Ch.4Falling (4)

It’s Good That I’m a Monster.

It wasn’t something one would normally hear. When the word “monster” was used to describe a person, it was typically negative, which made sense.

It was like saying, “It’s good that you’re lowborn,” or “It’s good that you’re a murderer.”

Feeling oddly deflated, I approached the mountain of corpses I had created.

Most of the bodies had died from a single blow. While I wouldn’t call them instant deaths, there was a precision to them that didn’t seem like the work of an amateur.

At least by my standards. That was my self-assessment, and if anyone disagreed, I’d have nothing to say.

At the very least, I wouldn’t have to worry about any of them getting up for a counterattack. I rummaged through the fallen bodies.

I was looking for anything useful.

“Give me that.”

The snow leopard spoke from behind me. I had just been considering a short bow and handed it over. The snow leopard strapped it to her back.

I wondered if she knew how to use a bow too.

Even a sling was difficult to master, and in games, it was usually just an early-game weapon unless you had a high level. The snow leopard seemed to be an experienced hunter.

Seeing her handle a bow, sling, and hand axe confirmed it.

When I found the second item, the snow leopard glanced at it and dismissively said:

“You can have that.”

“I don’t need it either.”

It was the crossbow of the cannibal I had kicked first. Though crude and simple, it was broken in the middle, making it completely unusable.

With my strength, I could have loaded it quickly and made some use of it. Feeling a bit regretful, I busily moved on to the next corpse.

I found various items.

The machete that had been stuck in my side, the spear that had pierced my back before breaking during my counterattack.

A wooden mallet from another one’s waist, and a logging axe of an awkward size—too small for two hands but too large for one.

Though their condition was poor, with only translucent windows showing the names I expected, these were still precious weapons in my current situation.

I couldn’t fight every battle bare-handed.

[Mourning 0/1]

I’m still level 1. Even this much was a miracle.

It would have been an impossible feat without the monstrous body of a homunculus and the job of Mourner, which suited the situation.

Until the next battle, I would have to make do with these weapons, grateful for what I had.

So I kept moving my body, despite the weakness that followed the “Mourning.”

Busily searching through corpses, sorting out useful items.

After rummaging for a while, I flinched at a sharp sensation and pulled my hand away.

Thud.

What fell was a dagger.

A single-edged dagger. A well-crafted blade soaked red with blood, better made than I expected.

The moment I saw it, a translucent window appeared in the corner of my vision.

[Komel’s Responsibility]

A description appeared below the name. It meant this was no ordinary item, and the window revealed much more.

[“From now on, you’re the head of the family.”

-The poacher’s father, on his deathbed.

This is the dagger that Komel, a poacher who has now become a cannibal, inherited from his father.

Well-maintained, sharp, and convenient, it always fulfills its role whenever used.

Just like a steadfast family head.]

Now I knew the name of the man I had killed. Komel.

Komel lay face down with his head crushed, and despite his pitiful state, I could sense the traces of the poacher who had once been a family head.

His fur cloak and leather vest stood out among the other cannibals who all wore human skin.

He wasn’t large, but his shoes were on the bigger side.

Swish, thud.

I tried not to be too moved by the traces showing that the cannibals were once human.

In truth, I didn’t feel much disturbance. Perhaps because I was no longer human myself.

I just tucked the dagger away, glad that the shoes fit my feet.

My mouth tasted bitter, but that was probably just from the fight.

Even as I fully realized I had become a monster, I stood up and silently looked at the sky.

Nothing was visible beyond the clear sky.

But I knew for certain that somewhere out there was the fortress of the Three Clans from which I had fallen.

A fortress teeming with powerful enemies I couldn’t challenge at my current level.

A place I would eventually have to return to.

So I was fine with being a monster.

If I could become stronger and achieve my revenge, being a monster was better than being a powerless human.

And if, just if, my sister was still alive, being a monster would make it easier to find her.

Even if she wasn’t alive, there might be other humans in similar situations.

I had been possessed. My sister had been possessed. Unless our bloodline was specifically optimized for possession, there must be others like us.

Protecting such people felt like something I needed to do.

Someone who knew Grim Darker well and was exceptionally good at games.

Someone like me, who was prepared to become a monster.

Clearly, no one had assigned this task to me, and I wasn’t obligated to do it.

But reflecting on my difficult life, often hungry and suffering, I couldn’t help thinking:

If I didn’t do it, would anyone?

Having always sat hungry, desperately wishing for someone to reach out a hand, I had always thought this way and taken the initiative.

That much hadn’t changed. Even now that I had become a monster. I was still myself.

Well, I couldn’t just sit here doing nothing. I exhaled deeply and said:

“We should move, right?”

The snow leopard’s eyes widened in surprise.

“We don’t have time to bury them, nor is it our duty, so let’s just move. If we want to gather our things from the campsite, we should leave now.”

“You know these guys well?”

“As much as I need to.”

I wouldn’t call myself an expert, but I was good at Grim Darker. I couldn’t say I knew all the encounters by heart, but I understood the patterns.

My knowledge wasn’t wrong. Perhaps that’s why the snow leopard followed me without objection.

Swaying her plump tail from side to side, stepping lightly through the snow.

I took my eyes off the snow leopard and put on the fur short cloak I had taken from the poacher Komel, crossing the snow-covered path in leather shoes.

Though faint, I could sense something like a presence from far away.

We weren’t being pursued yet, but they weren’t too far either. Just like the cannibal patterns I had seen in the game.

With this certainty, I checked the empty pockets of my leather vest and tucked the machete, hammer, and logging axe into my crude belt.

My waist felt heavier than before, but the homunculus’s strength made it easy to ignore.

With the broken spear slung over my shoulder, I walked as tiny, almost inaudible footsteps followed behind me.

We were heading toward the campsite. It wasn’t far, as we had drifted away during the fight.

“What’s your name?”

After reaching the campsite, I helped the snow leopard take down the tent and pack the necessary items neatly into her bag.

As well-folded items went in, the luggage grew, but the snow leopard shouldered the bag with ease.

“…Me?”

I had thought being a monster would be enough, but that seemed to be my mistake.

“I’m Isla.”

She even revealed her name first.

Don’t monsters usually avoid that?

Between calling herself “big sister” right away and this, I found the oddly friendly yet aloof snow leopard awkward.

A cunning beastkin who knew I was a monster and was using me, yet still asked for my name?

She was different from me, who had felt uneasy just learning the name of one of the cannibals.

Are all residents of Grim Darker like this?

I pondered my answer for a moment.

“Lu…”

The reflexive response was a familiar name.

The name I had seen when first starting Grim Darker. The name I occasionally saw when watching my sister play from behind.

Lucilla.

I closed my mouth, then opened it again.

“Luwellyn.”

If my sister was in this world, if she had fortunately survived and escaped.

I wanted her to know that I had made it here too.

That’s why I said Luwellyn.

[Name: Luwellyn]

[Race: Homunculus]

[Class: Warrior – Mourner]

[Reputation: Unknown]

[Strength: 20(+5)][Dexterity: 20(+5)][Constitution: 20(+5)]

[Magic: □][Inspiration: □][Charm: □]

[Play Time: 8,788 hours]

But my status window interpreted it differently.

A large window appeared as if that was now my name. I dismissed it with a wry smile and a glance, while the snow leopard Isla looked back briefly before continuing to lead the way.

Could I trust this beastkin?

What would become of me?

Was my sister still alive?

I stopped dwelling on such concerns.

Isla had saved me for her own purposes. Because of that, I had nearly died getting involved in this situation.

Normally, one might feel resentful or blame Isla, but I didn’t.

I was a person with a sense of decency.

I had already become a target for the cannibals, a monster who had brutally killed their comrades.

With their tracking abilities, they would pursue me even if I ran.

Since I couldn’t choose where I landed, this was inevitable.

And I wasn’t the type of man to whine and feel sorry for myself about the troubles I faced.

I was someone who needed to do what had to be done to feel satisfied.

So I didn’t stop, even sensing the approaching threat.

I just had to overcome it.

For the same reason, I spoke to Isla.

“Still, it’s fortunate that we’re in the Northern Region.”

“…Huh?”

Isla asked with confusion. Instead of scolding her for not knowing, I gave her time to think.

The Northern Region was an area with relatively strict rules and severe punishments, making it one of the safer regions.

So even if cannibals were rampant, we would be safe once we reached a residential area.

The key was to reach a settlement—city, village, whatever.

Even that wouldn’t be difficult. Homunculi were a hardy race that didn’t even need rest, and the snow leopard was a beastkin whose natural habitat was this harsh cold.

“I know most of the roads in the North well. If you tell me where we are, I can find the shortest escape route. Those cannibals wouldn’t dare follow us.”

Despite my boast and smile, Isla blinked with a blank expression.

Her long, snow-white eyelashes swept over her blue-gray eyes like frost on a window several times, and belatedly, as the wind picked up, she tilted her head significantly.

What kind of reaction is that?

As I looked at her quizzically, Isla slowly opened her mouth.

“This isn’t the Northern Region.”

“That can’t be…”

A land covered in snow with blizzards blowing.

It had to be the North. It could only be the Northern climate.

But my sharp mind cruelly recalled one possibility.

“…No, it can’t be…”

I remembered my final choice before being possessed.

I had been about to purchase and play the final DLC, the grand finale of the series.

The store page for the DLC had said:

The Origin of the Three Clans, a new adventure unfolding in the New Continent.

I was about to play that DLC when I was possessed.

Seeing me stop in my tracks, Isla gave me a pitying look.

“This is the New Continent.”

Her tail drooped and her ears flattened against her head.

“There’s no safe place here.”