Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 25: The Monster Upstream
After that, we kept climbing through the forest, using ‘Stealth.’
By progressing carefully, we managed to minimize our encounters with monsters, but it was just that—minimized.
It wasn’t that there were no battles at all.
“Lilina, back me up with ‘Stealth’!”
“Got it!”
“Graaa!!”
In front of me stood a monster that resembled an ostrich, about twice my height.
The monster charged at me, trying to kick me with its sharp claws for the umpteenth time.
“Blink (Magic)’!”
I activated my skill before the kick could land, dodging it.
Bam!!
The kick struck a large rock that had been just behind me.
A huge crack appeared on the rock where the kick landed.
Whoa, it wouldn’t be funny if I got hit by that kick!
I thought I needed to do something about this dangerously powerful skill, so I turned and aimed my empty left hand at the monster.
“‘Steal’!”
“Graww!!”
However, before my ‘Steal’ could hit the monster, it moved quickly, dodging my skill.
Since I had already stolen a skill from it once, it seemed to be highly cautious, having noticed the change.
The monster then circled around me, making it difficult for me to get a clear shot.
“Damn it! It’s fighting smart!”
‘Steal’ is a skill used by pointing the palm at the target.
If timed right, it’s not impossible to dodge.
But normally, do monsters think that far ahead in their actions?
I’ve heard birds are smart, but is that really true?
“Graa♪”
“Damn it, it’s mocking me.”
I had planned to steal the kicking skill before defeating it, but this isn’t going anywhere.
In that case, I’ll use the skills I’ve already stolen from other monsters and overpower it.
As I was thinking this and about to give up on using ‘Steal,’ I noticed a dark shadow behind the monster.
“Graa♪… W-What?!”
The monster, which had been cheerfully running around me, suddenly jerked its body.
Seizing the moment when it stopped moving, I quickly pointed my left hand at it.
“‘Steal’!”
My left hand glowed faintly, and a status screen appeared.
‘Successful theft with Steal: Skill acquired: ‘Strong Kick (Magic)”
“Alright, got the skill I wanted.”
I glanced at the shadow behind the monster and smiled slightly.
Great assist, Lilina.
“Graww!!”
“Oh, now it’s mad and charging at me.”
The monster, apparently unaware of Lilina’s presence, seemed to think I did something and rushed at me furiously.
It had been so cautious earlier, yet it seemed to forget I had just used ‘Steal.’
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It must be quite enraged, clouding its judgment.
“Graa!! Gra?”
The monster, having come close to me, thrust its right leg at me but then suddenly stopped.
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Your skill’s not working, is it?”
“Graa!”
“Looking for this? ‘Strong Kick (Magic)!'”
I unleashed ‘Strong Kick (Magic)’ on the monster that had finally realized what was happening.
My kick was so fast that even I couldn’t see it, and it struck the monster’s torso.
“Graaa!!”
Bang! Crash, crash, crash!!
The force of the kick was so strong that the monster’s bones bent in unnatural directions as it was slammed against a large rock, which then shattered from the impact.
Well, the rock was already cracked from the monster’s previous kick, so it might have shattered more easily.
…No, even so, this power is overwhelming.
“Amazing, Lloyd-sama!!”
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As I was taken aback by the power of the kick, Lilina ran up to me.
She was slightly excited, hopping up and down.
“This time, you really saved me, Lilina. You’ve become so strong.”
“Hehe, it’s all thanks to you, Lloyd-sama.”
Lilina’s face lit up with a cheerful smile.
Since we entered the upper reaches of the river, there have been many situations where Lloyd’s power alone wasn’t enough.
Even with ‘Steal,’ the inherent strength of a C-rank adventurer had its limits.
Each time, Lilina had come to my aid, and I couldn’t thank her enough.
“Hm? That over there…”
As I raised my gaze while thinking such things, I saw familiar trees.
From a distance, I could recognize the enchanting scenery.
These mysterious trees, which had absorbed a lot of magic, had leaves that turned blue.
When the wind blew, the scene of light remnants scattering was so unrealistically beautiful that it seemed like it could only exist in fiction.
“Ah, there it is! The trees that absorb magic so well!”
Lilina followed my gaze and exclaimed in surprise.
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So, that must be the place where the ‘Potion Herbs’ are said to grow.
I felt a mix of joy at being so close to our destination and unease at the thought of the unknown monster that had driven out the gorilla-like creature.