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The Otherworld Conquest Method of a Reincarnated Porter Chapter 43 Part 1

The End of Zuma

　As I am running toward Magt, erasing my presence all the while, I encounter a swarm of bees swarming around the corpse of one of Zuma’s comrades on the way. They don’t seem to notice me.

「He was abandoned by Zuma, huh. What a fitting end for a scoundrel.」

The swarm of bees lift the corpse and fly toward the hive. I also see several other swarms of bees carrying corpses clad in black cloaks. How many rookie adventurers would be able to survive, I wonder? After all, even if we made it through the bees’ territory, we would still have to walk for hours to get to the city. It must be hopeless.

After walking for a while, I made it to the river where we had lunch previously. Two adventurers are in the middle of a fight against a swarm of bees, while Zuma and another one are running toward Magt with Marin in tow.

「Wait for us! Zuma! Damn it, that bastard has gone and abandoned us.」

「Damn it! Hey, give me a red potion.」

「I’ve used up those things long ago! More importantly, give me a green potion. I’ve not been feeling well since a while ago. I think I may have been poisoned.」

Two adventurers against eleven golden bees. Three dead bees are lying in the surrounding area. They are completely surrounded, so it seems impossible to escape. Showered with poisonous stinger attacks from all directions, they are wounded all over their bodies. As expected, it seems that they cannot win against the violence of numbers. Although they are weak, the poison must have spread through their bodies. Their movements gradually grow duller and duller, and in the end, both of them end up running out of strength.

「Damn it, damn it. In such a place…」

「Hiii, help me! Somebody!」

Perhaps due to their high level, it seems that the bees are unable to sting them to death. In a half-dead state, the bees carry them and fly away. I wonder if they will end up being eaten alive. They may be bad people, but talk about tragic end.

The bees also collect the carcasses of their companions before flying away. They probably cannibalize each other, too. Maybe that is how a superior species is born.

After confirming that there are no more enemies in the surrounding area, I decide to take a rest. As I sit down, I am assailed by a rush of fatigue. Not only physical fatigue, but also mental fatigue. From fighting against Zuma’s comrades and the bees, to collecting the honey, I danced with death through all that. I can feel that I have accumulated intense stress. Besides, I am still deep in the forest, far from the city. Some powerful monsters may be lurking around, so I cannot let my guard down.

「Come to think of it, monsters’ honey should have the effect of restoring magical energy. Let’s give it a try, shall we?」

I take a barrel out of my storage, scoop some honey with my fingers, and put it in my mouth.

「S, s, s, so good! And sweet. Oh, what is this? Was honey something that tasted this good?」

Even now, I am not sure if it has the effect of restoring magical energy, but I have a feeling that it has the effect of relieving fatigue. Or is it just my imagination? Perhaps it is because I am starved for sweetness in this world, but I find it unbelievably delicious. I can’t stop eating the honey. Maybe it is addictive.

Compared to the honey from earth, I get the feeling that it has a stronger smell. It might end up attracting enemies, so it is probably a good idea to hurry on ahead, although I still want to eat it.

I get the feeling that my strength and magical energy, which I consumed in my battle against the bees, have recovered considerably. I wonder if it is the effect of automatic recovery and honey. Maybe it is the relief of being freed from the borderline between life and death.

As I put the barrels away into my storage and am about to set off, I catch sight of a black cloak lying in the distance. As I go there to take a look, thinking that there might be a survivor, I find a dead golden bee lying near the cloak.

「Did the owner of this cloak kill the golden bee? I don’t think there was someone that strong among the rookie adventurers, though.」

When I look around the surrounding area, I spot a fallen adventurer in the distance. As I try to move closer, I notice that he is barely breathing, but he is on the verge of death.

「He’s Marin’s elder brother, right? So he’s still alive, huh. Appraisal!」

Alto, Age 15, Level 12

Job: Swordsman

Skills: Body Manipulation 1, Body Enhancement 3, Instant Step 2, Swordsmanship 2

State: Weak Poison

Due to there being a difference in level between us, as well as him being in a defenseless state, I am able to appraise even his skills and state. For him to be able to defeat the golden bee with such level and equipment, that is amazing.

He is on the verge of death, so I have to treat him immediately or it will be too late. I am not too keen on the idea of giving him potion mouth-to-mouth. I take out the wand of the old demon tree from my storage and use healing magic to restore his strength. After that, let’s have him act as my training partner for detoxification magic. I had been taught by Alma on how to do it, but I don’t know if I will succeed because I never had a chance to use it, but it is a weak poison, so even if I fail, I don’t think he will die because of it.

I channel my magical energy into Alto’s body and detect foreign substances. The image is that of expelling it from the opening of the wound. It requires a great deal of concentration, so it seems difficult to use during a battle. Even so, thanks to the wand, the magic seems to have succeeded smoothly. When I appraise him, I find that 『State: Weak Poison』 has disappeared.

Although he doesn’t come to his senses, his breathing has become like that of someone breathing in his sleep. The danger to his life has probably passed. I take out the magic stone of the golden bee, carry Alto on my back, and head for Magt. Now then, I hope Marin is also safe.

◇ ◇ ◇

　I made it back to the river where we defeated the cow. From here, the distance is about one hour’s walk to Magt. On the riverside, Zuma, one of his comrades, and Marin are taking a rest. I put down Alto, who is still sleeping, and check on the situation over there.

「Damn it, Zuma. Everyone’s dead. What are we going to do now?」

「We only need to increase our number again. There are tons of people who want to join us, after all. More importantly, when we get back to Magt, we’re going to look for a porter and collect the honey. If we split it between you and I only, we’ll have enough funds for our current activities, no?」

「It’s worth forty large gold coins, after all. That’s enough money for you to play around for the rest of your life. That’s right, I’ll quit my job as an adventurer and live in the countryside with that money. I’ll live a leisurely life with three or four women waiting upon me, doing some hunts or something all the while. How’s that, not a bad idea, right?」

「Huh? The heck are you going on about?! You think you can slip away on your own at this point, you son of a bitch!」

Oh, they are starting to fight among themselves. If I play my cards right, I might be able to put an end to his life before we make it to Magt.

「W, wait a minute, Zuma. There’s no way we can keep doing this kind of job for the rest of our life, no? Even you will probably retire someday. That’s right, I’m fine with my share being only ten large gold coins. Okay? I beg you, man.」

「I see, alright, I get it. If you want to retire, do as you please.」

「M, my bad, man. Zuma, how about you retire too….」

「As for your retirement money, take this.」

Zuma draws his one-handed sword and cuts the neck of his comrade. It seems to have cut an artery and he is bleeding profusely. He is holding the wound, but he will probably breathe his last soon.

「Kyaaa~」

Marin’s scream echoes through the forest. For a 14-year-old girl from the countryside to suddenly have something like that shown right in front of her eyes, it must be traumatizing.

「Ah, ah, Zuma. Help….」

「Thanks for all your help until now.」

Zuma beheads his comrade without hesitation. His sword has a black blade, which I think is made of high purity black iron. This is bad. If I get attacked by someone as high-leveled as him using that black iron sword and body enhancement, I won’t be able to put up any resistance. If I fight him head on, I don’t think I will have a chance to win.

「No, no!」

「Hey, hold it right there!」

Marin, unable to bear the disastrous scene in front of her, runs away, but Zuma soon catches up with her.

「Calm down. Since I don’t do anything bad to you, alright?」

「No, no, no, let me go! Big brother!」

「If you’re looking for that guy, he’s probably dead by now. Why do you think I made you guys wear black cloaks? It’s to make it easier for you guys to be attacked by the bees. That’s how all the rookie adventurers die every year, after all.」

「N, no way. No way, big brother. Big brother~.」

「So noisy! Just be quiet already!」

With a smack, Zuma slaps Marin on the cheek. Considering the difference in level, it must have packed quite an impact. I want to do something, but right now, I have no choice but to wait for an opportunity.

「Ugh, no, no.」

「Hehe, hehehe.」

Zuma pushes Marin down, mounts her and does not stop slapping her. With his sadistic desire stirred, he seems to be in a state of arousal.