Chapter Text
- I knew that humans were heartless but this moves what I could imagine.
This is what I was able to translate and I heard them but impossible to move, how long am I in this situation? I'm going to die, I know it but no one wants to finish me. I am only a human on the brink of life when I am only twenty-five years old and yet I will die of blood loss. The stench in the room is so strong that I'm surprised someone walked in without throwing up or being terrified and then I heard another voice, deeper than the one with bugs.
- She's still alive.
The other seems surprised raising his voice and I search in my last strength to ask their names and having almost no strength left, I just say the word "who". The voices fall silent and then hear someone snap their fingers.
I come to myself when I see the famous merchant, this man who buys all the objects that explorers, like me, find in the kingdom of monsters because yes, if men have fun killing each other, monsters live in hiding in the specific places then any objects relating to them are worth a fortune. Suddenly, the profession of explorer is legal among humans but if a monster sees an explorer, he has the right to kill him without any human being able to avenge him. I believe this is part of a treaty made between monsters and humans. "If a monster sees a human in their territory, it has the right to kill the human considered to be a thief without fear that another human will come"
Anyway, back to me, I'm (Y/N) , a woman living her second life and I'm currently a high-level explorer. I am in a store where the somewhat strange merchant buys everything related to monsters, but especially everything related to the species of monster called the lamias. From what is known, lamias are people with human torsos and snake tails. So what's worth the jackpot are the scales where their teeth see for sure their canines.
- So Demon, what is the most expensive these days?
- Hehe, hello already and to answer your question, are the bones of lamias.
- Bones ?
- Exactly, for some time explorers have been claiming to have seen living skeleton lamais, so the bones of his lamias are worth a fortune. But if you want, there are also the teeth of the Tiger-Jungle or the feathers of the Bird of Paradise.
- Tell me about the last two, you want.
As soon as I have my information, I go to one of the research locations because what is practical with this merchant is that a cave which gives access to a magnificent wooded place where there are very few monsters nearby. and lots of interesting stuff. I sigh as I put away my map and I look around, put on my mask and enter the cave. Yes because if the monsters can live with this poisonous atmosphere but not the humans. What is practical with this poison fog is that we can delimit the dwelling places of the monsters and as soon as I am on the territory of the monsters.
I tighten my backpack well then start to move forward in these woods, I pass in front of several repair points that I saw on my map and after hours of research, I end up sitting on a tree trunk on the ground . I sigh and with that damn gas mask on, I'm sweating hard but just wanted to take a break. I put my backpack in front of me and look at what I have in it since if I can still empty it a little more, I could go faster. Seeing that I only have a blanket, something to eat, traps and my map. I sigh then stand up but hear noise coming from the bushes and I quickly pull out my gun while walking towards the bush.
I look at what is hiding to discover a purple tail, I step back telling myself that I must be on my guard but seeing the size of the tail, I tell myself that it is a child but fear takes hold of me. A monster child always means a monster adult and having frozen, I didn't notice that the child ran away. I end up sighing and putting away my weapon while resuming my journey. After setting traps, I find the Jungle Tiger. A tiger made up of leaves but what matters most to me are its teeth which are made up of ivory or minerals depending on where the teeth are.
I don't have time to explain since I'm being chased by the huge beast that must be around five feet tall. As I walk towards the trap, I slip under the barbed wire and as soon as the animal cuts the wire, a huge piece of metal falls on the title's neck, blocking it. I stop running then go towards the title then seeing that he is gritting his teeth, I put my weapon on the ground and take a momentum. I give a big blow in the teeth and by chance, a tooth moves spanking howling the beast of pain.
I go around the animal then approach the trap that is around its neck and as soon as I see the clip, I pull out a rope that I had. I tie it then pull with all my strength to approach a tree in the distance and I tie the rope around the plant.
The piece of metal that was on the animal's neck tightens to become a collar attaching the tiger to the tree and the ground since the collar, throws a spear towards the ground. The monster blocked, pulled back and having to keep its head straight looks at me surprised because this object is an accessory of the high-ranking explorers. I sigh then approach the mouth of the tiger to open it suddenly, I take out my weapon and strike on each tooth, one by one then I feel a tooth more fragile than the others. Seeing this, I look at the amused tiger and kick the side of the tiger's jaw with my foot. The tooth separates quickly with some trace of blood but seeing that the animal howls, I plunge into its mouth for fear that it swallows the object I am looking for. I grab the tooth then step away from the monster to put it in my backpack and take out a spray in exchange. I dive back into the Jungle Tiger's mouth to use the spray, some I have barbaric means but it's a living being so I treat it with my means. At first the animal screams in pain but seeing that it relieves it, it stops moving to let it go. Once healed, I come out of his mouth and I go back to the metal necklace, I put a stopwatch then I leave. I have to come back in thirty minutes to pick up my equipment.
Now that I have my Jungle tiger tooth, I have to find the bird of paradise since it has quite special feathers. The feathers of this sparrow have the ability to make it rain, since the feather itself is composed of eighty percent water so its harvest is very complicated since the simple fact of touching the feather, it becomes water. I groan putting on gloves then climb the tree, I have to find a nie because yes, the monsters are different from us but they are able to understand us. So for this object, I must use cunning and not force. As soon as I find an empty nie, I head for it as soon as I see the bird land there to fly away again.
Once on the bed, I find an egg and seeing that no one is protecting it, I take it in my hands but as soon as I touch it, a scream sends shivers down my spine. I turn around then see the bird and I step back but I almost slip. Seeing that I am going to slip the bird panics and as soon as I regain my balance, I stretch the egg into the void then scream.
- I know you can understand me so I'm not going to cut corners, either you help me and you find your egg or you refuse and byebye the child. I'm not stupid since you could never catch the egg since your species is notorious for not being able to fly fast.
The bird is on the spot then I see it raise and lower its head, I smile and gently take a jar out of my bag. I throw the jar towards the bird and ask him for feathers from his body since I can't touch the feathers but if the bird pulls them out on his own, is it possible to keep them? What I'm doing based on my own theory so hopefully it will work because otherwise I did it for nothing.
I look at the bird which stamps its feet but seeing that I risk losing my balance, stop then I see it tear off its blue feathers with its beak to put them in the jar. I watch it do it for a few minutes but seeing that it always tears away in the same place, I sigh saying that it's still a bird and I approach the bird holding out the egg but before giving it to it, I asks him to step back. I take the jar then put the object down and quickly run to jump off the nie. I serve the jar in my arms then land on a pile of paper that I had put down beforehand. I quickly get out and start running as fast as I can then once in the shelter, I take a deep breath then head towards the place where I had attacked the Jungle Tiger.
Once there, I discover my empty trap which has resumed its original shape with a few teeth and surprise, I look around to see no one. I put my bag down and tidy up my teeth then head towards the trap leaving my bag alone while I fold it to finish putting it in the bag which I join after five minutes. I put my heavier bag back on my back and start to come out of the strong even though I have a strange feeling.
I shake my head then go back to the merchant, who, as soon as he sees me, sneers at the sight of my head, which is filled with foliage. I put my bag on the counter asking him for an estimate of the time I need to change. I go into the cabin to remove all the leaves that are on and in my body due to my expedition. As soon as I managed to everything removed, I take off my gas mask while walking towards the merchant who had put down a fruit juice for me. I drink quietly, leaning against the counter while he counts to give me a final number.
- I'm offering you thirty thousand gold coins but I can't give you that right now so you'll have to wait a bit.
- Thirty thousand ? You, the stingiest merchant in the world, offer me more than a thousand, don't you think you've screwed up somewhere?
- Yeah maybe you're right, mhm… how about seventy-five, since he's still small…
- What do you…
I turn around to see a monster on the counter next to the items I picked up and spit out my drink, asking what a monster is doing here. The dealer laughs at me and tells me he thought I was selling it too.
- I thought you were selling it too since you found a fairly rare monster, a living Lamia skeleton moreover. You know what, I'll take you double
- What !
- Alright triple then!
- Noooo !
I say in panic, I take the child in my arms, refusing and the merchant asks me what I'm going to do with it. I inform him that I am an explorer, okay maybe even a thief but not a smuggler and that therefore, I will take him with me. I think of taking him back to the forest and seeing the merchant grumble but accept, I sigh then look at the monster. A skeleton Lamia with beautiful white bones and purple pupils and its tail has the same color. I put it on the counter while the merchant labels the objects while preparing my money then I see the skeleton who seems to be stressed, I look in my bag then take a cookie which I give him. I caress his head to calm him down and I quickly understand that he must think that I wanted to sell it since I put it back on the counter.
After a few minutes, the merchant returns with purses of coins and I thank him then look at the monster, I put the bag on the counter and show him the inside. He who had finished his biscuit, looks at the bag then goes inside quietly and raises his head. The merchant died laughing then I put the bag on my back and put on a cape. I ask if we notice anything strange but the merchant tells me that since I always have my bag on me, then not that it is as usual.
I thank him then go out to head towards the forest except that seeing the night which begins to set in place and knowing that during the night, the monsters have multiplied and especially that they are more violent. I groan then decide to go back home, I live in a small chalet in the middle of the woods near a village and also near the merchant's shop. Luckily, I'm in the village area and all the villages have anti-monster areas, these places are just areas where monsters can't use their magic just like human mages. In short, an anti-magic zone.
I am a thirty minute walk from the merchant's shop to my house and an hour to go to the village. I arrive home quickly and enter the chalet, I sigh remove my cape then put the bag on the coffee table. I walk to the kitchen to get something to eat and as I take some food out of the cupboards I see him hesitantly slowly coming out. I take another cookie then approach the monster who discovers his new environment and when he turns to me, I hand him the product that he smells first before taking it. I watch him eat while saying.
- I'll take you home tomorrow, since it's already dark and it could be dangerous for you. So tomorrow I'll bring you back, I'm an explorer but not yet a smuggler.
Seeing that he has stopped eating, I watch him shake his head all over the place then I ask him what he wants then repeat my words when I say "take it back" he starts to stress. I ask in this case, I offer him to stay here without the possibility of going out because of the real smugglers. I sigh then inform him that he can answer me if he can otherwise I will have to look for ways to communicate. I rub the top of my nose in exasperation wondering if I did the right thing to take him with me and especially if he lives here, I must not leave him alone at the risk of him being kidnapped.
- I… I understand you.
I come out of my thoughts while looking at him surprised then smile at him asking his name, he informs me that his name is "Night", I nod my head and introduce myself. I inform him that he can visit the whole house if he wants but first I have to confirm something. I ask him again, does he really not want to go home and he informs me that he would like to stay with me but asks, if I release him, if he wishes to return to the forest. I inform him that he is not imprisoned so he just let me know. He nods then I ask him if he wants to take a bath before eating and seeing that he bends his head, I ask his permission to take him in my arms. He wraps his cock around my waist as he clings to my neck and I head for the bathroom.
I put it on the ground by turning on the water in the bathtub which fills slowly, once the water is ready, I check the temperature with my hand then turn to the child. I inform him that I will wash him, take him and gently immerse him in the water that comes up to his sternum. I watch him experience the new sensation as I go to get some soap and once found, I kneel in front of the tub and start showing him the soap. I dip him in water then show a part on my foaming skin then ask him for his hand, I rub his bones one by one and seeing that he has been very calm, I decide to offer him to play in the water. He doesn't understand at the time and I make a bubble with the soap using my fingers. The monster laughs then tries in turn, he seems to be having fun and I take the opportunity to get up to look for a towel.
I come back to the bathroom to discover bubbles flying before exploding, I walk in front of the monster which closes but when I congratulate it, it seems happy. I drain the water from the tub then show him the towel and ask him to raise his arms. I take it by rubbing it gently while heading to my room to lay on it. I look for something to put on him, he's not going to walk around shirtless, then I find small clothes, a purple hooded jacket and a black t-shirt. I smile looking at them then turn around to show my discovery but I see that he has fallen asleep on the bed wrapped around the towel. I laugh then put the clothes next to him, I go get a blanket to cover him and leave the room.