Ren says, "Uhm, are you sure this is where the beast-men live? Because this looks more like a cursed forest."
Ragnor replies, "That's exactly why they live here. Because no one dares to enter this forest."
Me: "Why did I accept this mission?" I think bitterly. Now I'm stuck having to enter this creepy place.
Ren notices my fear and says in a mocking tone, "Oh, the slave is scared. But don't worry, I, your king, will protect you."
Annoyed, I say, Me: "Shut up. I'm not your slave, and I'm not scared."
To prove that I'm not scared, I enter the forest first. Ren is impressed and says, "Wow, you're not as cowardly as I thought."
The forest is so dark that I jump at every noise. But that annoys Ragnor.
Ragnor says, "Can you stop jumping? It's distracting me and it irritates me."
Me: I reply, "It's normal that I jump. I remind you that I already used my ability against an ogre."
Suddenly, Ren remembers that I can only use my ability once per day.
Ren says, "You were stupid to use your ability against a weak ogre."
Me: I mutter, "Shut up."
Ragnor sighs and says, "Stop arguing. We're going to get spotted. I remind you that we're in beast-men territory."
I try to calm down and stop jumping for nothing, but that bastard Ren makes me jump again.
Ren: "GRRRR!!!"
Me: "AHHHHH!!"
Ragnor gets angry and shouts, Ragnor: "Stop this nonsense! This is not the time!!"
Me: "But Ren started it!"
Ren replies in an arrogant tone, Ren: "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything. Maybe you had a hallucination."
While we're arguing, we suddenly hear a cracking sound. We turn around and see a giant spider.
(Fun fact: Yuta is arachnophobic.)
I start panicking and stuttering.
Me: "W- w- what is th-that thing…?"
Ragnor cracks his fingers and replies, Ragnor: "It's a spider. It's obvious, isn't it?"
Me: "Yeah, but what are its abilities?"
Ragnor sighs and says, Ragnor: "You really know nothing. I really wonder if you come from this world."
While we're talking, the spider suddenly spits acid at Ragnor. Ragnor barely dodges it, but the tree behind him melts in a few seconds.
Ren says, "Finally, a real challenge."
Suddenly, Ren materializes a sword that emits a powerful energy. Ragnor sees the sword and is shocked.
He says, Ragnor: "Who are you really? That sword… it's Godslayer. A sword created by the god Renno. How did you get it?"
Ren doesn't speak. He doesn't even answer Ragnor's question. His attention is focused on the spider.
With blinding speed, he slices off three of the spider's legs. The spider falls to the ground, groaning in agony.
Ren, disappointed, says, Ren: "I thought you were strong, but in reality you're just a big fraud."
The spider, irritated at being insulted, screams. Its cry is loud and long.
Suddenly, a group of fifteen giant spiders arrives.
Me: I whisper, "I don't want to die before I finish One Puce."
Ragnor straightens up and stands next to Ren. He takes a combat stance.
The fifteen spiders surround us and simultaneously spit acid. Before it reaches us, Ren creates a magical barrier that protects us.
Suddenly, the spiders stop. The spider on the ground says, The spider: "Leave this forest, or we'll be forced to kill you."
But Ren bursts out laughing and says, Ren: "Kill us? I cut off three of your legs like a skewer and you still have the nerve to threaten me?"
Suddenly, the spider's head on the ground falls away. It was decapitated. I didn't see anything.
Ragnor trembles with fascination and says, Ragnor: "In a fraction of a second, Ren decapitated its head. Even I had trouble following it. Fascinating… impressive. You're not just an arrogant bastard."
The other fifteen spiders begin to doubt and retreat. Ragnor charges mana into his fists. In a few seconds, he pulverizes the skulls of five spiders.
In three minutes, Ren and Ragnor slaughter all the spiders. I'm on the ground, completely shocked.
Me: "Why… why? I was supposed to be the OP one. I'm the MC. Why is my cat the OP one?" I clench my fists.
Ragnor says, "After all that mess, we deserve a break. I suggest we rest here for one hour."
Ren stretches and says arrogantly, Ren: "Good idea, slave."
Ren lies down on the forest grass to take a nap.
While Ren is sleeping, Ragnor trains.
Me: "Can I train with you? I'm tired of being the dead weight of the group."
Ragnor replies, "What are you talking about? You're not dead weight. You're the most intelligent member of this trio. Sure, you're physically weak, but mentally, you surpass us."
Me: "But I don't want to be strong only mentally! I want to be strong both mentally and physically!"
Seeing the determination in my eyes, Ragnor agrees to train with me.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, inside a headquarters:
A wolf-man kneels before a shadow and says, The wolf-man: "Mistress, they are in the forest and they managed to massacre our spiders. What should we do?"
???: "Let them come all the way here. We're going to set a trap for them."