?” (Liddy)

 

“Let’s walk a little further into the woods.” (Zack)

 

 

 As we were about to enter the forest, Ian’s voice came from behind us.

 

 

“What are you going to do with the materials? The shells of Giant Centipedes fetch a pretty good price.” (Ian)

 

 

 I ask Liddy, “Really?”

 

 

“Yes, I think it could go for about fifty Crona (fifty thousand yen), something like that.” (Liddy)

 

 

 I couldn’t believe that she would throw away fifty thousand yen, so I asked, “Then why don’t we bring it back?”

 

 

“Who is going to carry it? Our members can’t carry it. First of all, it’s too much trouble to dismantle them. The magic stones and the reward for defeating the enemy are much higher, so there is no need to go to the trouble of dismantling it. Besides, I hate dismantling bug-like things.” (Liddy)

 

 

 Apparently, she meant what she said in the last sentence. But she does have a point. I don’t know how long it will take to dismantle them, but during that time, we will inevitably have to be on our guard. And we’re wasting time carrying our heavy bags back to the city. We are not fighting for money. Of course, we need money, but the rewards and the profit from the sale of the magic stones will be enough to make a profit. Then we’d better make good use of that time. Of course, in the case of more expensive materials, of course we intend to collect them.

 

 

“I don’t need the centipede shells. If you want to take it, I have no problem having you take it.” (Zack)

 

 

 Ian looked incredulous, but bowed his head, saying, “Thanks for the help.

 

 I was surprised at how low he bowed.

 

 

(Maybe it was because we saved their lives, but can he bow deeply to a ten-year-old? If it’s a meritocracy, I can understand it, but… Guy said that if a kid goes to the guild, he’ll get in trouble, so I guess it’s okay if I go.) (Zack)

 

 

 We split up with Ian and the others and headed back deeper into the woods.

 

 After that, we only encountered a rabbit monster about the size of a medium-sized dog called a Horned Rabbit.

 

 The Horned Rabbit is not a very tough monster, but that individual was not happy with us, and it attacked us. However, since it only moved in a straight line and had no means of attacking us that would pose a threat, we easily returned the attack.

 

 This monster is a tenth-rank monster, and although their magic stones are inexpensive, its fur and meat are sold at a relatively high price.

 

 We put the rabbit in our backpack and decided to take it home, although it weighed nearly ten kilos.

 

 

 After returning home, we dismantled the rabbit, but as the three of us could not eat it all, we decided to share it with our neighbors.

 

 

 When I took it to Mr. Litorf on the left side, he praised me and Sharon for passing and placing first and second with some boisterous gestures.

 

 Mr. Litorf works as a clerk at the Tyria Magic Academy, and seems to have known about our passing.

 

 

“No, really, I was surprised! I can’t believe our neighbors are the first and second runners-up of the academy! I was actually going to congratulate you yesterday. However, my Helen, my wife, told me not to since Guy was leaving today…” (Litorf)

 

 

 He was so excited that we were a little bit embarrassed.

 

 

“Well, if you need anything, come and talk to me. I don’t have much authority, but I’ve worked here long enough to have built connections.” (Litorf)

 

 

 With that last remark, he patted me on the shoulder.

 

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