Mistress Of The Evil Forest

Case 17: Theorycrafting.

After getting out of the cold cave, I'm now walking with light steps in the forest, trying to find something that I can use as practice for my new swordsmanship.

Hm... As expected, sunlight doesn't suit this forest at all. I certainly prefer nighttime to this.

''...''

I wonder what monsters will be out here during the day. It's weird because I'm the one finding things to kill this time, whereas three days ago I would have just been cooped up in a tree fearing for my life.

This rather relaxed experience is wholly new for me, now that I'm level 18 and have a proper way to escape. Maybe this forest is a decent place to live after all, if you know how to deal with the occasional monster attacks.

''Oh?''

Through the dense trees, I see glimpses of something resembling... A nest? On the ground. It looks like a bird nest, just, a hundred times bigger. I guess they don't have the space to put it on trees, with the whole giant birds trend and all.

Wait, why didn't Mom make a nest for us, then...?

auf

''Ah, okay, let's go check it out.''

Walking closer and closer to the target, I can make out some bleach-white mixed in with the gray nest as well. And of course, [Stealth] goes first. As for Smiley, he somehow knows how to hide himself, taking advantage of his small size, so.

''...''

In the giant nest sit a bunch of eggs. Well, used to be eggs, to be specific. There are exactly three huge rabbits comfortably slurping the liquid inside the giant eggs right now, each with a long, pointy, spiraling horn on its... Butt. They have no tail.

Most of them are around level ten.

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Name: --              

Race: Zircon Rabbit                    Title: --

Level: 10

HP: 34/34                    MP: 28/28

STR: 2.4                     INT: 3.6

AGI: 3.1                    STA: 2.6

Skill: [Jump Lv.4], [Tail Spike Lv.3],
[Pain Tolerance Lv.1].

State: Normal.

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[Tail Spike: Enable the user to launch their tail with incredible power] [Rare]

Oh. They can shoot out their tails? How does that work exactly?

Either way, their stats are nothing too serious. Skills seem relatively easy to deal with as well. 

''Go.'' I pat Smiley's back.

'''' !!! ''''

Casually, I jump in and activate my [Domination], letting all the Misters Rabbit freeze in unison. It doesn't help for them that Smiley is with me right now as well. Oh, they're looking like old gramps with Alzheimer's now.

Now then, the one who was slurping my fellow bird's egg, you will be the first sacrifice.

I put my palm on the handle of the Katana and pull it out...

'''' ... ''''

...Or so it should have been. Here's the problem, the Katana is too long so my short arms are not enough to pull it all out of the scabbard.

''Hah...'' I let out a sigh and frown, causing the rabbits to tremble even more.

Well, just throw the scabbard on the ground and collect it later, I suppose.

clack

Together with the sound of the scabbard hitting the branches of the nest, a brave rabbit suddenly turns its back toward me, presumably trying to shoot its tail at me. I'm not sure if it's because of bravery, or because Smiley made it go crazy, but.

Either way, I blink to right up its face and swing my sword. My body moves very naturally and swiftly, slicing through the rabbit's neck smoothly.

[You have defeated a Lv.10 Zircon Rabbit]

BOOM

''Huh?!''

Just as the head leaves the body, the tail shoots out at supersonic speed, blowing through multiple trees and creating a huge gust of wind that nearly makes me trip over.

Okay, I underestimated that move. I need to stop playing.

KIKK

Ignoring the horrified screams, I immediately swing my Katana at another rabbit, instantly decapitating it as well. 

[You have defeated a Lv.9 Zircon Rabbit]

The message pops up as my sword continues its trajectory, fully ready to reap another rabbit's head. 

KIKK

''Tch...!''

Unfortunately, the remaining one has already jumped high in the air, pointing its butt toward me. I'm not confident I can dodge that thing, and my [Blink] is on cooldown, so the only option left is [Teleportation].

''My 10 Mp...!'' I mutter and set my teleport destination right below the rabbit, intending to receive it with much 'love' when it falls down later.

BOOM

As soon as my vision changes, I hear a sonic boom. In the corner of my eyes, I can already see the liquid of the destroyed eggs splattered everywhere. But now that the real danger is gone, it's time for the final kill.

Since the rabbit is way up in the air, I want to test something as well. My gauntlet's ability only works on skills, this is tested. But what if I infuse ice magic on my sword and combine it with the gauntlet? Will my entire sword register as a target whose range can be modified?

So I point my Katana infused with ice magic up, setting the range of the gauntlet to three meters at the same time. To my delight and surprise, right when I activate my gauntlet, the blade of my sword disappears entirely. A quick glance above reveals that my blade is now floating in the air, where the rabbit is about to fall into.

KIIKK

Impaled and frozen in place. It's lucky that my blade can freeze things, else that huge rabbit would have fallen onto me. I fling the handle of my sword to the side, successfully throwing the rabbit into a tree nearby. So it's really a remote sword, so cool. 

[You have defeated a Lv.10 Zircon Rabbit]

Oh, the blade returned.

''...''

Well, let's go somewhere else before the mother of these eggs comes back and accuses me of breaking them.

Late noon, beside the river. Here I am, eating roasted fish again. It's good, though I would like some flavor, maybe some salt would be good on this.

''Here, have some too.'' I give one skewer to Smiley, who immediately munches on it hungrily.

Reflecting on the battle earlier, I need to be more cautious from now on. Kill seriously and swiftly when I want to kill. Memorized. And using the sword in an actual battle felt quite natural as well. I'm glad I invested in the right things.

''...''

I wish Chloe was here, really. I want to show all of these off to her...

''Hah... Wake up, wake up.'' I slowly rise to my feet.

The sun is halfway down already, let's go back.

''What should we do for tonight?'' Ariel yawns a bit and asks. ''I still remember a few more monster hordes, if you guys want to keep hunting.''

''I'm fine with it as well.'' Skely adds.

All three of them look at me intently, as if waiting for an answer.

''...No, I want to take a break for tonight.'' I speak up. 

It's not like I need to raise my level quickly or anything.

''Excellent, I wanted to take a break as well.'' Ariel replies and immediately goes back to sleep. Do banshees really need sleep?

''Instead, Skely. I want you to tell me stories about this world.''

Frankly, I'm curious.

''Of course, Lady Aurora.'' Skely nods casually.

''Wait, let me in if you're doing that~''

I thought you were sleeping?

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