The three Big Rats are eating. They are immerse at the food in front of their eyes, so they haven't noticed me yet.
It's a perfect situation to launch a surprise attack.
Removing the spear from the strap on my back, I grasp it with both hands. I've done some light warm-up by the time I came here, but this is the first time I'm using it in an actual battle.
"I'm a little heartbroken to think that the first opponent dealt by my new partner is a rat."
While completely ignoring the lamenting Gram, I started running vigorously.
Noticing the sound of my footsteps, one of the Big Rats turned around to my direction. The remaining two Big Rats also reacted following after it.
"Oraaa!"
I slashed the spear towards one of the Big Rats.
*Zan*, the spearhead grazed deeply on the scruff of the giant rat who raised its head and fresh blood fluttered in the air. It eventually collapsed while creating a red stain on the ground.
Maybe because they finally recognize me as an enemy after defeating one of their group, the eyes of the Big Rats change.
However, I won't give them time to counter-attack. Before they could start to act, I thrust the spear and stabbed the tip into the body of another Big Rat.
The jarring scream of the beast shook my eardrum, but I then swung the spear horizontally without paying attention to it, destroying the Big Rat's body and tearing it into half.
I was surprised by the fact that the tip of the spear severed the Big Rat's body, without considerable resistance. Its sharpness exceeded my expectation. That old man, thank you for selling such a spear at such a low price.
Although I was surprised, I didn't lose my concentration. The only remaining Big Rat jumped towards me.
The Big Rat is treated as a small fry among the monsters, but even so, the sharp incisors of the rodent that grew identical to a rat could easily bite off a human body.
Although, even with that, I still had been able to exterminate Big Rats one after another. It's not my opponent anymore.
"*Funnn*!"
Swinging the spear, the shaft near the tip section hits the side of the Big Rat's body. I could feel the feeling of breaking bones traveling through the shaft to my hand. The Big Rat was blown away by the impact and slammed onto the nearby tree.
At this point, the Big Rat was already on the verge of death. Based on my experience, it seems that a broken bone have pierced into its internal organs. It's just convulsing repeatedly while lying on the ground. I stabbed the spear into its neck, finishing it off.
Although it is a monster that is harmful to people, I still have a slight sense of repulsion to cut off a life with my hand. However, it's something that I've been doing repeatedly many times over back in the village as a part of my work. It was within range that could be tolerable.
"... That's three for now."
After shaking off the Big Rat's blood on the tip of the spear, I placed it in the strap on my back.
After that, I immediately move on to dismantling.
Using a knife for dismantling the loot, I cut off the necessary parts from the Big Rat's corpse --- the parts that can be trade.
The knife was something I purchased at a weapon shop before coming to the forest. Originally, I tried to buy it at the weapon shop that sold Gram, but I got it at another shop because it was closed. If it's cheap, the blade would immediately wear-out, so I chose a reasonably good one. It was a painful purchase, but I think of it as a prior investment and came to a rational decision.
I have a knife with the same sharpness back in my home at the village, but I left it without thinking that I would hunt Big Rats until I arrived in the Royal Capital. I slightly regretted it now.
"You're skillful at that."
Gram said, impressedly.
"If not everyday, I frequently did this to some extent. So, I'm confident that if I'm against Big Rat, I'm as good as a professional mercenary."
"You can't be too proud of that, you know."
While creating a strange sight of bantering with a spear, I finished dismantling the Big Rats. I packed the parts that can be effectively used in the bag I brought and buried the rest in the hole I made on the ground.
Apart from that, I put the tails of the Big Rats in another bag. I will submit it to the Mercenary Guild as proof that I've defeated the monster.
"Alright, let's go. Aim for ten more."
The number of subjugation was not specified in the extermination request I accepted this time. Big rats are fertile and will increase quickly if left alone. Therefore, the reward is based on the number of hunted monsters without setting any maximum limit.
"I surely thought you were aiming to be a big shot and thinking of getting rich quick, though?"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but currently I don't feel like going to make a living as a mercenary. Big Rat hunting is enough for earning money."
The rank of mercenary is determined by the quality and number of the completed requests. Of course, the more difficult completing the request, the higher the achievements and the faster the promotion.
The "Achievement" of a mercenary obtained from exterminating the Big Rats is the lowest rank. No matter how much a person hunt, they could only advance a small rank. However, considering the fact that I received the fifth rank, which is the lowest rank of mercenary, and know the weakness of the Big Rat, the current me can be able to earn the most money from it.
"That's somewhat realistic, partner."
"Just follow after your dreams and it will eventually come true. Though It's gonna be slow."
"I don't hate that kind of steady effort, though."
"Is that so. Thanks for that."
Start from what I can do steadily. That's the most important thing.
Carrying the bag on my back, I look for Big Rats again.
During that time, Gram spoke.
"But partner, I was suddenly bothered when I saw you hunt just now."
"What do you mean?"
"You're not good at spearmanship."
--- I was a little hurt by the too honest opinion of blunt Gram. The words from the spear stabbed in my chest. As expected of a spear.
"I'm just an amateur of the amateur. Even if you call me the King of the Amateurs, no one would object at all."
"I'll hit this bastard."
"You won't be able to do it without your partner's strength, you know."
Gram continued to parry my words lightly.
"I didn't mean to say it to insult you, partner. Perhaps partner was using a spear on your own until now? Moreover, your main job is a farmer and you only use a spear on a side job. It's excellent when you could do that much."
"Although there was someone in the village who taught swordsmanship, I was the only one who's using a spear... So, even though I'm mostly self-taught, I'm still one of the strongest in the village."
That Relix guy was only taught how to handle a sword, and almost no one should have taught him afterwards. Even so, he still became the most skilled in the village. Moreover, he is now the (expected) Yuusha who will save the world.
"Don't worry too much about that. What I'm saying is, I think you will also get somewhere pretty good as long as learn a few tricks. It's from what I can see."
"You said 'learn' but who will be the one to teach me?"
As was the case in the village, the spear is an unpopular weapon in this country. When I went to the Mercenary Guild, most of the mercenaries in the building were carrying sword at their side. Only less than 10% were carrying their specialized weapon other than sword. Even I, who was included in that 10%, was being watched weirdly while I was waiting for the mercenary registration process.
Who would train a novice mercenary from the countryside who almost neither have connection nor backer? At most, my outcome is to be used as an errand boy or skilled handyman.
"I think I understand your concerns, partner. Therefore, I have a good news for you. Currently, I can introduce you to someone who can teach you with spearmanship for free."
"... Didn't you used to be covered in dust in a corner of the weapon shop?"
"Unfortunately, I was regularly polished by the bearded old man of the weapon shop."
I don't need such extra info, you know.
It feels like I'm going along with a farce. I let out a sigh.
"So? Who are you referring to?"
"Jajan! Surprise, it's me!"
..........
--- *slide*.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT, DON'T SILENTLY GET INTO A THROWING POSTURE!"
"Tsk"
I slide my foot forward with 'I want to throw this bastard to the forest' in mind, but stopped by Gram's desperate voice.
"... If you utter a stupid thing again, I'll throw you without hesitation."
"Sorry for going a bit overboard! ...But I'm not completely kidding."
"Ah?"
I looked at the spear, Gram, intently. Maybe because he judged that he caught my interest, Gram spoke a little happily.
"I'm not boasting, but some of those guys who handled me until now were very skilled. And, it's to the point that their movements have accumulated in my memory."
"You mean?"
"From my memory, I'll teach you the movements of the guy who is the most suitable for your physique and nature. That's why partner's ability will also be closer to that skilled predecessor."
If Gram have a body, he must be throwing out his chest very proudly based on his tone. I knitted my brows.
"Can you really teach me? You said you were handled by those skilled people... so I think you've just saw thier skills after all?"
"Well, it's not unreasonable for you to doubt me. But, if you're thinking I'm fooling you, then try to go along with me for a while and you'll understand."
--- A villager being taught how to fight by a spear.
It's literally the meaning of, "the oddness have come to the extreme".
Though, a speaking spear is already strange enough ---.
"... I'll be hunting Big Rats for a while anyway. So I might as well go along with your crazy offer."
"Saying it 'crazy' is offending. Also, I'll teach you immediately, so it will make you possible to deal with monsters that can make you earn much better than small fish among small fish such as Big Rats."
--- Thus, a spear and a human being's unusual master-apprentice relationship have started.