As the sun set, the carriage came to a halt in the middle of nowhere.
The adventurers hired to protect the passengers quickly got to work, setting up a makeshift camp.
The passengers gathered around a fire, warming themselves against the chilly evening air.
One of the adventurers stood up and addressed the group. "We'll stand guard. All of you can rest and sleep easy."
Hazuki, stretching his arms, sat near the fire, trying to enjoy the moment.
Then—
"Uncle?"
Hazuki sighed. "What now?"
The little girl sat beside him, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Can I see your sword?"
Hazuki exhaled loudly. "Haaaa…"
Then, with zero enthusiasm, he slowly unsheathed his short sword, holding it up so the girl could see.
"Wow… it's beautiful. Why is the color light green?"
Hazuki shrugged. "I don't know. The blacksmith, Hesbeirn, is the one who made it."
The girl leaned in closer. "Can I touch it?"
"No!"
But as Hazuki instinctively pulled the sword away—
WHOOSH!
His grip slipped, and the sword went flying backward—
Straight into the darkness behind them.
THUD!
"GRUUUHHKK!!"
Everyone froze as a loud dying groan echoed from the trees.
Confused, Hazuki slowly turned his head.
A few feet away, a massive forest boar monster lay motionless, his sword stabbed clean into its skull.
A boar that none of them had noticed… was actually charging straight toward them.
The camp went silent.
Then—
"…Eh?" Hazuki blinked.
One of the adventurers burst out laughing. "PFFT—DID HE JUST KILL A MONSTER BY ACCIDENT?!"
The whole camp erupted in laughter and shock.
"Damn, Shitman! Even your mistakes are deadly!"
"We got fresh meat now! Hahaha!"
Meanwhile, Hazuki just stared at the boar's corpse, still processing what just happened.
"…Huh."
Hazuki froze for a moment, staring at the dead boar.
Then—his lips curled into a sly grin.
"Heheh… heheheheheh… WHO WANTS MEAT?!"
He raised his palm, smirking. "Pay up!"
The adventurers stared at him, some laughing, others shaking their heads.
"Oi, who's gonna dismantle it?" one of them asked.
Hazuki pointed straight at them. "Huh? You adventurers, of course! After all, you're getting free meat, right?"
"Tch. This guy…"
The little girl tugged at Hazuki's sleeve. "Uncle? Do I need to pay too?"
Hazuki clicked his tongue. "Ugh. Fine… free meat for everyone—IF these adventurers dismantle it! The other parts will be mine! Ehehehe!"
Just then, the merchant from earlier stepped forward, rubbing his hands together.
"I'll buy any parts other than the meat!"
Hazuki's eyes sparkled.
Tonight, not only was he eating well… he was making money too!
"This is turning into a great night!"
The adventurers worked on dismantling the forest boar, their knives and tools cutting through the thick hide.
Meanwhile, the passengers and the carriage handler were enjoying the meat, roasting it over the warm campfire.
Some of the adventurers stood guard, keeping an eye on the surrounding darkness.
The merchant happily collected all the non-meat parts, placing them into his wooden box while counting his goods.
Hazuki, sitting cross-legged near the fire, grinned as he bit into the juicy roasted meat.
Beside him, the little girl ate happily, swinging her legs.
"Thank you, Uncle."
Hazuki smirked, chewing. "Heh… don't mention it."
A few moments passed in peaceful silence.
Then—
"Uncle?"
Hazuki sighed. "What?"
The kid wiped her mouth and looked up at him.
She tilted her head. "How did you get so strong?"
Hazuki nearly choked on his meat. "Strong?!" He coughed. "Oi, who said I was strong?"
"You killed that big monster!" she said, pointing at the half-dismantled boar.
"That was an accident!"
The girl giggled. "Then you're lucky and strong!"
Hazuki rubbed his face. "Oi, pick one. You can't be both."
She ignored his complaint and kept talking. "So, Uncle, do you fight a lot?"
"Not really."
"But you fought that muscle guy, right?"
"Yeah, and my stomach still remembers it."
She giggled again. "Then, Uncle, do you like fighting?"
Hazuki paused, looking up at the sky.
Did he like fighting?
…No. He just wanted to survive.
But before he could answer—
"Uncle, what's your favorite food?"
"Huh? Where did that come from?"
"Just tell me!"
Hazuki thought for a moment. "Hmm… grilled meat, I guess?"
The girl grinned. "Then today is your lucky day!"
Hazuki snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks to my legendary sword-throwing skills."
She giggled again and took another bite of her food.
From across the fire, her mother watched them with a warm smile.
Her little girl, who usually kept to herself, was now talking so much, smiling so brightly.
For the first time in a long time…
She was opening up to someone.
"Uncle?"
Ugh! This girl wouldn't stop pestering him.
Inside his mind, Hazuki groaned. What is wrong with this girl?!
"What now?" he asked, rubbing his temples.
The little girl tilted her head, chewing her food. "You never got a girlfriend?"
Hazuki froze mid-bite.
"Ugh… never."
The girl blinked. "Why?"
Hazuki clicked his tongue. "Because of those damn ikemen."
"Ikemen?"
Hazuki gritted his teeth, feeling his rage boil at the mere thought.
"Yeah. Back in my world, those handsome bastards stole all the good women! Rich, good-looking, smooth-talking assholes… they took every cute girl before I even had a chance!"
The girl blinked innocently. "So you were weak?"
"Oi! It wasn't about strength!" Hazuki shouted, waving his meat skewer.
The adventurers snickered from across the fire.
"Sounds like you just sucked at romance, Shitman."
"Tch! Screw you guys!"
The girl giggled. "So, Uncle, if you get strong, will you get a girlfriend?"
Hazuki paused.
Then, he nodded seriously. "That's the plan."
The girl grinned. "Then good luck, Uncle! Become the strongest!"
Her mother, still watching from the side, couldn't help but smile.
…
Damn it.
Why was this kid so pure?
The merchant, having finally finished counting, walked up to Hazuki and handed him a small pouch of coins.
"Here's your payment. Six silver coins."
Hazuki raised an eyebrow. "Wow… thanks."
He weighed the pouch in his hand. Not bad.
Beside him, the little girl grinned. "Ehehe~ Uncle, you got money now!"
Hazuki clicked his tongue. "This isn't much."
The girl pouted. "Yeah, but still!"
Sighing, Hazuki reached into his pouch, pulled out five copper coins, and placed them in her hand.
"Here. Take this and eat your meat."
The girl's eyes sparkled.
Then—she suddenly looked up at him seriously.
"Uncle?"
Hazuki paused. "What?"
The girl smiled sweetly. "How about I become your girlfriend?"
…
Hazuki choked on air.
His whole body froze, his brain short-circuiting.
The adventurers spit out their drinks.
"PFFFFT—!!"
One even fell off his seat, laughing.
The merchant coughed violently, nearly dropping his coins.
The little girl's mother?
She just covered her mouth, laughing softly.
Meanwhile, Hazuki sat there, his soul leaving his body.
"W-WHAT?! OI, KID, YOU CAN'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT!!"
The girl giggled innocently. "Why not? You don't have a girlfriend, right?"
"T-That's not the point!!!"
The adventurers roared with laughter.
"DAMN, SHITMAN! EVEN A KID PITIES YOU!"
Hazuki buried his face in his hands.
…
He needed another drink.
"Kill me now…"
( End of Chapter )