CH 12

Chapter 12: Desire for Meat

The “Torchu Mountain Range” was a hangout for demons. Our protagonist Hiiro Okamura had to pass through there to get to his destination “Surge” and thus was…

“UWAAAAH!”

running away with all his might. As for the reason, an annoying amount of demons was chasing after him.

“D- Damn! Who would’ve thought that this was the ‘Torchu Disaster Plant’!”

He slipped into a gap in the cliff, letting the demons go past him.

How did it come to this? He had finally arrived at the mountain range, but noticed that his food was running out.

While he roamed around, he found a plant growing on the roadside. That plant bore fruits, which emitted a sweet fragrance like strawberries. Moreover, the fruits were rather large and he plugged the plant, thinking it could serve as food.

However, underneath the plant didn’t have roots, but was shaped in a creepy humanoid form out of wood. It suddenly started screaming, so his heart nearly stopped beating.

And then he remembered that the woman at the counter in the Guild taught him about the demon called “Torchu Disaster Plant” before coming here.

It wasn’t a plant, but a full-fledged demon. Once pulled out, it screamed shrill and attracted all nearby demons.

Not knowing that it was the “Torchu Disaster Plan”, he froze up on the spot without understanding what was going on, whereupon a swarm of demons advanced upon him.

(Oh man, this world’s really interesting)

Even while thinking so, he held his breath and checked the surroundings. It looked like the demons were gone.

“Fuh. I think I could’ve beaten them, but so many showed up so suddenly…”

There were easily over ten of them. For now it was the right decision to hide.

He walked on, reminding himself to be careful about the “Torchu Disaster Plant” from now on.

“Still, I’m hungry.”

Even more so after running. He restlessly looked around for something eatable and sniffed out an aromatic smell from somewhere.

“Guess I’ll check it out.”

He headed towards the smell. After a while, he found a small stream and some fishes being grilling nearby on skewers at a fire. The great smell stirred up his hunger.

Gulping down, he surveyed the area, looking for the one responsible for this. But as far as he could tell, no one was around.

“Mhm~”

No one around. Delicious grilled fish right in front of him. An empty stomach. And again, no one around.

“…..Time to dig in.”

He couldn’t hold himself back. Just at the moment he tried to take the fish,

“Get awaaaaay!”

A terrible killing intent came from behind him, so he jumped widely to the side. At the place where he had been at before, now stood a man thrusting a wooden pole into the ground.

“Get away! I won’t give you any! That’s my food!”

While saying so, he pointed the pole at him like pointing a finger. The man had short ruffled hair in blue colour. He looked like in his 30s. Even covered by armour, it was noticeable that he had quite a muscular build.

He carried a broadsword on his back, which lead Hiiro to think that things would get troublesome if he drew it.

(Still…)

Glancing at the fish, his stomach growled again.

“Boy! Name yourself! Trying to snatch food from me, the great Arnold, is inexcusable! State your name!”

With half-opened eyes, Hiiro thought: What a bothersome fellow.

“I’ve nothing to give to you! State your name and begone!”

It seemed he had to state his name no matter what, but he considered what to do.

“……..Mh, first, hear me out.”