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Chapter 169: Senpai’s Great Adventure ④

~Nameless Ex-Zombie’s Perspective~

A big strategy to turn the giant caterpillar that stole our prey into food instead.

Speed is the key to this strategy. I need Lavan’s cooperation for this.

(Lavan, let’s go back to the beach just now.)

「Gyuaa?」

(There was a lively goblin there, right? We catch him first!)

「Gyua!」

As soon as we returned to the shore, Lavan found the goblin and grabbed him by the neck while gliding.

Then we headed back to the desert.

The goblin struggled to get free, but he was no match for Lavan’s strength.

I couldn’t hear the ground rumbling anymore. A monster with such a huge body couldn’t have gotten that far.

We threw the struggling goblin into the desert. The goblin will desperately try to escape back to the coast.

The reason the goblin didn’t want to go into the desert was probably because of the giant caterpillar.

When you’re about to be predated on, your instincts will send out danger signals. It’s something that I can understand because I was a weak monster.

It’s been going according to my strategy so far. All that’s left is to fly around the goblin’s vicinity with Lavan and wait for the prey to bite the bait.

If that monster is sensing vibrations, there’s no way it wouldn’t react to the goblin running frantically.

Hmm? What am I going to do once that caterpillar appears?

Well, obviously I’m going to… Crap. I haven’t thought about that yet!

The ground started rumbling right then!

……Whatever should I do?

Hmmm… There is no point in thinking!

I’ll just leave it to my spirit and guts!!

(Lavan, make sure you don’t get eaten!!)

「Gyagya!?」

…Perhaps because I was concentrating with my stomach, I could feel the movement around me slow down.

After concentrating, my head cleared up. For some reason I felt like this moment was the best I’ve ever felt in my life.

While looking at myself objectively in my mind, I naturally channeled mana into the spear in my hand. Flames erupted from the edge of the blade.

(It’s here! What perfect timing!)

A strange sensation as if my body was moving automatically. While jumping off Lavan’s back from the sky, I swung down the flame spear with both hands.

A soft, squishy feel, the smell of grilled meat, and green body fluids burst forth.

The sensation transmitted from my weapon to my hand was so sharp that I clearly understood that I had also cut the goblin that was about to be eaten.

As I landed in the desert after slashing the caterpillar vertically, the giant caterpillar collapsed behind me a few seconds later, kicking up a cloud of sand.

Hehe!! Did you see that!? I can do it after all!”

Exactly as calculated! Hmm? No, it’s not a “half-baked strategy”!!

Even so, that was amazing, right? With just one strike!

What a feeling that was!!

「Gaha! *Cough cough*… What the hell… I thought I was swallowed by a giant worm…」

What’s this? A human came out of a caterpillar.

Ah, is it the guy who was eaten earlier? I guess he was lucky enough to still be alive. Even so, isn’t his whole body covered in fluids… It smells.

「Damn, there’s a cloud of sand… Huh? The giant worm is… dead? Wait wait, the giant worm is an S-rank monster!! Who the hell…」

Yes! It’s me!

This ex-zombie uncle did it! Even so, I can’t speak because I don’t have vocal cords!

Rather, this shitty caterpillar is an S rank? It took just one hit though? And it was quite squishy.

…Maybe I am… quite strong??

「S… Skull Knight… And even a mutant Wyvern… Haha… am I dreaming?」

Why the hell is this guy talking to himself? Is he crazy?

Well, whatever. Lavan’s food has increased. Though I don’t think he can finish this caterpillar…

(Lavan, you can eat the human too.)

「Gyururuu!」

Huh? You don’t want to? …Is it because he is covered in caterpillar bodily fluids?

Like I said, if you’re too picky with your food…

「W-Wait! Um… can you understand what I’m saying? If you’re a high-ranked monster, you should be able to understand what I’m saying, right!?」

Well, I do understand. But it would be a hassle if I let you return alive. Humans always want to quickly eliminate any threats.

「Y-You understand! You don’t even have to say anything! I can tell by looking at that reaction. If you let me go, I’ll give you everything I have along with my magic bag! It contains the items I’ve collected in dungeons for many years! In addition, this magic bag itself is also quite good! W-What do you say?」

The man took out his equipment from a bag called a “magic bag” and showed it to me.

Just as the guy said, it was true that this strange bag would be super useful in the future. He pulled out various monsters one after another.

Metal gloves and boots that seem to match Golem-kun’s armor, and also a cloak with bright red embroidery…!?

T-That’s so cool…

Alright! I accept the deal!

It’s overwhelmingly more profitable for me to receive a lot of items than to eat a middle-aged man who doesn’t even look delicious.

It will become troublesome if I let him escape, you say? I’ll just think about that later.

And since Lavan and I don’t stay in one place, there’s no particular harm.

Thinking that, I slowly nodded and the man removed the magic bag and threw it towards me. When I picked up the magic bag that had fallen to the ground and checked its contents, I naturally understood what was inside.

Does this mean that the ownership has been transferred?

I mean, I can just kill him and take the bag, right?

「A deal’s a deal. Please let me go.」

Seeing the man desperately pleading with his hands in front as he backed up, it seems like he doesn’t trust us either.

No no, I am a nice guy who keeps his promises! Once I’ve decided, I won’t bend it!

When I slowly nodded again, the man suddenly turned around and ran away. Is there a town in that direction? Well, I don’t care about that.

From now on, I have a big job of cutting the caterpillar into pieces small enough for Lavan to eat.

Before that, let’s equip the items inside the magic bag…

Oh! It’s exactly as I imagined! When I put all the equipment together, it looks quite solid and cool!

I couldn’t hide my face, so my skull is still completely exposed…

I wonder how I look to others? I’m sure the feeling of dandyism would be overflowing!

Now then, let’s start working on this caterpillar.

Huh? What are my plans after this?　

…Like I said, just follow the wind!

(I’ve decided! Let’s become a cool and quiet uncle figure!)

「Gye…」

Ah, Lavan overhead that…

Well, whatever! Let’s have fun together, Lavan!