Arafoo Kenja no Isekai Seikatsu Nikki Chapter 26

Ossan, unnecessarily ddles.

*Apparently the t.i.tle (お節介を焼く), refers to when you're caring too much about another person to the point where it starts becoming really annoying for them, even when you're only acting out of goodwill.

With a ragged breath, Zeros runs through the forest in the middle of the night.

The surroundings are filled with monsters that prey upon each other, the weak being nothing but fodder for the strong.

The days of concealing his breath and erasing his presence continue.

"Kuh… For how long do I have to keep doing this s.h.i.t!? Is there even a way out of this forest?"

He returned to his younger self's way of speaking*, and while he had a severely haggard appearance, his eyes were sharp like a beast's.

(*T.N: he usually talks with a super polite speech, while here he's speaking casually, though it's hard to translate his usual tone without sounding too awkward imo.)

But, he couldn't afford to worry about his speech right now.

All around him are monsters that attack as soon as they see him, so he has to keep being on high alert even while eating and sleeping, and because of that, the ntal fatigue keeps acc.u.mulating.

There's barely even ti to rest, as he's in the middle of a nest of h.e.l.lish demons.

Individually, the monsters aren't very strong, but every ti he defeats one, others imdiately co to attack him, attracted by the sll of blood.

Depending on the monster's species, they might co alone or in groups, increasing his exhaustion.

He adjusts his breathing in between battles, but pays attention to the surroundings without relaxing his guard.

Just a mont of carelessness could prove to be fatal.

He jumps away imdiately after sensing a presence behind him.

――Slash!

A deep incision is carved onto the ground. It was an enemy attack, though he can't see where it is.

He sharpens his senses and focuses on searching for signs of movents in the surroundings.

(It's… I can feel it looking at …)

Though he doesn't have any visual confirmation of the enemy, it's clear that there's a dangerous predator aiming for him.

Beasts instinctively avoid clashing with a stronger foe, but it's a different story altogether when they sense a weaker opponent.

The survival of the fittest is the original providence of nature.

Naturally, you can't live if you don't kill and eat other living beings. And that's true for both Zeros and his opponent.

He doesn't know what kind of monster the other party is, but there's no doubt that it has the ability to camouflage itself.

"The problem is which type is it… an optical camouflage, or so sort of cognitive disruption ability?"

Optical camouflage refers to the ability to hide one's figure by refracting the light from the surroundings.

Cognitive disruption is the type of camouflage that sends a specific wavelength directly to the opponent's brain, interfering with their five senses and causing them to be unable to recognize the user, thus, successfully concealing their presence from their prey.

It was impossible for the latter to be the case, given that Zeros definitely felt a monster's presence the mont it attacked.

He determined that there was a high probability that it was so kind of optical camouflage.

Sensing another attack, Zeros instinctively jumps again, hooking a wire to the branches of a giant tree, big enough to make one think that it must be over a century old to get to that size.

And, sure enough, on the place he was standing just a mont ago, there were a few marks carved onto the ground again.

At this point, Zeros was sure it was an attack by slashing.

Moreover, he was able to confirm the enemy's appearance for a brief mont. It was sothing more similar to a blur caused by the s.p.a.ce distorting, but it was obviously a large size monster.

Incidentally, most likely because they're afraid of the existence of such a powerful being, the surrounding monsters are not approaching them.

"Pierce, 〖Arrow of the Hunting G.o.d〗."

The dust floating around instantly condenses forming an arrow capable of piercing through steel, which is then released towards the direction of the optical distortion.

It probably managed to penetrate its back, but due to its camouflage it was impossible for Zeros to confirm the damaged dealt.

――Kishaaaaaa!!!

Maybe because of the pain it felt, the monster released its optical camouflage and showed itself.

Though it looked like a giant praying mantis, sohow its appearance was grotesque and repulsive.

Possessing a black outer sh.e.l.l, long sickle-like forelegs, and long and stout hind legs that supported its ma.s.sive body. Its sharp pincers gouge the ground and its compound eyes glows with a crimson hue.

"Death Mantis…"

In the ga, it was a type of monster that could be easily defeated, but suddenly having it actually in front of him, makes its presence feel much stronger.

There was a vast gap between its level and its grueso appearance.

It had innurable sharp protrusions all over its body as if to protect it from external threats.

"Is it an evolved species or a subspecies…? How annoying, do insects even feel pain?"

Though it was a rather naive thing to ask in this otherworld.

Because this world has a different common sense, he has no way of telling whether his knowledge is useful or not.

In any case, the monster had to be defeated, but its armor-like outer sh.e.l.l made it a truly troubleso opponent.

It was able to raise its defense power by circulating mana throughout its already tough sh.e.l.l, and only weapons similarly clad in mana would be able to counterbalance its enhanced defense.

Even though Zeros could easily defeat it, considering the magnitude of the forest he was in, he wanted to preserve as much mana as he could, because, no matter how high your mana capacity is, it will reach its limits.

In this harsh environnt, magic is his only lifeline, thus he doesn't want to waste even the tiniest amount of it.

Zeros accelerates towards the bosom of the Death Mantis.

Reacting to his movents, the Death Mantis swings its scythe-like foreleg towards Zeros with trendous speed.

But he aid for that exact mont.

"Here!"

Two short swords are swung against the joints that connect both sickles to their respective forelegs.

It's common practice to take away the enemy's strength first, that's why he aid to sever its ma.s.sive scythes.

Without waiting for any confirmation, Zeros ran and slashed at the weak joints with his two short-swords. Striking the sa spot at the sa ti, Zeros swords instantly cut both its forelegs apart.

The Death Mantis' sickles fly through the air and pierce the ground.

Furthermore, the sa action is repeated with each of its limbs, and so, the Death Mantis, whose limbs have been completely mutilated, falls to the ground.

After quickly dismantling the beaten-up monster and placing its parts into his inventory, Zeros starts walking out again, promptly leaving that spot as soon as possible. Given that monsters are very sensitive to the sll of blood, they are bound to approach sooner rather than later.

But this was a demonic forest where many powerful monsters gathered.

Even after defeating a monster, this is a h.e.l.lish environnt where another powerful monster will attack you without a mont's delay.

――Buruburuburu…

A heavy, low-pitched sound resonates in his head. And, as Zeros turns in the direction of the sound… it appeared there.

A creature with a jet-black outer sh.e.l.l shining with an impressive l.u.s.ter.

It's a strong insect that has road the planet since ti immorial without much change to its appearance.

And above all… huge.

"G-Great Giveridon*…"

(*T.N: The na is supposed to be so kind of pun involving the na for c.o.c.kroaches in j.a.panese [ゴキブリ gokiburi] and making it sound like so kind of dinosaur, but I couldn't think of a way to translate it into English.)

A thing he didn't want to see even more than those white monkeys, ca flying towards him at a high speed.

The Great Giveridon lands on the ground with a roaring sound.

It was the strongest insect-type monster, with a body much larger than the Death Mantis.

It moves its giant antennas searching for food, and the mont its compound eyes caught sight of Zeros' figure…

-Zazazazazaza!!!

It started running with unbelievable swiftness.

To put it plainly, it's an incredibly disgusting creature.

Moreover, as it approaches, it creates a large dust cloud while knocking down all the nearby trees in its path.

For many reasons, Zeros' face goes pale.

"No! Oh my G.o.d!! Help !!!"

*T.N: said in English.

Due to the extre terror and ntal stress the monster caused him, he stopped being j.a.panese for a mont there.

The Great Sage not only was terrified of a certain ape with strange tendencies, but also completely dreaded c.o.c.kroaches.

(*T.N: The author probably didn't an it like that, but the literal translation sounds really offensive, like, d.a.m.n. It was sothing like 'he hates the gays and c.o.c.kroaches'.)

Rather, if there's soone who likes both of those, then by all ans, they are welcod to take Zeros' place and engage in all sorts of 'biological relationships' with them.

"Why… Just why c.o.c.kroaches in this world had to be f.u.c.king gigantic!!"

It's as Zeros said. Even if the Death Mantis had those fiendish protuberances growing out of its sh.e.l.l, unlike the mantises he knew, the c.o.c.kroaches had an appearance comparable, if not the sa, to the ones in his forr world.

In this otherworld, it's a creature that has maintained the sa appearance since ti immorial, and has also beco as big as a dinosaur.

It would be easy to kill them with a single swing of one's slippers, if it were the c.o.c.kroaches from Earth, but that wouldn't be a suitable approach for a 10 ters long insect. More like, it would be completely useless.

To make matters worse, Zeros' appraisal didn't work on it for so reason, even its status couldn't be read.

That episode was only one in the series of incidents that could only be thought as hara.s.snt.

It's also one of the reasons behind his apathy towards the four G.o.ddesses*.

(*T.N: The term used 四柱の女神 can an that there's a G.o.ddess with or supporting four pillars, or that there are simply four G.o.ddesses[the word pillar being a counter for G.o.ds], which is what I'm going for until it clearly appears differently in future chapters. Also, I think I translated previous chapters in a different way, so I'm going to recheck afterwards.)

The Giveridon gives chase to Zeros who promptly started running away.

He's chased by the gigantic, disgusting, and fierce insect until early morning. Soon after, the cry of a heartbroken middle-aged man resonates in the forest.

Ironically, the mortal pursuit made him get closer to the highway. Though Zeros doesn't know that fact.

The c.o.c.kroach might be an unexpectedly good fella.

"… And that's how it went. Huh? What's wrong?"

The three rcenary girls, Iris, Rena, and Jane, were lying flat on the table and mumbling things like: "c.o.c.kroaches… scary", "I don't want to ever see a gigantic c.o.c.kroach monster…", while trembling.

At breakfast, Zeros was asked to speak about his experiences, so he told them the anecdote of the ti he was lost in Far-flung forest and encountered a ma.s.sive c.o.c.kroach, but it seed that imagining such a monster caused them to have a ntal breakdown all at once.

"Mister… that's quite the adventure…"

"Zeros-san, you've done well in coming back. No one would want to approach the evil monsters inhabiting that G.o.d-forsaken forest."

"A gigantic c.o.c.kroach huh… I'm amazed you managed to defeat such a fiendish thing…"

Incidentally, the Great Giveridon he encountered was the biggest specin ever registered, because up until that mont, they were yet to find an individual Giveridon over the five-ter cla.s.s.

Nonetheless, it was still hard to conceive the heinousness of a monster with such a huge body moving at an insane speed while mowing down all nearby trees.

Additionally, the larger it is, the thicker its outer sh.e.l.l is, so, without using sothing at the level of siege weapons, it would be impossible to hurt it.

It's even difficult to escape from such an outrageous monster.

But, the girls were scared of it in a different sense. They didn't even know what to feel about him anymore.

"Wouldn't it be better if we quickly finish breakfast? We're going to the mine now, right?"

"You're right, but…"

"I lost my appet.i.te… ugh, gigantic c.o.c.kroaches…"

"….. (buruburu)"

(*T.N: shaking sfx apparently.)

One they start imagining it, they can't stop.

A fiendish figure creeps inside their mind, depriving them of their appet.i.te.

"If you lose your appet.i.te with sothing of this level, you won't last much as a rcenary. There will be tis you will have to kill human opponents, right? Like bandits, thugs, or even other rcenaries."

"Mister, can you stop saying such nasty things? We specialize in monster subjugation."

"That's right. I can't kill other human beings, even if they're bad guys…"

"So that's how you were both caught? You need to think about how are you going to survive if there's soone trying to harm you. As a rcenary, it's your own responsibility to take care of yourself, you can't expect soone to help you every ti you are in trouble."

Iris and Rena seem to have never killed a person before. That's why they hesitated and were captured by bandits.

It's really naive, thinking they could survive while refusing to kill a person in this world, where the price of life is rather insignificant.

"Well, I'm not soone who can smile and calmly kill other human beings, but I'm resolved to kill soone if I had to."

"I've killed before, and I didn't feel good about it."

"If there's soone who can kill people comfortably, they have sothing wrong in their head."

It appears Jane has killed bandits before, but she wasn't fond of it.

As rcenaries, they will sotis be faced against criminals, and killing them is allowed in order to protect themselves.

Even so, Zeros still thought of it as unpleasant because he would still be responsible of taking another person's life.

"Then, why don't we wrap up our food in a bento* instead, and save it up for later?"

(*T.N: j.a.panese lunchbox.)

"Ah! Right, there was that."

"Bento? What's that?"

"Never heard of it, but Iris seems to know, right?"

There were no such things as bentos in this world.

Most workers live in the city, and often work close to their own hos. And, even if they can't return to have a al, there are many shops where they can get sothing to eat.

There are street stalls as well, so there wasn't a real need for bentos.

"I'll make a sandwich with the smoked at and the vegetables and wrap it up in paper."

"I see, then Iris will take care of the bentos."

"Good idea! Can I leave it to you, Iris?"

"Okay～♪! Then, wait for in front of the inn until I'm done, mister."

Iris heads towards the kitchen with a light gait.

Incidentally, it seems like the innkeeper of Ahhan village's inn was also the chef, like the owner of a certain inn for sailors from sowhere.

(*T.N: didn't get the reference, and also, totally random.)

"By the way, are the materials from the Death Mantis good? Can you make equipnt with them?"

"Its sh.e.l.l is great for making different kinds of weapons and armor. It's light and strong, though it's weak against fire magic."

"Well, it's an insect, so it's a taken that it'd be weak against fire."

"The at around the sh.e.l.l was exquisite. It tasted like crab or shrimp."

The air suddenly froze as he said that.

"D-Did you eat the Death Mantis…?"

"It's a monster! Are you sane!?"

"It's alright. You guys also eat things like Orc at, so is not that strange, is it? And above all, it was a situation where I had no choice but to eat monsters' at to survive, that's why, if there was no poison in it, I had to eat it."

"I get that but you'd eat a huge insect too?"

"It's not sothing I'd usually consider eating… No, actually, it's impossible. No way!"

"With that mindset, you'll starve to death in the case of an ergency. Living is a battle… Yes, it can be called a war, even…"

(Sohow… their eyes look scary.)[*Zeros]

(I know it must've been a horrible experience, but isn't that a bit too extre? Yup, I definitely won't ever go near that forest.)[*Jane]

Because Zeros had eaten gra.s.shopper tsukudani* in his forr world, he didn't have that much aversion to eating insects.

*** You are reading on / ***

(*T.N: seafood, at or seaweed preserved in soy sauce and mirin; sen.wikipedia/wiki/Tsukudani)

*** You are reading on / ***