Chapter 14

We were moving through a dense forest beyond the grasslands, heading toward the Independent State of Eurea.

It was a region rich in nature, lacking even a beast trail to follow.

I had been worried about keeping our bearings, but Alice had a magic item among her belongings that resembled a compass, allowing us to maintain an accurate course.

She really was a capable alchemist, contributing even in situations like this.

Because of the cluttered trees, the golem car couldn’t pick up much speed.

It was only slightly faster than walking.

To make matters worse, the terrain was unpaved, making the shaking unbearable.

Most people would probably get motion sickness.

However, I was perfectly fine, having long since grown accustomed to environments like this.

Alice also maintained a composed look.

Since she was supposedly the “Thirteenth,” perhaps she had extensive travel experience as well.

Occasionally, the golem car would transform, growing arms to gather surrounding flora.

According to Alice, she was collecting useful materials.

I wasn’t an expert in the botany of another world, so I decided to leave it to her.

I could just ask for the necessary information later.

With time to kill, I decided to start making bombs inside the vehicle.

Thanks to my skill modifiers, I could do it while multitasking.

Normally, it was a job that required much more focus.

Being able to do it casually was a small but welcome blessing.

It really was an indispensable skill.

I almost wished I could take it back to my original world with me.

“Well then. Let’s get to work.”

“Good luck.”

“I’ll leave the driving to you.”

Taking the stockpiled materials in hand, I began processing them in various ways.

For the unknown materials, I asked Alice for an overview.

From everything that had happened so far, her knowledge had proven to be extremely useful.

Her advice was never a waste.

Additionally, I had various tools prepared, so there were no obstacles to my work.

Two hours after we had started moving.

I looked over several types of new bombs I had created in sequence.

The first was a bomb with a rope wrapped around it to extend its throwing range.

The way to use it was very simple.

I just had to swing it around like a cowboy and let go.

It was primitive, but not bad.

With my current physical strength, I could probably achieve a considerable flight distance.

The ease of simply wrapping a rope around an existing bomb was also a plus.

The second was a Molotov cocktail-style bomb.

It was a device designed to burst into a flurry of explosive flames the moment it shattered.

I could count on this for spreading fire.

It would undoubtedly be especially useful in urban combat where wooden buildings lined the streets.

I had no intention of becoming an arsonist, but it was a valid hand to play.

The third was an improvised landmine.

It looked like an oblong box wrapped in cloth.

The mechanism was designed so that if pressure was applied from one direction, the explosives inside would react and detonate.

Landmines were definitely going to be useful.

There was no trap better suited for blowing up enemy vehicles.

I wanted to mass-produce these once I had a better environment set up.

Aside from bombs, I also crafted a bow and arrows from the nearby trees.

They were simple things, just whittled down with a knife.

It would have been better if the soldiers had been carrying them, but in a world where guns had become widespread, they were rarely seen.

I had reached the conclusion that it was faster to make one myself than to track down a minority and steal theirs.

The reason I was making a bow was to use it as a launching device for my bombs.

I would attach small bombs to the arrows.

It would be more convenient than just throwing them.

Due to the size constraints, the power was inferior to my regular bombs, but the ability to destroy things with pinpoint accuracy was a major advantage.

“You’re quite handy. Were you an archer, Jack?”

“No, I’ve just used them a few times for work.”

In my past jobs, there were many times when I had to rely on procuring weapons locally.

In those moments, a self-made bow had often come in handy.

The sound it made when firing was quiet, making it excellent for stealth.

“Alright, it’s done.”

I held up the completed bow.

It was a decent piece of work.

However, I had to be careful with how much strength I applied. If I drew the string with my full power, it would undoubtedly snap. It was an unexpected drawback of my high-level status modifiers.

Next, I prepared the arrows. I attached bombs near the arrowheads. The method was to light the fuse before firing.

With this, I could blow up whatever target the arrow pierced. To prevent it from exploding in my hands, I kept the fuses relatively long.

“Now that I’ve made them, I’d like to test how they feel right away…”

I climbed onto the roof of the moving golem car. Scanning the surroundings, I looked for a suitable target. Soon, I spotted a living creature moving in the distance. I squinted to identify it.

The distance to the target was approximately thirty yards. Pushing through the thicket was a giant, purple mantis. It was about the size of a human, and its body surface possessed a metallic luster.

“What’s that thing?”

“It’s a forest monster. It’s strong enough that knights struggle against it unless they group up, and its exoskeleton is tougher than metal. The scythes on its arms are sharp enough to slice through armor.”

“Heh, so things like that just live around here normally.”

This wasn’t on the same level as a bear or a boar appearing near a village. It was far more dangerous than that. The hunters of this world must have a rough time.

As I continued my observation, I locked eyes with the mantis monster. The mantis began to approach in a forward-leaning stance.

It moved fluidly between the trees, its scythes swinging back and forth, slicing through the vegetation. It clearly intended to make a meal out of us.

“Alice, stop the car.”

“Are you going to kill it?”

“Yeah. It’ll make for a perfect target.”

I knelt and readied the bow, taking aim at the mantis. It was better not to engage that thing in close quarters.

I felt like I could probably beat it to death with raw strength, but it would be a hassle if the golem car or Alice got caught in the crossfire. I’d finish it off with a bomb arrow.

“Wait. I’ll apply some reinforcement magic.”

Alice performed a short chant, and a light ignited upon the arrow I was holding. She poked her head out from the passenger seat and spoke.

“I’ve empowered the arrow. Since I’m assisting, I’ll get experience points too, so we can raise our levels efficiently this way, right?”

“I see. That’s a good idea.”

While praising the shrewd Alice, I released the bomb arrow. The arrow gouged deep into the mantis’s abdomen. Blue blood spurted out. That was a spot where there was no exoskeleton.

I had intended to just lodge it into the surface, but it carried more power than I expected.
Perhaps it was thanks to the assist from Alice’s magic. I had aimed for a spot without armor because I was wary of the arrow bouncing off, but that might not have been necessary.

Despite the fatal wound to its abdomen, the mantis continued its charge, only to explode a few heartbeats later. Its entire midsection was blown away, and the wound from the arrow expanded several times over.

The mantis couldn’t help but collapse. It swung its scythes while letting out a high-pitched screech. Its body was nearly torn in half. Since the explosion had occurred inside the gouged-out wound, the damage was likely immense. It wouldn’t be standing up again.

“I’ll put you out of your misery.”

I fired a second shot. The arrow pierced the mantis’s head and detonated.

The creature’s head was blown into tiny fragments.

Body fluids and other bits splattered everywhere, making the area quite messy. It was a sight that really killed the appetite.

I twirled the bow in my hand and snapped my fingers.

“I might actually have a knack for being an archer. Maybe I’ll change classes if I ever run low on cash.”

“I think you could become top-tier, Jack.”

“Hahaha, praising me won’t get you anything but bombs, you know?”

With this level of strength, I felt I could handle myself with ease even against monsters.
While ensuring our safety on the road, Alice’s leveling would likely progress smoothly as well.

The variety and quantity of bombs in my possession were increasing. I couldn’t afford to be careless, but it looked like I’d be able to manage from here on out.

Afterwards, we harvested the necessary materials from the mantis carcass, and the golem car resumed its journey.