Chapter 16 (1/2)

Sixteenth Episode 〜 The Debonchitchi

Translator’s Corner: Hey everyone! New concepts in this chapter. This was pretty hard to translate even though this chapter is pretty short. Anyways, enjoy the chapter!

Achilles-s.h.i.+sho puts his right hand in front of me, and tells me “Stop–”

s.h.i.+sho stares motionlessly at the ground.

“It’s a Zerri footprint.”

Raising his eyes, he begins to stare at the forest. It’s surely the footprint of the animal.

“Is it there?”

Does s.h.i.+sho detect a presence? He stares at the forest without answering my question.

I check with <smell secretion=”” technique=”” pheromone=”” touch=””>.

–The strong smell of a beast.

–I can make out the figure of a tiger.

Then, the forest begins to move at the place Achilles-s.h.i.+sho stares at.

A conspicuous big tiger with black and yellow fur appears.

“That is the black tiger, Zerri.”

s.h.i.+sho tells me while facing the yellow and black Zerri tiger.

The carnivorous Zerri with a face of a black and yellow tiger appears to be in a rage.

The strength and power held in its limbs and the characteristic feature of a yellow fringe around its eyes like a panda.

The full black hair on the swelling muscles are emphasized, yellow fur begins to spread at the stomach, striped with black like the pattern on a zebra.

“Shuya, before this becomes a fight, attack with me. Okay?”

Achilles-shsisho says so enthusiastically, and not waiting for me to answer, begins to run ahead.

There’s no helping it, so I begin to chase after s.h.i.+sho.

Startled by s.h.i.+sho’s abrupt movement, the black and yellow Zerri tiger howls a frightened cry.

There–s.h.i.+sho approaches the tiger with his black spear.

The eyes of the frightened Zerri sharpen when it sees the black spear. Putting strength into its four legs the tiger moves to avoid the spear by instinct.

The black and yellow Zerri tiger jumps to the side, avoiding s.h.i.+sho’s attack.

However, four short sword float in the air, held aloft by guidance moji, where the Zeriri escaped to.

The swords spread out in a trap, waiting for the tiger,

As expected. He let it dodge on purpose.

Aware of the four short swords the tiger is skewered — ah? There’s a deflecting sound. Huh, the fur of the Zerri tiger seems to be strong. A peculiar hard sound echoes.  However, when a sword blade attacks the tiger’s abdomen, instead of the hard deflecting sound there is the sound of flesh being cut

Finally, each of the four short swords pierce one of the Zerri’s legs.

For now, I’ll snipe too!

I deliver a single blow to the tiger’s back with my spear.

The black and yellow Zerri tiger collapses the ground with a *dosun*

This, my spear doesn’t seem to have done anything.

It’s already dead. This guy was already dead.

It’s different. I remember Hokuto G.o.d Fist, (TL: I don’t know 北斗神拳)

“It went well. Let’s dismantle it now.”

Saying so, Achilles-s.h.i.+sho cuts into the black furred pelt with a knife.

“Hold the hind legs.”

“Okay.”

s.h.i.+sho prompts me. He doesn’t seem to be using guidance moji.

Skinning the corpse w

ould be difficult to do alone.

If he had a large work station there would be tools s.h.i.+sho could use to do it himself, however like this doing it by oneself would be impossible……

When I lift a hind leg of the tiger, s.h.i.+sho expertly slides his knife between the skin and meat, separating them.

When all the of the skin is flayed, the meat is cut into small pieces. The pieces are quickly cut and bound bya string through the meat and tied off, after which I wrap the meat in leaves and bag it

Then, s.h.i.+sho unusually mutter aloud “As for this……,” surprising me.  There appears to be a stone s.h.i.+ning in the black entrails.

“This is a magic stonel.”

s.h.i.+sho carefully removes the stone that s.h.i.+nes with a black l.u.s.ter, and places it in a different bag.

“What? A magic stone?”

“N? This……this is a valuable stone which collects mana inside the body. During my time as an adventurer I could have sold this for a decent price. It’s called a magic stone or magic crystal. It can immediately be harvested in labyrinth city.”

“By any chance, can it be used with various materials?”

“That’s right. Magic stones have various uses. Smithing materials, weapons, armor, magic tool catalyst, they are even used with building materials. There are even rumors that you’ll grow stronger if you swallow one.”

You will grow if you swallow one?

If the stone was completely clean……

“The stone promotes growth?”

“Such a rumor is pa.s.sed around. I should tell you, because I haven’t eaten a stone before I don’t know. I have seen those who have seen swallow a stone in the past, as for them, everyone eventually had an unusual accident affecting their body. Besides, swallowing a stone didn’t seem the help them grow. So, I don’t believe the growth rumor.”

Well, that would happen if you swallow a strange stone……

Bloodletting and lead was used in medicine during the middle ages, and even in modern times there was a rumor that radioactivity gave you beautiful skin.

“……I don’t want to eat one either.”

s.h.i.+sho continues dismantling while talking.

“Haha, that’s right. More importantly, look at this fur. My jacket is made from the same material. I’m pretty sure you saw it during the fight earlier, but this can repel sword blades. The hide and fur are considerably tough. It can be used to make leather clothes if tanned. And then, the thin meat on the back here can be eaten raw. Isn’t it important to have this? In the middle of a trip, when there’s game but no fire you can eat it raw. You should remember this. The heart and liver are very nutritious.  Also, when you need water you can cut into the middle of the stomach and squeeze, then you can suck water out.”

“I understand eating it raw, but sucking it?”

Raw meat to tearing the stomach……

It seems to smell but securing water is important for survival.

“That’s right. Just in case of emergencies. Hmm, ah, in Shuya’s case there’s the water attribute. Moreover, because of the vampire lineage the situation may be different. Sorry, sorry. I carelessly forgot.”

“It’s fine, it’s enough that you accept me normally.”

While talking, I closely watch Achilles-s.h.i.+sho’s dismantling.

Imitating him, I try to dismantle the other side well, but find it surprisingly difficult, in the end I am simply watching s.h.i.+sho’s method.

The bones from the backbone of the head to the femur are all packed in a large magic bag.

The edible parts of the meat are put in their own magic bag.

“Most of it has be harvested now. Help me wash the skin, and then, other animals will approach this area because it smells of blood. Let’s leave.”

I nod at his words and return with s.h.i.+sho to the side of the fast flowing stream, going slightly south along the river side.

s.h.i.+sho approaches the river bank when he finds a place where the strength of the water calms.

The water in the river is clear. I can see smalls crayfish and fish swimming.

I stretch the tiger skin and s.h.i.+sho carefully uses the knife, was.h.i.+ng the fur in the river water. Sometimes, a treatment is spread evenly over it.

Mmm, it’s not possible the first time. After all, I could mostly see, but I studied the simple leather tanning

When s.h.i.+sho finished was.h.i.+ng the hide, I dry it with my life magic and wind and stuff it in the magic bag. Then, we went into the forest.

“Sa, this way.”

We walk deep into the forest.

While s.h.i.+sho fells small trees, he begins talking.

“The fur we just cleaned, in truth I prefer to set it out so I can dry it immediately, there’s also a point in the process where I sc.r.a.pe off the remaining fat and smear it with special oils, but this will be good enough the time being. It’s because it’s far more durable than ordinary fur and resists rotting.”

Hoh, what he did earlier was the beginning of leather tanning.

However, this magic bag seems to still have a ways to go before it’s full.

We advance deeper into the forest.

Then, I see a giant tree unlike the others.

The trunk of the giant tree is as thick as a baobab, it is a tall, giant tree.

Numerous branches grow, spiraling out from the trunk, and from these branches green leaves spring forth.

It feels like a large roof, expressing the richness of nature.

Immediately after we walk underneath the giant tree the sunlight is blocked out by its shade.

–A cool refres.h.i.+ng breeze blows through my body.

……Big.

While looking at the giant three…I’m at a loss for words.

While I look at the giant tree, I hear a strange sound.

Eh? What is it?

“–Debbontchi, Depponchitchi~ichitchi~i”

“–Debbontchi, Depponchitchi~ichitchi~i”

There is a strange musical sound……

The sound just now is faint; I can hear it repeating……

I ask for help, and turn around to face s.h.i.+sho.

“Mm? What’s wrong?”

“Well, that sound……”

“Ah, that. It’s unusual. It’s probably good. The spirit children of debonchitchi, it is the sound of the spirit children.'”

A strange word is said. The spirit children of debonchitchi……

“What is the……spirit child?”

“It happens in places abundant in nature, it’s called a rare phenomenon. According to what I have heard, the phenomenon occurs in places where magic essence is generated. It’s also famous because it prevents monsters from approaching. The place where magic essence is created can create a “resonating magic void”, at the source of the light, not only are spirits and magic essence created, but monsters are also called together is large numbers.”

A rare phenomenon, after the void.

“As for the spirit children, in the situation where you said there’s a void……” (TN: I think magic essence (romaji is mamoto) may be another word for manna, I’m not sure what this void stuff is about.)

“That’s right. Honestly, I don’t know everything about this, but in my opinion, the place the spirit children gather includes the wood soul spirits and other spirits, ‘Earth G.o.ddess Gaia-sama,’ or ‘Plant G.o.ddess Sateyura-sama’ strong influence on the place, so they may be the source? (TL: This was hard to translate, sorry for…everything about it.) Well, this is really only my opinion.”

The names of G.o.ds are mentioned.

“I see. But s.h.i.+sho, I don’t understand.”

“That’s normal. It is what I think.”

s.h.i.+sho frowns and makes a troubled face.

“No, I’m sorry. s.h.i.+sho seems to know everything.”

Not going as far as an actually encyclopedia, s.h.i.+sho is still a knowledgeable person.

“There’s a lot I don’t understand……”

“That’s true. But, the opinion I told you before may be the correct answer.”

“Well. In cases where there are abundant amounts of nature it has been known to be sacred grounds……or, so I have always thought leading to the world of seurosu kami……”

The spirit world, Seurosu. The name of the inhabiting kami.

“You won’t hear anything more detailed about the priesthood system even if you go to a magic university. Well, I don’t think anyone really knows. Oh, it’s the voice of debonchitchi.”

Surely, still, I can hear it.

“……The debonchitchi. What are they doing?”

“They won’t do any harm. They seem to like surprising humans and being silly. We’re lucky to have encountered debonchitchi, its existence is appreciated by travelers and adventurers. Monsters won’t approach the area where the sound is heard.”

“Oh, that is strange. There’s several unique sounds.”

“Their sound is like that. The source of the sound is the branch of the giant tree over there, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I’m interested in looking at it.”

Like that, walking away from s.h.i.+sho, when I approach the giant tree, I see it.

Looking with the magic observing eye, I’m able to see it clearly.

The spirit child, debonchitchi.

Flickering, it gives off a pale light.

It looks like a “Teruterubōzu” with small hands and feet. (TN: These.)

There are two small holes for eyes and a crescent for the mouth.

This one has a big face. Ah, there’s a lot of holes covering it like wounds. There’s one growing something like a mustache.

Their small hands and feet are cute.  And then, one walking up and down and shaking its head back and forth, comes up to me and I try not to move……

My eyes are drawn to this small spirit child, also, this giant tree is huge.

Turning my eyes back to the giant tree, I ask s.h.i.+sho,

“Is the domain of the elves a place where one giant trees grow?”

Trees bigger than this. I want to see them.

“Well, first of all, we’ll camp here tonight. Because the dry firewood and fallen leaves are suitable please help me collect what we need.”

Helping s.h.i.+sho pick up the fallen kindling and leaves, I sometimes look up. I can’t help but look at the giant tree. I bring the dead leaves and kindling I collected to s.h.i.+sho at a plot of land cleared underneath the giant tree.

To start the fire.

I thought the fire would be started now but s.h.i.+sho walks away, and takes out a bag.

Shoving a hand into the bag, he begins to sprinkle a white powder around the area.

“Sono, what is that white stuff?”

“Ah, it’s a type of wood dust that repels insects. I think you’ll understand if you smell it, but it creates a bad smell in your nose. Small insects won’t approach now.”

“The smell really is strong.”

Minty, it smells kind of like peppermint.

“Umu. Good, it’s also good to rub it. Dinner is mostly edible wild plants.”

“What about the wild boar or the tiger from earlier?”

“That’s right.”

Achilles-s.h.i.+sho talks and smiles while reach into a different bag.

The meat that was cut into pieces earlier is taken out of its bag. p.r.i.c.king the meat with a knife, the meat is p.r.i.c.ked while he hums a tune.