Episode 18: I'm Staying in the Village

"Phew, I'm tired."

　Uta lay down on the bed and let out a long, deep sigh.

　Uta stops in a small village on the way to the magical city of Alden.

　I forgot the name of the village.

　I think I was told "Welcome to the village of XX!" at the entrance, but I wasn't interested so I've forgotten what it said.

　It was dusk.

　Uta was staying at an inn and relaxing in bed.

"Ha, traveling on foot is nice too. Tired legs feel good."

　For Uta, who can teleport around the world if he so desires, traveling on foot was a new experience for him.

　My calves were a little sore, but they actually felt really comfortable.

　It feels like I'm playing a lame retro game rather than a state-of-the-art console.

"I think we're about halfway to Alden. Everything's going well."

　Although it had already been several days since he left the castle town, Uta's journey was going smoothly.

　I have been able to get this far without any particular accidents.

　By the way... picking up the female knight and defeating the bandits are not considered accidents in Uta's life.

　On the contrary, he no longer remembered his meetings with them, killing them, or bringing them back to life.

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"As I thought, traveling is great. They said they're having beef stew for dinner, so I'm looking forward to it... Hmm?"

　Uta was relaxing in bed when he heard a commotion coming from outside.

　When Uta opened the window feeling suspicious, he heard the villagers talking in an anxious manner.

"They went out into the woods?"

"Yes, there's no doubt about it. The girls who were picking wild vegetables were kidnapped."

"What are you going to do, go and help?"

"Of course that's impossible! We'll have to hire adventurers!"

"How long do you think it will take to go to town and hire an adventurer?! It was my daughter who was kidnapped!"

"......?"

　It was a rather disturbing conversation.

　Curious, Uta teleported over to where the villagers were talking.

"What are you talking about?"

"Whoa! Hey, how long have you been there?!"

　The villager jumped in surprise when he was suddenly called out.

"Well, let's leave that aside for now. So... did something happen?"

"Ah, yeah... an orc appeared in the forest near the village."

"Orc...that orc?"

　The image of a creature that resembled a cross between a human and a wild boar appears in Uta's mind.

"Oh, an orc is an orc. An orc who kidnaps human women, does nasty things to them, and then kills and eats them."

"Oh, that's the type."

　In hardcore alternate world stories, orcs and goblins are often portrayed as sexual predators.

　Apparently this is also true of the orcs in this world.

"That's bad for the school. So, did the girl get kidnapped?"

"Yeah... my daughter and her friend were attacked. They were caught while they were picking wild vegetables."

　The person who answered was a man who was the owner of the inn.

"I let my guard down because there are no wolves or other animals near the village... Orcs are floating around out of nowhere, that's the worst...!"

"Hmm, that's a disaster."

　Uta says this as if it were someone else's problem.

　Since it's something that has nothing to do with you, it's only natural that you wouldn't feel any emotion.

"That's why I have to discuss countermeasures with the villagers now. Sorry, but there will be no dinner tonight."

"That would be a problem!"

　Uta yelled.

　I was looking forward to beef stew for dinner.

　Even so, having to wait is too cruel.

"Ummm... I'll pay you back later for the lodging fee since there's no dinner. Just buy some bread around there..."

"That's not it! I'm already feeling like beef stew in my stomach!"

　I can't change it to another diet now.

　Uta pointed at the innkeeper and declared.

"I'll go and help the girls, so you can make some beef stew and wait for me! Okay, definitely!"

"air……?"

"Sh..wa..tc..h!"

"He's gone!?"

　Uta has been transferred.

　From in front of the inn, above the village... the sun had already set and the night sky was shrouded in darkness.

　In a world without electric light, the stars are bright and there are simply more of them.

　Standing in the sky with the starry sky as his backdrop, Uta looked down at the forest a short distance from the village.

"That forest is fine, right? Well then... let's go!"

　Uta set the coordinates inside the forest and teleported.

　Orc extermination.

　It should be enough exercise before a meal.

　As casually as going for a walk, he ran into the forest where the monsters lived.