The monster keeps looking their way. It stood motionlessly but Soma knew that once he made a stupid move the wolf would lunge at him and prey on them.
Soma and Hina were also standing still not making any movement, their breath had slowed down because of how nervous the situation they were in.
A B-rank monster was something they never thought would face this soon, Soma who already resolved himself to become strong to survive in this world, couldn't even blink.
However, unlike Hina who still hasn't had her experience in defeating monsters. Soma had already had many fares and shares since coming to this world. Negotiating with demons, the issue of the devil's blood inside him, and recently the dungeon exploring, and the robbery incident make him an anomaly in finding trouble. Part of that was because of his whim.
"What should we do Miss Hina?"
Hina's body jerked as she kept looking at the monster. She didn't dare to utter a single word. Soma glanced at her sight and saw she had a huge amount of sweat. Probably she was nervous beyond words because her first experience in fighting a monster would be facing a B-rank one. From that alone, Soma decided.
"Let's retreat first. On three, one.. "
".. Eh?!".
As Soma began to count, Hina's body trembled and hesitated at the move she should make.
"Two..".
She closes her eyes and grits her teeth.
"Three".
Hina turned her back and dashed away as her life depended on it. Soma was still standing there afraid that the monster would give chase to them but the monster didn't do anything. It kept looking at Hina's retreating figure but then it turned its sight to Soma. They stood silently staring at each other. As if it lost interest the Wolf humped and bent his legs and continued its napping.
"..What the heck?".
Seeing the wolf who began to breathe in peace. Soma turned his back and then left the place, and the wolf didn't have any intention of chasing after them.
After turning left toward the road he passed earlier he saw Hina with a pale face looking at his figure.
"..Are you okay? What happened?".
"I don't know but the wolf seems to have lost interest in us. It went back to sleep".
Hina tried to make sure by peeking through the wall and she saw the wolf was in its sleep, breathing a sigh of relief.
"I see, I am glad".
"..Yeah".
Soma also breathed in relief but inside he felt a slight discomfort gnawing in his chest. But he still didn't know what that was so he shook his head and began to focus on the notebook in his hands again.
"Let's go find another way".
"Hey, you?".
"What?".
Hina grabbed Soma's shoulder as she shot her glare, but was unable to express the word she wanted to say. It was something to be celebrated, Hina with her own will grabbing his shoulder. Her mouth flaps a couple of times before she grits her teeth and said
"Why do you look disappointed?"
"..Huh?".
"Nothing, forget it. Let's continue".
Soma tilted his head as Hina walked past him nudging his shoulder. What Hina said reverberated in his mind. Disappointed, why did Hina have to say that to him? He was submerged in his thoughts, and he realized something.
When he sighed earlier it was not a sigh of relief but a sigh of disappointment for he was ignored by the monster. He is itching to fight the monster, and she realizes that.
The corner of his mouth lifted a little as the discomfort in his mind began to blow away, thanks to her words earlier. He began to chase the figure of Hina who walked in front while having a slight smile on his face.
Since then his behavior has changed. He recalls that he is not the type of person who seeks excitement in a fight. But deep down he understands and knows what caused it. It was because of the System.
The translucent window that appears every time he finishes his quest or gains enough experience to level up and see his growth shows results in that short amount of time. Made his brain crave more growth as he became addicted since the first time he received his first daily quest. In the dungeon also he recalled the elated expression he got after defeating the hobgoblin and the urge to continue deeper rose but fortunately, he got rid of that and decided to call it a day.
"..Hina, thank you".
Hina halted in her tracks hearing Soma call her name without honorifics and he showed his smile at her.
"..Hah? What the hell was that?".
"Ahaha, nothing, just talking to myself".
Soma began to resume his attention toward the book in his hands and he took another route that had not been explored.
The sun shifted toward the west as the blue sky began to be plastered by an orange light Soma and Hina found another wide space that had a circle shape and in the middle of it many small monsters stood on their two feet, having thick fur covering their body and their face was resembling a dog. Holding a variation of weapons such as a sword, spear, dagger, and a bow.
Soma hides himself behind the turn before entering the straight path that will lead them into the wide area.
"What should we do, there are many kobolds inside?".
Kobolds, an F-rank monster the same rank as Goblins, but different from goblins they have more intelligent and tend to act in groups never leaving their comrade behind, Soma could see about twenty kobolds in there and he is asking about Hina's opinion.
"What should we do? ..you made the call".
"Are you sure?".
Hina nodded her head, probably she was tired because of the walk they had in the day. Soma replied with a strong nod before storing the map in his hands and crouching down.
"Okay, what kind of skill do you have, Hina?".
Soma stopped calling her using honorifics and instead just called her first name, and Hina didn't seem to dislike it, so it was a good thing for him.
"Wait, you want me to fight?".
Hina bloated her eyes as she was being invited to join the fight.
"Yes, are you perhaps not wanting it?".
"It's not like that but, there are too many of them".
Soma began to see a slight hesitation in Hina's eyes. She began to turn her gaze down deep in thought. He knew what kind of struggle she had been fighting and he wanted it to be done right this instant. But, he thought it was still not the time for her to open up her wound. So at a time like this Soma knew what he should do.
"What, are you afraid?".
"..Hah?!".
Hina jerked her head as she began to shoot a glare at him with a vein that popped out from her temple. Soma knows how to bait the girl beside him. She was a rather competitive person and with her current attitude who likes to act tough, it was easy to make her dance in the palm of his hands.
As for the matter regarding her heart, he will leave that for later when the wall in her heart is opened a bit more. Soma showing his white canine began to turn his challenging gaze at her.
"Well, then I will take all of those experience points by myself".
"Who said I was afraid, I am just worried that you might be surrounded and get wounded in battle".
"Oh so you worry about me then,, thank you for that".
",, It's nothing like that. Who said that I was worried about you. I-I was just..".
Soma who enjoyed her myriad expression took out his gauntlets from the ring and put them on his arms.
"Listen to me when I am talking!".
"I am listening, so do you want to fight with me or not?".
Hina bit her lips then she clenched her hands and took her beloved Katana in her arms.
"..I-I will..".
"Good then, let's go".
Soma began to make a move first as he began to turn to his right and he was now facing a straight path that would lead him to the wide round space that had many kobolds inside it. Hina follows behind while she is checking the condition of her Katana. But Soma still noticed that Hina's breath was unnatural, then to distract her from negative thoughts. Once again he asked the question on hold earlier.
"Oh yeah, Hina what kind of ability do you have? For me I have a martial art I trained since I was little. That will let me fight in vanguard".
In this case, Soma just had to sincerely show his skill to the girl behind him, even though showing one's skill to a stranger is a stupid action one person could take. But, if he didn't do this he is sure Hina also wouldn't have opened her heart to him. Firstly, he should build up trust to gain her recognition.
"..I train in both sword and magic. My specialty was fire".
Soma nods his head even though he already knows her ability. He began to form a plan in his mind as his gaze was directed at the group of kobolds in front.
"Fire huh. That's perfect".