Chapter 5: The Worst Day of Lambda Ancient
Translated by: Shield
「… So, I ran all the way inside of Rokulus Forest ―――― This is a very bad situation …」
A short time after the 『Banishment』 at the Ancients’ mansion ―――― I left the city of Sertus and was in the forest of Rokulus, where the road leading to the neighboring city of Othur.
I could not reach Othur without getting out of this forest, but I was afraid to spend the night in the city of Sertus.
「Well … I'm ashamed to go to Sertus now …」
The Ancient Family are the rulers in the city of Sertus. Many people know me ―――― so I'm sure that I'll be treated as the『Failure of the Ancient family』if they saw my face.
If that’s the case, there’s only one thing I need to do.
「Even if I hurried through the forest, it would take roughly two hours…」
The sun had completely set, and the forest was enveloped in the silence of the night, and my only guidepost was the moonlight coming through the gap between the trees.
Although the roads from Sertus to Othur are well maintained, I had to get through this forest in the middle of the night ―――― of course, far from safe and comfortable.
「All I have to do ―――― is pray that there won’t be any monsters.」
Naturally, monsters that take revenge on people also appear.
The only fortunate thing is that ―――― most of the mosnters that pose a major threat have been defeated by the vigilant activities of the Knights of Sertus, which was formed by my father, the lord of the city, and Zechs-Ancient as the current commander.
「The only thing that might come out is a low grade slime or a demon dog… But it would be better to be careful…」
The only weapon in his hand is a longsword in a pitiful state that was cut in half by Zwei nee-san.
However, if I had experienced slime hunting with my father, I thought I could handle it although I wouldn’t say that it’s easy.
「I’ve got to get through the woods and get to Othur somehow … and join the Adventurer’s Guild so that I can earn a living from the requests I receive.」
As I put a calculation to get out of the forest, I think about what to do『Afterwards』 .
『Adventurers’ Guild 』―――― is an organization based in various parts of the world, where the guild’s adventurers can solve requests from residents living in various places, and get money and rare materials as a reward.
My father used to say, 『The Adventurers’ Guild is nothing more than a recruitment agency for day laborers』. But since I didn’t become the knight I longed to be, I had no choice but to put my hope in the Adventurers’ Guild.
「… However, what kind of request do they have for garbage scavengers?」
I’m anxious —- I wonder if there will ever be any quest for the 『Garbage Scavenger』 job class that was ridiculed even in the city of Sertus.
In the first place, I’ve never even heard of an occupational class called “Garbage Scavenger” until now.
Will I ―――― really be accepted as an 『Adventurer』 of the guild after being given such an unspecified job class?
I can’t help but think about that. Indeed ―――― the unique skill【Garbage Pickup】was excellent in terms of its effect in spite of its pathetic name.
As I walked along the street at night, I analyzed my skills by projecting the details of my unique skill,【Trash Pickup】onto the screen that appeared in【2D Viewer Open Status】.
【Garbage pick-up】―――― Things that are dumped and no longer owned ―――― the effect is activated by touching objects and substances that can be recognized as 『garbage』 that are not owned by anyone and left unattended.
I can acquire ownership of any object and ignore the conditions of possession of that object or the authority to own it ―――― Even if it is a holy sword that can only be handled by a brave man as described in the prophecy. If it’s『Trash』 with no owner, I can make it my property.
Also, if the object had an original user ―――― I can learn and acquire the experience (proficiency, registered skills) that is stored in the object.
「I see… The drawback is that the effect of the skill is limited to『Garbage』… but the more I pick any garbage up, the higher the level it gets… The problem is that the『Trash』I pick up may be in a state where there is no way to use it or repair it.」
I looked over the skill information for 【Garbage Pickup】 and suddenly looked down at the sword held in my left hand. The sword was discarded by Zechs-nii-sama on a whim and half of the blade was cut off by sister Zwei nee-san’s swordsmanship.
Although it is in a poor condition to be called a『Sword』, but it was originally still usable if repaired.
However, if the sword is already useless when I pick it up, like my sword that was burnt to pieces in the mansion, it won’t mean much no matter how much ownership I acquire.
If I had to say anything, I would say that it is important to learn and acquire experience even if it is not useful.
「Let’s see if I can learn and acquire experience by touching every piece of junk at the second-hand market…?」
I have not yet fully grasped the details and possibilities of the occupation and skills given in the ――――『Divine Granting Ceremony』.
Then, it's too early to be pessimistic about everything.
「―――― All right, it’s decided then! I need to hurry up and get out of this forest ―――― what?!」
It was when I tried to encourage myself ―――― a strong smell of death and the faint smell of animals that came from nowhere stimulated my nostrils.
「What's that…?! Where is it coming from…?」
I covered my nose using my arms when I noticed the smell. It’s different from the dead animals or monsters rotting away somewhere in the forest ―――― It’s a much more immediate threat, the smell of death.
I walk cautiously, feeling bad about the smell.
Then, after going along the road for a while ―――― I arrived at the source of the smell.
「―――― A corpse…!」
I saw a knight lying on his back on the side of the road, dead.
「What the hell is this wound … what the hell happened…?」
The body of the knight was gouged from the right shoulder to the right calf and 60 percent of the body was hollowed out, at a glance it was so miserable that it could be concluded that he had died instantly.
「The crest emblem on his armor suit … belongs to a unit under the command of Zechs-nii-san ―――― the kingdom of Sertus」
The crest emblem on the left b****t of the armor was the crest emblem of the Sertus Knights, who served as the city’s vigilante, indicating that the deceased knight was a subordinate of Zechs-nii-san.
「The armor provided to the Knights must have been of some value and had good protection… Was there a stronger impact that can pierce his armor? And the shape of this wound is… probably a bite…」
After carefully observing the corpse, which was already decomposing and emitting a strong stench of death, I was able to detect that the fatal wound the knight received was a bite wound inflicted using its fangs.
But it’s not the type of wound that matters ―――― it’s how it was inflicted.
As far as I know, the monsters that are roaming in the forest can’t do this. It's much bigger ―――― only a large monster that is well over the size of a human being can do it.
My predictions were wrong.
The trees were swept away by a sudden ―――― night breeze that blew unexpectedly. The smell of death, which still irritates the nostrils even when you cover it with your arms, disappears for a brief moment after abducted by the wind ―――― and then 『it』 appears.
「… ah, A big monster ―――― Garm…!」
A large monster, a wolf ―――― called 『Garm』 which looked to be three times my height, appeared from among the trees, crushing twigs that had fallen to the ground with a snap.
「Impossible…Why would such a high level demon monster be in such a remote forest…!」
The large monster in front of me is not supposed to exist in the forest of Rokolus, which connects my hometown of Sertus and the neighboring city of Othur.
The reason is simple: the Sertus Knights, based in Sertus and adventurers belonging to the Adventurers’ Guild in Othur, continue to hunt all the monsters that inhabits the forest every day.
For this reason, no high-level demon monsters have been seen in the Rokolus Forest for a long time, and when they do appear, they are low-level monsters such as slimes and demon dogs at best.
And yet ―――― there stands in front of me is the『Garm』, a high-level demon monster that I’ve only seen in illustrated books.
「――――！」
Ah, it's not good, not good not good not good… it's really bad.
Although I have been training since I was a child, I just got my vocational class and skills at the 『Divine Granting Ceremony today』.
It’s too unlucky to suddenly encounter a higher-level monster when I haven’t even figured out the full effect of my skills yet.
「This is the worst… First at the『Divine Judgement Ceremony』, then being kicked out and now this… what the hell did I do?」
I look back while thinking of today’s terrible days and sigh a little, I was disgusted at my lack of luck.
I guess I did miss my moment――――
「Grrrrr……Aroooooooon！！」
――――The moment I looked away from Garm for a moment, an air-shaking howl echoed throughout the forest.
「――――What?!」
The roar paralyzed my sense of hearing and I leaned back and took a defensive posture.
Of course, the “beast” in front of me was not going to miss me in that state ―――― it opened its mouth wide and bared its fangs as thick as my arm as if it had been waiting for me, and a monster of a different level jumped at me.
Hi! Shield here. I want to say that I plan to upload a chapter every saturday 1pm UTC.
And yeah that’s all enjoy reading<3
please visit my ko-fi and maybe buy a coffee as well that will be so much appreciated thank you!
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