It Really Does Help, Though.

And then, the next day. Kikori, who had been told by Aria, “Make sure you come back tonight too,” walked down the road with a rather complicated expression.

“Is this really okay…? It feels like it’s not really okay. But it really does help, though.”

He was already too scared of thieves to stay at an inn that cost 1,000 yen a night.

Even so, paying 3,000 yen a night was still a big expense.

Being able to save that money was an incredible benefit, but… it also looked bad for Aria’s reputation, and more than anything—

“The food is good, I can take a bath, and I can sleep safely at night… If I get used to living like that, am I going to be okay…?”

If he did not manage to repay Aria somehow, he would become a worthless person.

Even while holding onto that near-certain conviction, Kikori headed for the Hero Gate.

His gear had come together quite a bit. He had also learned that large magic stones brought in good money.

Then Kikori had to start moving with the future in mind.

Even so… it was not like he had suddenly become strong.

“Oh, kid. Looks like things are going well.”

“Yes. I’m heading out.”

After greeting the guards at the Hero Gate, Kikori went deeper into the forest.

Goblins… for now, he could not see any.

Reacting to the rustle of grass shifting underfoot, Kikori moved his body just slightly.

A moment later, a horned rabbit leaped across his vision—Kikori did not miss, slamming his axe into it.

“…Once you get used to it, its attacks are pretty simple.”

Because its momentum was so strong, once it jumped, it could not change its trajectory anymore.

Which was exactly why, once you got used to it, it was very easy to kill.

And exactly why, if you let your guard down, people kept getting killed by horned rabbits.

As Kikori crouched to collect the horned rabbit’s magic stone, he noticed something and ducked his head.

What flew past above him and stuck into a tree was a single arrow.

Without even looking at it, Kikori sprang up and ran toward where the arrow had come from.

“Gi…!”

“I can hear the bowstring, you know!”

Kikori smashed the goblin’s head in as it flailed, trying to run away.

Another goblin shoved a knife out to take advantage of the opening, but just before it could stab, a round shield slammed into the goblin’s face, sending it tumbling to the ground.

“Gi, ga…!”

“Die.”

Clang—Kikori’s axe came down, and the goblin died.

After retrieving the knife, Kikori, knowing full well it would weigh him down, also picked up the bow and arrows, and kept collecting magic stones.

He was thinking he would collect the horned rabbit meat too… but at that point, Kikori realized something.

“Come to think of it, don’t you need steps like draining the blood for stuff like this…?”

He only knew the words, including from his past life—nothing more.

Letting out a sigh, Kikori went on ahead, searching for another monster.