Author's Note: Well, I guess it I should be apologizing right now. I am so sorry for the lack of chapters for the past week. But, anyways, I am back to releasing! On a Wednesday, my dudes! (°〇°) Anyway, regarding my erratic releases, there have been several problems on the rise for me, especially as summer break reaches it's end. Tomorrow, I will be making up for all of this so stay tuned! I hope you enjoy!
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I kept my hand in the water for just a few more minutes as insurance against severe damage to my right hand. After those 'few minutes' were over, I slowly pulled my hand out of the river and tried to move it a bit. It stings but, I am able to move it. Though, I won't be able to hold things with my right hand for the time being at all.
I grabbed Aether with my left hand and shifted to the area where I think the monster was at. I keep walking and searching with my tendrils, Shu in tow, for a few minutes before I found it's dead body. I... unfortunately, was tricked by monsters like goblins, so I'm not taking any chances with a monster that seems to be much more dangerous than them even when it is by itself.
I hold Aether tightly as I approached the body of the monster I seemingly killed. I ready a few of my tendrils to restrain all of it's limbs the moment I get close enough. Once I got close, I launched my tendrils forward and held down all of the limbs I could feel with my tendrils. It seemed like it had a total of 6 legs with a tail long enough to have acted like a prehensile tool.
Even after I made sure to secure all 7 of those potential weapons, the monster didn't move at all. Still suspicious, I drew closer slowly and poked it a bit with Aether. After getting no response, I let go of Aether and dropped my body to the ground as I crawled towards it's underbelly. Well, I'm not an expert at monster anatomy but, I should be able to feel a pulse somewhere.
I felt the monster's chest and didn't feel any sort of movement like a heart beating or lungs moving, though it could be because the organs of this particular monster are located in different parts of the body.
Wait a minute.
The skin I felt when touching the body felt rough and thick. That means that fire shouldn't have hurt this monster too much. Plus, I don't feel any sort of burn marks on the skin anywhere so, does that mean that this thing is still alive? But, it is not attacking me even though I am so close to it right now.
Well, I can learn all about that once I bring this back to the Guild. I stand back and utilize all of the tendrils I currently have. I open it's mouth with them and send in all of my tendrils into it in hopes of crushing anything inside. Well, darkness is technically intangible so, I should be able to thread them through it's entire body and then instantly solidify them to kill it, right?
This seems like an easy way to dispatch of stronger enemies but, like I said earlier, I need to thread the tendrils through the entire body of the target, which would usually be something either so durable and big that I can't damage it or it is small and fast enough to dodge every one of my attacks.
In either case, I don't think I can afford to use up a few seconds just to concentrate on threading my tendrils through it's body while trying to not get hit by an onslaught of attacks. But, if it is for slow or immobile targets, I think I can kill them easily if I target the right spots to hit. When I say 'those spots', I mean the brain. And the brain is usually in the head for most creatures.
Alright, enough explaining and more action!
I solidify my tendrils when they are inside of the monster and I feel the body jerk a bit. Looks like it actually was alive in some sort of hibernation state or something. But, that doesn't concern me right now. I am too busy celebrating how the body will be in pristine condition when I present it to the Guild. It's tough skin will prevent any sort of burns and all of the damage was done on the inside so, it should be fine.
I carry it's corpse with me as I walk with Shu. This journey back to the city was much more eventful than I thought it would be. But now, I think I can just take a break from everything and just shift all the way there. I think I have done enough exercise so, I deserve a little break for doing something amazing like this by myself with no Divine Beast helping me out.
I shift in my shadow with the corpse but then realize something. Shu is technically something alive so, I won't be able to shift with her while she is with me, right? If that is the case then, Death God, damn it.
- Many Minutes Later -
And so, I have finally arrived back. I needed to pass security and, let me tell you, it was a rough experience. Imagine explaining why, I, someone disguised as an adult man, was carrying a female child who was passed out. It took me time but, my powers of persuasiveness came in very handy.
Yet, after all this time, Shu hasn't come to and Calido is still off killing again. I rented out a room in an inn for 2 that lasted for a few days and laid Shu on the bed. After that, I went out on a search for equipment that would help me withstand the power of Aether's elements when I have no available Divine Beast.
After all, I can't just keep ripping up the clothes I got from Luscia just to protect my hands in situations that are unlikely to happen. Also, this is the City of Adventurers so there should be a bunch of shops which sell those kinds of stuff, right? If not then, how can these people call themselves adventurers if they aren't ready for anything?!
When I walked through the streets, I noticed that there were less people than usual. Ah, does that mean that night is approaching? Calido isn't here so, I can't really tell. I should finish this up fast before any shops close and leave me hanging. I visited every place I thought was a shop and asked whether there was a place where I could get Anti-Elemental equipment.
They all pointed me to the exact same place. Oh yeah, and I did present the monster to the Adventurer's Guild. They said that it was a monster called an Obsidian Butcher. I didn't know it was fuchsia-colored so, I am so glad I know that now. After some bargaining, I acquired some of it's skin when I learned that it's skin is used for protection from extreme elements.
So now, I'll let the craftsman do his work to turn this piece of skin into a set of insanely useful gloves. Just thinking about it made me pretty happy. Just then, I felt a person following me. Again with the following!
"So, what business do you have with me?"
"You could see through my invisibility?!"
Invisibility?
So, an ability that allows them to be invisible? Also, the voice sounds like a young girl. What is up with me meeting with so many young girls?! Why are they pretty much the only people I almost exclusively meet!?
"Answer the question. Why are you following me?"
"Fine. Well, it's because you look suspicious."
"Suspicious how?"
"I mean, you're walking slowly, while alone, with your hands in your pockets, in the dark. Might I add the fact that you look like a criminal because of your hood covering your head?"
Hey, that was a personal attack?!
Plus, this hood is necessary for my job! I need it so that I can actually earn money, in an honest way, so that I can feed both myself and my companion!
"Are those really good reasons to suspect me? C'mon, I have some important business to attend to so I'd rather appreciate it if you-"
"Important business? What kind? Illegal dealings? Extortion of civilians? Some other kind of unspeakable acts?!-"
"Just shut up already! I just want to buy some gloves! Leave me alone!"
I have no idea who this girl is but I do know one thing. She is incredibly annoying. I mean, what gives you the right to question me? Who died and gave you the honor of being a stalker who can become invisible?
Also, who was the one who taught this girl that talking to strangers was a good idea? Seriously, I am worried for this girl's future. Maybe I should teach her a lesson... about non-aggression. I can also teach her that maybe she should mind her own business and stop assuming that I'm doing bad things!
"I am an adventurer! I want to get back to my inn as soon as possible so that I can relax! Let me buy this one item and I will go back!"
"Silence, mischief maker! It's obvious you're up to no good so, I will stop you!"
"Shut up with your grandiose dream!"
Just when I thought that things were actually going well, this sort of thing happens. It is just my luck...