Chapter 12: Old Man and Mad Frog ①

I decided to leave the tavern and head towards the general store.

Considering that Rikka had accepted a two-week extension, I thought the job would take quite a long time, so I was preparing for camping just in case.

(To be honest, it’s a hassle to keep going in and out of town every time. It would be best if I could just sleep on the spot.)

So, I decided to purchase a tent at the general store for now.

After that, I bought some emergency food, drinks, and other necessary items…

But then, something caught my eye.

(Rice… I really want to eat that.)

This general store also had firewood sets and pots.

(I guess I’ll buy it. After all, since I came to another world, it would be a waste not to buy it. (Mysterious reasoning))

Fortunately, I have money in my wallet lately, so even if I buy something extra here, it won’t be a loss.

(Actually, I’ve always admired enjoying something like a little camping.)

I wonder what food tastes like outdoors. It would be nice to have time to eat outside… With such thoughts in mind, I ultimately decided to buy the rice cooking set.

After finishing my preparations, I headed straight to the work site.

It’s my first real job.

I’ll try to do it very carefully.

(If possible, I’d like to use up the full two weeks until the deadline. It might not actually take that long.)

I completed the procedures for a simple outing at the checkpoint and immediately went outside.

“Hee~fu~”

Running along the endless road in a jogging-like manner.

At that moment, Nyago, who was perched on my shoulder, cried.

“Nya~go”

He seemed sad.

I think he’s probably thinking that if he were bigger, he could carry me.

“Hahaha, you’re my comfort like this, so it’s fine.”

I pat his head.

Small-sized pets provide comfort just by being by your side.

As I continued running, I eventually saw some rugged rocks.

“Hmm.”

I take out the map and compare it.

It seems that these rocks are not marked on the map.

“Just in case, I’ll mark them.”

I jot down the rocks on the map.

By the way, is the place I’m currently in considered a wilderness?

It’s a place full of stones and rocks.

It’s quite rugged.

Upon closer inspection, there are cracks and some areas with steps.

(These steps are pretty big. It would be troublesome if a horse got stuck.)

Actually, upon closer examination, there seem to be dried traces resembling blood(?).

(There might already be victims here. This place could be dangerous.)

I decided to mark “Danger” on the map as well.

If there are any places that seem worth noting, I’ll add them like this.

And then, in a slightly distant area, the ground is raised.

It’s as if something is buried underneath, with bulges suggesting, “Hey, there’s something down here,” and there are cracks on the ground resembling X marks.

“Could that be the Mad Frog?”

For now, I decided to approach the bulge on the ground.

Poke, poke.

I poked the bulging area with my sword and stepped back, but nothing happened.

No response.

“Is it dead? Or maybe it’s just pointless unless I go through from above?”

So.

I walked briskly.

And then, I walked through the bulge.

“GeekooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!”

Boom!

A frog jumped out from under the ground.

“They really do come out when you walk over them.”

Stomp.

The Mad Frog landed.

(For now, let’s observe its movements.)

As I observed, the frog started moving.

Rustle.

Rustle.

It was trying to dig back into the ground. 

Doesn’t it recognize me as an enemy?

(Or is it really just a monster that’s here to harass?)

But for me, it’s clearly an enemy.

“Sorry. [Slash]!”

Zan!

I swung my sword down towards the Mad Frog.

A treasure chest fell where the Mad Frog disappeared.

I opened it.

[Obtained Mad Frog Meat]

“Hmm. What should I do with this meat?”

Oh well.

I returned my gaze to the map once again.

And marked it on the map.

“This is where the extermination is complete.”

“Nyago!”

It seemed Nyago was celebrating my first subjugation.

Then, I turned my attention to the bulge in the next location.

Thud!

A sound from behind.

“Huh?”

I turned around.

The spot where I had just defeated the Mad Frog seemed to be bulging again.

“Ugh, seriously?”

It resurrected?

No, it can’t be.

With that size?

Anyway, I retraced my steps.

As I focused, the enemy’s status appeared in my field of vision.

Name: Mad Frog

Level: 1

HP: 10

Status: Invincible (Does not take any damage from attacks)

(With this level, I can’t expect any experience points. This is a nuisance monster.)

Rather, I began to regret taking on this request, even if just a little.

But…

(Once you’ve accepted, you see it through to the end. That’s what Japanese people do, right? Well, I suppose it’s only natural even for someone from another world.)

With such thoughts, I decided to focus a little more.

Name: Ground

Defense: 9999

The status of the ground also appeared.

(Does the ground also have defense?)

No, wait a minute.

“If my skill is ‘Defense Ignore,’ then does that mean I can also ignore the defense of this ground?”

Gulp.

Swallowing my saliva, I aimed my sword.

“Thinking about it, cutting the ground is quite strange behavior. Let’s get this over with before anyone sees.”

[Stab]

I thrust my sword like a spear.

With all my strength, I aimed it towards the ground.

And then, what do you know?

Squelch!

The sword goes into the ground.

[Defense Ignore has been activated.]

(Oh! Thanks to the skill, I effortlessly pierced through the ground’s defense?!)

Now…

(What about the Mad Frog’s invincibility?)

Continuing to thrust the sword, I felt a definite resistance.

[Defense Ignore has been activated.]

I was sure of my victory.

(It worked! My skill ignored the Mad Frog’s [Invincibility]!)

“GeekooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

A loud voice echoed from underground.

And then, plonk.

A treasure chest appeared before me.

It seems my skill can even ignore [Invincibility] status and defeat enemies.

(This skill is seriously amazing!!!)

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