At the crack of the dawn, we immediately started our travel towards Follera Town. That’s what I wanted to do, but…

“Five more minutes…”

Sachiko said half asleep.

Do not disturb or else, a wooden sign read beside the sleeping Bridget.

My eyebrows twitched.

Okay, calm down. Since I know from personal experience that these two won’t like it if I were to do the exact opposite thing they wanted me to do, I decided to spend my time in doing another task.

Let’s see, I can make a sharpened wood with my ‘borrowed’ sword. A pit trap with some pikes at the bottom should be good enough to kill a wild boar or two. While I’m at it, I think I’ll make some useful tools and weapon whilst the materials are available around me.

I snatched the black pendant inside my pocket. Closing my eyes, I wished for good luck on the weird-but-cool-looking necklace.

=-=-=-=

After making another fire, I cooked the single boar I caught earlier. It’s just one, but it’s pretty big. I think it should be enough for the three of us. If there’s something left, I’ll turn it into dried meat. I may not have salt since it’s expensive, but I do know some alternative plants for it.

So far so good.

The two sleepy heads must have woken up from the nice smell coming from our meal. I think I can even hear their stomachs… but like hell I’ll tell them that.

“Breakfast’s ready.” I rotated the stick with the boar on it.

“Boar meat…” Sachiko, your saliva’s dripping out.

“That’ll do, I guess.” I know you want it, Bridget.

We sat there in silence, eating the delicious meat hungrily. In the end, nothing was left. So much for dried meat.

“Bridget.” I called out to her.

“What?” She seems pretty tame today. Good.

“Do you have any sentimental attachments to that dress of yours?”

I pointed at the frilly dark violet dress of hers. It’s her Tuesday dress, if I remember correctly.

“N-No, what of it?”

“We’re going to sell that at the town.”

“Noooo!” She yelled so loud that I’m afraid the bandits might have heard us! You’re overreacting! “You want to see my naked body?! Waaah!”

Oi, shut up. Sachiko’s eyes are turning stone cold, you know?!

“That’s not it! It’s because we need money, okay? We’re broke now. And that dress of yours look expensive. Don’t worry, we’ll buy you a new set of clothes there. I just wanted to mention it beforehand.”

“Why don’t you sell your clothes?!” What’s with the teary eyes? Do I really look like a pervert to you?

“It won’t cost that much. Sachi’s too.”

Bridget looked below her one last time, then averted her sight to the side. “I’ll, think about it…”

Sorry. We don’t have any other choice. I’m really sorry!

“For the meantime, you two should go take a bath. I found a stream over there while I was hunting. And oh, be careful of the pitfall on the way there, okay?”

The two nodded. They’re somewhat obedient to me, and that’s nice. Sachiko suddenly stopped though.

“Hiraku, why don’t you sell your kidne—”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

“Go take a bath.”

=-=-=-=

As I was fuming silently to myself, I realized that I forgot to tell them something. Crap.

They don’t have changes for clothes, so they need to dry the ones they’re currently wearing. I planned on drying them myself here at the campfire but, I can’t just go there at the stream now…

Another dilemma, and it’s so early in the morning. Ugh.

Oh well, here’s my choice! Uoooo!

…

After a while, I sat there beside the campfire, with Bridget’s dress and Sachiko’s nightwear.

And two stinging red slap marks on both of my cheeks.

“Ow, ow.”

My crotch hurt too.

=-=-=-=

After that squabble earlier in the morning, I somehow managed to get the two off their butts and leave. We still have a long trek to go, please endure it.

“Hiraku.” Bridget called out to me from behind.

I slowed my walking pace to hers, but I’m not really curious on whatever she’ll say.

“Bridget?”

“What—, what do you think happened to the rest of the townpeople?”

Sachiko must have heard her, as she too lowered her pace.

I wasn’t expecting that kind of question from her though. I thought she was just a selfish girl who doesn’t think about anyone other than herself.

“I’m not sure, but if I’m gonna take a guess…”

The men were probably killed, while the women were, well… I won’t say that though.

“They must be hiding somewhere there.”

“Shouldn’t we rescue them then? Dad might be also one of them too, he must be still somewhere ther—”

Bridget grabbed my shirt. Sighing, I stopped. I restrained myself from saying this. I tried my best.

“Bridget, they’re dead.”

Her breathing hitched. I expected her to yell at me or even kick me to the ground like usual, but certainly, her crying wasn’t on my list.

“L-Liar.”

“I’m not. That goes the same for you too, Sachiko. Mom and Dad are probably dead too.”

I need to make them understand what’s really happening. I can’t lie to them forever. I know I’m being a bit mean, but I’d hate to see their hope getting shattered at the end.

“I already understand that!” Sachiko yelled at me. “I know I’m the cause of all this mess! Blame me i-if you want! Come on, blame me!”

Trying to act tough… Next time, learn how to control your tears.

Geez, now I feel like I’m the bad guy here. Being surrounded by two crying girls… I’m the one who made them cry though. How pathetic, Hiraku!

“Now now.”

I placed my hand on both of their head, then rubbed them. “I’m here. As long as I’m breathing, I’ll get you two to the next town. I promise on my life!”

They quieted a bit.

“That’s not reassuring at all.” Bridget glared me down. Hey, weren’t you crying earlier? “Our stats is stronger than yours, you know?”

“Yes, and Hiraku is a hopeless pervert. I’d feel safer if an orc pledged his loyalty to me.” Sachiko too?!

This two…! As expected, they can switch emotions from one to another like a stone-hearted monster!

They left me in the dust as they ran forward. They’re even sticking their tongue out to me. H-How cruel!

Now I’m the one who feels like crying!

That day, I wasn’t able to see the small smile they gave me for a second.

=-=-=-=

We finally got out of that forest, and are currently following the dirt path leading to Follera town. Two large plains lay on either side of the trail, with the endless amount of green going as far as my eyes can see. If we strictly follow this track, we should arrive on our destination in three days.

We’re back to normal now. By normal, I mean Bridget harassing me every five minutes, and Sachiko calling me names whenever I talk to her.

Yep, we’re back to normal. I’m glad.

Off to the far north, a small speckle of green was blocking the road. The moment we got close enough for us to see it clearly, we made out what looks like a goblin.

Goblins, eh? A demi-human type monster. They’re small fries individually, but is a formidable opponent when in group. Their skin is green, with only a rag for clothes.

Luckily, this goblin seems to be alone. It doesn’t even have any kind of weapon. No problem, even I could take it on.

“I see a goblin.”

Alright, time to show my cool side! I raised my sword then ran like an idiot towards the monster.

“Uwaa!” That’s the sound of goblin crying after it was hit.

It wasn’t me though. It was…

“Hmph!” Bridget?! Did she just flying kick the hell out of that goblin?!

I looked to my left. Sachiko isn’t even fazed at the slightest. Could she have done the same thing like what Bridget did?!

I kneeled on the ground. “No, my spotlight…”

In front of me, the two girls seemed more imposing than ever. I could even imagine their eyes shining a bright crimson.

“Stop relying on us, you weakling.” Bridget spat at the ground near me.

“Tch. You made a girl defeat a monster for you? How pathetic!” Sachiko looked down on me as if she was looking at a trash.

S-Scary!

=-=-=-=

Of course, when we defeated the goblin, we got a loot. It’s an empty bag made out of animal hides. Though it’s empty, it’ll be big enough for me to store some other things to it. Sadly though, my sword and my newly made wooden spear couldn’t fit on it.

Noon came, and we rested under the shade of a large tree. It was a perfect spot, since a nearby stream was just a few steps away from it. I think it’s connected to the stream we saw before. It’s a pretty long stream, huh?

Unlike the last one though, this one appear to be larger and deeper, but only by just a small margin. Nevertheless, it was enough for life to strive on it. I can see some fish swimming here and there.

Readying the wooden spear I made back at the forest, I marvelled at the exceptional sharpness the tip of the weapon had. This should be enough to pierce a mere fish.

I didn’t forget to pray at my black pendant. Actually, I think I should wear it around my neck now. It looks pretty cool with the black sun and moon, really! Starting today, I will consider this necklace a lucky charm.

Lucky charm, please give me good luck!

=-=-=-=

“Meal’s ready! We’re having toasted fish today.” I smiled at the five pieces of medium-sized fish I caught.

The lucky charm’s working nicely. Thank you very much, lucky charm!

Bridget looked at it blandly. “Fish… they aren’t tasty as meat.”

Sachiko nodded in agreement. “We want meat! Everyone wants meat! Meat! Meat! Meat!”

This ungrateful kids!

“I think you two forgot that we’re broke right now!”

I took a chomp on my fish. It’s still delicious. You should really taste it first, you girls.

“If you won’t eat it, then I’ll eat it!” For the added threatening effect, I grabbed another fish then opened my mouth near it.

Suffice to say, that the two hurriedly sat on the soft grass below them. After that, we ate lunch in a blissful silence.

“Now my breath smells like a fish.”

“Ack, fish-bones! Fish-bones in my throat!”

Silence, yeah.

=-=-=-=

Just when we were about to leave the tree, I managed to see a glimpse of red around the tree’s canopy.

Oh, it’s an apple tree! How lucky! I seriously didn’t notice earlier.

Snipping some for our coming travel, I then thanked my lucky charm once again, and walked off with the two.

I got fourteen apples. Sweet. They snugly fit the now cleaned goblin bag we have.

As I was lost in my own world, I then noticed that my two companions were already behind me. It looks like I walked past them since they’ve stopped. Why did they do that though…?

I looked in front of me. There, a pack of silver wolves stood before our path, growling. I mentally took note that there are an exact twelve wolves there.

Silver wolves. An intermediate level monster, capable of killing newbie adventurers faster than a horde of unarmed goblin, alone. Their fang makes for good materials in making swords, as they are really sharp.

This goes without saying but, we’re screwed.

Even if there was just one silver wolf, I don’t think I can handle it myself. I also think the two girls behind me won’t be able to do it. Silver wolves are just simply too strong. What is such an enemy even doing here?!

I rooted my feet on the ground, brandishing my sword in front of me. At the very least, my corpse can busy the wolves long enough for Sachiko and Bridget to run away…

“Sachiko, Bridget, go!” I yelled back to the two.

They’re frozen in fear too. This is bad…

Before I considered yelling at them to scram, a blur flew past me.

Slash! Slash!

Two long streaks of white passed through the pack of silver wolves, then they were dead. A lone man stood there, slowly sheathing an expensive looking sword.

“Hey there, are you okay?” He asked us. “Don’t worry, everything’s okay. I’m Satou Koutarou by the way.”

“I’m a [Hero].”