Volume 1 - Chapter 18 – THREATENING SIGNS (2/2)

There Yang who went together mountain hunting came over, Rock began speaking to the two.

「I was thinking about the reason for why those guys were on the verge of moving, first, a problem with food」

「That’s true, if there’s nothing left to eat then they’ll move to search for some」

Yang nodded.

「Second, when they’re being pursued by an enemy. That would be a pack of Rock Wolf」

「Certainly, they would run away from their natural enemy」

Jin also agreed with the reason.

「Third. For a herd of mountain deer, in the case the herd grows too big, a young deer would make another herd, and they would separate to live」

「However, from all of this time’s game, there was no young deer」

Yang presented a problem with this idea.

「Aa, that’s right. That may happen sometimes by chance, however the most likely one would probably be being pursued by an enemy」

「Is the possibility for food low?」

Jin asked Rock who nodded,

「Aa. From the feeling of what we saw, snow hasn’t appeared in the remote mountains where the mountain deer are yet, and the greenery has yet to change from the usual. I wouldn’t think it’s a shortage of food」

「Which would mean…」

It would mean that something, some beast were pursuing them.

Then, Rock leaned forward,

「We can somehow manage mountain deer, but a Rock Wolf is troublesome. They’re nocturnal and their attacks in packs are difficult」

Jin,

「Have any Rock Wolves attacked the village before?」

tried to ask. And Rock shook his head,

「No, I haven’t heard of it since I was born. However, it happened once in my grandfather’s time」

「I see…」

Folding his arms, Jin pondered. Rock,

「Therefore, because I can’t decide what to do, I was thinking about talking to everyone to come up with something」

「Aniki, then shouldn’t we send out a scout to see?」

Yang said.

「Scouting huh? That would be right. This time we will need to go much farther back and see. Yang, you say some good things once a year」

「Chie, that doesn’t sound like a compliment」

「Well then, we should tell the village chief about this」

Jin said, and Rock nodded,

「Well let’s do that」

That night, a discussion was held at the village chief’s home, they were deciding who to send from the village for reconnaissance. For preparing a countermeasure of the dangers, Jin placed his opinion in.

Of course, the plan included the Horse Golems Jin made.

It was decided both Rock and Yang would use the Horse Golem for scouting. Departure was in 2 days. In that time, the two would get used to maneuvering the Horse Golem.

And the next day, the two practised.

「O-Owaaa!」

Using the accelerator too much, the Horse Golem reared up and shook him off.

「Gyaaa」

He was thrown forward after suddenly stopping from a gallop.

But though they were covered in wounds, they were both able to master maneuvering a Horse Golem in a day.

「Well then, I’ll be going」

「Dear, a-a-absolutely don’t act recklessly!」

「Tou-chan, be careful」

The atmosphere was more tense than the last mountain hunt, the two 『Scouts』 rode the Horse Golems 『Ein』 and 『Zwei』, and headed off to the mountain.