Return of the Former Hero

Chapter 176. Former Hero - Warms up

Translator: Raizu

[Looks like they’re here.]

『Nn?』

Tarma raised his head to my muttering.

My《Search》 picks up the sign of living creatures other than us in this otherwise desolate area.

This time it’s coming from 3 o’clock.

It was when I had some free time after finishing my lunch.

Tarma rose from the lake in the early afternoon and now Etna-san was brushing his mane.

Tch.

I’m jealous. This fucking horse. But well, it’s a horse.

Fortunately for me, Tarma’s ecstatic expression immediately turned grim upon the mention of the creature that is out to hunt him.

『Wh, where is it? Where?』

Tarma looked around, frightened.

[Nah, they’re not within the distance of eyesight yet. From that direction… Nn?]

As I expanded the scope of my《Search》to find out more about something approaching, I noticed something unusual.

Even if it’s troublesome to keep《Search》active all the time, it helps when I want to be vigilant. Now I could feel 3 unknown life signs approaching.

Although it’s not as dense as Iris underground dungeon, the forest was covered with a magic fog which hinders《Search》’s detection power. I could barely sense the incoming threat.

However, I’m quite sure that there are three signs approaching us.

[Oy, Tarma. There are three things? Animals perhaps? Well anyway, something is approaching us here. Just what kind of monster is after you?]

『3…? No, that’s actually bad…but how?』

From his reaction, Tarma didn’t know that there are three pursuers.

Hmm.

The 3 signs were divided into two kinds.

The first kind, one of the three, had a bigger size than the other two.

The other two were following the bigger sized sign. From the reaction, they are… people, I think? I couldn’t tell clearly, but their vibe as they moved gave me that impression.

Perhaps, the bigger sign is the monster hunting Tarma, but then how about the two?

Or maybe it’s not the monster Tarma mentioned… Or perhaps the three are not even related to the unicorn.

Well, it’s hard to judge at the moment.

However, in the worst case scenario, all three might be monsters endangering our life, so should we prepare now? Or is it too bothersome?

No, we should prepare for the worst after all.

Yeah… I shouldn’t believe Tarma’s words so easily…

[Etna-san, something is coming here soon. Please hide in the tent.]

[Y, yes.]

I gave Etna-san some instructions before drawing my sword.

It’s still around lunchtime so Etna-san obediently followed and started cleaning up the tools she had spread.

[As for you Tarma… just stay around here and don’t get in the way.]

『Isn’t there a more appropriate instruction for me…?』

[Nn? Ah, try to stay away from the tent. I don’t want a shot directed at you to stray and hit Etna-san. I’m here to protect Etna-san after all.]

『He, heーy……』

Tarma begrudgingly agreed to my loud and clear instructions.

…Well, as far as I can tell from the reaction in the search, it seems that not all the reactions are heading straight here, but they are definitely approaching here.

The two smaller ones are likely to reach us earlier than the bigger target.

If the larger sign is the monster, it’ll be more convenient.

As long as we can communicate with the two smaller signs, I could probably intimidate them to run away. Otherwise, I should be able to deal with them easily.

Then it would be easier to fight the bigger one.

…by all means, it would be easier that way.

[Haruto-kun.]

[Yes?]

As I was optimistic, Etna came here after cleaning up the tools.

[Please do your best.]

Etna-san said so as she wrapped my left hand with both hands.

There’s warmth in Etna-san arms.

Especially, when she slowly pressed her breasts onto my arms.

Haaーa!!

Etna-san’s breasts may not be very big, but they certainly have noticeable weight and presence as they squeeze onto my left arm.

Soft!

I could feel my blood rushing to my nether region.

While some found its way to my head.

Unaware of my reaction, Etna-san stared into my eyes with a smile. Her expression told me that she trusts me without a single doubt.

And then, after giving my left arm a final squeeze, she let go and promptly hid inside the tent.

I was left there staring at my now cold left arm.

Wa…was that Etna-san’s way to encourage me… Or does she do the same thing to just about anyone?

No, that must be because it’s me. No doubt about it.

Fuhaha!

I’m super motivated now.

Doesn’t matter what kind of monster that will come out now.

I would defeat anything that comes to us here, even if it’s the Demon King.

Haーhaha!

『Do I have to worry?』

Tarma looked concerned now.

What do you need to worry about?

This horse has really bad eyesight alright.

And so on, the signs continued to approach in the same pacing.

The bigger one was left behind some distance away while the smaller two were just around the corner.

They’ll enter visible distance soon.

I regained my wits, promptly circulated my strength and magic to my sword arm.

When I gazed at the approaching reaction, I could see it through the overgrown trees, with the sound of rustling and squeezing through the vegetation in the forest.

From the openings, they looked like a pair of giant birds.

Their height was about 3m tall.

It seems that they’re not the monsters who are aiming for Tarma.

According to Tarma’s story, the monster was supposed to be a giant tiger-like monster that walks on four legs so they’re not obviously it.

Can I…speak to them?

I don’t think I can. But there is already the case of Tarma, so I suppose it’s worth a shot.

[Nn? Is that? Are those people riding the bird?]

I was waiting for the giant bird to reach us, but I noticed another thing first before that.

Apparently there is someone on those giant bird’s back.

If I look closely, the bird was equipped with a harness and bags to carry luggage.

It relieved me a bit.

This way, the possibility to just talk them out of this became greater.

『Nnn!? This scent… a human virgin…!』

Eh? What did you say?

All of a sudden Tarma, who was staying in the back, became restless.

『There is no mistake…! The scent of two virgins……ohh I can’t wait…!』

[O, oi… calm down.]

Looking back, I saw Tarma with an intoxicated look on its horse face.

His breathing turned harsh and he’s itching to run.

『Hah hah…I, I’m alright. I’ve calmed down…』

I wonder if he managed to snap back at the last moment, but Tarma didn’t move from his spot. …but he didn’t look okay though…

As usual, I don’t really get this matter regarding the unicorn and virgins’ scent, but the unicorn really is scary.

[Ah, a human.]

While I was distracted by Tarma, the bird rider had already reached the clearing. I could tell from the small voice.

It was a pretty cute voice. A girl. Great. No, that’s not it.

Why am I happy? Is it because they’re virgins? The unicorn did say so.

The girl cleanly covers her head with a large hood, and the hem of a large hoodie-like outfit d hides her thighs.

She looks like she’s wearing nothing underneath, probably because her hoodie is too big. So erotic.

Although that hoodieー一I don’t think that’s really a hoodie.

And most notably, the girl is wearing an eyepatch on her left eye.

Eyepatch.

If this is Japan, that would be like some of the most wanted items.

When I was still a fifth grader, I longed to wear that alongside some bandages.

Recalling that also dug up the memory where the teacher reprimanded me for wasting the orphanage’s supply.

I was well received by my peers, but the older kids laughed at me.

Damn. They should’ve praised me instead. It was such a middle-class style.

…I mean those memories are unimportant now.

In Japan, it has a strong sense of middle-class items, but in this other world, it is not a middle-class item.

I’ve often seen wounded adventurers wearing it.

However, it’s a little unusual for a girl to wear it.

It’s a shame though, she had a fairly cute face.

[Heave ho…]

While I was fascinated by the girl’s appearance, the girl jumped off the bird’s back, again leaking a cute shout.

[Umm…]

[Excuse me… but by any chance, are you Haruto Amagi?]

[Uh?]

I thought about speaking with her, but the girl beat me to it.

Even more surprised because she mentioned my name from the get go.

Why did she know my name?

[Ah… are you not him?]

[Ah…umm, well…]

Before I could reorganize my thoughts, the girl already pushed for an answer, which I ended up replying ambiguously.

[Pardon me… I heard that Amagi Haruto is currently within the forest so I just want to make sure. Either way, you look nothing like the description of Haruto Amagi we’ve heard about.]

[Looks nothing like the description…? ]

The girl politely bowed her head as she seemed to have taken my vague answer as me denying.

Anyway, just how the hell do people out there describe me?

No, maybe I should correct her?

The sooner the better…

[Sia-sama.]

[Ah, Chiyu?]

The event kept proceeding without giving me a chance to sort my thoughts.

A new person appeared from behind the girl.

The way she appeared reminded me of anime shinobis.

Is this the source of the second signal?

It’s a girl again. Moreover, one with a pair of huge breasts. I saw it swaying around as she moved.

The second girl, who was referred to as Chiyu by the first girl Sia, was dressed in… a mixture of a japanese kimono and an ancient chinese warrior robe.

On top of her orange hair, I could see long animal ears extending out. She’s a beastman.

『Nuooooooh! Yet another female virgin! Is this heaven?! Have I died? Have I died and gone to heaven?』

Tarma shouted from behind me in response to the second girl’s appearance.

S, shut up will you…! This damned virgin addict won’t calm down.

[Waaa… ! Why is that horse becoming wild?]

[Mmnn! A monster?]

The excited Tarma frightened Sia, causing Chiyu to move forward to cover her.

Sia seemed to be someone of a noble background given how she speaks. Which makes Chiyu her escort or something along that line.

『Haaーh…!　Haaーh…!』

Wow…

Tarma’s eyes were bloodshot, his legs jerking. He looked truly like a dangerous monster.

I guess it’s best to just give him a quick shot and stun him?

[Wa, wait a minute. Calm down. Please calm down.]

I stood between the escort Chiyu, who was about to attack, and Tarma, who was excited in front of the two apparent virgins, and told them to calm down while controlling both with my hands.

It doesn’t matter if Tarma attacks them, but if I leave him alone, he might end up dead by the escort.

[Mu…]

『Haha…triple…triple…!』

The escort stopped due to my intervention.

While Tarma was stopped for the time being, he’s looking like a rabid horse now. Good grief.

[Hey, Tarma. Why don’t you just go to the woods and hide for a bit…]

Kieeeeee!

[Ha, what?!]

In order to calm the situation, I tried to instruct Tarma to leave, but this time the bird on which Shea got on suddenly squeaked.

At the same time, a four-legged black monster appeared on the other side of the lake, knocking down the trees as it let out a low roar.

Ah, it’s one after another.