A short while later, a spirited shout rang throughout the part of the forest that we headed into.

“Seyaaa!!”

“Kushu, kuuh!?”

Ares’ Long Sword cut off the meter-long Great Horned Rabbit’s right front leg. Although the attack missed its body, it was enough to slow down the monster’s movement.

“Alright, leave it to me!!”

The hunter Mirea, who nocked an arrow, dexterously maneuvered a small bow, and, from a close range, pierced the flank of the Great Horned Rabbit. 

“K-kukyuu……”

The Great Horned Rabbit cried weakly and collapsed on the ground. This E+ threat level monster was something that even a novice “iron” adventurer could beat easily.

(Our lives could have been in danger if we got stabbed by that big pointy horn with a surprise attack from the bushes though…)   

While I was thinking about the monster’s unique traits as was my habit, the lightly armed warrior who acted as our vanguard, Liberto, crouched in front of the Great Horned Rabbit and brought out his dagger. 

“Alright, let’s take whatever we can take from this guy, we can’t waste the life we took from it after all. Muriel, what would be the best way to process this?”

Since I majored in Biology at the Royal Magic Academy, it made me unexpectedly happy when he asked me about how best to process the monster we brought down.

“Hmm, the Great Horned Rabbit’s horn and claws are valuable, so remove those parts first. Then, after draining its blood, we can take the rest of it to the restaurants in the villages along the way so they will buy it from us.”

“Ah, but lugging this around while traveling is a little…” 

“I’m fine with it either way, but if we’re bringing it along, I’ll do the negotiations for its sale.”

Ares, who looked a little uncomfortable, wanted to travel light, while Mirea, who earns her keep as a hunter, said anything was fine with her even though she seemed like she wanted to take it with us.

Deep down inside, she’s probably counting how much she can sell it for.

“Anyway, shall we just call it a day and head home already?”

We had ventured pretty deep into the forest, so I sighed with relief when it seemed like we had finished the day without incident. However, disasters usually strike when you least expect them. I know that much at least.

On the day of the entrance ceremony at the Magic Academy, I happened to be seated next to the one who would be known later on as the Tempest Witch, Ernesta Elballard. I spoke to her casually, but my school life became tumultuous since then… Rather, this is not the correct time to be thinking about that.

(It’s an adventure until you get home!)

The moment I shifted my attention from my silly thoughts, a large shadow jumped out from the bushes in front of me and made its way towards Liberto, who was processing the Great Horned Rabbit.

“!?! Ugwaaaah…… kahah”

Liberto was caught off guard and was thrown into the air, his back hitting a tree and expelling all the air from his lungs.

“Liberto!”

The identity of the shadow that leaped out was a 3-meter long, ore-covered monitor lizard. Ares immediately jumped between it and Liberto to protect the latter.

“That’s… a Rock Lizard!!”

The giant lizard shaking its tail threateningly is known as a Rock Lizard, a threat level C+ monster. Its ore-covered skin repels physical attacks and makes wind and water cutting spells ineffective, whereas its fire-resistant attribute decreases the effectiveness of fire spells as well.

It has weaknesses, but, unfortunately, the magic I have learned cannot deal with it. Furthermore, I’ve heard that it possesses tough muscles and sharp fangs and, in some cases, even preys on humans. 

“Ares, it’s the “Monster of Balberra”! It’s too much for us, let’s run!”

“Easier said than done. Liberto, do you think you could run?”

Liberto assessed his condition while Ares kept the Rock Lizard in check.

“Guh, sorry, my ribs may have been broken. Haha, just breathing hurts…I’ll try to buy us some time, so hurry up and go!” shouted Liberto.

“Hey, are you letting Liberto go alone with these injuries!?”

“Kuh, Mirea, I’m counting on you!!”

The Rock Lizard opened its mouth wide, its fangs peeking out as it charged at Ares who shouted as he bent his body to dodge, and Mirea who nodded as she lent her shoulder to Liberto and retreated.

Ares swung his longsword with all his strength, aiming at the large lizard that tried to turn its body in response to the movement.

“Uoooooooooh!!”

Clang

Using centrifugal force to clash against the monster’s ore-covered skin… the Long Sword suddenly broke into two as it hit the monster.

“Geh!?”

Ares’ eyes widened and his body stiffened as the Rock Lizard’s fangs started to close in on him!

“Guuuuuuh!”

“Tsk, I won’t let you! Pierce, Ice Bullets!”

As I finished casting my magic spell, I had summoned several chunks of ice from my palm and shot them at the Rock Lizard’s snout, but the damage they caused was negligible.

“I-it’s impossible to beat it without weapons, so let’s split up and run away!!”

“Okay!”

Yes, my misfortune began from that point on, but it was still okay.

“Eh!? Why is it coming this way!?”

“Giruuaaaah!”

Ares and I split up and ran, but the Rock Lizard followed me and roared while moving with a speed that didn’t match its size…while its snout bled all over the place.

I probably incurred the Rock Lizard’s wrath when I fired the Ice Bullets at its snout. If it catches up, it’ll kill and eat me, won’t it?

“Nooo, stop following me, please!!”

Is that where my end lies?

As I whined and cried, I saw three figures ahead of me. I ran up to them assuming they were adventurers because of their armor-clad appearances, but… let me say this again, misfortune has no precedent.

What stood over there wasn’t human, but the canine-type monster, the Kobold. And that was how I met these eccentric, almost unorthodox, beings.