Chapter 14: The Horned Rabbit of the Southern Forest
"Kakeru-sama, there are horned rabbits ahead."
A fluffy white creature jumps out of the forest. At a distance of 500 meters, there are four horned rabbits, each the size of a fat sheep. They are actually bigger than I had imagined.
The horns on their foreheads are orange and look just like carrots. They bounce toward us, although their speed is not impressive. However, whenever they land, a cloud of dust rises, indicating that they carry a considerable weight.
"[Acquired Skill: Leap]"
Leap: A skill that allows for high jumping. The height and distance vary depending on the level.
Thanks to my Momentary Memory and Appraisal skills, which complement each other perfectly, I can continuously appraise as if taking high-speed continuous shots.
Thanks to that, I was able to perform appraisals on nearly 10,000 people while shopping in the town of Primera, resulting in maxing out my Appraisal skill level.
As a result, many things became visible, and many things I wanted to confirm arose, but for now, let's focus on the horned rabbits.
[Species] Horned Rabbit
[Age] 1
[Condition] Hungry
[Level] 2
[Stamina] 9
[Mana] 0
[Attack Power] 8
[Durability] 7
[Agility] 19
[Intelligence] 1
[Skills] Leap
Horned rabbits are weak. I'll probably have to hold back, or they'll turn into pieces of meat... But more importantly, these creatures...
"Chloe, horned rabbits are cuter than I thought. Can't we keep one as a pet?"
"...It's impossible. They have a wild temperament and don't become attached to people. If you really want one, you could try to tame it while showing affection."
Chloe responds with a bewildered voice, offering an unconventional suggestion.
"Taming it and then killing it afterward would be mentally challenging... Well, it can't be helped. I don't hold any personal grudges, but let's make them our lunch. Death Scythe, come forth!"
A grim reaper's scythe, around 2 meters in length with a blade almost reaching 2 meters, appears from a magical circle in the air and lands directly in my hand.
Chloe seems unable to keep up with the sudden turn of events and is left speechless, her breath caught. Even in that state, Chloe is still cute.
"Ah, um, Master? What on earth is that..."
Ah, right, I haven't explained it yet...
"Chloe, this is my exclusive weapon, Deathscythe. It's convenient because I can summon it freely."
"I-I see... As expected of you, Master. I've never seen a weapon like this, is it from another world?"
She understands quickly... It seems like she's no longer showing any signs of unease.
"Well, something like that. It's faster to understand by seeing it in action."
When I channel mana into the Deathscythe, dark red patterns emerge like blood vessels, and it starts emitting a dull light.
First, let's test its sharpness...
I swing the Deathscythe upward and cleanly slice through the charging horned rabbit, cutting it neatly in half. Wow, this is incredible, there was absolutely no resistance...
For me, who has enhanced my body, a stationary horned rabbit is as good as nothing. I continue to slice through the remaining three rabbits, cutting them all in half. It's a pity that there's no sense of satisfaction because there's no basis for comparison.
"What do you think, Chloe? It has an amazing sharpness, right?"
Chloe smiles wryly and points out, "Um, it's difficult to say, but if you're going to sell the fur, cutting it in half might not be good..."
"Ah... Sorry. I got too excited trying to show off to Chloe."
It's not a lie, but I ended up saying that to cover up my embarrassment a little.
"Eh... Uh, well... It was... really cool."
Um... It's actually embarrassing to be told that while blushing. Chloe-san.
From now on, I vow in my heart to try not to damage the fur as much as possible.
Oh, right, while I remember, I should absorb the souls of the horned rabbits.
As I swing the Deathscythe, Chloe tilts her head in curiosity.
"Master, what were you doing just now?"
"Ah, I was absorbing the souls of the horned rabbits with the Deathscythe. By collecting souls, I can strengthen myself and this Deathscythe. I see... You can't see it, Chloe?"
"Yes, unfortunately, I can't see those souls. But it means that you have a means to grow faster than others, Master. Impressive."
Chloe is excited, her ears and tail trembling.
"Well, I want to become stronger as soon as possible. But more importantly, are you hungry? Shall we try eating rabbit meat?"
"Y-Yes, let's eat. Let's eat quickly."
Chloe's tail wags vigorously, and her eyes sparkle... I'm sorry. You were hungry, weren't you? Oh, I forgot to buy yakitori as well.
Using a dismantling knife, I quickly disassemble the horned rabbit, cutting the meat into bite-sized pieces and seasoning it simply with salt and pepper. Utilizing my cooking skills to the fullest, I also make sausages using the entrails and blood.
"Master~! The fire is ready," Chloe calls out, waving her tail and hands. ...You're quite skilled, Chloe.
I take a hot plate out of the backpack and secure it firmly. As I grill the cut meat and sausages on the heated plate, a fragrant aroma of cooking meat begins to waft through the air, stimulating my appetite to the extreme.
I can't wait any longer. I communicate with Chloe through eye contact.
"Let's eat!" We both take a bite simultaneously.
Mmm, delicious. The meat juice overflows with each bite, providing a chewy texture. I expected it to have a stronger flavor, but it's unexpectedly easy to eat. Saliva is excessively produced, and my stomach trembles with delight.
Chloe, too, continues to eat the meat and sausages with a blissful expression. It's true that few words are needed to express how delicious something is.
"Ma-Master... This is the first time I've had horned rabbit meat this delicious. The sausages are also exquisite."
The quality of the ingredients was good, and my cooking skills proved to be very useful. I'm glad she enjoys it.
"To be able to cook as well, you truly are amazing, Master!"
...Come to think of it, she's started calling me "Master" without me realizing. Well, it doesn't bother me, so it's fine.
After drinking the divine water after the meal, she says, "You truly are amazing, Master!" The divine water is delicious.
"You can put the leftovers in the backpack; I'll also participate in the hunting."
While I'm cleaning up, Chloe enthusiastically announces. It seems she really liked it.
***
"Hah!"
With a sharp cry, the horned rabbits meet their demise one after another.
Chloe's weapon is a silver rapier. With her expertise in speed, it would be difficult for me, even at my current level, to dodge her attacks, and without enhanced vision, it would be hard to even see them.
Naturally, I can't afford to lose either. I take them down using the handle of the Deathscythe to avoid damaging the fur.
"Your level has increased."
Finally, my level has increased. It's been quite a challenge to level up with just horned rabbits. It would be nice if there were stronger monsters in the forest.
"Chloe, let's proceed with the investigation in the forest soon."
Chloe approaches with a delighted expression, carrying the horned rabbits.
At first glance, it's a fairy-tale-like scene where a beautiful girl is hugging a cute, large rabbit. However, what Chloe is hugging is a corpse. Yeah, it's surreal.
We pack the defeated horned rabbits into the backpack and finally venture into the forest.
Now, whether a demon or a snake appears, it's getting exciting.