Chapter 2: Gekokujou
I quenched my hunger by going after the small preys.
It was through this that I was able to pass the night.
The number of preys I had devoured total to four. 2 of which are rabbits, one is a frog, and another one is a lizard.
Having a meal like this, if I were still human, then I would have undoubtedly already thrown up. There’s no question to it. With this meal, and last night’s rest, there’s no more doubt left within me.
Monster.
I am a monster.
Seeing this hideous form of mine has already become somewhat normal. At the very least, I no longer quiver when I see myself.
Besides, it’s not all that bad. I noticed it when I had first hunted. This body is considerably more formidable than that of humans.
Eyes that see in the dark, nails that can tear apart its preys, and fangs strong enough to crunch with. Such power could not even be compared to a human’s puny strength.
Furthermore, there is no longer anything to fear when it comes to unclean water. This body’s resistance is exceptional, unclean water won’t graze it.
Humanity had shed many things through the course of evolution. And those things that humanity has lost, this body still possesses.
If I so desired, I could live the rest of my days like this, and I wouldn’t have the slightest bit of trouble. Because this body is actually more convenient than my human body.
Of course, I’d like to be excused from having to be reduced to living here as a monster.
Slumping down beneath the shade of a tree, I began to think.
Now, what should I do?
I definitely don’t want to become a monster.
I had once read something about a situation like this before. It was a story about a man who became a tiger. In that story, the man grew insane, and he became not only a tiger in mind, but even in body.
I don’t wish to end up like that.
Chances are, I am in a different world. And most likely, I am no longer human. Then in that case, I must find a way to go back.
Now, what should I do?
I pondered my course of action to myself as I toyed with the rabbit I’d caught just before daybreak.
Thinking back on it, didn’t that goblin talk?
“Get feeds”, he said.
He said, he certainly did. If so, then he is capable of speech.
Since mutual understanding is possible, then wouldn’t that imply that there are other goblins as well?
I may not know how to return, but if there’s a community, then there should be a way for me to get information.
With that, I set my mind. I take the rabbit and begin to walk towards that den.
But as soon as I did, I felt a chill run up my spine, causing me to stop in my tracks. As I felt that sensation run up me, I immediately jumped into a bush.
The fear circulated throughout my whole body, causing my feet to quiver uncontrollably.
Curious and alert, I strain my ears. There, a painful whizzing sound entered my ears. At the same time, I spotted a giant spider around the size of two grown men, walking like a king.
My heart was calm like ice, but my limbs quivered with no signs of stopping.
Logic questioned the monster’s identity, but my instinct roused some sort of primordial fear towards the beast.
My body couldn’t help but shake to the power balance between the predator and the prey. The one eating and the one being eaten.
Six completely red, inhuman eyes, swam around as it looked for its prey. While six limbs, each comparable to a human’s height, carried it.
“Kisha!”
The moment I thought that it had suddenly stopped moving, that monster spider abrutply jumped into a bush opposite the bush I was hiding in.
“Guwoo!”
The creature hiding within the opposite bush was startled, and panic-stricken. That creature had the hideous head of a pig, and at the same time, it had two legs to walk on. In other words, an Orc.
Panicked, the orc tried to run away, but the monster spider chased after it. The orc tried to jump out of the bushes, but the monster spider skillfully moved its long limbs with a speed far too fast for the eyes see, driving it into a corner.
Driven into a corner, the orc was pushed down from behind with two of the spider’s legs. Then, the monster spider brought its chilling jaws towards the orc’s head. With a ‘chomp’, it bit into the head of the orc, crushing its cranium and releasing a plethora of spinal fluid, brain matter, and blood, into its mouth. As the pieces of that hideous pig head swam within that carnivorous aperture, the monster spider voraciously devoured every single bit of it as it took its time, enjoying mealtime.
Seeing the battle of the two monsters at the top of the food chain unfold right before my eyes. This monstrous body of mine, could not help but shake.
However, I gathered every sense of reason I had within my body, mustering whatever courage I could to leave without a sound. After I’d taken some distance, I immediately sprinted as fast as I could and I headed towards the den.
I, who have and should have lived amongst humans all my life, had just been awoken to the absurdity of nature, the law of the jungle.
△▼△
“Gigi!”
Incomprehensible sounds escaped my mouth, as I screamed while I ran.
But upon reaching the den, I could not help but feel hesitant to enter that dark and narrow hole. However, I could spare no time dallying for that giant spider may come at any moment. Having no time left, I raised my voice, and called out towards the den. A short while passed, and the goblin from before came out.
“Feed.”
The same, hideous face, accompanied by a gaze that couldn’t be described as anything else but hate. However, there was one thing that startled me, the difference in our heights.
Though I had only passed a night outside, it would appear that I had already sprouted a fair bit.
I handed the rabbit to the goblin, and it glanced at it, without saying a word. Then it disappeared into the den. I didn’t know whether I should chase after it or not, but after a while, it came back out. With a stern look, it roared at me.
“Come! Enemy, coming!”
The goblin strongly pulled on my arm, and brought me into the den.
I leaked a cry to that overbearing strength. Apparently, it never had any intentions of holding back in the first place.
The goblin then threw me into a room, and it quickly went over to pick up a club.
“Get.”
As I looked around me, I noticed something. The room may appear to be a little shoddy, but it is actually an armory.
In any case, it wants me to pick one, right?
As I felt fear towards the goblin, I searched the armory for a weapon. Unfortunately, they were all of poor quality.
It’s not like I was expecting these monsters to have a Japanese Katana or a spear, but even then, I was hoping for something that at least resembled a weapon.
With that in mind, I labored to find something more fitting of fantasy, like something that resembles a long sword. Unfortunately, however, all I could find were a reasonably long club, a pointed picket, and a fork that’s used for farming.
Well, better than nothing I suppose.
With that I convinced myself, and I took the club.
“Come.”
Said the goblin as we quickly left the room.
While I was half in thought, I followed after it.
△▼△
“Hurry.”
The guy urged me to go faster, while I had to go reduce its unrestrained club. I had thought that it only wanted me to pick a weapon, but then it drove me to the surface, and then it even made me run. Finally, after being thoughtlessly hurried, we arrived at our supposed destination, a village that looks to be abandoned.
I couldn’t really tell though, as to whether it was really an abandoned village or not, as I could spot some squirming shadows.
What are those?
It turns out that what had gathered there, was a large number of green goblins. And at the center of that was a boss-like existence that had red skin.
“Come!”
The goblin that came with me, took my arm by the hand, and brought me over to where that red boss was. As the goblin brought me, I couldn’t help but open my eyes wide at that thing that couldn’t be thought to have any trace of majesty.
The red goblin was of respectable stature, it big arms, a sharp glint in the eye, and more than anything, a hideous countenance. It was outfitted with a rusted armor, and a sword with a chip in the blade. Looking at it, I couldn’t help but want to doubt that we were of the same race.
“King, come. This, pipsqueak.”
Hearing those fragmented words, I had a fairly good guess at what these two’s relationship was.
The red one is their king, and these goblins are his servants. And so, this guy is making me have an audience with the king as someone who is even lower than him.
Then abruptly, the king looked at me.
“You, last. Slow bastard, give punishment.”
In other words, he wishes to punish me because I’m last?
Don’t fuck with me… who do you think you are?
As I thought that, the goblin beside the red bastard already had me pinned down.
“Me, gentle. Will not kill you.”
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