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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 356: That Was Not the Beginning of a Hero’s Tale
Chapter 356: That Was Not the Beginning of a Hero’s Tale
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
3rd Person POV“In what…?”
Faced with an unimaginable threat looming before him, Jinku, a rookie adventurer, forgot even his fear, consumed instead by a single, persistent question.
At the age of fifteen, having reached adulthood, Jinku and his childhood friend had ventured from their village to the city. The first three months since becoming adventurers had been moderately successful.
And this time, it was supposed to be no different. The task they received was to subdue five goblins that had strayed from their group. They had defeated goblins multiple times before, and this time, they had prepared thoroughly without letting their guard down. Even considering the possibility of the strays reuniting with the main group, they had prepared for retreat.
As the shield bearer, Doma, teased Jinku, saying, “Jinku, you’re always too cautious,” but for Jinku, the safety of his comrades was paramount. This time, by completing the request reliably and without pushing beyond their limits, they aimed to take another step towards becoming the heroes they dreamed of becoming… that was the plan.
“Jinku! Hey, Jinku! What should I… Tsk, Kain! What the heck should we do!?”
“What do you mean, how should we…?”
And in a sense, that task had been accomplished. Indeed, in front of Jinku lay the corpses of five goblins.
However, those corpses had been ruthlessly trampled upon. And the culprit behind it—
“Why the heck is there an earth dragon here!?”
“GYAAAAAAAAAA!”
“Whoa!?”
Facing the roar of the earth dragon, Kain, the magician, cowered. Doma, standing in front of everyone as the shield, was holding his ground, yet it was evident to anyone that he was wavering.
Blaming anyone for it was unreasonable. Despite being in a forest near the mountains, it was highly improbable for an earth dragon to be in such a place not far from neighboring villages. Even if it had descended from the mountains, it should have been detected long before reaching this point, and the information should have circulated.
Yet, as far as Jinku and his companions knew, there had been no information circulating about the appearance of an earth dragon. If Jinku and the others were more seasoned adventurers, they might have felt a sense of unease at the almost nonexistent traces of the massive four-legged body, measuring five meters in length, having moved behind the earth dragon. However, such expectations were not placed upon fledgling adventurers.
However, the harsh reality for Jinku and his companions was that there was an enemy they absolutely couldn’t defeat in front of them.
“Grgghhhhh…”
“Hey, Jinku, get it together! What should we do!?”
“….Huh!? Ah, yeah. What should we… Well, we have no choice but to run, right? Doma will hold off the attack as usual while we retreat…”
“Don’t be stupid! There’s no way I can hold that thing off!”
Finally regaining his senses, Jinku gave instructions, but Doma protested desperately. Although Doma was the oldest among the three, he was only half a year older than Jinku, and despite having a sturdy physique from helping his father, a lumberjack, he was no different from a dry twig when facing an earth dragon.
“Did you prepare the smoke bombs, Jinku-kun?”
“…Do you think they’ll work?”
Upon hearing Kain’s words from behind, Jinku, however, without averting his gaze from the earth dragon, replied with a grim expression. The cheap smoke bombs purchased from a tool shop could deceive the vision and sense of smell of goblins, but he had no confidence they would work on an earth dragon. If they provoked it even slightly, the only future he foresaw was being devoured then and there.
“Yeah, probably not. But in that case, all we can do is quietly back away, right?”
“…Alright, let’s go with Kain’s suggestion. Both of you, slowly back away. Be careful not to trip.”
“Okay.”
“Got it, Jinku-kun.”
In response to Jinku’s decision as the leader, Doma and Kain slowly began to retreat on the spot. But as the three started to move, the earth dragon, seeing them in motion, slammed its long tail onto the ground.
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
“No, it’s no use, it’s completely aiming for us! What do we do, Jinku!?”
“What should we do, Jinku-kun!?”
“No matter how many times you ask, even I don’t know!”
Repeatedly bombarded with questions, Jinku’s voice involuntarily became harsh. But for some reason, as the two faced each other and then turned to him, they smiled.
“I see, you don’t know. If Jinku doesn’t know, then there’s nothing to be done, right?”
“That’s right. If Jinku-kun can’t decide… then we’ll have to decide.”
“Huh? Hey, you two, what do you—”
“I’ll hold it here. So you guys, run.”
Saying that, Doma stepped forward. Just one step. But that single step embodied the resolve Doma held within himself.
“What? What are you saying, Doma? You said yourself that there’s no way to defend against that!”
“Yeah, I know, but if Jinku can’t decide, then this might be the only way, right? Don’t worry, I’ll buy you guys time to escape! Come on, you lizard bastard! This is Doma-sama—”
Doma, banging on an extremely crude heavy shield made by attaching an iron plate to a wooden board, attempted to catch the earth dragon’s attention, but in that moment, his body soared through the air. The log-like tail of the earth dragon had blown Doma and his shield away.
“Ugh…!”
“Doma!?”
“Jinku-kun, now’s your chance!”
“Huh!? What are you saying, Kain! Doma—”
“Quick!”
Guided by Kain, who pushed him forward, Jinku, though bewildered, was forcibly pulled away. Doma, who had been thrown against a nearby tree, was spitting blood and seemed drained, but he still appeared to be alive.
Yet, ignoring Doma, Kain grabbed Jinku’s hand and started running. Though Jinku didn’t agree with this, Kain’s forceful tug was surprisingly strong. If he had this much strength, Jinku wondered if Kain could win an arm-wrestling match against Doma, an irrelevant thought that crossed his mind.
“GYAAAAAAA!”
“Jinku-kun!”
“Whoa!?”
However, before them, a hailstorm of rocks poured down with immense force. The earth dragon exhaled a breath not to let its prey escape.
“Ouch… Kain, are you okay… Kain!?”
“Ah, hahaha… sorry, I messed up…”
Jinku, pushed by Kain, managed to avoid the breath attack, enduring the pain in his knees. Then he immediately forgot about his own pain. Countless rocks were embedded in Kain’s body, lying in front of him.
Jinku hurried to Kain, disregarding the earth dragon behind him. Fortunately, the vital areas were spared, but blood seeped from the pierced arms, legs, and abdomen. It was definitely a serious injury.
“Wait, Kain. I’ll get help right away—”
“I-It’s okay, Jinku-kun. I’m fine… Just you, please, run…”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I’ll definitely save both you and Doma! So—”
“We made a promise… didn’t we? That someday, we’d become famous adventurers together… become first-rate adventurers…”
“Don’t talk nonsense, idiot! Damn it, damn it! Hurry, with the medicine…”
Trembling, Jinku reached for his bag on his waist. However, when he opened it after feeling a prick at his fingertips, he realized that the healing potion he had bought for emergencies had broken inside the bag.
“Why?! This kind of thing is supposed to be sturdy!”
For the first time in his life, Jinku cursed from the bottom of his heart. But the potion being shattered was irreparable, and it was impossible to extract the potion soaked into the leather bag, unlike with cloth.
“No, no! Not here—”
“Solidify―――my enemies—– in the sky――”
“Kain!? Idiot, stop it! If you use magic in that condition—”
Stretching his hand towards the void and muttering a spell, Kain ignored Jinku’s attempts to stop him. However, his magic eventually completed.
“Jinku-kun, run… [Freeze Arrow]!”
“GYAAA!”
Icicles conjured by Kain flew towards the earth dragon’s face. Although it didn’t cause a scratch on the dragon’s scales, the earth dragon began to thrash its tail in irritation, resulting in noise and dust spreading around.
――I can escape now.
Suddenly, Jinku felt a strong conviction within him. If he abandoned his two companions and fled, he could surely escape himself. It felt like he knew that future, as if he could see it already. Jinku’s legs moved as if he would abandon the unconscious Kain and run.
――But what happens after I escape?
A rookie adventurer who abandoned his companions, two childhood friends. The burden of such a tragedy, lying everywhere, felt heavier than anything else when he carried it himself. Struggling desperately not to be crushed, aiming only to avenge his comrades… what lay beyond that?
“…I won’t run. I won’t run away!”
It was a foolish choice. Knowing that he would only meet his end by staying, Jinku turned around and readied his sword. He knew that a second-hand iron sword wouldn’t penetrate a dragon’s scales, but if he didn’t prepare to fight, it felt like his legs would start running on their own.
In Jinku’s mind, someone desperately shouted, “Run!” If he didn’t run now, nothing would start. Whether he’d buckle under the weight or overcome it, the difference lay in whether he bore it first; that plea echoed within him.
But he didn’t know. It wasn’t something he knew. Defying fate, facing the earth dragon with a forced grin, Jinku shouted at the top of his lungs.
“I’ll take you on! I’ll defeat you and save them… I’ll become a hero who slays dragons!”
“GYAAAAAAAAA!”
The earth dragon mercilessly swung its claws at Jinku. There was no way for him to defend against it, no sudden awakening of miraculous power at the last moment. Even if there was dormant strength within him, it wouldn’t awaken without following the proper steps.
Hence, this was the end of the story. The heroic tale of Jinku the brave would not begin but conclude without commencing.
“Nice resolve.”
“Huh…!?”
――From nowhere, a man appeared, grinning slyly, heralding the end of the God’s plot.
