Chapter 27 - Injury

It intended to protect him.

It was going to show him how it should be done.

Its eyes nor its nose were able to do anything. Its movements were too slow.

Its effort to protect Kurando had become useless.

As a result, Kurando was injured.

A large amount of blood had gushed out of Kurando’s mouth.

If it was only Kurando and itself, then perhaps Kurando would have died.

◆◆◆

Yukishiro rubs the tip of its nose against Kurando’s injured body.

Kurando was somehow able to move his arm to pet the usually modest Yukishiro.

Yukishiro fetches the small shield and brings it over to Kurando.

It placed the shield down horizontally from where Kurando laid.

「W-were you, protecting, this for me?」 (Kurando)

――Gruuhh

Yukishiro was unable to stop the monster. It had never thought that it wouldn’t be able to protect Kurando.

When Yukishiro heard Kurando groan it nuzzled against his face. Yukishiro curls itself up and lays next to Kurando’s bedside.

Akari speaks up.

「The monster disappeared but the club and shield had remained. I have heard of this before, but this is the first time I’ve seen it personal.」 (Akari)

A short distances away there is a club lending against the wall.

「There is nothing wrong with the club and shield. You could use it if you wanted to, but I’m not sure about the equipment’s quality.」 (Akari)

「Thanks, for patching, me up.」 (Kurando)

Akari seems startled.

「I’m not sure how to say this, but I wasn’t useful.」 (Akari)

「That isn’t so. I was, unable, to use, spirit magic then.」 (Kurando)

「Anyone could’ve done the same. I only did as I was instructed.」 (Akari)

After listening to Akari talk, Kurando closed his eyelids. He needed to sleep.

◆◆◆

Kurando awoke to a raging heat.

His whole body was sweating like a waterfall.

There is darkness all around him.

Akari wasn’t beside the fireplace.

Kurando is in the nude. He isn’t wearing a shirt nor trousers. (T/N: first mention of nudity and it happens to be Kurando, lol)

Although his arms are stiff they don’t ache.

This is the first time Kurando had sustained a serious injury and had received life spirit magic since coming to this world. He never thought about such things before.

The fever was the price to pay for being healed.

Yukishiro’s ears move. It slightly opens its eyes.

Kurando makes his way to the bathroom.

Yukishiro approaches Kurando.

It had been sleeping. Yukishiro doesn’t need light to see in the dark because it has night-vision.

While in the bathroom, Kurando tries to use water magic. He is unable to use magic.

In other words, his maryoku is depleted. His maryoku supply is almost dry, perhaps.

「How troublesome, it this another side effect? ……no water, huh?」 (Kurando)

He saw Yukishiro who had followed him to the bathroom. Yukishiro quickly filled the bathtub with water. Usually, Kurando would be able to do so by himself without having to request Yukishiro’s assistance.

Kurando gives his thanks before submerging his body into the water in the bathtub.

The water overflows out of the bathtub.

“AHHHHHHHH“, a sound leaks out of his throat.

The heat from his fever had passed and his body is cooling down.

With a “splash”, Yukishiro joins Kurando in the bathtub.

「H-hey, now, careful.」 (Kurando)

More water overflows out of the tub.

Kurando’s face was splashed with water. When Yukishiro had submerged itself in the water it made the bath cold.

It wasn’t too cold. Kurando had become used to the cold winters so something like a cold bath is no big deal. But nevertheless, like any normal living animal, Kurando prefers a hot bath. However, on Earth, there are no magical beasts so this time, Kurando consented to the situation.

For a while, Kurando soaked in the bathtub.

In the darkness, he sat there in the tub.

Although there is a little discomfort, the wound on his arms has vanished.

Kurando recalls the moment when the boomerang had pierced the humanoid monster and red-blooded oozed out.

And, then he recalls the moment when the monster was skewered by the earth spikes.

Nothing.

Perhaps he is overthinking, but Kurando didn’t feel any remorse.

Kurando has killed magical beast(s) and a person shaped monster. Perhaps, the things he had done have been wrong.

However, he felt little guilt and little regret.

Kurando and Akari have killed to protect Yukishiro.

But, the feelings of guilt and regret aren’t present.

Anyways it is a 「done-deal」; Kurando had already made up his mind.

By no means does that justify the things he had done.

But, it is nice to think of it that way.

If killing is the only way to protect, then kill he will. (T/N: that is some f**k up logic)

In Japan, this wouldn’t have been permitted, but in this world, that sort of society isn’t here to stop him.

Wait, it is not permitted in this world’s society; however, Kurando isn’t a part of this world’s society. And, after all, Kurando has no intentions of affiliating himself with this world’s society.

Kurando is hesitant to say that he wouldn’t kill another person.

But of course, he doesn’t want to kill.

When he goes hunting Kurando never once enjoyed killing his prey.

Perhaps, he will never take a liking to killing a living being.

After coming to this world, maybe killing is something that cannot be helped.

During that time at the hunter association, Zauru (ザウル) was ready to draw a sword.

If things had turned out differently, perhaps they might have fought one another to the death.

A part of Kurando had wanted that fight to happen. And today, a part of Kurando had longed for such an event.

With all his might Kurando pulls himself up.

「――Janitor-san where are you? You shouldn’t move around while you are still recovering.」 (Akari)

The hole that is the entrance to the bathroom opens.

While Kurando is standing up the fire spirits that are surrounding Akari happens to float near Kurando.

They encounter one another.

Once more, the world, time paused.

――Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The person who screamed wasn’t Kurando.

Akari’s scream resonates through the cave.

◆◆◆

Akari turns the other way; her face is red.

「Why are you taking a bath in the dark? Furthermore, why are you completely naked?」 (Akari)

(T/N: the real question is, why does he not find it strange to take a bath with a giant cat while being completely naked, who takes a bath alongside their pet while being naked, imagine a naked Kurando brushing Yukishiro, I wonder what else he did while he was alone with Yukishiro)

「Well, isn’t it normal to bathe in the nude?」 (Kurando)

「S-shut up. Anyways, it is too early for you to move around. Although your wounds have been repaired, it will take at least 10 days before you will make a full recovery.」 (Akari)

Kurando turns his head away at an angle. He looks away from Akari.

「……umm, it is possible that I have already fully healed?」 (Kurando)

「……it’s possibility, but it is a rare occurrence.」 (Akari)

「Ahem, well, when I was treating you with magic I had exhausted most of my maryoku.」 (Akari)

「You are still recovering; get out of the cold bath and go to sleep.」 (Akari)

「Really now……」 (Kurando)

「What, do you feel hungry?」 (Akari)

Regardless of the size of the wound, the side effects caused by life spirit magic are depletion of maryoku, a fever, and hunger. It can’t be helped as a person needs to eat food to replenish their energy.

「……I couldn’t open the rucksack, therefore, I was unable to retrieve any meat or spices.」 (Akari)

The sound of a small branch cracking in the fireplace as it fuels the fire can be heard. There is a earth pot boiling water in the fireplace.

「Uh, that rucksack, am I the only one that can open it. I didn’t know.」 (Kurando)

Kurando receives the rucksack from Akari. He takes out salt, pepper, chili pepper, a lump of brown sugar, wheat flour, and a few loafs of bread. Kurando hands these items over to Akari.

Akari lifts the lid and puts salt and pepper into the earth pot before placing the lid back on.

「Ah, since I’ll be going back to the village, I will leave the rucksack as it is. Otherwise, if I wasn’t around, you would be in a pinch.」 (Kurando)

「W-what are you implying!」 (Akari)

Akari turns her head to face Kurando. Her attitude is quite fierce.

「So, where can I find a person that can descend down a mountain after they had fractured their jaw and both of their arms the day before?」 (Akari)

Behind Kurando is Yukishiro chewing on a piece of meat. It leaves its meat and goes to growl at Kurando.

Kurando reaches under Yukishiro’s jaw and strokes that area with his hand. He says something to Akari.

「I’m still a hunter. I need to report the information about the monster as it would be inconvenient if that village at the foot of the mountain is annihilated.」 (Kurando)

Akari hesitates to response.

That village ostracized her. A part of Akari doesn’t want to cooperate with them. In Eripusu (エリプス) it is necessary that everyone cooperates if there might be a monster attack. (T/N: Eripusu might be the name of the continent; no concert information has been provided yet; Author-san sure likes to leave things out until later)

Akari recalls something; she keeps her mouth shut.

She sees Kurando tickling Yukishiro’s throat.

「If there is a request to join them in their search, will you be able to cooperate with them?」 (Akari)

Yukishiro became preoccupied after its throat was being tickled.

It wasn’t angry…….Yukishiro is concerned and anxious……

At that time, Yukishiro’s expression changed.

No matter how many times Akari and Yukishiro objected, Kurando ended the conversation.

However,

「Have you memorized spirit magic? If you haven’t learned to use spirit magic, are you confident enough to fight monster(s)?」 (Akari)

While pouting Akari hands over a bowl of meat & herbs that was cooked by being boiled. She also hands him bread that had been soaked in porridge.

――GrrahGrrah

Yukishiro imitates Akari.

As is.

Kurando nods his head and accepts the dishes.

◆◆◆

As expected it was impossible to memorize spirit magic in one night.

It is said that spirit magic was brought forth by the ancient Sandora (サンドラ) priestess and 『the moon goddess “Maruuna・Niyuumu (マルゥナ・ニュゥム)』. Magic was said to be a hidden art among the priestesses. The increase in monster attacks resulted in the deaths of many people.

In an instant, the grieving 『moon goddess “Maruuna・Niyuumu” 』 spread magic throughout the world.

Although the people believed in different gods that didn’t stop them from using spirit magic. Those who lived in fear became delighted.

It was simply referred to as,

A wish, and thus their belief in pure existence,

That small amount of belief birthed spirits.

What are spirits? How does magic work?

Those affiliated with a religion simply explain it as “the power of god”.

For those affiliated with a religion, it was blasphemy to say that god wasn’t the source of magic. However, spirit magic could be utilized without believing in the existence of a god. To be accurate spirits are naturally different for a god.

Although they have no problems using magic, the existence known as spirits are relatively unknown. Spirit magic has been in use for the last 500 years.

Akari informs Kurando about the history lectures she heard at the university. On the third day, he learned the differences between the two spirit magics.

Meanwhile, Kurando hears about autonomous magic from Akari. She drills the alternate spirit magic know-hows into Kurando.

◆◆◆

On the third day, Kurando prepares to descend down the mountain in the morning.

「Ah, here.」 (Kurando)

「What’s this?」 (Akari)

Kurando hands over the magic textbook and some vegetable seeds to Akari.

「These things will be able to help you kill some time.」 (Kurando)

He puts on his leather long boots. The boomerang and kukuri katana are strapped onto his back. He is carrying a little amount of food and luggage. The small round shield is fastened to his right arm.

The club was Akari’s share of the loot. As proof of subjugation, the round shield should be good enough.

「Thank you very much. Please, don’t forget about the protector. Your arms nor your jaw will break if you have armor on.」 (Akari)

If this were three days about Akari wouldn’t have said something so harsh.

「Okay, okay, no need to pout.」 (Kurando)

Two days ago, his arm was burning hot but now it is completely healed.

Kurando departs from the mountain in perfect condition.

Yukishiro is standing at Kurando’s side.

It plans to escort Kurando out of the (Atorabashiku) giant thorny spider’s territory.

Since then, Yukishiro has become more caring.

It doesn’t say anything.

But, even now as the days pass by it still feels anger.

「I’m off.」 (Kurando)