Chapter 20
The negotiation went smoothly.
On the condition that we defeat the Hirata, the village would provide every resource needed for building a house—lumber, iron, and magic stones.
Since we only needed “as much as necessary,” there would be no limit to the amount or the time it took.
Besides, if the Hirata was slain, the resource-rich forest would become accessible again. It was a win-win for the village.
“Just so we’re clear, I’m only helping this time because the inn couple looked like genuinely good people. Got it?”
“…Thank you.”
The village chief bowed with an awkward grimace.
Beside him, Hamma muttered, “Wow… you really are a bandit,” sounding almost impressed.
Before heading into the forest, I approached the inn couple, who were trembling behind everyone else.
“We’ll bring your child back. Don’t worry.”
“Th-thank… thank you. Please… please save our Jeck. Hic!”
“Thank you so much! We’ll repay this kindness no matter what!”
The two of them bowed over and over again.
I was about to go join Kaizen when the innkeeper’s wife suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
“W-wait a moment.”
“Hm?”
She pulled something from the pocket of her apron and placed it in my hands.
The moment I saw what it was, I froze in surprise.
“It’s a necklace made from a luminescent stone. In Hanak Village, items made from glowstones are meant to bring good fortune. Please… be careful.”
It was the same necklace she’d given me in the previous loop.
Right before I left for the temple, she had fastened it around my neck herself.
‘Thanks to you two, I don’t have to worry about orcs anymore when my child plays outside. Truly, thank you. This is… a small gift from me.’
‘What is it?’
‘A necklace that brings good luck. I made one for my son, and I thought I’d make one for you too.’
A rough little necklace—leather cord threaded through a thumb-sized jade bead.
The top part of the bead was indented, shaped vaguely like a heart. I remembered thinking that before.
Small as a booger, yet so bright it almost hurt the eyes unless you tucked it under your shirt.
Today’s the same day I went to the temple last loop, isn’t it?
The only difference was that last time it had been morning, and now it was evening.
A new loop, different circumstances, and yet the exact same necklace appeared again.
Did that mean some events were destined to happen no matter what?
If so…
“Did you give one to Jeck too?”
“H-how did you know?”
Thought so.
I smiled faintly at her bewildered expression.
Because of her foresight, the child would be safe.
And he’d probably been safe in the previous loop as well.
“I just had a feeling. We’ll be back soon.”
Before leaving, I took a slow look around.
The village chief, the inn couple, and the beast-folk who had followed them all wore the same worried expression.
Even if I say everything will be fine, they won’t believe it.
So I said nothing more and simply turned away.
Kaizen stood at a distance, watching me quietly.
“Let’s go, Kaizen.”
His long strides brought him beside me without a word.
We were just about to enter the forest when Hamma came scampering up to my right.
“Hey. Why are you coming?”
I stared down at him, baffled, but his bright red eyes sparkled proudly.
“Romi-nim already forgot what I said?”
He glanced at Kaizen on my left, then whispered into my ear.
“I have to make sure the so-called Hero doesn’t die! That man is a walking time bomb! I must! keep! an eye on him!”
The air suddenly grew icy.
He thought he whispered, but his voice was way too loud.
Kaizen’s gaze sharpened like a blade.
“Call me ‘Hero bastard’ one more time and I’ll make you my traveling companion.”
“H-hieeek…?! T-traveling companion?”
“On the road to the afterlife.”
“……”
Here they go again.
I shook my head at the two of them.
After all that chaos, the three of us finally headed for the “Forest of Death.”
Under the eerie moonlight, the nighttime forest felt chilling and oppressive.
But I wasn’t worried. I already knew the strategy.
“Are you really sure the monster won’t attack as long as I keep the torch lit?”
“Yep. If it comes near you, swing the torch at it. Got it? That thing is your lifeline.”
“M-my lifeline…!”
Hamma gripped the torch pole with a determined look.
Kaizen, who had been silently walking beside us, came to a halt.
“How do you know such things?”
“In the place I lived, there’s a monster encyclopedia that records every monster in the world. I know it from there.”
Kaizen was surprisingly sharp.
His question pricked at my nerves, but I answered casually.
I knew you’d ask something like that.
“…Just what kind of place did you live in?”
“A place with all sorts of things.”
He gave me a suspicious look, but I pretended not to notice.
We walked for a long while.
The Hirata lived inside a large cave, and at night a barrier activated, guiding anyone—no matter the direction—straight toward it.
Sure enough, after walking blindly forward, a huge cave eventually appeared in the distance.
Nothing grew near it, making it look exactly like a den of darkness.
“Wow… How come we didn’t see that earlier?”
“Because it only appears at night. It hides its form during the day.”
In the game, too, you had to wait until night to hunt Hirata.
“But… do you really think Jeck is still alive?”
Hamma looked up at me anxiously.
“He is. Don’t you trust me?”
“But we haven’t even seen a single hair from him…”
“He’ll be fine. He’s got the luminescent necklace. And there are no beasts at night. He’ll be okay at least until morning.”
I was reassuring Hamma when Kaizen suddenly drew his sword.
“I sense movement inside.”
He strode forward without hesitation, and I grabbed him.
He frowned slightly.
Good grief. Why is he always like this?
I sighed and spoke calmly.
“Wait. Didn’t you hear me? That thing is practically invincible in the dark!”
Before entering the forest, I pulled out the necklace and put it around his neck.
He immediately removed it and pressed it back into my hand.
“I don’t need it. Give that to the cowardly rabbit.”
“H-hey! C-coward?! I-I’m not scared at all!”
Despite his protest, Hamma’s legs were shaking.
Honestly, why was I worried? Kaizen was the strongest being in this world.
So I placed the necklace around Hamma instead. Instantly, the color returned to his face.
If we brought him into the cave, he’d probably faint.
“Hamma. Stay here and wait. We’ll find Jeck.”
“Don’t worry—go quickly!”
Clutching his torch and glowing necklace, he nodded firmly.
Leaving him behind, I entered the cave.
Kaizen was already far ahead.
“Hey! Wait for me!”
He turned with an incredulous expression.
“Why are you following?”
“Why else? While you deal with Hirata, I’ll find Jeck.”
“It’s dangerous. Go back. I can do this alone.”
Oh please. He didn’t even know the mechanics.
“I’ll be fine. Didn’t you see me chopping wood? I won’t be a burden—just go.”
Kaizen sighed irritably, staring at me.
Finally, he gave a reluctant nod.
“But promise not to do anything reckless. Once we find the child, we leave immediately.”
“And if you get in danger?”
“Then we leave even more quickly. It would be troublesome if you died.”
Seriously. Couldn’t he say he was worried in a normal way?
He didn’t move a muscle until I answered.
“Fine. I’ll stay behind you, grab Jeck, and run out.”
Only then did he continue forward.
As we went deeper, Hirata’s rough breathing echoed through the cave. The vibrations hummed through the walls, and Kaizen moved cautiously.
The temperature dropped.
A clear sign Hirata was near.
And then—
KUUUUAAAANG—!
A massive crash shook the entire cave as Hirata appeared.
[To come walking into my den without fear… admirable courage! I’ll enjoy devour—guh?!]
THUD—!
“…?”
What… did I just witness?
In the blink of an eye, Hirata’s head was gone.
Severed cleanly by Kaizen’s sword.
