Chapter 83 (1/2)

Chapter 83 – Target Found

The next morning, I finished my meal quite early and headed to the mountain.

We walked towards the foot of the mountain for two hours, and then we climbed to the point where the Thunderbird had been spotted.

I put the kanjiki1 on my feet, and some warm clothes and an overcoat to protect my body from the cold. If I put too many clothes, my movement will be inhibited, which will get in the way once I find the thunderbird, those are still somewhat thick though. Maa, the thick clothes aren’t that necessary due to the magic overcoat.2

Anyway, I’ve prepared a few days worth of food and changes of clothes for the mountain climbing, just in case it is necessary.

Following the lead of hunter-san, I started climbing the mountain path (?)3 that is covered by snow.

It took 3 hours, by the pace of the hunter, to reach our goal…. During that time, I walked without speaking a single word. I planted my feet firmly on the snow covered path with each step, this unusual way of walking was necessary to be sure I’d not waste any stamina while walking through it4. Despite the hards.h.i.+ps, Hunter-san kept on moving forward to arrive at our goal without delay.

How much did we walk? After getting considerably tired, Hunter-san’s feet finally stopped in place..

「I saw the thunderbird around here.」 Hunter-san said.5

Once I heard that, I started looking around, but I only saw a snow covered mountain.

…… Maa, it couldn’t have remained in the same place forever….

Let’s start by looking around this place. By walking on its surroundings. Searching to see if there aren’t any clues..

Though I said that, I have no such skill, so I’ll rely Hunter-san’s….

Checking out if there aren’t any footprints of the thunderbird, the traces of its food, or of the excrement.

Me as well, will search for it, like an amateur looking at a new dish.

How long have we been looking for it? I also forgot to eat lunch and continued searching, it was around the time I was becoming unable to endure the harsh hunger.

「Wait! It’s the footprint of the thunderbird! 」Hunter-san said.

I stopped my foot mid-air and saw the footprint right below where I was going to step.

That was certainly the footprint of some kind of bird.

However, it was a big footprint, and it looked like the one of a waterfowl, not really similar to a bird’s one.

Thunderbirds have a small body of about 1m height, and it lives mainly on high alt.i.tude zones and snowy places, the large foot, that is similar to a waterfowl’s, increases the area that it steps on. Making it easier for it to move through the soft snow.

In other words, the footprints found here are definitely the thunderbird’s.

The footprints continue from here to the top of the mountain. The footprints are still new and the chances of finding the thund

erbird are pretty high. So we quickly followed the.

After half an hour of tracking, we were able to find the thunderbird in an open place. It was wrapped in pure white feathers, and it easily  blended into the snowy field, which served as camouflage for anyone looking from a distance..

I dropped my luggage, and encouraged Hunter-san to separate from me, so as to not be dragged into the fight..

After checking he did it, I unsheathed my katana6 and prepared myself.

For certain victory, the first blow is a must. Certain death in one blow!7

Going directly through the spirit of the katana8, I immediately brandished my weapon and made a big swing.

Coming from the katana’s spirit, a slas.h.i.+ng attack swooped down upon the thunderbird.

Giiiiin!!!

The moment I hit Thunderbird, a sound that seemed like I was cutting something hard echoed.

I don’t know what happened to the thunderbird, because the snow in the area flew up at the moment I hit it. Guessing from the sound, I think it defended against the technique in some way.

While holding the katana, I glared at the direction of the thunderbird without hesitation. I put a defense magic on myself, as well as a body strengthening one, so that I can move at any time.

「Kueeeeeetsu!! 」

When I noticed that I heard a strange sound, light suddenly flooded my sight.

I quickly jumped back, and as I did, the tree behind me made a loud noise and blew away right above my head.

Apparently, I received a counterattack from the thunderbird.

Judging so, I got up and moved quickly.

I dare say that, with that power, hiding behind trees would be a total waste. In that case, it is better to stay in a wide place so as to make it possible to avoid as much as possible.

If I keep away from it, it seems impossible to beat the thunderbird….

The soaring snow disappeared like it was swept away by the wind, the thunderbird was staring at me while its body was glowing with a bachi bachi9.

I do not know how it defended against my blow, but it seems that it won’t be easy to beat it seeing that there is no visible wound on its body.

I put strength in the hand which grasped the katana, and I slashed towards the thunderbird with the strengthened physical ability.

「Yaa! 」

Flash yell10. I make a swing to cut down the thunderbird, but because I don’t have a solid footing, the attack wasn’t very skillful. Due to the stance not working, all actions were delayed one by one tempo11.

The swinging blade does not reach the thunderbird, and then it flew away increasing the gap between us.

The moment I noticed the body of the thunderbird flashed, I threw my body diagonally forward.

Dogaaaaaan!!!

A sound similar to a thundering roar echoed.

Looking back, the place that I was standing on was now raising steam.

…… That was dangerous…. The thunderbird, just like its name says, can manipulate thunder. No12, I feel that it can generate electricity in its own body rather than manipulating it? That seems to be how its power works.

Since I have defensive magic, I won’t be taken out in one blow, but it is not something I’d want to receive anyway.

Fortunately, the lightning attack seems to requires a small interval13, so it’s not continuously used. Before the next attack comes, I put my spirit on my feet and break into its territory14.

Das.h.i.+ng towards it, I made a slash from top to bottom. But again, the sword cut through the sky and lodged itself on the snow.

「Kueeeee!!! 」

A strange sound was emitted from the thunderbird.

Along with that, the electric discharge on the thunderbird’s body became stronger than before.

「Almost…! 」

I fl.u.s.teredly tried to retreat, but this time, the explosion happened centered on the thunderbird’s own body.

Dogooooon!!!

Without specifying a target, the attack against a wide area would blow me away if I hadn’t get some distance with the jump.

I wasn’t able to see the result of the jump, or of the wide area attack, but it seems it wasn’t able to break through my defensive magic, since I was intact. And, I didn’t want to have my head thrust into the snow like a cartoon15.

「Ku… it’s S-rank, indeed… It’s not going to be easy… 」

If the ground is firm at least, I’ll be able to move and attack properly….

「Flame Arrow! 」16

I try to use the magic as a restraint, but it is easily avoided, or erased by the discharge that comes from the body of the thunderbird. As expected, it seems like it cannot be restrained by elementary level magic.

Still, it seems to be cautious against my magic, which game me time to recover my posture.