Overpowered Reincarnation Perks! - Chapter 15.3
***
The number of monsters exhibiting unusual behavior increased day by day. They had even ignored the Guardian Corps and attacked a merchant caravan, as the gorge was filled with human blood.
Seeing the broken wagons and scattered goods, Callion scanned the surroundings with a troubled expression. It was clear that they had been attacked while heading towards the village.
It didn’t feel good.
Monsters had low intelligence and couldn’t comprehend that humans used ‘roads’, but they could learn information through repeated experiences.
If they learned through multiple experiences about the paths that were easy for people to travel and wagons to pass, they would naturally start to loiter on routes that humans were likely to use.
If merchant caravans transporting goods to other villages across the mountain range were attacked, trade would be cut off. The villages at the foot of the mountains were basically structured for self-sufficiency, but that alone wouldn’t allow for a comfortable life.
Different crops grow depending on the climate and soil, and the taste and quality of fruits and meats also vary. The village where Ju-in was staying was quite developed in commerce, so the fields weren’t large, and the orchard was just a few fruit trees. If merchant visits were cut off, their diet would quickly become meager.
Imagining Ju-in’s disappointed face looking at a poor dining table suddenly made anger well up inside him.
He had to eliminate all the groups of monsters exhibiting unusual behavior. That was the most urgent task to protect Ju-in’s daily life.
But even after hunting all night, the situation didn’t improve. The promised date had long passed. He had said he would return after a fortnight, but he was already three days late.
However, there were more groups of monsters than expected. It wasn’t a good sign that unpredictable variables kept popping up when this had never happened before.
He wanted to meet Ju-in again quickly. He wanted to apologize for not keeping his promise. And he wanted to hold her again.
But above all else, keeping her safe had to be the priority. He couldn’t leave monsters that attacked humans unchecked.
***
The castle dispatched investigators. Callion observed from a distance as the investigators, armed with holy artifacts, crossed the mountain path.
As Callion was not allowed to enter the castle, he had to hide and watch to avoid being discovered by the investigators. He gazed at their backs as they headed towards the village where Ju-in lived. He missed Ju-in.
‘When will I be able to meet her?’
Five days had already passed since the promised date.
He thought that if he endured for just a fortnight, he would be able to see her face again, kiss her, and touch her body, but as the anticipated date kept being pushed back, Callion grew impatient.
He felt sorry for not keeping his promise, but he also missed Ju-in terribly.
He had never been irritated while hunting monsters before, but now he found himself angrily sweeping away even the creatures loitering on the opposite side.
‘Let’s go back.’
The castle investigators visit the village to collect magic stones in exchange for holy artifacts.
If new holy artifacts have arrived, the village should be safe for a while. And since they’ll be short on magic stones, they’ll welcome monster hunters.
He now had a justification to stop hunting. Excited at the prospect of meeting Ju-in again, Callion crossed the mountain range without sleep, staying up all night.
***
“Kyaaaargh!”
“Aaagh! Save me!”
Running in the opposite direction of the people fleeing and screaming, Callion drew his sword.
A group of monsters had attacked the village. He thought he had dealt with all the abnormally behaving groups roaming nearby, but it seems some individuals had remained unrooted.
‘I thought it would be fine since they had holy artifacts.’
It was an accident brought on by shallow judgment. There was no time for regret.
Callion frantically cut down the monsters. Although there were more than expected, it seemed possible to eliminate them all given enough time.
Villagers would be sacrificed, but if he could protect Ju-in…
“Callion, dodge!”
Crunch, crunch.
The monsters that had been devouring each other grew in size until they formed one massive body. Every time the monster slammed its huge hands on the ground, the earth sank and buildings collapsed.
Having hunted countless monsters, Callion immediately grasped the situation. This monster couldn’t be defeated.
But he could buy time.
“Brother, take Ju-in away!”
Callion’s priority was always the same.
Ju-in’s safety.
There could be nothing more important than protecting her.
His brother was a resourceful person, so he would be able to take her to a safe place without being detected by monsters along the way.
Unlike him, his brother didn’t have difficulty getting along with others, so he might even stay in the village to look after Ju-in until she adapted.
‘That’s enough.’
Callion pointed his sword at the monster that was rolling its red eyes towards him.
Although he had been a monster hunter since before he came of age, Callion had no fear of death.
No matter how confident one is in their skills, you can’t be a monster hunter with half-hearted resolve. Callion was no different in always fighting with the readiness to die.
However, Callion had no reason to live. Unlike other hunters, he had no intention of trying to survive in villages while avoiding the eyes of the castle’s investigators, or enjoying vacations by spending money lavishly.
He found people difficult, wasn’t uncomfortable in hunting grounds, and didn’t think it was painful to risk his life hunting every day.
Although he had never deliberately thought about death, Callion had no desired form of life. He vaguely thought that he would just repeat hunting until he was exhausted, and someday when his strength gave out or he accidentally dropped his sword, he would be eaten by monsters.
For the first time, Callion had a goal in life.
Protecting Ju-in.
Instead of a vague death, a clear form of death was waiting for Callion.
To buy time by facing the monster collective in front of him until Ju-in could escape, and then die.
