I Wanted to Use Magic, So I Trained My Magical Power. I Wanted to Eat Meat, So I Went Hunting. And Then, Before I Knew It, I Had Become the Strongest... - Episode 5: You mustn’t make Mother angry

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Episode 5: You mustn’t make Mother angry

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I finally made a crossbow I was satisfied with around the time autumn had deepened.

“But I’m still in time!”

I slung the quiver diagonally over my back, shouldered the crossbow, and entered the mountain.

I enhanced my hearing to search for the sounds made by beasts.

“Alright, this way.”

Suppressing my presence as much as possible, I headed toward the direction of the sound.

There it is! A wild bird that resembled a pigeon. A flock of them perched on the tree branches.

I set an arrow into the crossbow, enhanced my vision, and took aim.

I am Nasu no Yoichi, I can pierce even the eye of a needle!

With that kind of self-suggestion, I pulled the trigger.

The string that launched the arrow made a light *twang* sound.

The arrow flew straight and pierced the wild bird’s body. At that moment, the other wild birds took off from the branches. But the one struck by the arrow fell to the ground.

“Got it!”

Now I can eat meat!

The bread is hard, but I can eat a lot of it.

There’s also vegetable soup. But I need meat.

To build the body, it’s got to be meat, meat! Also, the feathers of wild birds can be used for arrow fletching.

I picked up the wild bird and cut its neck with a dagger.

To drain the bl00d, I hung it from a branch. Meanwhile, I searched for the next prey.

I moved, tracing the sounds of the prey… but—it’s huge.

About twenty meters ahead, there was a wild boar. It looked to be at least 100 kilograms.

Even with body enhancement magic, carrying that boar would be a real struggle.

I decided to let it go. But at that moment, I locked eyes with the boar.

The boar scraped its front hooves. It was full of fighting spirit.

“This is bad…”

Alright, time to run!

I turned on my heel and ran.

From behind, I heard the footsteps of the boar.

“Hey, I’m running away. So stop chasing me!”

I wanted to avoid a fight. But it didn’t look like the boar was going to let me.

There was no helping it. I enhanced my legs and jumped. I then grabbed a tree branch with my left hand.

*Snort!*

The boar passed right under me like a bullet train. It was braking hard on all fours and tearing up the ground.

After I landed, I set an arrow into my crossbow and took aim.

The boar was already taking a step forward. And in my haste, I pulled the trigger.

The arrow hit the boar in its left eye. But the boar didn’t stop.

“What the!?”

I twisted my body to try and dodge the boar’s charge. But its sharp tusk gouged my left shin.

“Guh.”

It hurts. My left shin burns.

Looking at my left leg, my pants were torn and bl00d was seeping out.

Luckily, the bone didn’t seem broken. But it hurt like hell.

“Damn it!”

Even while cursing, I remained calm.

Having died once before, the fear of a second death wasn’t as bad.

Of course, death is scary. But that sense of fear wasn’t as intense as I thought it would be.

I set another arrow in the crossbow and fired the second shot.

When it deeply pierced the base of the boar’s right foreleg, its movement noticeably worsened.

“This is the last one!”

The third arrow pierced the boar’s neck.

With rough breathing, the boar collapsed a few seconds later.

My leg hurt, but I could walk.

Still, carrying this boar was out of the question.

How many times heavier is it than me?

Not that I even know my own weight.

For now, I slit its throat to bleed it out.

But not much bl00d came out.

With no other choice, I split its belly and stuck my hand in.

Gripping its heart like a baby pump, I forced the bl00d out.

When the bl00d stopped, I scooped out the internal organs. That reduced the weight a bit.

But even so, it was too big to carry.

“What should I do…?”

That’s when my eyes landed on the Ashune leaves.

Among the trees that grow in this mountain, Ashune is rare as it’s a shrub.

However, the large leaves that grow densely from its tips are huge.

Ashune leaves have insect-repellent properties. So when applying a clay-like material to house walls like plaster, chopped Ashune leaves are mixed in.

They are also rich in oil. So they are used on rooftops as a waterproofing substitute.

And when it snows, kids use Ashune leaves as sleds to play.

I cut off some Ashune leaves with my dagger and loaded the boar on top.

Then I dragged the Ashune leaves, which was easier than carrying the boar.

Still heavy, though.

On the way back, I picked up the bird I had bled earlier and finally made it down the mountain.

Just as the house came into view, Mother Norsh and my third younger sister Ucica happened to come out.

“”Nois!?””

The two of them ran over.

“Mom, I’m exhausted…”

I collapsed on the spot. My stamina had hit its limit.

“Nois, you’re covered in bl00d!? Ucica, go get your father!”

“Okay!”

“Mom, this is the boar’s bl00d.”

“What are you talking about—you’re injured!”

Now that she mentioned it, I had injured my leg.

Remembering it made me feel the pain. And my face twisted.

“Hey, what’s with this boar!?”

“I hunted it. But it was so heavy, carrying it was tough.”

“You hunted it!? That’s amazing! But well done, Nois!”

“What are you talking about! Nois is hurt! Worry about your son more than the boar!”

Mother was super angry.

When Grandma Imiris poured a potion on my leg, the injury healed in an instant.

My stamina didn’t recover. But potions are amazing.

Beside me, Mother was furiously scolding Father.

Alright, time to make my escape.

*Grab!*

Ouch, ouch! My head feels like it’s splitting, Mother!

Behind Mother Norsh, I could see a devilish aura.

“What are you trying to run away from, huh?”

“Ah, no, nothing like that… I’m sorry.”

I got scolded for two hours straight.

Sitting in formal posture beside Dad, I was lectured.

You mustn’t make Mother angry.