Chapter 3: Riverside and Outskirts (3)

“Hsssraaugh!”

The moment I hesitated, it—this lizardman, for lack of a better word—let out a distorted shriek and swept its clawed arm toward me.

But the pitchfork I held was more than three times the length of its reach, so all it struck was the shaft. Still, the force of the blow sent a jolt of pain up my wrist. My only weapon nearly flew from my hands.

What insane strength! 

I didn’t have a solid reference point, but it had to be at least on par with a trained athlete. Thank god I picked a long weapon; if I’d used a short blade or something, I’d probably be minus one arm by now.

“Hssraaugh!!!”

“Ggh—You three, get back!”

That was all I managed to yell before I backed off, raising the pitchfork to block. 

The monster raised its claws high and slammed them down with all its might. The already fractured shaft finally gave way, snapping in two. The impact knocked me back several steps, both arms numb from the shock. I now held the broken rear half in my left hand and the forked tip in my right. My safe range had been cut in half.

Damn it. This is bad.

The creature lunged again, but this time it wasn’t just clawing. It spread its arms wide in a grappling charge. I barely managed to leap back, dodging by a hair’s breadth. Its arms closed around empty air, and its gaping mouth snapped down hard on nothing. Even though it missed, a cold sweat broke across my entire body. 

Its tactic was clear: seize the prey, pin it with its claws, then bite the head off in one go. Not hard to evade, sure—but a single hit meant death.

It’s coming again!

I circled to the side. Its grotesque head turned toward me—actually, it rotated a full 180 degrees!

I glanced at the broken shaft in my left hand, the half-pitchfork in my right, scrambling for a plan. It advanced again. Arms spread wider. Mouth opened even further. Muscles tensed in its legs—it was winding up for the kill.

“Nggh—!”

For an instant, I thought about running.

But I forced that thought down.

I regulated my breathing, tried to slow my racing heart. Bent my knees slightly. Lowered my center of gravity. Fixed my gaze on every twitch of its movement. And above all, I told myself—

I’m the hunter. This thing is the prey.

If I backed down now, I’d keep backing down forever. I had to find out at least if this thing can be killed.

“…”

“…”

A brief silence.

We stared each other down—well, if it had eyes, we did.

Then—

“Hssssraaaugh!!”

It roared and charged, faster than before. Its claws were fully extended. The reek of rot from its open maw hit me in the face. I inhaled sharply and charged straight back—not with the half-pitchfork, but the shaft. And instead of a thrust, I leveled it horizontally.

“Hss!?”

It faltered. Only for a split second. But reflexively, its claws grabbed the shaft I thrust toward it. That moment of confusion—that tiny opening—was all I needed.

Its hands were occupied. Its feet weren’t planted. Its maw was open wide, rushing toward me.

I lunged forward with a shout, and only then did my right hand stab with the pitchfork, aiming not at its tough hide, but—

“Die!”

—right into that gaping mouth!

Squelch.

It went in like a fruit knife through a rotted melon. The pitchfork’s tines scraped past its sharp teeth, piercing deep into its throat. I felt it strike something soft, then rupture something brittle, then push through something spongy—every texture transmitted up the handle into my hand. It lasted less than a second, but felt like an hour.

When the sweat blurring my vision finally trickled down, the monster was—finally—still.

Still.

Still…

Was it really?

I didn’t release the half-pitchfork. I kept my guard up, staring down at it from close range.

Its body twitched once.

Then slumped to the ground like a deflated sack and moved no more.

“Hah… haah…”

Only then did I exhale. A wave of weakness crashed through me. The adrenaline was fading so fast it made me dizzy. I let go of the pitchfork, stumbling back a few steps as I wiped the cold sweat from my face.

Call it a win.

“I-Is it… dead?”

“That was way too close.”

“Whoa…”

The two hiding behind me finally crept forward, still trembling. They eyed the creature’s corpse warily, keeping their distance. Felice looked about the same as ever, though her face was a shade paler. She jogged over to me, a flicker of concern in her eyes.

It was the first time I’d seen even the slightest emotion from her—and somehow, that reassured me.

“Well, don’t mind, I’m ok.”

I tried to reassure her, but my voice was shaking so hard it sounded like I was speaking Russian instead of English.

Once I got my heartbeat under control, I stepped closer to the corpse for a better look.

It was the first time I really examined it.

Definitely not human.

And unlike that bloated corpse I saw drifting in the river, this one had no signs of decay.

“Haha… y-you know, if it weren’t for you, I’d be flat as a pancake by now. Really, thanks a ton.” The blond boy rubbed his nose awkwardly, giving me a sheepish smile.

“Now you say thanks?” the brown-haired girl snarked, finally relaxing a little.

“Anyway, really, thank you. I’m Vaclav, Vaclav Zeman.”

“I’m Jelena. Jelena Reddy. And you? Also, this… lovely young lady—is she your friend? What’s her name?”

“Names later. This place still isn’t safe—look out!”

“Hssraaaugh!”

My skin bristled. A second monster burst from the withered thickets, roaring as it charged—not at me, but straight toward the other two.

This time, they were outside my reach—too far to pull them away in time.

“Eeep!?”

“What the—!”

Jelena reacted first, shrieking and jumping back. But Vaclav was a beat too slow. And like any predator, the creature went straight for the weakest, slowest prey.

“N-Nooo! Aaaahhh!”

“Don’t panic—!”

I didn’t even finish the sentence before he started screaming. But senseless noise only provoked the monster further. It lunged—arms wide, mouth open—the same deadly grab-and-bite move it used on me.

The monster had its back to me.

Jelena was still recovering from her dodge.

Felice was farther away.

Vaclav was seconds from becoming its next meal.

My brain shut down. My body acted first.

Was it bravery or just stupidity?

“Get away from him!”

I threw myself at the monster, bodyslamming into its rough back. My arms slipped under its armpits and clamped tight around its arms. My legs hooked around its knees. It was a clumsy, desperate hold—but it worked.

The creature stiffened in surprise, flailing its thick arms wildly as it tried to shake me off.

“Hssraaaugh!”

“G-God damn!”

Such power!  At least three times stronger than a grown man! 

Even locked in this awkward rear hold, it nearly shook me loose with every thrash. I could feel its fetid breath blasting my arms. It was trying to twist its neck around and bite me. I clenched my jaw, refusing to let go. I wasn’t really restraining it. I was just clinging on for dear life.

“Graaaghh!”

“W-What do we do!?”

“Hey!”

“Just get back!”

I shouted at the frozen trio. Jelena and Felice snapped into motion and ran. Vaclav hesitated, torn. I appreciated it, but pointless. No—wait! Maybe he could help?

“Grab something, anything! A weapon! That one!”

Vaclav followed my gaze toward the corpse of the first monster. He dashed over and yanked out the pitchfork embedded in its head. Hands white-knuckled, he aimed the tines at the monster still trying to chew on me.

“Ggh! Aim for the mouth! Stab it! Hurry!!”

“O-Okay!”

But the creature’s head thrashed wildly. It was impossible to get a clean shot. Vaclav braced to strike, but had to leap back as the monster’s flailing arm nearly hit him.

Damn it! Should I give up and run? If I let go now, I could escape, but…

“Catch!”

A woman’s voice—Jelena!

I turned toward her voice just in time to see her and Felice running toward me. Felice hurled something our way—something that caught the light as it spun through the air. A metal body. A wooden grip. It tumbled in an arc.

A knife!?

You found a weapon?! Grateful, but are you seriously just throwing it!?

“Tch!”

I drew a breath and let go with my right hand. At the same moment, the creature’s right claw swung toward my head. My arm shot forward—fingers grazing the blade, just barely catching the handle.

And I stabbed it toward the source of the rot-reeking heat.

Hard.

It hit!

The blade sank in. I felt it pierce through muscle, hit something rubbery like cartilage, and lodge deep. Hot liquid sprayed, and my fingers struck something hard and pointed.

The monster’s claw stopped just two centimeters from my temple.

Its body spasmed, gurgling with a wet, garbled shriek.

Then it collapsed, face-first into the dirt.

“Gah… Haaah… oh… my god…”

I rolled off its back like a bent shrimp, pausing only a moment before yanking the knife out of its throat. 

My whole body was weak. Limbs trembling. Hands numb. Heart about to explode. Sweat blurred my vision. My breathing came in sharp, bellows-like bursts.

I shoved strength into my legs, trying to stay upright. My socked feet ached from the gravel. I’d just survived two brushes with death.

This was something I’d never forget.

“Are… are you alright?”

“You’re not hurt, are you!?”

“Probably…”

The three of them rushed over, concern written all over their faces. I wanted to say something—reassure them, thank Vaclav, thank Felice and Jelena for their lifesaving throws, but all I could do was wheeze.

“Anyway, let’s just…”

I finally steadied my breath, about to suggest we get the hell out of this town.

“…Ah, crap.”

Hssss…

Shff…

Creak… crackle…

Figures emerged from behind buildings, between trees, out of every shadow. All of them were identical to the two we’d just fought.

Rough count? No fewer than ten.

“Hey, hey, come on, this—this—”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

#####

New Equipment: The Town’s Finest Butcher Knife
• Type: Short Blade
• Weight: Light
• Background: A knife used for slaughtering cattle and sheep, made of high-quality steel. Slightly rusted, but still very usable.
• Acquired From: The butcher’s shop near the plaza in town
• Attack Style: Stabbing, Slashing
• Special Abilities: None