Chapter 176 (1/2)

Chapter 176

Ch. 176 Meeting Up

While staying aware with [[Presence Sense]], I retrace the path that my game of tag with the giant centipede had led me down. I don’t expect either the ball rabbit or Adofu to have moved from where I left them.

I can’t see anything when using [[Roll]], so I occasionally fly up and look into the distance while proceeding through the desert.

On the way, I rest in the vicinity of some cacti and come across a three-headed camel. As luck would have it[1], I got both water and meat as a package deal. I mercilessly attack it with [[Kamaitachi]], so I could serve the three-headed camel as a present for ball rabbit and Adofu. Sorry, three-headed camel. Here, the weak are meat for the strong to eat.

On my third flight, I spot a dirty-looking swamp in the distance. That is the slug’s territory. Nonetheless, when I saw it earlier on the way over I thought that it was a beautiful lake. So that must mean that [[Mirage]] was dispelled while I was fighting the giant centipede.

By any chance, are the ball rabbit and Adofu over there? It became a good landmark. Even slugs are occasionally useful. Did they defeat the slugs with that in mind? Knowing the ball rabbit, it is possible.

Approaching the swamp, ball rabbit and Adofu come into sight. Looks like they made a water supply by purifying a section of the swamp with [[Clean]]. Adofu heard my footsteps and turned his head this way.

“You’ve come back? It seems you went to raise your level.”

Oou, hearing the word ‘level’ from a human, I feel a little shocked. That Hero also possesses [[Status Check]], surprisingly it’s more common than I thought.

“To be blunt, it’s impossible. You can’t catch up to him in just a few days. Irus.h.i.+a is strong. He was going fairly easy on me as well, but you saw how it went. Sure, he used some underhanded tricks, but even without those I couldn’t have won anyway.”

Normally that would be true, but I have my double experience cheat from [[Walking Egg]].

If I go all out with enough force to destroy the ant’s nest, even if catching up to him will be difficult… I should be able to take him down in one shot while he’s being careless.

However, it is tough to explain this to Adofu…… Also, I have to go through ball rabbit.

If ‘levels’ have been introduced, then maybe I should consider that the knowledge of ‘skills’ have also become widespread? I don’t have a clear understanding about this area at all. In that case, perhaps humanity also knows the true ident.i.ty of [[Voice of G.o.d]]? Once things calm down, a part of me wants to examine that area.

“Therefore, leave it to me. You want to save that woman of the beastman tribe, right? Irus.h.i.+a believes that I am dead. Once a great number of people are gathered in the town square, I can refute Irus.h.i.+a’s points. If I succeed, even the church will no longer be able to protect him.”

We may share the same name, but I wish he’d stop calling out “Irus.h.i.+a, Irus.h.i.+a” repeatedly. Honestly, being lumped together with that guy does not feel good.

“Dragon, it would be better if you waited in the desert. I’ll definitely bring her back, just watch.”

If that would settle things smoothly I’d be all for it…… Though that hero most likely won’t leave it that easily. Even Adofu, marching into Haranae on his own, might be seen as a criminal brazenly returning, and be immediately returned to prison without being heard out…… We also need to consider that.

To Adofu, does it seem like our chances of victory are much lower in the scenario where I enter Haranae? At that time, the country would fall into chaos, and if I look at it from Adofu’s perspective,

he might feel indebted towards me.

Whether or not Adofu was there, wasn’t that Hero coming for me?

But a.s.suming I let him take responsibility out of consideration for his feelings, if it doesn’t go well, I won’t be able to do anything. Sorry for diving into a place where there are lots of people, but given the current circ.u.mstances I have no choice but to do so.

“GUuWAa”

Roaring, I spit out the cactus and camel from my mouth. Because I emphasized speed, I switched between walking on four legs and [[Roll]] while moving. I couldn’t use my hands. Well, it should be fine if I pa.s.s it through fire.

“This is……”

“GUuoo”

“Is this… okay to eat?…… Y-yeah, thanks……”

“Pefuu……”

Neither ball rabbit nor Adofu react very favorably.

W-what, aren’t you hungry? I’ll roast it, okay? It’ll be fully cooked, alright?

I roast it with [[Scorching Breath]], evaporating the saliva. Ball rabbit eats it resignedly. Adofu also seems to get over it and eats a mouthful.

“GUuoo”